All posts by SHLF

How many kilometres will this Wasaga dad and daughter do for a miracle?

Bruce Johnson and his daughter Holly will add another 28,000 kilometres to the odometer, as they travel from the topmost point in North America reachable by road, to the southern tip of South America.

This — what they’re calling the Ends of the Earth Ride — is the third long-distance motorcycle trip the pair has been on in the past four years to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN), and certainly the longest, in terms of both distance and time.

Along the way, as with their previous two trips, Dad — an agent with Re/Max of Wasaga Beach — and daughter will be stopping at CMN hospitals and Re/Max offices along the way.

CMN funds children’s hospitals throughout Canada and the United States, including SickKids in Toronto.

Their first trip in 2014, when Holly was 12, took them from Toronto to Costa Rica; in 2016, they biked across Canada. Along the way, on both trips, they’ve carried flags signed by Re/Max agents, staff at children’s hospitals across the country, and families whose kids are receiving treatment. Both flags have been auctioned off at the end of the Johnsons’ trips, each raising about $30,000.

Motorcycle for Miracles also raises money for the family’s foundation, the Alyssa Rae Johnson Fund.

The fund was created by Bruce and his wife Mary in 2013, named after their first daughter, Alyssa Rae, who died in the neonatal intensive care unit at SickKids in 1998, 20 days after she was born with a large omphalocele — meaning some of her organs were outside of her body.

On this trip, they and Bruce’s 2007 BMW R1200 GS will go on a flight from Toronto to Edmonton, and then on to Inuvik, N.W.T.

Bruce’s wife, Mary, and the couple’s younger daughter, Jocelyn, will remain on the home front, co-ordinating fundraising and planning efforts.

From Inuvik, the pair will ride to , N.W.T., on a highway that was just completed in November, to touch the Arctic Ocean.

Johnson said he was inspired to take the trip when he was 15, and read an article in a Canadian motorcycle magazine by a writer who took the trip from one end of the Americas to the other on his motorcycle — in January, starting on the ice highway between Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik.

“(The article) planted the seed … I was consumed to do this trip, going through the Americas the same way,” he said.

The start of their journey has another significance for Johnson: he and Mary first met, in 1991 in Inuvik, and in 1993 the couple started a three-year cycling trip from that point, and through the Americas.

The motorcycle ride won’t take that long — just six months, to get to , on the southern tip of mainland Argentina — though it will mean Holly misses her first semester of Grade 12. In preparation, she completed three Grade 12 courses so she can graduate with her peers, and is now eying a university degree in global development.

The trips with her dad, she said, have been great opportunities for personal growth.

“I really enjoy meeting new people. I was a bit more shy before going on the trips, but being with my dad and seeing him unapologetically knock on doors and ask for help has helped get me out of my shell,” she said. 

Not having to worry about school gives her a chance to “take everything in.

“It’s been really cool to experience other cultures by being immersed in them; I have friends in Mexico who I’m still in touch with.”

Before venturing out on July 31, they had already topped their $100,000 goal, in part thanks to “champion” Re/Max agents who have each donated $2,000 to the cause. Johnson estimated the family foundation, used by SickKids as an endowment fund, with purchases made using the fund’s interest for items considered of “highest” need, is now sitting at more than $400,000.

For Bruce, the trips have given him “a fuller heart.”

“There are so many people part of our lives who weren’t before,” he said. “Having Holly witness acts of kindness toward us from people when we needed help along the way has been a great gift, because now she’s not afraid of the world.

“We’ve had people stop us at gas stations and ask where we’re going, and they’re giving us a donation,” Bruce said. “It gets very emotional, because a lot of families (they meet at hospitals) who have lost children … it’s emotionally more exhausting than physically exhausting, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

“As a father, it’s been interesting to see my daughter’s eyes opened up to the world. It really makes for a rich experience for the whole family.”

For more on Motorcycle for Miracles, and to follow their journey, go to , or find them on Facebook at .

Collingwood manufacturer celebrates 50 years

One of Collingwood’s longest-tenured manufacturers has reached a major milestone.

Pilkington Glass is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, having opened in July, 1968.

“To be a manufacturer of automotive parts in southern Ontario for a 50-year span, is an incredible accomplishment,” said plant manager Brian Hammond.

The company produces windshields for the automotive sector and is the only plant of its kind left in Canada.

Plant manager Brian Hammond said the automotive business has seen a lot of ups and downs, especially around 2008-2009.

He said the plant not only survived but is now thriving in the automotive sector. Hammond said they enhanced safety measures and efficiencies in the plant and took on some specialty glass jobs and aftermarket business.

The facility produces about two million windshields per year, making glass for Honda, Toyota, GM, Chrysler and Nissan.

They also added a new lamination line, upgraded their bending technology and a new packaging line.

“The Collingwood facility never gave up on maintaining its presence in the auto business and now as we stand, we’re the only automotive glass supplier in Canada,” Hammond said. “It’s nice to see the company is still willing to invest in the plant in Canada.”

The plant employs about 250 people and Gary Sacerty is the longest serving.

Sacerty started shortly after the plant hung out its shingles, September, 1968.

“I don’t know where it went,” he said.

He said he started at the bottom.

“I was out in the front lawn picking weeds,” he recalls.

However, he has gone on to hold a number of jobs in the plant including operating the tempering furnace, driving a forklift and now works in the tooling department.

“I love my job, what I do. It’s a challenge every day,” he said. “I like my job and I’m not planning on leaving as long as my health holds out.”

The company is holding an open house on July 12 until 4 p.m., and is hosting a series of events with employees for the rest of the year to celebrate the milestone.

Impaired charge for Newmarket man after winding up in Bradford rock pile

A 54-year-old Newmarket man escaped injury but is facing impaired driving charges after veering into a construction zone and winding up on an eight-foot rock pile.

South Simcoe Police Service officers received a call about a possible impaired driver at Line 5 and Hwy. 400 in Bradford West Gwillimbury around 11 p.m. Thursday, July 12.

Responding officers found a van on its side and wedged on top of an approximately eight feet high pile of rocks used for road construction, police said.

The driver wasn’t injured but posted blood alcohol readings of nearly three times the legal limit when tested, according to police.

He was charged with impaired driving and over 80. He will appear in court at the end of the month.

“Sadly, we continue to arrest impaired drivers in our communities,” Sue Sgambati, South Simcoe Police spokesperson, said.

“People are still not getting the message that driving drunk is a dangerous gamble that can have very tragic results.  However, we are encouraged by the number of good citizens who are calling us to report suspected impaired drivers, as was the case in this incident and we thank them for their ongoing support and assistance as we continue our shared responsibility to road safety.”

Barrie’s south-end East Side Mario’s closes, lease terminated

Hey, budda boom budda … broke?

The longtime East Side Mario’s location in Barrie’s south-end has closed — at least temporarily. Simcoe.com has obtained a letter from Recipe Unlimited (Cara Operations) addressed to restaurant staff and dated Aug. 2.

The document includes an apology from Recipe, the parent company for East Side and several other well-known chain restaurants including Swiss Chalet, Harvey’s, Montana’s and Kelseys, and concedes the franchise owner “ignored appeals from the building landlord to pay the rent, which is severely overdue.”

A notice of termination of lease from the landlord to franchisee Hiren Patel, dated Aug. 2, was recently posted to the front door of the Bryne Drive restaurant.

“We tried to work with Mr. Patel to ensure operations were maintained as required under our franchise agreement, but he was unable or unwilling to do so,” Recipe said in the letter. “We know this has been a frustrating and upsetting time … we are sorry for what you had to endure over the past few months.”

The letter said Patel has been “unresponsive” to Recipe.

Simcoe.com was told by a former employee that restaurant conditions deteriorated significantly since Patel took over more than a year ago. Some staffers weren’t compensated for several pay cycles, the kitchen was understocked and the restaurant was often understaffed.

Recipe is helping employees find jobs at other company-owned restaurants in the area.

However, the franchise owner is responsible for compensation. So Recipe is asking employees to reach out to the Ministry of Labour to seek assistance in recovering lost wages.

“The situation … is very unfortunate,” Recipe senior communications director Maureen Hart said in an email. “Helping impacted employees is our main priority. We have worked directly with all team members to support finding new employment in other restaurants. We’re happy to say that several people have already been hired.”

Recipe hopes to “refranchise” the location, she said.

“We’re working toward a resolution with this specific location and hope to resume business quickly,” Hart said.

Patel could not be reached by Simcoe.com.

Napier Bailiffs, which is managing the case on behalf of the landlord, declined to comment.

James Kowbel – Wasaga Beach councillor

A Toronto native, I have had ties with Wasaga Beach since 1961, first as a visitor and later as a full-time resident.

I have been involved in successful businesses for 37 years.  I was employed at Weston Bakeries Ltd/Ready Bake Inc. from 1980 until 1999 where I rose to the position of corporate controller. I then travelled to Calgary to invest in a Tim Hortons franchise making a success of a location that was abandoned by two other franchisees.  

It was always my dream to retire to my properties in Wasaga Beach and in 2017 I returned to stay as a permanent resident.

Although I have never held a political position I decided to run for office because of the direction some of the current council is headed – the improper vision of the hacked town website and the development proposals for Main Street and the town-owned lands on Beaches 1 & 2. 

The development plan awarded to a single developer lacks a coherent plan to continue to welcome visitors to those areas while guaranteeing a commitment for development along Main Street that is appropriate for the needs of the town.  

Wasaga needs a government licensing office, shopping and entertainment facilities and maintenance and improvement of our historical tourist attractions.  A library and sports arena would serve us better in other areas of the town.  We need to partner with developers who are committed to completing those visions, not out for their own profits.  

I have and will continue to listen to everyone involved with this great community not just the few who wish to profit from the beautiful assets that we have been blessed with.

I currently support Nina Bifolchi for mayor, Sylvia Bray for deputy mayor and Dean Robinson for councillor.

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Descendants of West Essa unveil commemorative plaque

John Buyers and William Connell, descendants of the earliest residents of the hamlet of West Essa, recently unveiled a plaque in Thornton commemorating the community.

The project of the Essa Historical Society recognizes one of the earliest settlements in the township.

New Midland business Twist Yarn offers classes and socials

For the first time in many years, local knitters and yarn crafters can save themselves a long drive for supplies with the opening of Twist Yarn Co. in Midland.

Opening on the weekend of Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival in June, owner Michelle DesRochers said the response has been “great.”

“People come in and say, ‘Thank God we have a yarn shop in town,’” she said.

DesRochers said she recently discovered crocheting and is now “addicted.”

A yarn social is held Tuesday nights. Classes and workshops will begin in the fall.

Twist Yarn sells yarns of all fibres as well as patterns, books and accessories.



Barrie paddleboard business expanding to ‘awesome’ Innisfil location

Brent Ackland is bringing his paddleboard business to the friendly waters of Innisfil.

After four years of renting boards and giving lessons at Barrie’s Centennial Beach, Ackland is teaming up with the Town of Innisfil to expand Northern Stand Up Paddle at the Mapleview Drive beach on Lake Simcoe this month.

The location, just south of Friday Harbour, is perfect for paddleboarders, Ackland said.

“It’s an awesome spot,” Ackland said. “The water isn’t deep there and it’s sheltered from the wind and bigger waves.”

It’s also much quieter than the Centennial Beach location, which is near a popular floating water park.

Ackland said he took on the Mapleview location when he won a call for business proposals from the Town of Innisfil, which is looking to increase its waterfront activities.

The town has set up a temporary parking system for non-residents who want to rent and take lessons at Northern Stand Up Paddle. Ackland simply gives customers a parking pass when they come to paddleboard.

It’s a soft launch for this season and limited rentals will be available for most programs with a full fleet coming, available in the 2019 season.

Paddleboarding is becoming more popular; just ask any boater or beachgoer these days.

Ackland is a full-time fitness coach who uses the PaddleFit coaching and training system, which helps clients reach their fitness goals by using a paddleboard.

“Anybody can do it,” Ackland said. “We’ve even had someone on a wheelchair up on a board.”

Paddleboarding lessons are also a great way to socialize with others who are excited about the activity, Ackland said.

Ackland created Northern Stand Up Paddle in 2011.  In 2013 he partnered with PaddleFit as their Canadian affiliate.  The company offers retail sales, Jimmy Lewis Boards and Infinity SUP, lessons, and rentals for recreation paddling. 

The lessons include introduction to paddleboarding, Progressive Technique Training (SUP Club), kids standup paddling as well as community-building social paddles.

“With the potential to have standup paddling in the Olympics in the near future, offering progressive lessons is a must,” Ackland said.

When it comes to purchasing a paddleboard, there’s a wide variety. And what you buy depends on how serious you want to get about boarding.

Prices for Jimmy Lewis Boards run from about $800 to about $4,500.

“The difference is in the glide,” Ackland said. “You can go just as far with one stroke on a more expensive board as you can with four strokes on a less costly board.”

Buying a board from a retailer who is on the beach like Ackland means you can actually test different boards on the water before your purchase.

“You can’t do that from a store. Here you can actually find the board that suits you by trying it out.”

The hot weather early this summer has brought out more paddleboarders than ever and business has been booming at the Barrie location.

For more information, contact Ackland at or

Collingwood DJ looking to make a difference through hip hop

By day, Lucio De Rose is a personal support worker, helping seniors in South Georgian Bay.

When the lights go down, the 28-year-old Collingwood man becomes DJ Primary Sources, a hip hop DJ.

De Rose will be showing his skills at a hip hop show called Man vs. Machine on Aug. 15 at Jozos at Blue Mountain Village at 9 p.m.

The show will feature accomplished rapper and Juno nominated Fresh Kils as well as other hip hop acts including OBM and Vokal Legend.

Always a fan of hip hop music, DeRose got the bug to DJ five years ago.

“I needed a release, always listened to hip hop, and saw there was a lack of respect for the hip hop and DJ communities,” he said. “I started to drive the two hours weekly (to Toronto) to attend every hip hop show I could make.”

He said he networked and built contacts in the hip hop world in Ontario, Canada and worldwide. He realized there was an opportunity for him to travel while doing something he loved.

He soon connected with promoters in Toronto and started performing at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto.

While hip-hop has grown to do big business around the world, De Rose said there are many new artists burgeoning below the surface.

“Canadian and underground hip hop has been hidden from most people’s ears for a long time,” he said. “We are just like any other struggling artists. Recently they have opened an art exhibition at the McMicheal art gallery showcasing Canadian hip hop. This is very important as (hip hop) needs it’s proper place in history.”

De Rose said one of his goals is to bring about change with his music.

“Substance is what I am trying to bring and what inspired me about hip hop,” he said. “I love Margaret Atwood and she believes art without a message is pointless. I feel very similar about hip hop. Hip hop has tried to change the world for the better multiple times.”

For more information visit .

Ann-Marie Kungl – Barrie Ward 1

I live in the East End, cherish my home and, like you, want to age well where I live.  Great things are happening in Barrie and important decisions will be made over the next four years.  

People of Ward 1 have shared that they care about how city growth will impact their neighbourhoods and want to see their tax dollars supporting programs and services that are important to them.  They are informed and active.

I believe that with strong council representation, Ward 1 can drive positive change.  What I offer is a full-time, committed representative.  No hidden agendas.  No surprises.  I do not regard this responsibility as part-time or ‘on-the-side’.  

My ‘CARE’ pledge:

Committed as your representative.

Accountable to you and open to your feedback.  

Respectful of the range of residents’ interests and issues and responsive to concerns.

Effective in getting positive attention and change to our Ward.

What’s unique about me?  I have nearly 20 years of experience in the health system, spanning provincial, not-for-profit and academic institutions.  I have a master’s degree in public health and a certification in health law (Osgoode), as well as training in ethics, conflict resolution and public engagement.  All of this experience has been geared toward making positive change happen.

It is my pleasure to serve as the Alzheimer Society Simcoe County board chair for a second term.  I have been a long-time volunteer meal maker with the Barrie Out of the Cold program and have built strong connections within our city and the County of Simcoe.

I will facilitate positive change through municipal service in support of building a Barrie where all may thrive and an East End that is cared for.

We can expect more and do better in engaging, communicating and designing our cityscape with residents while supporting strong business and job growth.

I believe better has no limit.

Let’s build a strong council together.  A council that cares.   

Vote Kungl on Oct. 22.

Campaign Office: 62 Oakley Park Sq.

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Twitter: #KunglCares #KunglforWard1

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