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Fresh Out The Oven

2021 Calendar Sales are Live!

By Community
Jacob Bell on ‘Shot Across the Bow’ at Old Baldy. Photo by Connor Drummond.

The 2021 Ontario Crags Calendar has arrived! Featuring local climbers shot by local photographers, the OAC calendar is a tribute to everything Ontario climbing has to offer.  With a mix of climbers, crags, and disciplines featured, this is the milestone 10th anniversary of the OAC Calendar published, and we think it’s our best one yet!

We’ve adapted sales this year to be conducted online, as well as at a selection of gyms volunteering to assist with this fundraiser.  Calendars are $20, plus $5 for shipping via Canada Post.  All proceeds from calendar sales go toward promoting, advocating for, and maintaining open access all across the province.

Get your copy now!

You can also find copies for sale at the following Ontario locations:
Alt.Rock
Boulderz – both Etobicoke and Junction locations
The Core
Grand River Rocks – both Waterloo and Kitchener locations
Junction Climbing
Ontario Resoles
Toprock Climbing

November 20, 2020
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2019 OAC Climbers’ Survey Results

By Uncategorized

Thanks to all 368 of you who responded to our survey (once again, a record). With some hard work from Brittany Schaefer and survey design from Laura Duncan and Patrick Lam, we’re pleased to release the full survey results. Here are two tidbits:

Q4: In 2019, which Ontario crag did you climb at most often? In 2020, which Ontario crag do you aspire to climb at the most?

Mount Nemo was the most popular crag in 2019; The Swamp and Lion's Head are aspirational crags for 2020.

Q12: When you climbed outside in 2019, how many other people did you typically go with?

October 21, 2020
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2021 Calendar Photo Submissions are Open!

By Uncategorized

It’s that time of year again — we’re opening up submissions for next year’s Ontario Crags Calendar!  The 2021 Calendar isn’t going to be just any calendar either… this is going to be our special 10th edition!  Help celebrate this milestone by seeing your work published and hanging on all your friends’ walls ❤

Cynthia Chung on Jetstream, by Kevin Chan

The Ontario Crags Calendar aims to celebrate and highlight the wide variety of climbing that Ontario has to offer. We want to showcase everything from as many different crags, seasons, and climbers as possible — ICE, SPORT, TRAD and BOULDERING are all honoured here.  We want to celebrate the diversity of our province and our community!  Valid photo submissions must have LANDSCAPE orientation (i.e. horizontal), and be of climbers at Ontario crags only (of course!).  

Wayne Truong on Fear and Loathing, by Shawn Tron

2020 hasn’t been your typical climbing year, and that’s okay.  Submissions do not need to be dated from this year, but they DO need to showcase your love for Ontario climbing.  So make the most of this tail end of the season, or take some time to venture down memory lane and rediscover some forgotten gems!

Dustin Johnston-Jewell on Super Sharp Shooter, by Will Tam

The Crags Calendar helps us raise awareness and funds in support of Ontario access.  Please consider donating a photo!  Send your best shots to submissions@ontarioallianceofclimbers.ca by SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4TH for a chance to be featured.  Chosen entrants will receive a free copy of the calendar, credit complete with name and website, and a little slice of local fame 😉

Please see additional rules of submission:

Photograph Submission Rules for the 2021 OAC Ontario Crags CalendarDownload
September 12, 2020
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OAC 2020 AGM Recap

By Access, Community, Events

Thank you to everyone who tuned in for our AGM last Monday!  We had great turnout, with at least 71 members tuning in.  Congratulations to Randy Kielbasiewicz, Patrick Lam, and Mike Makischuk, who have all been re-elected to the Board for another two-year term.  Randy and Mike Penney will also continue to serve as Co-Chairs of the Board.

Our meeting minutes and a summary of our Access Sends for the 2019-2020 year can be found below:

2020 OAC AGM MinutesDownload
2019-2020 Access SendsDownload

A complete recording of the meeting is available below:

Thanks everyone, we’ll see you soon!

August 25, 2020
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OAC Service Award: Tony Berlier

By Community

We’d like to present Tony Berlier with the 2020 Ontario Alliance of Climbers Service Award. As you enjoy expanded access to Ontario crags, be sure to thank Tony for his essential contributions!

Tony has been the man holding together the OAC from before its inception, serving as co-chair from 2009 through 2019. He took on a ton of unglamourous behind-the-scenes administrative work to make sure the OAC continues to exist and to advocate for access for Ontario climbers. For a long time, he welcomed us to Board meetings in his backyard and organized the meetings (which is a ton of work). Tony chaired AGMs, maintained the membership database, and emailed all members with AGM notices. He did the day-to-day financial transactions to keep the OAC running — all of the boring, but necessary, tasks. 

The final test of one’s success at a task is being able to hand it off to one’s successors, and Tony has managed to pass on essentially all of his tasks to the next generation of OAC volunteers, while giving us occasional advice. Thanks for everything Tony!

August 20, 2020
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Support the Metcalfe Toilet Fund

By Access

We decided to spruce up the Metcalfe parking lot with the addition of two porta potties for the rest of the season!

The surge in visitors to our green spaces has unfortunately meant that our parks are becoming littered and filled with waste.  In an effort to help keep our crags clean, we’ve fronted the $1000 bill for toilet service which will help climbers and hikers alike.

Please consider making a donation to support this initiative!  We’d like to recoup the costs so that we can continue to finance crag improvements on an ongoing basis.

Donate Now

Thank you, and see you out there!

August 18, 2020
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Rattlesnake Welcomes Climbing Back!

By Uncategorized

Conservation Halton is ready to accept climbers at Rattlesnake Park again! This includes Rattlesnake proper, Broken Glass Cliffs and Buffalo Crag.

Climbers must reserve a 2 hour time slot. Overstaying your time slot will lead to potential fines/penalties and reflect poorly on the climbing community, so be sure to keep track of time! Reservations can be made at http://parkvisit.ca/ .

Conservation Areas, Provincial Parks and Managed Properties are under immense pressure with visitations at record levels. It is vital that climbers act as stewards and partners with land managers to help protect the areas we all love. Please remember to be safe, climb in small groups, and respect other climbers while following social distancing efforts.

August 12, 2020
Love1

Register for the OAC Virtual AGM, and Vote in the Board of Directors Election

By Community, Events, News

Our annual board election will take place during our Virtual AGM on Monday, August 17th! Register now, and be sure to attend in order to cast your votes.

Registration is required in advance in order to keep the event secure. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Click Here to Register.

Up for election at this year’s AGM are the following candidates:

Patrick Lam
Patrick Lam – Patrick has supported the OAC since its inception, becoming a director in 2013. One of Patrick’s main goals is to improve the lines of communication between the OAC and the climbing community. Patrick has been climbing for 8 years, 4 in Ontario. He enjoys sport, trad, multi-pitch and mountaineering.
Randy Kielbasiewicz – Randy has been part of the OAC since 2012 and Co-Chair since 2014. He has been climbing for 35 years in all seasons, enjoying all forms of climbing. Randy’s focus has been working on specific projects with land managers in the Beaver Valley and Conservation Halton.
Mike Makischuk – Mike became involved with the OAC in 2017. Working to bring the local climbing community together and educate them about what the OAC means is strongly one of Mike’s goals. Climbing for over 20 years, he brings a strong passion for all aspects of climbing from bouldering, to sport and alpine.
2020 OAC Notice of MeetingDownload
August 7, 2020
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OAC Virtual AGM set for Aug 17

By Uncategorized

Save the date: the OAC Annual General Meeting will take place Monday, August 17, at 7pm.  Join us as we meet virtually for a socially distanced AGM!  This is a great opportunity to ask questions about our organization and to share input on our future direction.   We’ll also be holding the election for board membership, talking about the year we’ve just had, and speaking about what’s on the horizon.

If you would like to run as a candidate for the board of directors, please submit your bio to info@ontarioallianceofclimbers.ca by July 24.  Details for the virtual meeting will be announced August 1.  Hope to see you all there!

July 15, 2020
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