Perchin for MS raises $21,000 in its final year
By: Mike Anderson One of Georgina's local heroes is calling it a day. After a decade of organizing Perchin for MS, one of Lake Simcoe's premier ice fishing derbies, and raising more than $186,000 for Multiple Sclerosis, Doug Poirier is moving on. It's was a hard decision. But Mr. Poirier's MS has progressed to the point where he can no longer put in the...
Images of home, two perspectives: Georgina Arts Centre & Gallery
By: Ewa Chwojko Home is the comfiest place to be said Winnie the Pooh. Jennifer Zsolt, a Georgina artist, agrees. Her paintings of charming Georgina houses basking in sunshine make you smile, and perhaps conjure a story about their past history. Old farmhouses, tiny cottages, mysterious dwellings at the end of winding lanes sparked the artist’s imagination, and urged her...
Ayres donates goalie stick to Hockey Hall of Fame; understands EBUG concerns
TORONTO — David Ayres went out for a casual game of pickup hockey last week. Between work, coaching kids and suiting up as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ practice goalie, the 42-year-old Zamboni driver hadn’t been on the ice with friends in a few months. Now a piece of equipment he used in that game of shinny — incredibly, improbably — resides in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Ayres, the...
Keswick woman wins over $50,000 playing Hospice Georgina’s Catch the Ace
By: Mike Anderson Meghan Savoie never considered herself lucky, until she picked envelope number 31. That envelope contained the Ace of Spades, and Ms. Savoie, 27, won a jackpot that had been accumulating for more than 50 weeks without a winner. The total prize was $52,525.50. "I never thought this was going to happen in a million years," says Ms. Savoie, who...
Willow Beach inspired play: “That Summer” at Stephen Leacock Theatre until Feb 16
By: Ewa Chwojko Thirteen-year-old Maggie, a dreamer who lived in a world of novels and poetry, fell in love. Years later, Margaret, now an adult, reminisces about those memorable August days, and feels a deep wish that things had been different. She is plagued by thoughts of “if only...” Karin Kuch-Simpson, who plays Margaret, says “bringing this character to life has...
What’s on this Valentine’s Day week-end in Georgina
By: Michelle Poirier Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, but it's not too late to make some reservations with plenty of events and special offers happening in Georgina. From Thursday, February 13 to Sunday, February 16, The Corner House Bistro in Keswick is running a special Valentine's menu. They are open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday and Sunday and...
Lack of affordable transportation a barrier for low-income residents seeking medical services
By: Michelle Poirier The lack of affordable transportation options in Georgina is impacting low-income residents and their access to health care services, according to a community-led report, A Closer Look. The report, funded by the United Way of Toronto, points out that Georgina shares critical health care issues with other smaller, rural municipalities – a shortage of family doctors, not enough...
Udora’s historic general store now sells booze
By: Mike Anderson Built-in 1860, and converted into a general store in 1895, the Udora General Store is one of the oldest operating general stores in Canada. Lucy Maud Montgomery, the celebrated author of Anne of Green Gables and a nearby Leaskdale resident, may have been a customer. However, Ms. Montgomery, as the wife of a Presbyterian minister, would be spinning in...
Canadian players return home from world juniors after winning gold
TORONTO — Canada captain Barrett Hayton had the honour of being the first to raise the world junior championship trophy before letting his teammates have their turn. After returning to home soil on Monday, Hayton got to hand off the trophy to one of the team’s biggest supporters. Akilah Thomas, whose son Akil scored the winning goal in Canada’s 4-3 win over Russia a day earlier, helped organize...
Why a hug a day could keep the doctor away
By: Tina Novotny The digital age offers enhanced human connection, but many say we’ve lost the common touch – literally. Tara Graves wants to do something about that for National Hug Day on January 21. On behalf of her touch therapy practice, Affinity Touch, Graves will be at Elpida Café & Roastery giving out free hugs that Tuesday, and the first...
