Major Renovation of One of Canada's most Prestigious Golf Courses

Mike Weir to Redesign Blue Course at Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac

MONTREAL, June 28, 2011 /Canada NewsWire Telbec/ - Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac is pleased to announce it will be partnering with Weir Golf Design to transform its Blue Course into one of the most challenging and prestigious golf courses in Canada.

"We're delighted to work with Mike Weir, the best golfer Canada has ever produced, and his partner, Ian Andrew, a respected Canadian course architect with whom we have collaborated for more than 15 years," said Paul Legault, Chairman of the Board of Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac, at today's news conference. "Mr. Weir brings his unique vision and experience to this ambitious project. Over the course of his remarkable career, he has played on some of the world's best golf courses, racking up eight wins on the PGA Tour, including a Masters' Tournament championship in 2003."

Founded in 1917 by a group of French Canadian businessmen, Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac was designed by the famous and celebrated Scottish architect Willie Park Jr., also one of the top professional golfers of his era. Over the years, the Club added two nine-hole courses (1968 and 1992), known today as the Blue Course. Today, Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac is considered a standard among Canadian golf courses.

"We want to make the Blue Course just as appealing as the Green Course," said Rémi Racine, Vice-Chairman of the Board and the project leader. "With the help of Mr. Weir and Mr. Andrew, we'll have a beautiful, modern course that will challenge players at any level," he added.

The team of Weir and Andrew

Mike Weir and Ian Andrew joined forces in the summer of 2009 to form a partnership.

According to Mr. Weir, "Ian and I both believe in developing courses where you need to use your mind as well as your skills to succeed. We both believe in presenting the golfer with multiple options and allowing the golfer the opportunity to take on as much risk as they feel comfortable with, but if they want to score they are going to have to take on all the hazards and attack the course which brings more of the danger into play. This is the main reason I wanted to team up with Ian. We share such a common vision on golf architecture and believe we can offer a style of architecture that is far more interesting to play. Ian has an outstanding reputation as a course architect, developed through his restoration and renovation of many of North America's best courses. The detail work that he has done on those projects will be brought into our new designs. Golfers will be impressed by the level of detailing in our greens and bunkers."

Outstanding environment

"The Blue Course at Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac boasts an outstanding property and we intend to take full advantage of it," said Mr. Andrew. "Twelve of the holes will follow the same basic configuration as the original holes. We will make modest changes to enhance each hole particularly at the green sites. The other six will tremendously improve after we re-route them to make much better use of the existing topography. Mike and I are being given the opportunity to build something very special at Laval-sur-le-Lac."

Mike Weir says he is inspired by courses whose main characteristics are in the greens. In addition to being higher and featuring more relief, the turf around the greens can be mowed to increase the level of difficulty for tournaments.

"We hope this new course will leave more room for players' creativity, whether they are amateurs or pros," he said.

Work will begin in the fall of 2011 and the golf course will be ready for the 2013 season.

About Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac

Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac is a private golf club that offers its members two beautifully appointed courses in an exceptional setting. The Club's philosophy is to offer a blend of traditional and modern features, which has produced a strong sense of belonging among its members, from one generation to the next.

Toronto Port Authority Announces First Ever Sail-In Cinema Event

TORONTO, June 27, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Toronto Port Authority (TPA), which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2011, announced that it is holding North America's first ever floating movie event, Sail-In Cinema. It will take place from August 18 to 20 in Toronto's Harbour at Sugar Beach.

"The Toronto Port Authority has played a big part at the city's waterfront and waterways for over 100 years," says Geoffrey Wilson President and CEO "We wanted to create an experience that would give something back to the community and allow us to create a closer connection with the people who enjoy it."

The free event will feature a 28 foot two-sided screen so that moviegoers can enjoy water-themed movies in boats or on the mainland.

Movies will start after dusk, at approximately 9pm on each of the three nights.

The TPA is asking the public to recommend movies they'd like to see at the event until July 22. Requests can be sent through Facebook ( www.facebook.com/theTPA) or via email to cinema@torontoport.com.

In late July, the TPA will announce movie titles and select one winning entry from these submissions. The winner will receive two airline tickets to anywhere in North America, courtesy of Air Canada. Details about ticketing information will also be available in late July.

The Toronto Port Authority is presenting Sail-In Cinema with the support of its lead partner and waterfront neighbour Redpath Sugar, and media sponsor Q107. Other supporters include Toronto Star, Pier 27 by Cityzen Development and Fernbrook Homes, and creative and media innovation firm, Birthplace Inc.

Pro Golfer Graham DeLaet Wants Canadians To Keep Their Eye On The Ball

Learn about eye health, test your skills online and enter for a chance to win a round of golf with DeLaet or a trip for two to the 2012 Transitions Championship

TORONTO, June 21, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Golf season is in full swing and so are the sun's UV rays and glare. While Canadians are outside perfecting their games, many don't realize these long hours in the sun could be jeopardizing their game and eye health.

2011 PGA TOUR® golfer Graham DeLaet and Transitions Optical have joined forces to educate golfers - both professionals and amateurs - about the importance of healthy, uncompromised sight for optimal sports performance and the value of properly protecting their eyes for overall healthy sight.

To encourage Canadians to learn more about eye health, DeLaet is challenging Canadians to enter a contest by playing Transitions Optical's online Mini-Golf Championship at www.transitions.com/minigolfchampionship.

When Canadians register and play the online game, they are entered for a chance to win one of two grand prizes: a trip to Toronto with two friends to play a round of golf with DeLaet or a trip for two to the 2012 Transition's Optical Championship in Florida and two pairs of eyeglasses with Transitions® lenses.

"I hope to drive home that properly protecting your eyes will not only help Canadians improve their game, but will help ensure an overall healthy lifestyle on and off the course," said DeLaet.

Golfers contend with varying light and playing conditions and glare, as well as extended, consistent exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. Less than three per cent of Canadians, however, know that UV rays can have long-term and irreversible damage to their vision and only 12 per cent say they wear sunglasses when heading outdoors.1 Glare, contrast, and squinting can all affect a person's golf game.

To preserve healthy eye sight on and off the course, golfers should ensure they have regular, routine eye exams and that they select lenses that block 100 per cent of the sun's UV rays and glare.

"Every time I set up a shot, I rely heavily on visual cues," said DeLaet. "Properly protecting my eyes with Transitions lenses, which adjust to the varying light conditions, not only improves the quality of my vision, making it easier to connect with the ball and to read the greens, but also protects my eyes from glare and UV rays."

...UV Rays and Your Eyes Taking simple steps to protect your eyes while outdoors can help prevent many long-term eye health problems, such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in North Americans over the age of 50.

...Cataracts, a major cause of vision loss and blindness, affect nearly one in nine North Americans over the age of 40, growing to nearly one in two by the age of 80.
...UV damage is cumulative, and builds over time, so it is never too early - or too late - to start protecting your eyes.

About Transitions Optical

As the leading provider of photochromics to optical manufacturers, Transitions Optical, headquartered in Pinellas Park, Fla., offers the most advanced photochromic technology in the widest selection of lens designs and materials. Transitions Optical is driven by innovation to support the advancement of healthy sight and adaptive eyewear, and to providing its partners the tools and programs their businesses need to thrive. Transitions® lenses are the #1-recommended photochromic lenses worldwide. Transitions Optical's family of products includes everyday lenses, designed to be worn indoors and darken outdoors, and performance lenses, designed to be worn outdoors in place of sun lenses. Transitions everyday lenses adapt to light to provide more comfortable vision while protecting eyes from UV. Transitions performance lenses include the company's sunwear line, Transitions® SOLFX™ sun lenses, which enhance visual performance in specific outdoor activities by adapting to optimize colour and darkness in changing light conditions.

For more information about healthy sight and protective eyewear, visit transitions.com or eyeglassguide.ca.

TD Friends of the Environment Foundation donates $15,000 to help replant trees damaged in riot

VANCOUVER, June 17, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - TD Friends of the Environment Foundation today announced it will contribute $15,000 to the City of Vancouver to replace and rehabilitate trees damaged during the riots in downtown Vancouver earlier this week.

TD FEF makes this donation to support the City's clean-up efforts to restore the downtown area to its pre-riot condition by replanting and replacing affected trees.

"We were very concerned about the damage incurred during the riot in Vancouver on Wednesday night," said Mary Desjardins, Executive Director, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. "We were inspired by the citizens who attempted to protect their city during the riot. Our contribution is part of the city's clean-up efforts, and will help replace planters and trees that were damaged or set alight."

The riot on Wednesday night touched many businesses in the downtown core, including TD. Several windows had to be replaced at the TD Canada Trust location at 700 West Georgia Street. The branch has now reopened and full services are available.

"We'd like to thank our customers for their support and understanding during the repair process," said Barb Stangoe, Branch Manager, TD Canada Trust. "We look forward to welcoming our customers back to the branch, as the city attempts to return to business as usual."

About TD Friends of the Environment Foundation:

Since 1990, TD FEF has provided more than $54 million in funding to over 19,500 grassroots environment and wildlife projects across Canada. Thousands of donors give to TD FEF on a monthly basis and TD Bank Group contributes in excess of $1 million annually. TD also covers the management costs of running TD FEF, which guarantees 100 per cent of every dollar donated goes directly to funding environment and wildlife projects in the community where the donation was made. For more information on how to donate and get involved in your community, visit www.tdfef.com.

Are Cyclists Selfish and Rude? No, And We Have Video to Prove It

Stop signs every 266 feet on Toronto's Palmerston Avenue. Image credit Lloyd Alter

from TreeHugger.com
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto

It is the talk of Toronto right now, how cyclists break the law by blowing through stop signs, riding the wrong way on one way streets, and give the finger to anyone who complains. The Star gives a couple of column inches to a woman who says:

I am tired of cyclists purposely and chronically breaking the law....After they come flying out of a side street unseen into the path of my car, and my heart pounds because I almost hit them, I yell at them for being on a one-way street, and 95 per cent tell me to F-off. I stop at stop lights, (but) 95 per cent of cyclists don't.

Cyclist Emma Woolley writes in Spacing Magazine:

Why do cyclists feel that they're above the law in almost every single situation? Why the sense of entitlement and "because I can?" There's a widespread attitude that we don't have to follow the rules simply because we're not in a car. It's unsafe and quite frankly, stupid.

No, Emma, I don't go through stop signs "because I can", but because they are designed to regulate cars, not bikes, and the law that says I should stop for them is stupid. Four-way stops were introduced as a method of speed control that is not relevant to cyclists and that barely works for cars, and that It's Time To Rip Out The Stop Signs And Stop Blaming Cyclists.

Bike activist James Schwartz of the Urban Country has had enough of this, and writes:

The mainstream media in Toronto has resorted to name calling and hyperbolic generalizations about Toronto cyclists in an effort to shame cyclists into blindly obeying laws that were designed primarily for motor vehicles....Cyclists in North America already get the short end of the stick and there is already enough animosity on our streets. Instead of writing articles that breed hatred towards cyclists while ignoring the fact that motor vehicles kill several dozens of people every year in Toronto alone, we should be using that energy to change our laws to make cycling more safe and comfortable so that cyclists aren't tempted to bend the law to stay clear of danger.

But instead of just writing "another long-winded article in protest", he took to the streets with his video camera yesterday. It isn't as funny as Jaymi's post Cyclist Argues Against Bike-Lane Police Fine In Hilarous Video; it just shows lots of people following most of the rules, being polite, yielding to cars turning right, and not even swearing at the truck blocking the bike lane, just riding around it. That is the Toronto cycling scene as I know it.



More at the Urban Country

... read more story at TreeHugger.com

Golf Industry Calls for Tax Fairness for Canada's Most Popular Sport

National Allied Golf Associations Reacts to Federal Budget

OTTAWA, June 7, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Today the National Allied Golf Associations (NAGA) brought golf industry representatives from across the country to Parliament in order to comment on Minister Flaherty's recent Budget and to advocate for tax fairness for the game of golf, Canada's most popular sport. NAGA held the industry's first federal golf awareness day to underscore the importance of the sport for the health of Canadians, and the significance of the industry for the Canadian economy.

"Canada is a golfing country," said Jeff Calderwood, NAGA spokesman. "There are an estimated 6 million Canadian golfers and there are more than 2,500 golf courses and practice ranges in Canada. It is the country's most popular sport. There are more golfers in Canada than there are hockey players, and the industry is worth more than $11 billion per year to the Canadian economy."

"Unfortunately the golf industry in Canada suffers from an outdated 40-year-old tax policy that singles out golf businesses in an unfair manner," continued Mr. Calderwood. "Yesterday's Budget did nothing to rectify this inequity."

Due to a 1971 tax reform, the Canada Revenue Agency does not allow deductions for expenses incurred by business people entertaining clients at golf courses. Canada's 2,500 golf courses, most of whom are small business operators, feel that they cannot compete fairly with all the other industries where CRA does support entertaining clients. Over time, the unfairness of this discrimination against the golf industry has become more and more significant.

"To Canada's 2,500 golf course operators, who are now facing the most competitive marketplace in our industry's history, this unfair tax legislation is no longer a tolerable disadvantage. NAGA and its member associations call on the federal government to close this loophole and establish tax fairness for Canada's golf industry," concluded Calderwood.

NAGA is a national golf organization comprised of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA), Canadian Professional Golfers Association (CPGA), Canadian Society of Club Managers (CSCM), Canadian Professional Golf Tour (CPGT), National Golf Course Owners Association Canada (NGCOA) and the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA), dedicated to improving all sectors of golf in Canada. Formed in 1999, NAGA's objective is to work cooperatively together as industry leaders ensuring a strong future for golf in Canada.

The Weather Network's Summer Outlook: "Shifting" Summer Weather Patterns

Meteorologists share what to expect this summer and tips on how to weather the weather

OAKVILLE, Ontario, May 30, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Weather Network has just announced its summer outlook for the months of June, July and August. After a spring season which has seen flooding in parts of Manitoba and Quebec along with cooler and wetter conditions in parts of Ontario and British Columbia, Canadians can expect conditions to be changeable this summer due to weakening of the La Niña weather phenomenon. This means that that some places could see alternating spells of warm and cool weather, while other areas will experience a "typical" summer season.

So, what should Canadians know about the weather in their region this summer?

The Western Canada Summer Canadians living west of the Ontario/Manitoba border can expect temperatures that are above normal for the Northern Prairie provinces and below normal on the north/central coast of British Columbia. Elsewhere, we should average out near normal this summer. Unfortunately, wet conditions are expected to continue for Canadians living in Southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, near normal precipitation will dominate for the rest of western Canada. A large area of the Territories will see below normal precipitation this summer with Nunavut experiencing above normal temperatures.

The Eastern Canada Summer For Canadians living east of the Ontario/Manitoba border, the changing weather patterns means residents can expect alternating spells of warm and cool weather, more pronounced than usual at times, balancing out to be near normal. Those living in Northern Ontario and Quebec can look forward to above normal temperatures for the season. Precipitation for most of Quebec and Atlantic Canada will be near normal for the season, while a large swath of Ontario and Southern Quebec is expected to receive above normal precipitation due to a more active storm track.

Conquering the Changeable Canadian Summer After a particularly cold and stormy winter, Canadians long for a Canadian Summer. Following are five tips to enjoying the weather this summer. For more information, visit www.theweathernetwork.com, or your preferred WeatherEye application:

...Protect your skin and eyes. Fun in the sun also means exposure to damaging UV rays (strongest from April to August), that can cause sunburns, eye cataracts, skin aging and skin cancer. Take care by checking The Weather Network's UV Report, created to inform Canadians about the strength of the sun's UV rays. The higher the UV Index number, the stronger the sun's rays, and the greater the need to take precautions.

...Don't let traffic rain on your parade. Don't let traffic be a thorn in your summer travel plans. Before you hit the road, consult The Weather Network's Highway Forecast to avoid inclement weather on your route. Heading across the border? Check out the US Highway Forecast to determine the road conditions while you'll be on the road.

...Predict the future. The Weather Network's Hourly Forecast helps you plan your day down to the hour. Don't let stormy skies threaten your summer get together. The hourly forecast will help determine whether to dine indoors or bring the BBQ to the backyard.

...Breathe easy. Many Canadians suffer from the summer snifflies. Believe it or not, the weather - winds, temperature, rainfall and sunshine - has a profound affect on the type of allergy season we have. The Weather Network's Pollen Forecast, shows daily pollen concentration by source (grass, ragweed, etc.). Before heading into the great outdoors, check out the local Pollen Forecast so that you can take the proper precautions to enjoy your time outside.

...Don't be bugged. Black flies, mosquitoes and deer flies, oh my! Sharing a sleeping bag with a family of creepy crawlies isn't the average Canadian's idea of "getting closer to nature." Avoid summer swatting by referring to The Weather Network's bug report, a daily breakdown of bug activity by region.


About The Weather Network and MétéoMédia

The Weather Network and its French counterpart, MétéoMédia, are among the most popular media brands in Canada. They are the undisputed leader of weather information services in Canada across all mediums including cable, satellite, online, mobile and newspapers. The specialty television networks are among the most widely distributed and frequently consulted television networks in Canada. The websites, www.theweathernetwork.com and meteomedia.com, are among Canada's leading web services. All mobile carriers now distribute The Weather Network and MétéoMédia on their services. As the leading source of weather services in the commercial market, energy companies, municipalities, road services and numerous other commercial clients have their weather information needs met by The Weather Network and MétéoMédia. The growth of The Weather Network and MétéoMédia can be attributed to the continued focus and commitment put into providing the very best weather information to Canadians whose activities are dependent on weather.