DEAR EDITOR: Re: “Red for Ed” teacher protest, against “the Ford government’s draconian cuts to our shared public education system.” In my opinion, this is a disgrace to our soldiers and all Canadians who have been quietly supporting our soldiers and veterans for years with a simple act. For years (since 2006) my husband and […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com ORILLIA — Alcohol was involved in almost half the 175 snowmobile fatalities in Ontario since 2009. Provincial police say that with snowmobile safety week (Jan. 18-26) underway now, the OPP have released a 10-year data report on sledding fatalities that they hope will encourage snowmobilers to avoid the recurring “bad behaviours” that contributed to […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com PARRY SOUND — Premier Doug Ford today served up a slice of the provincial pie to 26 local municipalities here totalling $5.8 million. From eight townships and villages in the west side of Parry Sound-Muskoka riding, which received the smallest portion of $50,000 each, to the District of Muskoka’s share of […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com Christmas messages are lore. From Matthew and Luke’s New Testament accounts, to Christmas cards that once filled mailboxes — and today’s e-greetings — they are personal if not always profane. They’re like editorials, which take stock, reflect and ponder the implications of how life is lived. Two that I like are […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — Here’s to the holidays — Christmas, Hanukkah or whatever your reason for the season. Don’t forget the poor in spirit; but count your blessings. The hope born a couple of kiloyears ago lives on. Be positive. Think of all the good and great people; the world’s worst need no […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com NORTH POLE — What does Santa want for Christmas? The same as you. So, you won’t be surprised. He’s busy right now, getting ready for his rounds. So we asked him — and his wife — during one of his parade stops earlier this season in Gravenhurst. Hear it and see […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com BRACEBRIDGE — If Bracebridge is the Heart of Muskoka, Don Coates was the heart of Bracebridge. The boy who grew up in town and became its mayor loved his community like few others. He helped bring a provincial hockey championship to town and brought recycling to Muskoka as owner and founder […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — Abby Liang was beaming at her Opera House debut. The nine-year-old captivated the curious audience who came to hear the engaging youngster making a stir in local musical circles with her prowess at the piano. And while she did herself credit as an accomplished student, playing three lovely, challenging […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com BRACEBRIDGE — Finally a chance to visualize just what all that digging in the dirt and snow is next to the YIG. The Town of Bracebridge has just come out with a couple of renderings for residents to get their heads around what a new multi-use community centre will one day […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — Frustrated cops have two words for you this Christmas — if you’re caught drinking and driving during RIDE checks. And they aren’t “Happy Holidays!” “You’re busted!” That’s more like it, says OPP Const. Sam Bigley, after a RIDE check and media blitz Tuesday afternoon on First Street next to […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — Fans of the FB group If You Grew Up in Gravenhurst will be sure to post this Christmas greeting. Sally Boyes Bullock, a sales rep at Enjoy Muskoka in Gravenhurst, mailed out this great photo card of Linc Walker (of Walker’s Point) and a bunch of kids playing hockey […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — Local clergy took an hour out of their busy Christmas schedule to break bread with Rotarians today. They were fed and feted at lunch at Trinity United Church, where the club meets Mondays at noon. Rotarian Brian Ferguson and his committee invites more than a dozen ministers and pastors […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — Thirty years after her first pageant, Penny Varney is presenting one more performance of the popular Christmas concert at Trinity United Church Sunday night, Dec. 15. While the first 25 were a huge success, she took the past five years off. This week she’s back with more enthusiasm with […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — There was lots of singing and laughter Sunday night at St. Paul’s Catholic Church. The Muskoka Advent Choir was celebrating its 25th season and fifth of sixth concerts. In the town where it all began, in 1994, when Baptist Pastor George Johnston began with 35 eager volunteer singers and […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com OTTAWA — New MP Scott Aitchison got down to business in his maiden speech in Parliament Friday with “a simple message.” And he equated himself well as the new representative in a strong, firm, businesslike voice. Distaining from the opportunity to blush or boast about winning, the Conservative member spoke directly […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com BRACEBRIDGE — Muskoka has made the cut with a new provincial health plan intended to help patients ease from hospital stays to home care support, “with one patient story, one patient record and one care plan.” A “team” approach that unites all providers under one umbrella, as never before. This morning, […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — Forget that canned Christmas music piped into stores to get you to “shop till you drop.” And the endless stream of radio play season hits that put earworms in your head that loop around all day. For the true sounds of the season, played as they were intended and […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com LOS ANGELES — Life on the road away from politics is still pretty exciting for former Bracebridge town and district councillor Lori-Lynn Giaschi-Pacini. The former deputy mayor and mayoralty candidate was in LA-LA-land recently, on Nov. 26, when she posted this great photo on Facebook about being a near-contestant on the […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — Real estate agents and brokers are always glad-handing. Their handshake is often good enough to start deal on the sale of a house or home. But what if that handshake was almost your last one? Enjoy Muskoka broker/partner Dave Reid enjoyed that at a recent Ontario Real Estate Association […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — There are some great local Christmas concerts this time of year. But if you want to see and hear two of the most superbly talented Muskoka artists in our midst, catch the Dec. 14 Muskoka Concert Association show at the Gravenhurst Opera House, 7 p.m. Pianists Kyung-A Lee and […]