Hindson Marina celebrates end of season with donation to GBGH – By GBGH, Nov 17, 2025
The team at Hindson Marina celebrated another successful boating season on September 13th with their annual End-of-Season Boater Party. The event brought together more than 200 guests for live music by Kitty & The Boyz, fun raffle prizes, and community spirit — raising $2,500 in support of the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation.
Pictured from left: Lorelei Hindson, Owner; Lorrie Ingram, Accounting; and Jessica Hindson, Dockage/Marketing & Communications, Hindson Marina; with Robyn Kaczanowski, Community Giving Officer, GBGH Foundation.
GBGH Seeks Volunteers for Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) – By GBGH, Nov 6, 2025
November 6, 2025 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is inviting community members to join its new Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP).
HELP volunteers make a meaningful difference through daily, structured visits that keep older adults mentally, emotionally, and physically well while in hospital. Under the guidance of an Elder Life Specialist and clinical team, volunteers provide simple yet powerful interventions that promote comfort and independence.
Volunteer activities include:
- Engaging patients in conversation and memory exercises
- Supporting mobility and physical activity
- Assisting with meals and reducing isolation
- Helping patients stay oriented and emotionally supported
Volunteer expectations:
- One shift per week (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) Monday to Friday with minimum 6-month commitment
- Completion of 4-hour training and 4 shadow shifts
The next training session is scheduled for Tuesday, November 18.Current HELP volunteer Eileen Cross says the experience is as rewarding for her as it is for the patients: “I think I get as much out of this as the patients do. If you’re looking for a way to volunteer, this is an excellent way to give back to your community. I really enjoy the hands-on aspect of this role—it’s so rewarding to see the difference you can make.”
If you are eager to make a difference in the lives of older adults, apply today by emailing volunteers@gbgh.on.ca with the subject line “HELP Program”.
A Milestone Birthday, a Meaningful Memory: Giving Back to GBGH Foundation for Susie’s 60th – By GBGH, Nov 4, 2025
Celebrating a milestone and giving back! Susan Saccucci’s 60th birthday party brought friends and family together to raise $7,089 for the GBGH Foundation’s We See You Campaign, including a generous $5,000 gift from Randy and Sandra Hall in honour of the care their parents received at GBGH.
County of Simcoe Paramedic Services Launch 23rd Annual Food and Toy Drive – Give a little, help a lot
By County of Simcoe, Midhurst/Nov 14, 2025
County of Simcoe Paramedic Services is proud to launch its 23rd Annual Food and Toy Drive, continuing a long-standing tradition of supporting children and families in need across our region during the holiday season.
Financial contributions can be made online at CanadaHelps. Additionally, new, unwrapped toys, non-perishable food items, and gift cards (please indicate the gift card value) are welcome to be donated at the designated drop-off locations listed below.
Over the past 22 years, the Food and Toy Drive has made a significant impact, collecting 130,831 toys, 88,970 lbs of food, and $289,321.57 in monetary and gift card donations for families in need across the county.
“Our County of Simcoe paramedics continue to show us what community service looks like, with compassion, generosity, and a deep commitment to the well-being of our residents,” shared Warden Basil Clarke. “This campaign brings hope and joy to families across Simcoe County, and we’re grateful to our incredible paramedics who give so much of their time, and to the countless businesses and individuals who continue to support this drive year after year.”
Paramedic volunteers kicked off the drive early this year, thanks to their colleagues at Georgian Manor and Village, who collected 130 lbs of non-perishable food, $109 in monetary donations and a few toys during a recent community event. These donations were delivered to the Georgian Bay Food Network in Midland.
DONATION LOCATIONS: County of Simcoe Administration Centre, 1110 Highway 26 in Midhurst between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and at the following County of Simcoe Paramedic Stations, where outdoor drop boxes are available until December 21:
- Alliston – 6933 Industrial Parkway, Alliston
- Angus – 1 Tree Top Street, Angus
- Barrie Simcoe Emergency Services Campus – 110 Fairview Drive, Barrie
- Barrie Tiffin – 113 Tiffin Street, Barrie
- Beeton – 51 Main Street East, Beeton
- Bradford – 480 Miller Park Avenue, Bradford
- Coldwater – 1 Firehall Lane, Coldwater
- Collingwood – 169 St. Paul Street, Collingwood
- Craighurst – 2298 Horseshoe Valley Road, Oro-Medonte
- Elmvale – 17 Allenwood Road, Elmvale
- Midland – 395 Cranston Crescent, Midland
- Orillia – 68 West Street, Orillia
- Penetanguishene – 10 Robert Street West, Penetanguishene
- Springwater – 1110 Snow Valley Road, Midhurst
- Stayner – 6993 Highway 26, Stayner
- Stroud – 2394 Victoria Street West, Stroud
- Wasaga Beach – 23 Oxbow Park Road, Wasaga Beach
- Washago – 401 Anchor Drive, Severn
In addition to the above, many locations across the county will also be accepting donations and pop-up collection points may be in a community near you, including the following:
Friday, November 14, 2025:
- Collingwood Walmart ~ 5 to 8 p.m.
Saturday, November 15, 2025:
- Collingwood Walmart ~ 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Orillia Walmart ~ 2 to 6 p.m.
- Collingwood Santa Claus Parade ~ 5 to 7 p.m.
- Barrie Santa Claus Parade ~ 5 to 7 p.m.
- Alliston Santa Claus Parade ~ 6 to 7 p.m.
- Bradford West Gwillimbury Santa Claus Parade ~ 6 to 8 p.m.
Sunday, November 16, 2025:
- Bradford West Gwillimbury Rattlers Hockey Game ~ Bradford Leisure Centre ~ 7 to 9 p.m.
For an up-to-date list, visit simcoe.ca/toydrive.
County of Simcoe is composed of sixteen 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.
Heart of Georgian Bay Fund Opens $100K Grant Opportunity for Local Initiatives – By Scott Warnock, Nov 4, 2025
Established in 2023 by long-time North Simcoe residents Marc Wayne and Julie Coleman, the Heart of Georgian Bay Community Forward Fund was created to build upon their ongoing philanthropic efforts and inspire meaningful, lasting change close to home.
Marc and Julie have contributed extensively to local charities and initiatives that uplift the people and places that make our region thrive. Through this fund, administered by the Huronia Community Foundation, they continue their commitment to strengthening the communities of Midland, Penetanguishene, Tiny, Tay and Beausoleil First Nation.
The Heart of Georgian Bay Community Forward Fund is now inviting applications for project-based initiatives that create meaningful impact across our communities.
This granting opportunity is designed to support bold, innovative ideas that address key community priorities including:
Food Security, Education Literacy and Training, Healthy Living Activities, Environmental Leadership, Promotion of Mental Health and Creativity in Arts and Culture.
Total funding available is $ 100,000.
Applicants can apply for a single-year grant of up to $ 10,000 or a multi-year grant of up to $ 20,000 over two years (10K per year).
For more details and to apply visit www.huronia community foundation.com/charity-centre/community-grants/
Garden Tour Blooms Bigger Than Ever, Donates $16,000 to Community Causes – By Laura Forma, Georgian Bay Garden Tour Committee, Nov 11, 2025
Like much of summer 2025, Saturday, July 26th was a scorcher, but that did not discourage over 400 gardening enthusiasts from striking out for some Georgian Bay adventure and green-thumb delights. Imaginations were tickled and inspiration
abundant within the twelve feature gardens, ranging from sandy beachfront dune plantings, vegetable plots and swaths of beneficial wildflowers, to cosy backyard retreats, trickling brooks and waterfalls, nature-decorated mossy rock retaining walls, and exotic floral landscapes reminiscent of more tropical climes. Tour participants delighted in varied artisan wares, scratched their heads in our reinvented Mystery Plant Competition, and placed generous bids in our successful Silent Auction.
Recording substantial increases in ticket sales and all fundraising avenues, the organizing committee recently presented a total of $16,000 ($8,000 each) to charity partners: Hospice Huronia and Friends of Wye Marsh.
Tour-goers were astonished by the variety of garden styles and planting schemes they encountered, while the organizing committee was impressed by the willingness of our exceptional garden hosts to share both their property and their experiencedriven horticultural knowledge. “It is the anecdotes of gardening successes and misfires communicated in one-on-one conversations between hosts & Tour participants that many appreciate most about our garden tour,” says Wade Fornwald,
Committee Chair. “We are ecstatic that the combined efforts of all involved—garden hosts, artisans, sponsors & silent auction donors, and the many volunteers from our charity partners—generated a huge increase in funds that we could pass on to Hospice Huronia, our long-time charity partner, as well as Friends of Wye Marsh, who came on board for the 2025 Tour and will continue to be a Tour beneficiary going forward.”
“Having been a recipient of the Garden Tour funds for 5 years, it’s amazing how the power of the $25 garden tour fee and sponsorships and artisan contributions have added up to be many thousands of dollars over that time. The Georgian Bay Garden Tour has contributed close to $50,000 to our Bereavement Support Program. It’s a program that continues to see a growing demand for services and the Garden Tour has made a significant impact,” says Debbie Kesheshian,
Executive Director of Hospice Huronia – Tomkins House. “It has allowed us to expand our support offerings over these last few years and help many people from communities across our region. Thank you to the Committee, the gardeners and all those who supported the Tour again this year.”
Eric Walter, Executive Director of the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre acknowledged that “The Georgian Bay Garden Tour has established itself as a meaningful and memorable way for people to support local charity and marvel at the creativity, passion, and talent of community members. The funding support we received from this year’s event has meant the world to the staff and volunteers of Friends of Wye Marsh, whose work in environmental education and stewardship doesn’t exist without the support of the community.”
The Georgian Bay Garden Tour, now held annually each fourth Saturday of July, will return for the peak of the gardening season on July 25th, 2026. The organizing committee has already secured all of the feature gardens for the 2026 Tour and is now actively curating the 2027 and 2028 rosters. Anyone interested in offering up their garden for these or future Tours is welcome to contact us by email: gbgardentour@gmail.com. The Tour organizing committee is always in need of additional support and encourages Simcoe County gardeners to reach out and come on board to help organize this 35-years’ strong Simcoe County tradition.