We have one last kick at winter by a Thompson man who rode his bike year-roundÖ in Thompson where all the industrial cold-weather testing takes place. No flimsy riding suit for that one. Heíll be happy to see the long warm days of spring.

Last summer, my son and I had a chance to paddle an au thentic birch bark canoe. The canoe is part of a story that has the Principal Researcher for Microsoft paddling to Pelican Narrows where his father was part of a remarkable educational model back in 1939, teaching at a small day-school.

Horatio Ross may have seen some birch bark canoes on the Saskatchewan River, while he was the captain of a number of steam-powered paddlewheelers. After losing his first boat in what newspapers described as ìSaskatoonís greatest marine disasterî, Ross made his way to The Pas, where he eventually became a famous northern shipping magnate. We have part one of a four-part series ó an excerpt from the first book ever written by celebrated Canadian history author, Ted Barris.

Gerald Kuehl travelled to Arviat where Rose Ussak was the inspiration for his pencil Portrait of the North.

The city of Flin Flon began as a mining camp. George Evans told the story to the Rotary Club in 1966, of how it was in the beginning, for the would-be town fathers.

In Wabowden, where some children had never seen broccoli, a schoolteacher found a way to get gardening into the school curriculum. Who knew kids would take to it? The world took notice.

Spring is a good time for anybody who gardens, canoes or likes to ride a bike. I hope Northroots Magazine is like a breath of spring air.

- Frank Fieber