Welcome to SUMMERJune/July 2026 Navigate between pages using the☜ previous and next ☞ page iconsat the top and bottom of each page.Click the issue title “Summer — June/July 2026”(at the top of the page) to go to the table of contents for this edition. Happy Reading!...
Awards, summer fun, reflections, contests, and more!
Editorial by Anna Proctor A Doozie of a 20th Anniversary Year We are almost halfway through our 20th anniversary year, and it’s been a doozie! We were nominated for the Customer Service Excellence Award at the Oro-Medonte Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Gala…and...
Visit five parks and win!
Orillia ParkPassportAdventureContest Deadline July 1Visit five parks and be eligibleto win a $50 gift certificate and a prize pack from Jack and Maddy’sSummertime means fun for the whole family, and we decided that meant our June contest should be geared to the whole...
Local Events!
Local Events! Welcome to June and July, some of the most event-filled months of the whole year, in North Simcoe! We’ve got the historic Arts for Peace, which has been around for decades and is being curated by adults who enjoyed it when they were kids. We’ve got...
Summer is here…oh no, it’s not…and a lovely house concert!
Digressions by D’reen —by Doreen Uren Simmons Hi Dear Readers: I thought I would write this on the third day of summer whilst I’m in a good mood. The windows and doors are open, the furnace is NOT on, and the dehumidifier is working valiantly. Next five-day forecast...
Discover Summer Fun in Orillia and Lake Country
Discover Summer Funin Orillia and Lake CountrySummer in Orillia and Lake Country is an adventure waiting to happen. Nestled between Lake Simcoe, Lake Couchiching, the Trent-Severn Waterway, and stretching north to the stunning Georgian Bay, our region offers endless...
June/July Community Hero: Steve Caston
North Simcoe Life Community Hero June/JulyCommunity Hero:Steve Caston —by Hillary Handy and Anna Proctor We are continuing in our trip down memory lane as we celebrate 20 years of North Simcoe Life. A crucial part of our story and our ability to tell your stories is...
This Summer, the Orillia Opera House Stage Is Calling
This Summer, the Orillia Opera House Stage Is CallingThere’s something about live theatre on a warm summer evening that just hits differently. Maybe it’s the shared energy of a full house, or the way a great performance can make you laugh, cry, and leave humming a...
June is Seniors’ Month and an invitation to a Community BBQ
Message fromMPP Dunlop MPP for Simcoe North As we move into the summer months, communities across Simcoe North continue to demonstrate the strong spirit of volunteerism, community connection, and support for seniors that make our region such a special place to call...
Hearing My Way
A special submission from Sadie. Click to scroll through the slideshow.
Orillia Park Passport Adventure and contest!
Toddler Tourist by Hillary Handy Orillia ParkPassport Adventureand contest! Summer is on the horizon! There are so many fun things I have planned. Dreams, schemes…that turn into memes. No matter what I plan, there is usually an element of chaos that ensues. Do I keep...
Mariposa Folk Festival 2026 Sounds Like Home
Full lineup and ticket link below, to plan your Mariposa Folk Festival Experience! The iconic Mariposa Folk Festival returns July 3 to 5 with a superb lineup that includes Father John Misty, Sarah Harmer, Sharon Van Etten, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Taj Mahal,...
Carly Hall getting new paint job, available for rentals this summer!
Carley Community Hall Updates —by Kelly Skinner-Meyer Spring has arrived gradually here, with temperatures still in the single digits. While the frost last night may have affected the peony buds in my garden, I am hopeful for warmer days ahead.The Carley Community...
Introducing Mimic, the eastern foxsnake
Speaking of Wildlife Introducing Mimic,the eastern foxsnake by Jamie Proctor Welcome to the twenty-seventh column introducing the residents of Speaking of Wildlife: Ontario animals that can’t be released back into the wilderness due to permanent injuries or...
Township News June/July 2026
Township NewsJune/July 2026Regularly scheduled Meetings of Council for the months of June and July 2025 will take place on the following dates: Council Meetings:Wednesday, June 10th – 3:00 p.m. Public SessionWednesday, June 24th – 3:00 p.m. Public SessionWednesday,...
The McDuff Brothers and the Coulson community
Coulson Past and Present The McDuff Brothersand the Coulson community by Anne WalkerIn the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Jack and Archie McDuff were active and enterprising members of the Coulson community. Their grandparents, John McDuff and Flora...
Developing robust relationships through safe connections
Mental Health Journeying —by Zoe Fysikoudi Developing robust relationshipsthrough safe connections Building on the previous article about the principles of attachment theory, this article explores the secure attachment cycle and introduces some play-based activities...
Long list of fun things to do in Coldwater all summer long!
Coldwater Communique —by Lois Rooney-Giurin Hello from Coldwater! After a chilly start to spring, Coldwater is starting to bustle again! Below are the events that each organization has postered – I recommend that you check out their websites or their Facebook pages...
Summer at The Heights
Should I wait to call, to see if the animal in my house will leave?
LivingHarmoniouslywith Wildlife by William McIntoshAs I type this the sunrays are finally warm, leaving behind the long, freezing winter and slow spring imminently behind us. I couldn’t decide on what subject to write on, until earlier this week when after several...
My Garden is Almost Perfect
Oro-Medonte Horticultural Society My Garden is Almost Perfect —submitted by David St Amand, President Dearest Gentle Gardener, Not to be immodest, but my garden is almost perfect. I’m sure your garden is lovely, too. I don’t doubt that it brings you pleasure. It may...
Hot Cars, Cool Tunes and Good Vibes!
Annual Ramara Chamber Classic Car Show Rolls into Lagoon City July 11 On Saturday July 11 the Ramara Chamber of Commerce is presenting its 14th Classic Car Show at Grand Harbour Marina on the beautiful shores of Lake Simcoe in Lagoon City. This annual celebration of...
Congratulations to North Simcoe Life, and updates about life in Horseshoe Valley
Horseshoe Valley Kaleidoscope —by Valerie Thorntone Victoria Day weekend arrived with a heat wave. It had earlier seemed that spring was finally here, but summer suddenly took over, and the landscape turned every shade of green. With bright yellow dandelions and an...
Fiddle Jam/Old Time Dance/Square Dance/Fundraiser for COPE Service Dogs in Eady huge success!
National and World Fiddle Day May 16 —by Ralph PriceOn the Saturday afternoon of May 16 at the Eady Community Hall in Oro-Medonte Township, the place was filled to capacity and the “joint was jumping and wagging”. It was an absolutely tremendous day! We did it, we...
The Art of Showing Up: Why Perfect Fitness is the Enemy of a Great Summer
The Wellness Column The Art of Showing Up:Why Perfect Fitnessis the Enemy of a Great Summer — by Matt Spencer Cottage season in the Orillia Lake Country and North Simcoe region is a beautifully physical endeavour. It’s a landscape defined by lifting heavy docks,...
Canada Day at Couchiching Beach Park
Canada Day at Couchiching Beach ParkFor more than 40 years, Canada Day at Couchiching Beach Park has been one of Orillia’s most cherished traditions — bringing families, neighbours, volunteers, businesses, and visitors together to celebrate what it means to be...
Summer Action in Warminster, including soccer, ball hockey, and community fair!
WarminsterWrite-Up by Hillary Handy Summer mode has been activated in Warminster! It has been so exciting to see all the action at the newly completed XBHL facility. All ages have been playing, and it is such a blessing to the community. The indoor space is so...
Why Arts for Peace Matters
Arts for Peace —by Annalise Stenekes For many people in Orillia, Arts for Peace is a hidden gem that is more than just a festival. Alida (Ali) Tomasini, aged 16, has been attending this annual event since she was a small child. For Ali and many others their age, it is...
Condolences, spring happenings, fiddle days and summer fun
Eady News — by Bonnie SmithI think Spring has finally sprung and so far, it’s come with lots of rain and cooler weather to make lush green grass…and a yellow sea of dandelions! While our weather has been mainly cold with a few hot days in between, it is enough to...
Live music at Orillia’s waterfront all summer long
Lakeside Live Returns to Orillia’s Waterfront This Summer Consider your Saturday plans sorted! Lakeside Live is back, bringing live music to Orillia’s waterfront all summer long.Lakeside Live, formerly known as Music & Makers, returns to the waterfront this summer...
Matthew Good Acoustic Trio live in Innisfil
Matthew Good Acoustic Triolive in Innisfil in Support ofGilda’s Club Simcoe Muskoka Gilda’s Club Simcoe Muskoka is proud to announce the return of A Sunday Afternoon, a signature summer event bringing the community together in support of individuals and families...
Random Sampling
Random Samplingsby Caston We have become accustomedto the machinery of life...we’re giving it up now...in the name of efficiency......and the bottom line don’t get me wrong... I’m no neophyteI am comfortable in the world of gears...tell of a new toy... and i’m...