Latest news with #BruceCounty
CTV News
19 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Bird watching goes ‘digital'
Kaelyn Bumelis and Mike Burrell are looking for birds in Bruce County. But this isn't an idle hobby, they're leading a cross-Ontario bird data collection project. 'The Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas project is a community science project where a bunch of volunteer birders and Atlas staff all go out and try to document Ontario's breeding birds. And essentially, we're trying to figure out their distribution and their abundance across the province, which is a huge province as you find out when you're trying to cover it all,' said Bumelis, who is the project manager for Ontario's Bird Atlas, with Birds Canada. Collecting data for Ontario's Breeding Bird Atlas happens every 20 years and takes five years to complete. This is year four of data collection for this Bird Atlas, where the province is broken up into 10 by 10-kilometre sections, for over 2,000 volunteers and Atlas organizers to find and document as many birds as possible. BIRD (St. John Alexander, CTV News Vancouver) This year's Bird Atlas will have the benefit of the digital age, specifically the Nature Counts app, which eliminates paper and pen documentation in favour of a new app developed in partnership with Birds Canada. 'You don't need to even know where you are. Your phone has a built in GPS, so it records exactly where you are, and knows what time it is, what day it is. So, it gets all that information for you, and it just makes collecting the data so simple. It really makes us not only be able to get better data, but a lot more information as well,' said Burrell, who is the Bird Atlas co-ordinator with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. 'It knows where you are. Obviously, you know, it records the time, date, and exact location. Then, you can just get to surveying without having to enter all that data later, which is honestly super helpful,' said Bumelis. This is the third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, which means there is bird data dating back to 1981. Burrell said bird health and abundance is usually a good indicator of how Ontario's entire ecosystem is functioning – or not functioning. Mike Burrell and Kaelyn Bumelis Mike Burrell and Kaelyn Bumelis documenting birds for Ontario's Breeding Bird Atlas on May 30, 2025, near Chesley, Ont. (Scott Miller/CTV News London) 'Species like Canada geese and wild turkeys and red bellied woodpeckers are doing great. Their numbers are just so much higher than they than they were 40 years ago. But other birds, like some of the grassland birds like swallows that feed on insects in the air, the aerial insectivores, as we call them, some of those are not doing so well,' said Burrell. 'Red bellied woodpeckers in Ontario, they're definitely increasing. They're moving up further north into Ontario. 20 years ago, they were really in deep southwestern Ontario, but they're moving northeast. Whereas, you know, other bird species tend to be declining. We're seeing fewer Blooming Teal and other bird species,' said Bumelis. Bumelis said data collection should wrap up next year for Ontario's third Bird Atlas, and the final results will be released by 2027. The information is vital, she said, for all Ontario stakeholders. 'It could be for governments to make decisions. It could be for bird conservation organizations to plan conservation strategies. It could be for land trusts to decide, 'Oh, that's an area that has a lot of rare or declining species, and a place we need to protect.' It can be used by industries, and folks like that to make the most effective business decisions as well, when they need to consider those things,' said Burrell. You can learn more at Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas.
CTV News
4 days ago
- CTV News
One dead after single-vehicle collision in South Bruce Peninsula
OPP cruiser in this undated file image. One person has died after a single-vehicle collision in South Bruce Peninsula early Friday morning. The 18 year old from South Bruce Peninsula died in the hospital from injuries, after a collision on Spring Creek Road to which Grey Bruce OPP responded just after 3 p.m. Another individual involved in the collision remains in the hospital with serious injuries. The road remains closed between Legion Road and Allenford Road as the investigation continues. Drivers are asked to avoid the area and find a different route.
CBC
29-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Ontario teacher and 4 teens killed in crash to be remembered at funerals this weekend
Funeral services will be held this weekend in several midwestern Ontario communities for the five victims of a multi-vehicle collision that sent shock waves of grief across the region. Four teenage girls from Walkerton District Community School were travelling home with their teacher last Friday afternoon after a softball tournament east of London, Ont., when they were involved in a crash with a transport truck. Rowan McLeod, Kaydance Ford, Danica Baker, Olivia Rourke and Mat Eckert were killed. Their deaths were acknowledged across Canada, including by Prime Minister Mark Carney, who wrote that it was an "unimaginable loss that no family, no classmate, no school should ever have to endure." Ontario Provincial Police said Thursday that they are continuing to investigate what happened on the rural road where a two-way stop intersects with a busier highway. Memorial announcements posted this week offered a window into the lives of the young women who are being remembered for their love of sport, their many "best friends," and the care they felt for their siblings and cousins. "Our world was forever changed on Friday, May 23, 2025, when our beloved Kaydance Lynne Ford passed away suddenly at just 16 years old," wrote the Ford family, who said their daughter excelled in athletics and in shop classes at school. Rowen's favourite colour was pink, and her family asked people to wear it on Sunday at the Chesley arena for a memorial. That small town, north of Walkerton in Bruce County, will be the site of two funerals, with a gathering Saturday at the Chesley ball diamond to remember Kaydance. Earlier on Saturday, a joint service for Olivia and Danica will be held at the Walkerton Community Centre. Olivia's family remembers her as a light in their lives, "full of kindness, laughter, dance, song and love," they wrote in a statement. "Her absence leaves a void that will never be filled and always remembered." Hundreds of people lit candles and marked a moment of silence at a vigil outside of the school in the days following the crash, with many people expressing the importance of being together to grieve. "It's an incredibly deep, deep scar this has inflicted on our community. It's going to take a long time to heal," said Chris Peabody, the mayor of Brockton, which includes Walkerton. Teacher remembered While students at the school where the teens attended are receiving grief counselling, staff too mourned a colleague they said brought laughter to the staff room and "whose presence made a difference." Eckert, 33, was not only a teacher and a coach, his family said, but someone whose dedication to service was apparent in everything he did. "His math lessons were more than just numbers — they were moments of connection. He took the time to truly see his students and athletes, often using his lunch breaks to build relationships, offer encouragement, and remind others of their worth," his family wrote. Known to his friends as "Ecky," some hung orange NorthStar lacrosse team shirts, where he was a coach, on their front porch. His funeral will be held on Sunday at an Owen Sound high school, where his family suggested we would have wanted people to wear "sweatpants tucked into socks and cozy footwear." To mark the teenagers' interest in sports, three families asked that donations be made to various local teams, including aerial gymnastics, broomball, minor hockey and baseball. The Ford family had also set up a bursary at the Walkerton school in Danica's name.
CTV News
27-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
‘Hopefully it brings some comfort' - community steps up in wake of Walkerton tragedy
Sneakers and bats are being put on the front steps of homes in Walkerton to honour those lost in last week's tragic crash that killed four members of a girl's softball team and their coach. (Scott Miller/CTV News London) For the past three nights, Lynn Bernard has a vase of flowers and a pair of sneakers out on her front porch. It's a small token to show the friends and families of the five victims of Friday's fatal car crash that their community cares. 'It's all we can do right now, and hopefully it brings some comfort in the days and the weeks to come, especially to those that are directly affected by this tragedy,' said Bernard. Bernard isn't alone. Hundreds of people across Walkerton, Bruce County and across the country, have been leaving a light on, putting sneakers and maybe a bat out on their steps. These gestures are for the four members of a Walkerton girls softball team and their coach, that were killed last Friday in a car crash near London. They were heading home to Walkerton after capturing second place at school softball tournament. 052725 - Walkerton London Sneakers and bats are being put on the front steps of homes in Walkerton to honour those lost in last week's tragic crash that killed four members of a girl's softball team and their coach. (Scott Miller/CTV News London) The local mayor, Chris Peabody remembers a similar tragedy of students dying in a car crash during his first teaching job, before moving to teach in Walkerton. 'I remember as a young teacher the impact, even two years after was quite significant, the emotional impact. I've seen 40 years ago how profound the loss of young people is on both a school and a community. It can be long lasting,' said Peabody. Walkerton and area have rallied behind the students, and families affected by this tragedy. A fundraising campaign to help the families with the unexpected funeral expenses, and 'unforeseen costs that will cause even more burden on these families,' has already raised over $110,000 in just two days. 052725 - Walkerton London Fundraisers in honour of four Walkerton students, and their coach, killed in a car crash, last Friday near London. (Scott Miller/CTV News London) Walkerton businesswoman, Cassandra Cassidy has launched a separate fundraiser, to fund academic/athletic scholarships, called 'The Riverhawks Memorial Scholarship' in honour of the four students, Olivia Rourke, Kaydance Ford, Danica Baker, Rowan McLeod and their coach, Matt Eckert. 052725 - Walkerton London Fundraisers in honour of four Walkerton students, and their coach, killed in a car crash, last Friday near London. (Scott Miller/CTV News London) 'In a small community, everybody rallies around everybody, and tries to do everything that they can to make the situation better. There's no way you can make the situation better, but what you can do, is spread that kindness to others,' said Cassidy. That's what Tim Lowe was thinking, when he tossed out the idea of putting sneakers on people's front steps last Saturday to support the families of the victims. 052725 - Walkerton London Sneakers and bats are being put on the front steps of homes in Walkerton to honour those lost in last week's tragic crash that killed four members of a girl's softball team and their coach. (Scott Miller/CTV News London) 'It reminded me a lot of the Humboldt Broncos tragedy. So, I thought, what could we do?' said Lowe. 'Hopefully it just brings some comfort, like, to everyone, to every one of us. I think right now, we have to kind of look after each other,' said Bernard, who will keep putting out sneakers each night, until the five victims are ultimately laid to rest.
CBC
26-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Hundreds mourn at Walkterton, Ont., school vigil for teacher, students killed in crash
The small, southwestern Ontario town of Walkerton is continuing to mourn the loss of four teenage athletes and their teacher, killed in a multi-vehicle crash outside London last week while returning home from a softball tournament. The deadly collision on Friday has left the Bruce County community reeling and has prompted an outpouring of support for their friends and family. Hundreds of Walkerton residents gathered on Sunday night for a candlelight vigil outside Walkerton District Community School, the K-12 school where the teenage girls, aged 16 and 17, studied, and where 33-year-old Matt Eckert worked as a teacher and coach. "It's an incredibly deep, deep scar this has inflicted on our community. It's going to take a long time to heal," said Chris Peabody, the mayor of Brockton, which includes Walkerton. "We have, as a community, dealt with tragedy before, and small-town Ontario residents always rise up in the face of adversity and band together, and I know that will happen here." While the identities of the teenagers have not been released by police, the Tara Twins U18 girls softball team identified two of the victims online as Rowan McLeod and Kaydance Ford. "Our entire Twins family is reeling from this loss, and our hearts go out to the families, friends and teammates of these beautiful athletes," reads a Facebook post from the team, whose coach, it notes, is McLeod's father. "This tragedy hits harder for this association knowing that they were returning from playing the very sport of softball." 'Infectious smile and caring heart' Eckert is being remembered not only as a teacher in Walkerton but also as the Junior B assistant coach for the NorthStars Lacrosse Club in Owen Sound. "Our organization is heartbroken and crushed to lose an important member of our family. Matt connected with our players on a level that is indescribable," a social media post from NorthStars' general manager, Ethan Woods, reads. "His infectious smile and caring heart are things that will never be forgotten. We love you so much Ecky." Flags outside the school and at other properties across the town have been lowered to half-mast. On Saturday night, many residents left porch lights on and running shoes outside to show support for the victims' families. Ahead of the vigil, community members visited Walkerton District Community School throughout the day on Sunday to add flowers and other mementos to a growing outdoor memorial. Among those stopping by were other students, including Hayley Munro, 17, and Jasmine Huber, 16, who wanted to pay their respects. Munro grew up with McLeod at the school, and the two were best friends from Grade 3 to Grade 8, she said. "I think life just got in the way, but she was such a lovely person. We always talked about the big plans we had for our lives, and it hurts knowing that she won't ever get to act on those plans." Ford, she added, was "very, very sweet, and she was so bubbly. Like, if she walked in a room, it would just light up the room." Huber now attends a different high school, but she recalled having had Eckert as a math teacher. "He was a great teacher," she said. "Like, even if kids were being not good, he'd get them in trouble, but he'd do it in, like, a fun way." Another student, Keegan Padfield, 15, said he left boots outside on Saturday night, just like many of his neighbours. "He was a really nice guy," he said of Eckert. "He likes to make a lot of jokes, and he's always really nice with the students." Padfield said he knew the five victims largely through school sports, with Eckert as one of his coaches, and described the four girls as being kind to everyone. "When I first started out in Grade 9, they were all really supportive and helping everybody improve," he said. OPP continue to investigate The five victims had been returning home from the 27th annual Girls' High School Invitational Slo-Pitch Tournament in Dorchester, Ont., when their SUV collided with a transport truck at Thorndale and Cobble Hills roads on Friday at about 4:30 p.m. Their SUV was then struck by a second SUV, Ontario Provincial Police have said. Investigators have not released details about what happened at the highway intersection, which has a two-way stop for vehicles crossing Thorndale Road, but say they continue to investigate. Police said two 17-year-old girls and a 16-year-old girl died at the scene, while Eckert and the other 16-year-old girl were transported to hospital but later died of their injuries, police said. The driver of the transport and two people in the other SUV suffered minor injuries. Police did not have any updates to provide in the investigation on Sunday. Speaking outside Walkerton District Community School on Sunday, Jamie Pettit, a spokesperson for Bluewater District School Board, described it as being a "time of unimaginable grief" for the school, the board and the broader community. "It's certainly left a huge void here within the community, and it's something that's going to linger for a long, long time, even beyond the initial grief stage," Pettit said. The school board covers both Bruce and Grey counties. He added that the tragedy had brought out the best "in peers and supports, not only within the school community, but like our community partners and local municipalities, our neighbouring school board and partner organizations." In a statement, board chair Jane Thomson and director of education Lori Wilder said the loss was devastating for the entire community, and mental health supports were being offered for students and staff. "We recognize that many individuals in other communities across Bluewater also have close connections with those lost in this tragedy, and their families. It is important to acknowledge how this tragedy is impacting them as well. We are all here to support one another," the statement read.
