Couchiching Conservancy Youth Cleanup and Nature Walk
2023-05-07 12:00 - 14:00 UTC
Couchiching Conservancy Youth Cleanup and Nature Walk
Where? Scout Valley – Forest Home Park Entrance, where the ball hockey rink is (995 Memorial Ave.)
Who? Youth aged 10-19 (if under 10 years old, must be accompanied by guardian)
When? Sunday, May 7th at noon
What? Guided nature walk along the trail followed by a garbage cleanup. Supplies will be provided. Volunteer hours are available for high school students!
Questions? Contact at 705-326-1620 or alysha@couchconservancy.ca

Ward 3 Town Hall
2023-05-08 18:00 - 20:00 | Lakehead University, 500 University Ave, Orillia, Ontario, L3V 0B9, Canada
Councillors Jeff Czetwerzuk and Jay Fallis invite you to join them at a ward meeting to discuss issues affecting Ward 3 and the City of Orillia. Happening at Lakehead University on May 8th from 6 to 8pm. This meeting is available virtually as well. To attend either in person or virtually, please register here. This ward meeting is held in partnership with the Lakehead University Student Union. Light refreshments will be provided.
If you are not sure which ward you live in, please refer to the Ward Map.

High Street Garden Opening Day
2023-05-21 09:00 - 12:00 | High Street Community Garden, 433 Gill Street (behind Brian Orser Arena)
Check out the community garden, find out how to get involved, reserve a plot! Join at 433 Gill Street N. (behind Brian Orser Arena)

Hospital Privatization Referendum
2023-05-26 - 2023-05-27
Vote online or see polling stations near you.

Laugh for Lake Simcoe Comedy Show Fundraiser
2023-05-26 18:30
The Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition is tickled to invite Lake lovers and comedy fans to its second annual Laugh For Lake Simcoe comedy event, on Friday, May 26th. This year audiences will be treated to three of Canada’s favourite comedians: Martha Chaves, Rob Bebeneck, and Jon Steinberg. Join for a night of fun in support of The Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition. The Coalition’s ongoing activities include education and raising awareness of Lake Simcoe’s health, and advocating for sustainable solutions at all levels of government. Read more and get your tickets here

Paso Por Paso Annual Fundraising Plant Sale
2023-05-27 08:00 - 12:00 | 136 Peter Street North, 136 Peter Street North, Orillia, Ontario, Canada
There will be a large selection of perennial plants including hostas.
All proceeds from this sale go towards supporting women and children in Guatemala through Paso Por Paso’s infrastructure, microcredit, education and sponsorship programs.
Cash and debit/credit will be accepted.

Oro-Medonte Horticultural Society Plant Sale
2023-05-27 10:00 | Oro Fairgrounds, 15th/16th Sideroad & Line 7 North, Oro-Medonte, Ontario, L0L 2E0, Canada
Locally grown, hardy, and reasonably priced perennials, hostas, grasses, herbs, ground covers and native plants. Cash, credit and debit cards accepted. 2023 memberships are available at the sale.

Jane’s Walk in Orillia - An Urban Planning Walk
2023-05-27 10:00 - 14:00
Sustainable Orillia and OPPI (Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI)will join to present another engaging walk-and-learn opportunity in Orillia on Saturday May 27 at both 10 am and 2 pm. Each walk will focus on the West Ridge development and community.
“Jane’s Walk in Orillia” is presented in honour of renowned urban planner Jane Jacobs (1916-2006).
Jane Jacobs was an urbanist and activist whose writings championed a fresh, community-based approach to city-building. She had no formal training as a planner, yet her 1961 book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, introduced ground-breaking ideas about how cities function, evolve and fail – ideas that now seem like common sense to generations of architects, planners, politicians and activists.
“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody,” wrote Jacobs in The Death and Life of Great American Cities, “only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.”
The 90-minute, 2 km. walks will be led by David Parks, Director of Planning at the Township of Severn, and Kristin Pechkovsky, Leadership Team Chair of Lakeland District OPPI and Senior Policy Advisor for the County of Simcoe.
Participants will meet at the parking lot behind Taco Bell (705 University Avenue). They will explore different residential activities, commercial activities, green space, walkable areas and traffic safety. The tag-team hosts will provide interesting opinions and insights on this development and ideas on what to look for in the future.
“Come and explore the good, the bad, and the ugly of the residential, commercial, recreational and education aspects of West Ridge in Orillia.,” said David Parks, “The West Ridge Community is a fast-moving development that has brought major retail to the area with some mixed use residential concepts and lots of traffic.
Register today for one of these interesting walks for all of us interested in the quality of living here in Orillia. Saturday, May 27th … at either 10:00 a.m. or 2:00. See you there.

Rally: Stop the War on the Poor!
2023-05-31 18:45 | Barrie City Hall, 70 Collier Street, Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Barrie City Council recently unanimously passed a “Motion Without Notice” that will have far reaching harmful impact on not only our most disenfranchised citizens, but even people and agencies who try to help out.
If you’ve ever tossed some change to someone panhandling, bought an unhoused person a meal, or given someone water on a hot day, this affects you too!
Join us at this rally on May 31st outside City Hall to let council know that the actions in this motion are harmful, and using a loophole to skip around our democratic process is unacceptable!
STOP THE WAR ON THE POOR!
OUR KINDNESS WILL NOT BE CRIMINALIZED!

This rally is being organized by the Barrie Homelessness and Housing Justice Network

Ward 4 Meeting
2023-05-31 19:00 - 21:00 | St. Paul’s Centre, 62 Peter Street N, Orillia
Councillors Janet-Lynne Durnford and Tim Lauer invite you to join them at a ward meeting to discuss issues affecting Ward 4 and the City of Orillia. Registration is not required.

When: May 31, 2023 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Where: St. Paul’s United Church (62 Peter St. N.)

For more information, please contact Councillor Durnford at jdurnford@orillia.ca or Councillor Lauer at tlauer@orillia.ca.

Gathering: Festival of First Nations Stories
2023-06-01 - 2023-06-04 | Rama First Nation
Gathering is a free literary festival featuring First Nations stories and writers. Two ticketed concerts, one featuring Tom Wilson and one featuring Tomson Highway, are also part of this event.
All information about the event can be found here: https://www.artsorillia.ca/gathering2023.

Orillia Grandmothers to Grandmothers Plant and Yard Sale
2023-06-03 08:00 - 12:00 | 145 Cedar Street, Orillia, Ontario, Canada
Perennials, hostas, ladies’ mantle, sedums, ferns, ground covers, rhubarb
Also offering jewelry and quilting fabric
All proceeds from this sale go to the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign – a part of the Stephen Lewis Foundation supporting African grandmothers raising their orphaned grandchildren.

Enough is Enough Day of Action
2023-06-03 12:30 - 13:30 | Jill Dunlop’s Office, 575 West Street South, Orillia, Ontario, Canada
Join us June 3rd as we participate in the OFL province wide #enoughisenough rally to protect public services, demand affordable gas, groceries and housing, fair wages for all and protect our environment
Sponsored by the North Simcoe and Muskoka District Labour Council

Honour and Harvest Wiigwasitig 'Birch Tree'
2023-06-08 08:30 - 12:00 | Lakehead University, 500 University Ave, Orillia, Ontario, L3V 0B9, Canada
You are invited to join the Office of Indigenous Initiatives in Honouring and Harvesting the Wiigwasitig ‘Birch Tree’ on June 8, 2023 from 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM. This will be an opportunity for the Lakehead Community to honour the life of Wiigwasitig ‘Birch Tree’ in a good way.

Tipi Raising and Teachings
2023-06-11 09:00 | Lakehead University, 500 University Ave, Orillia, Ontario, L3V 0B9, Canada
You are invited to join Lakehead University in a tipi raising on Sunday, June 11.
In honour of National Indigenous History Month, Luana Harper-Shirt & her family will be sharing tipi teachings and will be leading us in the raising of the tipi on the Orillia Campus. The Tipi Raising is in partnership with the Office of Indigenous Initiatives and the Social and Community Services Division of the County of Simcoe. Registration is required.
All are welcome | Please bring a lawn chair | Light refreshments will be provided
If you have any questions, please contact the Indigenous Initiatives Coordinator at orillia.ii@lakeheadu.ca or 705-330-4010 ext. 2018.

Mariposa Folk Festival: Green Orillia in the Community Village
2023-07-07 08:00 - 2023-07-09 17:00

Severn Butterfly Count
2023-07-15
RSVP to Matt Thomson: 705-812-3482 or info@ardtreanature.ca

Rally at MPP Dunlop's Orillia Office - CORRUPTION in the Greenbelt
2023-08-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Jill Dunlop’s Office, 575 West Street South, Orillia, Ontario, Canada
Please join us, including speakers Madeleine Fournier (Stop Sprawl Orillia), Aaron Cayden Hiltz (Past candidate Simcoe North Liberal Party), Dr. Elizabeth Van Houtte (Past candidate Simcoe North NDP), Jacob Kearey Moreland (Co-founder of Orillia for Democracy), and Margaret Prophet (Executive Director Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition), as we express our serious concerns, not only about the process, but also regarding the environmental impact of opening up the Greenbelt to development.

Rama Powwow
2023-08-26 - 2023-08-27 | Rama First Nation
Rama Powwow is one of the biggest and best powwows in Ontario. All are welcome!
Held on Chippewas of Rama First Nation territory, at the John Snake Memorial Community Multi-Purpose Grounds.
Cost is $10/day $15/weekend pass; free for kids under 12, seniors, handicapped, or veterans. No pre-registration or advance tickets necessary – pay at gate.
First Grand Entry is Saturday August 26 at 12PM; evening session begins at 630PM. Sunday Grand Entry August 27 at 12PM. Gates open around 10AM

North Simcoe Muskoka & District Labour Council - Labour Day Picnic
2023-09-03 11:00 | The Gravenhurst Muskoka Wharf, Bay St, Gravenhurst, Ontario, ON P1P 1G7
Please join us for our annual Labour Day Picnic.
This year we will be in beautiful Gravenhurst on the Wharf.

Greenbelt Public Forum
2023-09-12 19:00
Hey #Simcoe Community!

Are you frustrated over the Ontario government’s handling of the Greenbelt? Do you still have questions about the whole process? Wondering what can be done in response? Us too!

Mark your calendars for September 12th @ 7:00 PM and join us at Grace United Church in Barrie for a special public forum. Hear from special guest speakers, share your voice, and be part of the change. Together, we can unite for a sustainable future.

RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/…/uniting-for-a-sustainable…

Orillia Climate Strike
2023-09-15 16:00
?SEPTEMBER 15TH @ 4PM ?TIME TO TURN UP THE HEAT ON CLIMATE ACTION ORILLIA
This historic mobilisation renews and reinforces global efforts focused on ending the era of fossil fuels. The scale of this mobilisation and the urgency of the moment underscore the devastating impacts of recent record breaking heat, deadly floods, wildfires and other extreme weather events.
In 2019, almost 400 citizens and students rallied in front of Orillia City Centre calling for early action to address the climate emergency – the largest such rally in Orillia’s recent history. Then-mayor Steve Clark encouraged the crowd to “keep your foot on the pedal” and maintain pressure on all levels of government and the general public to step up their reductions of carbon emissions. Can we get 400+ people out again?!?!? ✊
This is a youth-led event. All are welcome. This event is family friendly!
#EndFossilFuels #FairFastForever

An Evening with Dr. Ellen Field: Young People and the Climate Crisis
2023-09-19 19:30 - 21:00 | Creative Nomad Studios, 23 Mississaga St W
Dr. Field, an assistant professor at Lakehead University and a leading researcher in this field will present her findings and recommendations from her recent study of 1000 Canadian young people – ages 16 to 25. A study that captured young people’s perspective on the climate crisis, their futures and what we, the older generations can do to ensure their future well-being.
The event is free and will include a question and answer session. Coffee, tea and some desserts will be served.
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-with-dr-ellen-field-young-people-and-the-climate-crisis-tickets-716616538357?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Special Film Screening: Orange Shirt Day
2023-09-26 13:30 - 18:30 | Orillia Public Library, 36 Mississaga St W, Orillia, Ontario, L3V 3A6, Canada
Join us in the Program Room on Tuesday, September 26 at 1:30 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. for this special screening of “Orange Shirt Day”. In honour of the 10 year mark of Orange Shirt Day, Phyllis Webstad shares the Orange Shirt Day origin story by reliving what it was like growing up in an Indigenous community and attending a residential school as a third generation residential school survivor. Everyone welcome; no registration required. Free. (For ages 7-100+)

Truth and Reconciliation Film Screening: Birth of a Family
2023-09-26 18:30 | Midland Cultural Centre, 333 King St, Midland, Ontario, L4R 3M7
In this deeply moving feature-length documentary, three sisters and a brother meet for the first time. Removed from their young Dene mother during the infamous Sixties Scoop, they were separated as infants and adopted into families across North America.
Betty Ann, Esther, Rosalie, and Ben were only four of the 20,000 Indigenous Canadian children taken from their families between 1955 and 1985, to be either adopted into white families or live in foster care. As the four siblings piece together their shared history, their connection deepens, and their family begins to take shape.
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Sixties Scoop Survivors and the Working Together-Wijinokiwag Program facilitator for a discussion about how we can create a better future for all people.
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/truth-reconciliation-film-screening-birth-of-a-family-tickets-700351930477

Parklane Landscapes Free Native Plants event
2023-09-29 16:00 - 19:00 | 250 Matchedash St S, 250 Matchedash St S, Orillia, Ontario, L3V 0C4
Who doesn’t want FREE NATIVE PLANTS for their shoreline or garden?

SAVE THE DATE ALERT

September 29th from 4-7pm at our yard in Orillia, we will be hosting a complementary night thanks to @orilliamuseum & @parklanelandscapes.

Bring your family or friends to 250 Matchedash St, South.
Stay a little to collect your plants & mark it on our map.
OR stay for an evening full of fun;

FREE native plants
Rain garden workshop at 4:14
BBQ meal & Photo booth
Children’s activities & crafts

Want more info?
Contact us at 705-327-0064
www.parklanelandscapes.ca

Sustainable Orillia Urban Planning Walk
2023-09-30
First Session:- 9:30am
Second Session: 2:00pm
Gathering Location:- Mnjikaning Fish Weirs Historical Site, Bridge Street, by Blue Beacon Marina, Atherley

National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Walk
2023-09-30 13:00 - 15:00

OMAH Elevating Indigenous Voices Event
2023-09-30 13:30 - 14:00
This one hour presentation focuses on the work of Ziigwen Mixemong, an Anishinabek youth from Beausoleil First Nation. Performed by her mother, Kelly Brownbill, it will include excerpts from plays, poems and children’s books written by Ziigwen and Kelly that focus on the issues facing Indigenous people in our area, while underlining the importance of an ancient culture in our lives today.

Israelism Film Screening
2024-04-03 19:00 - 21:00 | St. Paul’s Centre, 62 Peter Street N, Orillia
This Wednesday, April 3rd at 7pm at St. Paul’s Centre. All are welcome, no registration required.
Media, stories, voice, and representation play a defining role in shaping public opinion, conditioning us to see the Palestine-Israel situation in radically different ways.
We are excited and hopeful about this opportunity to bring our community together in person to screen an award winning film produced by young Jewish filmmakers. Following the film we will engage in critical dialogue among our diverse community members regarding this important global issue.
While the situation in Gaza may seem like a far removed issue for many of us, it directly affects many in our community. Global events such as what we witness on the news nightly have very real-world implications for social and environmental justice here in Orillia and everywhere. We have an opportunity to unpack and oppose the forces of hatred, racism, oppression and bigotry in our own community and build a culture of dialogue, education, understanding, and care.
