EDITORIAL

—by Anna Proctor

Who has been enjoying summer in North Simcoe?

Me!

Yes, it’s been hot and humid, yes, there have been some crazy summer storms…but after the hellish winter we had, culminating with that horrendous and traumatizing ice storm, I am ok with some heat and humidity. I know all this crazy weather is climate change in action, so we just have to take it…and try and enjoy ourselves in this new world that we have created.

It’s easy to enjoy ourselves in this beautiful neck of the woods. I have been loving walking on our gorgeous trails, swimming in our wonderful and refreshing lakes, sitting on my screen porch, and taking in many of the wonderful events that happen here, all summer long.

I know you will enjoy Deb Halbot’s incredible photos of Mariposa Folk Festival, sprinkled throughout this issue, as much as I enjoyed attending the festival. What a wonderful three days of peace, love, belonging, and phenomenal music, in the idyllic setting of Tudhope Park in Orillia. Deb’s photos capture that uniquely Mariposa vibe so well…enjoy them and take yourself back, I know I will!

And if you want to see some of Deb’s Mariposa photos in person, check out the exhibit Voices Through Time: A Mariposa Journey on now until September 27 at the Orillia Museum of Art and History. The exhibit features Edwin Gailits’ photos of Mariposa from 1972 and Deb’s from 2018-2024, and it is wonderful. Go!

I hate to think that we are almost halfway through summer, but it just means I am going to squeeze even more fun, joy, and summer goodness out of the last weeks and days. In fact, given that September often has our most beautiful weather, I am going to take summer right until Thanksgiving…so there! Who wants to join me?

I hope you take the time to savour this August September issue of our beautiful magazine as much as I am going to savour summertime. A lot of people worked hard to contribute to this issue, and you can thank them by reading and savouring every page.

Don’t forget to enter our summertime contest, too! Cotswolds is DELICIOUS!

Happy late summer and happy North Simcoe! See you out and about…do come say hi!