Tag: Timmins

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Timmins library resuming in-person events, buys mobile ‘book bike’

Timmins library resuming in-person events, buys mobile 'book bike'

The Timmins Public Library saw a healthy uptick of families visiting over the March Break and now staff is looking forward to inspiring the next generation of young readers by being back the popular “story time” event series for the first time since the pandemic began.

The library’s early childhood education advisor, Melissa Vieno, said having children exploring books and finding their interests in a physical library is something that’s been lacking for far too long.

Timmins Public Library hosting in-person events again. Mar. 18/22 (Sergio Arangio/CTV Northern Ontario)

“We’re excited because it’s been two years since we’ve held our storytime (and) a lot of our children that were coming as regular library users for the storytime are now in school,” said Vieno.

“So we’re excited to welcome new faces, new children and just have some children in the stacks again. It’s nice to be able to reach out to those people and see them in person and really connect them with the books, connect them with the new series we have.”

The library is also purchasing its first ‘book bike,’ which will allow staff to travel around town with an ice-cream-bike-style tricycle stocked with books, hard-copy materials and technology that can be brought right to people who need them but may not have had a chance to visit the library.

Timmins Public Library is going mobile with new book bike. March 18/22 (Sergio Arangio/CTV Northern Ontario)

It will cost around $18,000, funded by the federal Healthy Communities Initiative. The library commissioned a Cochrane-born, London, Ont.-based Indigenous artist to design the bike’s artwork.

The library’s CEO, Carole-Ann Demers, said it will hit the streets this summer, visit events in the city’s downtown and travel around the community.

“If it’s a children’s event, we’ll fill it up with children’s books, stuff to give out to the community and we’ll have an iPad on-site, so you’ll be able to register for a library card right there,” Demers said.

“We’re looking forward to attending places like senior’s complexes, perhaps the YMCA, for little children, the Living Space.”

The bike will also carry lendable Wi-Fi hotspots, she said, that people can borrow for a week or two to get free internet access in their homes.

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Timmins winter hiking event highlights outdoor survival, adventure and education

Timmins winter hiking event highlights outdoor survival, adventure and education


The Wintergreen Fund for Conservation‘s first winter hiking day after a pandemic hiatus saw a healthy turnout of people looking to learn more about the Hersey Lake Conservation Area and the opportunities for adventure and education within it.


Members of the board said it was encouraging to see people brave the elements so that volunteers could show them aspects of their local trails that may have passed them by.


“They just get to see a different aspect of the different seasons,” said board member Michele Lepage.


“We are fortunate to have these trails and this conservation so close to our municipality… To have this access is just great. We just have to make people aware of what we have.”


Wintergreen held guided hikes with focuses on birdwatching, forest therapy, forest education and the history of the conservation area.


The day also saw the return of survival demonstrations from Timmins Porcupine Search and Rescue—which included crash courses on making signal fires when lost in the bush, Swedish fire logs, snow trenches for staying out of harsh winds and classic Canadian quinzees for quick shelter from the elements.


“It feels good to be out in the community and interact and see people again,” said search and rescue volunteer Shane Lebrun.


“It’s been a long two years and it’s nice to see people outdoors.”

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Snowcross racing event returning to Timmins

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Scheduled to take place the weekend of March 12 and 13

Publishing date:

Feb 09, 2022  •  20 minutes ago  •  2 minute read  •  Join the conversation

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Canadian Snowcross Racing Association has confirmed the snowcross racing event will be returning to Timmins on the weekend of March 12 and 13. File/The Daily Press
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Canadian Snowcross Racing Association has confirmed the snowcross racing event will be returning to Timmins on the weekend of March 12 and 13. File/The Daily Press SunMedia

Local snowmobile enthusiasts can start getting revved up for some exciting race action taking place next month.

The Canadian Snowcross Racing Association (CSRA) has confirmed the normally annual event will be returning to Timmins on Saturday, March 12, and Sunday, March 13, at the end of Spruce Street South, at one of the city’s main snow dumps.

“We’ve been coming there for years, but obviously we’ve had the last couple of years off due to COVID,” said CSRA President Ken Avann.

“Things are starting to open, so we’re able to get some events going again. We’ve got some guidelines we need to follow, but we’ve done five events already this year, and we’re looking forward to coming to Timmins in a few weeks.”

Avann said under the current provincial guidelines, there would be a maximum spectator capacity of 50 per cent, despite the outdoor setting. However, the Ontario government has planned for another ‘Roadmap to Recovery’ update on Monday, Feb. 21 which may change the game plan.

He said further information including spectator info, will be posted on the CSRA’s website and on social media in the coming weeks.

“We don’t have a lot of details yet, because the guidelines are changing again on Family Day weekend. So there isn’t any sense in giving out a lot of information about the event until after those guidelines are released.

“Right now, we’re not allowed to have any indoor type facilities. Normally we have a big vendor tent and all that, but we can’t do that right now. That may all change on Feb. 21 with the next round of announcements, so we’re just kind of waiting for that to happen. Then we can upload some accurate information.

“There will be plenty of time to let people know what’s going on.”

The CSRA has an event upcoming in Sauble Beach from Feb. 19 to 21, which will be followed by an event in Sudbury on March 5 and 6, and then the event in Timmins.

“As far as the basics of the event, it’s pro racing. We’ve got all of Canada’s top racers coming,” said Avann.

He added there will be hundreds of competitors, in both snowmobile and snow bike events, making their way to the city, and there will be racers as young as fouir years old present.

Avann said the event will include a food drive to support the local food banks.

“We ask our racers, as well as our fans, to bring a donation of food. They’re all really in need right now with the way things are going. It’s really easy for us to put that in motion.”

Avann said there are no details on ticket sales as of yet, but those will come soon. Most of all, he’s happy the event is returning to Timmins.

“It has always been a well-received event there, so we’re looking forward to coming back.”