BACKSTAGE SCOOP by Linda Belcourt
King’s Wharf: Grease
This play was very well done. The music, the laughter and the costumes were all fabulous. It felt like I knew the characters very well but the end of the production. It was one of best performances I have seen here.
The audience was dancing along by the end of the show. Truly an outstanding out show.
AJ Bridel was the co-star playing sweet Sandy and during intermission I met her parents. Her mother was telling me that AJ was singing Momma Mia by age three and her talents were recognized by many people. Interesting that her mother at a young age saw grease 6 times because she loved it so much and now her daughter is the star of the show.
“A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop A-wop-bam-boom!”, and two thumbs up for this one. I urge you to see this.
Music for the Marsh Returns to Wye Marsh with a Celebration of Music, Conservation, and Community Spirit!
The Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre is excited to welcome the return of Music for the Marsh on Saturday, September 13, a day filled with live music, family fun, and meaningful conservation impact.The evening wraps up with an open-air concert from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, featuring performances by Madison Mueller, Krista Blondin & Dave Bayley, and Tom Barlow & Kristen Prince. Set against the stunning backdrop of the wetlands at sunset, this adult-focused concert offers a unique and meaningful way to support conservation. Light food and refreshments will be available, and guests can take part in a raffle with prizes in support of the Wye Marsh’s ongoing efforts.
Get Ready for Our Fall Fair:8 Weeks to Go! By Tanya King FAS president, Aug. 6, 2025
Mark your calendars! Our beloved Elmvale Fall Fair is just eight weeks away, and we’re gearing up for a spectacular weekend of community, tradition, and fun. From October 9th to 11th, we will be celebrating our
Canadian Made theme in true homegrown style. This fair has been a staple of our community since 1859, bringing people of all ages together to celebrate our roots and showcase our talents.
This year, more than ever, we invite you to join in the spirit of togetherness and show your Canadian pride. It’s a homecoming weekend where we come together, not just as individuals, but as a community united by our shared heritage and love for this great land.
Calling All Participants: Get Involved in the Monster Parade!
One of the most exciting events of the weekend is our Saturday Monster Parade, and we want YOU to be a part of it! Whether you’re a local business, club, organization, or individual, we encourage you to show your Canadian loyalty by entering a float, marching, or getting creative with a themed costume. This parade is a highlight of the fair, and we want it to be bigger and better than ever!
It’s a chance to let your creativity shine and showcase what makes our community so special. Whether you’re honouring our Canadian heritage or celebrating the unique spirit of our town, we want to see your ideas come to life in the parade!
Check Out the Fair Book
To get inspired, be sure to check out this year’s fair book on our Facebook page You will find a full list of events, contest, and activities to get involved in whether it’s a new new entry, or an old favourite, there’s something for everyone –so don’t miss out!
Traditional Events: the Best of Country Fun
Our fair wouldn’t be complete without our, favourite traditional events. Get ready for the tractor pulls, horse shows, sheep and livestock competitions, and the always popular mini tractor pulls for the kids. And this year, we’re adding a special treat: a bumper car exhibit presented by our junior board. It’s a free activity for those who meet the height requirement, and it promises to be a blast!
Exciting Entertainment Line-up
We have an incredible lineup of entertainment this year, including performances by local hometown star Graham Scott Fleming on Friday night as well as a toe tapping performance by the Northern Jewel Clogging Group.
Ron White a talented solo songwriter and singer will perform on Saturday. Gwyneth Covey will also be performing and we are thrilled to welcome Gary Austin, our Magician, who will surely leave you spellbound!
And don’t forget local favourites – the HCES choir, EDHS choir, and the EDHS band will all be performing throughout the weekend.
Homecraft and Junior Competitions: Show Your Talent!
Our Homecraft competition is always full of breathtaking, handcrafted items, delicious baked goods, and preserves. Meanwhile, the junior school competition continues to impress, showcasing the incredible talents of our young people. We encourage both the newcomers and seasoned competitors to submit your entries – you won’t want to miss the chance to see your work display for all the enjoy!
Let’s Make This Year’s Fair, the Best Yet!
This year‘s Elmvale Fall Fair promises to be a celebration of all that makes our community great – our pride, our talent, and our share shared history. Let’s come together to make this year’s fair one to remember. Whether you’re participating in the
Monster Parade, or simply enjoying the events, we can’t wait to see you there!
Get involved, show your Canadian spirit, and be part of something special!
‘Everything on track’ for road reconstruction work in Angus: CAO
By: Wayne Doyle, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: BarrieToday.com, Aug 06, 2025
For folks living in Essa Township, patience will definitely be a virtue as the municipality carries out a number of road construction projects.
In the community of Angus, the largest project — the $3.8-million reconstruction of Simcoe Street and Raglan Street — is moving ahead as planned and is expected to be mostly complete by November.
“Everything is on track,” Michael Mikael, Essa Township’s chief administrative officer, told BarrieToday in an email Wednesday. “Asphalt is scheduled for the spring of 2026.”
The reconstruction includes Simcoe Street between the western dead end and the eastern dead end, and Raglan Street from King Street to Simcoe Street as well as some ditch work on Water Street.
The construction will include:
Repaving and infrastructure renewal
Installation of a storm-sewer system to manage surface runoff and minimize/eliminate localized flooding
Construction of improved concrete sidewalks to enhance pedestrian accessibility and safety
Elimination of existing roadside ditches/closed ditches/drainage swales to improve visual aesthetics, and property access
Introduction of permanent traffic-calming measures such as raised intersection, traffic control improvement, pavement marking and narrowed lanes to reduce vehicle speeds and enhance safety for all road users at selected locations.
“The urbanization of Simcoe Street and Raglan Street will deliver significant long-term benefits to the community, including safer pedestrian access, better drainage, and improved traffic management,” John Kolb, the township’s manager of public works, said in a report to township council.
The project was awarded to Arnott Construction.
On Tuesday, the township announced three new construction projects.
Green Infrastructure Partners (GIP) will begin emergency repairs on the 5th Sideroad, Scotch Line and the 10th Line this week with a deadline of Sept. 13.
The repairs will include grinding — removing the top layer of an existing asphalt pavement, typically with a milling machine, to correct surface imperfections, remove damaged pavement, or prepare the surface for a new layer of asphalt — and paving.
Green Infrastructure Partners will also begin work on the 6th Line and 8th Line, where they will complete base stabilization work, culvert replacement, pulverizing, grading and paving. This work is also scheduled to be completed by Sept. 13.
For the 8th Line to be completed, temporary full road closures will be in place during construction between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
During closure hours, traffic will be detoured to adjacent local roads — County Road 56 and the 9th Line.
According to Mikael, the cost for these two projects will be around $1.2 million.
The last project announced Tuesday was the closure of the 30th Sideroad, between County Road 56 and the 6th Line, on Aug. 22.
According to the township, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway will be conducting track repairs and there will be access for local residents only.
Join the Front Line: Local Fire Departments Recruiting Paid On-Call Firefighters
Looking for a meaningful way to serve your community? Tay Township, together with the Town of Midland, Town of Penetanguishene, Tiny Township and Georgian Bay Township are now recruiting paid on-call Firefighters.
Each local fire department is committed to protecting lives, property, and the environment through fire suppression, emergency response and public safety education. Together, we are seeking individuals who are passionate about serving their community and making a difference.
Attend an Information Session:
September 4, 2025 – 7:00 p.m. Tiny Township Station 2, 817 County Road 6, Wyevale
September 14, 2025 – 9:00 a.m. Midland Fire Department, 550 Bayshore Drive, Midland
Important Dates:
Application Deadline: October 3, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
Written Test: October 16, 2025
Physical Test: November 8, 2025
Learn more about the recruitment process and eligibility in the Joint Firefighter Recruitment Orientation Guide.
We thank all applicants for their interest. Please note that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Simcoe County Archives re-opens to public after undergoing renovations
By Office of County of Simcoe
Midhurst/August 11, 2025 – The Simcoe County Archives has officially reopened to the public after an eight-month closure to accommodate significant on-site renovations. Originally constructed in two phases in 1979 and 1992, the facility had seen minimal structural changes until now, making these upgrades essential to modernizing operations and enhancing public service.
Key improvements include:
- Revitalized Reading Room: Designed to be more welcoming and accessible, the updated space now features a small multi-purpose room and a self-serve reference library and microfilm area. These changes will streamline service delivery and improve the research experience.
- Enhanced Staff Workspace: The staff area has been expanded and tailored to support the efficient processing of archival records. Additional shelving in the Receiving Room will further expedite record handling.
- New Digitization Area: A dedicated space has been created for scanning and digitizing archival materials, supporting long-term preservation and improved access.
- Sustainable Flooring: Eco-friendly cork and marmoleum flooring have been installed throughout the facility, aligning with the County’s commitment to sustainability.
These renovations not only improve the physical infrastructure but also enhance workflow efficiency, enabling staff to make more archival material readily available to researchers.
The Simcoe County Archives houses municipal records from the County of Simcoe, all 16 lower-tier municipalities, and the City of Barrie, along with documents from over 30 historic townships, towns, and villages. The archival holdings take up 3.5 kilometres of shelving.
Among the treasures preserved are the first known butter tart recipe published in a cookbook (1900), one of the earliest photographs of a Canadian women’s hockey team (1896), documentation of local involvement in the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837, newspapers dating back to 1847, and culturally significant collections such as the James R. Gowan Papers.
For details booking in-person appointments, making donations and more, please visit https://simcoe.ca/explore/simcoe-county-archives/.
About the County of Simcoe
County of Simcoe is composed of 16 member municipalities and provides crucial public services to County residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit our website at simcoe.ca.
Upcoming clothing drive organizer wears her heart on her sleeve
By: Derek Howard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: MidlandToday.ca, Jul 31, 2025
Area residents wanting to make a difference have a month to gather clothes for a local donation drive that’s returning after a successful debut last year.
The ‘New to You 2.0’ clothing donation drive will be happening once again from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday August 23 at St. Paul’s United Church in Midland, according to organizer Tori St. Amant.
Donations will be accepted until Wednesday August 20, with an emphasis toward men’s and women’s gently used clothing and shoes, new health and hygiene products and large sized reusable bags for attendees to fill.
While the origin of the drive began when St. Amant was in high school to collect for local youth homeless shelter Youth Haven, the project the project started last year when she aimed for a larger clothing donation drive in the downtown church.
“I wasn’t thinking anybody was really going to come,” said St. Amant on the 2024 event. “Maybe 10 or 20 people trickling in throughout the day just as they walk by up on King Street in Midland. But I opened the doors at 10:30 and there were people waiting out there.”
St. Amant said that last year, “we probably had 50 to 100 people come through throughout the day, coming from all walks of life,” with donations of hundreds of bags of clothing, to which the excess were further donated to an unnamed local organization.
“Just the gratitude of everyone coming up, saying: ‘thank you so much for this; you’re so sweet; I really needed this; you have no idea how much it helped; when are you doing this again?’ The reaction of everyone who did participate was really heartwarming.”
This time around, St. Amant told MidlandToday that the intent would remain the same: welcoming those who struggle to make ends meet; people wanting to refresh their wardrobes; and to accept pre-laundered clothing and laundry-supply donations from those looking to clean their closets.
“We have the same goals: spreading kindness, helping those in need, and trying to make a positive difference in people’s lives,” said St. Amant.
Previous participants included Access Storage who had taken in donations within their storage space, and St. Amant stated they were returning for the same role again this year. As well as host venue St. Paul’s United Church, St. Amant confirmed that Triple H Contracting would be donating use of a trailer for transportation of the donations.
Other partnerships were remaining to be confirmed, but St. Amant stated that refreshments last year from Tim Hortons and Shoppers Drug Mart had been graciously welcomed by volunteers as well as attendees.
“There were a few unhoused people that came up to us and said they hadn’t eaten in awhile, so that’s who we were giving the donuts, muffins, and coffee to,” said St. Amant.
For volunteers, St. Amant stated that the not-for-profit would be a great opportunity for high school students looking to acquire hours while contributing back to the community.
“I’m open to offering this, because it is a lot of work lugging it down and setting it up. That’s a great opportunity for high school students… or even someone who’s wanting to help out but is maybe unable to actually donate physical items – they can maybe donate some of their time.”
Another improvement upon the previous year involved a re-examination of how change rooms operated during the donation event, with St. Amant noting: “We’re looking to make that a better system.”
St. Amant added that the summer event would likely take a pause for the next two years as she attended schooling through a Master’s program of physical therapy in Kingston. “However, after that I would absolutely love to make this an annual thing, if I can.”
For those interested in donation drop off information, or to participate through partnership or volunteer efforts, St. Amant said she could be reached through her Facebook account or by email.
CanadaOne Auto Drives Mental Health Forward with $1-Million Gift to RVH
By RVH, August 8, 2025
The energy was electric Tuesday night at Boots & Hearts Barn Burner, and not just because of the music. In front of a packed crowd, Alex Nuttall, Mayor of Barrie, announced a historic $1-million gift from CanadaOne Auto to Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre’s (RVH) Keep Life Wild campaign.
The donation, the largest ever to mental health at RVH, will directly support the expansion of RVH’s regional mental health program—bringing more care, more compassion, and more hope to people across Simcoe Muskoka.
The announcement was met with cheers and heartfelt applause from the Barn Burner’s attendees, recognizing the need for strong mental health services in the region. The expanded program will include more inpatient beds, enhanced outpatient services, and new spaces designed to promote healing and dignity.
“This is a bold step forward,” said Gail Hunt, RVH president and CEO, “CanadaOne Auto’s generosity sends a powerful message: mental health matters. And together, we’re building a system that reflects that.”
The Keep Life Wild campaign is RVH’s $100-million fundraising effort to expand and transform healthcare across the region. With this gift, CanadaOne Auto joins a growing list of community champions helping to end hallway medicine, reduce wait times, and ensure world-class care is available close to home.
To learn more or make a gift, visit https://www.keeplifewild.caPhoto cutline: Members of CanadaOne Auto present a cheque (the first in a 5-year pledge) to representatives of Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) and RVH Foundation at the annual Boots & Hearts Barn Burner Charity Hockey Tournament, hosted by Mayor Alex Nuttall.
City statement: Status of wooded area west of Anne Street
By City of Barrie, August 9, 2025
Yesterday, the wooded area between Victoria Street, John Street, and Anne Street South was turned back to the City following a Police investigation. The site was secured by City staff yesterday anticipating the need for significant cleanup.
The City requested the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) attend the site to conduct an inspection. Following their investigation, the MECP issued an Order under the Environmental Protection Act to close the site down. The amount of waste that is on the site poses health and safety risks as well as environmental concerns and must be cleaned and restored.
Given the MECP order to close the site down, the City is working with the County of Simcoe and our community partners to ensure that anyone affected by this cleanup is provided shelter and connected to appropriate resources.
Five recipients awarded with Township of Tiny education bursaries
By Township of Tiny, August 6, 2025
(Tiny, Ontario) At the August 6, 2025, regular meeting of Council, the Mayor and Council announced the 2025 Education Bursary recipients. Each of these five students entering their first year of post-secondary education will receive a $1,000 bursary from the township. The Township of Tiny would like to congratulate the 2025 Education Bursary recipients:
- Leo Chicoine, graduating from École Secondaire Le Caron is going to Brevard College to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration.
- Olivia Reynolds, graduating from St. Theresa’s Catholic High School is going to York University for Performance and Dance.
- Robyn Donaldson, graduating from Georgian Bay District Secondary School is going to Wilfrid Laurier University to pursue a Psychology degree.
- Isabella Gendron, graduating from Georgian Bay District Secondary School is going to Queens University for an Honours Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education.
- Anna Ryde, graduating from Northern Secondary School is going to University of Waterloo for Mechanical Engineering.
The Township of Tiny Education Bursary program assists students who are entering their post-secondary education, including courses and training programs of a technical and vocational nature. Applications for the bursary are anonymously vetted by a selection committee and scored based on set criteria consisting of volunteer experience, essay response, post-secondary education length, and completeness/comprehension.
“On behalf of Tiny, we would like to congratulate our five Education Bursary recipients and wish them continued success as they pursue post-secondary education,” said Mayor David Evans. “Tiny’s longstanding bursary program is an example of how we continue to support the youth in our community.”
Simcoe County Archives re-opens to public after undergoing renovations
By County of Simcoe, Aug. 11, 2025
Midhurst/August 11, 2025 – The Simcoe County Archives has officially reopened to the public after an eight-month closure to accommodate significant on-site renovations. Key improvements include:
- Revitalized Reading Room: Designed to be more welcoming and accessible, the updated space now features a small multi-purpose room and a self-serve reference library and microfilm area. These changes will streamline service delivery and improve the research experience.
- Enhanced Staff Workspace: The staff area has been expanded and tailored to support the efficient processing of archival records. Additional shelving in the Receiving Room will further expedite record handling.
- New Digitization Area: A dedicated space has been created for scanning and digitizing archival materials, supporting long-term preservation and improved access.
- Sustainable Flooring: Eco-friendly cork and marmoleum flooring have been installed throughout the facility, aligning with the County’s commitment to sustainability.
These renovations not only improve the physical infrastructure but also enhance workflow efficiency, enabling staff to make more archival material readily available to researchers.
The Simcoe County Archives houses municipal records from the County of Simcoe, all 16 lower-tier municipalities, and the City of Barrie, along with documents from over 30 historic townships, towns, and villages. The archival holdings take up 3.5 kilometres of shelving.
Among the treasures preserved are the first known butter tart recipe published in a cookbook (1900), one of the earliest photographs of a Canadian women’s hockey team (1896), documentation of local involvement in the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837, newspapers dating back to 1847, and culturally significant collections such as the James R. Gowan Papers.