Sault teacher challenges residents to test their grit with new marathon
A Sault College teacher and avid outdoors adventurer is challenging the community to test their grit with his new springtime marathon.
Lawrence Foster will host the first Beaver Freezer Marathon at the Hiawatha Highlands in March, taking competitors through 10 waterways in the area.
Foster said the name was inspired by a Garden River elder who he took his class to see for a day trip.
"He showed us his trap lines, reached in and pulled out a beaver on his line and rolled it in the snow, calling it a beaver freezer," Foster said.
"I was thinking this would be a really fun ski. I'd love to go out with this elder and visit his trap line and ski, snowshoe with him and just explore with him a little bit and it sort of inspired me to go and explore some of the other lakes and streams."
Foster is a two-time Canadian adventure race champion and has organized other events in southern Ontario.
Competitors for the Beaver Freezer will be able to ski, fat bike or run through the course, and can compete by themselves or on a relay team.
"We shouldn't have an issue when it comes to the pandemic, as we're currently working with Algoma Public Health on how to do this," he said.
"As competitors go there, we may have a staggered start, we may have small group starts, our timing system allows us to let people start essentially whenever we want them to."
Sault College, the City of Sault Ste. Marie and Sault Cycling Club are supporting the event, with the city giving out mandatory self-rescue ice tool kits in case someone were to fall through the ice.
The marathon is scheduled for March 6.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.