Tanning Time!...

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!...

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...

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...

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 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...

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 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...

A special submission from Sadie. Click to scroll through the slideshow.

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...

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,...

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...

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 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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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 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...