What happens when you fall in love with a river? by Mary Katherine Keown

Along its course, the river widens into several lakes, including Onwatin in Hanmer; Kusk off Panache Lake Road (watch out for leeches); Grassy; and Wabagishik, out on the fringes of Ward 2. Lake Wabagishik was made famous by the Group of Seven. Franklin Carmichael painted the lake in 1928 and if you have ever paddled along its waters, you will understand why he was inspired. At the southern end of Wabagishik is a set of rapids where the river narrows once again. It is very picturesque.

I fell in love with the Vermilion River last year when I decided to paddle this stretch in early October. The colours were just starting to pop and the riverbanks were explosively yellow and bright. It was like travelling through the sun. I bottomed out about six times and had to drag my kayak through the chilly shallow waters, but it was well worth the effort.

Check out Mary Katherine Keown’s article about her adventures on the Vermilion River here.

Capreol Cedar Rapids Waterpower – FIT 4 Application

Cedar Rapids, Vermilion River

Cedar Rapids, Vermilion River

I am writing on behalf of the Board of Directors for the Vermilion River Stewardship (VRS), to express our disappointment in the unprincipled way in which the proposed Capreol Cedar Rapids Waterpower project (project) was placed before the City of Sudbury’s Planning Committee for endorsement, without first notifying VRS, a registered stakeholder, that the project was being modified in order to make application for a Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) contract.  A simple email to myself alerting of your intention to reduce the Installed Capacity of the proposed project from 1 MW to 500 kW, in order to qualify under FIT 4, would have provided VRS with the opportunity to speak to the Planning Committee about our concerns with the project.

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Capreol’s Potential Hydro Generation Project

A company named WaterPower Group held a public meeting, in October of 2012, for members of the Capreol Business Association, Capreol Community Action Network, and members of the Town at the Millenium Centre.  This proponent proposes to build a hydroelectric dam on the Vermilion River at Cedar Rapids.

To read an article, go to page 15 of  The Capreol Press – October 1, 2012 – No. 87.

The photos below are of the area that is proposed to be dammed – Cedar Rapids on the Vermilion River.