Winter is Coming - The Winter Ecology Of Duffins Creek Workshop

On October 29, 2014

The Duffins Creek Renewal Program ended this year's events with a presentation on the Winter Ecology of Duffins Creek.  The event was well attended, thank you to all of the attendees for your interest in the program.  We look forward to seeing you again at next years events!

The workshop focused on what happens to Duffins Creek during the winter and how the animals of Duffins Creek survive the cold.

A special thank you to the Town of Ajax for supplying the presentation space and the Ontario Trillium Foundation for funding the Duffins Creek Renewal Program.

Winter Ecology of Duffins Creek Workshop

Ice Bubble

Our last event this year! Register Early as space is limited!

West Duffins Creek Fun!

Last night the second of two Crayfish Crazes this summer for Duffins Creek was held. This one was located in West Duffins Creek in Brock Ridge Community Park, Pickering Ontario. The first event was held in July in East Duffins Creek. Pictured below are some of the participants searching the stream and some of their successful captures. This was a fun event and we look forward to comparing the results between the two locations to see if both branches of Duffins Creek have the same species of crayfish in them.

Come out and join Trout Unlimited Canada for our Crayfish Craze on Thursday, Aug 21, 2014 

from 7-8:30 pm at Brock Ridge Community Park in Pickering!

Duffins Creek Crayfish Craze # 1

On July 17, 2014 the first of two Crayfish Crazes this summer for Duffins Creek was held.  The first was in the Town of Ajax's Paulynn Park on East Duffins Creek.  It was a great learning experience for those in attendance as three different species were captured and identified!  Pictured below are two of the species caught the Northern Clearwater Crayfish on top and the Virile Crayfish on the bottom!  We can't wait to compare these results to the ones that will be collected at our second event in August.

2014 Ajax Crayfish Craze

Come out and join Trout Unlimited Canada for Crayfish Craze this Thursday, July 17 2014 from 7-8:30 pm at Paulynn Park in Ajax!

July 5, 2014 Hands on Workday Postponed

The workday scheduled for July 5, 2014 on the Duffins Creek Postcard has been postponed to a later date.  Please check back here for more information and when the new date will be.

The 2014 Duffins Creek Family Fun Day was a Success!

This past Saturday June 7, 2014 the Duffins Creek Family Fun Day was held in Paulynn Park in the Town of Ajax, Ontario Canada.  It was a sunny day in the park and the 63 people who attended had a great time! Boomer the Bass was a hit with the kids. Some lucky kids even got to test out their new Frisbee with Boomer the Bass after they won the Frisbee for completing all six stations.

Welcome to Paulynn Park

Duffins Creek Family Fun Day is a free family event that provides a day of learning, fun and interaction with Duffins Creek. It is made up of interactive activity stations including: an aquatic bug touch tank, an aquarium with live native fish species, an obstacle course based on migrating salmon and more. Kids are given an event passport. Once they have visited all activity stations they played a game of Plinko for one of 3 prizes.

Boomer the Bass hanging with a couple of our awesome Volunteers!

Everybody wanted to have their photo taken with Boomer!

Amazing Aquatic Bugs!

Thank you to our volunteers without you this day would not have been a success!

Thank you to our Partners:

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

Town of Ajax

Durham East Trout Unlimited Canada Chapter

Finally,

Thank you to our sponsor: 

A few more photos for fun!

The Crazy Casting Crew photo just before the Day began

More photos with Boomer

Fantastic Fish Prints!

Fabulous Fish!

Volunteers Needed

Duffins Creek Family Fun Day!

Where: Paulynn Park, 1575 Ravenscroft Road, Ajax, ON

When: Saturday June 7, 2014

Volunteer Hours: 10:30am - 3:30pm (Event runs from 11am – 3pm)

What: A Trout Unlimited Canada event that showcases the biology and aquatic residents of Duffins Creek as well as the Duffins Creek Renewal Program. This free event sees families circulate through stations such as: Fabulous Fish; Amazing Aquatic Bugs; Fishy Escapades; and Beautiful Duffins Creek.  .

We are looking for approximately 10 enthusiastic volunteers to help run the stations on the event day. Volunteers will be provided with all the necessary materials and information and will be responsible for explaining the stations to participants and helping with station activities.

The day is a fun outdoor event and will provide opportunities to learn more about Duffins Creek while teaching others about this amazing watershed.  Volunteers will receive a free lunch in appreciation of their time commitment. 

If you are interested in contributing your time, please contact Colin Oaks at coaks@tucanada.org or by phone 519-824-4120 extension 53020. 

Trout Unlimited Canada’s Duffins Creek Renewal Program aims to protect the many beautiful portions of Bronte Creek while engaging local residents in restoring the aquatic ecosystem of this environmentally significant watershed. This program is a partnership of Toronto Region Conservation Authority and the Town of Ajax.

Today! Rain Barrel Pick-up!

See pick-up details below in poster.
On site contact: Colin Oaks - (226) 343-1558

Spring Is Finally Here!

On April 16, 2014

The Duffins Creek Renewal Program kicked off this year's events with a presentation on the Spring Ecology of Duffins Creek.  The event was well attended for our first event with about 14 people coming out.  Thank you to all of the attendees for your interest in the program.  Congratulations to Patrick who won our Spring Ecology of Duffins Creek Bingo game!  His prize was a plush Brook Trout one of the resident species of Duffins Creek that needs our help.

The workshop focused on what will be happening in the Duffins Creek ecosystem in the spring time.  We talked about the importance of the spring flood to the health of the creek, what the fish and aquatic insects are up to and the other animals that rely on the creek. Some of the animals included were the Great Horned Owl, water snakes, Mink, and the Mudpuppy.

A special thank you to Jade Schofield from Sustainable Ajax for supplying the presentation space and the Ontario Trillium Foundation for funding the Duffins Creek Renewal Program.

Rain Barrel Sale Postponed

Trout Unlimited Canada has postponed our Rain Barrel sale set for this Sunday April 27, till a date to be determined in May.  

Please check back regularly for updates on the new location and date.

This week April 6th to the 13th is National Volunteer Week!  At this time I would like to thank the many volunteers who donate their time and effort to our various events and activities.

Thank-you Volunteers from Trout Unlimited Canada!!

Our first event this year! Register Early as space is limited!

Sale Postponed Till May

Postponed Till May Please Check back for updates on the New Location and Date

Trout Unlimited Canada is proud to Launch our Rain Barrel sale in partnership with the 

Town of Ajax and RainBarrel.ca

Trout Unlimited Canada Returns to Duffins Creek

Trout Unlimited Canada is excited to announce we are returning to work in the Duffins Creek Watershed!  Trout Unlimited Canada has received a two year Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant to continue our rehabilitation, Public Outreach and Education in the Duffins Creek Watershed.  Trout Unlimited Canada has also hired a full time Project Biologist on a two year contract to help administer the program.  Trout Unlimited Canada would also like to thank Enbridge and Wells Fargo for their generous donations directed to on the ground rehabilitation works for the next two years.  We are currently planning our events for the upcoming year and will be posting the information here on the blog so please check back soon.  If you have any questions or would like to get involved in our activities please contact Colin Oaks the Duffins Creek Project Biologist at COaks@tucanada.org.  To find more information about what other opportunities exist please check out the Trout Unlimited Canada Website at http://www.tucanada.org/