The Orillia Concert Band is celebrating 40 years, and we want you to join us! — submitted On Saturday, May 2, 2026, the Orillia Concert Band will celebrate its 40th anniversary milestone at its Spring Concert. The show will be held at St. Paul’s Centre in Orillia. 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...
Discover Art and Autumn Beauty at the Oro-Medonte Images Studio TourThis Thanksgiving weekend, October 10 through 13, Oro-Medonte comes alive with colour, creativity, and community as the Images Studio Tour returns for its annual celebration of the arts.Hosted by the...
We want to help raise awareness of this amazing service. Please help support their work.Crisis Response ~ Caring Support Providing caring and timely response to those in crisis. Reducing the impact of crime and tragic circumstance. Supporting resolutions.VCAO Services...
Orillia Joins Ontario’s Seniors Active Living Centre Program —submitted The City of Orillia is pleased to announce its official designation as part of Ontario’s Seniors Active Living Centre (SALC) program, a move that will enhance opportunities for older adults in the...
North Simcoe Art and Culture Awards Nominations Now Open Following six successful years of joint Art and Heritage Awards, the Orillia & District Arts Council (ODAC) and Orillia Museum of Art & History (OMAH) have concluded their partnership in the Orillia...
Legendary Mariposa Folk Festival Celebrates 65th Edition — submitted “Playing the Mariposa Folk Festival is a badge of honour for folk artists around the world.” - Exclaim! “Colin Linden referred to Mariposa as the gold standard of folk festivals, while his Blackie...
Fiddle Jam/Old Time Dance/Square Dance At Eady Community Hall, Fundraiser For Cope Service Dogs On the Saturday May 17 the EADY Community Hall in Oro-Medonte Township was filled to capacity. What a day! A great day! A super day! A tremendous day! We did it, we...
Orillia Repair Café New Date June 14 Following up on our article about the Orillia Repair Cafe in the Feb/March 2025 edition of North Simcoe Life, please note an important update! Originally scheduled for April 5, the Repair Cafe was postponed due to the ice storm. ...
A Mariposa Summer — submitted Mariposa Folk Festival Lineup, Gordon Lightfoot Exhibit and Photos from the Mariposa Folk Festival makes this summer one for the musical books! The Mariposa Folk Festival returns July 4 to 6 to Tudhope Park in Orillia with a fantastic...
Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital Updates — submittedIn a historic announcement with the potential to profoundly advance access to quality healthcare and education in the community, Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) and Lakehead University are excited to...
Roots North Music FestivalReturns to Downtown Orillia April 24 to 27, 2025 Homegrown festival features headlinersRoyal Wood and Jully Black“Roots” is a unique festival that offers free concerts at venues throughout downtown Orillia (and beyond) while at the same time...
Annual CFUW Orillia Event RaisesFunds for Scholarships for Young Women by Jo LanghamIf you have ever walked down a street and admired a neighbour’s wrap-around porch, or walked the dog at night and loved the glimpse you got inside a home with its lights on and...
Fiddle Jam/Old Time Dance/Square Dance Fundraiser For Cope Service Dogs At Eady Community Hall — submitted In 2012, Caoimhin Mac Aoidh, a fiddler in Donegal, Ireland founded the concept of World Fiddle Day, with the purpose of promoting fiddling throughout the world....
CLASSIC LIGHTFOOT LIVEcomes to Simcoe County SPRING 2025CELEBRATE Canadian music with Canadian artists and members of the Lightfoot family John Stinson and the Classic Lightfoot Live - GORDON LIGHTFOOT Tribute show is returning to the Orillia Opera House Saturday May...
Waking up on a sleepy afternoon with Sleepy Jan — by Parthiv Rajeshbhai Solanki The mood was set. The lights dimmed as a crowd filled Orillia's local record store Alleycats. The well-kept, hardwood floorboards creaked under the feet of the incoming viewers pouring in...
“In His Lyrics” is a deeply personal memoir that offers a window into the stark realities of a family grappling with addiction, mental health issues, chronic homelessness, and a life of crime to support it.In His Lyrics by Jackleen Givens It’s a story that...
Sebright Author Wins Canadian Book Club Award —submitted It was announced in September that Susan Wadds had been selected as a finalist in the fiction category of the Canadian Book Club Awards, for What the Living Do. On Wednesday, her publicist announced the book had...
Remembering Ron Reid —from The Couchiching Conservancy A giant in the land conservation movement passed away at his home in Washago on Sunday, December 15. His partner of 45 years, Janet, and their sons Alex and Peter were by his side.Ron Reid is locally known as...
Coldest Night of the Year —submitted The Lighthouse invites the Orillia community and surrounding areas to join us for Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) on Saturday, February 22, 2025. This family-friendly winter walk is designed to raise funds and awareness for those...
Stephen Leacock Museum Winter Updates —submitted— Stephen Leacock's house in Orillia was a labour of love. He built it for his wife, Beatrix Hamilton Leacock. Beatrix, the niece of Sir Henry Pellatt, who was the builder of Toronto’s Casa Loma, was used to the finer...
Arts Orillia Announces Signature Event —submitted Arts Orillia is thrilled to announce Showcase 2025: Pulling Back the Curtains, an extraordinary evening celebrating the transformative power of the arts and their impact on the youth of Orillia. This signature...
Oro-Medonte Ganaraska Hiking Club Winter Events —submitted Anyone is welcome to join in on any of the following events. Please bring drinking water on all hikes.background photo by Deb HalbotMonday, February 10⇒MODERATE ⇒3-4 hours 10:00 am. Meet at Awenda Provincial...
Orillia Concert Band presents two Christmas concerts December 7 —submitted Buckle on your Santa Suit and harness up the reindeer! The Orillia Concert Band is now rehearsing for our annual Christmas Concerts. We have wonderful programmes in the works for you all this...
Braestone Winter Classic —submitted The Braestone Winter Classic is returning in February 2025 to Oro-Medonte. The 3-on-3 charity pond hockey tournament plans to have all games played on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025 – Family Day weekend – at the Braestone Farm. Since its...