Olympic Torch Relay Port Credit Mississauga Ontario

 The Olympic Torch Relay came to Mississauga today, and after ceremonies at City Centre, including runs by Mayor Hazel McCallion and olympian Kurt Browning, the torch relay headed south on Hurontario (Highway 10) to Lakeshore Road in Port Credit.

Here are a few pictures of the torch relay, and a short video to give some idea of the happy crowds that lined the relay route. Click on an image to enlarge, then click the Back button to return to this page.

Santa at the Lighthouse Port Credit ON

Santa handed out Canada flags and good cheer at the Lighthouse 'home' of the Port Credit BIA. The BIA handed out pizza, sandwiches, hot coffee and hot chocolate. The cup of hot coffee was a perfect antidote for my frozen fingers. Thanks, Ellen!

Olympic Torch Relay Bus Mississauga

The torch bearers did a good job keeping on schedule! Their ETA in Port Credit was 1:50 p.m., and they were punctual! All told, the torch relay will cover 45,000 kilometers or 28,000 miles.

Crowds Cheering Torch Bearers

Though crowds were sparse when I arrived around 1 p.m., within a half hour, the sidewalks were filling fast all along Lakeshore Road, and the Starbucks west of the Lighthouse had lines out the door!

Olympic Torch Relay Handover on Lakeshore Rd. Bridge

As flashing lights atop police cars heralded the approaching torch, crowds spilled from the sidewalks on either side of the Lakeshore Road bridge and filled the traffic lanes. Oddly enough, for as regimented and rule-ridden as Canadians usually are, the police did not block traffic lanes, other than at intersections.

I half - expected some excited, distracted relay watcher to come a cropper, but drivers slowed down and gave the right of way to jaywalkers.

Taking up the torch, Holding it high!

Now, as luck would have it, I lost my lovely vantage point from the terrace at the Lighthouse when an eastbound cube van got stuck in the relay crowd and blocked the view.

A fast run around the lighthouse, down the stairs and around the base brought me out onto Lakeshore Road in time to take a few fast pictures before the police cleared the roadway.

Torch Relay Port Credit

In the video below, you can hear what I heard as this torch bearer's name: I heard 'Laura', and checking online, the only Laura mentioned as torch bearer in Mississauga is 'Greer'. If I have incorrectly identified her, please correct me.

 

 Torch Heads West Through Port Credit

Here's a shot of the joyful- looking torch bearer jogging along Lakeshore Road West towards Clarke Hall.

Approaching Mississauga Road

Laura kept up a lively pace, and quite a few in the crowd tried to keep up with her as the relay neared the intersection at Mississauga Road.

Olympic Torch Shawnmarr and Lakeshore

And though I gave it my best, I couldn't catch up, let alone overtake the relay contingent. My plan was to take a picture as the torch passed the Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens near my house.

Here's a short video of the torch relay sights and sounds in Port Credit.

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Port Credit Storm Damage - Wild Winds, Heavy Rains, Trees Down

An early morning thunderstorm in Port Credit with wild winds and heavy rains brought down at least one large tree and large branches from many others in the Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens and the complex of condo townhouses at Shawnmarr and Lakeshore Roads.

With winds gusting to 80 kph / 50 mph (est.) this morning, I'm surprised there wasn't more damage. Here are some pictures taken following the storm that show some of the damage.

Shawnmarr Road at Lakeshore - Branch Blocks Sidewalk

Looking west on Lakeshore at Shawnmarr, you can see the large branch blocking the sidewalk near the Mississauga Transit bus stop. (The white flecks seen on the grass are beautiful blossoms from another large tree on the townhouse grounds: I need the name of this tree - the blossoms are orchid-like and wonderfully scented.)

Large Branch BRG Path

I crossed Lakeshore Road, and on the south side of the new lily garden at BRG, several large branches partly block the path. An earlier storm in April, took down a large willow tree on the east side of the gardens.

Tree Down by Gardens Office

High winds took down this large tree located between the Waterfront Trail and the BRG parking lot off Lakeshore. This tree had appeared healthy, but a closer look at the inside of the trunk shows how rotted it actually was. As it fell, it appears to have missed doing collateral damage to the red bud trees and a perennial garden.

Fallen Tree at BRG

This is the same tree as in the above picture, showing its canopy lying just short of the perennial bed. Paths throughout the area are strewn with smaller branches and twigs; walking is fine, but wheels will have a tricky time dodging the debris.

Tree Branch on South Bridge BRG / Waterfront Trail

The south bridge on the Waterfront Trail now has a large branch at one end; it's not blocking the trail, but was too heavy for me to shift without help.

Creek Mouth Forges New Outlet into Lake Ontario

This is the creek that acts as a storm drain as it flows alongside the Waterfront Trail and empties into Lake Ontario. The beach here is composed mainly of rocks of varying sizes. The heavy rains this morning must have swollen this creek to a truly impressive size, as the force of the current washed out the beach rocks as it made a new path to the lake.

The storm passed, the humidity is dropping and the clean up begins!

MORE PHOTOS See latest post here

Ontario Canada Snow Storm Port Credit Lakeshore and Shawnmarr

I took this picture the day before yesterday, at the Lakeshore Road and Shawnmarr Road intersection in Port Credit (Mississauga Ontario, Canada). Note: No Snow. At all.

Lakeshore and Shawnmarr roads Port Credit

Early this morning, the wind picked up and the snow started blowing.

Lakeshore and Shawnmarr roads Blowing Snow

I took this photo from almost the same location as the first one. (I couldn't tell where the path was under the snow.) By noon, this parking lot was snow covered, and the traffic lights barely visible. Cars driving along Lakeshore eastbound (toward the Port Credit lighthouse) had trouble getting up the hill.

Port Credit Townhouse -- Blowing Snow Makes Snow Drifts

I took this picture outside my front door to show the blowing snow on the rooftops. The winds were gusting up to 60 km per hour (37 mph), and the temperature was about minus 7 C (19 F). When there are high winds and low temps, there's a wind chill: How cold the temperature really feels. The wind chill effectively made the temperature minus 15 C (5 F).

Swans on Lake Ontario Shoreline - Winter Snow Storm

Too cold and windy a snowstorm for these swans, who seemed to be waiting out the storm along the shoreline. I walked through the new snow in Rhododendron Gardens and headed towards the lake to see if the wind was setting up waves, and how large.

Swans Lake Ontario in Winter

The still photos don't do the waves justice, and really, neither does the video. I had my little Canon Powershot A530, and though it's a good little camera and I do treat it roughly, it cannot film as well as a proper camcorder would.

But here you go, for what it's worth -- a Lake Ontario winter snowstorm in Mississauga. By the way, an hour and some minutes after I returned home, my face still has patches of bright red. That's the thing with a good wind chill -- you can get frostbite before you know it.

See Video here if not showing on page.


December 20 2008 - Wonder how the intersection of Shawnmarr and Lakeshore looked today?

Day After the Snow Storm

See more pictures from December 20 2008 - The sun makes it all gorgeous! The snow plows make it easy to get around :-)

Hazel McCallion Mayor of Mississauga at Rhododedron Gardens in Port Credit

Shortly after 9 a.m. today, Mayor Hazel McCallion came to visit Mississauga's Rhododendron Gardens in Port Credit, Ontario, to see for herself the new section of the Waterfront Trail that now passes through the Gardens. While the contractor still has work to do, the broad strokes are in place, and it's looking good, Vern!

Mayor McCallion, David Culham and Rose Garden Rob

'Rose Garden Rob' and former City of Mississauga councillor David Culham -- two of the many tireless volunteers who work alongside Mississauga Parks master gardener Para and staff -- show the mayor their plans for future flower beds. This summer, Rob designed, laid out and planted the new Rose Garden with some 600 rose bushes. While not much to look at this summer, the roses promise to be a fabulous summer sequel to the rhodos spring show.

Christine Brueckner, David Culham, Mayor Hazel at Brueckner Plaque

Christine Brueckner, daughter of the late Dr. Brueckner, whose rhodos now have a home in these Gardens, the mayor and Culham oblige local media with photos.

New Bridge for Waterfront Trail at Lake Ontario shoreline

Mayor McCallion walked with members of the Gardens committee to the site of the new bridge. Stone columns are in place; the new bridge should be installed soon. In this view, I am looking east to the new paved trail that joins Godfrey's Lane.

New Trail section Rhododendron Gardens

Coming north and west from the bridge above, the paved trail branches: The old section continues up the hill to the left; the new section veers to the right, along the small creek that cuts through the Gardens. At this spot, you are just a few steps from Lake Ontario. Park staff and volunteers have been busy clearing out overgrown underbrush and raising tree canopies in this area, offering vignette views of the waterfront.

Waterfront Trail at Shawnmarr and Lakeshore Roads

The heavy machinery moved out about a week ago, new sod has been laid, the tangle of old wild rose bushes and tree-choking wild grape vines that run along the creek to the left of the trail are being cleared out, and new light poles just need the light fixtures.

To see what it looked like a month ago, see this blog post.

Come have a look for yourself! Bring a picnic lunch and stay a while. Just be sure to make good use of the garbage and recycle bins, or you may find yourself being chastised by some of the locals.