https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.avivacommunityfund.org%2Fideas%2Facf19607&h=8AQEnWcSQ" target="_blank">http://https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.avivacommunityfund.org%2Fideas%2Facf19607&h=8AQEnWcSQThe "Splash pad of Champions" is a memorial fund to honour DJ Hancock by constructing a splash pad in the South End of the City of Greater Sudbury. The Splash pad is themed in one of the things that DJ loved most.....Hockey!This fund was created by friends of the family in an effort to pay tribute to such a caring and outgoing young man. DJ received his wings to play with Heaven's angels at the young age of 18. His life was cut short when he was hit and killed by a drunk driver on his way home from hockey tryouts this past August.There is no better way to honour such a passionate and caring young man than to create a destination that incorporates the things that he loved; hockey, spending time with family, laughing and loving life. A Splash Pad is such a great summer destination on a hot summer day! It creates a unique area where families can gather and enjoy the benefits of socializing, play and most of all fun in a worry free environment.As most Sudburians are well aware, it's not uncommon that during the hottest weeks of summer, quite often Sudbury's main beaches are closed due to the presence of harmful bacteria. Building this splash pad serves as an additional benefit to serving the community by accommodating the many families that are looking for a central location to cool off. The South End of the City of Greater Sudbury is the chosen destination as this is where DJ not only grew up but also spent the majority of his hockey career. Creating such a monumental destination will allow for DJ's memory to live on amongst the people who's lives he has touched. The goal for this campaign is to start construction in the summer for 2015. Where are we at with this projectThe City has chosen a location and granted the land for this project. The site of the future Splash pad will be Lockerby Tot Lot- at the corner of Walford Road and Ramsey View Crt. The City has committed to the future maintenance of the splash pad once construction is complete.Through various fundraisers over the past few months of selling T Shirts, toques and hockey pucks, we have raised close to $15,000.00Thanks to the generosity of local businesses with donations of money and in kind services, we have received close to $50,000.00 towards the construction of the splash pad. We are so close to reaching our goal of the $100,000 towards the installation. All we need is to win the $100,000 to buy the Fixtures for the Splash pad.That's where YOU can help. Your vote for the "Splash pad of Champions" will help bring us that much closer to achieving our goal. Please vote daily for the next 10 days and help spread the word

It was the day after Canada Day and we headed out on the water - as we were leaving the dock we wondered what surprises were waiting for us.  In anticipation of a wonderful day, we cranked up the Newfie tunes and headed out with our guests for the day.  It was a beautiful calm  day so we expected anything as you can see more in the water when it's not rough. We could see the whales everywhere, jumping and rolling ahead and under the boat.  It was so clear that we could see the white of the whale as he approached the surface of the water.  This was turning out to be an awesome day, more than we had even imagined we would see started to appear.  As we continued to steam ahead, we saw the most amazing shaped iceberg with the sun gleaming off it, we could see crevices and little rivers of water.  WOW what a sight to behold, we dedided to get some ice from the smaller pieces which was a bit of a challenge since we forgot our net but managed to get it anyway with the bucket....the boys thought this was one of the best parts looking forward to the rest of the trip, we headed home.  Before we knew it, they appeared putting on a little show our famous Dolphins (aka squidhounds) who were quite excited to see us.  We had seen all that time would allow us so we headed home with more than enough pictures by everyone onboard.  Until next time this is Pursuit's Korner saying goodbye

Sorry for the delay in getting up my blog but we have been doing renovations and some very nice additions to The Pursuit since I have been home from University, which is now up and running for the season, only the best for our customers.  We had a great tour again on Saturday July 2, 2011.  It was so relaxing and calm as we started on our Journey out through the bay.  There was lots to see once again with the whales and our famous dolphins putting on an amazing show.  You would have loved it, very calm water and everything was in view.  What a relaxing time we had and our guest enjoyed it to the fullest.  We are having a food fishery again starting July 23, 2011 and this is gonna be a great time!   Looking forward to taking you out there, call us soon as the season is short and we are getting booked for most of the Summer Weekends : )

   Today we went on an amazing tour,  we were completely surrounded by whales and dolphins.  There were Fin whales and white sided dolphins what are commonly known as Squid Hounds or Jumpers to Newfoundlanders.  Just about everywhere we looked we saw one or the other.  The Fin whales were huge and can grow up to about  79 feet in length and are such an amazing sight to see.  We got so close to these beautiful mammals that it was just unbelievable.  I have grown up around this area and I've seen a lot of whales, but this was the best day I have ever seen it on the water for whales. What a tour!!!

� Hi sorry i'm late again with my blog.� Today I went on a trip to Hooping Harbour, the scenery was just beautiful.� There was whales and dolphins everywhere,� the dolphins were jumping all around, nearly coming aboard the boat.� They were so plentiful.� When we got up to hooping harbour we were cod jigging and we managed to pick up what we wanted there.� We had such a good time that no one wanted to come ashore, and it was dark by the time we reached the dock.� I wish there was no dark tonight so we could've stayed out on these beautiful waters for at least a little while longer.

I uploaded some new pics to the site for my dad; who owns the boat, and I thought about all of you and how I have neglected to talk to you and tell you about my latest adventure.  I am so sorry about that,  but for those of you who have been reading my blog so far - you just know what I have been up to.  Yes, that's right, fishing and more fishing, from cod fish out on the water to salmon fishing on the river - I just can't get enough of the stuff, catching and eating it.  Have a look at my latest pictures and you will see the fun that we are having out there.  Until next time which I promise will be sooner rather than later, see you on the water : )

I am once again thinking of my childhood and all the fun I used to have with my brother and my friends.  Fishing was one sport that we loved to do with my family, we would all pack a lunch and head out for a day on the ocean fishing for cod.  I think cod fish is the best tasting fish you could ever eat so of course when we had our limit we would always head home and clean the fish and have a fresh meal of pan-fried cod.  Making my mouth water thinking about it, how about you?  The cod fishery is starting again this weekend and I plan to head out and bring back all the memories of my childhood out on the water with my family.  See you all out there and don't forget your life jacket!!

Growing up in a small town is sometimes frowned on by a lot of people because they think that life is boring and we grow up without alot because we don't have access to alot of programs as people do in the bigger cities.  Being a young man who grew up in a small town I can tell you first hand that it has it's advantages because we had a great family life.  My family were all together and we always did things together.  If I went down the road on my bike and fell and hurt myself I could knock on a door and ask for help because everyone cares about each other.  I know what your thinking that in small towns every one know every ones business, well that is true but not all bad because they were always there in the good times and the bad.  I love Newfoundland small town life and would not trade my childhood for anything.

As I sat thinking again today - I thought back to when I was just a kid, me and my dad woke up to the sound of songbirds singing joyfully within the thick brush of trees behind our house.  If it was a good day, we planned on going on a trip to Canada Bay. As I gazed out the window I saw the water was dead calm, the sun was glistening off the harbour making it sparkle as if it were a sheet of diamonds. The sky was bright as ever, and so was the smile on my face when I thought about the adventure that we would experience that day. My brother awoke just seconds after I had witnessed this beautiful scenery, as he walked toward me with his frizzled bed head he said "where's daddy?", I  replied "he's gone to get the boat ready" Tyler looked at me with his eyes wide open, and screamed out "whoo hooooo".  Just minutes later Tyler and I were heading down the back road towards the boat, singing and jogging. This was just the start of an exciting day.  Once we boarded the boat, we were heading out in the bay when for the first time in my life I heard the sound of a whale as it surfaced the calm of the water. As this magnificent creature was going back within the depths, it flicked its tail, throwing water all over us. It was cold but this didn't stop us from further exploring this amazing ocean. After we got further out I saw a three fins just metres behind the boat, and as I looked around the area that caught my attention I realized that there were dolphins following us. This wasn't an unusual site, actually just about every time we went out after that we saw dolphins swimming around, behind, and under us. We rode around the harbour and viewed all the beautiful sites we could see, then headed in and called it a day. After all, a full day on the water  looking at natures beauty can be tiring for two little boys.

I was awake very early this morning thinking of my first memories of being out on the water when I was little.  The smell of the ocean as we left to head out to go for a ride, the sun was gleaming of the water, and the calmness of the water was magical as you could see the mountains and trees as the calm water mirrored an exact image.... what an awesome picture.  My first initial  thought was "this has to be the best place on earth"  where else could I find such a magical moment?  No water park or amusement park has ever made me feel this happy.  Newfoundland is the  best place on earth and I can say this with assurance because although I am still just a young man, I have travelled quite a bit in Canada and the United States and there are very nice places but none can compare to the beauty and cleanliness of this wholesome Newfoundland.