Press Release--January 18, 2002
For immediate release:
IF WE BUILD IT WILL YOU COME ?
51 kilometers (30 miles) of pristine, unspoiled big river in Northern Ontario may soon become new cruising waters for the boating public and eco-tourist. The Lower Spanish River, located a one-hour drive west of Sudbury off the Trans Canada Highway (#17), is part of the world famous North Channel of Lake Huron. The
"Group of Seven" painted here in the early part of the last century and with good reason--it is spectacular country and a thrill to explore by boat.
The Friends of the Spanish River have proposed to build a Private Buoyage/ Public Dockage System over the entire length of the Lower Spanish River to encourage boaters and eco-tourists to learn about its natural beauty and colourful history.
This ambitious project is an example of “Progress Through Partnerships”. The Township of Shedden, Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation Community, the Township of Sables-Spanish Rivers, and the Town of Espanola have all partnered with the Friends of the Spanish River to tackle this project and are the municipalities bordering the Lower Spanish River. Beyond these partnerships, there are also numerous participants involved to ensure that an effective, safe buoyage/dockage system is realized. These participants are the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canadian Coast Guard Branch, the Canadian Hydrographic Service, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources , the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, and FedNor, Sudbury Branch, who have provided funding for a feasibility study on the proposed project. Active involvement of local industry such as Domtar Inc., Falconbridge Inc., Inco Inc.,
and the North Channel Marine Tourism Council Inc. is also anticipated.
The Canadian Coast Guard has already conducted a Lower Spanish River audit and identified the need for approximately 60 marker buoys to provide safe boating along this exceptionally calm, flat water course. The four municipalities intend to build public docks and suitable complimenting services to accommodate visiting boaters. There are already public launch ramps and car and boat trailer parking lots dotted along the 51 kilometers of the lower river, (the total length of the Spanish River is over 250 kilometers or 150 miles).
You can help by completing our questionnaire online at the Friends of the Spanish River website,
www.FriendsOfTheSpanishRiver.ca. Simply click on “Proposed Private Buoyage/Public Dockage System” on our home page and fill in the questionnaire. You may wish to “browse” our website and learn what we’re all about, what we’ve been doing and how you can get involved.
After completion of the feasibility study later this year, assuming that the recommendation is to proceed, the real work would begin. The project could come together through the combined talents and energies of the participants including all three levels of government, industry and most important, local volunteers. It is possible that the work could begin later this year and be ready to receive cruising boaters and eco-tourists at the beginning of the 2003 boating season.
They say that timing is everything! With last year being "The International Year of the Volunteer" and this year being the “International Year of Eco-Tourism”, the Friends of the Spanish River believe that this is the perfect time to focus on the
"Lower Spanish River Private Buoyage/Public Dockage System" project proposal!
This feasibility study is being conducted by the Friends of the Spanish River in partnership with FedNor, Sudbury, Ontario.
For more information please view the Friends of the Spanish River web site at www.FriendsOfTheSpanishRiver.ca or
contact Bill McKenna at Direction Services, RR#1, Massey, Ontario, P0P 1P0 705-865-2828
Note: A copy of the Friends of the Spanish River questionnaire can be viewed by
clicking on "Proposed Private Buoyage/Public Dockage system".
The Friends of the Spanish River 32 foot replica pointer boat (river driver) with a crew of modern logging pioneers, rowing from Espanola to Spanish, Ontario over three days in July of 2001.
A beautiful calm stretch of picturesque waters on the Lower Spanish River.
The scenery on the Lower Spanish River is quite varied.
This wind generator has become a beacon at the Shedden Four Seasons Complex and Marina in Spanish, Ontario at the mouth of the Spanish River, gateway to fabulous cruising in the North Channel of Lake Huron.
The Four Seasons Complex and Marina at Spanish, Ontario Grand Opening July 2000 with celebrity
"Miss Bikini" contest competitors as guest rowers of the Friends of the Spanish River 32 foot replica
"Pointer" boat originally used on the river during the logging drives from the 1850’s.
This adult female Muskellunge has just given the Ministry of Natural Resources marine biologists her eggs for careful incubation in a Muskie restocking program in the Lower Spanish River. She was then gently returned to her native waters.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Friends of the Spanish River volunteers netting Muskellunge in order to collect milt and eggs for restocking the Muskellunge in the Lower Spanish River area.
This “Rainbow of Colour” light show at the falls on the Spanish
River in Espanola, 51 kilometres or 30 miles up river, is a nightly
event year-round and a millennium celebration gift to Espanola
from Domtar Inc.