Businesses and residences are being evacuated from an area on Main Street in Beeton after a natural gas line was struck causing a large gas leak.
New Tecumseth Fire and Rescue said via Twitter road closure were in place, and advised people to avoid the area.
After all those years of fundraising and planning, the dream has finally become reality.
Hundreds of guests came out to celebrate the grand opening of Matthews House Hospice’s Centre of Excellence at 131 Wellington St. E. in Alliston.
The brand new $6-million facility features 10 beds for palliative care, along with a host of programs and services.
Hospice president Margo Cooney told the crowd the new facility will act as a place of “service, compassion and welcome” for those facing life threatening or life limiting illnesses, the bereaved and their families
“This is your home,” she said. “At some point in our lives we may need the care of Matthews House or we will know someone who will, and Mathews House will be here, ready to help at any time.”
She said none of this would have been possible without the tremendous amount of support the community has given to the organization.
“Our heartfelt thanks go out to our incredibility generous community, our benevolent corporate donors, our caring provincial, county and municipal governments, all of whom provided funds and resources to make this construction possible,” she said.
CEO Kim Woodland said the real job now begins.
“For us it’s about a new beginning, a fresh start based on a solid foundation of really great support from our community and volunteers,” she said. “We will be having chats and journeys together about living and living well before we die, because that’s what hospice is.”
The state-of-the-art facility, which began construction last fall, boasts a living room, kitchen and garden where families can spend time together, along with several other areas where guests can make and listen to music, draw pictures, take part in reiki and reflexology sessions, watch movies and more.
“You can do whatever you want to do,” Woodland said. “We will make sure your days are meaningful and pain free.”
The organization has raised all of the capital funding for the new building, but will require about $1.2 million every year to cover the operational costs.
To become a supporter or a volunteer, or to learn more about the programs and services, visit .
A collection of grooming products took home top spot at the Excite Business Pitch Competition.
Sven Hansen is the owner of Hometown Brawn Supply, and he manufactures men’s grooming products using wholesome ingredients.
“I’ve pitched before, but the Excite Business Pitch Competition gave me a new focus,” Hansen said. “The Pitch Prep Workshop took my business pitch to a whole new level, and I’m grateful for the opportunity and for the win”
Hansen took home a grand prize of $5,000 with the win.
The winner of the Open Competition was awarded to Jessica Wilkins of Naked Designs, a custom furniture designer and manufacturer. Kai Hulshof of Jentu, a network automation platform, won for best in tech.
The entrepreneurs pitched their businesses to an expert panel of judges, who provided valuable feedback and advice, and selected the winning pitches. The 10 finalists had been selected from a pool of more than 40 applicants.
The event was a partnership between the Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre and South Georgian Bay Small Business Enterprise Centre.
Other sponsors included the County of Simcoe, Adbank, Town of Collingwood, the Centre for Business and Economic Development and The Creative Space.
Plans for the Alcona splash pad are still in the works, said a town manager.
“We don’t want to rush it, we want to do it right,” operations manager Jason Inwood said.
The $5-million project to build a community hub and splash pad beside the Innisfil IdeaLAB and Library is still in the design phase.
“Originally, the splash pad was going to be at Innisfil Beach Park, but we ran into geotechnical issues,” Inwood said.
With the $450,000 still set aside for a splash pad, the town was looking for a new location.
Last August, council agreed to spend $1.8 million to buy the land off Lakeside Retirement, which in turn donated $550,000 toward the deal.
“This is now more than just a splash pad. This is a town square, a real gathering place in the middle of Alcona,” Inwood said. “We are currently working through the design, with construction anticipated to start next spring.”
The land is approximately two acres in size and Inwood said the concept is to have a seamless connection to both the library and the retirement home, keeping some of the large trees on the property.
“There is going to be a splash pad with the potential for it to be a public skating rink in the winter time,” he said. “There will be shaded seating and a variety of amenities that would complement the town square/gathering place feel.”
It would be a spot for community events and performing arts, Inwood said.
“This would be our first town square, it will have a different feel to it. It will really help drive that ‘downtown Alcona’ development. Staff is excited about the opportunity.”
The project falls in line with the town’s master plan, which calls for more parks and public gathering spaces.
From Beach Area 1 to Creemore’s Mill Street, there’s a full schedule of Canada Day activities to entertain people of all ages.
Family fun is the focus of Wasaga Beach’s plans for July 1, with activities for children on Beach Drive starting at noon that include characters from the War of 1812, giant inflatables, pedal planes, circus entertainers, cake, dancers and musical entertainment.
The afternoon entertainment includes performances by the Neema Children’s Choir, the Glee Club, and Dance by Design, followed by a night of music on the big stage with Tragically Hip tribute band Little Bones, Canadian country musician Scotty James, and award-winning indie Canadian-American singer Justin Nozuka.
The concert is free for the general public with a ticketed VIP licensed 19+ area. VIP access is $20 at as well as at the gate.
Fireworks will light up the night sky at 10 p.m.
Canada Day events in Clearview Township start off with the 52nd running of the Duntroon-to-Stayner road race, which gets underway at 8 a.m.
Other activities in Stayner include the annual Stayner Heritage Society parade starting at Station Park at 10:30 a.m., opening ceremonies at the Stayner Arena with birthday cake and the Beinn Gorm Highlanders at 12:30 p.m., and an afternoon of heritage displays, food, and children’s activities sponsored by the Stayner Chamber of Commerce.
In Creemore, the fun starts at 9:30 a.m. with a street hockey tournament. The Creemore Ladies Auxiliary will be serving brunch at the legion from 10 until 11:30 a.m.
The Harold Crawford Memorial Kids Bike Parade starts at 1 p.m., running from Mill Street Park to the legion; other activities starting at 1 p.m. include a barbecue at the legion, and “olde thyme” games and activities for kids such as a three-legged sack race, an egg and spoon race, a scavenger hunt, and face painting.
In the evening, the barbecuing continues at the legion, with the singing of O Canada at 8 p.m., presentations to the Lady and Man of the Year, and the Baker Magic Show. The fireworks will be set off at dusk.
Raymond Hardisty thought he was showing up for a normal work shift at Dairy Queen in Stayner.
Boy, was he was wrong.
Hardisty received quite the surprise courtesy of Dairy Queen and the Toronto Blue Jays. Ace, the team mascot, was on hand to let Hardisty know he had a call from Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez.
Martinez called to tell Hardisty that he would be throwing out the first pitch at the Rogers Centre on Aug. 8 in celebration of Miracle Treat Day.
“I think that’s awesome,” Martinez said. “You’ll also go behind the scenes and we’re going to take you out on the field to watch the Blue Jays take batting practice.”
Hardisty has a deep connection with Miracle Treat Day at the Hospital for Sick Children.
He was diagnosed with leukemia at age four, received a bone-marrow transplant and was diagnosed with graft versus host disease.
Hardisty was a Miracle Treat Day champion child in 2000 and has raised $30,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network. Miracle Treat Day takes place on Aug. 9 and sees a portion of every Blizzard treat sold go to the Children’s Miracle Network.
“Every kid deserves to live a full life,” he said. “It’s a shame when a kid is born and they’re sick. They shouldn’t have to live the first few years of their life in a hospital bed.”
Hardisty also received a Blue Jays jersey with his name on it as well as a new ball glove.
He said he’s always been a Blue Jays fan and said it’s “unbelievable” that he will be throwing out the first pitch.
“I’ve been a Blue Jays ever since I was a little kid,” he said. “Even when I came home from the hospital, for my birthday, my parents made up a nice Toronto Blue Jays birthday cake for me.”
Stayner Dairy Queen owner Sherry Schaap thanked Hardisty for all of the work he has done in the community and for SickKids.
“I know you always say they have given you a second life, they have given our community a special angel, and you are that angel,” she said.
I am a resident of beautiful Ward 6 in Innisfil. I’m a dedicated public servant who has worked over 15 years in government and not-for profit work environments.
Consequently, I have solid knowledge of government processes and policies, strategic planning, and financial accountability. I have a proven track record of leading and completing large projects. With each project, I ensured public consultation, and in many, I have brought forward innovative partnership or ideas to cut project costs.
I believe in the importance of community, and giving back to the community in which I reside. Over the last few years, I have volunteered locally, helping to coach and/or train with the Innisfil Soccer Association and with minor hockey. I am also an active volunteer participant within federal and provincial sports, including holding the position of chair of the board of directors for Sport Alliance Ontario, which ran the Canada and Ontario Games and the Ontario Sport Awards portfolio for the province of Ontario.
I have a university degree from Brock University, an Economic Development certificate from University of Waterloo, and I have completed other training geared at running municipalities, including a Municipal Management training program.
Over the next few weeks, I’m going to be going door to door to meet Ward 6 residents. I’m looking forward to meeting and hearing from you.
As your Ward 6 Councillor, I will be:
• Your voice for innovating Innisfil — committed to the residents of Ward 6
• A champion for increasing access to health care
• Committed to keeping our community beautiful and enjoyable
• Committed to building a safe road network
• Being accountable for all tax dollar spending
• Focused on business development to bring jobs to Innisfil
I want to be your voice for innovating Innisfil. I am not running to represent myself. I am running to represent YOU. I want to hear about your ideas — let’s build a platform together. Please email me at [email protected] or call me at 705-791-9142 to talk about your ideas or concerns.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Marc Seguin
Candidate — Ward Six Councillor, Town of Innisfil
3690 Kimberley St. Innisfil
Facebook:
Over the next two months, you may have a few candidates at your door. You may receive a few different pieces of literature, hear different promises, different slogans.
I ask you to consider the power of your vote. With that X, you are having your say on how your property taxes are managed, how roads are repaired, how streets and sidewalks are kept safe, and how trails and green spaces are treated.
Ask the tough questions. Make sure your candidate knows the issues, how to fight for our community, and has the experience and knowledge to make it happen.
Here is a reality: Due to increased property value, your taxes will be going up in the next few years. You should expect and demand answers and assurances that qualified people will be making decisions on how to manage that. I was in real estate for years and have extensive experience in corporate taxation, development, and MPAC assessments. I have a deep understanding of government, and fighting for issues that matter.
From sitting on the board of directors for various charities, and working now in nonprofit, I have learned a great deal about the needs of residents, and especially about our struggling middle class being pushed out of home ownership by increased costs of daily living.
What I bring to the table is a deep understanding of the issues: Gridlock and traffic in the city, roads that need work, speeding on residential streets without enforcement, and parking that becomes a safety issue. I know about the long-term plans for growth, development and taxation; what it will take to create affordable housing; and how to grow smart while saving our green spaces.
Long-term planning for long-term prosperity requires the ability to find solutions to complex problems.
I am always honest.
I am accountable.
I have the knowledge, the skills and the experience.
I am your candidate for Ward 6.
Micheline Robichaud
Campaign office address: 4 Summerset Dr., Barrie.
Phone:
Email:
Websites:
When Lorretta Lavell and her husband retired to Collingwood five years ago, they didn’t want to just enjoy the scenery.
“We wanted to become integrated in the community,” she said.
Lavell said she and Phil, who have been married 50 years, wanted to help young people and were always interested in mentoring youth.
They thought about coaching some local teams but at the urging of former Big Brothers Big Sisters executive director Jarvis Strong, they decided to become mentors with the organization.
Stouffville didn’t have a Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter but they were always interested in volunteering.
“We knew it had an excellent reputation,” she said.
They became a mentor to Matthew, now 14, nearly four years ago and Loretta said he has had an impact on them.
“Our lives have been enriched by the experience,” she said. “Our new friends and neighbours, they see it.”
She said they do a number of activities together and with the couple having a grandson the same age, Matthew has become part of the family.
“We feel like we’re family,” she said. “We’re in a really privileged position here.”
She said they’ve taken the boys to Lego land and on trips, Phil enjoys driving around with Matthew in his 1940 Ford or spending time in the kitchen.
“Phil is a really good cook, he’s teaching Matthew how to cook,” she said.
In addition to mentoring, Loretta is one of four individuals who organized the Blue Moon Mid Summer Eve Party in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters.
The fourth annual event takes place on Aug. 3 and raised $67,000 last year.
“For me Big Brothers Big Sisters is a passion,” she said.
“We see the good that it’s done in young lives.”
It’s not very often that you drive through Tim Hortons in Bradford for your daily morning coffee when a man wearing a black suit on a very hot morning approaches your vehicle with a firm stop with his hands.
After this, you then you see about 10 black large SUVs lined up and then you wonder what’s going on.
I asked the man jokingly, “is the prime minister here?”
He replied, “yes he is.”
I didn’t believe this was true. I then went on to park my vehicle hoping to meet him at the Caldense Bakery in Bradford where lots of people gathered very quickly.
I was able to get into the bakery fairly quickly and obtained a few photos of the prime minister of Canada to share with family and friends. My children did not believe it until I showed them the pictures when I got back home.
Regardless of one’s party affiliation, this was probably one of the biggest, unforgettable and unexpected surprises one could ever get.
