With viral infection still prevalent and the travel industry unstable, the Board of Directors recognized it would be preferable to conduct the 2023 Annual Meeting by video conferencing. 

The IODE Canada Board of Directors in partnership with IODE Ontario members welcome members and guests from across Canada to the 2023 Annual Meeting. 

As we cannot travel to the National Annual Meeting,
​we thought we would bring you some random facts about Ontario.

Click on the ​red highlighted links for additional information

Ontario was first settled by the Iroquoian and Algonquin First Nations - Iroquois word for Ontario Kanadario roughly translates to beautiful water.

Ontario is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.  Located in Central Canada, it is Canada's most populous province, with 38.3 percent of the country's population, and is the second-largest province by total area (after Quebec). Ontario is Canada's fourth-largest jurisdiction in total area when the territories of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut are included.  It is home to the nation's capital city, Ottawa, and the nation's most populous city, Toronto, which is Ontario's provincial capital.    ​(taken from Wikipedia)

The most northern point is Fort Severn located on the Severn River near Hudson Bay.  This point is as far north as London, England & Warsaw, Poland.  The most southern point is the south part of Point Pelee Island, equal to Roma, Italy & Northern California.

Polar Bear Provincial Park more than three times the size of Algonquin, is an isolated wilderness park located on the western shore where James Bay joins Hudson Bay.  Remote, and accessible only by air, Ontario's largest park lies on the western shore where James Bay joins Hudson Bay.  

Can you visit Polar Bear Provincial Park?  There are no visitors' facilities. Landing permits must be obtained in advance for each of the park's four airstrips. The only evidence of human habitation in the park is an abandoned radar station, part of a former military defence line.

London is home to the “Flame of Hope” lit in 1989 as a tribute to Dr. Frederick Banting.  The flame will remain lit until there is a cure for diabetes.

Ottawa is the seventh coldest capital in the world, behind Ulaan-Baatar, Moscow, Helsinki, Reykjavik & Tallinn.

The 170 km stretch of Highway 401 between Trenton & the Don Valley Parkway in Toronto was designated the Highway of Heroes.  This is the route travelled by funeral convoys for fallen Canadian Forces personnel from CFB Trent to the coroner’s office in Toronto.  To honour those who fought for freedom, The Highway of Heroes tree campaign initiated the planning of two million trees (one for every Canadian who has services in uniform since the War of 1812. 

By car or RV, by bike or motorcycle - the Georgian Bay Coastal Route has quickly become one of the must-ride or drive routes in Ontario.  The beauty of this 1,350-km loop is that it takes you through various regions and geographies of Ontario, allowing you to see numerous parts of this giant province!

There so many interesting places and entertaining activities in Ontario, including a Butter Tart Trail and a Butter Tart Tour! ​

​The Butter Tart Trail was established in 2006 with 17 stops in Wellington County.  The heart of the trail is about 90 minutes northwest of Toronto.

The Kawarthas Northumberland Butter Tart Tour was first established in 2011 and now rebranded as the Kawarthas Northumberland Butter Tart Tour. Kawartha Lakes is a short 90 minute drive northeast of Toronto, with 50 locations to visit.

​Ontario's Best Butter Tart Festival and Contest is an annual event held in Midland.

The Apple Pie Trail in Southern Georgian Bay explores many local orchards and breweries, apple-inspired art, seasonal sweet and savoury menus, outdoor activities, and the history of apple country.  You will see what inspires the local farmers, business owners, distillers, and artisans to live and breathe apple.

You may think you have never broken a law before - think again.  There are few bizarre Ontario laws out there that even you could surely be guilty of.

The Canadian Criminal Code contains a statute declaring it illegal to scare the Queen, and yes, sneaking up behind her and saying "Boo!" would count.  The law apparently dates back to Confederation, and can be traced to Britain’s Treason Act of 1842, which itself was responding to an incident in which a British man pointed a gun at Queen Victoria, but did not fire it.

Anyone who's ever tried to get rid of some change at the checkout counter had best know the rules, as there are specific limits set as to how much can be paid with coins.  For example, a Federal Government website notes that the limit is $25 if you’re paying with loonies, $5 if you're using nickels.  If you are trying to get rid of pennies, the maximum legal amount per purchase is a mere 25 cents.

If you stiff a hotel in Ontario and sneak out without paying your bill, that hotel has the legal right to recoup its losses by selling your horse.

​You are not allowed to partake in any games while in a Red Lake, parking lot and, if you do, you may just find yourself with a $100 fine.  Red Lake is located 535 km northwest of Thunder Bay and less than 100 km from the Manitoba border.

Myers Lake (Township of Georgian Bay), was one of a few cottage country regions that has placed a 24/7 ban on “yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling, singing or other similar human sound," - they want it peaceful and quiet, thank you very much.

In Stratford, there is a prohibition against feeding the wildlife, but, for some reason, swans are exempt.  So, if you happen to see any swans while you are in Stratford, don't hold back!

You cannot climb a tree in Oshawa.  Oshawa has a law that bans climbing trees, the local law states, "No person shall interfere with a tree or part of a tree located on municipal property, including but not limited to attaching, affixing or placing upon in any manner any object or thing to a tree or part of a tree, and climbing the tree."

​It is illegal to whistle in Petrolia, between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., so keep your lips zipped. Apparently, this weird law is part of a anti-noise bylaw that prohibits "yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing" during the wee hours.

If you're ever in Ottawa on a Sunday and get a hankering for an ice cream cone, whatever you do, don't eat it on Bank Street - because eating ice cream on Bank Street on any other day of the street is perfectly fine, but not on Sundays.

In Ottawa, it is illegal to ride your bike while carrying a package that prevents you from keeping both hands on the handlebars.

Does this mean you cannot eat ice cream when riding a bicycle in Ottawa?

Lawmakers in Etobicoke are big believers in bathtub safety, so much so that a local bylaw states that a bathtub should not be filled with more than 3½ inches of water. 

If you live in Kanata, feel free to paint your garage door any colour you want, except purple, that is against the law and you will be fined.

Still-existing Toronto bylaw that prohibits dragging a dead horse down Yonge Street on Sundays - you want to do it from Monday to Saturday.

Attaching a siren to a bicycle in Sudbury, is a criminal offence, punishable by a fine of up to $5,000.​

Living in Cobourg, and have a water trough in your front yard, a local bylaw does not allow filling it 5:00 a.m. - made sense in the days when the horse and buggy was the primary mode of transport. 

​I’m sorry, what?
In Ontario there is actually a law stating saying “sorry​” is not an admission of guilt.  ​

​​The 2023 National Annual Meeting 24, 25, 26 May 2023 will be held as Zoom meetings and is open to all members. ​

Link to the Provisional Agenda