Happy holidays andHappy birthday to North Simcoe life! —by Anna Proctor Happy birthday to us! Happy birthday to us!Happy birthday North Simcoe life! Happy birthday to us! It was 20 years ago, this month, that Steve and I bought what was then North Simcoe Community...

Another Exciting Contest! Ticket giveaway for Mariposa Arts Theatre’s February show, Without Rule of Law North Simcoe life is excited to team up with Mariposa Arts Theatre again, in a ticket giveaway for the MAT February show, Without Rule of Law. Here is the synopsis...

Coulson Village Updates by Anne Walker  The Oro Home Kitchen  The residents of Coulson value the rural lifestyle we have chosen. However, the peaceful country life means that some services are not at our fingertips. Folks hurrying home at the end of a long busy week...

Removing Barriers to Employment in Simcoe County Across Simcoe County, many women and non-binary individuals face multiple barriers when trying to secure employment or re-enter the workforce. Dress for Success helps address these barriers by offering access to...

Carley Hall by Kelly Skinner-Meyer A fond farewell to a faithful volunteer and thank yous to all! Winter came in like a lion, and the snow arrived early this year. But we can’t complain, the summer and fall were lovely. The fall colours this year were brilliant and...

Community Hero by Anna Proctor We thought we would give our Community Hero columns for our anniversary year a different spin…So, we are starting that spin with this issue…surprise!   The Community Hero for our December 2025 issueis none other than our own,...

A Dramatic Reading ofCharles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol Thursday, December 18th, 2025 @ 7:00 pmTickets: $45 / Students: $20 Green Haven Shelter for Womenis proud to present a dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.  This treasured holiday tradition...

Why the Holidays Change the Way We Think About Home by Amanda Potter – Mortgage Agent Level One Every year, as the holidays roll in, something subtle but powerful happens: our homes begin to feel different. Maybe it’s the glow of lights in the windows, the scent of...

Speaking of Wildlife by Jamie Proctor All about Northern Cardinals Welcome to the twenty-fourth column introducing the residents of Speaking of Wildlife: Ontario animals that can’t be released back into the wilderness due to permanent injuries or over-habituation to...

Township News December 2025/January 2026Regularly scheduled Meetings of Council for the month of December, 2025 will take place on the following dates:  Council Meeting:Wednesday, December 10th – 3:00 p.m. Public Session  Development Services Committee...

Three Pals Talesand the Heart of Rescue — by Megan Galati Learning in partnershipwith Lost Boys Hope Dog Rescue Every Three Pals Tales story is rooted in compassion, learning lessons, standing up for those who need it most, adventure, and friendship — the list goes...

Winter in Orillia & Lake Country: Where the Season Brings Us TogetherWhen the first snowflakes start to fall across the lakes and the air takes on that unmistakable crispness, something shifts in Orillia & Lake Country. The pace slows down. The light softens....

The Woodstock Wellness Aviary by Lois Rooney-Guirin I have been intending to write about interesting things to do in the Coldwater area, and this article is about one of those that I have just discovered. The following is a review of my morning at the Woodstock...

Gardeningwith Gail by Gail McIlroy From frost to future blooms — a gardener’s work never really ends; however, as gardeners with the passion, we don’t call it work. After all, we have several other names for it, it’s always fun to get creative during this time of the...

The Ice That Binds: Braestone Winter Classic Announces Ambitious Goal for 5th Annual Charity TournamentORO-MEDONTE, ON – The crack of the stick, the scrape of skates on natural ice, and the collective cheer of a deeply supportive community—these are the sounds that...

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...

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...

North Simcoe Art and Culture Awards  The newly reworked North Simcoe Art and Culture Awards first annual award night was held on November 26 at Creative Nomad Studios. A capacity crowd from the North Simcoe area enjoyed charcuterie by Rind and Truckle, sponsored by...

...Making Merry... Random Samplings by Caston