Muskoka411 has gathered a list of where you can check out Easter egg hunts throughout the region:

Friday March 29

• Bracebridge Fairgrounds starting at 11am
• SWS, Minett and throughout Muskoka Lakes starting on Friday and runs all weekend – for more information check their Facebook page
• Ramara – details can be found here

Saturday March 30

• Hanna Park, Port Carling starting at 10am
• Downtown Orillia, starting at starting at 10am, for more information check their Facebook page
• Washago Community Centre, starting at 10am

Sunday March 31st

• Muskoka Heritage Place, Huntsville starting at 12pm
• Severn Bridge Fairgrounds, starting at 12pm
• Muskoka Wharf, Gravenhurst starting at 12pm

The post Here’s A List Of Easter Egg Hunts In Muskoka appeared first on Muskoka411.

We’ve compiled a list of where to find trivia nights throughout Muskoka, as we all know the in-between seasons can be lacking in terms of entertainment. Thankfully a number of restaurants, breweries, and pubs host trivia nights starting in the fall and running until the spring.

If there are any we have missed, please let us know!

Mondays

• Bracebridge Hall, Bracebridge (~Every two weeks)
• Frosty Pint, Gravenhurst (Weekly)

Tuesdays

• Bracebridge Barrelhouse, Bracebridge (Every other week)
• Sawdust City, Gravenhurst (Every other week)

Wednesdays

• Zoom Trivia hosted by Big Dumb Face Trivia (Weekly)

Thursdays

• Muskoka Brewery, Bracebridge (Weekly)
• Canvas Brewery, Huntsville (Weekly)

Sundays

• Bala Falls Pub, Bala (Weekly)

The post Discover Weekly Trivia Nights in Muskoka – Your Go-To Guide appeared first on Muskoka411.

Monday, June 6

Clinic location: GO-VAXX Bus – Allandale Recreation Centre, 190 Bayview Dr., Barrie

Time: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Clinic location: GO-VAXX Bus – Wasaga RecPlex, 1724 Mosely St., Wasaga Beach

Time: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. 

Tuesday, June 7

Clinic location: POP-UP Clinic – Penetanguishene Public Library, 24 Simcoe St., Penetanguishene

Time: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Wednesday, June 8  

Clinic location: GO-VAXX Bus – Bracebridge SportsPlex, 110 Clearbrook Trail, Bracebridge

Time: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

Thursday, June 9

Clinic location: GO-VAXX Bus – Innisfil ideaLab & Library, Lakeshore, 967 Innisfil Beach Rd., Innisfil

Time: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Saturday, June 11

Clinic location: GO-VAXX Bus – Midland North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre, 527 Len Self Blvd., Midland

Time: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Appointments for the GO-VAXX clinics may also be booked up to four days prior to the clinic through the  COVID-19 vaccination portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900.

The health unit continues to offer COVID-19 vaccinations on a walk-in and appointment basis at the Georgian Mall, 509 Bayfield St. (lower level) in Barrie Wednesdays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment only at its office immunization clinic locations in Midland, Orillia, Cookstown, Collingwood, Huntsville and Gravenhurst.Appointments can be booked through the vaccination portal or Contact Centre as listed above.

You may also receive the vaccine at many local pharmacies or booked appointments through some primary care providers, and Family Health Teams who are offering vaccine as part of their regular clinical practice. Pop-up and GO-VAXX mobile clinics will continue to be scheduled throughout Simcoe and Muskoka.

In addition, the COVID-19 Immunization Clinic at 29 Sperling Dr. in Barrie offers walk-ins and booked appointments from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Appointments may also be booked with the Couchiching Ontario Health Team Clinic located in the Orillia Soldier’s Memorial Hospital Kiwanis Building – West Entrance 170 Colborne St., W.

When attending a clinic, individuals are encouraged to dress for the weather as they may be required to wait outdoors before entering the clinic. They are also reminded to bring identification (e.g., health card, driver’s license, passport) a list of any medications they are taking, wear a loose-fitting shirt that allows easy access to the upper arm and bring any assistive devices as needed (e.g., scooter, wheelchair, cane). Please note, all persons attending a Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit community vaccination clinic will be required to wear a mask. Masks will be made available at the entrance to all our clinics.

For more information about how to prepare for an appointment and what to expect upon arrival at the clinic, please visit SMDHU’s COVID-19 pages at smdhu.org/GetVaccinated.

The post COVID-19 Pop-Up And Walk-In Vaccination Clinics Available In Simcoe Muskoka June 6 To 11 appeared first on Muskoka411.

Special weather statement issued for:
South River – Burk’s Falls
Western Algonquin Park – Lake of Two Rivers
Parry Sound – Muskoka
Haliburton
Bruce Peninsula – Sauble Beach – Tobermory

Showers and isolated thunderstorms will move across the region beginning Monday afternoon and continuing through Monday night into Tuesday.

There is some uncertainty with the track and timing of a low pressure system and associated cold front that will move across the area. Hence exact timing and total rainfall amounts are subject to change.

For information concerning flooding, please consult your local Conservation Authority or Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry office. Visit Ontario.ca/floods for the latest details.

Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ONstorm@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports using #ONStorm.

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The post Canada Has Some Of The Most Expensive Internet Prices In The World appeared first on Muskoka411.

The survey found that nearly nine in 10 Canadians (88 per cent) have used Interac e-Transfer. Canadians have relied on this product to move $338 billion over the past 12 months, and over $625 billion since the pandemic began, with 49 per cent indicating that they have increased their use in this period. More than half of users (56 per cent) leverage the service to split the cost of experiences with family and friends at least once a month. Interac transaction data validates this trend with Interac e-Transfer Request Money usage, a feature that facilitates the process of asking for money, growing by 126 per cent over the past 12 months.

“Canadians have long embraced Interac e-Transfer to send money, but recent rapid growth may demonstrate that the service has achieved a new relevance as Canadians return to the shared experiences that may have been out of reach in the earlier stages of the pandemic,” said Anurag Kar, AVP at Interac Corp. “While young Canadians might be eager to expand their social circles through these shared experiences, they’re often splitting the costs associated with them as a means of helping stay in control of their money and turning to Interac e-Transfer to do so.”

The survey found that seven in 10 Canadians (74 per cent) want to spend more time having fun experiences with friends and family after the intensity of the pandemic. They are looking forward to reunions with friends and family (70 per cent), upcoming birthdays and anniversaries (60 per cent) and travel (58 per cent). This trend is particularly visible among younger Canadians, with nearly two thirds of Gen Z (65 per cent) expressing the desire to engage in shared experiences to make new memories.

Key findings from the Interac survey:

• Climbing cost of living: All generations share a concern about inflation (80 per cent), with six in 10 Canadians (63 per cent) stating they are more cautious about their finances than ever before. Younger Canadians are more likely to say that high inflation has made splitting the cost of expenses essential (62 per cent of Gen Z vs. 44 per cent of Boomers).
• Living life to the fullest: Younger Canadians are also more likely to believe that splitting the cost of shared experiences with friends and family allows them to get more out of life while staying within their budget (67 per cent of Millennials vs. 49 per cent of Boomers).
• Creating connections: Seven in 10 Gen Z adults (70 per cent) say they missed out on important shared experiences with friends and family during the pandemic and want to make up for lost time. This cohort also would rather spend their money on experiences than material goods (55 per cent of Gen Z vs. 43 per cent of Boomers).
• It’s the little things: Smaller scale experiences we might once have taken for granted are a source of excitement for many Canadians, including meeting friends for a meal or drink (70 per cent), arts and cultural outings (38 per cent) and sporting events (34 per cent).
• Avoiding awkward conversations: Young Canadians prefer to pay their share as soon as possible to avoid an awkward conversation later (73 per cent of Millennials) and believe that using Interac e-Transfer is the simplest way to split the cost of experiences with others (69 per cent).

“Each generation is navigating the changing economic conditions, and we see the rising trend in Canadians, especially younger ones, using their own money for the simple joys of shared experiences with friends and family,” said William Keliehor, Chief Commercial Officer at Interac Corp. “The one billion transaction milestone shows the growing relevance of Interac products in the digital economy. Broadening access to payment options is a critical focus for us going forward so Canadians can have more choice to pay with their own funds.”

SOURCE Interac Corp.

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Last year, Canadian food banks saw an average of 1.3 million visits per month, with more than one-third of users being children, according to the 2021 Food Banks Canada Report. This was a 20 per cent increase in visits over 2019, before the pandemic.

“Hunger is a growing concern for many Canadians, with food banks across Canada experiencing an alarming surge in visits in recent years,” said John Ferguson, Purolator’s President and CEO. “Our employees, partners, agents and customers have been dedicated to tackling hunger in Canada for almost 20 years, and Purolator Tackle Hunger Month is a month-long effort focused on supporting those in need in our communities.”

How to support Purolator Tackle Hunger Month:

1. Make an online donation to Purolator Tackle Hunger® here, in support of Food Banks Canada. Purolator will match all donations up to $50,000 made during June.
2. Make a food or cash donation at any Purolator Shipping Centre.

Purolator employees are also doing their part to alleviate hunger, by hosting Purolator Tackle Hunger Red Bag campaigns and other fundraising events in June to raise food and funds for local food banks in their communities.

Purolator’s Red Bag campaign began in 2018, to expand the Purolator Tackle Hunger program and collect more food donations. Purolator Tackle Hunger volunteers distribute reusable Red Bags in their communities, collect the bags filled with non-perishable goods and deliver the contents to local food banks. Check Purolator’s website and social media channels for a list of upcoming Red Bag initiatives, or to find out how to host a local Red Bag Food Drive in your community.

SOURCE Purolator Inc.

The post National Purolator Tackle Hunger Month Campaign Kicks Off appeared first on Muskoka411.

“Many business owners find dealing with credit card fees unnecessarily confusing and it is almost impossible to compare rates between different processors. Small merchants have been bearing the cost of premium cards, while the industry restricts their right to surcharge or refuse those cards,” said Corinne Pohlmann, Senior Vice-President of National Affairs at CFIB. “The class action settlement is an important win for small businesses and any financial relief at this challenging time is welcome news.”

The portion of the settlement a business can receive depends on its size and average annual revenue. Small merchants with an annual revenue of less than $5 million may claim $30 per year they incurred merchant discount fees between 2001 and 2021, for a maximum total of $600. Businesses have until September 30 to register.

The pandemic has exacerbated the shift from cash payments to online or e-commerce tools, with 92% of businesses now accepting debit/credit cards as payment.

The accelerated growth in online payments and their associated costs have significantly impacted small firms throughout the pandemic. Due to pandemic-related lockdowns and restrictions, the use of cash plummeted as sales shifted to credit cards – particularly tap and more expensive e-commerce transactions.

Under the settlement, Mastercard and Visa will also modify their surcharging rules, allowing small businesses to choose to pass on their merchant credit card fees to customers. This change is expected to come in effect in October 2022.

“For more than a decade, CFIB has been fighting to ensure small businesses are treated fairly and transparently by the credit card industry. While very few merchants are expected to add surcharges for card acceptance, we believe the power to do so will give them additional clout in pushing back against future fee hikes,” said Dan Kelly, CFIB president.

In addition to these changes, CFIB is actively lobbying government to deliver on its 2021 election commitment to lower ongoing credit card processing fees for small business.

“With pressure on almost every line in a small business budget, further relief on payments processing fees is urgently needed,” Kelly concluded.

Find more information about the settlement, eligibility and how to claim a portion of the settlement, visit https://cfib.ca/classaction.

SOURCE Canadian Federation of Independent Business

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The organizations receiving funds this year include:

• Alzheimer Society Muskoka $1,500
• Muskoka Lawn Bowling Club $650
• Big Brothers Big Sisters Muskoka $1,500 • Muskoka Paddle Club $750
• Bracebridge Senior Citizens Centennial Club $1,000
• Muskoka Rowing Club $750
• Bracebridge United Church $1,000
• Safe Quiet Lakes $500
• Community YWCA of Muskoka $1,500

The Town of Bracebridge recognizes the valuable contributions being provided through non-profit organizations and other community groups on behalf of the citizens of Bracebridge. Community grants provided by the municipality demonstrate the Town’s on-going commitment to working with organizations that provide beneficial projects for the community.

Local community groups and non-profit organizations are invited to submit applications in the fall of each year for specific projects or one-time funding that benefit the residents of the Town of Bracebridge.

Keith Montgomery, member of the Bracebridge United Church said, “We are pleased to be able to put the funds from the Town towards renovations to our kitchen. These renovations are required in order for us to continue to offer the Out of the Cold Program.”

Deputy Mayor Rick Maloney thanked the recipient organizations for the contributions they make in the community and was happy to see the funding go toward the valuable projects and programs provided by these agencies, “Council is very pleased to support the work of these amazing groups in their contribution in making our community a better place in which to live. These agencies engage volunteers in meaningful ways to make positive impacts in Bracebridge and the surrounding area.”

Since its inception in 2009, the Town of Bracebridge has contributed over $100,000 to non-profit projects through the Community Grant Program.

The post Town Of Bracebridge Contributes To Non-Profit Projects Through Community Grants appeared first on Muskoka411.

Through the establishment of a Public Art Advisory Committee and a Public Art Policy in 2021, the Town of Bracebridge supports the placement of art throughout the community to increase the artistic richness of the municipality by making art a permanent part of the Town’s environment and a legacy for future generations.

The Request for Expressions of Interest for Public Art: Downtown Mural(s) at Norwood Theatre is open to all professional artists and the Town encourages local artists with experience creating outdoor murals to submit a proposal. The proposed theme for the mural(s) should reflect the spirit of the Bracebridge community with vibrant colours, bold exciting figures, patterns and/or shapes to depict historical and cultural fabric, local natural features, and/or lively performances within the local space.

The Public Art Advisory Committee has identified the Norwood Theatre as the future location for the commissioned mural(s). The Norwood Theatre, located at 106 Manitoba Street, is a compelling entrance to Bracebridge’s vibrant downtown that is home to festivals and events enjoyed by locals and visitors, the Bracebridge Farmers’ Market, Memorial Park Winter Village, and many unique businesses. The North facing wall of the theatre has sufficient space to accommodate one or more mural panels to enhance visual impact. The mural(s) will be an addition to the Town’s Public Art inventory and owned by the Town of Bracebridge.

The Request for EOI document with detailed proposal requirements is available at www.bracebridge.ca/bidsandtenders/. EOI proposals must be submitted by email to jclancy@bracebridge.ca on or before Friday, August 12, 2022, at 4:30 pm.

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