Hillsdale Gets Prepared – By Catherine Manson, June 17, 2025
Were you prepared for the March 2025 Ice Storm? Did you have an Emergency Kit? What was missing from your Emergency Preparedness Kit? Are you now prepared for the next Emergency? How would you respond to a Wildfire in our community?
The Hillsdale Community Recreation Association was pleased to receive a Community Grant from the FireSmart Canada Wildfire Preparedness Day project. On Saturday June 14, the Hillsdale CRA hosted a Community BBQ and Information Fair. The goal of the Fire Smart Neighbourhood Recognition Program is designed to “empower residents to make our neighbourhoods resilient to wildland fire.”
To achieve this purpose our BBQ provided information for our community responsibility towards wildfire prevention within Hillsdale, Springwater and Simcoe Forests and how to prepare our homes and property to prevent wildfires. Our second message was to educate new and current residents to respond appropriately in case of a fire or other emergency. Our third goal was to bring neighbours together to work effectively, ask questions and Have Fun! A Scavenger Hunt provided one of the fun elements to meet a Firefighter, write a thank you note to a first responder, meet a Simcoe Forester, play games, hear a story, eat a burger, support our local Elmvale EuroHockey 2026 2027 team with battery collections. We also thank our local Co-operatives Insurance office for providing information concerning property insurance.
FireSmart Canada is also offering a Photo Contest ( #WildfirePrepDay) for the period of May 3 to October 31, 2025, to show how you are preparing your property. More detailed information on the FireSmart Canada webpage.
We thank Springwater Firefighters and Pumper 41 and their donation of a 72 Hour Emergency Backpack. Our winner was Ray N of Hillsdale. The winners of our Scavenger Hunt Kool 107.5 Shower Radios were sisters Lena and Trinity. A big thank you to Murry Truax and his team from the Elmvale District Lion’s Club for our BBQ.
For further information follow us on Facebook – Hillsdale Community Group.
Catherine Manson, Co-Chair, Hillsdale Community Recreation Association.
Craighurst Women’s Institute met Tuesday for annual dinner out.
By Sheila Craig, June 19, 2025 – Eight members came, and had a jolly time. We discussed the Village, in particular how the Park cleanup is going after the ice storm (slowly) and the major gas line works in preparation for Craighurst Crossing’s 400 homes. (slowly) Did you know, gentle reader, you have to dig up beside the highway several times, and move mountains of dirt? The old pioneers resting in the Pres. Cemetery are getting a good view, as the diggers snuggle up to the graveyard fence. And the coyotes (Craighurst branch) have been holding meetings at midnight to debate whether to cross the railroad track or not. It takes a lot of gabbing/howling/singing to get things right. (Township Councils take heed)
We organized our planning meeting for the year to come. We raised a toast to members absent and wished them well. And thus ended another good time at The Craighurst Women’s Institute.
Ontario Permitting Alcoholic Beverages on Pedal Pubs
By Ministry of the Attorney General June 27, 2025
TORONTO —The Ontario government is supporting small businesses and encouraging local tourism by allowing alcohol to be served and consumed on large quadricycles, commonly known as pedal pubs. As of July 1, this change would apply to pedal pubs which currently operate in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Toronto, Ottawa and Windsor, with space for 12 or more people travelling between restaurants and bars. This change will also provide more opportunities for customers to explore products created by local Ontario breweries, wineries, cideries and other producers. In the face of tariffs and economic uncertainty, the government is continuing to pursue opportunities to help grow Ontario’s $32 billion provincial tourism industry, which supports 325,000 jobs across the province.
“Pedal pubs offer a fun and memorable way to explore Ontario’s communities, and we’re making sure that experience is responsible,” said Attorney General Doug Downey. “Beginning this summer, Ontario is supporting a unique opportunity that will not only stimulate tourism and bring communities together, but also protect local jobs, our economy and small businesses across the province.”
Pedal pubs are allowed to operate in a community only once the local municipality passes a by-law to permit their operations. In addition to existing provincial requirements, municipalities may set specific local rules governing the operation of pedal pubs on their roadways, such as designated riding routes and hours of operation to support community safety and ensure pedal pubs do not cause disruption or contribute to traffic issues.
A licence from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) will be required to sell and serve alcohol on pedal pubs. The province works alongside the AGCO to maintain existing rigorous standards for licensing, regulation and social responsibility.
This change will be enabled by an amendment to a regulation under the Liquor Licence and Control Act. This initiative builds on Ontario’s work to modernize the alcohol marketplace responsibly and safely.
Twenty years after conception, Wiidookdaadiwin Lookout officially opens
By: Wayne Doyle, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: BarrieToday.com, Jun 25, 2025
Originally conceived by a group known as the Huronia Lookout Committee two decades ago, the Wiidookdaadiwin Lookout took its first official breath Wednesday afternoon under a beautiful blue sky and a scorching sun.
With more than 100 onlookers gathered to celebrate the opening of the lookout, built on top of former Vespra Landfill No. 14 on George Johnston Road, just south of Snow Valley Road, the site features a huge observation area, hundreds of native plantings, signs explaining the history and importance of the site and the icon — a life-size bronze sculpture of two figures: one, an Indigenous scout, and the other, a canoe-carrying European, and their luggage.
The sculpture, created by Hillsdale artist Marlene Hilton Moore, was based on the history of the region, Hilton Moore said during her opening address. The name, she added, was a gift from the Elders of the Chippewa Tri-Council.
“After two years of updates and careful consideration, (Elder) Bill Jamison returned with their gift to us — Wiidookdaadiwin, translated from Ojibwa, meaning working tougher and helping one another,” she said. “This name, in its most profound meaning, becomes the name not just of the icon but also of the site and the group of volunteers determined to bring the site to life.”
Now called the Friends of Wiidookdaadiwin (FOW), the volunteers spent 20 years on the project, working to realize the vision Harold Parker had for the region when he was involved in a group called the Friends of Minesing Wetlands (FMW).
The site, which Parker had known from childhood, offers some amazing views of Simcoe County’s most prized features: Minesing Wetlands, Georgian Bay, ski hills, and trails.
According to Lynn Brennan, who was the chair of the FMW at the time, Parker was an unstoppable force.
“Harold was the one that had a lot of gumption to go ahead with it and he kept pushing it forward,” she said prior to the official opening ceremonies. “We got a committee together with Simcoe County, and then the First Nations were a big part of it and we just kept moving forward.”
According to the Wiidookdaadiwin website, the project received full approval from the Ministry of the Environment in the fall of 2017. While site development was underway, the icon was installed at the Simcoe County Museum in June 2014.
When the site development and landscaping were completed, the icon was transported from the Simcoe County Museum and installed on the Wiidookdaadiwin site.
In October 2021, the FOW, with support from the county, hosted a small event recognizing several recent project milestones, including the completion of construction at the lookout.
The opening of the lookout was originally scheduled for spring of last year. (The facility had a soft opening last fall.)
Now that it’s open, FOW chair Tony Guergis has his sights set on the future.
“This area could be a real hub of cultural importance,” he said in his closing remarks.
He said the FOW has received requests for information from a variety of organizations, including camera groups, star gazers, bird watchers and even yoga classes.
“We have a fall meeting proposed where we’re going to meet as a board and talk about the vision of the next steps and where we go from here,” he said.
He welcomes ideas and thoughts from the public.
“We’re going to talk about what could be,” he said
Community-driven success powers hospital growth
By GBGH, June 26, 2025 – The Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation has made the largest disbursement in its history, transferring an incredible $8,024,213 to GBGH. This unprecedented gift, made possible by the generosity of thousands of donors, will support a wide range of capital projects that will transform care across the hospital.
The funds will be invested in critical initiatives including the MRI project, renovations of patient rooms, along with equipment and technology upgrades throughout the hospital. Specific investments include automated laboratory equipment, replacement of patient beds, and the acquisition of state-of-the-art surgical tools and technology.
“This is a transformational moment for our hospital and our community,” says Matthew Lawson, President & CEO of GBGH. “The impact of this investment will be felt in every corner of our hospital — from diagnostics to surgery to the comfort of our patient rooms. We are deeply grateful to the GBGH Foundation and to every donor who made this possible.”
The disbursement reflects the collective power of community generosity, with contributions from individuals, families, businesses, and service groups across the region.
“This moment is a celebration of what we can achieve together,” says Nicole Kraftscik, CEO, GBGH Foundation. “More than 1,900 individuals, businesses and organizations made this donation possible – from bake sales to visionary investments – and these funds are being put to work to enhance health care for every patient who walks through the doors at GBGH. We are deeply moved by the generosity and trust that our community has placed in us.”
The transfer was celebrated at the Foundation’s Impact Market on Wednesday, June 25, where more than 120 guests had the opportunity to see and hear from members of the GBGH team about the specific impact of new equipment and technology. Donors got to interact with the hospital’s new patient simulator, see the power of high-definition surgical cameras, and hear stories of how MRI technology is impacting patients in our community.
City unveils new giant Canadian Flag as a symbol of national pride leading into Canada Day
June 26, 2025 – By City of Barrie – (Barrie, ON) – The City of Barrie proudly raised a towering Canadian flag at the Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus this morning. The 35-foot by 70-foot flag is being flown at the top of a 150-foot-tall flagpole. Local developer Skyline provided financial support for the project.
The new flag is one of the largest in the region and is visible from great distances. Installed just days before Canada Day, the unveiling ceremony brought together Mayor Alex Nuttall, members of City Council, representatives from Skyline, emergency services and Canadian Armed Forces personnel, and City staff. The decision to install the flag came in response to the recent US threats to our economy and sovereignty.
“This flag isn’t just a new landmark, it’s a symbol of the pride we feel for our city, our province, and our country,” said Mayor Nuttall. “We are grateful to Skyline for stepping forward and making this possible at no cost to taxpayers. This Canada Day, our patriotic pride will be highlighted for both residents and folks just passing through on their way to the cottage. As conversations about national identity have taken place beyond our borders, this flag is a reminder of who we are, and the values that bring us together.”
“Skyline is proud to stand alongside the City of Barrie for the unveiling of this new landmark that will serve as a powerful symbol of Canadian strength and unity for all who see it,” said Jason Castellan, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Skyline. “Unveiling the flag just ahead of Canada Day—a day that resonates deeply with Skyline, with Barrie, and with communities across the country—makes this moment especially meaningful. We’re honoured to have contributed to bringing this project to life.”
The flagpole stands prominently at the Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus on Fairview Road, a site chosen for its visibility from Highway 400. It can be seen from various locations throughout the city.
Driving Safely Around Horses:
What Every Driver Should Know
Submitted by Louise Picot, June 17, 2025
As rural roads and suburban areas increasingly intersect with equestrian activities, it’s important for drivers to understand how to safely share the road with horses and their riders. Horses are large, powerful animals—but they are also prey animals that can startle easily. A frightened horse can pose serious risks to the rider, the animal, and even drivers. Here’s what every motorist should know to help keep roads safe for everyone.
Horses are unpredictable: While many are trained for road environments, unexpected noises, quick movements, or even unfamiliar vehicles can cause them to spook. This can lead to dangerous situations if the horse bolts into traffic or loses its rider.
Many accidents involving horses and vehicles are preventable with patience and awareness.
Tips for Driving Safely Around Horses
- Slow Down
When you see a horse and rider ahead—whether on the road or a nearby shoulder—reduce your speed well in advance. Sudden engine noises or rushing past can startle a horse.
- Pass Wide and Slow
Give as much space as possible when overtaking a horse. Ideally, you should pass at no more than 15 km/hr (10 mph) and leave at least a full car width (2 metres) between your vehicle and the horse.
- Turn Down the Volume
Lower your radio and avoid honking your horn. Loud noises can be frightening to horses and may cause them to panic.
- Be Patient
Wait for a safe opportunity to pass. If a horse appears agitated, or if the rider signals for you to wait, remain stopped until they feel it is safe for you to proceed.
- Watch for Hand Signals
Riders may use hand signals to communicate their intentions—similar to cyclists. These can indicate when they plan to turn or if they need you to slow down or stop.
- Avoid Sudden Movements
Quick acceleration, revving the engine, or slamming on the brakes can startle a horse. Make all movements calm and gradual.
- Stay Alert in Rural Areas
In many rural or semi-rural areas, horses may be present even if not immediately visible. Be extra cautious on narrow roads, near farms, or during local equestrian events.
In Case of an Incident
If you are involved in an accident involving a horse:
Stop immediately and provide assistance.
Call emergency services if anyone is injured or if the horse is loose.
Remain calm and do not approach the horse unless advised by the rider or authorities.
Driving near horses requires a blend of common sense, courtesy, and awareness. By taking a few simple precautions, you can help protect not only the horse and rider but also yourself and your passengers. Sharing the road responsibly helps ensure that everyone—whether on hooves or wheels—can travel safely.