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 issue
is none other than our own, beloved, North Simcoe life photographer, Deb Halbot!
Deb hasn’t always been our photographer. Years ago, when we were just starting out, Anna’s daughter Laura was just beginning her own photography journey, so she was our photographer. She made sure we had lovely scenic photos in each issue that captured the beauty of our region. Now, Laura is a successful freelance photojournalist in her own right…and it all started here!
When Laura moved to the city, we looked for a stellar landscape photographer who loved our region…and Anna’s friend Deb Halbot came immediately to mind. Deb’s gorgeous landscapes, incredible nature shots, and wonderful event photos which capture pivotal moments in our region are beloved and well-known by everyone. But who is the real Deb Halbot?
She is kind. She is thoughtful. She is full of joy, gratitude, and love. She is full of talent! She champions and campaigns HARD for those she cares about. She works her butt off! She gets up VERY EARLY. She is her own worst critic…there is always something she could have done better…even though none of us can ever see that!
She is very proud of her family (her husband, Brian, and two sons, Jeff and Josh) and her friends. She gives of her time, forever: to us, to Mariposa Arts Theatre, to Mariposa Folk Festival, to Trumpeter Swans of Ontario, to her family, and to her friends.
She HATES having her photo taken…and we make her do it, at least once a year, at Mariposa Folk Festival!
And, she just learned to swear a dozen years ago, courtesy of her Girlfriend Therapy Group!
Deb had a long and storied career as a beloved elementary school teacher in our area. She taught in many of our local schools, and finished her career at Rama Central. Former pupils are always coming up to her and telling her how much she meant to them. When she finally decided to retire, she was excited to have the time to delve into her favourite hobby: photography. And boy did she focus!
Just this past summer, Deb’s photos were featured, along with photographer Edwin Gailits’, in a Mariposa Folk Festival photography retrospective at Orillia Museum of Art and History, Voices Through Time. It was a stunning exhibit, and Deb’s full-colour, blown-up photos captured the magic of the Mariposa we know and love.
She was typically low-key about the whole thing, not even telling family and friends about the grand opening, and talking up Edwin’s photos (also magnificent) the whole time. She did say that it was a huge honour…we would add well-deserved.
She has been the Streets Alive Productions photographer over many many years. She has done event photography for lots of local happenings. She has been the official Mariposa Arts Theatre photographer for many productions.
You can see Deb’s photos in her very popular Facebook page, Through My Eyes-Photography by Deb Halbot, in addition to the pages of our magazine.
Deb’s photos over the last 15 years of North Simcoe Community News, and later, North Simcoe life, have set the tone for the magazine: beautiful, local, serene, joyful, and celebrating the natural environment we are so lucky to have here. She embodies everything we love and want to capture in our magazine!
For all these reasons and more, Deb, you are our community hero this month, and forever after! Thank you for everything you have done and do for all of us in our community.