Dogs and Mushers Descend on North Bay for Annual Symposium

ripple outdoors

Sled Dog champion and cancer survivor Lance MacKey to highlight Ontario’s largest dog-powered sports symposium. 

When it comes to a tough fight, winning the longest sled dog race in the world is no match for what it takes to beat cancer, said Lance Mackey, the 36-year-old musher and throat cancer survivor, who on March 13, 2007 did something no other musher had done — get back-to-back wins in the 1,100-mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race and the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race, and he accomplished this 2 years in a row.

Mackey will share his unprecedented accomplishments at the Ontario Federation of Sleddog Sports Symposium September 20th at Zorba’s Grill in North Bay, in the heart on Ontario’s Near North. â€œThis year’s event will be the biggest mushing symposium ever held in Ontario,” says Laurie Ypya, executive director for Ontario’s Near North. “The event will put the second-toughest athlete in the world, as reported by Sports Illustrated, in the same room as a local, world champion sprinter; the largest Ontario-based dog-tour operator; and some of the most passionate dog-powered sports enthusiasts the sport has to offer,” boasts Ypya. 

As a precursor and unofficial start to the upcoming mushing season, the annual symposium sees mushers and enthusiasts alike gather to exchange ideas and training tips and set goals for the current season, as well as the future of the sport in Ontario.   The highlight of this years event is the caliber of speakers: a wide range of renowned personalities from across North America have been invited to speak, which will be complementary to the stacked panel of experts from right here in Ontario. 

The Ontario Federation of Sleddog Sports and Northern Ontario Sled Dog Club have partnered up with Ontario Tourism, the City of North Bay and Ontario’s Dog Sled industry to bring this event to North Bay.

For more information contact: Laurie Ypya at Ontario’s Near North 705 474 6634 or laurie@ontariosnearnorth.on.ca or go to www.ofss.ca

About Peter Wood 1194 Articles
As an avid lifelong angler and hunter, Peter’s outdoor knowledge and experiences keep expanding through his hundreds of hours of hunting and fishing podcast interviews with like minded experts. He has received numerous national writing awards. With thousands of outdoor pictures on Ripple Outdoors and many full-length articles with outdoor magazine and video clips you might say that he not only enjoys his outdoor lifestyle, but he’s quite the fanatic! In 2015 he earned fifth overall on the King of the Wood Contest hosted by Canada In The Rough team, pretty good for a baby boomer deer hunter. His buck was also one of the top bucks taken that season. Through Peter’s deer hunting seminars or by attending outdoor trade shows, like the Toronto Sportsmen Show and The SWOC Big Buck Show, he has connected with thousands of like minded people that love hunting and fishing. As a volunteer or member of local and national outdoor groups like QDMA, SWOC, Outdoor Writers of Canada, Archery Trade Show Association he continues to learn and hone his craft. Read his many articles, listen to his podcasts and rifle through thousands of photos on Ripple Outdoors. Discover Peter’s latest posts about outdoor gear, destinations, how to articles and interviews and you’ll be a better angler and hunter for the experience.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*