Georgina Chess Academy offers kids free lessons and a fun night out
By Mike Anderson Chess, one of the world's most popular and ancient games - dating back some 1,500 years, takes only minutes to learn but a lifetime to master. John Burrows, a retired teacher and co-founder of the Georgina Chess Academy, should know. He's taught kids how to play chess for nearly 20 years, running chess clubs in Toronto-area public schools. With a...
Volunteering: How to get to a happier, healthier place
By Ewa Chwojko-Srawley Several months of Covid lockdowns have wreaked havoc with our mental health. How can we get to a happier, healthier place? By volunteering in your community, of course! That was the focus of The Gifts of Giving Project, a unique event celebrating the benefits of volunteerism, including its positive impact on mental well-being, held at ClearWater Farm in...
Our first Christmas in Canada
By Iryna Paltseva Christmas is without a doubt the most magical time of the year. Living in Ukraine, I thought that we were celebrating Christmas quite magnificently, but only when I arrived in Canada did I see how important the holiday is to many Canadians. What surprised me the most was how early preparations begin. Back in October, when...
Food rescue program provides free groceries for low-income families
By Mike Anderson With food costs on the rise, low-income families and seniors are turning to a food rescue program in Keswick that provides free produce and grocery items twice a week. The program is run by Hagit and Issac Azari, who moved to Jackson's Point in the summer of 2021 from Richmond Hill. "Rescued food is food that supermarkets take off...
Keswick woman beats Canadian powerlifting record
By Michelle Poirier Just six months after her first foray into powerlifting, Kim Magee broke a Canadian record in the World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) during the Tournament of Power, which took place at the Apex Barbell Club in Burlington on November 12. Magee, a Keswick resident, now has the Canadian record for deadlifting in the women's 90-kilogram weight class for...
Festival of Lights: The magic of the winter season
By Ewa Chwojko-Srawley Festive lights bring joy and holiday spirit to us all. They symbolize victory over darkness, brightening long winter nights and warming our hearts. To catch the festive spirit come to the Civic Centre grounds and embark on a spectacular journey through an enchanted world, know as the Georgina Festival of Lights. “This year the lights cover more...
Salvation Army’s Annual Christmas Kettle Campaign hopes to raise $44,000
By Mike Anderson Seventy-four-year-old Ted Irvine and his wife, Joan, 69, look forward to manning the Salvation Army's Red Kettle at Zehrs in Keswick. After all, they've been doing it for the past 15 years, often six days a week, sometimes for four hours at a time. "I enjoy volunteering," Ted said. "I like to help people out." "It's fun; you get to...
Volunteers help Ukrainian refugees during the holidays
By Iryna Paltseva At a time when Russia is ruthlessly leaving millions of Ukrainians without light, water, and heat, a dedicated group of volunteers, including many from Sutton-by-the-Lake and from a York Region fraternal group, continue to show kindness to hundreds of newly arrived refugees from Ukraine. Earlier this spring, the group opened a full-fledged donation and support centre in King...
‘This is the darkest situation we’ve ever faced,’ says Queensville Players President after three cast members killed in head-on collision
By Mike Anderson The Queensville Players cancelled the last performances of Disney's High School Musical at Stephen Leacock Theatre on November 25, after three cast members, from the same family, were killed, and another severely injured in a head-on collision near Peterborough on Tuesday, November 22. Jonathan MacDonnell, 46, Stefphanie Hart, 52, and their 18-year-old son Riddick Hart were killed after...
Live TV auction for Georgina Cares returns
By Michelle Poirier The annual Georgina Cares Fund Auction returns November 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Rogers TV with around $70,000 worth of items up for grabs. The Georgina Cares Fund is a non-profit organization that provides funding for local children, up to the age of 15, to take part in extracurricular activities, like joining sports teams or...
