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Welcome to our Thanksgiving 2026 Edition
Welcome to ThanksgivingOctober/November 2026 Navigate between pages using the☜ previous and next ☞ page iconsat the top and bottom of each page.Click the issue title “Thanksgiving—October/November 2026”(at the top of the page) to go to the table of contents for this...
Local events, an anniversary get-together, and musings on fall-time
Editorial —by Anna Proctor Local events,an anniversary get-together,and musings on fall-time And just like that, we are in the second-last issue of our 20th anniversary year! We had a lovely celebration with some friends, family, writers, and advertisers in...
CONTEST TIME!
CONTEST TIME! Win a limited-edition Memories of Mariposa Bowl by local woodturner and artist, Xavier Fernandes!How do you win? You’ll have to do some looking... keep reading below :)It’s time for our October contest in our 20th anniversary year!For this contest, we...
Local Events – October and November 2026
Coming Events! It’s fall, and time to fall into so many events! Seems like every community group and every local organization has decided fall is a great time to launch any and every art, culture, educational, physical, one-time, special event! And we are here for it!...
Artist and arts advocate- our Community Hero this month
Community Hero —by Hillary Handy Artist and arts advocate Kate Hilliard Community Hero this monthOrillia is home to incredible artists, musicians, artisans, and creatives. We tend to see the performer or the artist first…but what about those working in the background...
A Season for Gratitude and Good Books
Digressions by D’reen —by Doreen Uren Simmons Hi Dear Reader: I want to begin by congratulating Anna and Steve on their twenty years of North Simcoe News/Life. Mine is just a small voice amongst the many kudos that have already been received, but I’m thinking that...
Orillia Jazz Festival in October
Arts Orillia’s Orillia Jazz Festival is coming up October 16-18, bringing three days of unforgettable performances featuring up-and-coming and award-winning musicians to this part of Ontario. With an eclectic range of shows, this year’s festival offers something for...
Investing in Skills, Health Care and a Stronger Simcoe North
Jill Dunlop MPP Fall is a wonderful time in Simcoe North. From the beautiful colours across our rural communities and waterfronts to fall fairs, community events and outdoor activities, October and November offer many opportunities to enjoy everything our region has...
Keep the Wheels Turning: An Adaptive Cycling Success Story
Toddler Tourist —by Hillary Handy Let’s Ride a Bike As summer turns into fall, I am thankful for all the beautiful weather we enjoyed. Our family was blessed by many adventures and incredible summer days! When I think about the kick-off to summer, it seems to happen...
Fall weekly programs and more at Hawkestone Community Hall
Hawkestone Hall —by Rebecca Rodgers It’s hard to believe how quickly the summer months passed. It seems like only yesterday we were gathering in our community of Hawkestone to celebrate Canada Day, and now our fall programs are already underway.Have a look at the...
Autumn in Orillia & Lake Country
Fall Is Calling: 10 Ways to Experience Autumnin Orillia & Lake CountryThere is a certain magic to fall in Orillia & Lake Country. The mornings are crisp, the forests turn brilliant shades of red, orange and gold, and the winding roads through Orillia,...
All About Sugar Bush Tree Service
Coulson Then and Now —by Anne Walker Sugar Bush Tree ServiceIf you’ve driven down the beautiful Horseshoe Valley Road, you know there are a lot of trees around the hamlet of Coulson. And these trees need care. We’re fortunate to have some fine arborists in the area...
School’s back with new teachers, a new sidewalk, and a community BBQ
Warminster Write-Up —by Hillary Handy School is back in session! The children of Warmie enjoyed summer, scooting around town and being young, wild, and free.The biggest news we can share about our little neck of the woods is we received our first sidewalk! We are a...
Spooky Nights and Holiday Lights in Coldwater
Coldwater Communique —by Lois Rooney-Giurin Hello from Coldwater! After a wonderful summer celebrating Fairies and Steampunk among other things, we’re full steam ahead into fall! At the time of writing, the Coldwater Fair is being set up – and it will certainly, as...
Introducing painted turtles Michelangelo and Van Gogh
Speaking of Wildlife —by Jamie Proctor Introducing painted turtlesMichelangelo and Van Gogh Welcome to the twenty-ninth column introducing the residents of Speaking of Wildlife: Ontario animals that can’t be released back into the wilderness due to permanent injuries...
Oro-Medonte Township News – October/November2026
Township NewsOctober/November 2026To stay up-to-date on all election related information including candidate resources, voting method, Voter Help Centre locations, dates and times, please visit Elections | Township of Oro-Medonte. To confirm that you are on...
Taking care of our mental health
Mental Health Journeying —by Zoe Fysikoudi Taking care of our mental healthIn this article, I would like to review a few practical tools we can use to support our mental health when things are difficult or stressful. As we are approaching the season of being grateful,...
Music, Art and Holiday Cheer in Eady
Eady News —by Bonnie SmithHello fall! Isn’t it amazing how quickly we can go from lovely hot summer weather to much cooler weather and much shorter days? You know that fall has arrived when the leaves start to fall, it is getting dark by 7:30, Fall Fairs are in full...
The ingenuity of Wild Animals featuring some clever racoons
Living Harmoniously with Nature —by Will McIntosh Story Time:The ingenuityof wild animals featuring some clever racoonsIn my line of work, things can sometimes get monotonous. Spraying the same buildings twice a month, implementing an Integrated Pest Management...
New space improves access to mental health and substance use supports.
New Community Connection Hub Now Open in Orillia — submitted Community Connection has opened the Community Connection Hub, made possible through funding from Health Canada’s Emergency Treatment Fund. This new collaborative space was designed to improve access to...
Canadian Icon Susan Aglukark at the Orillia Opera House
Canadian Icon Susan AglukarkBrings Upinnaq-ᐅᐱᓐᓇᖅto the Orillia Opera HouseThis ChristmasUpinnaq, Inuktitut for the feeling of peace, calm, and awe, all at once, is the perfect name for what promises to be one of Orillia’s most moving holiday events this season. The...
Fall at Carley Hall: Community, Craft, and Celebration
Carley Hall Updates — by Kelly Skinner-MeyerWhat a glorious start to the fall we have had! The sun is shining and the leaves have just started to change. We live in such a wonderful area in Oro-Medonte, with maple trees abounding and rolling hills forming a patchwork...
Three days dedicated to Gordon Lightfoot, featuring the Lightfoot Band
Lightfoot Festival Coming October 29-31, 2026 — submittedThe Lightfoot Festival is dedicated to celebrating the extraordinary legacy of Gordon Lightfoot, born and raised in Orillia, Ontario. Lightfoot first performed at the age of 12 in local venues before achieving...
Fall tips and tricks — putting the garden to bed…
Gardening with Gail — by Gail McIlroyWe live in an incredibly beautiful part of Ontario. Here are a few suggestions you may want to ponder while planning for the weeks ahead in your gardens. October comes so quickly. Things we should have looked after last month, and...
October Around Horseshoe Valley: Art, Community and Election News
Horseshoe Valley Kaleidoscope — by Valerie ThorntonAh, October and our beautiful fall season. I love the changing colours of the trees, with many shades of orange and red appearing in the green foliage; how fortunate we are that we have SO many forests dotted around...
Mariposa Arts Theatre – Macbeth
Mariposa Arts Theatre (MAT) opens its 2026-2027 season with William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, inviting audiences into a world of prophecy, ambition and betrayal. The production runs November 5–15, 2026, at the Orillia Opera House. One of Shakespeare’s most enduring...
Art and Culture Awards Nominations
North Simcoe Art and Culture AwardsNominations Closing Soon! Get your nominations in ASAP, see all the details belowNorth Simcoe Arts and North Simcoe life online magazine are coming together once again this year, to present the 2026 North Simcoe Art and Culture...
Simcoe North 2026 Municipal Election
Sustainable Simcoe North The 2026 Municipal Election — by Madeleine Fournier of Green Orillia The municipal election for all municipalities in Ontario is Monday, October 26, 2026. Eligible voters will cast ballots for a Mayor, City Councillors, and school board...
More Than Repairing Things: Social Work Students Join the Orillia Repair Café
The Orillia Repair Café Welcomes Students — by Courtney Perry When people think about social work, they often picture counselling, hospitals, or child welfare. Social work also happens at the community level. Sometimes it looks like people gathering in a church hall...
Autumn Concert in the Barn for Mariposa House Hospice
Autumn Concert in the Barn Returning to Raise Vital Funds for Mariposa House HospiceORO-MEDONTE — Live music, local spirit, and community support will come together this fall as the Autumn Concert in the Barn returns on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. The...
A five-week series of lectures, in person at St. Paul’s Centre, Orillia
Third Age Learning Lakehead Presents: A Time for Change:Evolving Our Civilization — submitted Date: Wednesdays, Oct. 7, Oct. 14, Oct. 21, Oct. 28, Nov. 4Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pmPlace: In-person or Live-streamed at St. Paul’s Centre in OrilliaPrice: $80 +HST for the...
Random Samplings
Random Samplingsby Caston A drawing... stream of conciousness... done in 10 minutes...used as the basis for a painting...used as the basis for a stream of conciousness “verse”... used as the basis for a little song...which lead to this...