We are just weeks away from Ice Out here in Ontario which means everyone is getting Spring Fever. Time to unfold those maps and blow the dust off your collection of canoeing books to plan the adventures ahead. One often overlooked resource is your local library. Taking a peek at my local library reveals they have quite a good selection of guide books from Kevin Callan and perusing the Toronto Public Library shows even more selection.
While neither local library can source any books from Hap Wilson, again the Toronto Public Library has 20 different titles waiting for you.
If you’re looking to work off that winter fatigue and start exploring parks, don’t forget that your local library might also have parks passes that you can reserve.
In Quebec, specific library branches—such as the Grande Bibliothèque in Montreal and the National Archives in Quebec City—allow you to borrow passes for select Sépaq national parks. These passes are typically reserved online via the BAnQ catalogue and must be picked up in person.
Starting from May 15 to September 8, 2026, anyone with a valid library card can borrow a pass from any Saskatchewan library and enjoy a seven-day loan period with free access to nearly 100 regional parks across the province! This year, 850 passes will be distributed to all regional library branches, libraries in Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert, and university libraries in Saskatoon and Regina.
Newfoundland and Labrador residents aged 13+ with a valid library card can access provincial parks through the NLPL Connect Pass program. This program allows you to book free day-use access to select provincial parks like La Manche or J.T. Cheeseman.
Also, if you live in the vicinity of Peterborough and the Kawarthas, 12 local libraries offer a “Canoe Card” a borrowable admission pass that provides free general admission to the Canadian Canoe Museum for up to 2 adults and 4 youth (ages 5–17) for one visit.
Trail Mix is an assortment of outdoors related blog posts that can be fun, quirky or just thought provoking.
