By: Will McGuirk

A good book, good coffee and the sound of a birdsong. Is there anything better? Durham Region has long been a magnet for birdwatchers—the Lake Ontario shoreline has been a stopover for the spring and fall migration for many different species flying south and north again.

Local Oshawa author, Steve Burrows, knows this well. In his series of “Birder Murder Mystery” novels, his Detective, Domenic Jejeune, is an avid birder. In Burrows’ ‘A Siege of Bitterns,’ his first in the now seven-book series, Detective Jejeune mentions Thickson Point in Whitby as a keen observation point.

Click here to read the full blog post on DurhamTourism.ca.

The 2023 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships will take place in Oshawa at Tribute Communities Centre from January 9 to 15. The weeklong event will feature the best Canadian figure skaters in the men, women, pairs, ice dance and, for the first time ever, synchronized skating disciplines.

Two-time Canadian champion, Ajacian Nam Nguyen, will be the in-venue host. Single session tickets are on sale now.

Please join us in providing participants and visitors here for this historic event with a warm welcome!

For more information, visit Skate Canada's event page.

Have you heard? The roar of the Durham Region 2023 Ontario Parasport Games is building.

We want the para athletes competing in the Games to experience the thrill of competing in front of stands filled with fans.

Our residents and visitors answered the call to Be the Roar during our 2019 games and the para athletes were wowed.

So, we’re asking again for workplaces, teams, families, schools, classrooms, clubs, churches and community groups of any kind to form a fan club for teams and para athletes.

It’s a great team-building opportunity, a chance to learn more about parasport and see first-hand all the amazing athleticism of the para athletes. You’ll have fun and help us make a real difference.

And, it’s as easy as one, two, three:

1. Send an email to our Be the Roar team and we'll help you pick a team or a para athlete that your group can cheer for.
2. Write letters of encouragement for the teams and para athletes to be delivered when they arrive for the Games.
3. Fill the stands when your team and para athletes are competing (schedules will be posted in advance on the Games website).

Help us make these games most memorable for our visiting para athletes.

Presented by the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance, The Great Taste of Ontario is a collection of digital passports and stories to help you fall in love with the food and drink of Ontario again, and again.

Each season, you can download one of 40 passports to help guide your planning and inspire you to explore our big, province. Then, hit the open road to visit the growers and makers who make Ontario so special. Each time you check-in along the way, you’ll be one step closer to redeeming some sweet Ontario-made prizes—all while supporting communities across Ontario!

How it works:

• Read stories on the Downtowns of Durham website.
• Download your passports.
• Receive a text message and add the passport to your mobile device homescreen.
• Take a trip somewhere delicious.
• Collect check-ins along the way.
• Grab yourself some sweet swag!

For every five check-ins you collect, you can redeem one $25 Feast On gift voucher. A Feast On gift voucher opens the door to amazing experiences at more than 150 local-focused restaurants across Ontario.

This year, Durham Tourism is welcoming you to Oshawa; a most delicious destination! Explore Oshawa’s cultural marvels, historical roots, and discover diverse and exciting dining and craft beverages.

Download the Great Taste of Ontario - Oshawa Passport and start your journey!