Musings from Big Lake Country

Stop and Take the Time to Marvel

2011-05-01T16:32:00.000-04:00

With spring showing signs of coming to life yet again, days such as this past Friday made me stop on my rushing around, and slow my pace and take the time to marvel at the beauty that surrounds us in North-western Ontario or New Ontario as I like to refer to this paradise.

I took the time to stop at one of my favourite locations at Orient Bay north of Nipigon, where you can look up from the southern-most portion of Lake Nipigon into the beginning of this gorgeous lake.

Having been raised in southern Ontario, and migrated here some 35 years ago, I never can get enough of this region’s beauty. Yet I do feel at times that we take our surroundings for granted.

I know myself that I sometimes do and on such a fantastic day as this past Friday was, with warm winds and sunny skies I felt compelled to stop and soak it all in.

What a glorious time of year too, with all the returning birds and ducks, the new-born deer and moose just starting to venture out on their own and hopefully safely away from the highways.

The rivers and streams are swollen now and teaming with new life and to top it all off, the waterfalls were tumbling down from the Cascades. Gorge Creek was spectacular.

The poplar and birch are just starting to think about popping their new buds and turning that spring-like green.

We are so blessed to live among this natural beauty that provides not only breathtaking scenery, but also the resources to support our communities. We are not subjected to the natural disasters that seem to be happening everywhere in the world currently. What do we have to complain about weather-wise except for a winter that may hang-on a little too long for some, or some seasonal flies, but all-in-all we have it made here.

When I look around at what our neighbours to the south must endure every year with major flooding , tornadoes, and hurricanes I feel we do take what we have for granted.

Sure it feels remote sometimes however I know when I have been away and the plane that is bringing my back as we near Thunder Bay breaks through the clouds, and I can see below me the Sleeping Giant welcoming me back, I get a sense of tranquility, home safe and sound once again. Back to our special and in some ways secretive paradise.

Everything seems to be happening at a much slower pace up here, thankfully. From the easy airport to less traffic, it all makes me realise what we have here. It sometimes takes me to be away for a little while to appreciate what we have.

And so, I took the time to stop and “smell the roses” as the saying goes, this past Friday. We all have these special places that help remind us of what we truly are blessed with here. We need to take the time to marvel at this beauty from time-to-time.

If we do not take the time to appreciate our precious region, we will not see any changes that we may regret. We have the opportunity to maintain what we have and not let outside influences change our backyard. We have to maintain our vigilance though and take the time to appreciate just exactly what we have.

M. E. (Mike) Shusterman
Thunder Bay
New Ontario

A Real Eye Opener- and an Unexpected Education

2011-03-24T16:50:00.000-04:00

I participated in one of our "society systems" this past week that I had never been involved with before, as a witness at a criminal proceeding in a small north-western Ontario community and what an education it was, for a number of reasons, mostly for the proceedings prior to why I was there in the first place.

I would like to suggest to you, that you may want to take the time someday to attend an Ontario Court of Justice proceeding, as it will provide an unexpected education and snap shot into society today and how the province is dealing with the present, which is supposed to prepare for the future.

I was requested to attend at 10 am, although I was not called to provide evidence for the issue I was a witness to, until 3:30pm. I decided to take the high road and not dwell or complain on this scheduling problem and in retrospect; I am glad that I did stay. I did leave with more questions than answers however. I therefore became a witness of our current judicial system, and the individuals who are lost in this system.

So there I was at 10 am, sitting amongst a group of approximately 30 individuals who were there to answer charges for a variety of crimes. I was dismayed to realise that they were all in some way related to drugs and alcohol. By drugs I mean prescription drugs and with the alcohol, it hit home to me that these crimes are all one way or another related to our province that is in the booze and prescription drug business. If there was a crime outlined regarding gambling we would have everything covered that the province is involved in.

I was also dismayed at the ages of these people, most appearing to be under 25 years old. I was further shocked to find out that many of these kids, had kids of their own!

Shortly after I sat down, a young woman sat down beside me with a contingent that appeared to be family. I mentioned it was 10 am, yes well she stunk of booze, and she was facing a hearing for her crimes!

One by one they were called in front of the court to answer for their crimes and one by one they were all remanded to another time a month or two later, and some of them have been going through this for almost a year. So the system is not dealing with them are they? The system just keeps putting the issues to the side.

It really struck me that if prescription drugs and alcohol were not so prevalent that there may be no need for this travelling Court of Justice. I even approached one of the attending OPP constables and this was confirmed to me that without problems of drugs and alcohol, they would be out of business. These OPP Staff spent the entire day there and there were four in attendance from this detachment.

I left with a feeling that this seems somewhat hopeless. These kids have real problems, and as the court keeps remanding their issues, they are not dealt with, therefore no cause and effect. A lot of these kids have kids of their own, how is that setting them up to be successful? What chance do they have?

Maybe I am naïve. Sure I read about crime in the media but I never realised how rampant it is in our communities. I have heard that prescription drug abuse is a problem but never witnessed how much of a problem. Alcohol has been a problem for a long time so I knew about this continuing issue, but now it is combined with these new drugs. Why are these prescription drugs being prescribed in the first place? What did we do before they were invented? We survived.

I couldn’t help think that our own province is in the prescription drug business, as they monitor the medical fraternity, and drugs they prescribe. What if they weren’t available? Alcohol is legal and sold by the province. Then the province has a judicial system to deal with the people that commit crimes due to the abuse of these provincially monitored drugs and alcohol.
Something is wrong with this picture.

I urge you to consider taking the time to witness an Ontario Court of Justice hearing in your community. See for yourself how we are dealing with the issues in society today. It was an unexpected education that is most disturbing to say the least.

Mike Shusterman
Northern Ontario

The Beaver and the Logger- both misunderstood by urban dwellers

2011-02-20T13:19:00.001-05:00

I read an article by the Globe and Mail’s Erin Anderssen over the weekend and I couldn’t help chuckle to myself how this person, of course an urban dweller; found that the Canadian Beaver is very much misunderstood and a victim of bad press. I found it humorous in the fact that our Canadian Loggers are also misunderstood however as the Beaver is a furry little animal; well it is okay to live with what the Beaver brings to the table.

As typical, the urban dweller rarely interacts with the Beaver let alone a Logger, and doesn’t truly grasp what the reality is on our landscape.

Mr. Anderssen goes on in his article to point out the many benefits of the Beaver. A Beaver he goes on to say is in reality a “hard-working specimen, an eco-saviour” is how the Beaver is portrayed.

Well, like I stated I find that there are many similarities to the benefits of the Beaver species when compared to the human species of Logger.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not advocating for a “slamming” of the Beaver, in favour of a Logger and I get it that a Logger will never be recognized on the nickel or ever on a stamp although without our Loggers where would we be? Maybe it is time for our Loggers to be recognized for their contribution to the building of Canada.

Why is it that a Toronto journalist can be so overwhelmed by the attributes of a Beaver, but the moment that someone tries to stick up for the Logger, well you know what happens. I do intend to send a letter to the editor to respond to his article supporting our Loggers however it will never be printed as Toronto doesn’t want to hear about our hard-working human “eco-saviours”.

Our Loggers make a difference in the Forest with every move they make. Unfortunately they are not furry little animals, some are furry but not to the extent of the Beaver.

Our Loggers make a positive impact to the environment everyday. The Logger improves the Forest and creates renewal that benefits the complete natural cycle from the various wildlife health improvements from having new growth to consume, to improved health of the various tree species, and they add value to the economy, working as busy farmers by harvesting a renewable resource.

Beavers and Loggers actually work together as the Beavers can damn-up water not wanted crossing a road, however they do have a tendency to plug culverts, and when mother nature decides to drench the damns, the flooding can cause havoc. This Beaver flooding was not noted by this journalist coincidently.

Our Loggers are the first on the scene to extinguish a mother nature-caused forest fire, and if there is a Beaver –caused damn in the vicinity of this fire, the Logger can use it to extinguish this fire, so another example of this symbiotic relationship-humans working with other species.

Beavers clear-cut, as do some Loggers. Beavers do not perform select logging however where Loggers do; whereas Loggers respect areas of importance, and water body reserves while Beavers cut right down to the shoreline, in a “drag the tops out of the water” form of harvesting. Maybe the Beaver should get the bad rap!

Would Mr. Anderssen consider drafting his next article to consider the plight of the misunderstood Logger? Highly unlikely as we know, as he is an urban dweller. The urban dweller uses wood products not knowing where they come from and without having proper knowledge of the reality of working and living with nature; he will not see the similarities of the Logger and the Beaver. We get it, we understand the necessity and the benefits the Logger provides to the environment, and our prosperity.

Is it time to champion a new Canadian stamp depicting the Logger? Shouldn’t the Logger be considered iconic just like the Beaver? The Logger has as much of an important role in the shaping of Canada, and still does today.

At the end of the day, the Beaver and the Logger log, however one is a rodent and one is a human being. Why are these humans so misunderstood? Time for the Logger to hire a new agent.

Mike Shusterman

The Beaver and the Logger- both misunderstood by urban dwellers

2011-02-20T12:44:00.001-05:00

I read an article by the Globe and Mail’s Erin Anderssen over the weekend and I couldn’t help chuckle to myself how this person, of course an urban dweller; found that the Canadian Beaver is very much misunderstood and a victim of bad press. I found it humorous in the fact that our Canadian Loggers are also misunderstood however as the Beaver is a furry little animal; well it is okay to live with what the Beaver brings to the table.
As typical, the urban dweller rarely interacts with the Beaver let alone a Logger, and doesn’t truly grasp what the reality is on our landscape.
Mr. Anderssen goes on in his article to point out the many benefits of the Beaver. A Beaver he goes on to say is in reality a “hard-working specimen, an eco-saviour” is how the Beaver is portrayed.
Well, like I stated I find that there are many similarities to the benefits of the Beaver species when compared to the human species of Logger.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am not advocating for a “slamming” of the Beaver, in favour of a Logger and I get it that a Logger will never be recognized on the nickel or ever on a stamp although without our Loggers where would we be? Maybe it is time for our Loggers to be recognized for their contribution to the building of Canada.
Why is it that a Toronto journalist can be so overwhelmed by the attributes of a Beaver, but the moment that someone tries to stick up for the Logger, well you know what happens. I do intend to send a letter to the editor to respond to his article supporting our Loggers however it will never be printed as Toronto doesn’t want to hear about our hard-working human “eco-saviours”.
Our Loggers make a difference in the Forest with every move they make. Unfortunately they are not furry little animals, some are furry but not to the extent of the Beaver.
Our Loggers make a positive impact to the environment everyday. The Logger improves the Forest and creates renewal that benefits the complete natural cycle from the various wildlife health improvements from having new growth to consume, to improved health of the various tree species, and they add value to the economy, working as busy farmers by harvesting a renewable resource.
Beavers and Loggers actually work together as the Beavers can damn-up water not wanted crossing a road, however they do have a tendency to plug culverts, and when mother nature decides to drench the damns, the flooding can cause havoc. This Beaver flooding was not noted by this journalist coincidently.
Our Loggers are the first on the scene to extinguish a mother nature-caused forest fire, and if there is a Beaver –caused damn in the vicinity of this fire, the Logger can use it to extinguish this fire, so another example of this symbiotic relationship-humans working with other species.
Beavers clear-cut, as do some Loggers. Beavers do not perform select logging however where Loggers do; whereas Loggers respect areas of importance, and water body reserves while Beavers cut right down to the shoreline, in a “drag the tops out of the water” form of harvesting. Maybe the Beaver should get the bad rap!

Would Mr. Anderssen consider drafting his next article to consider the plight of the misunderstood Logger? Highly unlikely as we know, as he is an urban dweller. The urban dweller uses wood products not knowing where they come from and without having proper knowledge of the reality of working and living with nature; he will not see the similarities of the Logger and the Beaver. We get it, we understand the necessity and the benefits the Logger provides to the environment, and our prosperity.
Is it time to champion a new Canadian stamp depicting the Logger? Shouldn’t the Logger be considered iconic just like the Beaver? The Logger has as much of an important role in the shaping of Canada, and still does today.
At the end of the day, the Beaver and the Logger log, however one is a rodent and one is a human being. Why are these humans so misunderstood? Time for the Logger to hire a new agent.

Mike Shusterman

Looking back at 2010 and what's in-store for 2011?

2010-12-02T13:10:00.000-05:00

‘Tis the season for reflection, with the calendar quickly counting off the remaining days until the end of 2010. It is therefore, an appropriate time for us northerners to look back over the past to gauge where we are heading for 2011.

We can agree that we started off 2010 with not a lot of anticipation of good news. A number of mills across the region had recently closed with no signs of positive news approaching to get us back to any sense of prosperity.

I can think of many sad stories that were associated with almost every town. It was a sad visit to these towns as they struggled with continuing unheard levels of unemployment. Many of our workers headed out west yet some came back, learning that the grass isn’t always greener. Families were unfortunately separated with the shift in employment opportunities.

I try to remain positive, and if you do listen closely to the encouraging news that is quietly developing in every one of our towns, it looks like 2011 will be a different year, and a positive one.

I have personal knowledge of developments in a number of our communities and although no announcements have been made in recent weeks, it seems that people are waiting until everything is in place this time, where previously any news was announced and we know sometimes the news never transpired into the promised jobs.

The province, forestry officials, and even the environmentalists have been pushing for a change to more value-added forest products, better resource usage, a change in how a forest is managed and forest resources access. Primary to this new path it appears that we are finally realizing that our First Nations do have the right to be consulted on any change in resource development. Not only do First Nations deserve and judicially own the right for consultation, they have proven that they can teach everyone to look at development in a new way, a better way.

Just look at the anxious Mining Industry and their recent developments with the increase in mineral prices and the discovery of a huge chromite deposit. All these developers are consulting with our First Nation neighbours. It is about time, and although it isn’t perfect yet, the desire appears genuine. Time will tell, and maybe at the end of 2011, true consultation with First Nations will be the standard way of doing business.

I have had personal experience over the past year with the development of First Nation Partnerships, and I can tell you that it is such a pleasant education. True community partnerships are so encouraging, and putting our heads together and acquiring everyone’s knowledge is so valuable.

As we look around the region Forestry-wise, we can see encouraging signs with Terrace Bay Pulp in operation. Abitibi Bowater’s financial outlook is positive. The province is nearing the end of the Wood Supply Competition, and the Forest Tenure changes are developing and again with First Nation involvement.

You know, I feel that without First Nation involvement the province would never achieve their published goals of providing resource access to new resource businesses, nor would they develop a forest management model that serves everyone’s interests.

Green Energy projects are underway and others are very close to becoming a reality. Employee-ownership of closed mills has started to gain some momentum and looking at re-openings in the near future with new products becoming available. As you look closer at some of these new developments, people are being employed in different roles, which is encouraging.

Infrastructure spending is making a difference on our roads, and the Mining Industry is leading the way with expansion and prospecting developments looking towards new mines.

It isn’t perfect, but compared to what 2010 was looking like a year ago, I would take our 2011 future any day. I have also learned that patience is a key characteristic required as we embrace this change. Everything takes time, and I thank my First Nation friends for helping me understand that good things are worth waiting for.

All the best for 2011, think positive thoughts and we will make it back. The signs are there.

Forestry Update in the Northwest

2010-08-09T11:03:00.000-04:00

Forestry Update in the Northwest
By Mike Shusterman

Encouraging news is starting to filter out of northwestern Ontario regarding some new and exciting forest product ventures. Any news these days would be welcome and finally we are seeing signs that these new ventures are close to becoming a reality, and in forestry –related businesses.

The Greenstone area is one area that has been in the news recently with an increase in mining activities, and now news out of Longlac shows that new partnerships have developed that see both First Nations and business groups working together to create new sustainable employment, both on and off reserves, in value added forest products.

Two new businesses are planning to start –up as early as this fall. If that’s not good news I don’t know what is!

Longlac has always played an important role in forestry and forest products and this looks to continue. Buchanan’s sawmill is expected to be up and running in September in conjunction with the re-start of their Terrace Bay facility. This is all good news for residents in both forest product and woodlands jobs.

The change in Longlac is the creation of Making Ground Forest Products (MGFP) which consists of a partnership between Ginoogaming First Nation’s Rocky Shore Development Corporation and Boreal Resource Industries Inc. MGFP is actually developing two ventures; one on Ginoogaming property and the other on the former Kruger site now owned by Kenogami Industries Inc; of which MGFP owns two-thirds.

MGFP is finalizing arrangements to start a Post/Pole/ Rail Tie and Mining Supply venture on Ginoogaming First Nation land, and MGFP President Adolph Rasevych is ecstatic with the potential that is now within reach through this new partnership. “Finally we can see hope through the start of these two ventures, one of which is to be located on Ginoogaming land and this will kick-start our new Industrial Park, Rasevych commented.

“The venture on the Ginoogaming property is the result of a search for a non-housing start dependant forest product line. Combining these products with our Mining Timbers and other mining wood products places us in a good position for the future Ring of Fire mining explosion about to take off”, Rasevych added.

Vice President of MGFP is Andre Blanchard, and he explained the other business venture being undertaken by this new partnership. “We are getting into value-added products, by finishing and assembling complete units such as closet organizers, shelving units, and utility cupboards totally produced and assembled right here in Longlac. That is exciting” Blanchard added. He explained that once this initial product line is in place, they will then add panel overlay and finishing to their catalogue which will include pre-finished engineered flooring. The Longlac group is also in-queue for a 25 Megawatt Biomass Co Gen from the OPA, which will utilize wood waste from their product processing.

“These are our carefully planned baby steps that will result in the re-opening of the wafer board and plywood facilities. We are growing the market and there is much interest in us providing finished panels for customers. We are changing from an 80/20% commodity product line to an 80/20% value added offering. That difference alone will make us successful”.

“The partnership is what is making these changes happen for us”, replied Rasevych when asked what the most noticeable change is for their First Nation members. Partners, Andre and Adolph both agreed, “Everything we have accomplished to date is due solely to our relation building”.
MGFP expects to be producing approximately 15 different products this fall through a combination of log, lumber and panel conversions.

Down in Red Rock, investors are waiting for word on their wood supply allocations request from province on the under-utilized wood competition. The Red Rock facility is patiently waiting for this wood supply notification so they can start their 40 Megawatt Biomass Co Gen and Plywood ventures. The Red Rock Biomass Co-Gen is one of only a handful of Biomass ventures that will convert under-utilized fibre species into electrical power sold to the Ontario Power Authority.

At Lake Helen on the Red Rock First Nation near Nipigon, plans are underway for a Sawmill and Pellet operation, and like the Longlac, Red Rock and Atikokan Biomass venture, everyone is waiting to confirm wood supply. This is expected to be released possibly in September. Ignace is also on the verge of a new forest product line related to energy.

So things are happening, on a vastly different scale but they are progressing. These new partnerships and ventures are following the model of value added products and utilizing previously undesired wood species. The model works because wood waste generated from their products will be used to feed the Co-Gen boilers.

The expected fall start-up of these new ventures is fast approaching and like everyone I have my fingers crossed wishing these new businesses success. I will provide an update later as to their progress.

If Rocks were Trees

2010-05-27T14:04:00.001-04:00

Have you ever considered the absurd notion of our rocks switching places with our trees, specifically with regards to our rocks coming under the same profile and proposed changes as our trees in Ontario?

Maybe it’s just me but I always try to rationalize one situation with another. An example of this thinking; I always try to come to terms with the fact that we are a large landmass in northern Ontario with an abundance of rocks, trees and water, with 90% on non-private lands. These are our natural resources and they are owned by us, the public of Ontario, and our First Nation neighbours. It is us, and we are defined by these resources. These resources are what our small communities depend upon for their prosperity.

The trees specifically are once again facing yet another change in management. The province is attempting to appease both the US, the environmentalists, southern Ontario, large mostly foreign-owned forest companies, and lastly us northerners, not last in this list by mistake. These changes are a BIG change.

The province has taken the bold and welcomed step of trying to change the tree landscape by providing more fibre to new ventures, at the same time it is trying to also achieve a new management approach.

What if the roles were reversed? What if the Rocks in northern Ontario were put under this same microscope?

Let’s begin with Tenure. Would the mining community cope with the same situation our trees are currently involved with, the determination of who manages our rocks? What would be the result of this very long consultation, would the mining of new rock findings be held-up waiting for the results of the consultation?

Would Mining companies be interested in pursuing potential mines if they didn’t know what they would have to pay for these rocks? What if they weren’t guaranteed that they could access all of the rocks that they desire?

Would Mining Companies put up with a new Board of community experts determining access to these rocks, controlled potentially by the usual list of retired former municipal politicians? The price they will have to pay to acquire these rocks being determined by this same group, or would a Rock Board be established that will dictate pricing? What about the stumpage payment that would be required for these rocks?

Would a new Mining Company still proceed with the mine?

The other recent event facing our trees is the new fibre competition (Wood Supply Competitive Process, son of RFEI) for access to fibre volumes, with some of these volumes originating from fibre previously withheld-from- harvest by the larger companies. I cannot fathom what it would be like if the mining Companies were subjected to this same scenario.

Many new fibre-based ventures are patiently (?) waiting word on their requests for this fibre; meanwhile these ventures that will employ a lot of northerners cannot start until they are granted this fibre. Would the Mining Companies put up with this constant delay, up to two years by now?

I cannot imagine the outcome if the Ring of Fire potential is placed under the same scrutiny as the tree resource. Can you see this great potential Chromite resource going through the countless restrictions that the tree resource must face? If one would start removing land base for the various water and animal species restrictions, Areas of Concern, seasonal restrictions etc, etc; there would be nothing left to mine.

I also wonder now after learning about the recent Forest Products Association of Canada’s cashing –in to the environmentalists, by agreeing to the removal of even more of the Boreal Forest, how Mining Companies would feel if they were told that now after all the access they have already given away over the years, now a whole new Boreal Rock, or portions of the Canadian Shield will be off-limits to Mining?

I see what the affects of these future fibre-based changes CAN do for our northern communities, but I also see what could be accomplished if we considered our tree resource as we do the mineral resource. Let’s assume that our trees are just as valuable as our mining resources. Shouldn’t they be considered as equals? However, trees come back, rocks do not, so why the desire to over-monitor the trees? Our communities depend on these resources, as does the rest of the world.

Currently we are waiting, and waiting, trees and rocks.

Koodo Mobile- Buyer BEWARE,BLUE-TOOTH WON'T WORK, think twice before signing-up

2010-04-05T18:29:00.000-04:00

Have you the unfortunate experience of dealing with Koodo Mobile? Yikes, what a nightmare. Their phones won't work with the blue-tooth in your car, then try to get Koodo to replace the defective phone, even if it is on warranty and they still won't do it. Defective phones not on warranty!

First, don't get an LG through Koodo, and if you have trouble don't bother calling them as they will give you the run-around, UNLESS YOU HAVE ALL DAY TO ARGUE WITH THEM, and still you have to pay for another phone to replace the defective phones.

They will make you pay again for another phone, even though what you have from them doesn't work.

Koodo doesn't want you calling them and complaining. They don't care about you once you have signed -up.

What kind of customer service is that?

Also, some stores like Future Shop are not Koodo stores so if it is not a Koodo store you will also get the run-around.

All-in-all a bad experience with KOODO MOBILE-BUYER BEWARE!!!!!

Wood Request Deadline Looms

2010-03-25T12:22:00.000-04:00

Will Community Wood Benefit the Community?

In less than one week, after almost two years of back and forth with the province, the forest industry in Ontario will be meeting a deadline to submit applications for the 11 million cubic metres of newly available wood fibre. By midnight March 31st, requests for this fibre must be submitted.

This is not a small task and the rules and procedures to submit a proper request has been revised four times already. Revision # 4 came out yesterday only one week prior to the submission deadline!

The wood in question is not really new wood, it’s like the used car jargon; it’s new to you! This wood is being made available by the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry (MNDM&F), (this is one time acronyms are helpful).

This wood is wood that previous Forest Managers, primarily represented by large mill owners failed to utilize over the years, and the province realized after considerable requests, and rightfully so, that this wood can create new opportunities, IF it is going to really be granted to new opportunities.

Michael Gravelle, the Minister of the MNDM&F stated previously that tough decisions will be made, and if this is conducted correctly, new players will emerge as the new employment generators in northern Ontario. I say IF, because there will no doubt be a push from the large mills to tie this wood –up, like they have in the past. This has resulted in wood being removed from the backyards of our communities and shipped elsewhere and the community only saw harvesting jobs created and in some instances from non-community residents. The opportunity for these new ventures will only occur if the wood that surrounds our communities stays in our communities.

I am familiar with a number of these potential new ventures requesting wood that will create new jobs, from wood surrounding their respective communities. The job potential of these new ventures that I am aware of is between 600-1000 jobs. There are others that will surface. Can you imagine what these jobs will do for our communities? This is only the direct manufacturing jobs, and the harvesting and trucking jobs alone can almost double this number. The other spin-off jobs generated makes this opportunity a real economic boost for northern Ontario, if it is done right.

The ventures I speak of are targeting value-added forest products. Value-added forest products generate the maximum number of jobs, and this is another mandate of the province, generating maximum employment from this newly available wood. It is the right thing to do at the right time, and again I commend Mr. Gravelle and his staff’s initiatives.

I am impressed with the direction we are heading in our forests, and I want to encourage our provincial representatives to stick to their plans to make this newly available wood, available to new ventures that will bring prosperity back to our communities. This wood must be given first to the ventures that will bring new employment to our communities.

I am hopeful that over the coming months as the MNDM&F sort through all the requests that this demand is a cornerstone of their decisions. All the communities that have this wood in their backyards are counting on this real opportunity.

Mike Shusterman
Blog: http://biglakecountry.blogspot.com
Email:mike.biglakecountry@gmail.com

NWO and NFLD, "Have Not" vs "Have" & Reversed Roles

2010-03-02T10:53:00.001-05:00

Remember back to the 70’s when Northwestern Ontario was booming, and we were firing on all cylinders? We were living prosperously due to our resources, while over in Newfoundland it was the exact opposite and they were known as a “have not province”.
I cannot escape the thought that we have reversed roles with our friends to the east as I drive through the northwest. It seems so apparent that we have become a “have-not” region in a “have not province”.

In Canada, the provinces are loosely divided into "have" and "have not." "Have not" provinces do not generate enough money domestically to cover their federally-mandated programmes (i.e. healthcare, welfare, pensions). "Have" provinces are the ones that do generate enough money to pay for their provincial programmes. Transfer payments from federal taxes are moved to the “have-nots”, to help cover these social costs.

I remember the humour of that time coming from Newfoundland, and they do have the ability to laugh at themselves similar to us northerners. I remember the joke at the time that Newfoundland’s growth industry was through the building of empty warehouses to accommodate the failed ventures that had no place being established in Newfoundland in the first place, and the business would close and the building became an empty warehouse.

There are other similarities between us and our “newfie” friends. Newfoundlanders will always come back to their roots to work or retire. The same can be said for most of us northerners. Just look at those of us that headed out west to work. It may provide work but it’s not home. We will come back to enjoy the beauty, the fishing and hunting, winter and summer.

Times have changed though haven’t they? Newfoundland is now officially a “have” province. Sure Newfoundland always had their fish stocks to help them, but even those were depleted from over-fishing not only from their activity but from off-shore fleets as well. Things got even worse for them before they got better.

We however have been so affected by the downturn in the US economy that our traditional resources are not providing prosperity anymore. We are now the “have not” people. Our traditional economy will bounce back in time but in the meantime, we have a chance to reverse our role just as Newfoundland did with their oil resources.

Our oil resource-type saviour can be the “Ring of Fire” chromite deposit, located in the northern section of northwestern Ontario. This “find” is so large it has been tagged as a strategic supply for North America. The manufacturing of stainless steel requires chromite. Mining companies have estimated that there will be thousands of jobs creation potential linked to this chromite discovery.

It’s not hard to fathom the potential. The chromite has to be accessed as it is remote; the site requires development, and the chromite processed at least to a point that it can be transported to a smelting facility. The opportunity is tremendous. Not only is the chromite discovery huge, this activity will also lead to other significant finds of other minerals.

The Ring of Fire opportunity can become what northwestern Ontario and all its residents require to once again become a thriving region. The spin-off job opportunities will also help the many smaller forestry companies that will provide mining timbers, other products, road building expertise and other site and transportation development.

At the same time that this new opportunity is being developed our forest resource companies will be back to also providing our residents with much-needed work and the future is definitely starting to look bright for us, finally. The key though is to develop the potential properly. We have to consider all the residents that can benefit, and affected.

We need to honour past agreements so we can move forward together, and this will require a great deal of consultation and a genuine desire to maximize the potential for our youth. Let’s leave our next generation with a “have” legacy, so they can call northwestern Ontario home permanently.

mike.biglakecountry@gmail.com

Next Crop of Foresters Impress

2010-01-16T12:41:00.003-05:00

Recently, I had the distinct pleasure to participate in Lakehead University Forestry Association’s (LUFA) 42nd Annual Forestry Symposium.
I was invited to present my thoughts on LUFA’s Symposium’s topic which is dear to my heart, and thankfully an upcoming opportunity, that being “A new Approach-Tenure and Reform in Ontario’s Forests”.

Forest tenure change; whereby the province will make changes based on a massive input seeking exercise will define how a public resource, the trees on our publically owned forests will be accessed, purchased, and managed is happening now!

It was typical of LUFA to choose this single most important issue in recent memory to discuss with their association. LUFA has a strong background of seeking discussion and education on the issues of the day. One only needs to look over the topics covered in the past years to confirm that LUFA is on the cutting-edge of Forestry.

My participation permitted me to interact with a number of up and coming Foresters and I must say that I am truly impressed. As a graduate of Lakehead’s Forestry program, I could see the results of what Lakehead is capable of producing first –hand. These students are great ambassadors for not only their Forestry Association but for Lakehead University and their chosen profession. You might notice my bias, however in reality Lakehead University is a world –renowned institution in many faculties, and Forestry in particular.

I am truly impressed with the business-like attitude of these students. The organizing committee consisting of; Brent Forbes, Natalie Hughes, Joey James, Shawn Mandula, Jocelin Nellie, Josh Sigurdson, and Lauren Thompson were VERY organized, well spoken, and are already showing the attributes of their upcoming profession and designation. They showed a true appreciation of everyone that participated and their warm welcome was genuine.

These students showed the signs of what I believe are necessary requirements for being a successful Forester in today’s world; global forestry knowledge, listening skills and flexibility. I had the opportunity to share lunch together with a number of the students and I couldn’t help think about how fortunate we are that this future generation of Foresters will put us on the right path as we enter this new world of change in the field of Forestry. As one of the presenters; Tom Clark of CMC Ecological Consulting pointed out to the audience, it was a loud and clear statement at the recent Copenhagen conference on climate change that the field of Forestry will continue to play an increasingly important role for the future health of the world.

Meanwhile back at the Symposium, the speakers were all in favour of the potential changes that lie ahead with how we manage our crown forests and what roles are necessary from the profession. Interestingly, all four speakers spoke on the role that the community can and should play in the future of our forests. I am also happy to report that my suggestion that we finally consider the true community, which includes all the residents of a community and surrounding neighbours which is our First Nation’s, was unanimously supported.

As LU’s Dr. Peggy Smith pointed-out, we still have some work to do in ensuring that First Nations are an integral part of any movement forward, which we are reminded that these forests are on their traditional lands. This thinking aligns exactly with what NAN Grand Chief Beardy continues to strongly demand-that First Nations be involved in each and every step of a process to plan, access, utilize, manufacture and manage the forests in Ontario.

There was alignment on a number of issues related on forest tenure change and everyone was in agreement that the upcoming changes can create new opportunities if implemented wisely. We have started to notice early indications of these changes with new Community Partnerships recently created in the region and now we need to tie these together with potential new Community Forests.

The goal of the Symposium was “to provide a forum for discussion and a catalyst for change within the tenure system”, and this goal was achieved. The resulting questions from the audience which included a number of students demonstrated to me that we are making in-roads to a new Forestry, by embracing change and that this next crop of Foresters will be the best that this province has ever produced, and lead us into this new future.

Mike Shusterman
mike.biglakecountry@gmail.com

A New Forest Inventory Required-NOW!

2009-12-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

I participated in the recent WSCP (Wood Supply Competition Process), yes yet another acronym to add to your never –ending list. I was surprised at the turn-out, as the predecessor of this session was the RFEI (Request For Expressions of Interest) to acquire wood from the province, almost exactly one year ago.

There is a greater interest for a number of reasons, and most likely the single compelling reason is the amount of wood the province is making available; 11 million cubic metres! This volume and this process is historic, as is the fact that at the same time the province is opening up a competition to acquire this wood, the process comes on the heels of another historic change, that being the future regarding the actual method of managing the Forests that the actual competition winners will be facing once they acquire a wood supply agreement.

I am an advocate of both these changes that we will be seeing over the next year. I applaud the province for seeking these changes. I can see now that the province is listening to its forestry advisers, and the timing is perfect, as none of this would have been even thinkable 5-10 years ago.

I have a concern that must be addressed however if we are going to truly promote and witness the creation of value-added forest products, which I feel is essential for the future of forestry in northern Ontario.

It was quite evident at this session in which the province unveiled the actual volumes of wood fibre available in the 40 or so Forests located in both northern and southern Ontario. The province, by their own admission, does not know how much wood we truly have on our public land. This may seem astonishing to most but if you think of it, it is clearly explainable. Okay, what I should have said is that the province does not have a good handle on the amount of wood in the species that can move us closer to actually producing more value-added forest products.

The provincial forestry department does know the true volume of softwood species, the SPF (Spruce/Pine/Fir) however they do not, again by their own admission understand how much aspen poplar, white birch, and other soft hardwoods exist in our Forests. These species have driven the movement towards value-added products to date and will continue to do so, but without knowing the true potential that exists, there will be missed opportunities for entrepreneurs to capitalize on these species availability.

This again is explainable, as the province has focused all its efforts on the softwood species, and has never recognized the true potential of the other related species associated in the Boreal Forest. I have worked throughout my career where softwood is king and the aspen and birch are considered weeds. Softwoods did drive the region for many years, and because of this focus and demand, there is little room for new opportunities in softwoods excepting where some customers of these species are no more.

I witnessed this discrepancy again at this wood allocation session. The volumes of white birch in particular are very low on some of the most productive Forests for these species. I would say drastically low especially now as the province is adding the un-merchantable and under-utilized species and volumes for new opportunities.

I always reflect back on Finland when I see how we are missing something in Ontario. In Finland, they get it, and because of their vast knowledge of what exists on their doorstep they can maximize the opportunities that are there just because they know what they have. Sometimes I find we know more about what is under the ground like minerals than what we can see in front of us, like” we can’t see the Forest for the trees!”

There is a remedy however which aligns perfectly with the direction the province is headed. If we can change more to a Community Forest concept of forest tenure, then the Community can be charged with determining the true forest inventory in their backyards and as this is in their own best interest to have this knowledge, they will be able to attract value-added forest product opportunities to their Communities.

The previous Forest managers only concerned themselves with the species they required, and we can see the result of this pressure on our softwood species. There is a new frontier on our community’s doorsteps and they can champion the drive to telling us how much wood is really out there. Let our community’s future generations determine the inventory of their most precious resource. This will lead to new jobs in these same communities.

Green(back)Peace Exposed

2009-12-06T17:28:00.000-05:00

Have you noticed lately how money is once again raising its ugly head as the real goal even with respect to many supposed not-for-profit NGO's(non-government organizations?

Now we see that global warming has been finally exposed as yet another method for institutions of higher learning to raise funding for research. "Climategate" has uncovered how some of the so-called world scientists have been hiding the true facts that the climate is NOT warming and merely a sun event. What would happen to their funding if these so-called scientists reported the truth that there is nothing to be concerned about? The sun has been acting quite normally as it has for thousands of years, and this is the real truth.

Groups such as Greenpeace have been playing on the emotions of the masses for years, and yes they are living high off the hog because they have tricked you into believing everything they tell you,and some of us unfortunately believe them. They act exactly as the global warming so-called scientists, or fund raisers do, they report un-truths and convince people who have developed an unfounded trust to empty their pockets thinking they are acting wisely. It is shameful actually.

I have seen this same play on emotions in GreenbackPeace's attacks on the forest industry. These same fund raisers will tell you about certain species at risk and convince governments to protect these species with even more access restrictions, and now tell me for example how many Bald Eagles you have seem lately? Bald Eagles are not a species at risk. The big lie if marketed properly to unexpecting individuals will raise funds for these groups to pay for their expensive offices and expense accounts.

GreenbackPeace has turned this strategy into profits. Scientists have turned global warming lies into a windfall of research dollars. Governments are changing the economy based on these un-truths, and are now meeting in Copenhagen to discuss further lies pushed by the fund raisers like GreenbackPeace.

I have been a skeptic of GreenbackPeace for years and now I have discovered where GreenbackPeace has been found to be caving into certain lobby groups in the US over Palm Oil. These parasites are saying that Palm Oil is bad and now interfering with the use of this commodity for bio-fuel, and why you ask, well because there are US companies that need to change opinions to raise more funds and protect their interests and have sucked GreenbackPeace into putting out the message. GreenbackPeace has sold-out and their exposure is convincing former supporters that they are just another scam.

GreenbackPeace and others such as The Friends of Earth, actually "Friends of Money" have been finally exposed. Think twice when you have one of these so-called do-gooders knock on your door asking you for money.The same old addage applies with GreenbackPeace,"if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is".

Can we suggest another view on taxes?

2009-11-27T11:37:00.002-05:00

We are currently in the midst of some debate about getting some more tax changes, at a time that is probably the worst time to consider making changes. Problem is that there was no debate, and the final readings are taking place as you read this. We won’t have a chance to really show our thoughts about this until the fall of 2011.It appears that now there will be proper discourse.

Now I know things are tough for Ontario, a have-not province, but we in Northern Ontario are a have-not region in a have not province, should that not account for some relief?

We exist primarily on resource conversion up here in the north. At the moment, minerals are starting to show signs of prosperity, however our forest industry that so many small communities depend upon which make up a large constituent are in very rough shape.

Our First Nation neighbours are not impressed with the new accounting madness they will endure and if northern Ontario was granted amnesty on this new harmonizing, it would be a big relief. At the very least could we have a moratorium on this for 5-years, to allow us to get back on our feet?

I know, we already have such perks as our own curling team, and we can use studded tires, whereas southern Ontario cannot. Well, I think we would be better off in the north without this additional tax that southern Ontario can handle.

We have plans for the future but we will not get there unless we can survive today. Our costs already are higher in the north. We have little in the way of public transit so now with the HST; we will have to pay even more for gas that we have to use for transportation.This is not fair.

We only have approximately 800,000 or so souls living up here so I don’t think the Premier will miss this additional revenue.
How can you expect laid-off workers to swallow another tax?

PLEASE, Premier McGuinty, grant us northerners some relief!!

Mike Shusterman
Visit my blog biglakecountry.blogspot.com/

Olympic Volunteers in our Region-Nipigon’s Ava Walter is “Living the Dream”

2009-11-24T20:17:00.000-05:00

November 24, 2009.
Op/Ed Release from: Mike Shusterman, “Musings from Big Lake Country”

I had the distinct pleasure to interview Nipigon’s Ava Walter recently and if you know her, the best words to describe Ava, are “infectious enthusiasm”. That phrase is for her alone.

I stopped by her place to learn about her volunteer journey for the Winter Olympics which according to the count-down sign on her fridge, there are “only 84 days to go to Vancouver 2010”. She was baking for an upcoming Christmas Craft show to help defray her personal costs of participating in Vancouver.

It was all I could do to resist the cookies, cookies as far as the eye could see!
Ava’s passion is curling. If she could be involved in curling 12 months of the year she would. Well, after all she does come from Al Hackner country, a two-time World curling champion born and raised in this small town in northwestern Ontario!

Ava started her journey to become a volunteer in the 2010 games in the curling venue more than one year ago. Amazingly the Vancouver Olympic Committee (VANOC) received 50,000 applications world-wide which included 10,000 in the initial 24 hours.

Her application must have overwhelmed the organizers with her experience. Ava has provided this same volunteer spirit at the Roar of the Rings in December 2005 in Halifax; three Canada Cups, the Men’s Worlds in 2007 in Edmonton. In fact she is going back to Edmonton for the Tim Horton’s Roar of the Rings at Rexall Place next month.

Her first successful contact with the Olympic organizers recruitment team was participating in a telephone interview way back in April 2008 and she has been on “cloud 9” ever since. An RCMP security clearance, and an August training session were the next positive steps on her journey. VANOC observers, themselves volunteers recorded positive and negative qualities that the prospective volunteers exhibited during the training sessions. The successful volunteer would need to demonstrate that he or she was a team player in a team environment which was the essential goal.

To Ava, being in Vancouver at the Olympics helping with this event is truly “living the dream”. She loves the fact that curling, a true amateur sport, will be proudly represented by such great Canadian athletes. She outlined to me the grueling path our best curlers have to follow to get to represent Canada. It is a strong curling team that makes it all the way to these Olympics.

She told me the venue where the curling will held, is breathtaking. It seats approximately 6,000. Ava has already participated in the World Junior Curling at this very same facility back in February 2009 where this venue was put through the paces to be ready for the world stage. “The scoreboard is state of the art”, Ava explained.

The community is solidly behind Mrs. Walter, with the Royal Bank locally, and as a national partner of the Olympics. She has even had a local donation come her way. Both her time and personal costs are all out of her pocket. She is a true volunteer!

This super volunteer may also have an opportunity to extend her Olympic experience at the Paralympics 12 days later at this very same venue, and to top this off, it appears that Ava has also been invited to participate in the Opening & Closing Ceremonies. Her dream is becoming the once –in- a- lifetime dream that even she could not have imagined!

Look for Ava when you settle –in to watch the Olympic Curling events. She has 13 shifts from 2:30-11:30 pm, between February 16th -February 27th, including a well-deserved day-off on the 24th.
You can be sure that her infectious enthusiasm will inspire all the fans and curlers at the 2010 games.

Mike Shusterman
Mike.biglakecountry@gmail.com
Visit my Blog at http://biglakecountry.blogspot.com/

Yuck! The Return of the Yellow Bottles

2009-11-21T17:48:00.000-05:00

Yes it is that time of year again, when we start to see the return of those yellow bottles that find their way into the ditches along our highways. It sounds like a Horror Film, and it is also like a reverse migration season. When the winter weather approaches the yellow bottles come back and although we occasionally see these containers during the winter months, it is the spring when we get our full glimpse of these bottles typically containing a certain body fluid. Yuck!

Yes this is kind of gross, but it is a reality of travel in the north. It is not something people like to discuss, however it is there and it is not only un-sightly, and it is a health risk to those people who volunteer their time to picking these up.

I commend those folks who are typically are a member of a volunteer group that have a dedicated trash removal party that forms a few times per year. These groups reserve a portion of the highway and look after making sure their section is cleaned-up.

The question is why? Why do we have to observe and pick-up after thoughtless drivers? This is something that I do not remember observing years ago, but it is definitely there now.

One only has to look at the very few places a driver has to relieve themselves along the vast stretches of our highways. There are none! After Thanksgiving we lose access to our restroom facilities. Is this what he are to be thankful for, but then after we give thanks we can’t use them until Victoria Day?

Why can’t we have restroom facilities available all year? Is it that difficult to manage, is it that costly? I know it’s not tourist time during the winter months, and it never will be with this type of facility availability. I can remember being questioned by some visitors from southern Ontario and the US recently as to “why there are so many bottles of apple juice found in the ditches?” When they were educated about our reality they were not impressed.

Okay so we can’t cover the cost to have a restroom from Nipigon to Jellicoe, or between Longlac and Hearst, can we not at least have some receptacles to place those apple juice containers in?

One only has to drive along the north-shore by the Sault to see how they have remedied this situation with numerous waste disposal spots, which are easy to access for a considerable distance. It works there, it is covered by the MOT budget, so why not here? There are no restroom facilities there either and it is quite a hike between the Sault and Wawa but at least they can dispose of their refuse.

It is tough enough driving in the northwest in the winter with the snow, ice and moose, and these are out of our control, but restroom facilities are in our control. Why do we just accept this situation? We are fined if we litter, yet we have no restrooms, and in the winter well, it that can get a little chilly and dangerous as there are no places to pull off, even if you are brave enough to face the elements.

You know, in frustration I have been tempted to put a sign on the gates barring access to the few restroom facilities that do exist, and the sign would read, “Closed for the Season, Just fill up a bottle and throw it into the ditch like everyone else”.
Mike Shusterman
Mike.biglakecountry@gmail.com
My Blog: http//:biglakecountry.blogpsot.com/

Province commits to forest renewal

2009-11-10T12:21:00.001-05:00

Ontario Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry announced yesterday that the province will be injecting the necessary funds to purchase approximately 13. 5 million tree seedlings for planting this coming summer.

This 1-year supplemental renewal program will make it possible for local greenhouses to return to the seedling business with this commitment to forest renewal. These seedlings are destined to be planted in areas that have been hit with natural disturbances such as fire, insect and wind damage.

The recent harvesting curtailments due to the forest product market collapse has created a void for greenhouses that were mostly originally developed to supply seedlings to the various forest management firms and Forests across the northwest.

The lack of harvesting has meant there is less intensive forest renewal required, however our forests continue to be hit with natural disturbances and this announcement will make it possible to keep our local tree seedling greenhouses in place until there is a return to normal harvesting activity which will require normal silvicultural practices, including seedling production.

The job impact equates to approximately 70 jobs created in the production of seedlings, while another 420 jobs will be developed to prepare the proposed planting areas through various soil preparation methods, as well as the actual planting employment required.

"Our government is focused on strengthening the economy, creating jobs and building for the future. This supplemental forest renewal program will stimulate job creation in forest renewal and is an investment in the future of the forest," Minister Gravelle stated at the announcement.

The 13.5 million seedlings will be planted on 6,700 hectares, or approximately 17,000 acres. The investment by the province to our public forests equals $6 million dollars. This investment also boosts the province’s forest renewal plans by an additional 20%.

Ministry of Natural Resource Minister, Donna Cansfield stated, “Our ministries are working cooperatively to support the forest services sector and ensure our forest resources are managed in a sustainable way. By providing a boost to forest renewal, we are helping to ensure our forests remain healthy for the benefit of all Ontarians."

It is so important to keep our mechanisms in place while we slowly move out of the bottom of this forest product down-cycle. We need the services of forest management firms, and forest seedling greenhouses as much as we need to have a forest harvesting industry available for the future once we return to supplying the world with our highly valued forest products.

Announcements such as these remind us that we will have a forest industry in place well into the future. Investments in our forests give our forestry dependent communities hope at a time that there is little to go around.

The province has opportunities to turn these forestry related communities around through the release of new fibre allocations to new and re-started facilities, and we expect soon to see these take place. Through the coordination of the Green Energy opportunities, we will see a new future and a sustainable forest to return to, through continued investments in our Forests.

Mike Shusterman
mike.biglakecountry@gmail.com
& check out my Blog at:
http://biglakecountry.blogspot/

Hospital Waiting Time Adventure and a Solution

2009-11-10T12:18:00.001-05:00

My father-in-law who resides in the pretty town of Sturgeon Falls just became the owner of a new hip at Thunder Bay’s Regional Hospital. I was with him in August and realized that he couldn’t wait any longer for a hip replacement, as he was limping and I feared that one day soon he would fall, and make things worse, plus he was favouring his right hip more and more and he was beginning to show signs that this hip would be next to fail.

He went to the Sudbury hospital he was familiar with back in January 2009, and this was after the family pushing him to get a hip replacement, so really his pain started in 2008! He is a proud man, doesn’t like to create a fuss and thought maybe whatever he had may go away. I think we can all relate.

Well when he did finally achieve an appointment in Sudbury and he was told that the waiting time was up to three years! Now he is 85, but that should not be a reason to push him back on a list, not that he was given this explanation. This was unacceptable and so the Doctor offered to get him into North Bay as they had a one year waiting list.

Well, this opportunity fell through the cracks and he never did get put on that North Bay list. After numerous attempts to learn about his status it was finally revealed to him that he might get into North Bay for a replacement by March, and this was in September. That is when I got involved to see if there was a chance in Thunder Bay.

I have known this man for 34 years, and he likes to be active, and this has kept him in good shape, but the hip was becoming so painful that he was starting to become less and less active. It was affecting his quality of life. Lack of activity seems to me to be a leading cause of increased aging.

I wanted to help him so I discussed the possibility of approaching his Sudbury Doctor to get a referral to the Thunder Bay Doctor who replaced my neighbour’s hip.
I did finally get the referral, after numerous attempts to get the document from the Sudbury office. This series of back and forth phone calls and pleading made the difference. I contacted the Thunder Bay Doctor, Dr. Puskas and they finally received the referral. Then I went to the Dr. Puskas' office beside the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital and met with his Assistants and scheduler. This was during the first week of October.

Well November 3, exactly 5 weeks later my father-in-law did receive his new hip and is a happy man. I did score some brownie points in the family although this was not my motive. It didn’t hurt that being English and that I helped a Frenchman, see we are good for something!

I learned a great deal through this ordeal. It was my first experience as a consumer of the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital and a local surgeon. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. I was very impressed with the professionalism.

What I don’t understand is why it is not possible to coordinate this opportunity across the province? I don’t think it would take e-health type dollars to achieve a level of hospital coordination. Why can’t hospitals have a program showing waiting times at hospitals that perform hip replacements? If you are willing to travel to another City you can have your wait shortened considerably, and in this case which started out as a 3-year wait was reduced to 5 weeks!

I understand that the province is focused on reducing waiting lists for various surgical procedures but the above example makes one wonder, what is the big deal? I was able to create a reduced waiting time by shear persistence. It does not have to make a difference if you are not familiar with the City so long as you get relief for yourself by getting that operation in a timely manner.

Some simple coordination and a very inexpensive computer program can reduce waiting times drastically.

I learned once again that the squeaky wheel does get the grease, and you do have to be persistent and do not give up. Don’t wait for that promised returned call, it won’t come. You are responsible for the follow-up.
Check around if you are becoming frustrated, there are other options, and it was so nice that Thunder Bay came through with flying colours.

Mike Shusterman
Mike.biglakecountry@gmail.com
Check out my Blog at http://biglakecountry.blogspot.com/

Community Driven Recovery in Forestry Ahead

2009-10-30T09:55:00.001-04:00

As I travel around the north lately I am becoming encouraged by the very positive potential that is on the verge of being un-leashed in the forestry sector, as well as the increasing mining opportunities.

Things are happening around us and so many of the ventures occurring are increasingly community driven and are developing quietly. You can start to get a sense of us turning the corner through the variety of new ventures that are becoming known throughout the region.

I know that there are a few forestry-based initiatives developing in Thunder Bay that are so very close to becoming reality. I have begun to understand how difficult it is to get some of these ventures off the ground and that is why you have not heard a lot about them as sometimes too much information can work against completion. People are now waiting until everything is completed prior to making any announcements for fear that they might be pre-mature, so it takes time to get to the final announcement.

Elsewhere in the region I have come across a number of other opportunities that are so close to becoming reality. There are at least 3-4 along the North-Shore nearing a start-up position and the Greenstone region is also experiencing some good news I am told. Together with the exciting mineral potential, there is now a true reason for optimism. The news is encouraging and we need some positive news to give us hope.

The common thread surrounding these developments and the drive behind the optimism is that these new ventures are all community –driven. We have not seen such a level of community involvement in the forest industry in recent history. We have grown accustom to large national companies operating paper and associated sawmills, and then these were sold to even larger multi-national firms, moving the decision making even further from our door-steps. The end result of this history has been disappointing as the community that supplied the people and the resources have been left to pick up the pieces, with aging equipment and a less than desirable resource base. There are some exceptions but on average we have been left to figure this our on our own, and you know what, we can and we are.

I am so excited and at the same time proud of the changes that are coming due to the resiliency of our communities. It is our communities that are demanding the necessary changes to wood allocations. It has been loud and clear at every Forest Tenure Review session that our communities want a say in how the wood in their backyards is allocated. The voice is loud and I know the province is listening. There is talk that communities may be close to being granted the opportunity to manage the forests surrounding their communities.

I am also proud to learn how we are becoming true communities by embracing our First Nation neighbours. There are recent models of both communities teaming-up with municipalities to become a new entity that are working together to drive the change that will make a difference for the future of all our residents. Now we have two levels of government approaching our provincial and federal governments with suggestions and made-in-the-north solutions to change the future.

New opportunities have appeared through the Green Energy initiative that will enable power generation from the biomass originating from our forests. This new power generation opportunity will offset a forest product facility’s energy costs and in turn the facility can provide raw material to the power plant from the wood waste created from the product processes. In next few months, we will see new power generating ventures receiving 20-year power purchase agreements to move ahead with their biomass powered projects.

It is such a natural progression for the forest industry and with the community driving the management of the forest and sharing in the revenues created, everyone is a winner. Jobs are sustained locally, the forest is managed with the future of the community in mind, new value-added forest products are becoming a reality, and the profits are retained in the community. This is a powerful change which takes us back to earlier times when the first jobs created in a community were the result of community entrepreneurs. Tying the resources of a community to the community does more than keeping the community alive, it provides a future.

Interestingly enough, there have been un-founded comments from outside our region that maybe we don’t have the knowledge or expertise to manage our forests. We all know that together our northern communities will prove that we can do a much better job, as we have more at stake.

The Next Challenge to Our Forest Industry, and our Federal Government is Asleep at the Switch

2009-10-26T10:02:00.003-04:00

A New Challenge to our Forest Industry and the Federal Government is Asleep at the Switch

It is bad enough that the Canadian dollar has shown signs of reaching par again with our American counterpart, and now comes word that although the distorted $8 billion black liquor subsidy devised by the American paper industry is being phased-out by year’s -end in the U.S.; a new subsidy, yes it is a subsidy, is coming at us from our neighbours to the south at blinding speed, the result being another major blow to the sustainability of our pulp and paper, and other forest product facilities in Canada. Yet another blow to our resource –dependent communities. How much more can we endure?

The Black Liquor subsidy which permitted US paper mills to add diesel fuel to their black liquor through a cleverly disguised loophole had cancelled and then delayed any recovery in our paper mills until the pulp price just started to increase again recently. The black liquor dispute started when American pulp and paper mills took advantage of a fuel subsidy that encouraged motorists to switch to alternative fuel sources.

This time, the U.S. government, bowing to yet another lobby group is using another loophole from the so called Biomass Crop Assistance Program. This accounting dream is expected to create another $4 billion windfall for American paper makers. The original intention of this program was to entice the public to make the move from fossil fuels to bio-energy. Yes, this is purposely confusing it seems.

Forest Products Association of Canada President Avrim Lazar has called this latest challenge, “son of black liquor”, and our federal government leaders responded to this black liquor challenge and the $8 billion subsidy that was crippling our ability to be competitive with a paltry $ 1 billion olive branch, called the “Green Transformation Program”.

So here we are again, and in a typical reactive mode, our federal leaders are answering back to the industry with the following response from Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt,“The Government of Canada recognizes the challenges that the forest sector is facing and appreciates the potential of the Crop Assistance Program to disadvantage Canadian producers and distort markets. We have formally raised our concern about the impacts this initiative would have on the Canadian Forest Industry with the United States Department of Agriculture".

Is that reassuring or what? Here we go again, just when the price of pulp and some paper grades has increased to the point that it is feasible to re-open our mills in northern Ontario; we are faced with yet another challenge and have become non-competitive.

It is very frustrating that we seem to always be cowering to any concerns that our American competitors have with anything that they feel is even remotely close to a subsidy, yet they blatantly go after loophole after loophole with their own direct subsidies, and we never make an effort to challenge their claims. Our response is always too little, too late.

Can we not develop our own strategy to remain competitive in this global economy? Surely we have the capability to keep abreast of the market and our competitors? Our response track record will be another well-delayed approach which does nothing to get our mills up and running again. We have the opportunity to be leaders in green technology, especially in biomass so why can’t we make it happen?

Let’s get serious about implementing these biomass opportunities and if we do, we can re-start our mills and they can share in the biomass transition which will see our mills have a new sustainable product that will enable our workers to get back to work for the long-term.

Why is it that we cannot be pro-active? Our inability to do so just invites these types of unfair trade challenges. Where is the required leadership?

After reading a letter regarding Ontario’s proposed tenure reforms from MPP Randy Hillier it is understandable why we are in the mess we are. We remain non competitive due to our over-regulation and stifling policies. The government seems to be quite successful at stifling our forest industry so we remain non competitive but when it comes to time to take the lead to start having us becoming competitive, they are nowhere to be found. A new plan is required to bring the forest sector back to being the leaders we once were.

With the proper people brought together including government leadership that can together develop a made-in-Canada solution to the future of this very significant industry our northern communities can once again flourish. We have what the rest of the world needs, sustainable wood fibre.

Is this the Start of a Forestry Revolution?

2009-10-02T07:46:00.001-04:00

Last night in front of a packed crowd at the Arthur Street Travel Lodge a mix of forest industry personnel, environmentalists and the general public eagerly listened and then spoke as the province outlined its platform of options to consider how the future of our forest will shape-up in regards to who gets the wood, how much you will pay for the privilege, yes privilege, as it our public wood, and how and who will manage these forests?

This was the fifth stop on this consultation blitz across the province actively seeking our opinions. The audience was the largest so far, and the overwhelming demand from every table’s work session was for increased public participation with some version of a Community Forest being the answer as we move forward into the future. Officially this process named, “Modernizing Ontario’s Forestry Sector”, will eventually set the tone of future wood-related opportunities.

If you think about our wood resource, it is the only resource truly owned by the public. Mineral resources and water are not controlled in this fashion.

Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Minister Michael Gravelle delivered the opening remarks about the province’s forest tenure and pricing system. To quote Minister Gravelle, “Forestry is unique among industrial sectors, in that those who use the forest also play a critical role in its replenishment. Foresters -- and the communities who depend on the bounty of our forests -- enjoy a dynamic and living relationship with this great natural resource”.

I was keenly interested to hear this message from Minister Gravelle as I personally see the future of Forestry, and the future of our northern communities distinctively linked together. Our northern communities both aboriginal and non-aboriginal depend on the sustainable harvesting of our forests for their livelihoods, and for their forest product mills, which support the community. Who better to be the stewards of the forests surrounding a community than the people living amongst it? A true Community Forest that co-exists with the community benefiting from ensuring the forests adjacent to the community is sustainable. Employment and community stewardship, this is a future opportunity that is loud and clear from certain participants. What better way to drive value—added forest products, and non-timber forest products?

I learned from one of the government Foresters on-hand last night that a Community Forest model has been the consensus of all the previous forums. This is very interesting and encouraging, and the fact that every corner of the province is thinking the same way sends a strong message.

Bill Thornton, Assistant Deputy Minister of Forestry, and Mark Speers, Director of the Forest Tenure and Pricing Review led the large group through the consultation process. Bob Gregor, of former Marathon Pulp, was the lead host.

The presentation progressed through a number of slides outlining the current wood allocation, pricing and management processes in the province. Each proposed option was matched with a set of questions and provoked answers to determine a direction favoured by the participants.

This modernization of the forestry process is required if we expect to see our forests continue to play as an important role as it has in the past. The world and the world’s economy is changing, yet we have opportunities to capitalize on this change by re- inventing how we go about benefiting form our forests. We now understand that commodity-based forestry and forest products have an end, and the end cripples our small community economies. Value-Added forest products, combined with an Energy option through biomass can be our future.

Value-Added forest products were discussed in length at this session, and they are being touted as a potential saviour of our forestry-based communities. However we need to combine these new opportunities with the required wood supply. A new solid forest product business venture needs the wood supply as much as it requires the investment to start-up its process.

Some interesting facts were delivered last night, such as did you know that in good times with all businesses operating we consume 23 million cubic metres of wood across the province, and currently the harvest has dropped to a low of under 10 million cubic metres?

Ontario is not alone in discovering a change is required to move into the future. Examples of other jurisdictions were outlined. British Columbia for example made significant changes to its tenure and pricing system between 2004 and 2006. The province re-allocated about 20 per cent of the supply held by long-term licence holders. Half of this supply was allocated to a provincial auction pool, and the remainder was split between First Nations and non- First Nation communities.

Pricing of Crown timber in British Columbia is now based on competitive markets determined from auctions. Approximately 20 per cent of the Crown timber supply is made available through these auctions.

Recently Quebec introduced Bill 57, the Forest Occupancy Act that outlines a number of sweeping changes to their forest management regime including tenure and pricing. The new Bill proposes the creation of regional management boards, intensive silvicultural zones, establishment of a Timber Marketing Board, and five-year timber supply guarantees.

Other countries use very different systems but also have a higher proportion of private lands where in Ontario 85% of our forested lands are public. The systems in other countries tend to involve combinations of public/private lands, access to different bundles of resources and the establishment of different public and private agencies to manage lands and resources. In New Zealand, for example, the government may retain ownership of the land but sell rights to standing timber along with the rights to the productivity of the land with the accompanying obligation to maintain public access for recreation.

Other jurisdictions in Europe have developed systems where public access to private forest lands is protected by law. In some cases special commercial agencies have been established to manage public lands for a variety of business purposes while maintaining broader public values.

Ontario can now benefit from other’s trials and errors, and share their “best practices”. Let’s hope the province hears the message that public participation through some form of a Community Forest is the direction the owners of the forest, that means us, wish to proceed. Is this the start of a revolution on Forestry in Ontario?

Mike Shusterman
http://biglakecountry.blogspot.com/
October 1,2009.

Only Positives with Power Opportunity

2009-09-23T11:57:00.000-04:00

It didn’t take long did it? One day after the province announces that finally the north will be able to use power generation as an economical tool, all the negative people come out from under their respective rocks, and tell all who will listen that this is not a good thing. Shoot first and then listen?

Maybe they don’t understand that investors have been reluctant to come on-board up here due to the fact that we are currently transmission locked in the north. We can’t distribute power outside of northwestern Ontario, not to the southern Ontario, and not to the U.S; another big power consumer. This situation has held investors back, until now.

I have been waiting to see this opportunity come to reality for years from a forest products perspective. I dreamed about what it would be like if we had an opportunity to create power with our wood waste both in the forest and at the mills and sell the excess power not consumed at the mills. The province now gets it too!

What will make a forest product facility profitable is an opportunity to sell power to the province as another product of its production output. Power is not cyclical and therefore we have a new revenue stream that a mill can count on in 20-year guaranteed intervals to get them over the traditional ups and downs of the marketplace.

Not all of our mills will come back, however we still have all the un-merchantable and under-utilized species that can be converted to power generation to support not only the mills that remain but also the forestry workers that reside in our northern communities. Harvesting these volumes creates additional opportunities, yet the negative minority seems to not give a hoot about the people that are struggling to remain in our communities. Our communities depend on harvesting employment. Are we forgetting this fact in our northern cities?

Am I missing something here? We have the opportunity to supply customers outside of our region with a product that is in demand. Sound familiar? We do it with our forest products; we do it with our mines. People, we have trees, rocks, and water here and whatever we can do to maximize these resources in a sustainable manner, and through First Nation partnerships we should proceed.

I have tried to look for the negative, and by doing so objectively I don’t come –up with anything that should detract us from seizing this opportunity. I remember when it was announced that the Forestry portfolio was being transitioned to the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines and the next day the headline locally was so negative I couldn’t believe it. Maybe negativity is becoming the leading export from the north?

There are number of projects currently under development in the north and northwest that were becoming hampered due to the locked power transmission situation. So much power with nowhere to go, and now finally we can see a future of power creation that will benefit all communities, both aboriginal and non-aboriginal. These developments now have a life and they will make an immediate impact on our employment in our small resource-based communities.

The new Green Energy Act makes it possible for the north to develop its potential through another product-power. The business side of forestry is being transitioned to the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry; and now we are being given an opportunity to participate in public sessions to determine how wood will be distributed to facilitate these new power opportunities. It seems to be finally all coming together for the north.

Now is not the time to play politics. We need this power generating opportunity to survive. It’s that simple. Co-operation in the north will see us turn the corner.

Mike Shusterman
http:biglakecountry.blogspot.com/

Collaborative Community Partnerships, White River style

2009-09-17T16:17:00.001-04:00

Northern Ontario is facing unexpected challenges from the downturn in the global economy, resulting in unemployment levels reaching 50% in some community’s dependent on primary resource development. We are a region founded on resource development, and as we look around we recognize that most of our jobs come from trees, rocks and water.

As with every problem there is always a resulting silver lining, although I would admit these are harder to come –by these days, but they are there if you look hard enough, by using our imagination and remain positive. As northerners, we are very adaptable and have learned that we must continue to evolve if we want to be able to remain in our communities, and enjoy the lifestyles we have grown accustomed to experiencing.

With the closure of many of the facilities that we used to depend upon for our livelihoods, there seems little hope that we can expect the previous owners will re-open them and many have just walked away and left town. However we are still here, as are the trees, rocks and water.

We have always wished that we could have more local control over our destinies instead of having people thousands of miles away determining our futures. Well, with some local co-operation and fortitude, this can be achieved through a new partnership between our area First Nations, the municipality, and the business sector- the true community.

By bringing these three entities together to form a new business to re-start the idled mills, and introduce new opportunities and products, employment can once again be realized in these communities.

This is exactly what is underway in White River, and their timing is perfect as the province is currently determining who will be eligible for the wood fibre previously unavailable as well as the new Green Energy Act providing a new opportunity to create power which in the north can be from available wood fibre biomass. White River’s community spirit is alive and well.

The creation of this partnership recognizes the input of the entire community, and involves everyone. The municipality benefits by having its tax-base working again. The area First Nations and the business group benefit from employment from manufacturing and harvesting jobs. All three components of the partnership benefit from the shared profits provided.

The best solution to our problems is a made-in-the north solution. The White River area has figured this out and they have come together to form a business partnership that includes a local First Nation Development Corporation, the municipality, and the former sawmill workers. Together these community leaders plan to utilize the important asset that the community has, their sawmill, and take a new approach to getting people back to work. There they intend to explore new value-added products and energy creation to change their future and the great thing about his venture is that it will be controlled locally, and everyone will benefit.

It is expected that such a venture would see at least two members from each of the three groups comprising the Board of Directors that will oversee the business.

Through the combined efforts of this community there is a hope for the future. It will not be easy, but it is a start. There are products that can be produced that were not considered previously even though the workers and the community wish they had the chance to at least explore the potential. White River’s determination and the “never-say-die” attitude will provide success. The area mill culture has changed from a place that owed the workers a job to a new paradigm of “let’s make this work together”.

The combined efforts of the entire community will determine the potential that exists. There are new opportunities previously unavailable. Through a combined effort to acquire the needed wood fibre, the entire community will have a wood basket to use for its own benefit. The participation of our First Nations will ensure the stewardship that they have been practicing for thousands of years.

As Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy reminded me, “our First Nation people demand a seat at the table now, not the left-over table scraps”. First Nations want to be full paying equal partners.

Speaking with economic development people in White River, it’s all about jobs, jobs, jobs. Jobs make everything else that we depend upon in a vibrant community happen from education, health, recreation, and housing and security. They mentioned to me that their collaborative efforts sprang from necessity. Giving up was not an option for White River and their First Nation neighbours, and their efforts are making a significant impact on their own futures, a future created by community partners.

RFEI Stage 2 for Crown Wood Fibre to be Released this Week?

2009-09-14T11:08:00.001-04:00

Almost one year ago the province through the MNR, announced a RFEI (Request For Expressions of Interest) for the wood fibre that was made available for potential value-added forest products including energy generation. This is a competition process designed to make use of the wood that exists in under-utilized species such as birch and aspen poplar, as well as the slash and tops that up until now has not had a home and typically was torched each fall, after being collected and stacked in piles. The unwanted species left to die on the stump.

It has long been felt that this fibre could create opportunities for the forestry sector and especially now as this sector is having its share of market disasters. This fibre is targeted for non- commodity –type products and for the ever-increasing demand for energy generation.

The Stage One of the exercise was released in early January, followed by a review and then a short-listing of the feasible opportunities, and a release of the Stage Two to follow in April. Sitting in the MNR Minister’s office back in April, I was told that Stage Two which people were anxiously waiting for would be released in June, with subsequent wood fibre allocations determined and offered in September of this year.

Well, here we are in the middle of September and the release of the Stage Two has not occurred. I was with Minister Gravelle last week and was told that this Stage would be released in September, although a date was not made public.

As parliament is back sitting in Queen’s Park this week it would appear that finally the province appears ready to release this next stage. The review would take at least another month, bringing us close to November and then reviews will be required and interviews with the worthy candidates and before you know it we will be back into the Christmas holiday shutdown that delayed the original process. You know between Christmas and the summer vacation period, the province does not leave a large window to complete anything in a timely manner.

This timing is disappointing at the very least, and when this extended wait is compounded by the fact that there are real employment creating opportunities just waiting for this fibre it is a shame. How long will a potential business opportunity wait before moving on? Try explaining this situation to an outsider not familiar with the province and its workings!

I am not trying to be pessimistic, but a recent change to the Forestry side of life on Crown land which sees this portfolio moving over to the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, is yet another potential delay when it has been announced that the province is also seeking input into a change on how the province will allocate wood fibre, and manage the business side of Forestry.

Is it realistic to suggest that through all this change that we will see the newly accessible wood fibre that was deemed available being ear-marked for the opportunities that can help our communities survive happen in 2009?

I am impressed that this wood fibre was made available in the first place, and I am equally surprised that the province recognized the need to move the business –side of Forestry from the MNR over to the MNDM. These changes make a future possible, but it’s like the dangling carrot, which we cannot seem to acquire.

This new wood coupled with the Feed –In Tariff power generation opportunities from the Green Energy Plan can be coordinated to come together to have un-utilized wood fibre become an economic stimulator for our northern communities. We have the wood on our door-step, and the province has stated that it will require the power that can be generated from this biomass. Other value- added forest products are also waiting for the access to this wood and in a combined facility, value-added forest products and the residual wood they create that can be used in power generation are a perfect fit for the new forest economy of northern Ontario.

There are two major opportunities that northern Ontario communities are waiting for to help them survive this current economy and the province is holding the cars on both. Until they make this available wood fibre available and start negotiating Feed-In Tariff Power Purchase Contracts with power generators, nothing will change, and that is a real shame. How long must we wait to solve our dilemma? We have a made-in –northern Ontario solution, but we need access to what is in our own backyards.

Mike Shusterman
http://biglakecountry.blogspot.com/

Motorcycle- friendly Lake Superior Circle Tour communities

2009-09-09T10:28:00.004-04:00

I am an avid motorcycle enthusiast and I ride a sport-touring style bike, and as such living in this beautiful region I am proud to say that I have rode the Lake Superior Circle tour on two wheels. It is a great opportunity to see the big Inland Sea from all angles and in two different countries. It truly is an amazing body of water. You certainly see more of the spectacular on two wheels.

The change is drastic from the north side of the Lake to the southern heavier populated U.S. side from what we are familiar with- the rugged wilds of the north shore, and the small communities hours apart to the bustling, more urbanized communities within a few miles of each other; the tourist rest-stops and accommodations of the south shore.

I was surprised at the number of bikers that frequent this Circle Tour. Some clubs like the U.S.-based Wolf’s Head Club make this an annual event. It is always refreshing to meet-up with fellow bikers, who are all starting to look the same age! They are always so friendly and willing to talk and share their findings, and of course talk at great length about the virtues of each other’s bike.

During these discussions, it is common to hear the riders talk about the Lake but also sometimes about what is lacking as far as a Tour. When you stop to think about it, how much do you really see advertised about the Lake Superior Circle Tour, except for the odd small green and white sign? There is so much more that could be done to promote this spectacular tourist opportunity. There is a brochure but it does not deal with motorcycles although the cover indicated this.

One thing that I have noticed is that it wouldn’t take much for some communities to put out the welcome mat a little more to entice these bikers to stop in your town. I know being involved with Nipigon over the years that they have made attempts at increasing awareness through the town’s unofficial Ambassador Levina Collins.
So I thought about this some more and wondered what would a motorcyclist appreciate from a community, or the region on their ride around the Lake?

For starters, it would be nice to see some information about this Lake they are circling. I still don’t get it that with such an important, significant and scenic body of water on our doorstep that we still do not promote its features on a big sign. Shouldn’t that be a great start, to have a sign every couple of hundred miles depicting what is significant about that particular stretch of Lake? It has a very interesting history, is world renowned, and historical from the First Nation’s perspective.

Also in conjunction with some information about the Lake and the Tour, it is a perfect place to notify the tourists that additional side trips are only a couple of hours away such as up through Greenstone, up to Manitouwadge, etc. It wouldn’t take a lot but information is sorely lacking I believe, and again a missed opportunity to draw tourists out of their cars and off their bikes to stop and shop and dine, and hopefully spend the night.

Secondly, a motorcycle –friendly town could make note of the fact on a sign that they are motorcycle friendly, and I mean the recreational type, not the other ones. A simple sign on the highway could portray the special effort to create an opportunity for a group of Circle Tour bikers who will appreciate this effort and they will stop in. This sign could also notify the riders where they can fill up their bikes with premium gas as most bikes now require premium and it isn’t available just anywhere. This is another economic opportunity for a gas service station.

Now once the biking group does stop-in, there could be an extra special feature for the willing Gas Service Station to erect a temporary shelter for the bikers to park under while they grab a bite. This would be so welcomed, especially with inclement weather or a blazing hot day. A motel could do the same thing, erect a temporary shelter with a sign stating “motorcycle only”, and it will be recognized by the motorcycle enthusiast and remembered. I saw this in Duluth and it stuck with me.

Each town could become involved with all the communities along the Circle Tour to combine their efforts into a real map of the Tour, such as a place map. I would think with all the communities contributing through ads of their business that the cost would be minimal.

I know that most bikers like to collect a pin from places they have visited and as most communities have these they should make them available to these tourists, as the pins are a small gift that keeps on giving from others learning about your town and will possibly make the trip.

These are just a sample of some little things that we can do to make a stop more welcomed and at the same time provides an economic pay-back to those merchants willing to attract these Lake Superior Circle Tour motorcycle tourists.

Mike Shusterman
Email: mike.biglakecountry@gmail.com
Blog: http:biglakecountry.blogspot.com/

The Future of Forestry in Ontario will be Decided by You

2009-08-28T13:45:00.002-04:00

The province through Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry’s (MNDM & F) Michael Gravelle announced today that the province is seeking the input of its residents both north and south on the future direction of Forestry, through the release of a discussion paper outlining suggestions of the future in Forestry in areas such as Forest Tenure (who acquires the use of forests), management of the forests, and a mechanism for the value of forest resources paid by the user.

“On many fronts, our provincial and national economies are facing unprecedented challenges. The global recession is affecting all sectors of our economy, including forestry. In the face of these challenges, our government’s highest priority is to help the people of Ontario through this recession and build a stronger, more competitive economy”; Minister Gravelle stated on his new Forest Tenure web-page.

This is an opportunity to express how we, especially in the north see Forestry continuing to contribute to our future well-being although we all know that this future means change.

Two months ago the province announced that it was removing Forestry from the Natural Resources Ministry and already the new MNDM & F is embarking on a path to embrace economic development in our forests as it already does with Mining. I must say that I am impressed with the speed to which the MNDM & F is moving towards adding the new Forestry portion of their portfolio.

The province is even making this discussion paper available in Ojibway, Cree and Oji-Cree, which is a first and ground-breaking.

Everyone including Aboriginals, municipalities, the forest industry, and professional organizations, have made it known that the current mechanism for allocating forests has not resulted in the creation of the many economic opportunities that exist. There are new uses for our forests, which were not considered 10-20 years ago, such as biomass, chemicals, non-timber forest products, and value-added forest products to name just a few. These new opportunities require an opportunity to share in the forest fibre available, and if approached with our communities in mind, the economic spin-offs can once again create wealth through sustainable jobs from sustainable forests.

The allocation model needs a change as forest fibre is currently allocated to facilities that no longer exist.

Once the forests are allocated they require a sustainable forest management framework and the current forest management model required is also up for discussion. We as northerners have a lot to add to these discussions and we all have ideas as far as the proper management of our forests, and now finally we have a turn to add our say and get this right once and for all.

Finally, the province wants your say on how to devise a method for acquiring revenue from our forests. The current system does not take into consideration the situation such as an economy we are living though currently.

The deadline for expressing your views is October 27th, and you will have an opportunity to attend a public meeting in the northwest in Thunder Bay on October 1st, Marathon on October 6th, and Dryden September 29th.

For further information on this discussion paper and how you can be involved in the outcome, you can find it on the Internet at www.ontario.ca/foresttenure. You can also visit your local Services Ontario office.

I applaud the province, the MNDM & F, and especially Minister Gravelle for leading this change. I trust that we will be heard and we will not be led to believe that our opinions are valid while all the time the decisions have already been made, as has occurred in the past. Knowing Minster Gravelle however, I feel he is truly overseeing a real opportunity to have our forests once again provide economic opportunities for the north.

Mike Shusterman

http://biglakecountry.blogspot.com/

Converting Northern Ontario's Abandoned Farmland to Biomass

2009-08-21T14:19:00.005-04:00

Northern Ontario has a considerable acreage of abandoned farmland that can be converted to valuable biomass crops, which as we are seeing, biomass converted to power is a growing future for our region.

The province has stated it will need the power, and along with the plentiful forests that we have on our doorstep, farmland biomass crops should also be part of the equation to feed future power biomass facilities.

If you ever get the chance to drive by the intersection of Black Bay Drive (Hurkett Cove) and Highway 11-17 between Dorion and the southern Hurkett loop Road just north of Wolf River; you will notice a Poplar plantation that I was involved with establishing in 1988, 21 years ago, before there was a consideration for growing trees for biomass, especially in the north.

If you take a look at these trees now you will see that there are certain varieties that are more than ready for harvest for biomass, with diameter ranges of 8-10 inches or more, and heights of more than 50 feet. These trees are “fast growing poplars” originating from the eastern Ontario Kemptville nursery that was at that time operated by the province.

There was a pulp and paper mill located in Cornwall at that time that had established a fast-growing poplar program with local landowners, and they would grow the poplar trees until they reached the desired pulpwood size, which would mean a lot more years than required for biomass, and a biomass tree can also provide the branches!

The program worked well and supplied a significant portion of the mill’s fibre supply and the popularity of the program even stretched across the border into upper New York State.

We have a unique opportunity in the north to mimic this program once the planned Co-gen facilities are finally given the green-light from the province to proceed.

There is a win-win opportunity potential as this farmland is already cleared and ready for a crop of trees. The suitable trees for this climate have been determined, as you can see from the trees on the Hurkett plantation. Some of these fast –growing poplars are more successful than others. I believe if memory serves me well, that there are approximately 6 different varieties of fast growing hardwoods in this plantation. We weren’t sure at the time which variety would be best suited for the area, as certain varieties were more susceptible to the frost, and were stunted, while others shot-up fast and have retained their hardiness to the climate.

I was able to establish another such plantation in Sturgeon Falls with similar results.

I feel that from judging the growth of the Hurkett plantation, and I do keep an eye on it, this plantation would have been ready for biomass harvest after only 15 years. There was no effort to prune or maintain the current stock and there was not a problem as expected from deer or mice when the cuttings were first introduced.

There is also the aesthetic view provided of a growing plantation as well as providing a habitat for birds and all sorts of animals that prefer a forest compared to an empty field.

Another unique benefit from this species of tree selection is that after the harvest the suckering that is common to poplars will create new trees established from the stumps and roots of the previous trees, which makes the plantation renewable naturally. The cost to establish the plantation is a one time only cost.

The landowner benefits from receiving revenue from the power company and the power company on the other hand has a crop of close-in, reliable, lower cost accessible fibre. The harvesting of a plantation is more efficient and less expensive than a mixed forest situation. This then becomes a win-win for the landowner and the power company. The landowner also has the opportunity to harvest the crop or contracting the harvest, which creates additional jobs for the community. An added feature is a tax credit from managing the land as a forest.

It would also make sense to have Lakehead University involved to ensure that the best stock is introduced through their research programs.

Take a look at this plantation the next time you are passing by. Just a heads-up though, it is on private land so take a look from the perimeter of the property or request permission first!

I think you will agree that this is an opportunity for our region and seems appropriate to have a place in the future of forestry in northern Ontario.

Mike Shusterman
Email: mike.biglakecountry@gmail.com
Blog: http://biglakecountry.blogspot.com/

Inter-Community Bike Trails an Opportunity for NWO

2009-08-15T11:34:00.002-04:00

We are blessed with some of the most spectacular scenery in the world right here in northwestern Ontario. So much so, that I’m afraid that we take it for granted at times it seems. It’s like it is a secret, and we are surprised when visitors to the region are shocked at the beauty.

One example of this happened to me years back when I was driving along the north-shore of Lake Superior, near Caver’s Hill towards Nipigon. I was driving through the rock-outcrops and then suddenly approaching a bend in the highway, you are rewarded with a beautiful view of our Inland Sea. However this time, I came across a car fully stopped in my lane, on the curving downhill. These tourists were so overwhelmed with the view that they were literally stopped in their tracks, dangerously on the highway. They were in such awe of the beauty, that they forgot that they were on the Trans-Canada highway. It was like they happened onto something they had never seen before, not aware that they almost ended-up as part of this scenery!

I know when we have visitors we constantly wrack our brains to figure out where to take our guests and all they talk about is soaking-up the beauty that surrounds us. It’s funny we usually end-up touring these new to NWO visitors around scenic vistas, instead of the usual tourist places. I have to say that our guests have enjoyed more the deer or bear watching opportunities at those special places we all know exist, than the typical tourist stops. It always comes back to the natural beauty that surrounds us that they take back with them.

We who live here have driven by the north shore of Lake Superior, the Palisades and other parts of this beautiful region countless times and although we appreciate the fantastic views, we take it for granted while newcomers become speechless, as well as unable to drive!

This leads me to where I was intending to go with this article, which is that as we have such beautiful opportunities to experience the scenery provided, we do not take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy it to its fullest, without impacting its existence.

I had the opportunity to experience some north-shore Minnesota bike trails recently, and was left with the feeling that we have an opportunity to link communities together through a series of bike trails, which could be year-round as our neighbours to the south have figured-out.

I learned about the existence of these trails by seeing where these bike trails occasionally meet the highway. I inquired at a tourist info place and sure enough, a brochure was provided that outlines the trials, the services and businesses that exist along the way with ads for these businesses highlighted on the margins of the trail maps, sponsored by these businesses, along with the State. There was a website link that provided even more information, in fact all the information I needed to determine that this is an opportunity that I wanted to participate in and experience.
I immediately thought about the economic opportunities that came together to make this happen and benefit from as well.

It was an eye-opener for me, that these very service business that you may always drive by at 100 kms per hour are given a closer look while you are on a bike. Businesses there are catering to bikes from lodges, motels, restaurants, corner ice cream shops and bakeries, and of course bicycle shops.

There are a series of paved and non-paved more rugged trails, and I was excited to take a spin on these trails and see what I was missing. The trails meander in and out of town settings which allow the bikers opportunities to frequent the many businesses catering to bicyclists. There were even some ads along the trails in a certain designated cluster. Another nice thing about this form of recreation is that it is for everyone, all ages and levels of biking experience.

What an opportunity for everyone, including locals, and while we enjoy the scenery and businesses we are getting some great exercise.

Why do we not see a trail from Geraldton to Nakina, to Longlac, Schreiber to Terrace Bay, and Nipigon to Thunder Bay? We have portions of snowmobile trails; can we not consider a network of year-round trails? Think of the possibilities, there could be annual excursions, races, and with our seasons just imagine how beautiful these trails would be in the spring summer and fall!

My thinking is that this brings communities closer through promoting the next community ahead, through word of mouth, and through a website and brochures sponsored by all the EDC’S and Chambers of Commerce along these routes. People are using the Internet to find these unique bike trail opportunities.

Not only is this a unique economic opportunity for northwestern Ontario; it is also a chance to make the bicycle experience in NWO safer, and another opportunity for all of us to get additional exercise.

Mike Shusterman
mike.biglakecountry@gmail.com

The province's Forestry Re-organization

2009-08-06T12:34:00.002-04:00

It has been five weeks since the provincial government announced a cabinet mini-shuffle that included a major change for northern Ontario. The province decided to move the Forestry portion of the Ministry of Natural Resources over to the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. Forestry and Mining are the mainstays of northern Ontario and therefore it is logical that these economic activities come under the same umbrella and it is also logical that they reside in a northern Ontario Ministry.

The announcement was made at a time of the year that typically sees little changes. The same goes with this change, made in the middle of summer. There have been some movements although they are not understood at this time.

I had been arranging meetings with the Deputy Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry, and by the time the meeting date had arrived, the person I was dealing with became a former Deputy Minister. So it is a confusing time, especially when you consider the reason that this change was made was to promote economic development in Forestry. Everything has come to a standstill until the summer is over, which is standard for the province, however there are opportunities now that can employ many people.

I did meet MNDM & F Minister Michael Gravelle on August 4th and he confirmed the recent Deputy Minister changes and that while we were meeting, his newest Deputy Minister, David Lindsay was starting his new role for the Northern Development, Mines and Forestry that very day.

So it will be the fall before we truly see the changes that will be made to carry-out this new Ministry which northern Ontario is so dependent upon for direction as we all know that 90% of all the land in the north is provincially controlled.

In consideration of this delay, it makes one speculate what the new Forestry addition to the MNDM will look like? What part of the previous MNR’s Forestry department will move over to the new MNDM & F?

It would be logical that wood allocation should come under Minister Gravelle’s direction. Wood allocation is what drives economic development and there are a number of new opportunities waiting for new allocations.

This past January, the province announced it was finally releasing previously under-utilized and un-merchantable wood volumes to feed new projects, and coordinate these opportunities with the new Green Energy Act which provide the framework for a new demand for biomass to power projects. These new projects require wood and therefore it is sensible that the MNDM &F would oversee the transition to these new opportunities.

We all know however that there is a lot more that goes on behind the scenes regarding wood allocations. So what else will transfer over to the MNDM &F from the MNR?

Still up in the air is the future management model of the actual Forests. The drive to a Co-operative Sustainable Forests model appears to be a dead issue. At the same time the MNR had been looking at a new model to appease the U.S. to free the province’s saw-millers from the stifling lumber tariff. As I mentioned in a previous article, the province is taking a serious look at how the “free- market’ Algonquin Forest Authority (AFA) manages its forests as a potential model, which should satisfy the U.S. lumber lobby that feels the province unfairly subsidizes lumber companies. The recent black liquor subsidy the U.S. has created for some reason is not recognized by the U.S. as a subsidy!

I have had the opportunity to work with the AFA through previous wood purchases forestry association business, and I am a strong backer of their efforts, and would recommend their model for the province.

Forest management is a large part of the province’s Forestry operations, and it is unrealistic to think that this activity can reside in a Ministry separate from another that is managing wood allocations as forest management decisions impact allocations. I would hope that the province understands this and transfers over this responsibility as well. I can see the MNR providing an auditing function as far as wildlife concerns, and maintaining their role with Parks, but everything else should move to the MNDM & F. There are many Acts in place for the MNDM & F to follow that protect our Forests. I understand that the biologists are hoping to stay within the MNR, and I am sure most would see this as a good thing.

The forests of northern Ontario should be managed for the future of Ontarians under one organization. Lands, Fish and Wildlife and Parks should remain with the MNR. Forest management, wood measurement, wood inventories, and Fire protection in the north should be managed under the MNDM & F. These seem logical choices and there will be obvious overlaps, but the MNDM & F organization should be up front about promoting the economic benefits of a healthy forest for northerners.

As this transition occurs it is hoped that northerners are invited to make suggestions on how this transition occurs. After-all we live here and have the knowledge of what our Forests should look like and how we can benefit from northerners finally having a say in their future on their lands and forests under Minister Gravelle’s leadership.

The World is suddenly 4 inches square!

2009-07-28T11:47:00.003-04:00

I recently had the pleasure of having my brother-in-law and his partner visit with us for a few days this summer. They live in Ottawa and came up to take in the sights or so we thought. His partner is from Trinidad, and my brother-in-law Gilles, wanted to show him this part of the world where he was raised.

These urban dwellers are typical I am now coming to realize, as they cannot be without their “smart phones”. They start and end their day with this device in hand and its 4 inch square screen informing the user about everything that they feel they need to know on a daily basis.

This is a phenomenon that I have been taking notice of over the past months with the reality of the newspaper business changing. I have noticed that for the new generation, their lives are controlled by a 4 inch square screen. They do not consider newspapers, as they get their data fix from their smart phones. I can see that soon everything that is relevant to this generation and those to come will be conveyed on this small 4 inch square screen.

I never realized what these devices are capable of providing. If our guests were not busy keeping up with the latest gossip from their friends on Facebook or updating Podcasts, they were watching videos, or downloading music with these things. An example of the power of these little things is we would discuss a place we should go visit and in an instant there was a flood of information complete with pictures. The same with a restaurant choice, within seconds the website comes –up complete with reviews. If somebody thought out loud about something, in a flash we were corrected and updated. I found I started to keep my thoughts to myself.

So as I was originally in awe of this device, I soon became less enamoured. Is it my age showing its displeasure with this new technology? It isn’t because I don’t understand it; it’s just that I DON’T GET IT!

These new technology revelations were made even clearer to me as we ventured-out to see the recent addition to the Canyon Country attraction, and the magnificent Orient By area. We were driving along, and Nicole and I were calling out the various sites as we drove by and to my amazement our company was still busy looking at their smart phones, checking out where we were going instead of looking out the window of where we are! Here we are driving through scenery not possible in a big City, and yet the data of the day was more important. I found that our guests were more interested in not missing something happening in the world than looking at the world.

As I reflect back on the time they were here, I continue to consider many thoughts about where we are headed with this over –powering data and communication device. I know this is new technology is everywhere, as I also saw what can happen with these “Smart (?) Phones” in Toronto last week. I watched as a lady almost get wiped –out by a truck as she was crossing the street against a red light as she was too busy looking at her smart phone while walking. People are addicted to these things, and are sadly missing the world around them.

I think that this is where I finally landed considering these little devices. Are they so important that the users are unable to live within their surroundings? Their life has been marginalized into a small 4 inch square screen. Nothing exists around them, and if they are not totally immersed in the data they are receiving they are immersed in the music or voice data, blocking –out the world around them.

I don’t know what your thoughts are, and am I just reacting to something new through eyes of an older generation? I can’t help think that these devices are turning people into a new type of people that do not have either the ability or desire to interact with their surroundings. Soon these people will no longer need to leave their dwellings to experience life as they know it. Are we the last generation that will recognize the beauty that surrounds us?

Keeping Our Youth- Starts with their own Youth Centres

2009-07-15T17:55:00.001-04:00

With school now out for the summer, the need for our Youth to have a place of their own to congregate is even more apparent and a need that will not go away. Very shortly teenagers will start “hanging-out” at corner variety stores and such and sometimes get into minor trouble due to boredom.

I know many communities have discussed Youth Centres in the past, and some have even tried to accommodate the need, but I really wonder if the need has truly been addressed. The benefits are well- worth the effort.

I know from my experience as a Councillor in another community the Youth sorely needed such a place and adults seemed to ignore the issue. People would complain about kids “hanging-out” but would not offer any solutions or suggestions.

I found through campaigning for a seat on Council that our Youth, who do not get a chance to vote, were not adequately represented. I established a Youth Forum for this very reason whereby our youth would have a direct channel to the Town Council. This representation led to a survey completed by High School students which was surprisingly well received and completed.

The survey results overwhelmingly stated a need for a place for Youth to congregate, in a place of their own. The survey did not ask for this outcome as this result stemmed from an opportunity for the Youth surveyed to outline what they felt is lacking from their point of view in the community.

The word got out that a group had formed to solve this issue and an anonymous donour came forward with seed money to establish a Youth Meeting Place. With the focus that all levels of government are now placing on Youth and meeting places, there are additional monies available to tackle this problem.

The result of this coming together in this particular community is a new Youth Meeting Place built through volunteer efforts from various trades people and building materials donations. The Youth themselves were involved and learned the beginnings of a potential trade by just working with the professional community trades people. They became immersed in volunteer work which is the backbone of our community improvements.

One of the many other benefits of such a centre is a place to disseminate useful Youth –oriented information directly to our Youth that they (may?) not listen to at home. This becomes a one-stop shopping location for any health related materials or job assistance, or anything that we wish to communicate.

Now, I know it is not perfect as there is still some guidance required and it takes just one bad apple to spoil it for everyone just like adult situations, but with a positive outlook and support from the entire community this can become a benefit that will pay-back over and over, for the Youth and the community.

Youth retention is a concern for all our northern Ontario communities, and a Youth Centre is just the start to encouraging our younger generation to become more involved in their own communities. Becoming involved in our community’s shows the many benefits that we take for granted, and our Youth need to see these benefits for themselves through their own experiences.

A place to call their own is the beginning of the recognition our next community leaders need to experience. From the meeting of the minds our Youth can create great things for our communities if we would only listen, and a meeting place is the opportunity missing to achieve new, fresh ideas that will benefit everyone.

The NEW Ministry of Northern Development and Mines AND FORESTRY

2009-06-24T10:14:00.004-04:00

I just got wind of the mini shuffle at Queen’s Park yesterday, and I am ecstatic about this most important change for northern Ontario. The Forestry portion of the Ministry of Natural Resources will be moved away and now reside in the Ministry of Northern Mines and Development portfolio, where it should be with a Minister overseeing this resource-based super Ministry!

As a former member of the province’s Smart Growth Plan for northwestern Ontario, I preached that we needed such a change if we are going to realize the potential of our Forests, as we do with our minerals. It was just not politically correct at the time.

We are let’s face it; trees, rocks and water surrounded by great hard-working people. These resources are our lifeline, and 90% of our resources are on public land controlled by the province. Without the opportunity to utilize these sustainably at least as far as forest resources, we are not going to maintain our lifestyle. We have built the communities we live in from being able to access these forests.

Over the recent years however, southern Ontario interests have slowly removed our ability to make a living from the forests surrounding us. I actually witnessed how far this thinking had progressed when I attended a meeting with forestry and government officials in Toronto, where a biologist during his presentation stated that his role in life was one of searching the Internet for further restrictions to put on harvesting activities. That is where I learned about a new species he had invented that he was aiming to protect- that being the “Cliff-Dwelling Raven”, I kid you not!

The time has come to bring the sustainable forest practices pendulum back to the centre, and this new resource-based Ministry can do that for northern Ontario. Finally a comprehensive resource –based portfolio. It is early days as to how this will be rolled-out, however this is a unique opportunity to do things right. The forests and minerals that can improve our lives are now recognized equally.

I mentioned the Smart Growth Panel I was involved with and this opportunity truly opened my eyes to the potential of possibly seeing Forestry and Mining under the same umbrella. I was attending an event hosted by the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM), and some of their mining staff was presenting a new area of the north that had recently been mapped for mineral potential. As well, there was an update on all the recent claims and discussions of new potential mines. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and hearing. I was watching MNDM personnel promoting a resource-based industry. The staff was excited about the new opportunities and they also demonstrated new methods of how the MNDM can help the mining companies.

This was so new to me, as I have always worked on the forestry side of resources and the MNR. I felt so refreshed from watching this presentation that I left knowing there is hope for at least the mining sector, as the province was truly partnering with mining.

Then struck me, why is this so? What has happened to our province when the south and their interest groups can take over our livelihoods? Why can we not be afforded the same promotion as the Mining sector? I had an opportunity to de-brief after the MNDM presentation with other members of this Smart Growth Panel and we all agreed that leaving the Parks for the MNR, would make the most sense, with sustainable forestry and forest products becoming a proud member of the new MNDM.

We now are well-positioned to see our resources play an ever-increasing role in our futures. The fact that the Minister of MNDM & F is a northerner, Michael Gravelle, can only help us and maybe the future just became a little brighter.

This Device will get you out of a SPOT

2009-06-10T16:53:00.003-04:00

I came across a colleague of mine lately who like a lot of us enjoys the outdoors. The outdoors and spending as much time as possible in it; is a big part of what it means for us who live in northern Ontario. With the continuous advances in technology, especially in satellite and GPS technology, spending more time outdoors has now become a little safer for individuals or groups that like to really get away from it all.

As we live and play adjacent to various forms of wilderness and expansive lakes, contact with others in times of crisis is typically far, far away and you would probably feel more comfortable if you had a method to get help if needed, or maybe you just wish you could let your family or friends know that although you are in some far-off remote lake or forested area that you are okay; well now you can. Boaters, campers, fishermen (and women), forest workers, hikers, hunters, pilots, sailors and snowmobilers and their friends and families will all be thankful that you are now able to check-in and let them know that all is well.

My friend who likes to spend as much time away from work as possible at his remote northern British Columbia cabin which is not accessible by car told me about this device that is branded as “Spot”. My first question to him was about the fact that since he is in a remote area and does not have regular contact with the outside world, how does he let his friends and relatives know that he is okay, or if in a worse-case scenario has a medical incident? How can he feel comfortable in this situation?
He then proceeded to tell me about Spot. At first I thought he was referring to his dog, although this device can become man’s or a woman’s best friend. He explained that he would not go to his cabin without it. It seems to me to be a simple solution to alleviate the fears of our loved ones back at home as you can communicate on a daily basis or only in times of crisis.

Spot is a handheld device that uses 100% satellite technology and it therefore works anywhere in the world. It is battery powered and depending on the mode set on the Spot, it will last up to 7 days in a 9-1-1 mode, and up to 14 days in a tracking mode. Spot automatically sends either a text message or an email. To send an “I’m okay message”, or “I need help message”, you have the battery power to send 1900 of these messages.

The Spot has four unique modes, and you set the device to the mode required at the time. First there is the “Ask for Help” Mode which is set for a non-life threatening situation where you can notify up to 10 friends or family members of where you are located and what form of assistance is required.

The next mode is the “just checking –in” mode”. Again, you can send a text message or email to up to 10 of your friends or family to tell them that everything is fine and this is where I am.

The third choice is the “tracking mode” which allows friends or family to share in your adventure in real time while it tracks your movements, or for yourself to review later as it stores and maps the coordinates of your movements.

The fourth and final mode and one that you hope you never have to experience is the “Alert 9-1-1” mode. This Emergency feature is used in a life threatening or other critical emergency, and automatically notifies emergency services of your location that you need assistance. The GEOS International Emergency Response Centre receives your message and immediately alerts the appropriate agencies worldwide. If you send an emergency request in North America, the 9-1-1 centre relays your message to the local 911 centre, while outside of North America the common distress number is 1-1-2.

I know this would be a great addition to anyone’s backpack as you venture out on to the water or out to the woods. My friend tells me it is simple to set-up and operate. Now this is some technology that is useful, and may one day save a life, or at the very least lets your friends and family know that you are okay, and this is where you are. Enjoying our outdoors just became a little more peaceful.

Walk a Mile in Their Shoes - Our Invaluable EMS Paramedic Teams

2009-06-04T11:30:00.002-04:00

The saying goes that you don’t know a person until you walk a mile in their shoes, and this is true with anyone, especially with regards to their work. I felt that it is important to profile the many people and the work they perform in our region that help provide the life we enjoy. I’ll tell you I would rather learn about some of their work then have to perform it, especially in this case; our EMS Paramedics.

I learned a great deal and replaced my assumptions with facts from meeting –up with Fran Scott, Acting Supervisor for the Superior North EMS Nipigon Cluster. Fran and her colleagues are in the business of helping us in times of terrible consequences.

I learned that the EMS Paramedics are actually a mobile version of a hospital’s Emergency Department. Fran has even delivered three babies in her time with EMS!

Fran is a character and a great ambassador for her profession, and she is well thought –of by her colleagues. She provided some interesting facts about what it takes to be an EMS Paramedic and I quickly discovered it is not an easy life.

The Nipigon Cluster is one of three within the Superior North EMS Eastern Region. Nipigon is currently supervised by Fran. Ernie Kadikoff is the regional Manager. Nipigon covers the territory surrounding Nipigon, Red Rock (from Schreiber to Shuniah) and Beardmore. The Greenstone Cluster is supervised by Stephane LeBlanc and covers Nakina, Geraldton and Longlac. The North Shore Cluster is supervised by David Bott and their territory is from Schreiber to Terrace Bay, Manitouwadge and Marathon. Norm Gale is the Director, based out of Thunder Bay. There is overlap as you can imagine in such broad territories in times of accidents and patient transfers, and yes lots of miles.

The northern EMS Clusters are unique when compared to their southern Ontario counterparts, as they are stretched due to the increased miles they can accumulate on a call, and the distances between the site of a call and the nearest hospital means these EMS Paramedics are with the patient longer and therefore have to administer more care to the patient, sometimes in life threatening circumstances.

The credentials required by an EMS Paramedic are endless. A certified for work EMS paramedic requires CPR, First Aid, a Class F driver’s license, a 2-year College Program- The Paramedic Program, the Ontario Advanced Emergency Medical Care Assistant Certificate with a passing grade of 70%; a Physician’s license approval to perform “controlled medical acts”, physical endurance capability, and the willingness to be available to work all hours of the day. They must become experts in this field and all the while under increasing scrutiny from us the public, their Supervisors, their base Hospital and Clinical Coordinators contacts, Management, Physicians, OPP, Patients, and their families, and then ensuring that every step is documented for further scrutiny.

I was already impressed by this point, and I discovered Fran was just getting warmed-up. I know this as fact as Fran is weeks away from giving birth to their family’s second child, and she was warm as they were both dressed in her EMS uniform.

We live in Ontario, so you understand that there are an amazing number of standards that must be learned and followed, such as the Advanced Life Support Standards, and Basic Life Support Standards. Every EMS Paramedic in Ontario follows the same approach and procedures and these are constantly upgraded ensuring that “best practices” are put into practice for the health of all Ontarians. Each EMS Paramedic carries these ALSS and BLSS documents as their bibles.

I mentioned the intense scrutiny that these Paramedics work under, and I learned that there are even more standards they perform under. For an example they have a 90 second call response time limit when they are on-shift. When they are not on full shift but on-call, they have an 8 minute response time window. These times are all documented in their daily documentation and are also tracked through a new computer, so they are constantly monitored for response times.

Living under this microscope, Superior EMS has still managed to be a leader amongst their peers in Ontario. Superior North EMS is one of the first to use the new Phillips MRX Defibrillator, the new I-Medic tablet rugged laptop computer, and the first outside of Toronto to implement the Community Referral System that spots trends that can lead to improved care for patients with recurring issues. These calls would be referred to the Community Care Access Centre.

A typical day, although there seems to be no “typical” day goes something like this; starts with a vehicle, sirens and radio check, oxygen level readings, cardiac defib checks and all these are documented in the daily reports. Next depending on the day, base duties which can range form cleaning to re-stocking of supplies, some light maintenance and learning opportunities fill the day until you are dispatched to a call.

The call can range from a variety of a vehicle accident, gun shot wound, delivering a baby, a patient stroke or heart attack- you name it and they are there. After the call a further documentation period is followed with further re-checking and supply stocking.

So after all this information if you are interested in a diverse ever-changing career, have a grade 12 minimum, great inter-personal skills, willing to work shifts and in inclement weather at all times of the day or night, I am sure you will find this career a rewarding path to follow.

The Community Garden grows more than Vegetables and Herbs- People too!

2009-05-31T12:07:00.003-04:00

I addressed another New Year’s resolution this year by participating in a Community Garden, something I have always wanted to be involved with. This Garden is located on Lakehead University’s campus on a former farmer’s field I believe, under the experienced direction of Amy Vervoort, LU Campus Garden Coordinator.

Amy outlined this Community Garden as follows: “The Campus Garden has been established to provide garden space for local individuals and groups. Participants will take an active role in this local food project by growing vegetables and herbs for personal use, or as produce for an organization. Sustainable urban agriculture projects are appearing in great numbers as awareness for self-sufficiency grows. Campus gardens offer countless possibilities for education; not just in and for themselves, but for the greater communities at hand. Promoting slow food systems by growing and sharing, buying local, and supporting our natural Northwestern Ontario ecosystem we will help reduce unnecessary food miles to the area. It isn't just about food. The Campus Garden also serves the university's departments by providing research opportunities in soil science, agro-forestry, biological and environmental studies, food writing, and other disciplines.”

The concept as represented to me is about people from all walks of life and ages with a love of gardening coming together in a common garden with a common goal to produce fruits, vegetables and herbs for consumption and sharing, however as I am beginning to realize the real aim of people sharing gardening concepts and the love of gardening is the opportunity for people to socialize in a Community Garden setting.

Is it just me or are people starting to want a return to a simpler life? I see this everywhere in the number of people beginning to walk more, ride bicycles, and gardening, being more active. A Community Garden is another example of this change.

There are approximately 120 garden plots at LU’s CG, all 10 x 10 feet square. A 10 x 10 ft plot will provide sufficient vegetables for a family and although the plot is not large it does require a commitment to maintain the potential through watering and weeding. LU provides water and some tools and a lot of advice.

Another interesting observation is that even though most of the gardeners are strangers at the CG, everyone seems to be a friend, and willing to provide advice. Smiles are easily come-by in the garden.

The Community Gardens that I have experienced in Europe where I first came across this phenomenon were on a grander scale and many were located on railway right-of –ways. As you pass by on a train close to the urban centres, suddenly there were large gardens on both sides of the track with each family’s garden boasting a shelter, like a camp and people gardening, preparing meals and socializing. Again, socializing was the main function with gardening, the common denominator. What a great concept utilizing the railway right-of –ways! In Canada, the railway right-of-ways are not used by anyone, and are possible grass fire opportunities.

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Gardening provides many benefits; food, a social network, and exercise out-doors. How many ways are there to spend an afternoon and be rewarded with food as just one of the many results?

I was wondering if Community Gardens can exist in our regional communities or is this only a larger urban setting need. I think there is a need. Not everyone is a gardener, but some may like to learn to be one. If a community developed its own garden, people that are not sure about gardening could join and learn by the sharing of knowledge. Many people in our communities reside in a house that maintain a garden however not all maintain a garden for a number of reasons. I could see a Community Garden providing knowledge for those wanting to learn gardening, and what a great way to provide food for those without.

Maybe there could even be competitions between communities for the best Community Garden. Each could be judged by a group of the local gardening community. Some of the prizes could be for most food generated for food banks for an example.

A Community Garden can transform an un-used piece of land into a beautiful sight, providing numerous benefits to the gardeners and a great opportunity to teach our youth how to provide food for themselves and others, and being part of a community of friends.

Why do we hide Lake Superior?

2009-05-21T14:38:00.002-04:00

As Highway 11/17 is upgraded and twinned, an opportunity presents itself!

I have often wondered why it is that as you drive north from Minnesota which is home to our closest and largest potential tourist population, that the view of Lake Superior is increasingly hidden from view. With this thought in mind, I also wondered if our friends at the Ministry of Transportation have considered including some vistas to view this spectacular Lake as they make plans to twin Highway 11-17 between Nipigon and Thunder Bay.
Tourists love water, in its many forms and with this huge inland sea as we like to refer to it as, right on our doorstep; it would seem natural to me that maybe we should consider letting tourists sneak a view of it from time to time. It is ironic that during the months when the trees are bare you can catch a glimpse of the Lake which is usually a frozen surface but once the tourists start to arrive you can’t make out the lake between the trees! Think of the opportunities you have to see Lake Superior from the border to Nipigon, and you will agree they are few and far between.
This would be a once-and –for-all opportunity to promote the big Lake, and at the same time develop real rest stops for tourists and the rest of us. Can you imagine a proper rest stop, a Lake Superior Welcome Centre that not only promoted the unique features of Lake Superior, but gave us a place to use a toilet, year-round? Can you imagine, no more bottles of yellow/orange liquid littering the scenery because there is nowhere to go?
My vision would be that since we are supposedly twinning the highway, that two to three rest stops should be developed between Nipigon and Thunder Bay. At each rest stop there would be an opportunity to view the Lake. At each location, tourists would learn that Lake Superior is the largest of the 5 Great Lakes, with our unofficial 6th Great Lake being Lake Nipigon not too far away. The Lake is the largest freshwater body of water in the world by surface area! There is enough water in Lake Superior to cover all of North and South America with one foot of water! There is a retention period on Lake Superior of 191 years! Our First Nation neighbours were first on the Lake 10,000 years ago! Aren’t these amazing facts, and just a few of the many? Why don’t we promote this treasure?
Imagine another opportunity that should be created as another feature of these Lake Superior rest stops- local businesses and communities advertising their services, providing a win/win for everyone along the highway. Souvenirs representing the region and the Lake could be sold at these rest stops, including Aboriginal crafts, and cuisine. As a tourist I would welcome the opportunity to learn more about this unique Lake and at the same time have the chance to sample bannock with locally harvested blueberries.
The Lake is somewhat promoted as part of the Circle Tour. Well is it? A few small signs here and there and a magazine. At these Lake Superior rest stops, the circle tour could be promoted properly. The scenery around the Lake is spectacular, yet it remains a mystery to most tourists that are unaware of its beauty. If Minnesotans knew more about the Lake on this side of the border, and we actually promoted this tourist attraction properly more would venture north.
First of all you have to able to see Lake Superior to appreciate it. Let’s twin the highway properly with the inclusion of three rest stops that do the Lake justice. This same line of thinking goes as we venture north towards Beardmore. Why not provide a real rest stop nearby the Gorge and Palisades?
These opportunities exist yet remain a mystery to the tourists we are trying to attract. Are we attraction ready? The benefits will more than repay the investment.

A true Community Forest may be the answer

2009-05-13T12:20:00.002-04:00

Musings…..
From
BIG LAKE
Country

Mike Shusterman

A true Community Forest may be the answer for MNR

A community surrounded by trees, rocks and water should have access to the many benefits that these resources can provide. Also a community that depends on their resources for their existence will ensure that these resources are sustainably managed. It seems like a match. What are we waiting for?
The province is in the midst of making changes to be forest tenure system whereby they provide wood allocations to many resource businesses, and charge a rent or stumpage for every cubic metre utilized. This rent is to be put back into the forest that generated the revenue, not some bottomless pit managed for southern Ontario.
Currently the MNR is studying a number of global models of tenure, including the Algonquin Forest Authority (AFA) model which as the name would suggest operates within Algonquin Provincial Park. The AFA is responsible for the sustainable forest management of the Park which provides wood fibre for a dozen local sawmills and are aware of the socio-economic benefits provided by this Forest, and make decisions accordingly. The AFA is a crown agency working on behalf of the MNR. This model works well, and has for a number of decades. The AFA markets the forest resources, and these revenues are returned back to the AFA.
The province’s desire to implement a new forest management and timber sales system is to appease the U.S. concern that unfair subsidization exists for Ontario and other province’s forest industry and ultimately Canada and the provinces seek to lift this lumber tariff. I have studied Community Forests for a number of years and actually worked with Dorion Township to develop a true Community Forest model. I also attended a conference on this subject in B.C where there are communities realizing the benefits of a Community Forest. From what I have learned, the community in the Forest should be the stewards of the Forest.
A true Community Forest (CF) can address the province’s tenure process if the community truly manages the Forest. The community would need to be defined, however it would seem logical that it would be defined as all residents that are located within and depend on that Forest, including and respective of traditional land uses of our First Nations neighbours. Existing wood allocations would be made available by the CF, at a price designated by the CF.
The management of the CF would be represented by First Nations, forest industry businesses, other resource users, and residents. The resources including wood fibre would be marketed by the CF. Revenues would be returned to the CF to make improvements to the Forest. Residents within the CF boundary would be provided the first opportunity for employment which can range from forest harvesting, processing, and trucking to stream and wildlife improvements, road building and maintenance.
The CF would be responsible for resource development ONLY, and not interfere or mix with municipal operations. The CF would be responsible for only the Crown or provincial lands designated within the provincial Forest system.
In some models, I have seen where non-CF residents would be charged a forest daily access fee which would go towards road maintenance, wildlife enhancements, and lake and stream improvement costs. This is a key component, as it is the revenues provided that funds the CF. It is a sustainable business, dependent on resource utilization to cover the costs of regeneration and improvements.
The true cost to access forest fibre would be determined by the CF and therefore there would not be any government subsidization which causes the lumber tariff concern. The price for forest fibre will cover the cost to sustain the community’s forest. In this simple, short example, it is easy to see how the community can benefit from its surrounding resources, by maintaining the Forests that surround us and provide much-needed employment. Our communities should be demanding this approach to the management of our forests and resources. A sustainably managed forest can provide year-round employment and the benefit that the community will ensure that the forest continues to provide benefits for our future generations.

Accessing the Plentiful Foods that Surround Us

2009-04-29T09:57:00.003-04:00

I was walking through China- town in Toronto a week ago and it struck me. Here you can find every type of fish, and every part of a fish you can name from all over the world. Why is that? Further more, why is it possible to have access to this fish while back home I can’t find a filet of pickerel, trout, herring, whitefish or salmon from the some of the largest fresh water lakes in the world in a local store or restaurant?
I think the time that this set-off a bell in the far recesses of my mind was when I ordered pickerel at a certain Café in a community on our north-shore to find out that the fish was from the Ukraine! I had this thought cross my mind again lately when I inquired into the origins of a typically local fish found at a large grocery store in Thunder Bay and discovered that the fish actually originated from Poland! A fish we can catch usually 20 minutes from our door, and we have to go across the ocean and then some, to Poland to get the same fish. Does this make any sense to you? What was the situation of that fish stock, what was the water like, was it farmed, and how long has it been frozen? These questions are just some of the thoughts as I processed this absurdity.
I recall mentioning this in an article about Grand Marais a while back that it is possible to eat locally caught fish in a restaurant there as well finding it in their local fish shops. Not in Ontario though.
I can understand about food security, but come on! Isn’t this just one more of the many opportunities for us to create employment that is sadly stifled by the province through a number of regulations? It is a tourist opportunity for sure. I know that you can order Ostrich from a certain restaurant in Thunder Bay, but can you order what is a world renowned delicacy-Lake Superior Herring in the same establishment? NO, but you can in Chicago!
That is the fish side of food. What about wild game? If you were a tourist and could have the opportunity to eat roughed grouse, or venison if you were so inclined would that not be a memorable tourist experience?
In a world where we are starting to realize that it is better to be self-sufficient for a number of reasons such as less energy to provide similar products if they are local and the fact that these foods can be safer, it makes you wonder why we can’t question what is seen as normal.
I inquired into why this is so from our provincial and federal food agencies. Well you can imagine what kind of quagmire I became immersed into trying to decipher this issue. Provincially you have to go through the Ministry of Natural Resources and the local Health Unit, the Ontario Wildlife Act and the Conservation Act. Federally you must go through the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. They all referred you back to either the provincial or federal department that you started with. I felt like I was in the middle of a Ron James skit.
We can purchase locally picked blueberries, and we can visit "u-pick em" berry farms. These appear safe. You can visit a local farmer’s market and purchase locally grown vegetables. The province seems to be okay with this scenario. Fish which is very good for you, especially from our pristine waters is not available. Wild game that is also very good for you, not available.
I would think that for starters, there is an opportunity to create employment through the harvesting and marketing of locally caught fish and game. Not everyone hunts and fish. The fact that is better than anything you will find in a store should be compelling enough to provide.
Secondly it is a real tourist draw. I know that when I visit a new place I try to eat the local foods. It is an essential part of the tourist experience, to be introduced into the local culture through its people and their food.
Are we to be known for our off-shore delicacies only? Is that our legacy; is that our northern Ontario tourist experience? I think not. Not when we have such natural food resources right on our shores, or in our forests.
I wonder if others feel the same way. Surely we can look at this differently. We can create year-round employment through the harvesting of these foods; we can improve our tourist traffic through our local eateries; and have a healthier local choice for our diets. Unfortunately, there are too many agencies to wade through to get to a solution on this. In our current economy, it would make sense to find a way to offer these local foods in a SIMPLE safe regulated way.

Ontario's Hidden Industry is Threatened

2009-04-22T12:47:00.002-04:00

Protecting a hidden Industry

If the Auto Industry is our Forest Industry, then our Harvesting Contractors and Truckers are the Auto Part makers. They need each other to survive.
Have you ever taken the time to consider that without the Harvesting Contractor and Trucking Companies it won’t matter if and when the forest industry returns? As we search for methods for our region’s mills to survive this downturn, the backbone of these mills are in real danger of disappearing.
As the province and the forest industry is working to develop new opportunities such as biomass to power industries and other value-added forest products we are losing harvesting and trucking companies at a rapid pace. Once this downturn levels-out we need to know that the people that harvest, process, load and deliver provincial wood fibre are still going to be there. It seems each week we are losing more and more of these businesses.
These firms are working with crown or provincial wood fibre. Should they not be afforded some protection from bankruptcy? As they are processing and delivering Crown wood should they not have secured creditor status, so they can be paid for the wood they deliver and provide the banks with a comfort level to provide loans to the forest industry?
The province is quick to come to the rescue of the Auto Industry and its Parts makers. Should the forest industry and the related Harvesting contractors not have the same protection?
Before the downturn in the forest industry started to show, the demographics of this industry was already aging drastically. With the combination of an aging workforce and this downturn it seems very apparent that we will soon be short of forest resource businesses. Wouldn’t it be a shame that Canada will be unable to supply its future forest industry with wood fibre?
It does seem impossible for this to occur, but this is a hidden industry. Harvesting and trucking companies fly under the radar screen and are not recognized for their efforts by both the public and the forest industry mills. For so many years up until the 80’s, forest industry mills supplied their own harvesting and woodlands workforce. They were self-sufficient. That all changed, and this created new opportunities, however with little support the harvesting contractors and trucking companies that are the backbone of many small communities across the north are starting to disappear.
I recently met with MNR Minister Cansfield and discussed this very topic. I don’t think that the province or its residents fully grasp this impending tragedy.
To avoid the path we are sadly headed towards, I feel the province needs to provide immediate emergency relief to the companies exposed from processing crown wood fibre to area mills. Secondly these firms should be provided some security whenever they process the provinces wood, especially in a mill default situation. Before crown wood changes hands to the consuming mill, the wood processor should be granted secured creditor status which will provide financial institutions the appetite to provide credit to these companies.
The old line of “you don’t know what you have ‘till it’s gone” surely applies here. Do we want to wait until the day when we have no suppliers for our forest industry? It might happen sooner than you think, and with no-one to go to bat for these professionals it is a sad reality. In Finland these workers are recognized as professionals, and there are even apprentice opportunities available in this profession. Once again, we look to our Scandinavian cousins for leadership in forestry. We need to protect what we have left of this profession, and by the way they may very well be your tax-paying neighbours.

Ontario's Changing Biomass Landscape, including an interview with MNR Minister Cansfield and Industry

2009-04-06T10:09:00.004-04:00

Through the partnering of the province of Ontario, its Forest Industry, and our First Nations; the future of forestry in Ontario is a forever changing landscape. This partnering future will include a new market for the province’s forest resources, that being Biomass, and the resulting Bio-fibre. The timing of this new opportunity can’t come at a better time or fast enough, as the Forest Industry struggles with an unprecedented down cycle, and the province seeks new power alternatives.
Historically forestry in Ontario consisted of trees harvested for specific primary products such as pulp, paper or building products. The remaining portions of the tree and any associated under-utilized species would be left behind, which many felt was an opportunity in-waiting. Now through the vision of the province, combined with an increased interest in alternative value-added products, non-timber forest products and the increasing demand for alternative energy, we are seeing a movement towards new opportunities, such as Biomass and Bio-fibre.
Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Minister Donna Cansfield explained in an exclusive interview regarding Biomass, that she “sees a bright future in a diversified forest industry that will not concentrate solely on primary products, but rather include alternative biomass fuels, chemicals and at the same time with the inclusion of our First Nation’s people, so they can contribute their sustainable development ideas”.
The province is helping to move this transformation forward with a number of new initiatives, one being their recently announced new wood fibre allocation opportunity, “Request for Expression of Interest” (RFEI) for under-utilized Crown wood fibre and traditionally undesired species that exist in our Forests. “Stage 1 of this RFEI was just completed and it is expected that the process will see businesses acquiring new wood fibre allocations by the fall. The response to the RFEI was over whelming with over 130 proposals with a 50/50 split between biomass / bio-fibres, and value-added forest products Minister Cansfield explained.
I asked Minister Cansfield about the other provincial agency involved in the biomass movement, and Minister Cansfield acknowledged that “it is imperative that the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) and the MNR coordinate their activities, and this is why we released the RFEI in conjunction with the new Green Energy Act, another new provincial initiative. It was not by coincidence”.
I asked the Minister for her opinion on where value added forest products fit into her model in the new forest, and she was quick to point out that the MNR’s vision of “value-added forest products include biomass and bio-fibre products, and utilizing trees and slash for fuel, chemicals and fertilizers. This is a new opportunity for Ontario where we have traditionally viewed the forest opportunity for building materials only. It is far more prudent to capture the opportunities that exist elsewhere in the world; otherwise we will be left behind”.
One question raised by this future industry comes from a Biomass Engineering firm based in Thunder Bay, EKT 90 Inc’s VP Denis Magne, “what is the limit on the wood fibre supply to match this new interest as seen by the proposals?” Minister Cansfield answered by stating that “the MNR is developing a new inventory for biomass and bio-fibre. As we have not previously looked at this new opportunity, the inventory will be achieved through a collective approach of known harvesting data and opening –up the forest tenure to these new firms”. She added that they have injected this knowledge into the volumes available through current RFEI process. “A new forest tenure system will be following these announcements to take us into the future”, Minister Cansfield added.
With the rush to jump at these new opportunities, I asked Minister Cansfield whether the MNR had any data to determine the economic feasibility of processing trees and slash for conversion to products such as power and she stated that the MNR has completed research into the economics and she referred me to a University of Calgary study that outlined the unique opportunities presented to northern Ontario “through our transportation networks such as rail and the H20 highway with our Great Lakes waterways providing a perfect biomass supply route to the US Midwest. Transportation is a cost factor that forces us to look at alternative methods to market our new products”, Minister Canfield explained.
Minister Cansfield went on to say how we all have to begin thinking differently. “Look at the abandoned farmland around North Bay for an example; it is a prime location to grow new bio-fibre crops. They have a historical agriculture presence and can make this easy transition to these new value-added opportunities,” she added.
The new Green Energy Act is an associated dramatic change for the province that can help the forest industry. Denis and his firm are well-versed in biomass to power conversions stated that this new Act “provides the right to citizens of Ontario to create power and the province will consume it”. ‘This is such a change for the province”, Denis added, and he could only see positives coming from this change of direction. How this will all play out remains to be seen and Denis has a number of unanswered questions, such as “What will the rate paid to the generator be for biomass conversion, what about the carbon credits that are offset by converting biomass?” Denis pointed out that the negotiated rate has to provide an incentive to the operator to consider spending $50 million to build the infrastructure to generate power. Once you sign a contract Denis explained you have to produce, so there has to be an incentive for the generator to live with this risk. The same he explained with the carbon credits,” this is a whole new way of thinking, the carbon credits are valuable to the generator”, Denis explained.
I asked Denis his views on forest product opportunities, and Denis feels that a forest product facility that cannot also create power for sale will not fit the new model. “The new model sees the forest product as a by-product to power. “Power does not have the cycles of traditional forest products”, Denis added.
Change create questions, and only time will tell whether the province of Ontario, and its forest industry is ready to embrace these changes. “We need to diversify the forest industry”, Minister Cansfield explained and it now appears that the province is providing the necessary tools for this transformation.

The Self-Loader Trucker Profile

2009-03-24T13:37:00.001-04:00

The Self-Loading Log Truck Operator-The Versatile Log-Haul Workhorse

In northern Ontario logging operations you will have no doubt at some point come across the self- loading trucker. The operator /owner is a business person involved in the entire process, from marketing his loading and driving skills and availability, to ensuring he/she gets paid. The Self-loader trucker is an independent breed, and most are always characters.
Think about this business; it is 4-seasons, with the trucker sitting on that loader’s seat between the two trailers exposed to the -40 temperatures in the winter with the wind or contending with a steady downpour and washed –out roads in the spring and fall and pretty much has to look out for himself. He gets paid when he delivers a load. If he gets stuck, breaks down, you name it; their on their own.
I can recall my first experience on one of these monsters when I worked for Weldwood in the 70’s. I always remember being granted permission to jump in with one of the Veilleux’s Self-loader’s to haul a load of aspen poplar veneer logs to Longlac. I was so impressed at the artistry of the operator placing these slippery logs on the deck, and I thought that this must take a lot of practice. If you think about it, the operator has to find the log pile, when usually no-one is around; find the easiest way to get in and out and turn around, and then load himself and then get back out. No small feat. Again, any thing happens in this process and tough luck.
“There is always a load that someone wants moved, and because I am able to do this in one process with one piece of equipment I am an economical option for the customer”, Reg stated.
One such Self-Loader man is Reg Blunt of J&R Blunt Trucking located in Pass Lake, Ontario. Reg fits the role as to what I have come to know of these characters over the past 30 years to a “T”. Most people that know Reg will understand my interview with him will make for a long conversation, and as I have come to realize that all these Self-Loader guys are all the same; they like to talk, and because they get around to various mills and logging operations-they are in the know.
Reg is the last of a breed of men that do this job well. They are highly sought-after for their ability and independence. You know when you call Reg for a load to be picked-up and delivered, it just happens. He covers an area almost the size of France, as he hauls wood between White River to the Manitoba border, and as Reg commented, “I know every damn road in between”.
Reg operates an International Pay-Star 5600 series truck from C.C Poulin in Thunder Bay, powered by a 525 HP Cummins. His trailer is made by Timmins Trailers, and the self-loading rig grapple equipment is made by Serco, of Two Harbors, Minnesota. Reg speaks highly of his equipment as he has had to rely on it make it out of some pretty tough road and weather situations. Reg only uses Internationals with a second powered by a 475 Cummins.

Reg has been in this business for the past 32 years and has been witness to a lot of changes, in both logging and trucking. What has not changed is the need for his type of truck. “There is always a load that someone wants moved, and because I am able to do this in one process, I am an economical option for the customer”, Reg stated. “There is always a load of wood that has to be collected into a load and then moved”, Reg commented. Reg explained that in a typical logging operation the loader is constantly being moved around for various functions. This constant shuffling of loaders ensures that there will always be wood missed or left behind, which will need to be moved and this is where Reg makes his livelihood. Other situations requiring Reg’s abilities and equipment are for moving the specialty wood such as sawlogs or veneer logs that are processed after the major volume species such as pulp logs are produced.
Another feature of Reg’s equipment configuration of a “tandem and a pup” trailer, is in some situations he has had to collect and forward wood on some difficult roads and by being able to drop his pup trailer he can get in and out, without the drag of his pup trailer.
Reg like most truckers can relate to stories regarding regulations and he feels that while most are beneficial, some seem to miss the point such as his concerns over cabling and feels that throwing un-needed double cables over his loads will eventually lead to compensation claims.
Reg feels that cell phones have made a positive difference, while fuel; well we all know what that has done to the forest industry, and in Reg’s case was 50% of his costs in 2007.

Our region's University and its Future is Secure

2009-03-22T17:23:00.003-04:00

I had the opportunity to interview Lakehead University’s President Dr. Fred Gilbert recently and was surprised to learn so much about our region’s University, its accomplishments and its future; and how this can be all attributed to the leadership of Dr. Gilbert. I found out in one hour how much Lakehead U; has quietly made quite a name for itself not only in Ontario but across Canada, and North America.

Dr. Fred’s has been at the helm of this University since 1998. It is directly because of his ability to surround himself with the best people to make this University what it is today, that LU is prepared to prosper well into the future and better prepared than many other cash-strapped Universities across Canada as they developed its potential in many growth areas.

I asked Dr. Gilbert to outline his top five accomplishments, and by doing so he reminded me how modest a man he is, as he constantly praises those around him for accomplishments attributed to him.

His first accomplishment that he feels stands out from the rest is the improvement in the quality of the administration of the University. He explained how through the fine quality of the people around him LU has a better moral, significantly increased research output, better decision making, and this all combines to feed upon itself by attracting even more qualified people to the University, which leads to increased enrollment, which funds the University’s programs. President Gilbert is proud of the University’s profile.

The second accomplishment President Gilbert outlined the improvement in the university’s facilities and the “taking a leadership role” that led to the University’s ATAC, now Innovation Centre. “It truly put Lakehead University on the research map, with its virtual reality lab at a time when only 6 existed across the country”, Dr. Gilbert explained.

Dr. Gilbert’s third accomplishment is Lakehead University’s new Orillia campus. The Orillia campus, now another future paying reality “provided the capacity Lakehead required to be sustainable into the future”, Dr. Gilbert gratefully explained. “The Orillia campus allows LU to tap even more into the southern Ontario student market and has already provided Lakehead dividends with an additional 500 students at a time other University’s are facing decreases” Dr. Gilbert added. “Other University’s are forced to make major cut-backs and tuition increases which compounds enrollment. Our new campus provides a future that will see us survive through this economy”, Dr. Gilbert added.

I learned through my interview with President Gilbert that LU has been on the forefront of a number of new ideas which other University’s are copying. “When other institutions start to follow your lead, you know you are onto something, according to President Gilbert”. Some examples are the new collaborative Nursing program jointly sponsored between Lakehead and Confederation College. This concept is now being copied by others, as well as the Orillia Campus new philosophy of “voluntary-based learning”; courses where students in smaller groups learn through discussion, rather than the older model of the student being the receptor of teachings.

These new and leading-edge concepts are just part of the reasons Lakehead University reached the number one ranked position in the Maclean magazine’s ‘Value-added” University category. “It’s an important ranking to help a student consider Lakehead as a first choice as it declares Lakehead as providing value for the student’s education dollar”, Dr. Gilbert stated. “We are in the business of competing for students, and with a new campus and a great reputation, Lakehead can compete with all University’s across the nation”, Dr. Gilbert went on to say.

The fourth accomplishment President Gilbert explained is the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and what this School has accomplished for not only the University and the City but also for the region and our growing First Nation population and the opportunities it provides for these people. The new linkages with other health care partnerships have transformed Thunder Bay into a leader in health research.

The fifth and this list is just scratching the surface, is Lakehead University’s research productivity, which has now amassed $30 million dollars and counting, towards research as well as another $20 million in linked research projects. President Gilbert is proud to say that “he would stack Lakehead’s people and facilities against any of the traditional big Universities such as University of Toronto. The University’s new Bio-Refining and Forestry Value-Added Centre research facilities are cutting –edge research facilities, and will be beneficial for the future economy”.

I couldn’t resist adding one of my favourite President Gilbert’s accomplishments, which saw LU resurrect its hockey program through the Thunder wolves, in a new concept where the community backs the Team. “The University needed to have a hockey Team”, Dr. Gilbert explained. “Hockey is the lifeblood of the north, and it also helps profile the University. I asked if this accomplishment achieved its desired outcome, and the President smiled and said “ask me after the Cavendish Cup, the platform for University hockey supremacy in Canada which Lakehead University is hosting.”

With all the great things happening at the University I asked how all this success will continue in the President’s absence next year and the University’s Board has ensured that the advances made will continue, as Dr. Gilbert was asked to prepare a three-year Strategic Plan for his replacement to follow.

A New Value-Added Forest Products Model-One Solution to Two Problems

2009-03-14T12:02:00.003-04:00

Musings…..
From
BIG LAKE
Country

Mike Shusterman

A New Value-Added Forest Products Model-One Solution to Two Problems

I was invited to make a presentation to NOBEC (Northern Ontario Bio-Economy Committee) recently where I put forth a model of true Value Added Forest Products that can be put into place NOW, and not wait for a re-bound in North America’s housing starts, which traditionally drives our solid and composite forest products facilities across northern Ontario.
We are currently in the midst of two crises across northern Ontario. One crisis is our forest products industry. I would have never imagined that we would have both our paper making, lumber, and panel producing mills all down at the same time. The effects are just now being realized in our communities. The second crisis is the terrible state of First Nation and Aboriginal housing in their communities, and this situation is growing steadily as the First Nation population increases. We can’t wish these problems away.
Both these problems need to be resolved immediately, and there is a combined solution to both these catastrophes, and the answer is a made-in-northern-Ontario solution.
In meetings with Grand Chief of NAN (Nishnawbe Aski Nation) Stan Beardy recently, I learned that there is an annual requirement to replace approximately 80,000 houses across Canada, and in Ontario this translates to just under 15,000 houses. Chief Beardy estimates that in NAN territory communities alone, 27 in fact, there is an acknowledged requirement for 4,000-6,000 houses annually. This does not include additional requirements for schools, nursing stations, and other buildings. When we discussed his interest in seeing NAN communities participate in the development of value-added forest products, it hit me; combine the two issues into one solution.
A modern Pre-Manufactured House Factory can produce approximately 4,000 houses per year. This volume of houses will consume 70% of an average sized Sawmill’s annual output. This House Factory can also provide similar production requirements from a plywood, wafer board, or OSB facility. In fact, almost 80% of a pre-manufactured house can be manufactured in northern Ontario. Add kitchen cabinetry, shelving, windows, siding, flooring, electrical and plumbing components and there is not much that we cannot produce here. What is missing can become a new opportunity for a business in the north, such as roofing or solar panels.
When I presented this opportunity to Chief Beardy, and other First Nation leaders, they jumped at the chance to be involved. Think of the potential! Every one of the 27 communities in NAN territory will require a crew of trained carpenters, electrical and plumbing trades, installers, and maintenance people. A training facility will be required to train these crews, and this is a perfect apprentice strategy that will benefit each and every community for years to come. New jobs in their communities combined with re-newed employment in our current manufacturing facilities.
There is a broad logistics plan required to make these houses available to each community. Every community must be provided the opportunity to receive these new houses and so, no matter if they are drive-in or winter drive-in access or fly-in; the houses have to be built in such a way to be containerized.
This solution gets our mills back to work, possibly 3 per region, at the same time as it addresses First Nation housing. This is a community –based approach to our problems. By helping our neighbours we are solving employment and housing issues. This approach, made in northern Ontario for northern Ontario will provide a market base to re-start our forest products facilities. This new market will give us the chance to maintain these mills until the North American housing industry returns. With the requirement for other buildings, there will be a need for additional building factories, which will require additional mills to re-start.
The Federal government has recently passed a stimulus package for Canada. An amount of $500,000,000 has been ear-marked for First Nation housing. We can re-invigorate our north by seeing money for First Nation housing being invested in house factories located in the regions to serve this demand. This is true regional stimulation, and true value-added; combining all the products we manufacture and develop a new higher valued product that solves a housing crisis, and employment crisis. We can’t wait for 2010 or beyond.

The Bowl and Spoon Philosophy

2009-03-10T15:33:00.000-04:00

Musings…..
From
BIG LAKE
Country

Mike Shusterman

The “Bowl and Spoon” Philosophy

I recently had the pleasure of attending an evening presentation sponsored by Lakehead University’s Department of Indigenous Learning, at LU’s Bora Laskin Building with John Ralston Saul; the noted Canadian author. Mr. Saul was speaking on behalf of his most intriguing recent work, “A Fair Country: Telling Truths about Canada”.

This was a most refreshing education for me where in two hours I learned more about Canada than I had learned in formal history lessons at schools teaching from the typical European model that Canada was supposed to follow. I learned about our beginnings and the underpinning philosophies that originate from our Aboriginal communities.

I think the one memory I took away from this evening, is the notion of the ‘Bowl and Spoon” philosophy that our founding people use in everything they do in their day-to –day life and have for thousands of years.

This philosophy, which Mr. Saul was surprised to learn that the majority of the audience had never heard before mentioned; is that according to his understanding from his Aboriginal research and teachings from Elders; that everyone around us share our time on this earth together and will learn to adapt to each other and share from the same bowl, with the spoon the tool to help us achieve this way of thinking. This struck me as so simple yet so powerful. It follows what I have learned also that the bowl is a circle, another philosophy of our founding people.

Saul went on to demonstrate this philosophy in terms of when the white man first set foot on this soil, and that with the Aboriginal’s teachings, he learned to adapt to this new environment, so foreign to their way of life. They either adapted or perished.

Saul argues that “Canada is a First Nation and a Métis nation, that is heavily influenced and shaped by aboriginal ideas: egalitarianism, a proper balance between individual and group, and a penchant for negotiation over violence are all aboriginal values that Canada absorbed”.

He pointed out that as Canada was settled secondly by Europeans, that this land’s philosophies were supposed to represent European thinking; that there is one race, one religion, one government. They would come over here, conquer and then purchase the land they need. This is how it played-out in the U.S; but this never occurred on Canadian soil. Why, because our involvement and inclusion of Aboriginal thinking and philosophies into what we were conditioned to believe from our European apron strings.

Also, I realized from another historical observation Saul discussed that made sense, was the Treaty situation. All references to the history of treaty negotiations were all documented by the new settlers, and never agreed upon by the Aboriginals as they conducted their democracy in an oral form whereby we documented everything. The person documenting was never challenged. Interesting to say the least. Canada has now officially recognized this fact and has changed the way they are approaching history.

Saul went onto to say that if you think about it, Canada is the longest serving democratic country in the world. That caught me by surprise, but if you understand that we as a nation have never had to go to war, or started a war on this soil to defend our democratic culture that originated from our Aboriginal peoples, and they have practiced a form of democracy here for thousands of years.

What all this leads to is the fact that Aboriginal influences are everywhere in our Canadian society. Yet we don’t recognize it or understand it, but it is there. We did not develop into a European model; we evolved into what we are due to help thankfully from our founding peoples.

Saul applauded the differences that make Canada stand-out from other nations, and that we are unique in this way. He started out the evening commenting about how we are viewed in the world. Saul made mention that we are not understood, are low-key and not highly profiled in the news. We are much like the very people that taught us how to survive to be here in the first place. We have had some tough history together, again influenced by the cultures brought over from Europe, yet we have learned how to live together, because we are finally listening to the original people that have showed us the way.

As we struggle to get through the latest white man-made crisis, we would be wise to listen to our founding neighbours and share their “bowl and spoon” philosophy and learn how to live in this environment, wisely sharing the land and resources.

Short Story - Mother Nature's Wrath of Fire

2009-03-09T15:34:00.003-04:00

Mother Nature’s Wrath of Fire

The devastating fires sweeping across Australia reminded me once again what can happen in a fire if you are not prepared and do not recognize the fury that Mother Nature can unleash on a forest or on a community. To witness her might, makes you realize how insignificant we really are in the scheme of life.
I had the opportunity to work on a Forest Fire Crew to help pay for school in the Forestry program at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario back in the 70’s, and I have a story that I have always wanted to put down on paper. The fires raging out of control down-under reminded me once again, that I should once-and-for-all take the time to document 2 days that I will never forget; 2 days where everything imaginable about fighting a fire occurred. It was on those days that I realized that Mother Nature is truly in charge.
These 2 days were part of some significant days that led up to this most intriguing time in my life, and so it is important that I set the stage for you, so you will understand the situation as strange as it may seem.
We were a crew of five people, four crew members, Marcel, Mark, Jim and me, and a Crew Boss, whose name happened to be Bert. Three of our crew members were also students; enrolled in the same program at Lakehead U. Fighting fire for the summer was a dream-come-true for a student, especially enrolled in a forestry program. The pay was the first benefit, as in a normal fire season you could expect to stash away enough money for the entire school year. On a big fire, so I was told, you can expect overtime, and as I soon realized-you truly earned it. Also on a fire, room and board was free and it was exciting. Exciting would not even come close to the description I would use.
We started work right after the school year was over, which was at the end of April, and also coincided with the beginning of the fire season. The snow had disappeared by now, however there was still ice on some lakes. The geese were returning and you could feel that spring was in the air. It was finally warming up. It was becoming true forest fire season.
We got settled –in at the Forestry base Staff house, met one another and the very next day we got down to business; training and training and more training. Little did I know how much this training would be called upon in the upcoming weeks. Little did I also realize, that no matter how much training you do, nothing trains you like the real thing. So we trained and trained some more, with much time spent working the portable water pumps, working with the fire hose that had a mind of its own once it was charged with water. Carrying heavy hose packs over and over again made me appreciate the good life at school!
We all were pretty much interchangeable as far as knowing the fire suppression ropes by then from a training stand point after a couple of weeks. Bert was a great trainer; as he could relate to our lack of experience and we could understand him when he wanted make a serious point. The time moved slowly however, and we had the itch to see some real action, and so we did get to experience a grass fire on the edge of town. I’ll tell you that a raging grass fire can get very hot, with all the dead grass left over form the fall which is nice and dry. I learned quickly to appreciate fire and fire behavior. This grass fire was nothing close to what we were soon to discover.
We had trained to the point that we knew what we were doing, and as part of our many duties we had cleaned up and repaired everything that could be cleaned- up and repaired at a Fire Base. We had packed and unpacked boxes of cleaned and inspected fire hose. We were anxious for some action. Then one day, it finally happened; a call came into our Fire base that a large fire had started in the Lake District near Dryden, Ontario. There were a number of homes and timber in jeopardy, assets as they were called by the fire seniors. We were dispatched immediately.
You could feel the excitement among the Crew as we loaded into our truck, the yellow pig as it was affectionately known. We were like kids, according to Bert, who with his dry demeanor took this all in stride. We left for Dryden and made it there 8 hours later! The distance that it would take for us to get to this fire told us it must be a big one, to have us dispatched from so far away. We left at 10:30 am and arrived at 7pm, and what a strange sight to see. The whole town was covered in a thick blanket of smoke, and it was dark with an eerie quiet. You could still see the setting sun through the smoke, making the sky a contrast of orange from the fire and black from the smoke. The whole town and surrounding area looked like it was on fire! The first thing that struck me was the smoke, and that smell. The smell of that smoke was a smell that I would experience every day for the next 6 weeks, and a smell that I can still distinguish today. It is a smell that seemed to have a taste as well. I t made your eyes water too. To think that we were called upon to help this community and area extinguish this ever–growing monster of a fire made me feel proud and nervous at the same time. It suddenly dawned on me that this can be dangerous, and much different from training.
We made our way to the ever increasingly busy Fire Base. It appeared to us like a movie set from a war picture. Everyone was outfitted in fluorescent cover-alls, running around moving equipment, dispatching vehicles loaded with fire suppression equipment, food, and camping gear, and crews. Supervisors were barking orders, and you could sense the urgency, in this organized chaos. I truly felt like I had joined the army and that our crew was soon to be at the enemy front line and this feeling would be driven home to me a number of times over the next few amazing weeks. This was not a movie!
As we were preparing to become part of this chaos, it hit us all at the same time, where were these crews going with night approaching? Well, surprise, surprise, our Crew Boss Bert was told we were going out to the front line, now! All the training we experienced occurred in the day time, which made sense to me because you can see what you are doing. Our first real forest fire and we will start attacking it in complete darkness. Nothing trains you better than the real thing, and Mother Nature is waiting.
We arrived at the one of the fire’s many edges, and Bert was introduced to the Fire Boss. Every fire has a Fire Boss, who was responsible for everything that goes on with suppressing a fire. He had 2-way radio contact with all the fire crews assigned to that fire, the Air Attack, the main Fire base, and Fire Central back in Thunder Bay that assisted him with up to date weather forecasts and fire spread details from the daily aerial surveillance. We WERE in the army, or so it felt!
We made it to the frontline, unloaded our equipment, and Bert got into the army mentality as well as he started barking orders. We strung out our hose lines; continuous hose in 100 foot lengths connected to each other and to the portable fire pumps, and proceeded to establish a perimeter. It was rather interesting to start practicing everything we had learned, however in the dark. Once we were next to the fire line, it was easier to see due to the glow of the fire. It was not what I had expected, everything was moving so fast. The noise from distant crews, pumps groaning away, the sound of shovels digging next to the slowly moving fire line, and yes that smoke.
We achieved establishing a fire line around the section the Fire Boss wanted under control by morning and the next day we would move further along the fire’s edge. The Boss wanted the line put in now while Mother Nature was resting, and she was resting, because as the next day started, everything changed, when Mother Nature awoke.
We worked our way back along our fire line to camp, where the cookie or mess boss had already supervised the setting up of our tents and supper was waiting for us. We hadn’t even taken the time to eat since we left our home base, we were so anxious to get to our destination, our first fire.
We were starved and the food was fantastic. We felt good as we had completed a good night’s work. We were both tired and excited. Around the table in the middle of the forest beside a fire for cooking we met other members of fire teams. Some of these crews we would encounter later on in the fight to tame this fire. One person I remember distinctly meeting that night was a helicopter pilot that had served in the Vietnam War. I could have listened to his stories all night long. Fascinating man and this fire business was simple compared to what he had been through. I would very soon learn of his mastery of a helicopter. He would put you down exactly wherever you needed to land. I guess when there are people shooting at you like he experienced, you get very good in a hurry.
We went to bed late and with all the excitement and noise, we didn’t need a lot of sleep, as we were so anxious to experience a full day of fire fighting, in daylight.
One of the things that we learned in fire training was the physics of a fire with the required fuel, air, and an ignition source; the fire triangle. When you think of a fuel source in a forest fire you automatically think of trees, trees standing in a forest and the associated woody debris lying on the forest floor. Well, as this story is developing, that understanding is for a normal situation. The area we had to run new hose line was up and over and underneath a huge blow-down area of aspen poplar and jackpine trees. Mother Nature had again showed her power by causing a wind storm during the past winter, and this added to the fire’s fuel, but also added to our difficulty climbing over and through this mess.
With hose packs strapped to our backs, weighing 85 pounds each, we would walk along the fire’s edge and string out hose so it can be connected together as your line and crew advances. With this blow-down it was no small feat. As the nozzle person moved along the perimeter, they would be hosing down the soil, making a fire break. The progress was slow as we made our way through the blow-down areas, and kept advancing trying to reach the next fire crew working towards the same goal of surrounding this fire completely. It seemed like there was no end to the number of boxes of hose being carried to the front.
Well, by now the fire had grown to approximately 25,000 acres in 2 days. Mother Nature was having her way. The Fire Boss had determined that due to the fast advance of this fire that it would be declared a “project fire”, which meant that everything was to be at his disposal to combat this fire and protect the adjacent assets of houses, cottages, and Crown timber.
Pretty soon Fire Command was not located in town, it was now at the fire, with trailers for offices and a massive campsite.
We worked hard that day, and even though it was very hot, tinder dry with a strong wind, we made steady progress. We impressed the Fire Boss, and the next day he moved us closer to the leading edge of the fire.
This next week would be unlike any other day in the 20 years I had been on this planet up until then, and I will remember it forever.
The next day we were on the frontline, right at the centre of the action. We were feeling pretty good about our efforts, even though we were still very new to this game, to this war. The day started for us like any other day on the line, as we broke camp and got to work adding more hose lengths to our line.
The day was very hot, and the sun was beaming down on us. We could feel the heat of the sun and the warmth of the fire through our cover-alls, that weren’t so new looking any longer with the soot of days of fighting fires worked into the fabric. The smell of smoke was not even noticeable to us any longer, just part of the scenery.
I noticed that Bert was nowhere to be found, and I wondered what happened to him. I passed the nozzle to Mark whose turn it was holding the hose line this morning, and I followed the line back towards the pump set-up. No Bert, so I walked back to camp. I saw Bert’s tent and I yelled out for him. I heard a moan and there was Bert inside the tent, which was just roasting by now, and Bert was just dripping. He came out and could barely walk. He was talking, but he wasn’t making any sense, and could barely stand-up. By this time Marcel came back to see what was going on as our progress on the line had stopped. Marcel was stringing out hose ahead of the nozzle. We took Bert and placed him in a shaded area under some spruce trees, and got him some water. Bert has sun stroke.
All of a sudden from the distance we heard the chugging motor of a helicopter. We could distinctly hear this new noise, over the whining sound of our Wajax pumps. It was a helicopter piloted by the same Vietnam vet Bill, and his passenger was the Fire Boss. They landed in a clearing nearby, and the Fire Boss jumped out.
Our crew was now temporarily without a leader. I explained this to the Fire Boss, and he didn’t seem to care at the time, he was so focused on the growing fire. He told me to follow him and we marched up to the waiting helicopter. He told me to jump in and put on a head-set so I could hear his instructions. Well I jumped in all-right, into this large helicopter, and went to close the door-there was no door! Okay, this is another first, so I strapped on my seatbelt as tight as I could and held-on.
We quickly climbed above the tree-tops and I was startled at the extent of the fire. There was fire and burnt trees as far as the eye could see. I could see our line and pump set-up running off the small lake where our camp crew and Bert were located. We were at the base of a hill, and you could see one of the growing flanks of the fire coming in our direction.
The fire Boss explained that we had to get prepared for a tough day. What was happening unbeknownst to us is that the fire was growing at an alarming rate due to a combination of the blow-down trees as a fuel source, and everyday at around 1pm, the winds would kick –up and push the fire through the tinder dry jackpine tree crowns and it would jump all the fire lines that were supposed to be in place to contain the fire. The standing jackpine were being lit up like torches, as if they were exploding due to the dry winds, fanning the fire through them.
The Fire Boss instructed the pilot, Bill, to take us back down. I jumped out and the Fire Boss followed me to a safe spot away from the rotating helicopter blades. I will never forget what he said, as Marcel had now joined the meeting. The Fire Boss looked at us, pointed to the hill next to our camp, and said,” men you must take that hill, we’re counting on you”, and he left us both in astonishment. Wow, again I thought I was in a war movie. The fire Boss even had on a pair of those aviation sun glasses. He seemed like General Patton! The helicopter disappeared and we were on our own again.
Marcel and I didn’t know whether to laugh or get scared. Meanwhile Mark and Jim joined us, and now everyone knew the situation. Bert was still out of it, and we were preparing to “take that hill”. We had a quick discussion and we established a branch hose line off our existing mainline, and started towards our new goal. It was 10:30 am, and getting warmer.
We made steady progress on charting a new course with this branch hose line, and we quickly started our ascent up this hill. By this time it was about 12 noon, and even hotter. We took turns running back to camp for a bite to eat and to check in on Bert. Bert was at camp, and we took turns keeping track of the noise on the 2-way. There was a lot of chatter on the radio, as you could hear other crews getting prepared for the afternoon, and what an afternoon it would be.
It was now early afternoon, and you could hear the pines rustling, starting to bend into the wind. You could also smell these pines as their resins were being forced out of their needles due to the heat. Any other time this would be a nice warm, sunny day in the summer. Not this day. The smell of smoke intensified, and you could hear crews on the radio talking back and forth about their positions. You could tell the action was about to get crazy.
We overheard the crew from White River, now to the southwest of us were about to lose their position and were planning an evacuation of their line. The radio was alive with hurried conversations. I thought to myself, this crew was evacuating their position, and we are the next in-line, as the wind blew. Where did they evacuate to? What about us?
Another helicopter went whipping by us carrying a large water bucket. We made contact with Bill our friendly helicopter pilot, as he was putting out some smudges that had jumped our line. Bill told me to keep a look out for sparks being whipped up by the wind that were crossing lines. I thanked him for working on our line and he told us again to watch-out, and disappeared to get another bucket of water.
By now the wind was getting even stronger. Things were happening without our knowledge, and Bert thankfully was starting to recover.
Okay, now it is getting scary. The crews all around us were losing their positions. Helicopters were buzzing nearby. It was windy, hot and smoky. All of a sudden you could hear a low rumbling sound. It was a bird dog plane, used to lead the bombers through a fire front to a target, and it was leading a big yellow and red CL 215 airplane meant for dropping water or fire retardant. This big bomber was flying by us at top speed, low over the top of the trees. I could see the pilots in their cockpit, they were so low, and it climbed up suddenly and dropped fire retardant very near our hose line. So now we have helicopters dropping water for us and this big yellow bird dropping this red slimy, slippery fire retardant. The action made every minute seem like seconds. Everything was happening so fast. The noises, the smells, and the nervousness of our crew were palpable.
The radio all of a sudden came alive with a message I didn’t think was real. I heard the White River boys tell us to get out of the way. I was stunned for a minute, and then I could hear another new noise far away. It was the sound of thunder, or so I thought.
In a matter of seconds the jackpine behind us started to ignite and explode. There was no fire to light them up. It was the action of the wind and the growing fire furnace fanning the trees and the advancing fire that was pre-cooking them. We took one look at this, and by the time the Fire Boss called us on the radio to tell us to “get the hell out of there” we were already crammed into a small 14 foot aluminum fishing boat, trying to get escape from the approaching caldron. It was 2pm and Mother Nature was upon us.
We paddled out to what looked like a small island almost in the middle of the lake. It became very dark and still except for the roar of the fire. We had a perfect seat to watch Mother Nature in all her glory.
Evacuations were never discussed at all during our training. I guess this doesn’t happen very often. We were all snuggled up on this rock, not an island and just enough room for the 5 of us. The smoke was so strong now we had to put wet blankets over our heads so we could breathe, and we waited it out. It was getting harder and harder to breathe. We could hear our fire pumps and gas cans exploding on shore. It sounded like a freight train going through. We remained huddled together and then we heard a quack, and here is a small duck climbing onto the rock with us. The smoke was making it squint too. That was a strange sight. Here we are wondering what to do next, and will this turn out okay?
The fire raged through our hose line on the hill, and just like we were told, every day on this fire at around 1pm, the fire takes-off by itself. Only Mother Nature will put this baby out.
The worst was over so we thought. We left our rock of salvation and paddled back to the shore. Bert was feeling better now, and got us re-organized. We made our way to our main hose line, and continued off in our original direction to the east. We were contacted to ask if we were okay. All was well we told them. Scared but intact.
We worked the line moving slowly and steadily approaching the right flank, putting out hot spots. The smoke was still strong. We were told that the fire that raged through the hill was another finger of this huge fire that ran several miles and was stopped at a lake. Our mainline, was still intact.
We were beat by the end of the day, and a swim was in order. We were covered in soot, and could taste the smoke. A quick bite to eat and we called it a day. The Fire Boss radioed- in and thanked us for our efforts.
The next morning we awoke to what appeared to be a peaceful sunny and warm day, although eerily similar to the day before. We now knew what to expect, or so we thought. What else could happen to us?
We broke camp and headed out to control our frontline. We prepared ourselves for the mid-day heat and the now expected approaching fire storm.
To help us deal with the situation, crews of Emergency Fire Fighters (EFF’s) were flown –in with additional supplies for us, to help us keep the pumps running, help with the spot fires and basically assist our efforts to extend our reach along the fire edge.
It was nice to get some fresh food, along with additional hose and pumps, and extra help. Someone was thinking about us. Our friend Bill, flew over with his bucket in tow, and helped again with extinguishing some sparks that had crossed the line. We had control of the situation.
It was noon hour by now, and we took turns again getting a bite to eat. When it was my turn, I came back to camp to find Bert on the radio in contact with the Fire Base Air Attack people. It seems that our pilot friend Bill had his bucket break away form the pinning under the belly of his helicopter while it was full of water, and the bucket sank under the waves. Air Attack was arranging for a diver to be flown-in on a float plane to rescue the bucket.
We all had lunch and were back on the line bracing ourselves for another hot afternoon. We were doing fine, and making progress, controlling our line and then like the day before the wind started to kick it up a notch. We were all far from camp by now making our way across a peninsula, when it got dark again, from the smoke. We seemed to be out of the wind’s direction this time, however it did get busy. Sparks were jumping our line so we were scrambling to keep position. We weren’t sure of our location, and all of a sudden our pumps stopped. We had no water. I made my back towards the pump set-up, and to my horror realized that the fire had crossed our line. I took a run through the newly burnt forest and saw that the EFF’s had abandoned the pumps and were sitting at camp eating all the food.
I went back to warn the rest of the crew to come back with me, and after I had reached Mark, the approaching fire had cut us off from the line, and the rest of the crew. Now what? No communication, no idea where we were in regards to the rest of the crew.
Here we are standing in a burnt-over area surrounded by fire, we were trapped! It’s an amazing experience that when you are in trouble like we were, that you can start to hear things. Things you are hoping that will help you out are not really there at all. That was the strangest feeling. We could hear helicopters that weren’t there. People talking that weren’t there. Mark and I looked at each other in total fear and wondered if this was it? We tried to hide the panic that was settling in. We were both was scared and confused, and we had trouble breathing due to the combined anxiety and the smoke. This was not part of any training.
We tried to come –up with a plan, but we were so scared we couldn’t think straight. We did however notice a small creek that we thought we could follow and see if it led to the lake, and sure enough it did. We were at last near water. I have never experienced such a feeling of relief.
We collected our thoughts and could make out the sound of somebody paddling although the smoke was so dense it was like a boat coming out of a fog. It was Bert. Were we glad to see him? He looked like he had just seen a ghost.

The float plane that flew-in to retrieve the Bill’s bucket, crashed in the lake as the pilot couldn’t see with all the smoke. Bert told us that he had heard the pilot radio the call –in, so he went to see if he could help. He paddled in the direction of the crash and came across blood on the water. The pilot was hurt bad and the diver had a broken shoulder. He managed to help them to shore, and Bill’s helicopter was on its way once the smoke cleared.
We climbed in the boat and made it back to camp. Everyone thought the worst, that we might not be found. The EFF’s that let us down mercifully were not around. They high –tailed it out of camp, and headed in the direction of the next crew. We were exhausted. Safe but tired.
Just when we thought we had seen everything possible, a helicopter dropped out of the sky unannounced. Out jumps a blonde woman. Now you have to appreciate the situation. We are totally exhausted, covered in black soot, and dirt, and have been fighting fire for weeks by now. She jumps out of the helicopter dressed in white pants and a very open, thin shirt, carrying a TV camera and microphone. Yes, dressed in white, and she was beautiful, and clean!
She approached our crew and asks us what’s going on? We were all speechless. She was from the Toronto Star. She told us that the fire we were on was causing so much smoke as far away as Toronto, and wanted to know when we would put it out! We then received a call on the radio, from the Fire Boss, who informed us that our crew was being granted a 3-day R&R break in Fort Frances, and thanked us for our efforts. The fire was mercifully put out by Mother Nature after she changed the weather to rain, and after the fire had grown to 65,0

The Green Energy Act combined with new Wood Allocations= A Future

2009-03-09T15:31:00.000-04:00

Musings…..
From
BIG LAKE
Country

Mike Shusterman

“The new Green Energy Act combined with New Wood Allocations = A Future”

On Monday, February 23, the province of Ontario tabled their new Green Energy Act, also known as Bill C-150 in the House of Commons. You will most likely be bombarded with information about this Act, and what it means to you over the next few weeks.

I am so impressed with the steps that this government is taking to accomplish a number of items that will make a decided impact upon our northern Ontario communities. These changes will make a difference at a time that we are becoming desperate for opportunities. I guess they were listening to us after –all.

The first major announcement over a month ago from the MNR was the Request For Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for Under-Utilized Crown Wood Allocations. This is a process to learn what interest exists from forest products companies to finally access wood fibre that has been locked up by a select few ever since the Crown or province started to provide access to forests to large pulp and paper companies. This process is underway currently and the Stage 1 deadline is fast approaching, March 3.

This new wood, well it is not actually new wood, it is wood fibre that has always been out there but not harvested or left at the side of the road, or just collected and burnt every fall. There were interested companies that had a use for the fibre but you had to be a lawyer to access it.

Now with this new announcement on Monday, the province has changed the ground rules for companies to access the power grid, which for in the northern Ontario’s case, means additional opportunities to convert biomass into power and the province has to take it. This is a major change for Companies interested in converting biomass such as wood fibre into power. Up until Monday, there were limits of how many Megawatts (MW’s) the Ontario Power Authority would purchase from biomass sources, and in a case such as Red Rock that has crossed all the hurdles for power conversion and transmission, were limited to only 40 MW’s of power even though their boiler can produce 55 MW’s. That makes a huge difference.

The province truly wants to deliver on this Green Energy Act. They are seeking 1500 MW of new installed Combined Heat and Power (CHP) energy by 2015, with an additional 3,000 MW’s of this CHP to be installed by 2025. The Red Rock facility falls under this CHP designation.

Other communities will also have this opportunity to convert wood fibre into power. The province guarantees a price for every kilowatt hour of power produced, so a better investment than any stock can provide.

These new programs are changing the scene in the forest products industry. What was traditionally a by-product; power and steam are now the drivers of forest products Companies. We used to make just forest products, and some power for internal consumption. Now the forest industry in North America is being transformed into Power Companies that make forest products on the side.

This change removes the cyclical nature of the forest products industry by having a reliable product that is not market dependant. We all need Power; it’s not a consumer decision at Home Depot. The by-product 2x4, or plywood panel of the new Power Company will still be manufactured, however the Company will not have to relay totally on the building market to survive. As well they lower their cost of production, which makes them able to compete globally.

With this new wood fibre being made available, which will be converted to Power and other new Value-Added Forest Products is making more and more sense for northern Ontario, and comes at a time that can provide a real future for our communities. There are a lot of jobs associated to harvesting, trucking, handling and converting this biomass to Power. The Green Act speeds up the process, which was mired in red tape. Now it’s our right as citizens of Ontario to create Power for Ontario. Now we can create a future wisely using our resources.

Musings # 2

2009-03-09T15:30:00.000-04:00

Musings…..
From
BIG LAKE
Country

Mike Shusterman

“Supporting our Own-Grand Marais style”

Have you ever had the opportunity to visit Grand Marais, Minnesota? It is a short and pretty drive south of Thunder Bay, along our beautiful Lake Superior. It takes approximately 90 minutes and I would recommend a visit for a number of reasons, and the purpose of this article is to point out to you how this small community has developed its potential in tourism, and other opportunities to the fullest. One word to the wise, watch-out for the deer!

Grand Marais sits on the south-west Lake Superior, and it takes full advantage of this opportunity. How much of Lake Superior do we or our tourists see?

The one striking concept that I have noticed in my visits is how every business in Grand Marias respect and promote each-other’s business. It is a nice feeling to experience this, and this alone creates a nice cozy feel to the community. I find this to be unique and profitable at the same time for the community.

An example of this experience can be viewed at a restaurant on the Lake, the Angry Trout! This restaurant features local fish, such as Lake Superior Herring and Lake Trout supplied from local fishermen (“fishers”) to be politically correct. This is another story-why we aren’t afforded this opportunity in Ontario, yes you guessed it-regulations.

The local fisher’s boats are docked alongside the restaurant where they also supply sight-seeing cruises to the public of the harbor and the surrounding shoreline that just so happen to be dining outside or in, looking at the Lake. A captive market for their fish and for sight-seeing!

Inside the restaurant, you are served food that is local, such as the delicious fish as well as other delicacies and this includes locally made breads, and locally grown herbs and seasonal fruits and vegetables. I know this because the menu profiles the names and location of the suppliers of this locally made produce, and pottery, and the names of the local fishers and lake charter operators.

Your glass of water and coffee or tea, are both supplied in locally made pottery. Adorning the walls of this establishment is locally crafted art, with the names of the local artists and their contact information, along with the asking price for these local scenes captured in oil or water colours.

This is a typical representation of this phenomenon, and it signifies what this community has undertaken to promote itself and it is working. Nothing fancy just local businesses working together for the betterment of their community. You will find this co-operation at every establishment in Grand Marais. The restaurant also profiles local accommodation for travelers to consider.

I have checked this out at other restaurants just to see whether this was a one-off, or was it the norm and I was happy to see this repeated at every business.

At another restaurant there were local musicians playing or donations, and again, there was local art and crafts on display.

I know that our northwestern Ontario communities have an art scene as well as some pretty fine musicians. Combined with our great restaurants, we have the same opportunity to put this all together in a package for our tourists. We need to profile this more and this isn’t in need of government funding, we can do it today and create a new buzz in our communities.

We have what Grand Marais has, we just need to create the atmosphere.

Musings #1 Value Added Forest Products - 'Show me the Wood"

2009-03-09T15:26:00.000-04:00

Musings…..
From
BIG LAKE
Country

Mike Shusterman

Value-Added Forest Products-“show me the wood”!

Recently, I was invited to participate in the province’s Northern Growth Plan, Value-Added Forestry Technical Session held on the campus of Lakehead University in Thunder Bay.

As part of a travelling road show whereby the province is seeking input from various sources from across the province on a number of initiatives, such as Health, Transportation, Aboriginal Economic Development, Alternative Energy, Value-added Mining, etc; this was Forestry’s turn to step-up and command change and carve a future.

I must admit I was someone skeptical as I panned the audience, as 85% of the participants were government officials. Where is the forest industry, where are the people that can actually implement the ideas? I know you probably have a similar reaction, “so here we go again with Value- Added Forestry”, or “okay, enough talk already about Value-Added, show me the wood!”

Well, I have to admit that my skepticism was put to rest this week as I learned that the province proved that it is listening, as they satisfied the number one concern from many potential value-added forest industry entrepreneurs, access to wood fibre. This concern was voiced at the conference as a must starting point. So now, the province is un-locking a significant amount of wood fibre across the province. The MNR has recognized that opportunities exist amongst the under-utilized forest species that many have always felt was an opportunity waiting to happen. In northwestern Ontario these familiar species are white birch, aspen poplar, black ash, soft maples and cedar, and their branches and tops.

We are creatures of habit here in the northwest, and our culture has always been, do what is working, and do it big. This has meant many sawmills and pulp and paper mills manufacturing commodity products such as 2x4’s and pulp, utilizing the spruces, and pines only. The commodity business is short –term thinking as we have painfully realized. Occasionally there has been some poplar and birch utilization but not significant, and not on a continued basis. This has always concerned me, as I knew how the Scandinavian countries manage their forests, and now we are starting to emulate their philosophies. In Finland for an example, I have actually walked through a forest of birch that was managed for veneer, as the trees were pruned to lessen the amount of branching that affects veneer quality!

Now, finally with this MNR initiative, these under-utilized species can be accessed for conversion into Value-Added Forest products, such as pre-finished engineered flooring, Modular Housing, birch furniture, bio-energy, laminated veneer lumber, I-Beams, etc. These products have always been out there to manufacture, however the entrepreneur had to wrestle with the access to the wood required. The wood was there but nobody would make it available.

There are other benefits to this new strategy, as our forests will now be managed properly, as all the species can have a market opportunity allowing for true forest management. Our recent past, is a harvest with the under-utilized species left to die or are knocked-over and rot, and resulted in poor regeneration efforts.

With the new energy demand opportunities to convert wood waste as well as slash from harvesting operations to electrical power, coupled with the creation of value-added forest products, the province is truly granting northwestern Ontario the opportunity to provide unique solutions to its future.

We have the R & D facility at Lakehead University’s new Value Added Forestry Centre to create, develop, test, and market these products. Let’s raise its profile!

Next month, I will propose a concept to you that can be a comprehensive model of value-added forest products happening right here in northwestern Ontario.

A Balanced Approach- Shuniah Tree Harvesting By-law

2008-02-20T15:41:00.000-05:00

A Balanced Approach
Maintaining harvesting access and recreation areas.
As the Chair of the ad-hoc Tree Harvesting Committee for Shuniah Township, I would like to comment on the views of some concerned residents published Saturday in The Chronicle Journal.The ad-hoc Committee deliberated for 7 months and developed a set of recommendations for Shuniah Councillors to consider and propose through an Open House scheduled for Jan.31st in Shuniah Township, that achieve I believe is a balanced approach to the issue of maintaining harvesting access to residents while also recognizing the desires of permanent and seasonal residents, especially in recreation areas.I feel the Committee members did an excellent job of recognizing and balancing the diverse opinions of the residents and interest groups. We had a cross-section of members, and I experienced a number of good discussions and I am proud to say that there was a substantial amount of "give and take" from all the members. The forest industry in Thunder Bay and the region is dependant on wood fibre from Townships in our region, such as Shuniah, as the proximity of the wood fibre to these mills provides economies of scale that keep our mills providing jobs and benefits to the residents of the region. As a matter of fact, it was industries such as the Forest Industry that helped develop Shuniah Township, and has for the past 75 years. One bad situation should not out-weigh the benefits provided over the years. The "bad" situation occurred and it is time to move-on and recognize that the Township has been progressive in establishing this Committee and now has at its disposal a set of guidelines that can prevent this situation form happening in the future.A balanced approach to resource management with outcomes that consider "Multiple Use" of the natural resources by its consumers, such as cottagers, forest harvesters, and residents is a positive step forward for all municipalities. The outcome proposed does recognize the desired balance that will prevent less than desirable harvesting situations from occurring in the future, while continuing to provide a livelihood, and benefits for its residents.Mike Shusterman

Safety 1 on 1 Tool

2007-03-09T15:37:00.000-05:00

An article from me published by Safety Exchange regarding a Safety Tool that I practice for mill workers Safety benefit

Thoughts On General Safety And A Few Other Things
I get regular (almost daily) Safety Update notices and this was in the morning traffic.Feature Story The Safety 1-on-1: A Practical Tool for Building a Safety Culture Building a safety culture is like the weather. Everybody talks about it but nobody does anything to change it. Well, that's not completely true. I have developed a handy little tool and used it successfully to build a safety culture and even change the mindset of employees toward safety on the job and off: the Safety 1-on-1. Here's what it is and how to use it. There's also a Model Script in the Tools section that you can access if you're a member of SafetyXChange. What the 1-on-1 Involves The Safety 1-on-1 is a simple concept. As manager, I made a commitment to meet every employee in the operation individually to discuss safety. In addition to demonstrating my commitment to their individual safety, the 1-on-1 enabled me to understand each employee in a way I could never do if I just observed and met with them on the floor the way most managers do. What to Talk About The 1-on-1 takes some preparation and effort. First you need to identify what you intend to talk about. I suggest that you focus on: Your company's health and safety policy and the employer's and employee's responsibilities under it;The company's safety record including statistics on the number of medical aids, first aids, lost time incidents, and near miss incidents; frequency by department or station all of which are also graphed to show trend lines;The employee's own individual safety record; andThe potential hazards he or she faces on the job. 1-on-1 Is a Two-Way Street I have also found that it's a good idea to ask employees if they have any safety concerns that require attention. I know that this is something the Health and Safety Committee is supposed to do. But when you close the door and sit down with every employee, it's amazing what you'll discover. Employees will voice concerns that you might have overlooked and make suggestions you wouldn't have thought of. This can make a big difference in your entire operation. Sometimes the employee will prepare a list of the things he wants to discuss with you. This can be a great thing. I make it a point to document the employee's concerns and enter them into a database. I update the list after each interview and publish it at regular intervals so that other employees are aware of what ideas or concerns have been raised. This in turn generates further feedback and dialog. The Payoff Sometimes I ask myself why I bother doing all of this. Does anybody really care? But a recent experience I had answered all my questions. It happened when an employee who's been working at this same operation for over 20 years told me that, thanks to these 1-on-1's, he was practicing better safety not only on the job but also at home. Suddenly it struck me that I was making a difference and actually helping to build a safety culture. In addition to making me feel good, this conversation persuaded me to add "home safety" to our 1-on-1 to tie the family to home safety. It's kind of fun to see the light come on in the employee, when you tie the family into their lives. TRAINING TIPS Richard Hawk - bio Ending With a Bang, Part 2 By Richard Hawk"Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending."--Longfellow Longfellow wasn't talking about safety presentations but he might as well have been. In last week's mini-column, I talked about the importance of the ending and warned against signing off with weak and self-effacing statements like "Thank you," and "I guess you're eager to get back to work." Afterwards I received a flood of e-mails from SafetyXChange members wanting to know how they should end their presentations. So I'm back this week to answer that question. Here are some tips for ending effectively: Keep It Brief: The conclusion should be no more than 10 percent of the presentation. Of course, you don't have to use up your entire 10 percent. Sometimes it's more effective to present a very brief, to-the-point, punch conclusion. Summarize the Main Idea: A summary doesn't mean a ramble but a simple and brief statement like: "Now you can see why it's worth the time and any minor incon*veniences to wear your seatbelt." Include a Call to Action: Send your listeners away with a clear mandate, whenever possible. Example: "Starting today, make the commit*ment that you will remind fellow workers when they forget to wear their safety glasses." These aren't hard and fast rules. But they are good general guidelines that should help you end your presentations with a bang, not a whimper.About Richard Hawk Richard Hawk is on the SafetyXChange Board of Advisors. He is an international speaker, trainer, author, consultant and all around fun bird. He is also an accomplished guitarist and singer-songwriter. For more than 20 years, he has used his high energy, passion and creativity to help companies inspire their employees to live better lives by attacking stress, improving their communication skills and living safely.To view his bio, click here. You can contact Richard by email here. Author Biography - Mike Shusterman Mike has worked in the forest products business since 1977. A Graduate of Lakehead University (Thunder Bay) in Forestry. Career up to 1999 was mainly in fibre procurement/woodlands managementt. Since 1999, Mike has managed different board plants, most recently in particleboard for Fibratech Manufacturing Inc; in Atikokan Ontario, Canada. Mike's role currently responsibilities are Fibre Supply, Health and Safety, Human Resources, and Environment Manager. Mike has always had a hand in Health and Safety and Wellness. Mike will agree that his most comprehensive Safety related training came from his time with Weyerhaeuser, who he feels are the "Cadillac" company in forest products safety. Mike also operates a consulting company, borealresourcestrategies.com.This came from: SafetyXChange [newsletter@safetyxchange.org]

Community Forests

2007-01-09T15:38:00.000-05:00

Community Forests - The Future of Forestry in Ontario

Community Forests- can this be the model to sustain Ontario's public and private land forests, communities, and jobs?Forestry in Ontario has reached a point in its life-cycle that is begging for a new approach. It is very clear that if we do not change to a new model that sees our communities making the decisions, and becoming the benefactors of these decisions then we will forever have missed the opportunity to chart a new course.I have encountered many fellow Forestry professionals over the past months that are also signaling that we need to re-invent ourselves. This is how we can start the dialogue on how to truly re-invent Forestry in Ontario.This new approach can create and maintain jobs, stop the loss of our northern Ontario residents and most of all, truly sustain our forests, for everyone. Locating this new direction will only work when it is steered-to by the people it affects, not by the traditional decision makers.First let me remind you of where we are at currently- the painful truth
Our forests are not being managed in a sustainable manner, this will be made official in the next forest management plans - our volume of available fibre for harvest is dropping drastically
Mills have not re-invested to maintain a market edge over its competition
Our Forestry workforce is aging, and our youth do not see a future to enter this profession
Our resource-based communities are losing forestry workers and seeing their tax base continually eroding
Our forest harvesting and silvicultural practices are contributing to a mix-forest species matrix at a time when we do not have markets for these species, and are therefore perpetuating this mix-forest future.
Our communities and the people of northern Ontario have no real opportunity to be represented and change this potentially permanent direction.
We can change this direction to a new future. The answer is a true Community Forest model that is not new to the rest of the world, but is not properly considered in northern Ontario, due to a number of control factors.I would like you to consider how a Community Forest model can make the change to a new Forestry in Ontario and sustain our Forests, sustain our communities, and sustain our working families.
A Community Forest would be controlled by the Community. All decisions regarding resources and the forest would be made at a local level, in line with a new Community Forest guideline that is developed by a body of Community Forest representatives chosen from Community Forests across the province.
The local Community Forest Board would be represented by all the stakeholders that are impacted by the managing of that community's forest (their backyard); First Nations, Ontario Forest Business Association members- the harvesting, transportation and silviculture contractors in that community; community civic reps; recreation association reps; consuming mill reps; wildlife reps, government agency reps, etc. No one group or agency would have control over an issue.
Existing wood rights are upheld, however there is a new opportunity created to develop new small scale, value-added forest product facilities within that Community, from the fibre not being harvested that eventually dies and is wasted. Value-added funding opportunities are established that create new job opportunities. These facilities would be many 5-15 employee firms. New volumes of wood fibre would be made available to that Community.
The harvesting, transportation and silvicultural activities would be first supplied from a workforce from within that Community. These local contractors would have the first opportunity to provide these services. These contractors would share their equipment resources to ensure that the fibre scheduled for harvest is supplied to the customers.
Previous stumpage charges would be replaced by a Community Forest levy that stays within that Community, to sustain that Community's forests, paid by the consumers of that Community Forest. The Community Forest is funded from the revenues collected from all forest activities.
A situation of intense forest management would be developed that will sustain each Community's forests for future generations. The Community would be involved in all the forest management regeneration activities.
Our youth will become our future forestry professionals and will apprentice within this Community Forest, learning anything that they choose to be educated in, such as fish and wildlife, harvesting, transportation, or silviculture, and will therefore not have to leave the region to find employment.
A Community Forest market analyst will be funded by all the CF's to establish markets associated with the wood species available to that CF.
A recreation tax will be collected by the Community Forest that will go towards maintaining and watching over the fish and wildlife of the community.
A true, proper inventory of that Community's Forest will be made available and updated yearly, by the Community Forest. The Community will know once and for all that their back-yard is being properly managed.
The Community Forest will develop a group of volunteers that will monitor activities within the forest, such as hunting, fishing, aggregate extraction, road building and water and stream conservation, landfills, etc; as a local conservation group.
Municipal private lands will have the opportunity to have their lands also managed in this new sustainable manner.
Biomass opportunities will be fulfilled through the wood waste create during harvesting and will provide the furnish for Community biomass power generation.
This information is provided to portray to you that there is another way to look at Forestry in Ontario. This is just a sample of some of the positive outcomes that can benefit our communities and its residents. Being big is not the answer anymore. Scandinavian countries and others in the world have realized this, and they have reaped the benefits of educating their residents and encouraging them to make the decisions and create the opportunities for themselves.The Ontario Forest Business Association (OFBA) is made up of the people that supply our current provincial mills with fibre. They realize that their very existence is in jeopardy and that if a radical change does not take place soon, that there will not be a forest industry in Ontario. The OFBA is willing to stand-up and make that call for change, before it is too late.
We welcome your comments: please forward your thoughts to us at:www.ofba.infoMike Shusterman