The Villager Magazine - December 2023

DECEMBER 2023

C H R I S T M A S L I G H T S • H O U S I N G M A R K E T R E V I E W • L I T E R A R Y LO C A L S

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Artist of the Month

“Somebody fed me that terrible lie, and I believed it.”

– Steph Whalen

S

teph was that kid who wanted nothing but to be an artist when she grew up, but quit making art just after completing high school. “I grew up believing that artists were starving and depressed. Somebody fed me that terrible lie, and I believed it.” In 2015 Steph gave herself permission to start making art again, and jumped in with both feet. She opened a studio, started offering art lessons to children and adults and quickly became active in the communitiy partnering with Lakehead University, The Orillia Public Library & The City of Orillia to offer social art experiences that were accessible to everyone.

“The experience of being an art instructor has been instrumental in my own practice and self discovery as I’ve forced myself to break down each and every stage of my personal art making. As a person who works primarily from instinct as opposed to learned methods, this has taught me to question my work, scrutinize my methods and work far outside of my usual areas of comfort. I have dabbled in abstracts, landscapes, florals and illustrations working with images from nature and stories from my imagination.”

Currently, Steph is wrapping up a collection of 12” x 12” paintings that will be available for purchase early December. “This is the first time I have made a collection available since my 2019 exhibition at The Orillia museum of Art and History and I’m really excited.”

To learn more about Steph and follow her ever evolving journey as an artist: Facebook: @StephWhalenART Instagram: @stephwhalenfineart

The Villager | Dec 2023 3

december 2023 PUBLISHERS Jiun Liao and Mikaila Bolzonello ART DIRECTOR Marleen Walz SUBMIT STORIES AND EVENTS We want to hear from you! If there’s anything interesting, a topic you would like covered, or an event you want the community to know, share it with us: villagermagazine.ca FIND THE VILLAGER The Villager is delivered online to subscribers through villagermagazine.ca.

It is also delivered in print throughout Severn, Orillia, Ramara, and OroMedonte locations. Visit our website to find print locations.

ADVERTISING Find the best way to reach your audience through The Villager.

Contact us at 705-712-3237 or email hello@villagermagazine.ca DEADLINE Prearranged editorial contributions as well as advertising space must be received or booked by the 15th of every month.

On our cover: Steph Whalen, @StephWhalenART

© The Villager Magazine All rights reserved. No reproduction by any means or in any form may be made without prior written consent by the publishers.

4 The Villager | Dec 2023

I

From The Publishers

think by now we’ve all heard the news of Metroland Media filing for bankruptcy and stopping their print newspapers all around us. They were like that giant tree in the once lush forest that finally fell, taking with it the whispers and stories of local towns.

It seems like every time we blink, there’s one less magazine on the shelf, one less newspaper in the stand. Why? Is print really the dying industry everyone says it is?

When I read a book on my tablet, or listen to an audiobook, it feels like something is missing. I get distracted. I’m either doing something else like exercising while listening, or notifications pop up, or I read as quickly as possible so I can move on and do something else.

Technology has advanced our ability to take in more information. Everything is faster for the sake of convenience. To give us what we’ve always wanted, the ability to do everything we wanted or needed to do. Keep up with friends, work, shop, stay healthy, relax, etc.

The problem seems to be the more convenient things get, the more it seems to amalgamate together. We now need to learn how to multitask, do multiple things at once, in order to keep up with it all.

Speed seems to be the name of the game.

I don’t know about you, but when I pick up a book and sit down to read it, I’m transported somewhere else. Every turn of the page is intentional, dripping in anticipation and thrill of finding out what comes next.

I slow down, and my world slows down with me. It’s more intentional.

Many kids growing up are being taught that the faster you do things the better it is, well better for whom? I’ve been on that train.

I’ve worked as fast as possible and there’s always more to do. No matter how fast you work, the amount of things never end.

Reading something physical provides a unique experience now. Reading a book, a magazine, turning the pages, feeling the paper, smelling the ink, the sound of pages rustling against each other, being immersed into a story without pop up ads or tracking codes.

Print provides something incredibly vital, undivided attention. Leading to depth and engagement. Deeper comprehension and retention of information.

Print does one thing and one thing only.

It’s elegant simplicity. It provides no more than what it promises, and is no less than what it is.

I believe print to be like vinyl records, it may not be the most popular, but the experience it provides can’t be replaced.

Because of this, we have a little surprise in store. We are showcasing a collection of books by local authors, just keep reading this month’s Villager and you’ll find it. Support the local print industry this holiday if you can.

Happy holidays.

Mikaila & Jiun

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New Nature Reserve Close to Home

By Courtney Baker

A

t The Couchiching Conservancy we are in the business of protecting land. From Kawartha Lakes to Oro-Medonte, from Ramara to the Township of Severn we work to keep nature close to home, and for residents of Riverdale Drive in Washago our newest nature reserve will do just that.

We are thrilled to announce new Mitchell Bruce Nature Reserve will be official this December! This stunning 34 hectares of rock barren and marshland is home to common loons, tree frogs, great crested flycatchers, and a plethora of other species. It connects to not one, but two pre-existing nature reserves creating a 123 hectare forest! (That’s 123 Orillia Home Depots!)

The Mitchell Bruce Nature Reserve shares a property line with The Conservancy’s existing Alexander Hope Smith (AHS) Nature Reserve.

AHS boasts a well-trod 3.2 km trail, popular with neighbours and visitors

The Mitchell Bruce Nature Reserve is named for Leslie and Irene’s son

to the area alike. Not only are the nature reserves connected but they create a space in all four seasons for families, friends and neighbours to make memories by heading out for a walk, watching a heron stalk its prey, or spotting moose tracks in the snow.

These magical moments are thanks to corridors of connected wilderness that allow species to move freely through their natural habitats, this new nature reserve will give people the chance to live with nature and will give nature a meaningful foothold in the community.

Although the Mitchell Bruce Nature Reserve will not be open to the public, it provides respite and healthy habitat for species to live as they are meant to. This generous gift to the community means that the turtles, bats and beaver we know and love to see will be spotted there for generations to come.

This is all thanks to donors Leslie and Irene Bruce, long time owners of the property who have taken impeccable care of it. The Mitchell Bruce Nature Reserve is named for Leslie and Irene’s son. He was a passionate teacher who found meaning teaching science and robotics in remote Indigenous communities in Northern Canada, he also enjoyed adventure and the outdoors. Mitchell’s passion for the outdoors will be honoured forever by the generous donation his parents have made and it is important to the family, as it would have been to him, that the community knows this land is the territory of the Anishinaabe.

Nature reserves are places where neighbours can become friends, where tadpoles can metamorphose into frogs and where 46 hectares of wilderness protected in 2006 can become 123 hectares protected in 2023. They grow and change and somehow stay the same.

If you want to support our work, keeping nature close to home, please consider a donation as we fundraise to support the stewardship of the Mitchell Bruce Nature Reserve and by visiting couchichingconserv.ca.

Courtney Baker is the Office and Acquisition Coordinator at The Couchiching Conservancy, protecting nature for future generations.

6 The Villager | Dec 2023

BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED LOG HOME in ORO-MEDONTE! This log home offers a timeless classic design with massive great room, three bedrooms, 2.5 baths, sitting room and large kitchen with walkout to beautifully treed 100’x198’ lot. Insulated 30’x22’ garage/workshop for your hobbies plus storage for sports equipment. Lake Simcoe is directly across the road with lake access and boat launch just down the road. Ideal location with walking, hiking and biking trails plus skiing close by. Traditional materials and building methods were used to create the rustic charm and warmth for this retreat in a natural setting. Asking $899,000. MLS#40502629

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VILLAGER VENTURES: Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt

By Hillary Handy

D

ecember is filled with hustle and bustle. I am guilty of trying to do all the things. I want to create the idyllic conditions for core memories. But sometimes doing too much is the worst thing you can do around the holidays. I’m trying to learn that less is more. Keep it simple.

BUT, for the Type As of the group, if you have to make a list and check it twice, there’s one thing I feel like you have to do during the holiday season. And that is to drive around looking at the Christmas lights. The Clark Griswolds of the neighbourhood work long and hard to showcase their talents in exterior illumination. It’s only fair that we do our part and make sure we see their handiwork at play. There’s a Facebook group called SIMCOE COUNTY CHRISTMAS LIGHTS that posts the locations of these homes, so if you’re a planner, you can plan the best route!

I remember the anticipatory feeling of searching for beautifully decorated homes. The sense of community, the warmth of your car and the cold of standing outside. The taste of warm hot chocolate afterwards. Those are things you remember. Those are core memories unlocked.

This is an easy family tradition to carry out because there are multiple opportunities wherever you happen to be, it’s free, it’s fun and it kickstarts the holiday season. If you only have the time and capacity to do one thing this holiday season, make it a family drive. The best conversations often happen when you’re in a car. And the best Christmas Karaoke also happens when you’re strapped in, driving around. You could make it a whole thing and even make a scavenger hunt, trying to spot lights of different colours, different inflatable lawn decorations and count how many Frosty’s you see on lawns. You can walk downtown streets to look for lights and ride public transportation and spot decorations in your travels. It’s feasible to do wherever you are…as long as it’s dark outside.

For an elevated, paid experience, the Mystical Lights will be returning to Oro-Medonte again, but this year at Heidi’s Campground. Hewitts Fun Farm and Market will also be creating their Festival of Lights drivethru experience once more in Severn.

We hope that you are able to create some fun, family memories of your own this December. But even if you can’t do all the things, you will do the most important things and that’s all that matters.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season and a very, Merry Christmas!

Love from this Villager and her Villagers.

What : the Mystical Lights Where : Heidi’s Campground Tickets : mysticallights.ca

8 The Villager | Dec 2023

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Ghost Towns Of Ontario’s Cottage Country Andrew Hind

A

s the twinkling lights of the holidays start to line our streets and the sweet scent of cookies fill the air, there’s nothing quite like curling up with a good book by the warm glow of a fireplace. But what if this year, the stories that capture your heart and imagination could also bring a sprinkle of magic to your own community? Join us on a literary sleigh ride through a wonderland of this year’s book releases by local authors. Bring joy to your family and friends while helping the stars of our local writing scene shine a little brighter!

From the northern shores of Georgian Bay to the eastern reaches of the Kawarthas, Ontario’s cottage country is littered with vanished villages, including, railway whistlestops, settlement-era farming communities and small logging hamlets. Venture into Ontario’s past to learn how these communities lived and died and to meet the people who invested their hopes and dreams in them. Dozens of photographs, many historical and never before published, bring these ghost towns back to life.

Vantage Point: Five Perspectives To Live A Better Story Dan Barber Are you living, but not truly alive? Through personal tales and hard-earned insights from years of professional exploration, Dan bridges the gap between doubt and clarity.

The Color Red AM Potter When they find Rollo Novak and his wife Katrina their bodies are nude and hanging side-by-side next to their pool… murdered. Enter Detective Lieutenant Ivy Bourque and her forensic team. It’s not going to be an easy case to solve. There are no DNA samples of anyone but the victims at the crime scene, and only footprints to show that anyone else had been there. The butler, a Slovene like Novak, heard and saw nothing.

City Girl Ashlea Fitzweber Join Zoe and Zelda as they experience all the fun and magic a family cottage has to offer. From riding in a boat, making s’mores, and singing around the campfire to counting the stars, hiking in the forest, and swimming in the lake, Zoe begins to cherish the cottage and the great outdoors.

10 The Villager | Dec 2023

Don’t You Dare Jessica Hamilton When best friends Hannah and Scarlett meet Thomas in college—the chemistry is instantaneous. They grow closer while playing the Daring Game, where each dare is riskier than the last.

As the trio’s friendship begins to cross boundaries between the platonic and the illicit, jealousy and secrets quickly develop. As tensions between the three grow, so do the stakes in the Daring Game, resulting in tragedy with Scarlett’s final dare to Thomas. When Thomas gets expelled from school and leaves without a trace, it seems like the Daring Game has finally ended... Sixteen years later, Hannah is unhappy in marriage and in life. That is, of course, until she gets a mysterious letter about the Daring Game from none other than Thomas himself.

Swiffy’s Rue Kevin Firth Dave Swift (Swiffy) begins his life in the industrial north of England under traumatic conditions. Little did he know that matters could get much worse. Through a series of sad events at fifteen he is given a choice to join the Royal Navy or go to a boy’s prison. He is taught to be a ships diver where his toughness and resilience seems to shine. His life seems to take a turn for the good when he seemingly meets the love of his life. Unfortunately for Swiffy though, through a series of events he finds himself in the Royal Navies infamous detention quarters.. This tough individual with his many scars later becomes a deep-sea diver working on the oil rigs off Scotland. But for Swiffy even though he has faced his many fears it would not be enough.

Gallinger A Life Suspended Fred Addis Don Gallinger was a gifted athlete and a teenage phenomenon. In the fall of 1942, as a seventeen-year-old, he made the unprecedented jump from Junior B hockey to the Boston Bruins of the NHL. His career ended when he bet on NHL games and was suspended indefinitely at first, and then for life. In the history of organized hockey no one has ever walked in shoes quite like his.

Daddy: Open Doors That Only He Sees John Belanger “Welcome to Barrie, Ontario, the city of a new breed of wizards. My daddy can walk through doors that aren’t there!

Through doors, we walked through enchanted doors for our eyes only.”

Shelby is the main character.

She did not have a clue that she was a wizard, a shapeshifter. A wizard with attitude; go, girl, go! A crown of flowers, an enchanted dress, a Grim Stone around her neck, and gifts from the Say-Waze. They were on a mission to save the Umbrella people, cursed by an evil witch. A five-hundred-year-old curse, as We-walker.

“A house without books is like a room without windows.”

– Heinrich Mann

Eggy Adventures: The Journey to Egg-ville Elliot D’Souza Meet Eggie, an inventor in the busy forest kingdom of Eggington. One day, he decides that he needs a change and sets out for Eggville, a quiet forest town far away. He makes some new friends along the way who help him on his journey, and he also runs into some challenges which he and his friend must overcome together.

Who knew? Growing Up in Thunder Bay Beach Theresa Fama Growing up in a tight-knit community as a local resident of Thunder Bay Beach, Theresa (nee Lefreniere) Fama shares her childhood memories of an unforgettable playground of beautiful sandy beaches, clear blue water (perfect for summing), hills for sledding, a bush area to play in, a bay to skate on and the benefits of living across from the McNamara Memorial Park.

Thanks to Severn Public Library for helping us create this list of local authors.

The Villager | Dec 2023 11

Pumpkin & ricotta

Ingredients 225 grams full fat ricotta 225 grams pumpkin purée 2 Oz grated Parmesan cheese 1 large egg + 1 yolk 1 tsp salt 1 cup all purpose flour 1/2 tsp nutmeg 2 tbsp olive oil 1/2 white onion diced small 2 cloves of garlic, crushed 4 cups heavy cream 4 Oz Gorgonzola 4 tbsp grated Parmesan 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper 3 tbsp minced fresh parsley

Method • Using 2 pieces of cheese cloth, put ricotta in one and the pumpkin purée in the other, twist & tie off and let stand for approx 15 min to withdraw some of the moisture out of each.

• In a large mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, parmesan , eggs, salt, nutmeg and mix thoroughly until smooth. Food on the flour with a spatula/spoon until combined. The mixture should hold together and still be tacky. If too wet add a tablespoon of flour until a little drier if necessary.

• Turn out the dough onto a floured surface and knead the dough for a few moments using a light touch until combined and no visible streaks for flour.

• Cut into equal sections and using your finger tips, roll and gently pull the dough to create a snake like shape.

• The dough should be approx 1/2 inch thick. Using a knife, cut along the roll in 1/4 to 1/2 inch cuts. Once the whole roll has been cut, gently dust with flour and set aside on a floured baking tray.

• Repeat the process until all dough has been cut. You can leave the shapes as is or use a gnocchi board or the back of a fork to create the groves in your dough, but plain is also just fine.

• Fill a medium pot full of water with 1 tbsp of salt and place over med high and bring to a rolling boil.

• Drop the cut of dough into the boiling water, to avoid burning yourself use a slotted spoon to lower into the pot.

• Stir gently after adding the dough. When the dough is ready it will float to the top. Scoop out the dough as it floats and place on an oiled pan to prevent sticking.

• After the dough has been boiled off you have 2 options. 1) add the gnocchi straight into sauce after boiling or 2), pan fry in oil & butter until crisp/browned on both sides and then add to sauce, you choose!

Sauce • Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat, adding the onion and garlic and cook for 2 min. Add the heavy cream and bring to a full boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, then continue to boil rapidly for approximately 20 minutes or reduced by half ( all stove tops vary) , until thickened like a white sauce, stirring occasionally.

• Off the heat, add the Gorgonzola, Parmesan, salt, pepper, and parsley/ chive. Whisk rapidly until the cheeses melt and serve warm. If you must reheat, warm the sauce over low heat until melted, then whisk vigorously until the sauce comes together.

• Add cooked gnocchi to sauce, and cook in pan or pot for 3-5 min until all are coated. When plating, add chopped herbs on top.

• Feeling adventurous, try adding crunchy items like toasted walnuts or pine nuts, toasted bread crumbs, lemon zest, or any flavoured oils to add crunch, colour and flavour.

Chef Melanie is the owner of Eclectic Café and Catering in Orillia.

They use high quality seasonal ingredients from local farmers to produce their amazing dishes.

12 The Villager | Dec 2023

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Market Review

By Mikaila Bolzonello

I

t’s hard to believe how quickly this year has flown by, and with the end of this year comes a real estate market review!

My statistics below touch on Orillia, Severn, Oro-Medonte and Ramara and focus on single family detached homes to give you a sense of how the market behaved from Jan to the end of October. At the time of writing this, November statistics weren’t released yet and December has only just begun, so for now, we’ll only cover 10 out of 12 months.

It seems that compared to the last couple of years, the market has stabilized.

We seem to be regulating more toward a balanced market and are seeing fewer instances of competing offers. Although, we are still seeing them - just not as often or as crazy compared to a couple years ago.

If you take a look at the graphs provided, you can see that the beginning of the year started out slowly as it typically does during those frosty winter months. Our usual Spring market kicked into gear by May with a peak in June before leveling off or declining for the remainder of the year. Our graph representing months of inventory initially seems to be doing the opposite of that when you look at it, but it does in fact align with the flow of the market over those 10 months.

Months of inventory helps us determine what type of market we are currently in or trending towards when we look at all of our data. The lower the number, the more quickly we will run out of inventory and the more the market is typically favouring Sellers. The higher the number means it would take longer to run out of housing inventory and usually favours buyers. So as you can tell from this graph, during our Spring market, there were only two to three months of inventory available signaling a busy market. By July, we had

14 The Villager | Dec 2023

The good news out of all of this is, there are some fantastic opportunities for buyers that we haven’t had in years. four months of inventory, with five months in August before leveling off at four months for September and October. Based on months of inventory we are leaning towards a more balanced market and I will be interested to see how the housing inventory progresses moving forward.

Pricing wise, our median sale price held steady throughout the year except for a peak in July of $837,500. I find that median sale prices give a bit more of an accurate picture compared to average sale prices. Medians remove any extremely low or extremely high points of data which could skew the results. In January, our median sale price was $740,000 and in October it settled around $660,500. With this graph you are able to see the steady increase until the summer and the slow decline as we approach the end of the year, aligning with the trends we can see in the other graphs.

I included a graph that highlights the median sales price over the last 10 years just because graphs are fun. I love looking at historical data and being able to recognize different points in history based on data trends.

The good news out of all of this is, there are some fantastic opportunities for buyers that we haven’t had in years. The ability to create well rounded offers to present to Sellers and the ability to negotiate again. That, to me, is what the real estate market should be. Not favouring one side or the other.

I am hopeful for 2024 and am looking forward to viewing market predictions in December and January. As I learn more information, you know I’ll share it here!

Mikaila Bolzonello is a Real Estate Broker with Exit Realty True North.

Data source: Barrie and District Association of Realtors. Mikaila is passionate about affordable housing and finding solutions to our housing crisis.

The Villager | Dec 2023 15

MADE IN CANADA:

Custom Comfort at Uptown Living

By Jiun Lao

T

here’s more to buying furniture than meets the eye. It’s not just about filling an empty space or replacing an old couch. It’s about finding pieces that resonate with your personal style, pieces that will add warmth and character. Furniture that transforms your house into a home, a comfortable place that feels like you.

Elena from Uptown Living understands this deeply. She opened her store in downtown Orillia in March of this year, fulfilling her lifelong dream of being an entrepreneur in the field she’s been passionate about since she moved to Canada many years ago.

“I’m from Panama. I came to Canada when I was 20 years old.” recounts Elena, “I was supposed to come here as a student only for six months, but I fell in love with Canada and ended up staying.”

She attended George Brown College where she studied fashion design, architecture, and business administration, which fueled her love of learning and creativity. It wasn’t until she started working at a highend furniture store in downtown Toronto that she found her passion for interior design.

Elena describes interior design as a puzzle where pieces need to be sought out and meticulously put together to create a cohesive and appealing design.

“When I was a little girl, I loved puzzles. And you know, you start with nothing and you start putting things together, piece by piece. You have to go find the pieces and make sure that it fits and goes with the rest of the other pieces too.”

The tricky part is having to figure out what the image is that you’re building towards, the style of the client and the space that they envision.

Apart from their interior design services and consultations, Uptown Living takes pride in offering its customers an array of Canadian custommade furniture options to achieve the perfect design. The store offers two distinct lines – semi-customizable and fully customizable furniture.

The semi-customizable line allows you to choose different arm styles, densities, fabric or leather, and two sizes for depth and width. However, the fully customizable line is where the magic truly happens. This line offers customization down to the inch, allowing you to adjust anything from arm sizes, seating depth, or even the entire sofa length to fit your space perfectly.

Pieces need to be sought out and meticulously put together to create a cohesive and appealing design At Uptown Living, Elena strives for excellent communication and transparency. “With this kind of business, you have to know when to give space to people and when to approach them. Be aware of their personality, and read between the lines.” She continues, “It’s very important to listen.

People want to be heard. People want you to understand them and when you really care, you listen to understand.”

That’s the philosophy at Uptown Living, comfort - ensuring that her customers feel at ease when they walk into the store and when they relax on their furniture at home. In making sure her customers feel heard, understood, and valued.

So step into Uptown Living and let her help you create a space that truly feels like home. After all, as Elena says - “People want to create something that feels worth it. A place that’s comfortable, special. It’s them.”

Uptown Living is a custom furniture store in downtown Orillia offering interior design services and Canadian made custom furniture.

For more information visit uptownliving.ca

16 The Villager | Dec 2023

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Complete and Partial Dentures Relines and Repairs Free Consultations

Serving Severn, Muskoka & Area for 25 years

705-687-5152 • 1-800-315-5229 455 Muskoka Road N. Gravenhurst, ON P1P 1G3 Email: info@muskokadenture.com Website: www.muskokadenture.com

December A HIGHLIGHT OF COMMUNIT Y EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS Dec 1 - 9am - 4pm RAMA FIRST NATION CHRISTMAS VENDOR MARKET Variety of great vendors and products to choose from with two locations for your shopping enjoyment, side by side. Rama Circle of Faith will be serving lunch and coffee. Non-perishable food donations welcomed for the Rama Food Bank.

5960 Rama Rd & 5984 Rama Rd

December 6-9pm - Friday’s to Sunday’s MYSTICAL LIGHTS TOUR, ORO-MEDONTE This unique driving tour will feature displays from local businesses and will feature special guests Santa and his reindeer, all month long!

Dec. 4: 12 Noon CHICKEN POT PIE LUNCH AT SEVERN BRIDGE COMMUNITY HALL Chicken Pot Pie Lunch, including beverage and dessert. $12 per person. All Welcome.

1035 Southwood Rd. Severn Bridge

Dec 6 5:30-7:30pm ROSES AND ROSE - FALL EDITION, LEACOCK MUSEUM The roses and rosé package is back! This special collaboration with Fare Restaurant and Florillia Floral Design is a great way to relax and get creative with friends!

50 Museum Dr, Orillia

1 Mill St, Coldwater

Dec 2 8:00pm BACK TO 90S VIDEO DANCE PARTY: VOLUME 2 The 90’s are back with Volume 2 on Saturday December 2nd in support of local Christmas Toy Drives! We’re bringing back all the nostalgia of the 90’s in a BIG way on 3 giant 15 foot screens inside The Roller Skating Place for this 19+ licensed event.

4343 Hamilton St, Washago

Dec 13 2pm-6pm ORILLIA FARMERS’ MARKETS: HOLIDAY MARKETS AT ORILLIA PUBLIC LIBRARY Swing by for live entertainment, seasonal items, and more!

36 Mississaga St W, Orillia

Heidi’s Campground, South, 3982 ON-11, Hawkestone

Dec 2 5:30-7:30pm COLDWATER LIONS CLUB CHRISTMAS PARADE Join us for the 2023 Coldwater Santa Claus Parade at 5:30 pm, beginning on Gray Street, traveling down to Coldwater Road and following it to the Fairgrounds. The parade ends as it turns towards the arena at the Shell Station but note: Santa’s float turns onto Mill Street where Santa will exit. Santa and Mrs Claus will be greeting children and handing out candy upstairs at the Coldwater Heritage Mill immediately after the parade.

Dec 9 6:30-8:30pm WASHAGO AND DISTRICT LIONS CLUB SANTA CLAUS PARADE Santa is returning and this year he is asking all floats to decorate as your favourite holiday song or movie! Non- perishable food donations are always welcomed. Santa and treats will be at the LIONS HALL following the parade and not the Community Centre.

Dec 14 7:30pm - 10:30pm A SKYDIGGERS CHRISTMAS - ST. PAUL’S CENTRE Celebrate the season to the band’s distinctive rootsy Christmas tunes and Skydiggers’ classics.

132 Mississaga St E, Orillia

Dec 8 4-9pm RUSTICA’S 4TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS NIGHT MARKET Rustica Pizza Vino returns with their Annual Christmas Night Markets! Reservations recommended for dining in.

132 Mississaga St E, Orillia

Dec 8 4-9pm - Fri and Sat in December HEWITT’S FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS Over 50 light displays for everyone to enjoy!

Pre-booking highly recommended as dates sell out quickly.

Dec. 16th from 10am - 2pm RAMONA’S CHRISTMAS MARKET Huge bake table, over 20 vendors, Draws galore and the men cooking burgs, fries and rings for lunch plus a visit from Santa!

2212 Fairgrounds Rd.

Dec 17, 2023, 2:00 pm SILVER BAND! SLEIGHBELLS AND BRASS CHRISTMAS CONCERT This concert continues a long and happy tradition of holiday music at the opera house provided by the Orillia Silver Band. Come prepared to exercise your vocal skills with your favourite Christmas carols.

2449 ON-11, Oro Station

ODAS Park, 4461 Fairgrounds Rd, Orillia

3331 Town Line, Coldwater

Dec 3 noon to 4:00pm INDOOR HOLIDAY MARKET AT THE BREWERY A variety of local vendors with some great goodies for sale. Our upstairs bar will be open with a snack menu available, or head downstairs and enjoy lunch in our Taproom.

Dec 9 10am-4pm THE LOVELY TEA HOUSE HOLIDAY SIP & SHOP We’ll be spreading joy and giving back to our community through a special food drive. The perfect opportunity to indulge in the holiday spirit while discovering unique gifts from local vendors.

Dec 31 6:30-10:30pm COLDWATER LION’S CLUB FAMILY SKATE & NEW YEAR’S FIREWORKS AT COLDWATER COMMUNITY CENTRE Local New Year’s Eve entertainment! Free family skating is offered throughout the evening at the area and includes free hot chocolate followed by the fireworks at 10:00pm to celebrate the new year! Please note that donations are gladly accepted.

2449 ON-11, Oro Station

11 Michael Anne Dr, Coldwater

Couchiching Craft Brewing Co., 162 Mississaga St E, Orillia

18 The Villager | Dec 2023

Fresh Turkeys

Order today!

First come, first served

Bala Cranberries

Add these fresh, local cranberries to your Christmas Dinner!

Canoe Sandwiches

plus Salads, Take-to-Bake Pizzas & Rotisserie Chickens

CANOE IS YOUR ‘GO-TO’ STOP FOR THE HOLIDAYS • Stocking Stuffers • Specialty Cheeses • Sauces & Dips • Muskoka Roastery Coffee • Canoe Mugs • Fudge & Honey • Maple Syrup and More!

CANOE BAKERY & CAFÉ Fresh Baking Every Day – Always bread, rolls, pies, butter tarts, squares, meat pies and more.

We will baking Christmas goodies every day!

Please call ahead for special orders.

Enjoy a coffee and sweet take-out from our Café.