Burlington, ON

Burlington's Waterfront - Spencer Smith Park

In the middle of winter, I find myself dreaming of the Lake Ontario waterfront. Lake Ontario has been a constant in my life from the time I was 7 years old and we moved from the tip of James Bay in Quebec down to Batawa in southern Ontario.

A special occasion in my family was when my Dad would announce 'Let's go to the beach!'. My two brothers and I would jump for joy and run to find our sand toys and bathing suits.
Mom would pack dinner into a cooler and my Dad would go out to the back garden shed to get the hibachi and charcoal briquettes so we could barbecue our dinner on the beach. Then off we would go.

On other occasions we would go smelt fishing with two or three other families. When the smelt were running in the spring, my Dad and his friends would use big square nets to catch thousands of them.

They'd bring the nets on shore where the Moms and kids were warming themselves around a giant bonfire, and we would scoop all of the smelt into buckets or whatever other containers we had brought.

                                                                        North Beach on Lake Ontario in Prince Edward County -
                                                                        where we used to go to the beach on weekends and smelt
                                                                        fishing in the spring.

Back at home my Dad would pay my brothers and a penny for each smelt we cleaned. It was a quick and easy way to make a few dollars and  we enjoyed the opportunity to make some extra money over and above our allowances.

Anyhow, just sitting here this evening thinking of the Lake Ontario shoreline here in Oakville and Burlington and started to go through some of my pictures from last summer. These are taken at the Burlington Waterfront in Spencer Smith Park.


Looking out over Lake Ontario at Spencer Smith Park on Burlington's Waterfront.


View of the Burlington Pier - Under Construction


Spencer Smith Park on Burlington's Waterfront

If you're in Burlington, be sure to stop by and take a stroll (or go skating in the winter) down on the waterfront at Spencer Smith Park.

©2010JoSmith

Lowville Winter Games - Beat the Winter Blues!

It's time to sharpen up your skates and wax the family toboggan. The village of Lowville, north of Britannia Road on Guelph Line in Burlington, is holding their annual winter games on Sunday, February 7th, 2010 from 12 noon to 4pm.

This fun-filled day will take place at Lowville Park. Come early for the Pancake Eating Contest which is being sponsored by Golden Griddle.

They'll be horse drawn wagon rides, log sawing, entertainment, tobogganing, skating, crafts and games for the whole family.

The Lowville United Church will have goodies for sale to stave off those winter munchy attacks after an afternoon spent skating or tobogganing.

What better way for families to have fun together? The Lowville Winter Game events are free!

Leave your car at the Halton District School Board parking lot (first driveway west of Guelph Line on Upper Middle Road) and take the FREE shuttle bus starting at noon.
That way you'll be sure to not have to worry over where you're going to park when you arrive at Lowville Park.

For more information about the Lowville Winter Games call 905-335-7600 ext 7201.

©2009JoSmith

It's Burlington Winter Carnival Time!

That time of year is upon us once more. Time for Free Skates, Free Swims, Open Houses, Contests, Tournaments and More.

Don't let the crisp, snowy days of January and early February get you down or make  you house bound. Gather up the family and take in some of the events being held during the Burlington Winter Carnival.

This Year's Events Include:

Sunday, January 17th -

Free Swim from 1:30-3:30 at the Aldershot Pool. Call 905-637-5688 for Info.

Friday, January 22nd -

Public Stargazing and Astronomy Night ~ I don't know about you, but the mystery of the night skies has always intrigued me.
Come out to Nelson Recreation Center at 4235 New Street at 7pm where The Hamilton Amateur Astronomers will have their telescopes set up. As long as the weather and clouds permit, viewing will take place until 10 pm. This event is FREE!

For a full list of this year's Burlington Winter Carnival events visit www.burlington.ca

©2009JoSmith

A New Year, A New You at the Moksha Yoga Studio, Burlington.

With the start of a new year, many of us turn our thoughts towards our health and decide to take up a new fitness activity or make a lifestyle change.

Yoga is an excellent choice for those who do not want a strenuous activity or do not want to visit a gym to work out on machines regularly.
I began taking yoga lessons when I was 14 years old. I remember how amazed I was when I found out my instructor was 65 years of age. She didn't look a day over 39. She was supple, energetic and had a glow about her that few people half her age have.

The more I learned about yoga, the more I began to realize that yoga was not just a physical activity and that much of her 'fountain of youth' could be attributed to her many years of yoga practice.

My yoga lessons lapsed over the years and every now and then I would sign up for classes again or begin to practice my basic routines at home once more.
I always enjoyed it so much when I did, however life would usually get in the way and my yoga would once more go on the back burner.

This coming week I'm going to start yoga once more.
I'll be taking classes at Moksha Yoga in Burlington, a studio not too far from where I live and where my brother Clayton and his fiance Shanine both teach.

Clayton started yoga a number of years ago as a way to become healthier and relieve the stresses of his regular work and personal life. Being the CEO of a successful financial firm, Crystal Wealth Management Ltd., he found that yoga helped to take his mind off of the ups and downs of a volatile market and remind him of one of the most important things in our lives, our health.

Clayton enjoyed yoga so much that he went on to take many years of courses with the goal of becoming a yoga teacher himself.
Last year he achieved that dream and became a certified yoga and meditation teacher. I'm very proud of him and I've noticed a huge difference in him over the years. He's much happier and easier going now and the longer he took yoga and meditation, the healthier he became.

Here is the schedule for classes at Moksha Yoga. If you've decided to take your health into greater consideration this year, think of joining a yoga class.

Shanine and Clayton sailing with us in summer of 2009.

I'll be attending 2-3 of Clayton or Shanine's classes a week, whenever I can fit one in to my schedule.

I hope to see you at one of the yoga classes at the Moksha Yoga studio in Burlington soon!

©2009JoSmith

If you're looking for a FREE activity that the whole family can take part in, grab your skates and head down to Spencer Smith Park in Burlington, Ontario for Free skating at the Rotary Centennial Pond.

Overlooking Lake Ontario, the Rotary Pond is the perfect place to spend a sunny, Sunday afternoon with your family or friends.

Skating starts at 10am however the pond is also open in the evenings until 10pm so you and your sweetheart can have a romantic evening by the lake skating under the Pond lights and bright winter stars.

The pond is kept groomed however it's advisable to call ahead for ICE conditions -905-634-7263

If you would rather stay cosy and warm inside and watch the activities taking place, pull up a chair in the Discovery Landing Observation building.

This beautiful glass building is the perfect place to watch snow falling over the lake, storms coming in on the horizon or just soak in some bright winter sun.

The Rotary Pond at Discovery Landing is at the foot of downtown Burlington.
After skating be sure to take in a hearty dinner and warm up at one of Burlington's fine downtown restaurants or cafes.

It's the perfect way to end a perfect day of Free skating on Spencer Smith Park's Rotary Centennial Pond in Burlington, Ontario.

©2009JoSmith