Planting more trees, shrubs, and perennials is a positive approach to enhancing our properties. Trees provide shade and screening, shrubs provide colour, interest, and privacy and perennials provide color and seasonal interest. These basic attributes add value and help add biodiversity to our landscapes.
Greening our gardens, however, should be more than just planting plants. We need to have the intention to enhance the ecological value as well as the aesthetic and economic value of our properties. As homeowners, we are an integral part of the solution to biodiversity, stormwater management, and environmental protection.
Every decision we make now regarding our property and home ownership has consequences for the environment, and our gardens are no different. The material choices, drainage, and how we use our gardens all feed into climate resiliency for current and future generations.
Parklane Living is providing a workshop series on designing your own climate-resilient garden. It is a 5-week program where participants will learn how to design their garden using climate-resilient principles, ideas, and practical applications. By enrolling in this course, you’ll gain the essential knowledge needed to support yourself, your loved ones, and the environment through your garden. This course will equip you with the necessary tools to make a positive impact on your life and the world around you.
The first 4 weeks will provide you with the knowledge to measure and design your own garden space, using low-impact development applications like rain gardens, bioswales, green roofs, and composting. You will learn how to choose the correct plants for your garden and how to design spaces for patios, decks, and vegetable gardens. The mini course will cover stormwater management, biodiversity, lawn alternatives and the therapeutic benefits of gardening. The course is
designed for those who want to design and create their own garden space, which is sustainable for themselves and the environment. Week 5 is a 1:1 hour-long session with Joanne to discuss your ideas and design intentions.
As homeowners, we can make decisions to improve our properties and enhance the environment through the connection and network of our gardens. Even with small changes, we can be part of the solution.
Sign up now for the 5-week mini-course: https://www.parklanelandscapes.ca/parklaneliving/climate-resilient parklanelandscapes.ca | 705-327-0064
Jiun Liao and Mikaila Bolzonello
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
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.
Find the best way to reach your audience through The Villager. Contact us at 705-712-3237 or email hello@villagermagazine.ca
Prearranged editorial contributions as well as advertising space must be received or booked by the 15th of every month.
June marks our one year anniversary as publishers of The Villager! Last spring, we realized Ellen, the former publisher, was stepping away and The Villager was coming to an end. Jiun and I felt it was important to continue what Ellen had started and ensure the future of the magazine for our community. It has been a steep learning curve - learning how to run a local magazine, learning to work together, deciding on which direction would serve our community best, all while maintaining our day jobs, hobbies, and looking after our children.
It has been a challenge, but one that we feel expands our love for the place we live and the people who reside here. Thank you for continuing to be part of our magazine by reading the hard work and passion we all bring to make The Villager what it is. And of course, a huge shout out to our advertisers and contributors - without you, our magazine would not exist.
Cheers to many more issues of The Villager and to our community!
After a 40 year hiatus from painting, my creative journey was kick-started in January 2020 as the pandemic began circling the globe.
I am a self-taught artist with an inclination towards realism. I initially used oils but have made the switch to acrylics as they provide me with an opportunity to proceed at a faster pace than oils. I prefer large scale format, bright colours and interesting subject matter. My method of creating involves utilizing photographs (both hard copies and digital). Prior to commencing a project, I research as much as possible to get an understanding of the subject, i.e., on a visual, intellectual and emotional level. With rocker portraits I immerse myself in their music and watch documentaries to get a feel for the person and their creativity. I enjoy working with clients to provide a truly customized piece.
My wife and I travel extensively which offers me opportunities to gather subject matter for future artwork from around the globe.
My work has been displayed at various venues including The Legislative Assembly at Queen’s Park, The MacLaren Art Centre, Hibernation Arts, Peter Street Fine Arts, The Loft Gallery and at Blue Mountain.
To sum it up, I’m .....
Big on Color. Big on canvas. Big on Life.
CONTACT INFO:
WEBSITE: www.catchpole.ca
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/normanrobert.catchpole
PHONE: 226.626.5025 or 705.238.1659
EMAIL: mcdonaru@sympatico.ca
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It’s dark, damp, dripping. Workers with sore backs descend staggering depths to reach their claustrophobic destination. Dangerous, dirty, sweaty; one heavily geared man carries precious cargo, a brightly coloured, charming bird. Yes, it’s a Canary in a coal mine.
Canaries were used in mining as recently as the 1980s. These small, sensitive song birds detected a lack of oxygen and gasses such as carbon monoxide in mine shafts, warning workers to retreat when they could no longer breathe clean air.
These animals are called sentinel species. A noble name for our use of them. Humans have used many species to sound warnings, bats are identifiers of pesticide loading in the food chain, honey bees can’t survive heavy air pollution, pigeons are detectors of lead, list of animals we use as lookouts for environmental danger goes on, and on.
Here at The Couchiching Conservancy in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss we monitor many species, including salamanders. These amphibians breathe through their skin and reproduce in water because of this biology they are very accurate markers of environmental health. Populations diminish quickly when exposed to pollutants. Not only can they notify us of the presence of contaminants but they can also let us know how quickly these substances dissipate once managed.
Today it seems that all song birds are canaries and the earth is their coal mine. The number of song birds has decreased by nearly 30% since 1970. Not only do these beautiful species control populations of other animals like mosquitos, but they themselves are food for predators. They are a critical member of the ecosystem and food chain. One wonders, how much of a food chain has to disappear before ecosystem collapse? Is it much more than 30%?
Canaries being carried down and dying in coal mines isn’t history’s whole story. Many of these birds were loved and well cared for. Whistling back and forth with their human counterparts. They were often revived when they were brought out of gaseous spaces. A cage design was even
developed with a tiny oxygen tank on top. If a Canary was exposed to gas, the cage was sealed shut and oxygen was pumped in to revive the little birds.
So, only half the story is the utility, the important half is that we worked to innovate, and save these sensitive birds. Even miners, tough as granite, still cared for these gentle creatures, and we can care for the gentle creatures of our community.
Just two weeks ago participants raised thousands by participating in the Carden Challenge to protect the habitat of all species that experience bioaccumulation, habitat loss and sensitivity to pollution. By protecting their habitats, we protect our own habitat. If you would like to contribute to protecting our home please visit www.couchconserv. ca/donate.
The story you choose is up to you, I choose the one where together we can save the world.
Courtney Baker is the Office and Acquisition Coordinator at The Couchiching Conservancy, protecting nature for future generations.
As we welcome the nicer weather and as the legislature prepares to break for the summer, I am proud to continue to work hard for Simcoe North and share the following updates from Queen’s Park.
This past month, the province is making significant strides in safeguarding the rights and well-being of workers with the introduction of the fifth Working for Workers Act. This groundbreaking legislation, if passed, will mark another milestone in Canada’s efforts to ensure fair and transparent employment practices.
These proposed changes aim to modernize employment standards protections, adapting them to the changing landscape of work and workplaces which includes ways to enhance fairness and transparency in hiring and employment practices, benefiting employees across the province.
In addition to these significant advancements in labor rights, our government is also prioritizing accessible healthcare by expanding the scope of services provided by midwives. For the first time since 2010, midwives will be able to prescribe and administer a broader range
of medications, improving patient access to essential treatments to include routine vaccinations, treatments for nausea, vomiting, and acid reflux, as well as services related to labor management, birth control, and pain management during labor in hospital settings. By empowering midwives to offer these services, Ontario is making it easier and more convenient for patients to access quality care when they need it most.
Lastly, our government is creating guardrails to safeguard your personal data and privacy in today’s increasingly digital world. This introduced legislation is a top priority and, if passed, will establish a foundation to provide the right tools to quickly respond to cyber attacks and emerging threats like the ones hitting our hospitals, and keep people safe from data and AI-related harms such as unauthorized use of personal data. Being online has become vital to everyday life and we are committed to strengthening cyber security and keeping sensitive data protected so you can confidently and securely participate in today’s digital age.
As we welcome the warmer days and longer evenings, I extend my warmest wishes to the entire community for a joyful and safe start to summer. Hosted by myself and MP Adam Chambers, I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to a free community BBQ on June 22nd from 1pm to 3pm at the Coldwater Curling Club. Here’s to a summer filled with happiness, adventure, and prosperity for all!
It was announced today that the Orillia Area CDC’s General Manager, Wendy Timpano, will be moving on to a new career challenge after 14 years with the community organization.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, President Sheri Tornosky expressed both gratitude and optimism. “We will definitely miss Wendy’s dedication and commitment to the CDC and our community. We also understand her desire to take on new challenges in her career and appreciate her willingness to continue to support the organization through the transition. She has been a driving force at the CDC and her positive impact will not be forgotten.”
Even though Timpano’s chapter with the organization is coming to an end and the organization is going through a time of change, the CDC Board of Directors remain excited about the organization’s future. “The groundwork has been laid for even greater impact in our community in the coming months and years, and having new leadership at the helm can infuse new energy, ideas, and enthusiasm to continue on that path,” said Tornosky.
Timpano joined the organization in 2010 and was just the 3rd General Manager in the organization’s almost 40 year history. The CDC is a staple in the community for anyone looking for business guidance, business loans or support with community economic development projects. Among other things, Timpano’s contributions included the development of both the Professional Development Program and the Community Capacity Building grant program, the establishment and expansion of
the now popular BizLink program, delivery of multiple Covid support programs including the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund, more than doubling the organizations lending and coaching activities, and the development of the Pathways to Employment Program that, to date, has helped over 200 youth access quality work experiences.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with the staff, volunteers, partners, and clients at the CDC, to work collectively to serve and support our community. I am excited to move into a new challenge that will allow me to broaden my experience, where I will continue to support our community, just in a different way. With change can come renewal and advancement. Now is a good time for new leadership and I look forward to seeing what the future has in store for the CDC.”
For more information on the Orillia Area Community Development Corp. (CDC) visit www.orilliacdc.com or contact 705-325-4903 x 101.
When spring is here, it’s strawberry and rhubarb time. At the cafe, we often use these two ingredients in a savoury way. It makes a wonderful salad, that’s sure to be a new favourite. We prefer using a local spicy arugula, topped with your favourite toasted nut (almonds/walnuts/pine nut) and a salty cheese like feta, manchego, or a beautiful blue cheese!! Top with fresh strawberries, strawberry dressing, toasted nuts and the pickled rhubarb!! Enjoy the first tastes of early spring!
• 1 med shallot, chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic peeled
• 1 cup chopped strawberries
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2–4 tablespoon honey
• 3/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup plus 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1–1½ tbsp poppy seeds
• In a blender or food processor add the shallot, strawberries, vinegar, honey, garlic, mustard, & salt and mix until combined.
• With the blender/food processor running, slowly add the oil in until the dressing is emulsified (comes together).
• After blended, stir in poppy seeds and refrigerate until ready to use. Pour in to a jar with a lid. The dressing may separate as it sits; shake to recombine before using.
• 12 ounces tender red rhubarb sliced into pieces 1/4” to 1/2” thick
• 3 medium cloves garlic smashed
• 1¼ cups apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 water
• 1¼ teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon whole pink peppercorns
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 star anise pods
• 6 cracked cardamom pods green or black
• Fill a quart jar with rhubarb and smashed garlic; set aside.
• Add remaining ingredients to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Immediately, carefully pour boiling liquid over the rhubarb, enough to just cover the rhubarb. Let cool completely, then cover and refrigerate at least 24 hours, and up to 1 month. Pickled flavor and a softened texture will increase with time.
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.
Hosted By: Lake Country Animal Hospital
SUNDAY JUNE 23, 2024
POST TIME 11:30 AM
In the case of inclement weather, check out our Facebook Event Page
It’s that time of year again! The time we flock to the local garden centres to buy plants we don’t know much about but they’re colourful and the tag says it’s “hardy”. It’s the type of amateur gardening the big box store garden centres are banking on year after year - the opportunity to sell as much as they can of the same types of plants ranging in various containers and arrangements from hanging baskets to front door planters.
The majority of us buying the “pretty plants” don’t really care about what we’re taking home for as long as they’re easy to care for and they give the intended show of colour that promises to make the house and yard visually appealing. Some of these plants may be perennials while others are only annuals. If you want to achieve a garden that’s truly ‘low maintenance’ with promised results to make your property look appealing then these plants are the wrong ones to spend money on. Instead, with a little research, you can choose plants that are far more valuable and hold deep ecological connections to the region. It’s literally “plant and forget” because they are most adaptable, drought tolerant and self sustainable compared to the wide selection of “horticultural mutants” that often arrive treated with harmful pesticides. Choosing native perennials are important more than ever due to our decadeslong obsession with gardening for looks rather than purpose. The best part is they require no pesticides, fertilizers or seasonal pruning. Sadly there’s a significant gap in availability, both in the natural landscape and at our garden centres. This could be due to a misconception that native perennials are more difficult to grow or are less attractive and retailers don’t believe they can sell them all.
The other concern is that once the plants are in the ground we create that level of anxiety as if something is going wrong such as plants being eaten. Don’t worry too much. We see an insect that doesn’t look friendly or it’s chewing the leaves which triggers a sense of panic and suddenly there’s an urgency to rush to the store to buy some type of lethal chemical warfare loaded in an aerosol can. Good riddance! But why? Do
those insects truly deserve an agonizing death? Perhaps these insects are feeding on their host plant in order to survive or reproduce. Some insects, like wasps, could be preying on unwanted pests which is an added bonus. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. It only means that you did your job in providing value to nature through the plants in your garden. There’s no need to fret about the unexpected outcome. Embrace it. Learn from it but more importantly, enjoy it! There are many relationships in nature that we don’t often see or understand that are happening around us without our knowing on a daily basis though we, the humans, are directly responsible for disconnecting those relationships that nature depends on for their survival - and our survival. It’s time we restore those connections before it’s too late. Be sure to make an effort in sourcing native perennial plants and if you don’t see them on the shelf, ask for them. You’ll be glad you did.
Happy gardening!
Matt Thomson is a local conservationist based in Severn and enjoys engaging the community through citizen science events & activities. You can find him on Instagram or Facebook, @ardtreanature.
Garage Sale, both a noun and a verb. There are two types of people out there…those who garage sale, as a verb, and those who do not. Garage salers are a unique breed. They aren’t quite thrifters, but they love to find hidden gems and treasures in their travels. They are up by 7:00 and sometimes roaming the streets then, or by 7:30 or for sure by 8:00 because the early bird catches the worm. They have coin purses full of coins. They aren’t afraid to bargain, even if their entourage is mortified by the back-and-forth negotiating. They have specific items in mind like game cartridges for their original NES or vintage Barbies or a specific China print. I know quite a few intense garage salers. Gone are the days when you saw handmade signs on street posts. Now you can find out about garage sales weeks in advance courtesy of the internet and Facebook Event pages!
We have hosted our own garage sale before. It was a great opportunity for my kids to practice getting rid of items they no longer use or play with in hopes of earning some funds for the piggy bank.
My daughter is quite the entrepreneur and has set up a freezie, lemonade, and candy stand alongside the other stuff we were trying to sell. She made a killing, literally nickel and diming even her own cousins. It is a great, low-risk opportunity for kids to try their hand at hard work and entrepreneurship. It is also quite a bit of work for parents…just saying! But it was worth it when neighbourhood kids biked by and bought a lemonade off her and she was so proud. These are the core memories of a simpler childhood, I tell ya!
When I was a kid, I enjoyed attending the Cookstown Wing Ding. It was a town-wide garage sale and everyone came out to play.. I mean, literally everyone. It was a good excuse to purge your junk…uh, treasures. All the small shops had sales. There was no parking. It was a wild place for a small town but a fun tradition I enjoyed doing with my siblings and parents.
Now my kids enjoy the garage sale as well! With their coins of assorted value, they love to be able to shop off neighbours, replacing all the knickknacks I previously purged. It’s good practice for money-math and learning the value of items.
With June here, it is prime Garage Sale Season! Here are some regional sales we have marked on our calendar:
• Saturday June 1- Coldwater’s Village-wide garage sale
• Saturday, June 15- Warminster’s garage sale
• Saturday June 15- Orillia’s Citywide Garage Sale, along with the City’s Treasure Hunt Program.
This Villager probably will check out all of them, because while I love to purge my children’s toys and knickknacks, I also love to find fun things from my childhood to share with them! I also love the community aspect of it and connecting with all sorts of interesting people. You’ll be seeing us, with a coin purse in tow, this June at a garage sale near you!
As the Kiwanis Club of Orillia approaches its centenary, founded in June 1924, known for robust community service and a focus on children, we invite you to join us to celebrate 100 years of serving the Youth of Orillia.
Date: June 1, 2024; 6:00 am- 6:00 pm Casino Rama Resort
5899 Rama Road Rama, Ontario L3V 6H6 Canada +
June 1 @ 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
On The Rocks Farm is hosting a vendor Market!
June 1st from 10am-3pm
This is a Dog Friendly event! (Except alpaca and farm area) Free admission! Donations are appreciated for Lost Boys Hope dog Rescue!
Please come out and help us raise some money for Lost Boys Hope Dog Rescue. They are a foster based rescue and have helped rescue and save so many animals! They will be attending with their own booth, a kissing booth and adoptable dogs for meet and greets!
We will also be hosting local vendors and crafters for some shopping! Also exciting news is we will have visits with the farm animals.
We will have a BBQ for hamburgers and hotdogs and drinks, so you can take your time and enjoy some lunch while you are here.
June 1 @ 6:30 pm ODAS Park
4500 Fairgrounds Rd Orillia, Ontario L3V 6H2 Canada
The MONSTER MADNESS TOUR, featuring BACKDRAFT LOUD & DIRTY, PHYSCO PAT, and Instigator & more will have you on
your feet as you watch 10,000 pounds of motor-vehicle soaring through the air! The competition will include tricks like wheelies, racing, monster truck freestyle and more! Special guests stars of the FMX WORLD TOUR!
Monday, June 3: 12 Noon
Severn Bridge Community Hall Salad Plate Lunch, including beverage and dessert. $12 per person.
1035 Southwood Rd. Severn Bridge
June 7 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Events Navigation Get ready for a weekend of outdoor bliss as the Sunshine Festival takes over the heart of our radiant city!
This vibrant event is a celebration of all things outdoors, promising a sun-soaked extravaganza that will leave you with memories as bright as the sunshine city itself.
June 7 @ 4:00 pm - June 9 @ 1:00 pm
Georgian Dental
Aims to provide the Simcoe community with free dental care.
June 8, 2024
Dr. Adam Tan and the professionals at Georgian Dental® are proud to provide another day of free dental care at their annual Smiles On Us event on June 8th, 2024, from 8am until 2pm. The Georgian Dental® Orillia dental clinic at 20 Diana Drive, Orillia, ON, L3V 8K8 will host this event.
SHOP BY THE LAKE
June 9 @ 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Events Navigation
Join us for a picnic at the beautiful Leacock Museum National Historic Site, and shop our 30 vendors!
We will have food vendors, crafters and holistic & wellbeing vendors as well! Grab a hotdog from Sunshine BBQ or Korean dumplings from YJ, and sit by the lake and enjoy the view! And oh, we plan to have gourmet coffee on site as well!!!
Mark your calendar! Sunday June 9, 11am to 4pm.
Full vendor listing to come!
June 15 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Join Lake Country Pride and The Couchiching Conservancy in celebrating Pride Month with a nature walk for members of the queer community and allies. This walk will be an opportunity to explore Grant’s Woods, and
learn about ecology as it relates to Queer Theory along the way! Sheena Tolland (HBASc), a volunteer with the Conservancy and Max McKenzie (BSc, MA) from Lake Country Pride will serve as your guides. We’ll be identifying plant and animal species, learning about the ecosystem, and discussing the diversity of identities and expression found in nature. Grab your rainbow gear and come enjoy Pride in Nature with us!
June 20 @ 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Events Navigation
Get ready for the Quayle’s Brewery Comedy Festival at Quayles Brewery, hosted by Boonies Comedy! Join us on Thursday June 20th for a night of laughter under the stars with some of the best comedians in Canada. Each night will feature a different lineup of hilarious performers, so why not grab tickets for both nights? Secure your
tickets in advance for just $25 per evening, or grab them at the door for $30 (Subject to availability). The last show sold out, so you will want to get your tickets early.
June 22
Port of Orillia
50 Centennial Dr Orillia, ON L3V 4M8 Canada
+
This event is traditionally a sold-out event for boaters, and the general community can join in the festivities as well! This event features winter holiday fun without the winter weather! Vendors provide holiday goodies and souvenirs. Come out to the Port of Orillia and check out the boats lights that are sure to make your weekend bright!
June 23 @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for! It’s time to dust off your boots, put your
In a
Sue Nori 705-333-9109
Team Nori Realty
cowboy hat on and saddle up because the RAM Rodeo Tour is coming to Severn at ODAS Park, 4500 Fairgrounds Road, Severn, ON, L3V 0Y2 (Can we get a YEE-HAW?!)
On June 22nd and 23rd, the RAM Rodeo Tour will be opening its chutes ODAS Park in Severn for a wild & western weekend! The Severn RAM Rodeo will showcase two days of the live action-packed sport of rodeo in the Orillia region, just as seen at the Calgary Stampede. Each rodeo performance will feature some of Canada’s top cowboys and cowgirls competing in standard rodeo events like barrel racing, bronc riding, pole bending and the world’s most dangerous sport-bull riding!
Get your tickets early as ticket prices go up at the door!
Visit www.ramrodeoontario.com for more details!
of
Take-out Sandwiches
Freshly prepared • Ask for panini press Also PIZZA & SALADS! •
