URGENT: This cat needs a foster home

UPDATE: This kitty is now in a foster home in Lac Le Jeune. Thank you Denise and Darren Pidduck!

This cat that has been hanging around our house off and on for the last week. From Carolyn's description [from this post] it appears to be the same cat. He/she has not left our deck for the last 24 hours after we fed it. It is very hungry, ribs and bones are prominent and the cat does not appear to have a winter coat. It desperately wants to come inside. It is exceptionally affectionate and appears to get along with dogs. We cannot let it in (our dog will not accept it), nor do we think it should stay outside especially since colder temperatures are expected. If someone could come forward to foster it until either its owner is found or someone else can adopt it we would be very appreciative.

Edel Mattfeld
photos by Corinne Schock

Note: This cat will be placed in a crate and brought into a heated space for the night.

Ermine Villa

Who needs television when you have an acrobatic ermine right outside your window! The Struss's welcome these visitors to their bird feeder every year.

Here are some interesting facts about ermines from the Canadian Wildlife Federation website:

Ermines change the colour of their coats seasonally. In the summer, their backs are brown, their undersides are white and their tails sport a black tip. In the winter, they are completely white except for their black tipped tail. 

They are useful to have around! How to welcome ermines to your backyard:

...they are extremely beneficial in maintaining mice populations. This little creature would benefit from an area that is kept a bit wild, with a variety of brush and vegetation. This would provide them with cover protecting them from predators while offering them a place to hunt their rodent prey.

Thanks to Hana Struss for the photos, and for providing a perfect habitat for these animals!

Another cat appears to be lost

We are seeing what looks like a lost cat around our house, 3801 Pine Ridge Drive, over the past few days. He does not look like the Siamese on the blog currently. We would describe this cat as a young cat, bigger than a kitten, but we do not think full grown. He/She is a fluffy grey/taupe colour, very pretty, persistently trying to get into the house, into the warmth. If we see the cat this evening, we will put him in the garage, which is heated. We do not want the coyotes to get him.

Carolyn Chandler

Found cat

UPDATE: THIS CAT HAS BEEN TRANSPORTED TO TWIN RIVERS VET.  IT WILL BE PLACED IN FOSTER ASAP. SPECIAL THANKS TO CAM LINSAY AND MARGUERITE LANGDEAU FOR BRINGING HIM INTO THEIR HOME, AND FOR KECIA TURUREN FOR ORGANIZING TEMPORARY CARE

A cat has been seen around Lac Le Jeune Road (between Lookout and Marmot) for the past week or so. He had been spending a lot of time at the Lindsay/Langdeau residence, and seems very interested in being INSIDE. We don't have a photograph, but it looks very much like this one.

Final Destination: Lac Le Jeune

Many of you will remember the young dog, nicknamed "The Bug", that was found in the Lac Le Jeune area a couple months ago. The owners never did come forward, but meanwhile this pup has been very well cared for and has become more loveable than ever. We learned that he loves dogs, kids, toys, lots of attention, and space to romp.

Fortunately, he has all of those things right here in Lac Le Jeune with the Morris family. You'll see Finn (his new name) out and about with his pal Fluke, the golden retriever, Ava and Riley his young trainers, as well as mom, Kirsty, and dad, Craig.

After School Child Care

UPDATE: THANKS EVERYONE! CHILD CARE HAS BEEN ARRANGED

Photo by Mike's Birds http://flic.kr/p/7pnyKT

Are you interested in helping out with after school child care in the Lac Le Jeune area beginning April 1, 2014?  If so Kecia Turunen would like to hear from you.

Thank you!

LLJ Newsletter

The January, 2014 issue of the Lac Le Jeune Newsletter is available. This newsletter is prepared by the Conservation Association as a way to keep members of the community informed about:

• the purpose of Lac Le Jeune Conservation Association (LLJCA)
• progress on projects
• goals for the upcoming year
• how to stay connected, and 
• upcoming activities of interest

A print version of the newsletter will be distributed to residents by the LLJCA area representatives. You may also wish to download the newsletter or view it online.

Red-Winged Blackbird Social

Photo of a painting by Peter Wyse

Tickets are now available for the Lac Le Jeune dinner party on February 22, 2014, 5pm, at Lac Le Jeune Wilderness Resort!

The event is called Red-Winged Blackbird Social in honour of these birds that return each year to Lac Le Jeune around the 3rd week in February. It is one of the first signs of spring in Canada. Red-winged blackbirds feed in large flocks, which is what we’ll be doing!

Tickets are $30 for adults, $7 for kids (10 and under), and no charge for tots (3 and under) and can be purchased from your Lac Le Jeune Conservation Association area reps:

• Pam Sheridan (Lookout Road) 
• John Krawchuk (Lower Subdivision)
• Howie Mattfeld (Upper Subdivision) 
• Jenny Perry (Little Lake)
• Jacquie Brugger (Old Town Site) 
• Jeanette Scott (Lac Le Jeune Drive East)

To facilitate the payment process, please make cheques out to Lac Le Jeune Conservation Association. We will then issue one cheque to the resort to cover costs of the event. Cash is also fine. Space is limited so plan to purchase your tickets soon, and no later than February 8th. Be sure to hang on to your tickets for the door prizes!

What's included? Dinner, dessert, tea, coffee, and gratuity. Here is the menu. It may vary depending on availability of ingredients:

• Pastitscho (Greek pasta dish)
• Roast veggies and potatoes
• Lamb, pork souvlaki, lemon chicken
• Assortment of salads -- Greek, romaine, potato
• Rice
• Selection of desserts 

Wine, beer, cocktails, and other beverages are available for purchase.

We're looking for contributions for the door prizes. Gift certificates, services, local crafts, framed photographs... use your imagination! Sylvia Currie (sylvia.currie@gmail.com) will be collecting these closer to the date.

Parking is available at the Wilderness Resort.

You don't need to be a member of the Lac Le Jeune Conservation Association to participate in this event. Although, there's no reason NOT to be a member :-) Questions? Add your comments to the blog or email sylvia.currie@gmail.com.

Special thanks to Peter Wyse for permission to use this photograph of his painting.

Scenes from the Lac Le Jeune Ski Hill

This video from Solomon Freeski TV is about designing winter playgrounds. The video reviews the changing face of ski areas through the eyes of one of the world's leading ski resort designers.

Beginning at approximately 1:00 you'll see some shots of the old Lac Le Jeune ski hill, in the context of the decline of mom and pop operations.

"They weren't thinking big, they weren't thinking globally. They were just thinking about their small piece of land at that time and 'what could we do to make some money'? You have to run a lot of business through these small mom and pop operations in order to just turn the lights on."

Thanks to Mike Lorimer for sending this along.