Horseshoe Valley Kaleidoscope
—by Valerie Thornton
Welcome to 2025. It looks like it is going to be a terrific winter season with enough snow and cold for all the numerous outdoor activities which are such an important part of our winter here in Horseshoe Valley. The most expansive polar vortex in over a decade was expected to bring the lowest temperatures of winter to much of North America, including nearly all of Canada this year; we have already experienced this but be prepared for more cold and snow. But remember “there is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing”.
One of the book clubs I belong to has just read the book “Moon of the Crusted Snow” by Waubgeshig Rice which dealt with challenges faced by an Anishinaaabe community in northern Ontario when it suddenly loses all contact with the outside world (no phones, radio, electricity, deliveries of food, gas etc.) and winter is approaching; the community is faced with survival.
It is fiction and Rice’s main influence was the big blackout of August 2003, that impacted a big part of Eastern North America. It was a perfect time to read the book with all the snow we were having. Since we have lived here (for 20 years) I can only remember one time when we were without power for nearly two days. Reminds me how appreciative we should be to all our Hydro and other outside workers who have to work outside in such extreme weathers (cold in the winter/heat in the summer).
The 4th Line and Sugarbush rinks are both open (as I am sure that all the others are in the Township). A big thank you goes to all the 4th Line Rink rats led by ‘The Ice Man’, Jim O’Doherty. The majority of them are seniors that set the rink up and keep it in shape throughout the season. A challenging job with the changing weather (either warmer temperatures or enormous amounts of snow), involving continual maintenance.
I also heard of problems with the hose which needed replacement; can you imagine trying to flood the rink and the hose sprays water all over you in the freezing cold weather? Kudos to our amazing Rink Rats, not only of Line 4 and Sugarbush but in all of Oro Medonte.
The 2025 Rink Rat of the Year for Line 4 was awarded to Ken Watson. Another hardworking guy who has been an important part of this team, always out to maintain the rink in all kinds of weather. Len has been a strong supporter of our community and served on the board of the HVPOA for several years. As a seasoned “techie” (Len worked in the Information Technology industry for 35 years), he was very helpful to the organization, maintaining and improving the website. He also enabled communication during the covid period, organizing webinars. Congratulations and thank you Len for your dedication to our community.
Kudos also to our snow removal teams who clear our driveways, including some very long overnight shifts during our recent heavy snowfalls. I don’t think people realize the work involved and the cost of keeping these machines in top shape and the replacements that are necessary after a certain period.
Removing the ice from the ends of driveways (that is often left after the roads have been ploughed) can necessitate a change in equipment parts as the ice can damage the plows. I was amazed at the costs involved maintaining these machines; including $6,000 for four new tires and the rising insurance, gas and replacement costs. Appreciation also goes to the County and Township workers who plough our roads.
The Orillia Salvation Army Toy and Food Drives were held on December 6 and 8 at the Oro-Medonte Fire and Emergency Services Station 3 on Line 4. The former had donations of 227 toys plus $2,345. The food donations were 2386 pounds, gift cards $225 and an amazing amount of $7,989. A note from the Salvation Army thanking the community included “The number of folks we are helping has gone up significantly this year; 625 families with food and toys, up about 60 families this year over last year.”
An additional $3,340 was raised for the Sharing Place in Orillia. Wow that is amazing! A busy early December also included the popular Candlelight Stroll in the Highlands on December 7 with music, tree lighting and hot chocolate. This fun event received 40 pounds of pet food plus supplies and $40 for the Comfy Cat Shelter and $300 for the Orillia SPCA. Your furry friends weren’t forgotten.
The above would be impossible without the many volunteers who make these ‘events’ so successful. Special thanks to Ken Linton and the Back Porch Boys who organized the Toy Drive, Lisa Banks and Barb Shopland for the Food Drive, and Rick and Clauda Boyd for the Candlelight Stroll. Here also applause for those many helpers who assist and make these events SO successful. Too many to name here; there are so many terrific volunteers in our community.
Thanks also go to Tim Horton’s, Foodland, Horseshoe Resort, Vetta Spa, Horseshoe Valley Eye Care, Midhurst Landscaping, Roper Kick’in Grass and The Golf Zone for their generous donations of refreshments/nibbles and prizes raffled off at the Candlelight Stroll.
The Christmas Market at St. John’s Anglican Church on November 23 was a huge success. I made a note to get there earlier next year as I missed the best selection of baked goods and had hoped to get a small Christmas cake.
Sadly, I missed the latter, but I was very lucky to get some meat pies which my husband was very impressed with, made by Sheila Craig (senior of the year for 2021 and an important community volunteer). I also managed to get a lovely knitted scarf, notecards with nature scenes by local photographer David Kennedy (yes I still like to actually write cards to keep in touch; these are especially good to send to England with their beautiful scenes of Oro-Medonte and Ontario) and a few other Christmas items (tree ornaments, some maple butter, etc.) So many great Christmas markets were dotted around our Township that shopping was a real pleasure.
Not forgetting our local treasure “Dwellings” in Craighurst which is always a delight to wander around (and I bet most times I come out with another pair of earrings) and Chelsea Chocolates. The Guardian Pharmacy (wow am I happy that we have this here) and even the Esso Garage is good to get some items. It is important to support our local businesses.
The new elementary school (up to 570 students) at 739 Horseshoe Valley Road West (on Line 4) is scheduled to open in September of this year (2025). It is going to include the children from Sugarbush (the old Guthrie school), which makes a lot of sense. I am looking forward to seeing how the community centre that is included in the building is going to work. It will be fantastic to have such a facility for us close by.
Are there any new groups starting up that need members, special events occurring, etc? I would love to include them in my next column for April/May. Would love to hear from you, email me at vmt4141@gmail.com.
Dates to remember
February 17
Annual Sugarbush Family Day at Sweetwater Park
April 19
Easter Egg Hunt at 4th Line Park
May 3
Community Clean Up
Enjoy the snow; take some pictures of the wonders of winter. As you know I love seasons. Our winters make us truly enjoy the wonder of spring when it evolves after the snow melts.
“We are not in politics to ignore people’s worries; we are in politics to deal with them.” —Margaret Thatcher
(I would add to this “and not to create more!”)
—photo by Deb Halbot