Celebrating the best of our community
2017
Our Innisfil
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The Evergreen Store Open 7 days
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Innisfil 2017
Publisher Dana Robbins Regional General Manager Simcoe - York - Muskoka Shaun Sauve
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Contents 08 You're Invited
ake sure you add these annual events to your calendar M to support Innisfil while having some fun with the family.
09 22 Things to do in Innisfil
There are so many fun things to see and do throughout the year. Visit Simcoe.com to find out more.
15 Community Champions
Your neighbours are doing amazing things to make Innisfil a great place to live.
28 Innisfil's Studio Tour
Talent meets community each fall when artists collaborate to present the Innisfil Studio Tour.
32 Farm Fresh
Celebrating its seventh anniversary, the Innisfil Farmers’ Market offers fresh produce and more.
34 On the Water
Three plans merge into one to shape the future of our most valuable resource – Lake Simcoe.
elebrate Innisfil 36 C2017 Photo Contest
6 Our Innisfil 2017
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See a strong, healthy community through the eyes of Innisfil photographers.
38 In Good Company
Innisfil isn’t just a great place to live; the community is also home to successful businesses.
Cover photo by Linda Vartanian as part of the celebrate Innisfil 2017 photo contest
Y o u'r e i n v i t e d
Hockey Night in Simcoe County — this fun annual hockey event was created to bring top-notch hockey players to the area while raising funds for the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre. As the event has grown, it has expanded to support hospitals and charities across the region. Each ticket bought and every donation made is helping to provide top-notch health care to those who need it in our community. Past participants include NHL players and Olympians. The event is held in August every year. hockeynightinsimcoecounty.ca
Savour Simcoe — Created in 2007, the annual Savour Simcoe event features local chefs, producers, microprocessors, farmers and Ontario wine, beer and cider producers showcasing the best that Simcoe County has to offer. The event is presented by Simcoe County Farm Fresh and is held at the end of August, to feature fresh harvested produce and meat from the area, with unique dishes prepared by local chefs. www.simcoecountyfarmfresh.ca/savoursimcoe
Innisfil Rotary Family Fun Day — Held in June each year, the Innisfil Rotary Club hosts its annual Family Fun Day free for the community to enjoy. It includes hotdogs, beverages and cookies, face-painting and games. The popular Rotary Train is also available for rides. The event lets residents meet various clubs, businesses and service groups in the area. Innisfilrotary.ca
South Simcoe Theatre — The South Simcoe Theatre is a nonprofit community-based theatre founded in 1966. It is dedicated to staging professional-quality productions, with a vision to make great community theatre. Since September 1983, productions have been staged at the Cookstown Town Hall. Actors and stage crew hope to not only entertain a traditional audience, but create an entire new generation of theatre patrons. The theatre’s season runs from September to June. Southsimcoetheatre.com
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Innisfil Farmers’ Market
22
Things ToDo
in Innisfil
Join us each week for Local Produce and Products, Live Music and Free Kids Activities. Plus Special Events Every Month. Come on by Thursdays from 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. Rain or Shine! Outdoors June 8 to October 5 Indoors from October 12 to December 21.
See you at the market! Innisfil Recreational Complex 7315 Yonge Street http://www.innisfilfarmersmarket.ca/
Leigh Blenkhorn | Lblenkhorn@simcoe.com
1 rally at the races
Sunset Speedway, 6918 Yonge St., Innisfil, kicks off its season April 29. Every weekend the track hosts more than 100 of Ontario’s best stock car drivers, in different classes and divisions, including Mini Stock, Super Stock, Late Model, OSCAAR and now NASCAR. 705-436-2445 or sunsetspeedway.ca
2offers Permit Palooza quick approvals
Permit Palooza takes place May 9 from 5 to 8 p.m. and May 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event has proven to be very popular with homeowners who are building a fence, deck or other small project that requires a building permit. It’s a quick way to get the proper paperwork and get your project underway. continued on 29 Our Innisfil 2017
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Y o u'r e i n v i t e d Extreme
Dance Connection Register Now for 2017-18 Season CALL NOW
705.733.3987 VISIT US ONLINE
www.extremedanceconnection.com Competitive & Recreational Programs Jazz * Tap * Ballet * Acrobatics * Hip Hop Musical Theatre * Lyrical * Contemporary
NEW Twinkle Stars Program & Boys Hip Hop
41 Commerce Park Drive, Unit B, Barrie, ON L4N 8X1
Dinner in White — Expect art, entertainment, good company and most of all surprises at every turn at The Innisfil Arts, Culture and Heritage Council’s annual Dinner in White. It’s a pop-up dinner with a last-minute location and everyone dresses in white. The council is dedicated to enhancing arts, culture and heritage as an integral part of our community. All money raised through the Dinner in White event will support individuals and community groups in realizing their full creative, social and economic potential. iachc.ca
Kindergarten to Grade 12
4073 4th Line, Cookstown Register for September 2017
705.458.4949 www.thorntonacademy.info
10 Our Innisfil 2017
Summerfest — The The Innisfil Community Events Corporation (ICECorp) is a nonprofit organization, with a goal to offer special events and activities that will provide fun for the whole family, promote local talent and give local businesses an opportunity to promote themselves by becoming sponsors. Proceeds from the fundraising events are then donated back to community groups. Annual events include a polar dip in February, a golf tournament, Santa Claus Parade and a New Year’s skate. icecorp.org Cruising along – Take a walk down memory lane and see the chrome and colour of the classic cars with the Innisfil Beach Cruisers. The group is a family friendly club that meets Thursday nights in the summer at Innisfil Beach Park, on the shores of beautiful Lake Simcoe. The launch of the season, called Cruisefest, is May 14 weather permitting.
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Lakeside Retirement is the most affordable, attractive retirement residence in Simcoe County, where your comfort and happiness is our priority. We offer respite, short term and vacation stays, to allow you to feel the comfort of home, with the knowledge that our professionally trained staff is available day and night to attend to all your needs. Call today for a tour & join us for a complimentary lunch.
Lakeside Retirement at Innisfil 985 Innisfil Beach Road Innisfil, ON L9S 4M8
705.431.8105
www.lakesideretirement.ca
“Providing quality service for over 30 years!” RESIDENTIAL | COMMERCIAL | INDUSTRIAL Paving | Sealing | Asphalt Repair
Ofce: 705.722.0765 Toll Free: 1.855.722.0765 www.italpaving.ca Our Innisfil 2017
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Y o u'r e i n v i t e d Georgian Bay Steam Show — The annual steam show takes place in Cookstown at 4635 Victoria St. W. and takes place Aug. 4 to 7, 2017. The show celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015 and continues the tradition of showcasing steam engines and equipment. There is a working saw mill and shingle mill, a blacksmith shop, a barn for animals and children's activities. There is also an open area for our flea market vendors and an exhibit of antique automobiles and trucks. steamshow.ca/aboutus.htm
Cookstown Wing Ding — The definition of a wing ding is a lavish or lively party or celebration. And the Cookstown and District Chamber of Commerce event captures the very essence of the meaning of wing ding. The event celebrates the beginning of summer with yard sales, craft sales, food and more. Over the past two years, there were 15,000 visitors from all over Ontario. The Wing Ding takes place the first Saturday in June, which falls on June 3, 2017. cookstown.ca/cookstown-wing-ding.html
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Light Up Cookstown — Get into the holiday spirit as the community gets together and lights up the Christmas tree on Queen Street. After that, there is caroling and all the shops are open late. Bring the kids to see Santa Claus andl chat about Christmas lists before his appearance in the Light Up Night parade. The parade has an assortment of floats lit up, which travel down Queen Street. cookstown.ca/light-up-night.html
Hands on Cooking Classes
For all Ages!
March Break Camps, Summer Camps, Family Classes and many mor more
French Foodie Fun
Bananarama
For over 100 years, French cuisine has been the world’s gold standard. Today we’ll help your youngsters create a French-inspired feast featuring creamy Hot Caramelized Onion & Cheese Dip with sliced Baguette; rich, flavourful Croque Monsieur, a fancy French grilled cheese with Ham & Béchamel Sauce; scrumptious French Upside-Down Apple Cake; and Warm Apple Cider to wash it all down.
In addition to being absolutely delicious and easy for children to digest, bananas are also a good source of fiber and Vitamin C, and a very good source of Vitamin B6. Today your little ones will be thrilled to team up with you to create 2 delectable banana treats, including yummy Banana Pancakes with Maple Syrup and sinfully good Chocolate-Covered Jam-Filled Banana Bites.
$14.00
$9.00
Kitchen Kids ages 6-11
Visit PCCOOKINGSCHOOL.CA for a full list of upcoming programs
Little hands ages 2-5
Beer Fest with Chef Jim Comishen Adult Dinner classes *Come hungry!
Cooking with beer has become as popular as cooking with wine. Join Chef Jim Comishen as he uses beer to create family food favourites, including yummy Beer Bread Muffins; hearty Beer- Braised Red Cabbage with Bacon and Polish Sausage; juicy, Guinness-Braised English Banger Sausage with Onion & Mushroom Gravy on Garlic Mashed Red Skinned Potatoes; and for dessert, a scrumptious Stout & Ice Cream Float with Chocolate Sauce. Cheers!
$30.00
Hot and Saucy with Chef Christopher Pires With a chili pepper as his logo, you know this chef likes it hot, but the heat has to come with flavour! Let Chef Christopher Pires show you how to create a fiery, but flavourful feast featuring Jamaican-inspired Jerk Shrimp in a Creamy Sauce; Indian-style Chicken Curry, Coconut Rice and Raita; and for a semi-cooling dessert, a luscious Jalapeno Cheese Cake.
$35.00
620 Yonge St. I Barrie I Ontario I L4N4E6 • Tel: 705-735-6041 presents:
Friday June 23 @ 5pm to Sunday June 25, 2017 @ 8pm Innisfil Recreation Centre, 7315 Yonge Street, Innisfil, ON
FeaturIng:
5 World Famous Ribfest Teams, Expanded midway and vendor area, 20 hours of musical entertainment including Shania Twain tribute, Tragically Hip Tribute, Blue Rodeo tribute and local bands such as the Carl Run Down Band.
For Information visit www.icecorp.org Our Innisfil 2017
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n i d n i k s t i f o r e l i a t e r e v i s u l Exc a k o k s u M & e o c m i S , e i r r Ba
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705-726-9953
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Community
Champions Innisfil is fortunate to have an abundance of residents who give of their time, energy or money to make the town a better place for all. In our eyes, that commitment to kindness makes these people Community Champions. Meet these neighbours who go above and beyond for us.
Our Innisfil 2017
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| C o m m u n it y C h a m p i o n s
Hardworking minister 'just getting started' Janis Ramsay | jramsay@simcoe.com
A
s a senior citizen, Reverend Howard Courtney admits people have asked him about his retirement plans.
“My work is just getting started,” Courtney says in reply.
The minister at the Innisfil Community Church has been around since it started as a home bible study in 1979. As the first recipient of the town’s Volunteer of the Year Award in 2016, and with the Queen’s Jubilee and 125th anniversary medals, Courtney is humbled by the recognition. Through the church, there is also a boys and girls group that meets Wednesday nights, a Friday night teen drop-in, the Innisfil Food Bank, and a free clothing pickup. He also works with the Innisfil Rotary Club and opens his church as a home base during any disasters. “My base motivation is my faith. Our whole operation is faith-based and my personal faith in Jesus Christ is what drives me,” Courtney said, adding it might scare some away. “I’m here to serve everybody, whether you agree with my belief or not.” The church’s location on Innisfil Beach Road was built in 1981, with a 2009 addition bringing a new sanctuary with 700 theatre-style seats. “We are still waiting to fill them,” Courtney said. “There are more people in the community than there has ever been, but the church hasn’t grown with the population.” Courtney welcomes all inside to find a connection. “The basic needs of people are the same. The symptoms change but the root cause of loneliness and self-image has been there forever,” he said. “We have a safe environment to talk about that stuff. “For me, if we’re not changing lives, we’re not accomplishing what we need to do.”
Reverend Howard Courtney
16 Our Innisfil 2017
C o m m u n it y C h a m p i o n s |
She's a South Simcoe Theatre stalwart Shane MacDonald | shanemacdonald@simcoe.com
K
athy Simpson has had her hands in everything to do with the South Simcoe Theatre since she began volunteering there in 2001, and she’s enjoyed every bit
of it.
A little bit of boredom spurred her to try and find a hobby back in 2001. “I was getting bored because my kids were getting older,” she said. Her husband suggested she try theatre because she enjoyed it in high school. “Cookstown and the South Simcoe Theatre came up,” Simpson said. Within a week, she was building a set for a show. “I just started loving doing what was being done at South Simcoe Theatre,” she said. “The people you meet are really awesome.” Simpson served as president of the South Simcoe Theatre from 2007 to 2009 and has since settled in as the artistic producer. A lot goes into a show. Music, lighting, sounds, frontof-house, ushering, the box office, stage management, costumes, vocal coaching, and more. “I just kind of do everything,” she said. Simpson also loves to see others try out new things and learn. “I love seeing people grow in their craft,” she said, no matter what it is. “There are a lot of different life skills you can learn.” Seeing someone grow as a performer or set designer is similar to her own experience with the theatre. When she started, Simpson says she felt insecure about performing. “All of a sudden I found myself singing,” she said. But after the show ends, the best thing to see and hear is the audience, she says. “The ultimate is hearing the audience, their comments and compliments.”
Kathy Simpson
Our Innisfil 2017
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| C o m m u n it y C h a m p i o n s
Preserve your story in Innisfil's 200-year history
Donna Wice
Sara Carson | scarson@simcoe.com
W
hen Donna Wice was a child, her hometown of Innisfil was mostly made up of families from British, Irish, and Scottish descent. Today, Wice is 69 and Alcona Glen Elementary School is comprised of youth from 24 nationalities.
The town has changed significantly since the last Innisfil Review was published 33 years ago and Wice, a retired teacher and 15-year member of the Innisfil Historical Society, wants to fill in the gap. The Innisfil Review 2020 will be published in soft cover for the town’s 200th birthday. “In the older Innisfil Reviews we touched on the pioneer families. Now we’re looking past that,” Wice said. She added: “There’s all kinds of families that have never been acknowledged, their stories. And the businesses that are here now.”
18 Our Innisfil 2017
Innisfil Review 2020 aims to tell stories of these residents, along with new businesses, club, and organizations. I want to know “Why they choose Innisfil, what was it about Innisfil that appealed to them? What are some of the big features of Innisfil that made them decide (to move here)?” she said. Wice is a 15-year member of the historical society. And her family roots date back to the early settlers. “I’m a lifetime Innisfil resident: born and raised here; elementary school here. I was a teacher here. Very deep roots,” Wice said. For more information or to add your story to the Innisfil Review 2020, go to ourstoriesinnisfil.ca.
C o m m u n it y C h a m p i o n s |
Larmon believes in sports as path to student growth
Clark Larmon
Shane MacDonald | shanemacdonald@simcoe.com
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lark Larmon has been teaching and coaching at Nantyr Shores Secondary School since it opened and seeing students grow through playing sports is a big reason why he loves it. Since 2000 Larmon has been a physical education teacher and the head coach of the senior football team at the Innisfil school. His teams have had some great success — and some slow periods. “More recently we’ve been very successful,” he said, noting the team went undefeated in their last regular season. Larmon’s first introduction to football was when he was in high school. “I was a hockey guy,” he said. It’s an experience many of his students share, he said, noting many of them have never worn football equipment before high school.
One of the most rewarding things for him is to see a student who may have never played before progress and get better. “It’s why I do this,” he said. Another thing he loves to see is students who struggle academically find success in student sports. “I think sports is the biggest form of student success our school board offers,” Larmon said. He notes winning isn’t they only way to find success. “Some of my teams I’ve lost with, they’ve been some of my favourite teams,” he said. Larmon says there are lessons to be learned from losing, such as the value of hard work and developing leadership skills. He is happy he can build relationships with students through sports and help them learn those lessons. “Teaching is about relationships,” he said, “It’s the biggest part of what I do.” Our Innisfil 2017
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| C o m m u n it y C h a m p i o n s | C ommunity C hampions
The guardian of Sandycove Acres
Sharon Raycraft
Sara Carson | scarson@simcoe.com
I
f Sharon Raycraft were a superhero, the residents of Sandycove Acres would call her ‘The Guardian.’
With a team of volunteers by her side, the 67-year-old developed an emergency preparedness plan to protect the community's 1,800 residents. “I’m trying to bring emergency preparedness to the forefront of what we do here at Sandycove,” Raycraft said. Sandycove Acres is made up of both able-bodied residents and those with a range of mobility and mental challenges. Raycraft created an emergency preparedness guide that was distributed to each home and developed a confidential medical mobility questionnaire to determine who needs immediate help in an emergency. The information is held under lock and key, to be used by first responders.
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“That’s what I’m proud of, my work at Sandycove,” Raycraft said. But she couldn’t have done it without her team of 11 others. “They all bring certain strengths to the table,” Raycraft said. Raycraft’s dedication to emergency preparedness began when she worked for the Barrie Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corporation. She created fire safety plans for 19 Barrie buildings and included a list of people with mobility issues. There was a fire at one of the apartment buildings and, using Raycraft’s list, first responders were able to evacuate those people first. “It was just a good feeling that I might have saved somebody’s life,” she said. Raycraft is also vice-president of the Sandycove Acres homeowners association.
C o m m u n it y C h a m p i o n s |
Smith ready to go above and beyond at chamber
Janis Ramsay | jramsay@simcoe.com
W
ith more than 20 years of experience in the sales arena, Tami Smith has learned what is most important to people — customer service.
And as the new manager of the Greater Innisfil Chamber of Commerce, Smith is ready to go above and beyond in meeting the needs of members. Smith took over as manager in the fall of 2016 and is just getting her feet wet in the organization, meeting with current members to learn about their interests and challenges in business. “Innisfil is growing leaps and bounds and we hope people are able to work here too,” Smith said. Geographically, the town is spread out, but it also offers an opportunity for members to see the talent surrounding them. “We want our members to see other locations,” Smith said. “(Distance) is going to be a challenge, but for members who have never seen this before, I’m excited for them to see what else is offered here now that I’ve seen it first-hand.” Smith knows today’s business owners have a lot on their plate. Which is why she’s trying to meet them on their terms. Smith is rebranding and fine tuning several different chamber social events, such as the Business After 5, Business at Noon and Business Before 9 speaker series. In offering different events throughout the day, Smith hopes to create opportunities for members to mingle and learn about what’s happening in the area. “We are meeting business members where they’re at and want to have valuable speakers,” she said. “Information that is important for them as members of the Innisfil community.” To learn more about joining the Greater Innisfil Chamber of Commerce, contact Smith at 705-431-4199 or info@innisfilchamber.com.
Tami Smith
Our Innisfil 2017
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| C o m m u n it y C h a m p i o n s
Making a difference while having fun Janis Ramsay | jramsay@simcoe.com
A
s a farmer’s daughter, Barb Baguley grew up with the core values of a Rotarian.
“We are community-minded and want to make a difference, having fun while we’re doing it,” Baguley said of the Rotary philosophy. She is the outgoing president of the Rotary Club of Innisfil and has gone as far as sleeping outside in a Rotary shelter box tent to help raise funds for more emergency disaster supplies. As a founding member of the Rotary Club of Innisfil, Baguley also likes to tell friends and neighbours they are Rotary Club members themselves, they just haven’t joined yet. “My husband was a Lion and I had never been in Rotary,” she said. “I love the community, I love to start new things and I like a project. “There was a challenge to see if Innisfil could support a Rotary Club. I knew we could.” The Rotary Club of Innisfil was chartered Sept. 11, 2010 with 20 members and now has close to 40, meeting Wednesday mornings at the Innisfil ideaLAB and Library in Alcona. “We are making the community better than when we found it,” Baguley said. For a young club, the group takes the approach that it’s not your grandfather’s Rotary Club, having young ideas and welcoming young members. Most recently, the club took on the project of creating a Rotary Trail as a path for people to exercise outdoors. “That dream was established early on and the first phase of the trail is done,” Baguley said, adding it was possible with grants from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the town’s Spirit of the Community fund. “It may not be coming together as quickly or smoothly as we would like, but we are on our way.”
Barb Baguley
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Baguley admits the small club isn’t one of the wealthiest in the area, but said its members are proud of their contribution.
C o m m u n it y C h a m p i o n s |
Cars get Winson's engine revving
Rick Winson
Janis Ramsay | jramsay@simcoe.com
I
f you need to reach Rick Winson, chances are he’ll be either in his garage or behind the wheel of his 1970 Buick GS.
Winson is a past president of the Innisfil Beach Cruisers car club and remains an active member. As a teenager, he owned a 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle convertible until he was 21.
He placed an online ad to sell his Doral and he spotted the Buick for sale. “It was in Nottawa and I drove and saw it the next day. It was Father’s Day and I bought it.” He’s tinkered away on the car ever since, changing everything inside and is replacing the interior this year.
“When I was a kid and up until I married and had kids, I always had a project on the go,” Winson said.
Winson has been with the Innisfil Beach Cruisers club for six years now.
He admits he always had a need for speed, and it was while snowmobiling 16 years ago that Winson was injured after hitting a pressure crack on Lake Simcoe.
“I’ve learned a lot from them. There’s a sense of being in a group, with just a phone call we can have 10 people together for a drink or if I need help with something,” Winson said. “Like boating, there’s a community sense of family.”
“I was going fast and injured my spinal cord,” he said. “I can still move, but I can’t walk.” The injury meant Winson had to retire, leaving him with free time on his hands. “I was home and tired of boating. It was fun when the kids were little because they could help out, but as they got older, I lost my crew.”
Members don’t have to own classic cars, but do have to help with the club, which meets Thursday nights at the Innisfil Beach Park. The club also does community events such as the Santa Claus Parade and Rotary Family Fun Day.
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Hobbs supports community by supporting library
Linda Hobbs
Shane MacDonald | shanemacdonald@simcoe.com
F
undraising, spending volunteer hours helping out and seeing the benefit to users of the Innisfil Public Library is rewarding and good fun for Linda Hobbs.
Hobbs, who is the Chairperson of the Friends of the Innisfil Public Library, has been volunteering at the library for eight years. A lot of what she does is fundraising for the library, but she also organizes author visits, entertainment, and other initiatives. One of those initiatives is the Seepee Walters story-writing contest that sees an author come to Innisfil to help promote the contest. “They visit the schools and encourage the kids to write stories,” she said. The stories are then entered in a contest, judged, and an event is held for the winner. Last year, there were 72 entries to the contest, Hobbs said.
24 Our Innisfil 2017
Fundraising and organizing those events is Hobbs’ way of supporting her community. “When you’re supporting the library, you’re supporting the community,” she said. Her favourite part of helping out around the library is seeing how the kids to react to the things she helps organize, like the author visits. “To see the kids' faces when the author comes in and they’re reading from their books,” she said. “It’s just so cool to know we were a part of that.” While it can be a lot of work, it’s also a lot of fun working with the other friends of the library. “We have fun doing what we do,” Hobbs said, noting that it never ends. “Every time we turn around there is always something else to raise money for.”
C o m m u n it y C h a m p i o n s |
Seed planted early for love of nature
Jenni Murrell
Sara Carson | scarson@simcoe.com
T
he seeds that grew into a lifelong passion for nature were planted when Jenni Murrell was seven years old. She lived in Copenhagen, Denmark and after the Second World War, children in the city spent summer holidays on farms to get fresh air. It took Jenni a day of solo travel by train and ferry to reach the farm in Aulum.
“I fell in love with the animals. I fell in love with the garden,” Jenni said. Jenni turns 76 in June, but she has a youthful smile and her face lights up like a child’s when she reflects back on that time. She tended to the rose bushes, rode horses and cows, taught herself to milk cows, and picked berries.
“I would take one of those little milk chairs and I would sit there and sing my heart off and pick berries,” Jenni said. Jenni’s experience on the farm planted the seed for a lifelong love of nature. Today, Jenni is an exceptionally dedicated member of the Gilford and District Horticultural Society. She co-ordinates six flower shows each year, runs the club’s website and social media networks, is club photographer, and is curator of the club’s library collection. She is a certified Ontario Horticultural Association (OHA) flower show judge outside Innisfil. Jenni’s entire backyard is a garden and she’s a frequent winner at the Gilford and District shows. In 2016, Jenni received the OHA’s Judging/Exhibiting Service Certificate.
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| innisfil studio tour
Artist: Jane Dewar
« Andrei Kovalev inside his Alcona home and studio. The 65-year-old artist will take part in the 25th annual Innisfil Studio Tour.
Innisfil Studio Tour celebrates 25th anniversary “There’s not enough space for me,” his wife and fellow artist Vera Isaeva said with a laugh. Two pieces of her artwork are on display. They hang in the entryway near the front door.
Artist: Beth Evans
E
very inch of wall space in Andrei Kovalev’s Alcona home is covered in his paintings. They overwhelm the entryway, kitchen, and living areas. He estimates there are 200 pieces hanging throughout the house.
Artist: Anastasia Cheetham
Sara Carson | scarson@simcoe.com
28 Our Innisfil 2017
Artist: Gail Esau
“I take art seriously. It’s an integral part of any civilization. After they pass, what they leave behind is art,” he said. Kovalev said light is the main hero of his work. His favourite piece at the moment features a cluster of white buildings with faded red roofs. A crooked and bare tree stands in the foreground. Light, that appears filtered by leaves, hits the buildings, tree and grass-covered earth.
Artist: Jamie Hardie
For the second time in a row, Kovalev and Isaeva will open their home studio to the Innisfil Studio Tour, which runs November 4 and 5. Kovalev, 65, has painted since childhood and trained for 10 years.
continued from 9
3Get out and pitch in The annual Innisfil Pitch-In day is set for May 13, with participants meeting at local fire stations at 9 a.m. You will be provided with gloves, bags and safety tips and invited to help clean up the streets of Innisfil. 705-436-3740, ext. 2410 or pitchin@innisfil.ca.
4 Cruise with some classics The Innisfil Beach Cruisers Car Club meets at the Sobeys in Alcona every Thursday evening in the summer. Come out to see classic cars on display.
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5 Sandy Cove celebrates Canada Day
Every Canada Day, the energetic citizens of Sandy Cove parade around their community to celebrate the nation’s birthday. The parade is a highlight of a day of fun and activities in the retirement community.
6 Mayor hits the links for good cause Every June, Innisfil’s mayor holds a golf tournament to raise funds for the town’s popular grant program, which provides money for community groups. This year’s event is set for June 28.
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continued on 39 Our Innisfil 2017
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HigHest Quality FoR
Artist: Jeanette Luchese
BeCOMe Reality
“Our hope is to give the next generation of artists an opportunity to display and maybe even sell some of their masterpieces during our studio tour."
Artist: John Bartosik
When . . . s m a e r D
Artist: Janet Read
| innisfil studio tour
YouR CustoM outdooR LIvIng spaCEs
Looking around Kovalev’s home, he seems to favour painting musicians, but you can also see landscapes and still-lifes.
public to come in and see their work. Often times they may have a guest artist, so people can come and see two different artists in one space,” Hardie said. Participants have the opportunity to see artists at work.
“I’m free to move from very representational art to almost abstract, but object is never gone from my art,” he said.
“A lot of times if you come into their studio space you get to see works in progress, and they’ll show off techniques," Hardie said.
This year, the self-guided tour marks its 25th anniversary and Hardie hopes at least 25 artists will take part to mark the milestone. Nineteen artists were included last year. “We really want to get the word out to new artists, so we can get some new people in this year,” she said.
The Innisfil Studio Tour also hosts the Innisfil Youth Art Show, which is in its fifth year. Students from area elementary and secondary schools are invited to participate. Youth can submit their work to a panel of local artists for adjudication, or they can help plan and promote the youth event, Hardie said.
In years past, the Innisfil Studio Tour has featured artwork including different types of paintings, mixed media, fine art photography, jewelry, woodwork, and stained glass.
“Our hope is to give the next generation of artists an opportunity to display and maybe even sell some of their masterpieces during our studio tour,” Hardie said.
“Most artists have a studio in their house and they open their house up to the
For more information, visit innisfilstudiotour.ca.
“Even though it’s somewhat abstract, the light itself is so real,” said Sydney Hardie, an organizer of the studio tour.
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30 Our Innisfil 2017
KEMPENFELT ROTARY CLUB PRESENTS
A CULINARY ADVENTURE FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017 | 6:30PM TANGLE CREEK GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
Featuring:
Savour international food created by local restaurants.
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Enjoy expert beer and wine pairings. Live entertainment on the Pratt Homes Stage.
Liberty North
Fantastic silent, luxury and live auctions by A Touch of Class Auctions.
The Farmhouse
Exciting new features by:
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Music presented by the Lisa Hutchinson Band
$120.00 (Includes HST and a $60.00 tax receipt) Ticket purchases and other event details at:
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and many other community groups
J’adore Fine Cheese & Chocolate Canvas & Cabernet New Restaurant Announcements Coming Soon!
| farm fresh
Farmers' market has grown in seven years Janis Ramsay | jramsay@simcoe.com
The Innisfil Farmers’ Market operates at the Innisfil Recreation Complex every Thursday from 2-7 p.m. starting June 8.
T
he seventh time’s a charm for the Innisfil Farmers’ Market.
Marking its seventh anniversary in 2017, the market is launching at the beginning of June with a cornucopia of vendors offering their fresh goods and produce. Since its inception, the Innisfil Farmers’ Market has grown both in vendor size and in shoppers.
“We started with 11 vendors,” market manager Christine Ayres said, adding the number has now grown to approximately 30. The market is the result of a special Innisfil Farmers' Market Committee comprised of participating vendors, a member of council, and town staff.
32 Our Innisfil 2017
The Innisfil Farmers' Market has been designated a True Farmers' Market in that it boasts more than half of its vendors who identify as primary producers that personally grow or raise at least 70 per cent of the products they sell. Ayres said many favourite vendors are returning this summer, but some new additions are also being welcomed to the table. But it’s more than just fresh produce being offered. “You will find maple syrup and maple products, honey, fresh produce and fruits, herbs and potted plants, baked goods and candies, breads, meat pies and quiche, cheeses, wine, bath and beauty products, popcorn,” Ayres said.
Ready-made meals for lunch or dinner can be had, along with dessert, for families on the go. “Come out to have dinner here and get some supplies to prep for dinner tomorrow night too,” Ayres added. So far this year, six new vendors have inquired about joining the market, she explained. She’s already scheduled many special events for the year, including a strawberry festival/red and white day, corn roast, butter tart festival, apple festival and fall harvest. Each event has special guests invited to inform the community about a specific topic. “For example, the Corn Roast and Emergency Services Day on Aug. 24, we are connecting with the South Simcoe police, fire services and paramedics,” she said. “The special events days always include something extra for the kids (a game or craft).”
This year, the Neema Children’s Choir is joining the market from Uganda during three events, Ayers said. She is still looking for artisans to participate in the artisan fairs planned throughout the season to showcase their local talent, and musicians will entertain the crowd every week as well. Local performers may also be interested in participating, Ayers added, such as a dance studio, or pipe and drum band. As the market grows into its own attraction, people are taking notice. Two years ago, the market won the Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Greater Innisfil Chamber of Commerce. You can check out the Innisfil Farmers’ Market at the Innisfil Recreation Complex, 7315 Yonge St. every Thursday from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m., starting June 8.
Rick Nadeau from Everything Maple and Rob Radcliffe of Lakeview Gardens are ready to sell their products at the Innisfil Farmers’ Market this summer.
It runs outdoors in the parking lot until Oct. 12, when it will head indoors until Dec. 21.
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| on the water
Enhanced Waterfront Envisioned Janis Ramsay | jramsay@simcoe.com
W
ith 53 kilometres of shoreline, the Town of Innisfil is taking a closer look at the waterfront this year. Three plans have come into play to shape the future of Innisfil’s waterfront — the Our Shore Innisfil document to regulate docks and boathouses; Our Place, an updated Official Plan; and Active Innisfil, a plan that includes trails and parks. “One of the things we heard loud and clear through the process (of creating these plans) is the lake is one of the things people love most about the community,” the town’s senior policy planner Paul Pentikainen said. “The message coming from that is to enhance the lake and have greater public access to the lake as well.” According to the town’s Official Plan, the target is to acquire 34 hectares of new parkland by 2031. “From the trails side, the challenge is much of the lake is privately owned, and even some of the roads are privately owned,” Pentikainen said. “We are looking at trying to have signed bicycle routes as close as possible to the lake and to provide access to a lot of the road ends.” He added it means paving shoulders on some of the roads to improve access and make a trail connection.
34 Our Innisfil 2017
Submitted by Eugene Bussoli for the celebrate Innisfil 2017 photo contest
“It’s for key roads that are closer to the lake, like St. John Road, Maple Road and Ewart Street into Lefroy. That will provide a trail connection between Alcona and Lefroy.” The $14 million Active Innisfil plan is also to create more parkettes to complement the planned trails network. For example, road ends at the Seventh and Ninth lines, Arnold Street, Belle Aire Beach Road, Big Bay Point Road, Cross Street, Cumberland Street, Gilford Road, Lockhart Road, Roberts Road and/ or North Shore Drive are slated to be converted into parkettes. Staff has also been asked to investigate selling road ends that don’t provide safe water access at the Third Line, Evans Place, Little Cedar Avenue, and two spots on Maple Road. The plan includes updating the long-term vision of Innisfil Beach Park, with a focus toward year-round use. “It’s about the bigger picture with trails and bike paths connecting key places,” Innisfil policy planner Michelle Banfield said. “It’s not just about getting from point A to B; it’s about the connections that are created when the community can congregate in these places to enjoy.”
The idea is to create a better beach for all residents to enjoy. “Our goal is to have 75 per cent of the frontage to be maintained in its natural state,” Banfield said. “If it’s not already, we’d have to have a discussion (with private landowners) about how to improve it.” The Our Shore Innisfil document will create a framework for shoreline owners to follow when installing docks and boathouses on Lake Simcoe. “We don’t own a lot of the shoreline, which is where the tie-in to trails and the road ends is really important,” she said. And it’s not always about going swimming or boating, she said. “There’s even value in having different year-round opportunities. So, it might not be a great beach, but it might afford a great skating opportunity in the winter,” she said. “Even just a passive opportunity with a lookout and a couple of benches.” The intent is for the Our Place, Active Innisfil and Our Shore documents to be fined-tuned and approved by council this year.trt
Est: 1966/1967 Season
OUR 2017/2018 SEASON FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (classic musical)
Book by Joseph Stein; Music by Jerry Bock and Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick Nov. 2nd to 19th, 2017
THE 39 STEPS (comedy) Adapted by Patrick Barlow (from the movie by Alfred Hitchcock and the novel by John Buchan) February 8th to 25th, 2018
HARVEST MOON RISING (musical) Music & Lyrics by Leslie Arden; Book by Peggy Sample • April 12th to 29th, 2018 Please note that the program is subject to change without notice.
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Celebrate Innisfil - 2017 Photo Contest We asked readers to share their best photos of Innisfil in the Celebrate Innisfil Photo Contest on Simcoe.com. The public voted, and three winners received prizes. Check out some of the amazing entries.
1st PLACE - Early morning sunrise by the lake. Submitted by: Susanne Cullen
2nd PLACE - The one tree in Innisfil Beach Park that keeps its leaves until the bitter end. Submitted by: Sharon Chick
36 Our Innisfil 2017
3rd PLACE - An early morning Canada goose silhouette flying across Lake Simcoe. Submitted by: Sharon Chick
Submitted by: Chris Abdul
Submitted by: Fionna Kelly
Submitted by: Maurizio Casu
Submitted by: Sharon Chick
Submitted by: Linda Vartanian
Submitted by: Emily Tucker
Submitted by: Sharon Chick
Submitted by: Brend Medwid
Submitted by: Sharon Chick
Our Innisfil 2017
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| in good company
volunteers are the heart of a community, If
its
owners the engine
business are
.
This section, In Good Company, features just some of the many local business stories that make Innisfil a great place to let your entrepreneurial spirit soar or lay down the foundation for a successful company.
38 Our Innisfil 2017
Focusing on all your real estate needs!
continued from 29
7 Get theatrical
HeatherJones
South Simcoe Theatre presents Four Play: A Showcase of Play Readings June 1 to 4. For four consecutive days, the South Simcoe Theatre presents a lightly rehearsed reading of a different full-length play or of several shorter plays. The actors sit in chairs and read the script to us, the audience, much like one might see or hear at the first day of rehearsal. To order tickets, call 705-458-4432 and leave a message. southsimcoetheatre.com.
Tel: 705-431-7100 Cell: 705-241-1408
hrjones@rogers.com www.heatherjones.biz
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8 Have a wingdinging good time The annual Wing Ding event takes over Cookstown June 3. Cookstown is transformed into one large street party, with hundreds of yard sales, an antique/ craft sales area, live music and family entertainment. Wing Ding is the largest and longest running community yard sale in Ontario. cookstown.ca
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9 Grab some good grub The Innisfil Farmers’ Market opens for the year on June 8. The market is open every Thursday from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Innisfil Recreation Complex. innisfilfarmersmarket.ca continued on 43
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Our Innisfil 2017
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| in good company
North Toronto Auction owner/partner Stuart Ralph explains his business comes down to putting buyers and sellers together.
North Toronto Auction will sell 12,000 vehicles this year “A large part of our success comes from our dedicated employees. The hard work that they do makes our customers' experience better,”
E
Sara Carson | scarson@simcoe.com
very other Saturday, approximately 2,000 people gather at North Toronto Auction in Innisfil. Some are eager to bid on a range of vehicles from recreational to cars and heavy equipment, while others just come to watch the fast-paced sell-off. “We don’t sell cars. We sell service,” said owner/ partner Stuart Ralph. “We put buyers and sellers together; that’s what our business is. That’s why it’s very unique.” And bids come in from across the globe, Ralph added. Major clients include the City of Toronto, Hydro One, the Province of Ontario, RepoDepo, York Regional Police, Durham Regional Police, the City of Barrie, and Chrysler Canada. North Toronto Auction is Canada's largest independently-owned auction company.
40 Our Innisfil 2017
They will sell over 12,000 vehicles this year, Ralph said. The company launched in 2003 and in 2015 was recognized as one of Canada’s fastest-growing companies through Canadian Business Magazine. “We’ve had tremendous growth and that stems a lot from what we do,” Ralph said. They offer full service to sellers. This includes preparing the vehicles for sale and advertising. North Toronto Auction employs 106 full- and part-time staff from Innisfil and Barrie. “A large part of our success comes from our dedicated employees. The hard work that they do makes our customers' experience better,” Ralph said. North Toronto Auction holds a public auction every other Saturday — admission is free — and they host a dealer-only auction every other Friday.
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Our Innisfil 2017
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| in good company
Enjoy your own great outdoors with Kell’s Garden City
Sam Guido, president of Kell’s Garden City, has all the landscaping supplies you need to create the outdoor living area of your dreams.
Sara Carson | scarson@simcoe.com
“One trend that we’re really, really finding is a lot of homeowners are coming in for a complete package and something that they can do themselves"
42 Our Innisfil 2017
G
rab your mortar and trowels. Many families are choosing the do-it-yourself route when it comes to building a backyard oasis, said Sam Guido, president of Kell’s Garden City. And the landscaping supply business at 1451 10th Line in Innisfil has everything you need to get from start to finish. “One trend that we’re really, really finding is a lot of homeowners are coming in for a complete package and something that they can do themselves,” Guido said. An entire hardscape package could include: interlock, armour stone, limestone screenings, sand, and stone sealer. But you don’t have to stop there. Outdoor living spaces will only become more popular in 2017 with families adding stone benches, fireplaces, granite and limestone steps, and bar countertops, Guido said.
Kell’s Garden City has delivered supplies to homes in Bradford, Cookstown, Alliston, Beeton, Angus, Collingwood and Wasaga Beach. And they’re gaining traction in Orillia and Muskoka. The business now sells Dolphin Pools and guillotined armour stone. And they have everything you need to create and fill garden beds and vegetables patches. “Each year we increase the amount of species that we carry in our greenhouses,” Guido said. In 2015/16, Kell’s Garden City helped create The Nest, an 18-hole golf course at Friday Harbour Resort Inc. “We blended all of the topsoil that they’re going to be using at the golf course. That was a big accomplishment,” Guido said.
continued from 39
An Exciting & Educational Adventure
10 Kick off summer Innisfil Ribfest and Music Festival runs June 23-25 at Innisfil Recreation Complex. This festival is replacing Summerfest. Five rib teams will bring their award-winning ribs to the festival, which will also feature more great food options, a midway and live entertainment all weekend. icecorp.org
CELEBRATING CELEBRATING 50 50 YEARS YEARS 1967-2017! 1967-2017!
12 Add a little steam to your life
May 21st to October 9th, 2017 (weather permitting)
County Rd. 27, Elmvale just North of Barrie
Tigers, Jaguars, Giraffes, Monkeys, Exotic Birds. View Majestic White Lions. Shaded trails too!
11 Frolic with the family Innisfil Rotary Family Fun Day takes over the Innisfil Recreation Complex. The annual June festival features information on Innisfil, games, food, entertainment, displays and rides on the Rotary train.
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The annual Georgian Bay Steam Show runs Aug. 4-7 at 4635 Victoria St. W., Cookstown. Events include tractor pulls, farm machinery show, threshing/baling demonstrations, sawmill demonstrations, shingle making, crafts, flea market, corn roast, pancake breakfast and more. steamshow.ca
13Â Go to the Fair
The Barrie Fair takes over the Essa Agriplex in Thornton Aug. 24-27. The 2017 fair will include judged events of livestock, horses, and home crafts, a variety of vendors and exhibits, a midway and family-fun attractions like the demolition derby and tractor pulls. essaagriplex.ca continued on 45
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Our Innisfil 2017
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| in good company
Innisfil roots run deep for real estate agent Janis Ramsay | jramsay@simcoe.com
R
e/Max real estate agent Heather Jones has deep roots in the community. She was born in Innisfil as one of six children.
“My family had greenhouses and I also had and still have family in the fire department,” Jones said. “Everybody knew everybody. I went to school in a one-room school house, with kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2 together,” she said. She later married a builder and took a step into the real estate business. Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined a home in her hometown of Lefroy selling for $700,000, but we are there. It shows just how quickly things are changing in the real estate market. “The forecast of Innisfil, Barrie and Bradford — anything within an hour of the GTA in every direction — is booming,” Jones said. “It’s because of the affordability. It’s still much cheaper to buy here than Toronto.” And adding the lifestyle to that, it’s easy to understand why bidding wars are becoming the norm. “We have new subdivisions, new homes here and a GO station coming. People want to move here because it’s more accessible and affordable,” Jones said. “Up here we have Lake Simcoe and ski hills — nature’s preserve at our doorstep.” While it is an exciting time to see Innisfil blossom into a burgeoning town, Jones knows the market is getting tougher for first-time homebuyers. “I lived in Innisfil when it was nothing but a cottage town and farmers. In the fall, we’d lose half of the class because they were out harvesting,” Jones said. “Now, I still say hi to people but I don’t know them. It’s a community of communities and each area has its own characteristics.” She believes rentals will be big in the future and added there is plenty of incentive for residents to build secondary suites in the town. She just hopes that along with housing, jobs will also come to the town to keep residents both young and old employed locally.
44 Our Innisfil 2017
Re/Max real estate agent Heather Jones says this is an exciting time to see Innisfil blossom into a burgeoning town.
Now bookiNg weddiNgs aNd Corporate eveNts 9 18
DailY green fees Monday - Friday Weekends & Holidays
continued from 43
$16 $17.70
$24 $26.55
TwilighT golf specials Unlimited walking 4 pm - till dark Monday - Friday Weekends & Holidays
$14 $17
MeMbership raTes
11th Line
* Plus applicable taxes
705-733-3751
8410 11th Line Essa Township
You should be golfing here!
Producers of Bird Seed, Chicken, & Beef Local Pork available
16 Have one last blast The Simcoe County Museum, 1151 Highway 26 Minesing, and the Historical Construction Equipment Association of Canada present Last Blast Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each year the museum powers up heritage equipment for one last blast before the winter. Ride out to the gravel pits on a people mover for a tour. See live demonstrations of steam-powered equipment, vintage road building, rock crushing, grading, hoisting and much more. Regular museum admission rates apply. 705-728-3721 or museum.simcoe.ca.
STORE
705-436-2749
Email: EdwardsFarmStore@bellnet.ca Fax:705-436-2760
15 Explore arts and crafts
The Simcoe County Quilt, Rug and Craft Fair is a wonderful showcase of heritage crafts from throughout our region. The event runs Sept. 15 to 17 at the Simcoe County Museum. Saleable items such as beautiful quilting, embroidery, spinning, handweaving, rug hooking, lacemaking and handmade teddy bears will be on display by the guild members who handcrafted them. museum.simcoe.ca
ARDS FAR W M ED
Barrie
1574 9th Line Innisfil ON L9S 3Z1
Hwy 11
Innisfil Garden Club hosts its Fall Flower and Vegetable Show, in partnership with the Gilford and District Horticultural Society, at the Churchill Community Centre. Entries can be brought in between 9:30 and 11 a.m. Event is open to the public starting at noon. Tea and a light lunch will be served for $5.
$560 $528 $690 $656 $368
Hwy 400
14 Flower and Vegetable show
AffordAble, friendly, fun!
Weekday Membership Seniors Full Week Memberships Seniors Juniors
Stroud Victoria St. 10th Line 9th Line Innis l Beach Rd.
Grand OpeninG Sale! Friday April 7th, 9:00 - 5:00 pm
UP TO 20% OFF ECHO & SHINDAIWA PRODUCTS BBQ with REfRESHmENTS from om 11-1pm Offering fleet pricing to all who attend
Visit our showroom for our selection of various product lines
mercer Equipment Inc.
28 Currie St. Unit #1, Barrie 705-503-3535 mercerequipment.ca
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| in good company
Adam Mitchell (left), marketing manager, and Shawn Leis, director of finance and business operations, with The Look Company in Innisfil. The branding business won three awards at the 2016 Federation of European Screen Printers Associations.
Branding company wins three prestigious awards Sara Carson | scarson@simcoe.com
The Look Company took home the Best in Show Award, earned Gold for Roll-to-Roll Printed Textile, and Bronze for Decals, Printed Labels and Fleet Marking.
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he Look Company won three prestigious titles at the Federation of European Screen Printers Associations (FESPA) awards in 2016. The company, founded in Innisfil in 1998, brings promotions, branding, and messages to life through the use of high-definition digital textile printing. They won the FESPA awards for their work with the 24th Men’s World Handball Championship, held in 2015. “It really showed that we knew our stuff and put us on the map in terms of the quality of our product,” said Adam Mitchell, marketing manager of The Look Company. The Look Company took home the Best in Show Award, earned Gold for Roll-to-Roll Printed Textile, and Bronze for Decals, Printed Labels and Fleet Marking.
This year, The Look Company has set its sights on Canada Day 150. They are actively working with municipalities across the country to ensure Canada’s 150th birthday is a monumental occasion. “We want this area to be known as the Canada 150 flagship community,” said Shawn Leis, director of finance and business operations. Mitchell said they can’t elaborate on what this will look like, or how the company will accomplish this. But he did say they want to support local artists. The majority of The Look Company’s business is large-scale sporting events. They also have a retail division and recently won a global contract with Jaguar Land Rover, which will span 30 countries worldwide.
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17 Get a little artsy The artists on the IACHC Innisfil Studio Tour cordially invite you into their homes and studios to view their most recent creations Nov. 4-5. Take this opportunity to meet the creators and find out more about what inspires each and every one. innisfilstudiotour.ca
Spring Cleaning?
We Want the stuff you don’t!
Donate to Kidney Clothes we piCK up:
Used Clothing, Outerwear, Purses, Belts & Shoes, Textiles, Yarn and Bedding
Call us to learn how Kidney Clothes Can help your group raise funds. We’ll pick up your used clothing and textiles at your door or donate in person to our office
18 Light up the night Cookstown’s annual Light Up Night is traditionally the second Friday in November. The Christmas tree is lit at 6 p.m. followed by the annual Santa Claus Parade. Christmas shopping, hot apple cider, food, carolers and the special grand finale of the parade provide a great evening for everyone to enjoy. cookstown.ca
19 Spend some time with Santa The Alcona Santa Claus Parade takes over the streets of Alcona Nov. 26. The parade showcases great local businesses non-forprofit organizations and schools. continued on 49
570 Bryne Drive, Unit J, Barrie • 1.800.414.3484 www.kidneyclothes.ca @kidneyclothes
BARRIE WELDING & MACHINE (1974) LTD. 39 Anne St., Barrie, ON L4N 2C7 OFFERING FULL CNC CAPABILITY WELDING - TSSACERTIFIED, PRESSURE & PORTABLE FULL SERVICE WAREHOUSE: STEEL, ALUMINUM, STAINLESS ETC. AUTOMATION - DESIGN & BUILD MACHINES FULL SERVICE MACHINE SHOP MILLING, BORING, GRINDING LASER, WATER JET, PLASMA & PROFILE CUTTING (705) 726-1444 I.S.O. 9002 Registered
Fax:(705) 726-1830 CWB CERTIFIED Our Innisfil 2017
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| in good company
Conny Lee, 35, runs Conny Lee Holistic Career Services out of her home in Alcona.
Career coach can help you find a job you’ll love Sara Carson | scarson@simcoe.com
“People aren’t really managing their careers. They’re just letting their bosses, or their parents, dictate for them,”
T
here’s a new career coach in town and she wants you to love your job. Conny Lee, 35, is a certified employment and career strategist with a passion for helping people find their true calling.
“I’ve been doing this on the side since college,” she said, adding she started by helping family and friends.
“I wanted to raise more awareness of trying to incorporate loving what you do with your career,” Lee said.
“People aren’t really managing their careers. They’re just letting their bosses, or their parents, dictate for them,” she said.
She opened Conny Lee Holistic Career Services out of her Alcona home in Nov. 2016. To date, Lee has helped individuals in careers including nursing, security, teacher’s assistant, and construction.
Lee’s services can be especially helpful to high school and post-secondary school students.
And she does so by tapping into their goals, dreams, passions, and strengths. Lee is certified through Career Professionals of Canada and offers career coaching, guidance with career transitioning, and resume writing. She found her calling while searching for a job after she graduated from Seneca College.
48 Our Innisfil 2017
If you feel stuck in your career, Lee can help you take control.
“I don’t think there’s enough focus on finding a job after school,” she said. And, Lee keeps her eye on labour market trends to steer clients away from jobs that are becoming obsolete. Contact Conny Lee Holistic Career Services at 905505-0810, or connyleecs@gmail.com. Her website is connylee.com.
Spacious & Relaxing Atmosphere continued from 49
It’s Open-Toe Season... Let’s get you ready for Spring!
20 Ring in 2018
Celebrate New Year’s at the Innisfil Recreation Centre. The event traditionally features a family skate, door prizes and a fireworks show. icecorp.org.
21 Celebrate winter Innisfil loves its winters and the last weekend in February marks the annual winter celebration. This event includes an ice fishing derby, Polar Bear Dip, snow pitch tournament and pancake breakfast. icecorp.org
22 Whatever floats their boats Every March, Simcoe County schools gather at the YMCA pool in the Innisfil Recreation Complex to build and float cardboard boats. Students race from one end to other, often providing some hilarious moments for onlookers.
Established 2010 & VOTED #1 Five Years in a row! Certified compliance with Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit ◆
2016
◆
Solar Nails ◆ Shellac Manicure Galvanic Spa Pedicure ◆ Waxing
Call Or Book Online Today! 241 Essa Road, Barrie
705.719.9888 tominails.ca
What do we offer the
? y t i n u m m Co ➺ Institutional Financing (Banks, Trust Companies & Credit Unions) ➺ Mortgages, Consolidation, HELOC, Equity & Secured Visa’s ➺ Access to Private Funds (Credit issues, hard to prove income etc.) ➺ Mortgage Investment Opportunities (See below) ➺ Education events Mortgage monthly Specialists Certified Reverse ➺ WIN one of up to $1,500 in prizes annually 02-o00r 07 90-44951
. (705) 2 -0007 . . l l a c a Give us ee at (877) 512 toll fr
Come visit us at our office in Lefroy Wealthy Canadians Double Their Net Worth Every 5 to 8 years. How? By earning 8%-15% on their money EVERY year. Call about investment options that are always based on REAL ESTATE and not the markets. CASH OR REGISTERED FUNDS (RRSP, LIRA, RIF, RESP, TFSA) - are your registered funds losing money or going nowhere? Call to discuss options. Our Innisfil 2017
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| in good company
Peter Dickey, owner of Dickey Bee Honey Inc., has been very busy in the past year. His honey is now sold in China, he expanded his shop and training studio, and his bees will be featured in a film.
Dickey Bee Honey now sold in China Sara Carson | scarson@simcoe.com
“Now the people can go to school here, they can buy their bees here, and they can buy all their supplies here.”
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weet success: Dickey Bee Honey Inc. has gone international. In January, the fourth-generation business shipped 3,000 jars of liquid honey to China. And shortly after, a second Chinese importer ordered their honey. “It’s a feather in our cap that we’re doing all the right things,” said owner Peter Dickey. “The growth potential is going to be quite large. It means more staffing and a lot of good things.” Peter and his wife Sandi have been busy as bees this past year. In Aug. 2016, they added 2,000 square feet to their shop and beekeeper training studio at 4031 3rd Line, Cookstown. The expansion to 6,000 square feet included a second classroom and new warehouse. Dickey Bee trains about 100 new beekeeper hobbyists each year, as well as hosting educational workshops for school groups.
Dickey Bee has also started to sell beekeeping supplies. For generations, the Dickey family bought their supplies from Cook's Bee Supplies in Aurora. When that company closed, Dickey Bee bought their inventory. “It’s kind of like a one-stop shop now,” Peter said of his business. He added: “Now the people can go to school here, they can buy their bees here, and they can buy all their supplies here.” Dickey Bee has 500 hives located throughout farm fields in Innisfil. They have close to 70 distributors, mostly in Ontario. Get your hands on some Dickey Bee Honey: dickeybeehoney.com.
Providing quality care ...one patient at a time
*INNISFIL LOCATION* *Opening in 2018* BARRIE 11 Lakeside Terrace #LL01 ........ 705-722-8036 Offering Ultrasound, Bone Density and X-ray 480 Huronia Road #101 ........ 705-739-1028 Offering Ultrasound and X-ray 121 Wellington Street West #115 ........ 705-726-4531 Offering Ultrasound and X-ray
WASAGA BEACH 14 Ramblewood Dr. #105 ..........705-422-2255 Offering Ultrasound, Bone Density and X-ray
COLLINGWOOD
Shipyards Medical Arts Centre
28 Huron St. 4th Floor .......... 705-444-9280 Offering Ultrasound and X-ray
Proudly serving the people of Simcoe County Since 1972
www.georgianradiology.com
Appointments are required for ultrasound and bone density To book please call 705-726-7442
X-RAY- Walk In Basis Only
B.J. Roth Realty ltd. Brokerage
Innisfil
Barry Pike Broker
Igor Vujovic Broker
Darlene Stevens Broker
Trudy Barry*
Dwayne Clugston*
Malcolm Diasio*
Sherry Burleigh*
Wendy McDougall*
Jennifer Maenz*
Kimberley Mugford*
Don Gillespie*
Tracey Best*
Timothy Masters*
Rick Saunders*
Catherine Saunders*
Stefanie Engel*
Cory Seaman*
888 Innisfil Beach Road, Innisfil, Ontario L9S 2C2 Bus: 705.436.2121 • Fax: 705.436.5391 Toll Free: 1.888.712.9994
www.myinnisfilhomes.com *Sales Representative Each office is independently owned and operated
MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE®
REALTOR®