Editorial by Anna Proctor Community,here and in Jamaica…feels like homeHappy spring! I hope! I do see plus zero numbers in the forecast so it seems we are finally on the homeward stretch. I really shouldn’t complain about winter…I got to skip three weeks of it in...

Springtime April—May Contest Win $120 gift certificate to Bird House Nature Company! We have a winner! Congratulations to Marilyn Martin!!! Thanks to our contest co-sponsor, The Bird House Nature Company in downtown Orillia, our April May contest prize is $120 in gift...

Community Hero by Hillary Handy Anna Proctor— Championing Community & Culture in North Simcoe It is hard to toot your own horn, so I’m happy to sing the praises of our own Anna Proctor as this issue’s Community Hero! Throughout our issues in 2026, we have been...

On April 24, 2026, the historic Gordon Lightfoot Stage at the Orillia Opera House will come to life for one of the region’s most anticipated cultural events: Showcase 2026: A Night to Ignite the Arts. More than an event, it is an investment in imagination, belonging,...

Toddler Tourist by Hillary Handy Birding in North Simcoe In North Simcoe, the sounds of spring bring delight to our souls. It feels as if we have been hibernating for far too long. Then you hear the chirping of birds and suddenly, everything feels different. You’re...

Clean Up Barrie —by Jen Slykhuis Clean Up Barrie’s success story in 2025 began long before the first green shirts with bright orange letters appeared on sidewalks that spring. The organization, founded in 2020 at the height of community uncertainty and isolation,...

Living Harmoniously with Wildlife — by William McIntosh Well…as I type this article and looking out my window, a false spring has sprung! This winter has had its clutches opened slightly and goodness, it’s so nice to see the lawn again and as nature would have it, the...

Oro-Medonte Tennis Club —submitted Serving Up Another Season in Horseshoe Valley Tucked into the scenic setting of Horseshoe Valley, the Oro-Medonte Tennis Club is preparing to welcome players back for another exciting season on the courts. Located at Horseshoe Valley...

Township NewsApril/May 2026Regularly scheduled Meetings of Council for the months of April and May 2026 will take place on the following dates:  Council Meetings:Wednesday, April 8th – 3:00 p.m. Public SessionWednesday, April 22nd – 3:00 p.m. Public SessionWednesday,...

🌷 NEW SERVICE Comfort Tea Visits for SeniorsAt Grandma’s Home Health Care Plus, we believe care is more than tasks — it’s about creating meaningful moments. We are now offering Comfort Tea & Garden Visits for seniors in Barrie, Orillia, and surrounding areas.Our...

Upcoming Mariposa Arts Theatre Production Happening Soon by submitted Mariposa Arts Theatre (MAT) invites audiences to enjoy an evening of mystery, mayhem, and laughter with their upcoming production of CLUE, based on the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn and written by...

Speaking of Wildlife April Fools!Meet Bourbonthe Common Housecat by Jamie Proctor For the second year in a row, you have been April Fool’d! This column is NOT about native Ontario wildlife this issue!  Welcome to the twenty-sixth column introducing the residents of...

Coulson Past and Present and... Coulson Concerts 2026 by Anne Walker We have made it to spring at last! It’s time to come out of hibernation and take in some live music and, just like that, the Coulson Concerts are back for another season. “The Coulson Concerts” is a...

Hike for Hospice Returns May 3rd Walking Togetherfor Compassionate Care Steps of Compassion. Community Strong.Hike for Hospice Returns May 3rd Walking Togetherfor Compassionate Care Steps of Compassion. Community Strong.Each spring, our community comes together to...

Tallawah Foundation for Jamaican Hurricane Relief by Kai Dear Tallawah actually started the day after Hurricane Melissa. My sister, my cousin, and I were at school in North America, watching everything unfold back home in Jamaica. We couldn’t reach some of our family...

SustainableSimcoe North by Madeleine Fournier of Green Orillia Post-secondary education in Ontario is in crisis. From chronic underfunding to program cuts to student protests, several factors are colliding to create this crisis. As a current graduate student who has...

Oro-Medonte McBride Farm Put in Trust —submitted The Ontario Farmland Trust (OFT) is pleased to announce the permanent protection of the McBride Farm as its 31st protected farm, bringing the total permanently conserved acreage to 3,241.03 acres. This marks OFT’s 8th...

Ontario SPCAand Humane SocietySpring Fundraiser by submitted The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society’s Spring Draws for Paws 50/50 Lotteryis back, giving Ontarians the chance to win a major cash prizewhile making a meaningful difference for animals across the province.The...

Carley Hall Updates by Kelly Skinner-Meyer Spring has arrived, and although the weather remains unpredictable, Carley Community Hall is busy preparing for our annual Pancake Breakfast on April 18, 2026. Unfortunately, our pancake breakfast was canceled last April due...

Spring YouthNFL Flag FootballComes to Orillia -submittedYouth athletes in the Orillia area are invited to join the Spring Youth NFL Flag Football League, a safe, non-contact, and beginner-friendly program for kids ages 10-16. This exciting league provides a fun...

Gardeningwith Gail by Gail McIlroy At last—we made it! January and February, for many of us and for a variety of reasons, seemed as though they might never leave. Snowstorm after snowstorm, followed by a few milder days, and then back to snow again.While we may...

Spring Comes Alivein Orillia and Lake CountrySpring arrives in Orillia and Lake Country with a sense of excitement you can feel in the air. After months of snow and frozen lakes, the city begins to wake up. Ice slowly disappears from the lakes, tulips and blossoms...

World Fiddle Day May 16 —submitted Local fiddler and square dance caller organize fundraising event for COPE dogs at Eady Hall Numerous countries have embraced the concept of a “Fiddle Day”, on the 3rd Saturday in May. In 2015, the Canadian Parliament, in order to...

Repair Café:A Family Tradition — by Naheed Syed When I first heard about the Repair Café, I instantly felt interested. The concept was simple but powerful: repair what was broken, reuse what you could, repurpose what still had life, and prevent items from ending up in...

  Random Samplingsby Caston We can adjust to anythingWhatever transpires, we'll be fineThere’s no logic to the enterpriseBased on decisions… but not mine All we see are the advertsAll we hear are the liesSo well trained to the subterfugeShake the hands and smile…...