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Happy Spring! We hope you are as excited as we are for the upcoming orienteering season. Read on for a glimpse... Check the website for full details.
First though a big thank-you to those who made our 2023 Winter Series possible: Andrew, Cathy, James, Bill M. Robbie, Marketa, Eric and his SI team, Kumiko and her registrars, map updates from Bill A. - and the weather man :) Results can be found here.
In this Newsletter:
Intro to Orienteering Session
Spring Learn-To Programs
Spring Events
Spring Training Programs
Time to renew your membership!
Seeking Volunteers
Road Trip, Anyone?
Accommodation in the Calabogie Area?
Team Canada News
US Ski-O Nationals in the Adirondacks
In case you missed it... |
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Intro to Orienteering Session
New to orienteering? Join us for our Introduction to Orienteering workshop to get started. Be sure to register in advance to ensure we have sufficient instructors. More details here.
| Wednesday, April 12 |
6:30-7:30pm |
Richcraft Recreation Centre, Kanata |
| Thursday, April 13 |
6:30-7:30pm |
Cairine Wilson High School, Orléans |
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Spring Learn-To Programs
Orienteering Ottawa’s Learn-to programs are back for spring 2023! Come and learn to navigate with a map and compass alongside our experienced instructors in a new location each week.
Our Learn-to programs are suitable for:
- Youth aged 8-16 and adults 17-80+
- Those who are new to the sport of orienteering or with beginner-level experience in navigation
The 2023 spring Learn-to programs will take place on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 beginning April 18, 2023. Each weekly session will introduce a new orienteering technique through an orienteering course set at a new location. |
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Each evening, participants will have the option to have a brief refresher session and complete the full practice course, or have a full instructional session with a program coach and complete part of the course.
For more information, click here. |
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We will be holding an information Session on Tuesday March 28 at the Richcraft Rec Center, 4101 Innovation Dr, Kanata.
This will provide details on the program for participants or adults with youth interested in the program, answer questions or concerns, and offer a chance to talk to some of the coaches. For those new to the sport, we will explain the basics, and what they should expect to gain from the program.
We will take youth on a map-walk on the orienteering course behind the rec center while the adults attend the info session, or youth can attend the session. |
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Spring Events
These events are open to everyone, young and old, new and experienced.
Sunday Morning Series
Registration between 10 and 11am. More info here.
| Sunday April 23 |
Constance Bay |
| Sunday April 30 |
Chapel Hill, Orleans |
| Sunday May 7 |
Monaghan Forest, Nepean |
| Sunday May 14 |
March Highlands, Kanata |
| Sunday May 21 |
Champboisé de L'Ange-Gardien |
| Sunday May 28 |
MacSkimming, Cumberland |
| Sunday June 4 |
Foley Mountain, Westport |
June Summer Solstice Series
Registration 6pm, mass start 6:45pm. More info here.
| Tuesday June 6 |
Location TBD |
| Tuesday June 13 |
Location TBD |
| Tuesday June 20 |
Location TBD |
| Tuesday June 27 |
Location TBD |
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Spring Training Programs
Drop-In Running Program
Our running group meets almost every week of the year on Wednesday evenings and on many Sunday mornings in the late fall, led by Sheldon Hancock. New and experienced runners alike are welcome. More info here.
| Wednesday March 22 |
Cassels St. |
| Wednesday March 29 |
Frank Ryan Park |
| Wednesday April 5 |
Woodroffe H.S. |
| Wednesday April 12 |
Woodroffe H.S. |
| And ongoing... |
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Thursday Evening Orienteering Practices
Each week we will start with a short group discussion led by the coach and then a hands-on training exercise that focuses on a particular aspect of your orienteering technique. All intermediate and advanced orienteers are welcome. 6:30 - 8pm. More info here.
| Thursday, April 20 |
Poole Creek, Stittsville |
| Thursday, April 27 |
Wesley Clover Parks |
| Thursday, May 4 |
Parc Moussette-Tetrault, Gatineau |
| Thursday, May 11 |
Rockcliffe Park |
| Thursday, May 18 |
Cité-des-Jeunes, Gatineau |
| Thursday, May 25 |
Chapel Hill, Orléans |
| Thursday, June 1 |
Lebreton Flats |
| Thursday, June 8 |
Bilberry Creek, Orléans |
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June 2 - 4 Weekend Training Camp
Mark your calendars!
Orienteering Ottawa is having a weekend training camp at Foley Mountain. Overnight accommodations will be camping or indoor floorspace at the Foley Mountain Interpretive Centre. Adults and accompanied kids are welcome. There will be separate training sessions for beginners and intermediate/advanced orienteers and lots of fun to be had! |
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Time to renew your membership!
Our membership year runs from April 1 to March 30. Your 2022-23 membership will expire soon (unless you are a new member who joined in the last half of 2022). Our volunteers are actively planning the spring events to begin in April. For you to take part as a member you need to renew your membership and sign the 2023-24 waiver. All web accounts (what you need to take part in the popular mapRun events) for those who have not renewed by March 30 will be disabled at that time and reenabled manually once you do join. There could be a delay doing this so best plan - Renew now.
When you renew, you will have the chance to purchase a season's pass. The Club offers a pass to cover all 2023 events, Spring, Summer Solstice, Summer Sprints, and Fall Series for $110 for adults (21+), $70 for youngsters (8-20). This pass does not cover major meets such as the O-Fest, nor the Winter Series 2024.
Are you a new member from late 2022? Your account will be altered to require you to sign the 2023-24 waiver - while being signed in - before you can access the MapRun maps.
Our link between membership and our tablet event registration system also requires some timely manual intervention. So again - avoid any delay at event registration - Renew now.
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Seeking Volunteers
What a year of activities we have arranged for you.... but all dependent on an amazing number of volunteers. Please consider helping out at one or two events/jobs. Besides becoming an integral part of the orienteering community, it is a chance to meet new friends, learn new skills, and just have fun! Orienteering Ottawa's Volunteer Page will give you an idea of all the opportunities available. No experience is needed and we would love to hear of your interests and availability either when you sign up for a club membership or by sending us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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Road Trip, Anyone?
Orienteering gives you an excuse to travel and visit places you might not otherwise go. It's like an away hockey tournament but in the great outdoors instead of a cold arena AND the whole family can participate! All participants are welcome, regardless of age or ability, even in the Canadian Championships. Why not consider attending one of the following events with many other Ottawa orienteers? |
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Canadian Orienteering Festival 2023
August 5-13, 2023
Nine days of orienteering activities including the Ottawa O-Fest and the Canadian Orienteering Championships in the Montréal/Ottawa area.
Ottawa O-Fest will take place at The Ark, a brand-new map with fantastic terrain an hour north of Ottawa. |
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Registration is open for the entire Canadian Orienteering Festival 2023!
There is a French option and an English option.
Register by April 23 to get the best price breaks! |
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2023 OUSA Masters Nationals
September 23-24, 2023
Ever been to Letchworth State Park in New York State? Now is your chance. The terrain is fantastic and so is the scenery.
There is sure to be a group of Orienteering Ottawa participants at this event. There will be courses for kids and beginners. |
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Canadian Orienteering Festival 2024
August 2-11, 2024
Save the date! Orienteering Ottawa is hosting the North American Championships in 2024! Combined with the Canadian Orienteering Championships hosted by the Toronto Orienteering Club there will be 8 days of orienteering events - and lots of help required! |
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Accommodation in the Calabogie area?
The 2024 North American Orienteering Championships Middle and Long races will take place in the Calabogie area. The mapping will be done this summer and fall by Jeff Teutsch. We are looking for accommodation for Jeff while mapping.
Does anyone have a cottage in the area that would be willing to let Jeff stay while mapping? Or do you have any leads on other inexpensive accommodation in the Calabogie area? We are looking for something that can save the club some expenses. Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any suggestions.
Thank-you,
The NAOC2024 Organizing Committee
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Team Canada News
After a few off years, the national team once again has a strong showing from Ottawa with 8 out of 21 athletes who are club members.
We’ve got a big season ahead of us! The 2023 junior and senior world champs will both be held in July in Romania and Switzerland respectively. Right after, we have the long awaited North American champs in California where we’ll battle the Americans for individual medals and the Björn Kjellström and Future Champions cups, the competition is sure to be fierce! And of course you’ll see us all at the Canadian champs in Montreal and the accompanying races right here in Ottawa.
National team members in our club:
Pia Blake Robert Graham Eric Kemp Emily Kemp Alec Le Helloco Thomas Lindale Lukas Raz Hayden Smith
To support us, please sign up for the TCP fundraiser and donate and attend the silent auction during the COCs. Proceeds go to the team to help pay for travel, event fees, and coaching. We’re also working on hosting another fundraiser event in Ottawa at some point, stay tuned!
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US Ski-O Nationals in the Adirondacks
Our club had 17 members attend the US Ski-O Nationals in the Lake Placid area. There were three events: the sprint on Friday was at the Cascade Club where everyone braved the cold (-40 windchill). The snow was like sandpaper!
The middle event on Saturday was held at Dewey Mt. in Saranac Lake where the windchill died off and was just a mere -21. Conditions were a bit faster and a lot of fun with map switches for most of the courses.
The Long event was held on Sunday at Paul Smith's College at the VIC centre. Great day as the temp was -4 c and the skiing was great with lots of route choices.
The club did very well this weekend with being on the podium for most of the categories with a total of 27 medals (17 gold, 7 silver & 3 bronze)!
These were in various adult age groups as well as youngsters Clara Nales, Sherlock and Woodrow Connell. Full results here.
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| Photos from Orienteering USA |
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In case you missed it...
At the AGM in January, a new Board was elected including new president Rikard Andersson. See the full line-up here.
The 2022 Orienteering Ottawa Club Awards were also presented. Read all about the following winners here.
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Colin Kirk Memorial Award for Junior Orienteer of the Year
Hayden Smith
Pat De St. Croix Memorial Award for Volunteer of the Year
Sheldon Hancock
Pierre Brassard Memorial Award for Orienteering Spirit
Paul Lefebvre
Brian Graham Memorial Award for Orienteer of the Year
Eric Kemp |
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