A Thankful Harvest

Welcome to the Thanksgiving 2024 edition Navigate between pages using the☜ previous and next ☞ page iconsat the top and bottom of each page.Click the issue title “Thanksgiving—October/November 2024”(at the top of the page) to go to the table of contents for this...

The day this issue goes live is Canada’s National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. And two weeks later, it’s Canadian Thanksgiving.Summer is over, but there are still some lovely days left. Winter is coming, and that can be cold and grey… Fall certainly is a...

Green Haven Shelter for Women:A Beacon of Support in North Simcoe for over three decadesFor over 30 years, Green Haven Shelter for Women has been at the front lines of gender-based violence in our area, providing essential resources, support and safe spaces for women...

Images Thanksgiving Studio Tour 2024 —by Sylvia Stark — Oro-Medonte Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Executive Director As the autumn leaves paint the Township of Oro-Medonte in rich shades of crimson and gold, the Oro-Medonte Chamber of Commerce and Tourism invites...

Your Mom Goes to College —by Hillary Handy In the 2004 indie comedic film “Napoleon Dynamite”, one of the characters Kip, throws, a diss at his brother Napoleon, saying “Your Mom Goes to College.” It was meant to be an insult like a classic “Your Mom” comment and...

—photos by Deb Halbot Thanks to Deb Halbot for capturing these great photos of last year’s’ Trunk or Treat at ODAS Park in Orillia.NS life will also be a trunker in this year’s event, on October 26 from 1 to 4 pm, again at ODAS Park in Orillia.For more information and...

Warminster Write-Up —by Hillary Handy Stop the presses! The long-awaited traffic light in Warminster is here! Hooray! Please drive and walk with caution as everyone gets used to this important safety measure. Thank you to everyone who was instrumental in making it...

AUTUMN CONCERT IN THE BARN Sunday, October 27 2024 2pm • The Braestone Farmfeaturing The Good Lovelies & Zachary Lucky benefittingTHE MARIPOSA HOUSE HOSPICE “CUDDLE BED” CAMPAIGN GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!The rich complexity of life is the emotional focus of their...

Mental Health Journeying —by Zoe Fysikoudi Cultivating a grateful, compassionate and mindful approach in our busy livesAs we are going through the Thanksgiving season, I’ve been reflecting on the meaning of gratitude and its impact on well-being. What happens when we...

Community Hero: Rylin —by Hillary Handy Our community is so blessed to have some incredible members who do remarkable things. Thus far, we have told the stories of adults who have an extensive resume and significant community involvement over time. We love that and...

Everything’s Coming Up Rosesfor Mariposa Arts Theatre’sproduction of GYPSY: A MUSICAL FABLE“Let me entertain you!” can be heard echoing through the rehearsal space for Mariposa Arts Theatre (MAT) for their upcoming production of GYPSY: A MUSICAL FABLE. Coming to the...

Lucky’s Legacy —by Louise Calvert-Dale When you lose someone you love, it’s like losing a limb. Or having someone stab you in the heart. It hurts. It’s hard to navigate life. There is a deep weighted sadness that comes and goes. Sleep is impossible. Appetite...

Coulson Past and Present: Health Care Centre on the Former Beaton Farm —by Anne WalkerThe folks at Coulson are fortunate to have a health care clinic right on their doorstep.  Dr. Susy Lee, owner of Horseshoe Valley Dental, has been practising dentistry here for 24...

Sustainable Simcoe North —by Madeleine Fournier of Green Orillia At the time of writing this, we are coming up on the 4th annual National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. This designated federal holiday and ongoing government campaign feels rather hollow and empty...

Township NewsOctober/November 2024Regularly scheduled Meetings of Council for the months of October and November, 2024 will take place on the following dates: Council Meetings: Wednesday, October 9th – 3:00 p.m. Public Session Wednesday, October 23rd – 3:00 p.m....

The Roost Expands: Kawartha Lakes Welcomes The Roost Market with Local Farm Products, Ready Meals, and a Charming New Airbnb —submitted The Roost Farm is thrilled to announce the opening of The Roost Market, offering a wide array of local farm products and fresh,...

—photos by Deb Halbot We are very happy to present this splash page of Deb Halbot’s fabulous photos from this year’s Rama Pow Wow. It was an incredible event, and we are thankful that Deb captured so much of it for your enjoyment![gallery...

Pathways to Employment 2.0 Connecting Youth Job Seekers to Local EmployersCDC staff is excited to announce the return of its beloved Youth Employment Program, Pathways to Employment (PTE). This project has been in the capable hands of CDC staff since its conception in...

The Toddler Tourist: East Coasters —by Hillary HandyOccasionally, the Toddler Tourist heads north or south in the summer months to explore our province. This year, we were fortunate to head East to explore Prince Edward Island! For our Thanksgiving issue, I felt it...

Local author on book three of series aimed at younger readers — submitted Dear Reader,My name is Megan Galati, and I am the author and creator of the “Three Pals Tales” children’s book series. The journey of the “Three Pals” began in 2021. As a stay-at-home mother...

Carley Community Hall — by Kelly Skinner-Meyer I hope the summer was the summer you hoped it would be. The trees are already changing, and the autumnal evenings are cool and crisp. The Carley Community Hall has been the place to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays and...

Gardening with Gail —by Gail McIlroyWell, it occurred to me even at this time of the year there are things that can be done both in the gardens and inside our indoor gardens in our homes. Here are a few tips to share with you. For the die-hard gardeners who are not...

Speaking of Wildlife —by Jamie Proctor Welcome to the seventeenth column describing the animals of Speaking of Wildlife – Ontario animals that can’t be released back into the wilderness of Ontario due to injuries or habituation to humans. Today we’ll be looking at two...

Explore the Culinary Capital of Cottage CountryOrillia & Lake Country is home to a world of adventure for the touring foodie! As the harvest season wraps up and the cooler air rolls into the region, we crave the hearty flavours of fall cooking. This makes it a...

Lightfoot Days Festival of Orillia —submitted North Simcoe Arts, formally Orillia and District Arts Council, is delighted to assist in providing visual art to accompany the Lightfoot Days event “Memories of Gordon Lightfoot – Stories and Music.” This event will take...

Orillia Naturalists’ Club announce 2024-2025 Programming —submitted The Orillia Naturalists’ Club is excited to unveil its 2024-2025 program, welcoming nature lovers of all ages to join us for a dynamic series of meetings, outings, and activities. Our diverse program...

—photos by Deb Halbot Mariposa Arts Theatre’s production of GYPSY is coming up fast, Nov. 7 to 17, at the Orillia Opera House. Deb Halbot recently captured these stunning behind-the-scenes photos of rehearsals, as the production comes to life! Get your tickets for...

Hardiness Zones, the Canadian way Oro-Medonte Horticultural Society Column by Lynne Melnyk Living next to the United States means that we are exposed to their way of doing things, including their hardiness zone maps. We have all seen US zones on plant tags or the...