Frederiction 2014

Our Conference Adventure

Leaving Edmonton and Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew - approaching Fredericton just as we were leaving Edmonton!
I was invited to the Canadian Institute of Planners' conference in Fredericton to co-present a paper describing the Mainstreet project which we have been working on for the last couple of years in Wetaskiwin. Of course, Louise was all in for a trip to the East Coast! Unfortunately, Hurricane Andrew decided to visit at the same time as we did. The photo above was taken as we prepared to leave Edmonton on our way first, to Toronto, and then on to Fredericton. When we got off the plane in Toronto and asked how to get to our connecting flight into Fredericton, we were told that we weren't going anywhere anytime soon - possibly three days. Air Canada put us up in a Hotel for the night, and then gave us a phone number to use to re-book our flight. We had a few days before the conference which we had planned to use visiting friends and touring Nova Scotia and PEI, but three days would mean missing all that and part of the conference. I got on the phone right away, and was able to book a flight into Moncton on the Monday, meaning we only had to spend one day in Toronto instead of three.
Impromptu Holiday in Toronto
Louise in front of our hotel with the Firemen running OUT of the building!	Ted - trying to find another hotel at 5:00am
Our adventures didn't end there, however. We checked into our hotel and had a very nice meal. We went to bed early, looking forward to our day in Toronto on Sunday. At about 1:00am the fire alarm went off, and then the intercom came on asking us to leave our baggage in the room and take the emergency exit route to the parking area in front of the lobby. When we got there, there were fire trucks and fire men all over the place. Water was pouring out of the elevator shafts into the lobby. (We learned later that someone at a sci-fi convention had played with a fire hose and alarm - something broke...) After an hour or so, we were told we could go back up to our room, so up the stairs we went (8 floors), and back to bed. As you can imagine it was hard to fall back to sleep. At about 5:00 in the morning, the alarm went off again - and this time they told us to gather our stuff, exit via the emergency exits and leave the hotel. They were kind enough to give us a list of phone numbers of hotels in the area (the poor front desk clerk was very stressed - I don't imagine that sort of thing happens often!). After some calling around, I was able to book a room for the following night (figuring that this night was over - and that we could find a park bench or something to sleep on....) We went to the hotel, and by luck they had had one guest not show up the previous night, so they were able to give us his room for the morning as well - we got to bed at 6:30 and slept until 11:00am.
Louise in front of our new hotel! Great to have a good morning's sleep...	Downtown Toronto - Louise in front of the Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame!
We took the transit system downtown (a great deal at $3.00 each - and probably quicker than a cab ride), and then headed over to Centre Island. We had a very nice day walking around the park areas, and kayaking through the marinas and channels. On the way back, we found a very interesting market/restaurant where there were display booths with all kinds of different foods from which you could order. Interesting and very good.
Downtown Toronto, with the CN Tower growing out of Louise's head....I know better, and should have checked the background more carefully.	Ted and Louise on the Ferry
Kayaking in the canals on Centre Island	Louise
Louise	Kayaking in the canals on Centre Island
Relaxing on the Warf	Louise at Marche's
Louise - enjoying the flowers on Centre Island!
Nova Scotia
Louise flirting with the natives in Shediac, Nova Scotia
In the morning, we flew first to Halifax, and then took a small turbo prop aircraft to Moncton. Louise was a bit nervous in the 20 passenger aircraft, but we landed in Moncton without incident.
Louise was nervous about the small plane!	Louise enjoying the flight to Halifax. The lady beside her had a little one, so Louise got to play grandma...
Nova Scotia at last!	Ted looking foward to flying in a twin turbo!
Louise	Ouch...
Ron's Cabin and Federation Bridge!
From Moncton, we drove to our friend's cabin, which is on the Northumberland Strait, very close to the Federation bridge. Ron and Carlene have a beautiful spot looking out over the bay. Ron took us on a tour of the Federation bridge information centre, and then Carlene fed us a wonderful dinner. I used to serve with Ron on the Canadian Water and Wastewater Board years ago. It was great to spend some time catching up. Ron certainly seems to be enjoying his retirement! In the morning, we drove across the bridge over to Prince Edward Island for a quick tour. It is interesting driving for what seems forever on the bridge. In our rental, we could just see over the barriers on each side. We had lunch in Charlottetown before heading back across the bridge, and then through Amherst, Nova Scotia for a quick tour (where Ron had been the City Engineer before retiring), and finally to Fredericton where we checked in to our hotel in time for me to attend the conference.
Ted standing in Ron's front yard.	This roller rocker is set up at the edge of the beach in Ron and Carlene's front yard so you can sit and watch the ocean!
Ron's Cabin and Guest House	Louise
The view from their cabin.	Ron & Carlene's beach!
Heading across the 13km long bridge.	The view of an historic lighthouse as seen from the Federation Bridge info centre lookout.
Confederation Bridge!
Prince Edward Island
Listening to music in a park in Charlottetown.	Ted checking out the City Hall in Charlottetown.
Potato fields and red soil on PEI.	We stopped to purchase wine in Shediac!
Frederiction New Brunswick
When we arrived in Fredericton, the city was in full recovery mode. Power was still out to most of the City, and there were large trees down all over the place. Throughout the week, our cab drivers kept telling us stories of the day of the storm (the day we were supposed to arrive), with no power, no cell phone service, and trees blocking almost every roadway. They had winds that sustained over 100kph for more than 24 hours in addition to torrential rains. The City, however, was recovering quickly under blue skies and beautiful weather. Our hotel did have power, as did most of the downtown. Fredericton is a beautiful city of about 35,000 people situated on the Saint John River. The City is very proud of its heritage, with stately looking manner houses throughout the downtown and surrounding areas. As is typcial of the conferences I attend, Louise got to explore the town and get to know all the shop owners, while I sat inside the conference centre listening to presentations. I did get out on a couple of tours...two of them cycling tours. We both loved the area, the food and the people.
Trees down everywhere!	More Trees
A typical old manner house.	Christ Church Cathedral
We had a reception in "Old Government House"	Looking down on an outdoor pub near the river.
A Cylcle tour looking at how their trail system works.	A lobster trap.
The Saint John River near the downtown. They are looking at removing this roadway to increase the park area and make the river and park more accessible from the downtown.	I coudn't resist renting a Stand Up Paddle Board and going for a tour down the river!
Traditional lobster dinner!!	Louise - not sure where (or how) to start. Fortunately there were lots of locals willing to show us!
Louise trying out a new bike!	Another old home - not bad at $499,000
Breakfast at Cora's - Another great restaurant!	Cora's Breakfast. Busy because most people living in the city still didn't have power!
An apartment building.	Another old house.
City Hall	Louise liked this street!

For extra fun - have a look at our Christmas Past !!!