Organic Hockey Diet Scores Big Goals

Photo: creativecommon/flickr/dustin hall

from TreeHugger.com
by Bonnie Alter, London

He shoots, he scores! Eat like an organic hockey player and you too may hit the major leagues.

NHL hockey players are going on serious organic-only diets which include quinoa, goji berries, organic steak and wild salmon. What, no beer? The results: look better, feel better and most importantly: score better.

You may not have heard of him but Gary Roberts is hockey's diet guru. According to Canada's national newspaper, fifteen years ago his career as a player was kaput. Then he re-invented himself through super healthy eating and now he is advising 42 pro-level players on what can and cannot go into their mouth. He is a firm believer in eating organic and whole foods and won't touch anything with a "non-fat" label or any product with more than a half-dozen ingredients

His secret to a super star career: nutrition first, then body maintenance (that includes yoga) and finally, training.

Gone are the Harvey's hamburgers, all sugar, wheat, soya and all processed foods. Instead players are eating full-fat yogurt, pressed cottage cheese, goat's milk (3.5% MF), organic cream cheese, raw or cured parmigiano, organic steak, natural sausage, organic chicken, wild-caught canned tuna, wild salmon, kale, baby greens (Asian mix, root mix, mache), sprouts (sunflower, pea, arugula), avocado, chickpeas, mung beans, lentils, quinoa, brown rice, brown-rice pasta, salba, chia, hemp, sunflower seeds, brazil nuts, walnuts, almonds, coconut and extra-virgin olive oil (and coconut oil. )

Not every one is a believer. Another trainer says that "he's on another planet with this stuff." But the players, both major league and junior league, are hooked: they are adding muscle and nutrition to their game.

If you want to try some of his recipes, they are simple to make and healthy sounding.

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Neon Bicycles Pop Up in Toronto and Defy the Mayor

Photo: good

from TreeHugger.com
by Bonnie Alter, London

You can fight City Hall, sometimes. In this lovely little story, a Toronto woman decided to paint and spruce up an old bicycle that had been locked to a pole and abandoned for ages.

In an act of civic disobedience, she painted it neon red and planted the basket. Result: a parking ticket saying it had to be removed or destroyed. But brave citizens revolted and campaigned and protested...and out of that grew The Good Bike Project.

Now, not only has the ticket been withdrawn, but the artists and a local councillor have started "The Good Bike Project" that will take the idea across the city.

Instead of a parking ticket, it has become a ticket to see dozens of locations decorated with dozens of variations of the bike.

It has become a community project and a discussion about street art, bicycles and public art in Toronto. The City has hundreds of abandoned bikes and these are being made available for painting and decorating. The Mayor has begrudgingly said "it certainly will be exciting when these bikes appear around Toronto this summer." However the artists want to make it clear that he did not commission or donate City funds to the project.

Soon the bikes will be popping up all over, with the help of young artists that are transforming them. In order to make it more local and relevant, each bike will mark a site that promotes "the ethos of regeneration and community that sparked our creativity in the first place."

So there is a pink and blue one in front of a community centre, a green one where there used to be bicycle lanes, a blue one at the subway and on it goes.

The two artists are delighted and see it as an outcry by the public against the forces of conservatism in the city: "The positive reaction that the bike has received is certainly evidence of the thirst for public art in Toronto."

... read more story at TreeHugger.com

Three Rescued from Small Vessel

CCG Vessel Isle Rouge

TOBERMORY, Ontario, August 13, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - On Thursday August 11, 2011, The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Marine Security Enforcement Team (MSET) and the Sarnia Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET) rescued three occupants from a capsized boat near Flowerpot Island, Tobermory, Ontario.

At approximately 2:45pm the Sarnia RCMP vessel and police officers participating in a Joint Marine Enforcement campaign in the area were alerted by the operator of a local tour boat, about a dangerously overloaded boat. The RCMP encountered the small boat shortly after the boat set out on the waters. The RCMP vessel approached the boat and the officers observed that the three occupants were not wearing life jackets and the boat was overloaded with personal items. Waves at the time ranged from two to four feet in height. The small boat began to take on water from the stern. Direction was given to the boat operator to return to calmer waters.

Once in calmer waters the RCMP vessel approached the boat. The small boat continued to take on water and quickly capsized. One occupant was able to board the RCMP vessel before the boat capsized. The other two occupants were quickly recovered from the water. No injuries were sustained and the occupants were transferred to the Canadian Coast Guard Vessel, the Isle Rouge, to dry off and warm up. The victims and their belongings were transported safely back to Tobermory. The boat was later salvaged by the owners.

The RCMP would like to remind boaters to wear life jackets aboard a boat at all times, to remain within the watercraft's carry capacity and to be aware of the lake conditions before setting out on the water.

The Marine Security Enforcement Team's (MSETs) are operating on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway to further enhance National Security. MSET teams are also working side-by-side with the RCMP's Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBETs).

KFC Colonel Chimes in on Sign-Stealing Baseball Controversy

"KFC Colonel - chimed in on the recent "sign stealing" baseball controversy at an August 12th game in Toronto. As rumours circulated about an alleged "man in a white suit" stealing signs in Toronto, KFC Colonel surprised fans with a tongue-in-cheek sign of his own: "I'm too chicken to steal signs." (CNW Group/KFC Canada)"

TORONTO, August 12, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - The original and world's most famous man in a white suit - KFC Colonel - chimed in on the recent "sign stealing" baseball controversy at an August 12th game in Toronto.

As rumours circulated about an alleged "man in a white suit" stealing signs in Toronto, KFC Colonel surprised baseball fans with a tongue-in-cheek sign of his own reading: "I'm too chicken to steal signs." [see photo]

About KFC Canada

KFC is Canada's largest quick service restaurant brand with more than 700 KFC restaurants across Canada. Since it was founded in Canada in the early 50s, KFC cooks have been freshly preparing and hand-breading our famed, irresistible Original Recipe chicken every day. KFC uses only trans fat free cooking oils - and offers a delicious range of family meals and premium sandwiches.

To learn more about KFC Canada, visit their website KFC.ca - or join their community on facebook at www.facebook.com/KFCCanada.

Lee Valley Tools Ltd. To Open 15th Store in Waterloo, Ontario

OTTAWA, Aug. 9, 2011 /Canada NewsWire Telbec/ - Lee Valley Tools Ltd., a Canadian retailer of high-quality woodworking and gardening hand tools and cabinet hardware, is pleased to announce that its newest retail store is set to open in Waterloo, Ontario, on Tuesday, August 16, 2011.

Located at 620 Davenport Road, Waterloo, the store's showroom will display all of the current woodworking and gardening hand tools, as well as the extensive selection of cabinet hardware available in the Lee Valley catalogs and on its website.

Lee Valley Tools Ltd. is a family-owned business, founded by Leonard Lee in Ottawa, Ontario, in 1978. Customers can shop at any of the 15 retail stores across Canada (Halifax, Ottawa, three in Toronto, Burlington, London, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary, Coquitlam, Vancouver, Victoria, and Waterloo), as well as online at www.leevalley.com.

Mountain Equipment Co-op turns 40

photo credit: Wikipedia.org

MEC grows from 6 to 3.5 million members; embodies 'active outdoor lifestyles'

VANCOUVER, August 2, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Forty years ago today Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) officially opened for business, when it incorporated in British Columbia as a retail co-operative. Membership in MEC was open to anyone and you could join by buying a $5 share in the enterprise. Mountains, climbing and gear for it were at the heart of the deal.

The business began with six founding members who were active in BC's early outdoor scene, a tiny store in downtown Vancouver and gear focused on climbing. Since then, MEC has grown to more than 3.5 million members, fourteen destination stores in six provinces, www.mec.ca, some 1,500 employees and a product offering that continues to grow and evolve in step with active outdoor lifestyles in Canada.

"MEC was founded by a small group of climbers who possessed an entrepreneurial spirit, a keen sense of adventure and a deep love for the outdoors," said CEO David Labistour. "These qualities live on at MEC today, helping guide our service to members, the quality and value-laden products we aim to provide and our desire to serve today and tomorrow's generation of active Canadians."

Providing members clothing and gear for backcountry excursions to wilderness destinations shaped MEC's early product offering. Demographic changes within Canada and the trend toward 'front-country' recreation (close to home for short time periods) has led to the evolution of what is now MEC's expansive outdoor product offering.

Like mountain biking and white-water kayaking before them, trail running and stand-up paddle boarding are two relatively new activities rising in popularity that MEC supports as outdoor recreation evolves.

Stores in Vancouver and Calgary and a relatively small membership mainly within Canada's two western-most provinces largely defined MEC's growth in its 15 years in business. That changed in 1986, when the outdoor retailer opened a store in Toronto. Now Ontario has four MEC stores and over half of the co-op's total membership resides east of the Manitoba-Ontario border.

Supporting Canada's outdoor community and well established sustainability programs are integral to MEC organizational culture. Since 1987, MEC has contributed over $19 million in community grants toward outdoor recreation and environmental conservation projects across the country. MEC's sustainability efforts include formal programs in the areas of product sustainability, green building and ethical sourcing.

The cost to join MEC remains unchanged - a $5 share provides an individual lifetime membership. Membership is open to anyone.

Government of Canada invests in airport safety at the Region of Waterloo International Airport

photo credit: FlyYKF - via Flickr

WATERLOO, Ontario, August 3, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, announced today that the Government of Canada is investing more than $3.2 million in improvements to the Region of Waterloo International Airport. Under the Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP), the money will be used to partially rehabilitate the pavement on Runway 08-26.

"The Government of Canada is committed to the safety and security of all Canadians," said Minister Lebel. "We recognize that efficient and safe airports are vital to the local economies of smaller communities, which is why we are investing in safety improvement projects at regional and local airports across the country."

This year, the Government of Canada is investing more than $20.9 million for 27 projects at 23 airports. Improvements include replacing snowblowers and runway sweepers; purchasing runway de-icing and fire-fighting equipment; and rehabilitating runway pavements.

"The Region of Waterloo is committed to high standards for the Region of Waterloo International Airport," said Ken Seiling, regional chair. "The ACAP funding from the Government of Canada for the partial rehabilitation of Runway 08-26 is greatly appreciated and supports our culture of safety at the airport."

"Waterloo International Airport, or YKF as my luggage is tagged, plays a vital role in our local economy," said Harold Albrecht, Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga. "These runway improvements are vital to continuing safe, predictable flights at the Region of Waterloo International Airport. Our government is committed to supporting smaller regional airports across Canada and the businesses that have come to rely heavily on them."

To date, through ACAP, the Government of Canada has invested a total of $556 million for 678 projects at 171 airports, including today's announcement. Over 99 per cent of these projects were airside safety-related projects such as runways, taxiways and visual aids, as well as heavy airside mobile equipment such as fire trucks and snowplows.