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...
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...
WarminsterWrite-up — by Hillary Handy Warminster loves autumn. With our corn fields and pumpkin patches, it is a holiday hallmark movie for the lovers of fall. But we are now dreaming of a beautiful, magical holiday season. Halloween came and went, and the entire...
Toddler Tourist by Hillary Handy A Christmas 2025 calendarof events in North Simcoe…or, just do your own thing! The Toddler Tourist and entourage adore everything merry, magical, and joyfully over-the-top. If there’s twinkle lights, hot cocoa, or an inflatable snowman...
Community Hero by Hillary Handy Lucy Goodman In May 2025, Monsignor Lee Catholic School hosted the musical production of The Little Mermaid. It was an incredible, high calibre production that presented as much more sophisticated than the usual you would expect from...
Toddler Tourist by Hillary Handy Reflections of summer in Simcoe North When I think about this summer, I am very grateful. I am privileged to be able to work my schedule to have lots of time to spend with my children, doing loads of adventures across land and sea....
Orillia Thrift Store Update by Hillary Handy The Orillia Thrift Store is a not-for-profit, 100% volunteer-run social enterprise that’s more than just a place to find hidden gems. It’s a store with heart, purpose, and a mission to give back.What started as a shared...
The Maker’s Circle by Hillary Handy 17 Peter Street South is now home to The Maker’s Circle! This is a collaborative art gallery and teaching studio in the heart of Orillia’s Arts District. This space will allow for 13 different creators to showcase their creativity...
Warminster Write Up by Hillary Handy Summer feels like a distant memory now that we are back to school. It was a wonderful summer, indeed! Warminster Soccer was a smashing success. With a new executive team willing to lead the initiative, the transition from the...
Laura DicksonCommunity Hero — by Hillary Handy Our Community Hero for this issue is Laura Dickson. You have seen her when you’re grabbing a bite to eat, but you have also seen her all around town because she is so active in our community. Long before Laura Dickson...
Warminster Write-Up — by Hillary HandyAs we think back to the last month of school, June was a busy one! Several classes enjoyed visits to the Coldwater Bowling Centre to wind-down the year. Students were recognized at the Character Award Assembly. We have some...
Author Spotlight: Pure Bliss — by Hillary Handy From playdates to pages: Two moms pen a book and celebrate its release. Madeline Sheppard and Rachel Durocher are friends and sisters-in-law. Madeline lives in Newfoundland and Rachel calls Warminster her home. Every...
The Toddler Tourist — by Hillary Handy I have always loved music! I was fortunate to be gifted tickets to see Lance Anderson perform at the Orillia Opera House, an ode to Jazz royalty in the spring. I brought my daughter with me, who was nine at the time. She had...
Community Hero:Angie Green —by Hillary HandyOur latest Community Hero comes with an inspiring story rooted right here in Orillia. Meet Angie Green, a lifelong Orillian whose heart for helping others has sparked meaningful change across our region. Angie and her...
Toddler Tourist Camping with Kids: some advice and suggestionsfrom a relative newbie! — by Hillary HandyGrowing up, my family did not go camping. We ran a summer camp for children, but there was no way you would ever catch me in a tent, in the wilderness, using a...
Warminster Write-up — by Hillary HandyThe Spring Vendor Market hosted at the school was a smashing success! There were so many incredible vendors on site with the perfect Mother’s Day giftings. Many thanks to Rebecca Harjupanula for taking the lead on this event. It...
Community Hero: Leslie Fournier by Hillary Handy Teacher. Entrepreneur. Artist. Community Minded. Community Hero. These are just some of the titles we can attribute to our latest Community Hero, Leslie Fournier. Leslie is originally from Napanee, Ontario. She had the...
Your Mom Goes to College: Part 2 — by Hillary HandyIn a previous issue, I had written about my decision to pursue further post-secondary education as a 30-something-Mom. I had grand dreams of taking you along with me and documenting my learning to share with you all....
Toddler TouristGoes South — by Hillary HandyOccasionally, the Toddler Tourist and Entourage likes to venture outside of the North Simcoe region. Sometimes it's an hour drive away and sometimes it's a three-hour flight. And while it is certainly easy to spend money...
WarminsterWrite-Up — by Hillary HandyWarminster survived the lingering effects of the several snowmageddons this winter season. What a time to be alive. Snowbanks towering on the streets made for tricky driving and reduced visibility, but great tobogganing for the...
Community Hero —by Hillary Handy This issue’s Community Hero comes to us from Orillia. You probably have met her in your travels, as she is involved in so many aspects of our community. Meet Pamela Paylor. By profession, she is a Registered Nurse. But it is entirely...
Warminster Write-Up —by Hillary Handy Warminster, Warminster. What can we say about you in this issue of North Simcoe Life? It’s hard to believe we are in 2025. What a time to be alive!This winter has been strange. The six snow days of December leading into Christmas...
The Toddler Tourist —by Hillary Handy It’s our Valentine’s Day issue at North Simcoe Life! Time is flying in this new year.The Toddler Tourist is always on the hunt for new fun ideas to keep the chaos alive. But what about keeping the romance alive? I love being able...
Community Hero: Ted Markle —by Hillary Handy Another year is wrapping up. It has been a pleasure to connect with and celebrate some of the incredible people in our community. North Simcoe is home to some fantastic humans who teach us new things, celebrate diversity,...
Toddler Tourist —by Hillary Handy More often than not, I get Disney songs stuck in my brain on repeat. They are so catchy and little earworms that never really go away. One song is “Do you want to build a snowman?” from Frozen. Like, in all seasons. It probably sticks...