Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Forget the political divide across the country, the real divide is in vaccines. It’s pitting Canadian friends, neighbours and families. And the threat has Ontario worried about fake vaccine exemption print-outs, which come as the province will require some public certification proof a week tomorrow; and it has Alberta […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — Two weeks after a fatal fire left a mom of five dead, police and the Ontario Fire Marshal have yet to say what happened. The mayor says he is committed to inspections of apartments to prevent another “tragedy.” The town’s chief building official says they and the bylaw department […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Five Muskoka COVID cases reported over the weekend are among 74 for the region. The health unit says that since Friday its three-day total includes the following cases in its north end: Bracebridge woman, 35-44, under investigation after reporting Sept. 11, with a first report Sept. 10 Huntsville boy, […]
Photos, story Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — A return to swimming, riding and running drew 500 Olympic distance triathlon competitors here this weekend. MultiSport Triathlon Canada held only its second event of the season as it welcomed the swimmers, cyclists and runners — along with cheering family and friends. Saturday was warmer than Sunday, […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — There weren’t a lot of close finishes yesterday as the Georgian Bay Rowing Club returned to Gull Lake Rotary Park. Only family photo finishes. In fact not only were the racers spaced out in the blue water — but the heats featured staggeringly long gaps between races due to […]
RUSTY DRAPER | Contributing columnist Well, it’s hard to believe, but here we are officially into September, the month that says goodbye to summer and ushers in my favourite season of the year. The only disappointment that shatters me a tad, is the knowledge that autumn is the precursor of what comes next. I never did […]
TARA COLLUM | Contributing columnist There wasn’t a cloud in the sky Sept. 11, 2001. I made it all the way to school before I heard one word about it. A girl asked me if I was following the news, about planes attacking the World Trade Centre towers in New York City. I thought her […]
BRACEBRIDGE — A 24-year-old woman is dead after an off-road dirt bike accident this afternoon. Provincial police and the OPP Technical Traffic Collision Investigation (TTCI) unit are on scene investigating after the accident Saturday, Sept. 11 just before 12:30 p.m. They say officers responded to the single vehicle collision involving the off-road vehicle on a […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — Looking for a chance to spread your wings without impacting your friends and loved ones? Saturday at Gull Lake Rotary Park the Georgian Bay Rowing Club is hosting a regatta with rowers from across Ontario. The Muskoka Fall Classic is a great opportunity to experience the feel of the […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA — Voting got underway today — and “no,” you don’t need a vaccine passport to cast your ballot for the advance polls on this weekend. But you should have at least one — if not two — by now. However, expect line-ups as normal COVID health and safety protocols […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA — The unvaccinated Green Party candidate going door-to-door says he’s “not anti-vaccine.” And he “might get it eventually.” We caught up with Marc Mantha yesterday as he was delivering food for Gravenhurst Against Poverty. And we asked him why. “That’s absolutely right,” he said without hesitation. “The reason is […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Local COVID cases were down this week with the health unit ending its five-day reporting period with 131 people testing positive. Including 2 in Muskoka on Friday. They were among 35 reported by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU). That’s a big drop from 203 cases last week. […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Three dozen COVID cases today include 4 from Muskoka. The health unit says two each are from Huntsville and Muskoka Lakes. Huntsville boy, 0-17, is under investigation after reporting Sept. 8 with a first episode Sept. 7 Huntsville man, 18-34, had close contact, and reported it Sept. 8 with […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA — The fight for the right — to represent this riding. That’s how it looks today 11 days out from the federal election, Sept. 20. As advance polling starts tomorrow, there are few visible signs of a campaign in progress. No wonder voters are left to fend for themselves […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — The home where a woman died last week in a multiplex fire had not been inspected by the fire department, says the town’s new fire chief. Nor had it a “history of complaints or enquiries,” says the incoming CAO. Mayor Paul Kelly was even unaware of the home before […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — With 35 COVID cases today — 2 of them in Muskoka — the head of the health unit is “concerned” Simcoe-Muskoka has caught up with Ontario in the number of cases per 100,000 population. Dr. Charles Gardner says for most of the pandemic the region has run about half […]
GRAVENHURST — Gassing up in Gravenhurst will be limited the next month with just one filling station. The Canadian Tire Gas Bar at Muskoka Road and James Street was fenced off today as construction workers removed the pumps and underground storage tanks. Asked what’s happening, a worker said they will be closed for “a month” […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — As local COVID cases topped 13,000 and schools re-opened, the long weekend had Simcoe-Muskoka reporting 102 cases. The three-day total includes 13 from Muskoka among 33 to start the week off since Sunday. Among all those who tested positive over the weekend were 72 people who were unvaccinated and […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — There were a ton of smiles, high-fives, hugs, first-day photos … and lots of running around the playground as more than 600 kids returned to high school and elementary schools downtown here this morning. Everyone had mandatory masks — there was no need for vaccine passports. And only a […]
TARA COLLUM — Contributing columnist In an episode of the sitcom Maude, staring Bea Arthur that aired almost 50 years ago, the titular character a grandmother in her late 40s needed an abortion. That TV show is now more progressive than present day Texas and Poland, whose restrictive abortion laws are endangering human rights, women’s […]