Last Call for Summer

Welcome to Late SummerAugust/September 2026 Navigate between pages using the☜ previous and next ☞ page iconsat the top and bottom of each page.Click the issue title “Late Summer — August/September 2026”(at the top of the page) to go to the table of contents for this...

The Beauty All Around Us Editorial by Anna Proctor It is easy to get down and discouraged by all the bad news these days…and it all seems to be bad. Don’t get me wrong, we need to read and understand what’s happening in the world, and do our part to make it better, as...

Community Hero Robert Chapman — by Hillary Handy Our community is filled with so many incredibly interesting people. Every story is so different, but each contribution, big or small, helps shape our community in positive ways. I think that’s one of the reasons I enjoy...

Warminster Write-Up — by Hillary Handy We are in the thick of it with summer mode in Warminster! It is a joy to see the scooter gang out and about, kids playing at the park, and neighbours walking around the block, chatting with one another.It has been so exciting to...

Toddler Tourist  by Hillary Handy How did you make out with our Park Passport adventure from our last issue? Our winner was Susan Grant, who did go to five parks and sent a photo! Congratulations Susan!  It is a joy to find fun, affordable outings for you and your...

LIQUIGATOR OROHAS NOW RE-OPENED!Despite the recent fire at the commercial plaza at 2921 Highway 11 North, Liquigator’s Oro location has now re-opened and is ready for your business! “It’s business as usual here at the Liquigator, with weekly specials, and a fantastic...

The Fiddle Capitalof Oro-Medonte by Ralph Price Ralph and Sandy Price moved to Horseshoe Valley in 1999, and Sandy took up playing the fiddle. She was originally from Nova Scotia, and her father had played the fiddle when she was growing up. Over the years she has...

Speaking of Wildlife IntroducingScamp, the red fox,SOW’s newest resident — by Jamie Proctor Welcome to the twenty-eighth column introducing the residents of Speaking of Wildlife: Ontario animals that can’t be released back into the wilderness due to permanent injuries...

Hi! We are Joanie & Taye Pritchett,co-founders of Livin’ Lake Simcoe! We started Livin’ Lake Simcoe in 2022, as a mother-daughter business with one simple idea: create a brand that truly celebrates the Lake Simcoe lifestyle.Based in Oro-Medonte, we’ve grown into a...

Township News August/September 2026Regularly scheduled Meetings of Council for the months of August and September 2026 will take place on the following dates:  Council Meetings:Wednesday, August 12th – Public Session (please visit Township of Oro-Medonte - Home for...

HawkestoneCommunity Hall — by Rebecca Rodgers At Hawkestone Community Hall, community continues to thrive when neighbours come together. This spirit was on full display at our Canada Day celebration, which was a tremendous success despite record-breaking heat. The day...

Another wonderful year at the Mariposa Folk Festival!The wonderful Deb Halbot (working tirelessly all weekend) captured some of the excitement and fun in these photos![gallery...

Your Mom Goes to College:The Final Chapter — by Hillary HandyIf you’ve been reading along, you will know that I made the decision to return to academia after a 15-year hiatus. During that season, I was able to explore different avenues of the workforce, including my...

Carley Hall — by Kelly Skinner-Meyers Carley Hall had a very busy June, highlighted by celebrating my mom’s 90th birthday bash with friends, family, and the Carley community. We also hosted rentals for a local family reunion and several other celebrations.July has...

Orillia’s Annual Lightfoot DaysSet for October, 2026 — by Dennis Rizzo The Lightfoot Festival is Orillia’s annual celebration of the extraordinary musical career of hometown hero Gordon Lightfoot. The excitement returns for 2026 with a dynamic lineup of events...

August and September in Orillia and Lake Country: Where Summer lingers and Fall begins.There is something magical about late summer in Orillia and Lake Country. The warm days are not over yet, but the crisp evenings hint that fall is just around the corner. It is a...

Living Harmoniously with Wildlife Baby animals,are they abandoned? — by Will McIntosh Phew! What a hot summer! After that vicious winter and our mediocre spring, this wallop of heat is a welcome change… as long as you can get out of the sun!In the wildlife world, this...

Mariposa Folk Festival Recap — by Hillary Handy If you are fortunate enough to be able to attend Mariposa Folk Festival, then you are fortunate indeed. It is an incredible gathering of creative and talented minds, amidst those who appreciate the arts. I enjoy hearing...

North Simcoe Art and Culture AwardsNominations Now OpenNorth Simcoe Arts and North Simcoe life online magazine are coming together once again this year, to present the 2026 North Simcoe Art and Culture Awards. The first iteration of this revamped Orillia and area art...

Rama Community Farmand Market Stand — by Anna Proctor Hillary and I enjoyed an amazing tour of the Rama Community Farm, and boy did we like what we saw. Vegetables and fruits are grown without pesticides by wonderful and knowledgeable experts at Rama Community Farm....

Sustainable Simcoe North When The Smoke Comes For Us All — by Madeleine Fournier of Green Orillia I’ve been seeing this quote circulating on social media: “Climate change will manifest as a series of disasters viewed through phones, with footage that gets closer and...

 Random Samplingsby Caston