August 15–19 août , St-Albert, ON
All over the map, and other customs
“All over the map.” Soon that expression may have no relevance because the old-fashioned awkward paper road map is going the way of the rotary dial phone and the cassette player. Technology will eventually claim another fixture of the world as we you used to know it – the tourist information centre. As Prescott-Russell economic development director Sylvain Charlebois recently not- ed, tourists are using new ways to get information and many conventional kiosques are undergoing change. As the Ontario government closes centres across the province, the government facil- ity near Chute-à-Blondeau, west of the interprovincial border, is remaining open. But we can expect to see more and more office employees being replaced by mechanical guides. In some centres, people have been replaced by interactive touch screens. The Internet, smart phones and social media are reducing the frequency of real, live human interaction. So it only makes sense that we will rely more and more on electronics to get our directions. Sadly, with all those sophisticated devices available, it is becoming almost impossible to get lost, in the best possible sense of that term. Jail is one place you want to avoid. Thus, we pass on this seasonal message. Summertime is peak garage sale season. Are you thinking of selling that dusty old deer head, mounted fish or stuffed bird? Maybe you are considering putting a turtle or baby skunk up for sale on an Internet classified website. Better think twice. In most cases, members of the public need a licence or permit to harvest and possess or to offer to buy or sell fish and wildlife in Ontario. This includes animals both living and long dead, and even their parts. (Gross!) The purchase or sale of Ontario’s fish and wildlife including angler-caught fish, taxi- dermy mounts, skulls, meat, bones, antlers or live wildlife including mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects is, inmany cases, unlawful and could result in serious penalties. The Ministry of Natural Resources enforces laws related to the illegal trade in fish and wildlife. The Fish andWildlife Conservation Act provides for penalties of up to $100,000 and two years in jail for persons convicted of these types of offences. Even heftier fines of up to $250,000 and a year in jail for one offence, or $500,000 and a year in jail for a second or subsequent offence, are possible under the Endangered Species Act If you don’t want a run-in with the law, stick to clothes, books, furniture and other household items for your garage sale. Trying to sell Ontario wildlife, either live or dead, could prove to be very costly. What can you do if you see others engaging in illegal fish and wildlife trafficking, whether on the web or in the wild? Report natural resources violations by calling 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free anytime or contacting your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime stoppers anonymously at 1-800- 222-TIPS (8477). Now that you know what to avoid at garage sales, you may want to add ancient road maps to your yard sale shopping list. Of course, valuable antique maps, atlases and directories, are hard to find at your average garage sale. But, hey, life is all about the hunt not the prize, right? No doubt you can download an app to help in your search for old documents. We should also not forget that too much information is not healthy, either. If you overload on safe travel techniques, and tourist horror stories, you may become so paranoid that you will never leave home. Granted, if you are a stranger visiting a strange land, a degree of caution is advisable. Ignorance is bliss; it can also be deadly. There are some parts of the world that are dan- gerous, for everyone, all the time. Gizmos such as GPS are particularly useful for the directionally challenged, the type of people who drive the wrong way on one-way streets, who can get lost in the tiniest village, who innocently enter parking lots where a stern security guard barks, “How did you get in here? This is a classified area!” But, seriously, what is more interesting? Getting lost or arriving at a destination inci- dent-free? When you are travelling, you obviously need some sort of plan or agenda, to ensure your itinerary takes in the must-see sites. However, serendipity and spontaneity are good, too. Often the best way to appreciate the“local flavour”is to steer clear of the organized tours and tourist traps, and encounter the locals, where they live, work and play. The best travel memories are those unexpected, impromptu moments, when you opted to amble down a quite side street and steered clear of the crowded boulevards. Of course, in our daily lives, we could not adopt such a carefree, head-in-the-clouds attitude. We must be driven, we must remain fixed on clear and quantifiable objectives at all times. Besides, you need time to meander aimlessly, and nobody has time these days. Anyway, when you are planning your next vacation, pencil in “Get lost” on the list of things to do. Sometimes it is fine to be disoriented, and veer off onto a path that is less taken. If you are lucky, that road may lead to a quaint info booth, because an interactive touch screen will never replace the warm, sunny face of an eager summer employee who is just waiting to tell you where to go.
Achetez vos billets en ligne DÈS MAINTENANT , et dans ces points de vente à compter du 31 juillet: Buy your tickets ONLINE NOW , or at these points of sale starting July 31: ěũ Marché St-Albert ěũ Fromagerie St-Albert ěũ Cheddar Et Cetera (Orléans) ěũ Caisses Nouvel-Horizon et Trillium
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