The Villager 2023 April

The 2023 Ontario Senior Summer Games

Are you 55+?

Do you play golf or pickleball?

Do you play darts or euchre or bridge?

If you’re an active senior and participate in any of the 18 activities listed on the Ontario Senior Summer Games website, there may be an opportunity to get involved in friendly competition with seniors in your community All initial competitions take place at local venues in May or June, with the finals in August at this year’s host city, Brantford .

Ontario Senior Summer Games is a non-profit organization sponsored by the Province of Ontario since 1997 with a mission of providing a network built on support and collaboration for both social and active opportunities for Ontarians 55+ The province is divided into 37 individual districts for the purpose of competition Orillia and surrounding townships participants compete in District 28

The hitch is this: each of the 37 districts in Ontario is coordinated separately This means that the coordinator for this district has to find venues that have an interest in hosting activities, and enough seniors have to register in order to move forward with each of the activities Sadly, this district has been inactive in recent years of competition

but there is time and opportunity for the 1,000’s of active local seniors to put this district on the map .

The games coordinator is calling on all those 55+ (or anyone who will turn 55 this year) to register for one of the activities included in this year’s summer games: Bid Euchre, 4 handed; Billiards; Bocce; Carpet Bowling; Contract Bridge; Cribbage; Cycling; Darts; Euchre; Five Pin Bowling; Floor Shuffleboard; Golf; Lawn Bowling; Pickleball; Slo-Pitch; Swimming; Tennis; Walk/Run

Registration is accepted as an individual or as a local group or club For example, seniors who play pickleball at the Washago Community Centre, or the local contract bridge club players could register in teams or as individuals

Once the registrations for each activity

reach a number that make it possible for local competition, the coordinator will communicate details of the venue and dates of the event

Go online: https://osga55plus ca Choose your activity and register There is a $15 membership fee . Registration begins April 1st and membership goes until March 31, 2024 . Members will receive newsletters with all the information they need to move forward in the district competitions

Or feel free to email info@osga55plus ca with any questions or assistance with registration .

Qualifiers in each of the activities will go on to compete in a provincial competition at the summer games in August in Brantford

NOTE: Volunteers are needed for this district Please email info@osga55plus ca

The Easter Bunny is dropping eggs all over town!

Turn to page 15.

© Can Stock Photo / nameinfame

Phone apps transform and simplify important work

By Courtney Baker

Couchiching Conservancy volunteers can easily imagine this: you’re all set to do the volunteer work of the day You’ve arrived at the remote trail leading you to your assigned monitoring site Your journey has started but it’s not easy . You have to carry a backpack that includes clipboards, maps and ID guides, all those books to identify birds, beasts and plants . Your work is a labour of love but it can also be heavy work

Today, technology allows those same volunteers to make the same contribution but they are able to travel substantially lighter They can identify plants, bird calls and Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates with one little tool – their smartphone

I am not here to promote increased use of cell phones . I understand as well as the next Canadian the moral minefield these addictive little bricks pack However, speaking from the perspective of an organization that is low on staff and high on wilderness, these diverse technologies so freely available surely punch far above their physical weight .

Phones today can help you learn about the world around you by using apps such as iNaturalist’s Seek The Seek app allows you to take pictures of plants or insects simply by using the camera phone Seek will instantly identify species by analyzing the image . It is particularly useful if you don’t know when you’re looking at poison ivy!

Another app I use regularly is the Merlin

Thank

Bird ID app

From the famed Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Merlin uses your phone to listen to live bird songs and tells you who is singing . For a birder it is a big help when you’re on your own and not certain you’ve heard a robin, or a grosbeak

Not only can we use apps for fun or research but we can rely on them for safety sake as well The app What Three Words was recently in the news when emergency services used it to locate a Bradford couple lost while hiking The app gives three words to each 3mx3m square on earth Like an address in the middle of the forest, the app can work offline, so it is an excellent tool to have available in emergency situations in remote areas .

The newest and perhaps most complex tool we have added to our volunteer’s tool box is a database called Landscape In the office, it houses all of the information we have for each property, but this database can also be accessed by volunteers on their

phones while monitoring Volunteers can map their hike, attach pictures with GPS coordinates, and view past visits to see how things have changed . This streamlines the process for our staff to analyze findings and take action With this new technology everything from entering volunteer hours to logging locations of species is automatically done

This March, dozens of volunteers came through our office at Grant’s woods to be trained with new technology . We have so many wonderful lifelong learners here in the Conservancy community and we know they are always willing to give technology the good old college try . However, we know not all technology works for everyone . The good news is if you forget your phone at home, we still accept paper!

CELEBRATING

Courtney Baker is the Administrative Assistant at The Couchiching Conservancy, protecting nature for future generations

Using an app on his phone, Stewart Blackwell photographs Blue-Spotted Salamander eggs, a transformative method of accomplishing important Conservancy work.

Ellen Cohen Publisher

thevillagerpress@rogers.com

705-717-0322

www.villagernews.ca

The Villager, a Severn Township community news magazine, is an independently owned and operated publication, serving the community since March, 2013 We publish monthly from February to December

The Villager is delivered online to subscribers through villagernews.ca .

There is no charge for subscribing but registration is required Once registered, the subscriber will receive the magazine via email on the first of the month

Editorial and advertising materials are protected by copyright Reproduction of any article, photograph or graphic is forbidden without the express permission of the publisher The sentiments of our columnists do not necessarily reflect those of The Villager

The Villager’s liability to advertisers for errors is limited to the portion of the advertisement in which an error occurs and only if the error is the fault of The Villager.

Community event submissions and prearranged editorial contributions must be received by the 10th of each month for the following month’s publication .

Advertising space must be booked by the 10th of each month in order to appear in the following month’s publication, with 5 business days thereafter to complete the advertising artwork and proof approval process

The Villager

P.O. Box 5, Washago, ON L0K 2B0 villagernews.ca

Art Director: Cathy Cleary

President Biden’s visit

That was pretty exciting It was the first time in a couple of decades that an American president stayed for such a long visit . His speech in parliament was very uplifting His job was to show Canadians how important and close our relationship to the U S is and he succeeded

I thought our Prime Minister represented our country well . He did a great job bragging about our wonderful country and addressed many non-partisan issues –defense agreements, trade, manufacturing opportunities, our support for Ukraine and more I felt proud of our country

It was dismaying to me to watch the PCs, sitting grim-faced, not applauding any

From the Publisher:

Yes, it’s spring but wait! Put down those rakes and hoes, please

Would it be so terrible to leave your lawn and gardens alone for a little while longer, at least until the outside temperature is consistently 10° C? That will surely be in May

If you don’t wait, you will literally be throwing away your property’s contribution to this year’s population of butterflies, bees and other beneficial pollinators, reducing the ultimate success of your garden – and others

These essential pollinators have been harmlessly overwintering in your lawn and gardens and they need you to wait until they warm up a little and are ready to move out of hiding . They want to be helpful partners in your garden .

Give them that chance

good news about Canada and, I guess, this was only because the news came out of Trudeau’s mouth

I completely understand the Conservative MPs were not there to support Trudeau and I did not expect them to be cheering wildly for Trudeau but, on this occasion especially, don’t they represent Canada and shouldn’t they support the big picture accomplishments of our government regardless of who is Prime Minister?

All I’m suggesting is that when we have a visitor in ‘the house’ we should be at our best behaviour and demonstrate the greatness of Canada - together

Maybe I am just too ‘Canadian’

Interest rates, anxious home buyers

After months of increases, rates did not go up on March 9th . Great news for many, especially those with a mortgage renewing now, or soon . Stabilizing interest rates along with a drop in sale prices should mean a pick up in the number of sales This is very good news

For those who already own a home, the incredible rise in prices last year followed by a massive dive can be disconcerting However, if you’ve owned your home since February 2020, you are still in great shape

Leah Cavanaugh, a sales representative with Century 21 B J . Roth Realty Ltd provides some interesting numbers in her advertisement on page 11: according to the statistics published by the Century 21 Matrix MLS system, the average sale price of residential homes in Severn dropped by 57% in February 2023 versus February 2022, when the market was seriously out of control . BUT, go back a wee bit and you’ll see that the average house price this year is a whopping 72 .6% ahead of 2020 Not a bad return on investment over 3 years .

A photo we’ve published in the past…maybe several times…because these are beautiful crocuses and they make people smile. One never tires of the first signs of spring.

The Carbon Bomb is ticking

By Ron Reid

The joyful sights and sounds of spring may be showing all around, but not all the news is happy . In late March, the International Panel on Climate Change released its “synthesis report” which summarizes all the scientific findings from the past seven years and provides a grim assessment of what lies ahead

Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary General, called for “all hands on deck” to address the climate crisis, especially among rich countries including Canada . His concern, shared by thousands of experts and millions of citizens around the world, is that carbon emissions continue to rise even though many countries have promised to make cuts

According to the experts on the IPCC, we need to reduce carbon emissions by half by 2030 to have a reasonable chance to limit further global heating to 1 5 degrees and to avoid the “tipping points” that will push the climate into major jeopardy . At least one of those tipping points has been passed: the loss of Arctic sea ice now appears inevitable . Already, climate heating has intensified storms, droughts, and heat waves around the world, well ahead of earlier predictions

The good news in all of this is that the solutions to beard the climate change dragon are largely known: drastically

reduce the production and burning of fossil fuels; stop the development of new oil wells; shift much of energy production to electricity; manage agriculture and food systems better; use grasslands, wetlands and woodlands to store carbon naturally There are some signs of progress – rapid conversion of vehicles to electric, a huge new battery plant in southern Ontario, ongoing innovations in agricultural techniques, and growing interest in protecting natural areas But overall, progress is uneven and inadequate – far from the “warp speed” transition called for by M Guterres The USA government has managed to commit a huge investment in climate-friendly programs, but progress in Europe has been sidelined by the Ukrainian war When we look at Canada’s record compared to other countries, we are embarrassingly close to the bottom of the heap Our politicians have talked a good game, but our national emissions continue to rise Massive new oil and gas projects continue to be approved . Beyond urging our federal and provincial

governments to take the energy transition seriously, what can you do to help? Actually quite a lot

Start with your house . Take advantage of the financial programs to upgrade your insulation or to replace leaky windows . Buy a heat pump instead of installing socalled “natural” gas Make your next vehicle an electric model or at the very least a hybrid Shop local Reduce the size of your manicured lawn . Support local land trusts or other conservation groups . Think real hard about whether you need to take that flight south every winter

Once again, the IPCC report has sounded a warning: we face a climate crisis that is going to affect the world that we will all face in the coming decades . That our children will face . It is past time for each of us to act .

Ron Reid is a natural heritage consultant and the co-founder and former executive director of The Couchiching Conservancy He has written more than 30 magazine articles and co-authored three books He lives in Washago with his wife, Janet Grand

© Can Stock Photo / Freezingpicture

Council approves their 2023 - 2026 Strategic Plan

Severn’s Strategic Plan was approved on March 22 It communicates Council’s priorities, goals, and high-level actions for the 2023 - 2026 term A summary follows

Mission

Township of Severn is a welcoming, community-focused municipality that promotes responsible development, encourages all-season tourism, and delivers a high level of service . We celebrate our unique identity, preserve the natural environment, and value our historic smalltown charm

Vision

Through excellence in service and preservation of our historic and natural assets, the Township of Severn enhances the quality of life for residents and creates opportunities for the community . We welcome investments that complement and respect our rural character Severn has outlined four strategic

directions along with key actions that they will take to reach their goals

Economic development

The goal is to complete an economic development strategy to enhance our capacity to attract and retain businesses . Actions will include the preparation of an Economic Development Strategy including a strategic assessment of how Severn can best work with partner agencies and developing a strategy for developmentready lands .

Customer service focus

The goal is to improve responsiveness, communications, engagement, outreach, and ease of access To achieve this, the Township will implement a service-tracking database, review the Customer Service Policy, launch a Customer Service Portal, and prepare a Community Engagement Strategy

High-speed internet

Severn will advocate for affordable broadband for local residents and businesses This will involve the completion of a Needs Analysis, and streamlining of approval processes for access agreements and utility permits

Infrastructure to match growth

Severn needs to be prepared to adapt to meet the housing demand and changing demographics with servicing, water, and roads The work to meet this goal will involve the completion of a Master Servicing Plan, developing funding partnerships for the Westshore Recreation Facility, pursuing tools to financially support critical infrastructure, and implementing the new Recreation Master Plan .

The Strategic Plan in its entirety can be found at severn ca/strategicplan For more information or to follow along on project progress, visit Severn on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter . You can also subscribe to project updates at: severn .ca/ subscribe

Township update continued on page 7

Fire safety at your cottage or cabin

According to data from the Office of the Fire Marshal, electrical equipment and smoking are the leading causes of home fires in Ontario

Electrical fires can be prevented by ensuring the same fire safety measures at your cottage that are in place in your permanent residence . Use extension cords only as intended – as a temporary connection; if you need extra outlets, have them installed by a licensed electrician; do not overload existing circuits and only plug large or heavy appliances into an outlet intended for their use; and always check cords and wires for damage before use .

Smoking is the number one cause of fatal home fires in Ontario, and alcohol is a factor in many of those smoking-related fires . Smoke outside only and be alert when smoking Keep a large can of water close by to properly extinguish the cigarette or cigar butt .

Fire safety checklist

The Township of Severn Fire and Emergency Services recommends that you

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run through the fire safety checklist when you open your cottage, cabin, motorhome, recreational vehicle, or other seasonal property

This list includes: multiple flashlights with extra batteries on hand; working smoke/ carbon monoxide detectors; check heating appliances and chimneys; clean your BBQ before the first use of the season; a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen and near woodstoves and fireplaces; inspect the property and building for damage to power lines, wires, cables, and hydro meters; check for blocked or dirty vents; and clean your chimney at least once every year . Remember to keep a hose or bucket of water, sand, and shovel close by your campfire; practice your home fire escape plan; know your seasonal home’s emergency sign number and make sure it is visible

Visit www .severn .ca/fireprevention for a complete safety check list

Fire permits

www .severn .ca/firepermits . Follow guidelines shown in the Open-Air Burning By-law

Fire Danger Ratings Updates

www .severn .ca/firerating .

Fire Safety meetings or community presentations: contact Severn’s Fire Prevention Officer

Nominate and celebrate local women Washago Art Club – the latest news

Most residents in Orillia and the surrounding townships are familiar with the Woman of the Year annual event hosted by the Orillia Business Women’s Association (OBWA) Women from Severn Township have, over the years, been the recipients of this very prestigious award . What may not be as well-known is that the general public is invited to submit nominations .

There is still time for community members to think about all the women you’ve dealt with in the past year Who has delivered an outstanding business service or product? Who are the standouts, business owners or someone behind the scenes, who may have gone beyond their business responsibilities and contributed even more to their community in any variety of ways?

Think about this and take some time to nominate this most deserving business woman

The deadline for nominations is April 15th The nomination form and all pertinent information is on the OBWA website at www .orilliabusinesswomen .com . If you have any questions about the process or criteria, you can also reach the OBWA executive by email at networking@orilliabusinesswomen .com

This final list of nominees and the eventual Woman of the Year will be celebrated at the annual OBWA gala, “A Night Full of Stars” in June Ticket information will be available on the OBWA website

A group of artists that never stops, the Washago Art Club is now contributing to a Ramara portion of the Trans Canada Trail The art cub will help decorate benches and bike racks that will soon be permanently installed

Doug Cooper, the club’s art instructor said a lot of the material to be painted is metal which means the use of a fairly toxic outdoor paint . “The work will be done by our members as soon as the weather allows and then the trails committee will look after the installation We’re very happy to be making this contribution to our community ” Doug added, “The club will still be creating our very popular annual outdoor art installation for the village of Washago ”

As the club looks forward to opening the Washago Art Gallery in May, they extend a warm welcome to the public to the Washago Community Centre where they are displaying a wall of paintings for view and for purchase

2023 Property Taxes County services, township initiatives

Severn Township property owners will know by now that the increase in their tax levy for 2023 has been set at 3 94% It is possible this rate will decrease slightly once the school board costs have been confirmed .

The bottom line is an increase of somewhere between $10-$20/month/ property owner, depending on the assessment of the individual tax payer’s home .

The Villager interviewed Mayor Mike Burkett about the 2023 budget . The following are some of the highlights from that interview

“Well over 50% of all tax revenue goes to Simcoe County”. It’s a very large piece of our total tax revenue,” he said

But, for that money, he explained Severn residents receive a vast number of critical services, services that are the responsibility of the county to provide Examples of those

are waste management, social services, schools, health units, and ambulance service These are all big-ticket items and all must-have services .

The ‘left-over’ tax revenue, somewhere between 40-50% of the total, is used for very specific local needs and the list is very long Topping it are roads and culverts, the largest expenditure every year – this year it’s over $9 million . Other budget items include sewer and water; recreation which includes parks and facilities; repairs and maintenance of equipment and all township facilities; planning and building; public works; fire service; all administrative departments, service and support staff, such as by–law enforcement, permits and treasury,

Mayor Burkett said, “The #1 expense and the biggest challenge we have every year is the cost of road, sidewalk and culvert work We are, like other municipalities, dealing

with infrastructure that is more than 100 years old and there comes a time when repair is not possible and replacement is necessary This year, we need $2 5 million just for one project, a culvert replacement on Wainman Line, just off Division Rd ,” said the mayor “

Of course there are other road projects on the 2023 calendar, including the finishing of Boyd Rd . from Canal Rd . to Cambrian Rd

In addition to necessary annual expenditures, Mayor Burkett talked about the funds set aside for initiatives that keep the township moving forward, ensuring it is a prosperous and growing community . The 2023 budget includes $2 million for investments in water and wastewater utilities and expansion of the Coldwater sewage plant, $200k this year as part of a 4-year plan; a $1 million expenditure for parks and trails improvements in Washago, West Shore, ODAS Park, and a big project in Severn Falls; and the delivery of a new fire department vehicle, $275k for a specialty

Continued on page 11

truck that can be deployed into the bush .

On the staffing side, the only addition is for another by-law officer who will have a particular responsibility of managing the new noise by-law, a by-law that is in response to the Airbnb challenge

Asked about the effects of supply chain issues or inflation on this year’s budget, the mayor had two examples .

“The installation of traffic lights in Washago was delayed during the worst of the pandemic We sent a new tender quite recently The cost went down We approved a tender that was $300k less than 2 years ago This project is almost complete . On the other hand, whether it’s because of supply chain issues or inflation, or a combination of the two, there has been a 40% increase in the cost of a regular fire truck, not a ladder truck, now $1 million,” said the mayor

For residents who will want to read the budget and get into the nitty gritty, note revenue of about $700k from local quarries They pay a fee for every aggregate tonne they take out This helps to pay for some of the damage to the roads on the haul routes

New this year - the Nelson Quarry will pay for the paving of 700 metres of shoulder adjacent to the quarry entrance to help keep the slurry aggregate mix off the road and reduce the need for repairs

Not in the budget is any kind of contingency fund as regards Provincial Bill 23 and the potential loss of development fee money The mayor explained that some municipalities are setting up a fund in anticipation, and some are not Because there is no timeline for when this bill might

pass, and no idea of the impact until details are shared, the township felt it unnecessary to add $$ to the budget and, ultimately, to the taxpayer

The mayor finished the interview by reminding residents they can read the budget online, highlights or in detail . They can also call upon him, the deputy mayor, staff, or their councillor for specific information about a project or plans for a particular ward

www severn ca or 705-325-2315

© Can Stock Photo / wichayada

Sharing details of new initiatives

By Jill Dunlop, MPP Simcoe North

As we move into the warmer spring weather, I hope you enjoy all the outdoor activities and unique adventures offered throughout Simcoe North

As part of a responsible government offering a well-thought-out vision of crucial issues facing our province, I am happy to share information from Queen’s Park:

The province is creating a blue-ribbon panel of experts who will provide advice and recommendations for keeping the postsecondary education sector financially stable and focused on providing the best student experience possible Over the coming months, this panel will conduct research and consultations about actions Ontario can take to improve financial sustainability, support colleges and universities in developing a skilled workforce, and promote economic growth and innovation .

The province is also preparing young people for in-demand and well-paying careers by allowing grade 11 students to transition to a full-time, skilled trades apprenticeship program Upon receiving their Certificate of Apprenticeship, they can apply for their Ontario Secondary School Diploma as mature students . At a time when the province continues to face historic labour shortages, this change means more students will be able to enter the trades faster than ever before

Firefighter health is another issue being tackled by the Ontario government . In every community they work on the front

lines saving lives and research shows this work results in them having up to four times higher cancer-related death rates than the general population . The government is making it faster and easier for firefighters and their families to access the compensation and support they deserve . Proposed amendments are part of a comprehensive whole-ofgovernment strategy that expands on the ground-breaking actions in the Working for Workers Acts, 2021 and 2022 Assessments of workplace injury claims would be streamlined and retroactive to January 1, 1960 . They would presume thyroid and pancreatic cancers to be work-related .

With no changes to OHIP-insured services related to the treatment of chronic pain, this year the province increased funding to expand the Chronic Pain Program to nearly $12 million, helping an additional 3,600 new patients access pain management services annually across Ontario Changes will occur in six months, assisting patients in managing their pain and ensuring treatment safely and effectively The Ministry of Health will engage with the Ontario Medical Association through the Appropriateness Working Group to discuss long-term solutions for chronic pain clinics - in and out of the hospital

A provincial investment of $343 million over five years will support agri-food research and innovation through a new agreement with the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance with the University of

Guelph . The Alliance will provide specialized expertise and access to agri-food research, laboratory services, veterinary education, research centre management and training, education, and certification for agricultural producers The renewal builds on the success of the government’s previous agreement, which increased Ontario’s GDP by $1 4 billion and supported more than 1,300 jobs .

Thank you, Simcoe North, for the constant feedback and engagement, and I look forward to continuing to represent you at Queen’s Park

© Can Stock

Photo / 4774344sean

BBQ’d Lake Country spring lamb with maple glazed sweet carrots

By Chef Becky

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 lb. cleaned carrots/top on but trimmed

• ¼ cup butter

• ¼ cup finely chopped mixed herbs to your taste (rosemary, sage, parsley, thyme, tarragon are some examples)

• ¼ cup roughly chopped fresh herbs (same choices as above)

• Juice of one lemon

• ½ cup dry rub mix of herbs & spices of your choice

• 1 deboned and butterflied lamb leg (butcher can do this for you)

• ¼ cup maple syrup

• ¼ cup EVOO

METHOD:

Pre-heat BBQ on high. Pat lamb leg dry.

Combine EVOO with dry rub, roughly chopped herbs and lemon juice. Slather on the lamb and rub into the crevices.

Place on BBQ and sear for 3-5 minutes with a quarter-turn after 3-5 minutes.

Flip over and repeat the same quarter-turn method.

Turn one side of the BBQ off and turn other the side to low.

Cook until interior is 145° F. Remove and let rest.

Slice against grain.

While the lamb is cooking on the BBQ, steam carrots until al dente.

Combine butter with finely chopped herbs. Sauté carrots and herbs until butter melts. Drizzle carrots with syrup and serve immediately.

Chef Becky Lennerton is proprietor of Black River Food Company and the innkeeper at Sir William Mackenzie Inn, Kirkfield, Ontario.

April 3

Meat Loaf Lunch, including beverage and dessert 12 Noon $10 Severn Bridge Community Hall, 1035 Southwood Rd ., Severn Bridge

April 7, 8, 9

Hewitts Farm Market, Bakery & Fun Farm, Easter Egg Hunt Easter Bunny, wagon rides, egg hunts, scavenger hunt, spring farm animals, Fun Farm and more . 10:00 a .m – 4:00 p m

Free parking Wear boots to the farm Limited tickets available Phone 705-325-3000; email hewittsfarmmarkets@gmail com, or visit www hewittsfarmmarket com

April 8

Downtown Orillia has three special Easter events . 1) Easter Egg Hunt from 9:30 a .m . – 11:00 a m at the Orillia Opera House Kids – bring your own basket! 2) Orillia Public Library celebrates the love of science, technology, engineering, art and math and promises fun for the whole family from 10:00-1:00 p .m 3) Orillia Farmers Market Vendors will have Easter specials . Photos with the Easter Bunny on site

April 20-23

Roots North Music Festival - great live music, several styles or genres and always music firmly rooted in a place of honest expression and emotion Festival takes place at St Paul’s Centre in Orillia as well as many other performances at venues in downtown Orillia . St Paul’s will also feature an on-site art market Details: www rootsnorthmusic ca

April 29 – May 6

The Perch Festival is ready for your registration

$1,000 in daily cash prizes . Grand prize is a Lund WC-12 boat with 9 9 Mercury motor and boat trailer Full details at www .orillia .com/ perchfestival/ or call 705-3264444

May 6

Charlee’s Run: for all ages, either a 5k or a 1k run or walk . Fun zone with family-friendly activities, live entertainment, food trucks This event honours the death of infant Charlee Clare Holmes in 2011,

raises awareness and helps to end the silence surrounding pregnancy and infant loss Proceeds go to purchase ‘Giraffe Warmers’ for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital 8:00 a m -12:30 p m at Tudhope Park $40 registration fee Children under 12 free 705325-6464 www .events@osmh ca

May 7

Hike for Hospice, Couchiching Beach Park . See ad on the bottom half of this page

Ask for Panini Press Plus PIZZA & SALADS!

CANOE BAKERY & CAFÉ

• Breads, rolls, pies, butter tarts, squares, muffins, bagels, meat pies and more!

• Enjoy a coffee and sweet take-out from our café. All take-out cups are biodegradable.

• Fresh brewed Muskoka Roastery Coffee – Espresso, Cappuccino, Latte, Americano – or Latte Tea