Legacy Lives On – To Know Her Was to Love her
It is with heavy hearts that we share some difficult news with our readers and community. Linda Belcourt, the longtime publisher and guiding heart behind the North Simcoe Springwater News, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on December 29, 2025.
We recognize that many of you knew Linda personally or worked closely with her over the years. For some, this may be the first time learning of her passing, and we understand this news may come as a shock and bring deep sadness. Linda cared profoundly about this community and the relationships she built with local businesses, organizations, and readers. Her loss is felt deeply across North Simcoe.
In the immediate aftermath of her passing, publication was paused while we attended to urgent personal and business matters. As a result, the January 1 and January 15 editions were not published. We sincerely thank our readers, advertisers, and contributors for their patience, kindness, and understanding during this very difficult time.
We would like to reassure our community that the North Simcoe Springwater News will continue. As Linda’s husband and daughter, we are stepping in to carry forward her work, and we are pleased to confirm that the newspaper will continue on a bi-weekly publication schedule moving forward.
Linda was first introduced to the Springwater News through her employment at the paper during Michael Jacobs’ ownership, where her passion for community journalism was first sparked. Although she left the newspaper in the early 2000s to pursue other career ventures, she made the heartfelt decision to return and purchase the business in 2022.
During her 3.5 years of ownership, Linda expanded distribution beyond Springwater to include Midland, Tiny and Penetanguishene, allowing the paper to better serve four North Simcoe communities. She was deeply committed to supporting local businesses, community sports, municipal politics, and grassroots news, and she cherished the relationships she built throughout the region.
Linda also worked tirelessly to improve the quality of the publication, securing one of the top printing presses in Canada. This advancement allowed the newspaper to move to full-colour production for the first time, while carefully managing rising costs for both the business and its advertisers.
She was a proud member of the Ontario Community Newspaper Association and the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors, where she enjoyed learning from fellow editors and supporting the future of community newspapers. In July 2025, Linda was honoured as the recipient of the Brian Mazza Scholarship at the ISWNE Annual Conference in South Dakota—an opportunity she was extremely proud of and grateful for.
Born and raised in the Elmvale area, Linda was the daughter of Morley and Margaret Marchant. She spent her early adulthood building a successful IT career in Toronto while traveling and forming lifelong friendships. She later returned home to Elmvale, where she met her best friend and the love of her life, Brian Belcourt. Together, they shared 32 beautiful years of marriage filled with laughter, camping adventures, and unwavering love.
Linda was a devoted mother to her daughters, Kari Belcourt, born in 1996, and Marie Belcourt, born in 1997. She was their biggest supporter and fiercest advocate. She was also a cherished grandmother to Evelyn and Harrison Belcourt, and eagerly awaited the arrival of her newest grandson. The love and laughter she shared with her grandchildren will never be forgotten.
An incredible wife, mother, grandmother, and community leader, Linda was a cornerstone of the Elmvale community. Beyond operating the Springwater News, she was actively involved with organizations such as the Elmvale Lioness Club and Girl Guides of Canada, always giving back where she could.
Linda will be deeply missed by her husband Brian, her daughters Kari and Marie (Brett), her grandchildren Evelyn, Harrison, and her soon-to-arrive grandson, her mother Margaret Marchant (née Dundas), her siblings Glenn (Giselle), Joyce, and Chris (Cindy), as well as her extended family, friends, and the many communities she served. She was predeceased by her father, Morley Marchant. As we move forward, we do so with gratitude for the overwhelming support, kind words, and understanding shown by our readers, advertisers, contributors, and the wider community. Linda believed deeply in the power of local journalism to connect people, strengthen small businesses, and tell the stories that matter most. It is our promise to honour her legacy by continuing the work she loved, with the same care, integrity, and community spirit that defined her life and her newspaper.
Thank you for standing with us during this time of loss. Your support means more than words can express.