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Welcome to VALENTINE’SFebruary/March 2026As part of our 20 year Anniversary we’ll be rolling out a brand new NSlife logo! Here’s a sneak peek.We’ll finalize and refine the design over the next while. 🙂 Navigate between pages using the☜ previous and next ☞ page...

Valentine’s Edition Heart & Soul —by Anna Proctor Welcome to our snowy February March issue! We used to call this the early spring issue, but I think in these times of extreme weather, we might as well let that one go. Winter is here and furious, and it’s not...

North Simcoe Life20th Anniversary Contest:February March 2026 For our 20th anniversary year contests, we are excited to announce that we have partnered with Orillia Lake Country Tourism,who will be donating a $120 Orillia Downtown Dollars gift card for each...

Community Hero by Anna Proctor North Simcoe Life’s Social Media Manager: Hillary Handy In 2026, as part of our 20th anniversary year, we will be showcasing the folks on the North Simcoe Life team as our Community Heros. Last issue, we featured our photographer, Deb...

Mental Health Journeyingby Zoe Fysikoudi Overwhelm and the newborn:creating space for the caregiver’s experience As a child therapist, I am deeply interested in understanding child development from the very beginning of life. In this upcoming series of articles, I...

20 Years of Stories. 20 Years of Home. Celebrating Two Decadesof Community, Connection& CommitmentFor 20 years, North Simcoe Life has told the stories that define our region — the people, the places, the moments that make North Simcoe feel like home. For 20 years,...

Living Harmoniouslywith Wildlife by William McIntosh Well, the fall winds have descended, and the cool weather reminds us of another year coming to a close. So, in keeping with the weather changes, we also reflect on the year we’ve had, what that all entails, then our...

Oro-Medonte Horticultural Society Update — by David St. Amand, President The Oro-Medonte Horticultural Society (OMHS) is the perfect spot to plant yourself this year if you enjoy gardening or just being around people who do. Whether you're an experienced gardener, an...

Sustainable Simcoe North —by Madeleine Fournier of Green Orillia City of Orillia to Expand Boundary by 481 Acres- Stop Sprawl Orillia StatementWe are long overdue for an update on Orillia’s boundary expansion process. On February 4, 2025 at a Special Meeting of...

Warminster Write-up — by Hillary HandyThe end of 2025 was a sweet one. Students at Warminster Elementary School enjoyed the final weeks of school. The holiday concert was fantastic. Students performed an assortment of holiday tunes bringing joy to family members in...

Township NewsFebruary/March 2026Regularly scheduled Meetings of Council for the months of February and March 2026 will take place on the following dates: Council Meetings:Wednesday, February 11th – 3:00 p.m. Public SessionWednesday, February 25th – 3:00 p.m. Public...

Toddler Tourist by Hillary Handy Family Day Mayhem:Ideas for family funright here in North Simcoe February’s Family Day long weekend is the perfect reminder that you don’t have to travel far or spend much money to make meaningful family memories. February 14, 15 and...

CarleyCommunity Hall — by Kelly Skinner-Meyer I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. 2026 is the Year of the Horse—an animal signifying strength and forward motion.I hope this proves true for all of us, as we could certainly use that strength in the...

A Serious Trial with a Difference — by Peter Howden If you have never sat in a courtroom during a murder trial, and most people have not, often the atmosphere in the room is constantly overlaid by strong emotion. Not always, sometimes the victim was in on a drug deal...

Tap into MapleThere’s a moment in Orillia and Lake Country when winter begins to loosen its grip and something sweeter takes over. Sap starts to run. Steam rises from sugar shacks. The air smells of wood smoke and promise. And suddenly maple is not just a flavour, it...

Gardeningwith Gail by Gail McIlroyThere is magic in the air as we walk through the forest at this time of year. The stillness is almost mesmerizing. Now and then, if we’re lucky, we may hear the soft wings of a snowy owl overhead, quietly keeping watch over the...

The LighthouseCalls on Orilliato Step Into the Cold forColdest Night of the Year 2026 — submitted The Lighthouse is once again inviting those in Orillia and surrounding areas to come together for Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY), a nationwide winter walk in support of...

Bridging Pages Book ClubLooking for Youth New Members — by Alexandra Steel and Susanna Tomasini We’re 12 years old, and both of us have always loved reading - especially books you can get lost in. When we helped develop the idea of a book club through the Rainbow...

Speaking of Wildlife All about Oliver,the Blanding’s Turtle! by Jamie Proctor  Welcome to the twenty-fifth column introducing the residents of Speaking of Wildlife: Ontario animals that can’t be released back into the wilderness due to permanent injuries or...

  Random Samplings by Caston We work from memory... we work from intuition... we are “prompted” by ephemera... it’s not for the final “product”... but the moments in between... the moments of  “being awake” and human... fragile... the machinery of the world is...