LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Last week the government warned Ontarians to be on the lookout for bears waking up from hibernation earlier than usual as a result of an extremely warm winter. Ontario’s Natural Resources Minister (and habitual climate change downplayer), Graydon Smith, said: “I’m not worried about it, but I think people should take […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — The David and Goliath battle to “get it right” has hospital opponents continuing to compete in a weekly war of words. As sure as Saturday follows Friday, those fighting to “save” south Muskoka’s hospital have issued their weekend response to MAHC’s end of week update on redevelopment plans. They […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — Still stinging from criticism about a new South Muskoka Hospital site and transparency around its selection, MAHC has doubled down in defence of a site at the north end of Bracebridge. “The Pine Street site remains the better-suited location for the project in the longer term, based on its […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — An environmental revolt has gained Winhara Road residents two more weeks make comment to the Ministry of Environment on a “contaminated non-hazardous” soil cleansing and waste disposal site that would also store soil material on 12 acres in their neighbourhood. Two dozen people who live at the north end […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — Many here lament “the good old days.” Especially for a generation of Baby Boomers around when Sloan’s Restaurant was the epicentre of the main street. If TVO’s great little Main Street vignettes were to do a piece on Gravenhurst, the iconic eatery would be the focus with a photo […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com HUNTSVILLE — There’s an audience for classical music in Muskoka. Always has been. But this weekend it was a home grown orchestra that bowed to the public — twice. Saturday afternoon at Baysville’s Bethune United Church and yesterday afternoon at Trinity United Church in Huntsville. Two sold out performances of “Whimsical […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — The public push to revise plans for Muskoka’s two hospitals continues throughout South Muskoka Memorial Hospital’s catchments area. Dan and Cindy Waters, who have been championing their cause with a petition, say they presented their first list of names to MPP Graydon Smith last week. At his office in […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — Final new hospital plans won’t be submitted until the end of the year, more smaller public consultations are planned and a doctors’ alternative ‘Care Closer to Home’ model is being costed out by consultants. That’s this week’s MAHC update Friday on a publicly contentious redevelopment proposal for South Muskoka […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — International Women’s Day was a morning of celebration today as 150 women — and 10 men — marked the occasion with a breakfast of champions at the Gravenhurst Centennial Centre. Ladies noshed, nurtured and nourished each other with invigorating Muskoka tales echoing throughout the Terry Fox Auditorium. “It’s not […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — A doctor, a Rotarian, a humanitarian and huge civic supporter, Jim Goodwin was many things. Aged 93, he died at home this morning, leaving a long legacy that touched many and most of Gravenhurst. He would have been 94 in June. The retired physician — and former Canadian Navy […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — District and municipal governments are being asked to withdraw millions of dollars they’ve committed to MAHC’s “unequal” hospitals plan, until the Ministry of Health examines a counter proposal submitted by south Muskoka doctors. In its first public statement and “community report,” members of the ‘Save South Muskoka Hospital’ (SSMH) […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — As the community independently debates the state of local hospitals and its reponse to changes, Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare continues its own updates with a new release today as promised. MAHC said “our commitment to enhancing healthcare in our community is taking a significant stride forward.” And that they are […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — “Inspiring inclusion” is this year’s theme of International Women’s Day at the Terry Fox Auditorium at the arena March 8, where an all-star panel will sit down for a dockside chat. Statistics Canada (2021) pegs the median employment income for women in Muskoka at between $20,000 and $26,800, says […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com BRACEBRIDGE — Charming, witty, inspiring with great performances. That’s “Billy Elliot,” which wrapped up its first weekend run at the Rene Caisse Theatre Sunday. Community theatre at its best. Entertaining, intelligent, heartwarming and atristically true to hit movie and play’s original 2005 West End London production. The buzz about “Billy” and […]
Lois Cooper | MuskokaTODAY.com OPINION A national universal pharmacare plan is wonderful news. I let government officials at all levels know that this week. Contraception and diabetes are the first subsidized medications that will go to Parliament for approval ahead of a March 1 deadline. However, I read that the provinces will decide on what […]
Ed. note: Gravenhurst has recently lost a doctor and Port Carling has lost the only physician in Muskoka Lakes. Both belonged to the Cottage Family Health Team, which sufferered a further blow when the Ministry of Health turned down a proposal to expand services in the two communities. CCFHT is asking why surrounding communities received […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — A biting wind was no match for the sun and shinny on Lake Muskoka this weekend for another annual hockey fest. This year’s winter lite didn’t stop hundreds of slap-happy puck purists who gathered under the sun for a glorious game of what makes us Canadian. The battle for […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — This week’s coldest nights of the year were capped with another “Coldest Day of the Year” walk yesterday. Hundreds of walkers and volunteers raised more than $173,000 in the annual Gravenhurst Against Poverty trek through town for food security. The 336 who registered gathered at the Lion’s Pavilion on […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — No final decision on the fate of Muskoka’s hospitals is forthcoming. Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare said today that talks continue widely and that its board of directors will not be approving a recommendation on a future model of care at its next scheduled meeting in March. This follows meetings this […]
MUSKOKA — Three x-ray sites at MAHC are open again as walk-in service centres — in Burk’s Falls, Huntsville and Bracebridge — after four years due to COVID. No appointment is necessary. MAHC will no longer schedule x-ray appointments Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare says today, Feb. 22, that it is resuming walk-in only service for outpatient […]