Sustainable Simcoe North By Madeleine Fournier of Green Orillia
We Are Nature:
Explore the Beauty
of North Simcoe
Lately, I have been reflecting on the role of the natural world in my life. When everything feels overwhelming, whether the state of the world or my own personal challenges, I turn to nature. I take a dip in the lake, I close my eyes and listen to the birds, or I find joy in the simple act of a bee pollinating a flower.
Late-stage capitalism tells us that we are separate from nature; that it exists only as a resource to extract from endlessly in the name of economic growth. But as most ecologists, Indigenous cultures, and philosophies around the world have emphasized for millennia: we are nature. Our connection to the natural world is intrinsic and essential. Potawatomi botanist and author Robin Wall Kimmerer’s must-read book Braiding Sweetgrass beautifully captures this idea, introducing many readers to a philosophy of reciprocity and gratitude. She invites us to see life not as a “bundle of rights” to take from, but as a “bundle of responsibilities” to care for and exchange with.
We are fortunate here in North Simcoe to be surrounded by so much natural beauty, from the Oro Moraine and Black River Wildlands to the Canadian Shield, forests, wetlands, and lakes. To help people connect with these places, Green Orillia recently developed a Nature Access page and map on our website, listing free public trails in the area open year-round. Here are a few highlights:
Couchiching Conservancy:
Since 1993, the Conservancy has protected over 15,000 acres of significant habitat. Fourteen of their nature reserves now have public trails. Some of my personal favourites include: Grant’s Woods for its iconic Fargo truck, spring trilliums, and accessible trail section; Adams Nature Reserve for Canadian Shield outcrops and pond views; and Ron Reid Nature Reserve for a peaceful summer paddle. The Conservancy is a non-profit charity powered by community support. Learn more about their work or make a donation here.
Debwewin miinwaa Naaskodaadiwin Miikaans (Truth and Reconciliation Trail):
In response to the discovery of unmarked graves at residential schools, the Georgian College Orillia Campus created this trail to commemorate those lost and to raise awareness. The trail is lined with stones painted in vivid orange, and along the path are markers that share teachings and invite reflection. Learn more here.
Rail Trails:
The Oro-Medonte Rail Trail, running 28 km from Barrie to Orillia, follows an old rail line converted in 2001. Historical plaques and bike repair stations dot the way, and the waterfront is never far. Ramara also has a 6 km rail trail as part of the Trans Canada Trail. It starts at the Mnjikaning Fishing Weirs National Historic Site and continues north, following the abandoned CN rail line to Casino Rama.
Uhtoff Trail:
Also part of the Trans Canada Trail, this 22 km route connects Coldwater to Orillia through woods, wetlands, streams, and even old barns.
Simcoe County Forests:
Ontario’s largest community forest system! Once clear-cut by settlers for farming, these lands were restored beginning in the 20th century. Today, 34,000 acres are managed sustainably, with new parcels added through revenue from careful harvesting. Many properties have public trails.
Provincial Parks:
Bass Lake, Mara, and McRae all offer sandy beaches and trails, with camping available in summer. Also a special shout out to Springwater Provincial Park just south of us, which is co-managed by the province and Beausoleil First Nation and is open for day-use.
Scout Valley:
A 228-acre ecological park within Orillia’s city limits. I always remember when local naturalist Bob Bowles wrote, “This natural area, an oasis in the desert of housing developments that will soon surround it, will be the jewel in the crown as Orillia develops. It will be like Central Park in downtown New York City which provides so much now to city residents in green space and recreation.”
At a time when biodiversity is declining at unprecedented rates, it is clear that our current ways of relating to the natural world are failing. We need to push all levels of government for stronger protections and to uphold Indigenous sovereignty and stewardship. For more on this, see my last column, where I explored the threats posed by the recently passed Bill 5 (provincial) and Bill C-5 (federal) to biodiversity, the environment, and Indigenous rights.
One promising tool gaining momentum is granting legal personhood to nature. In 2017, the Whanganui River in New Zealand was granted legal personhood after centuries of Māori advocacy. In 2021, Quebec’s Magpie River received the same recognition thanks to Innu leadership. While it remains to be seen how courts interpret these laws, this shift reflects a growing movement to protect ecosystems by recognizing their inherent rights.
So, I encourage you to check out our Nature Access page and map, head out for a walk, and enjoy the fall colours while showing gratitude to Mother Earth. Remember to be mindful: dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, keep dogs on leash, respect wildlife, and be considerate of others. I’ll leave you with a thought from David Attenborough: “If children don’t grow up knowing about nature and appreciating it, they will not understand it. And if they don’t understand it, they won’t protect it. And if they don’t protect it, who will?” The same is true for us as adults – we must keep returning to the magic of nature to remember our duty to protect it.
Green Orillia is a grassroots organization focused on climate action, social justice, advocacy, education, democracy, and community resilience in Orillia and area. We operate on Anishinaabeg Williams Treaty Territory. Follow Green Orillia on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, join the Facebook Discussion Group, sign up for the e-newsletter, or check out the website. Get in touch at greenorillia@gmail.com.
—photos by Deb Halbot
