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
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Ottawa injects another $36M into fund for those seriously injured or killed by vaccines
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Video shows suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Ex-SNC executive sentenced to prison term in bridge bribery case
The RCMP says a former SNC-Lavalin executive has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in connection with a bribery scheme for a bridge repair contract in Montreal.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.