G8 the peaceful part of the meeting

While the Black Bloc Anarchists raise their fists, throw things, and generally disrupt Toronto's G20, teambuilding occurs in the inner part of the fence the previous day in Huntsville. 

Huntsville's peaceful protests

I like this videographer. He had some fun in Huntsville, where he is a resident.

What did the G8 mean to Muskoka?

G8 signage was built

What a great article by the NYTimes.com - I think it pretty much sums up what folks are saying up here. Little benefit for most of the little folk, e.g., tourism, hourly-waged employees. Much in benefits for Tony Clement, the mayor of HV, Deerhurst and Fowler (who put in the frackin' fences)!
What delights many of us, is the obvious motivation for Mr. Clement. He has to have the backing of PM Harper.

While boasting about the town’s improvements, Mr. Doughty (HV Mayor) says he and other municipal politicians in the region used Mr. Clement to get all they could out of the federal government.

And Tony Clement has great motivation to play the game.

Mr. Clement was dumped into the Parry Sound-Muskoka riding from Toronto by the Conservative Party as a candidate in 2006 (he does have a cottage here)  and squeaked in with only 28 votes, although he was re-elected in 2008. He seems to be benefitting from touting his riding. He's at every big deal, with photo-ops to show.

Clement did ensure that all of Muskoka has great signage.

Wouldn't want those G8 leaders, and their entourage, escorted as they were - front and back by OPP motorcycles, riding in their big black limos. But with the dearth of skilled labour in Muskoka, someone's home or renos were not being built while all this was going on. (Didn't they think the OPP can read maps?

Many managed to make a buck off of our tax dollars: extra chefs brought in for the albeit brief duration, extra big buff boys in black, those building the signs. Some lost money, with businesses closed, or reduced, people scared off by the fooferaw.

Up a new $4.8 million road a building now sits a satellite campus for the University of Waterloo. The Waterloo Summit Centre is a great place for a small conference.

Not going to be used, as was planned, for the G20. Oops. But U of W is my daughter's alma mater. Great programs, her M.Sc. (she works as a hydrogeologist) has stood her well, as well did their co-op program. Whatthehell.

Yes, our tax dollars paying for someone's education in order for them to get good jobs in environmental and ecological sustainability at this institution, which may benefit Muskoka in the long run. But don't you think they should pay for their own education? I did. Worked summers. Long ones.

The “fake lake”was an appalling idea by someone. Gotta love those eager-beaver politicos, brainstorming how to laud big Tony. Lake Ontario, the real, big one, only being feet away from the media.

For regular residents, and tourists one of my commenters wrote:
Sure is intimidating with all the police cruisers and helicopters around, but today I saw up in Sundridge a fighter jet approaching a small float plane making him change his flight plan....I guess he was too close to the restricted air space....Wow the noise from that Jet!!!!! Super Sonic!!!!! My husband said there is an officer with high power weapons every 10 ft. in the resort...you don't fool around with those boys.....and they are Big!Men!!!!

A Canadian Town Is Stood Up by the Group of 8 - NYTimes.com

www.nytimes.com

The government in the small town of Huntsville, Ontario, is being criticized for spending millions to prepare for an economic summit that was relocated to Toronto.

Muskoka Airport flying high

There is excitement everywhere!
Buff boys, not in black, jogging in the morning. RCMP & OPP EVERYWHERE!

We drove to the airport looking for the moving agency, and found only bizarre gear. One couple, walking their lab beside the airport road, had an OPP stop behind them with all lights flashing.

Then, in the field, very strange equipment. Lots of tents and boys and their toys and men in uniform!


The big black helicopters are really incredible, since I'm not at the lake hoping for peace and quiet. I captured one on video, towards the end.

Isn't this contraption kewl???
One dare not venture fare, with limos and escort vehicles hither and yon!

Even saw a perfect vanity plate...
Hubby went to visit a store along the airport road yesterday. As if. Long lines of traffic, black limos with darkened windows along the airport road.

Hubby won't let me get near the place. Spoilsport! We both have security checks. Me- as I volunteer at the penitentiary. Brian was the security manager for the airline from which he is retired.

Meantime, the planes are awfully loud overhead!
FLight plans are mandatory this week. No surprise. There is an 80 km no fly zone.

Nancy writes,  They're Here... and Here's to Them! with a photo of the big, brawny, boys in black (or blue?). Of course they are men and women, but that doesn't alliterate.

Muskoka G8 Signage & your tax dollars

Isn't it rather embarrassing? Projects incomplete, especially when the G8 folks won't darken

the doors of the rest of Muskoka. All of this seems to be a great hoodwink. Someone managed to convince one of those Toronto politicos, know, the ones who come up with the great ideas for their masters.
Sure, we need signage all over Muskoka. Signage that doesn't suit the rest of Muskoka. That bright fire engine red, hard to miss, yes, and totally out of character with the rest of the subtle signage that means Muskoka to me. Lakes, forests, and precious wildlife.

Heck, we have signs everywhere!!!

Town’s G8 project not complete
BRACEBRIDGE — A $609,000 G8 infrastructure project in Bracebridge might be open in time for this weekend’s summit, but just barely. As of yesterday, the 7,500-sqaure-foot outdoor theatre project in...

Town forgoes $200k from G8 legacy pot
GRAVENHURST — The Town of Gravenhurst will not take advantage of $200,000 in federal funding for G8-related infrastructure improvements. The municipality failed to spend the entire $1.2 million it was...