The Gravenhurst Fire Department hosted its Annual Graduation and Recognition Evening last night. 

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“When we started this in 2018, our goal was really quite simple—we wanted to extend summer,” said Allan Lafontaine, Executive Director of the Orillia & District Chamber of Commerce. “At the time, we were averaging only about 30% occupancy at the Port over Labour Day weekend. I was new at the Chamber and fortunate to sit down with Bob Brown from Thor Motors, John Ward from Country Produce and John Tselikis from Theo’s. I told them about this crazy idea to bring pirates to the Port, and they immediately stepped up to help get the fundraising started.”

Lafontaine credits the community for turning the idea into reality. Then-Chamber President Peggy Foley and the Chamber Executive gave the project the green light, while Bill Ecklund of Home Hardware agreed to build the plank for the inaugural Walk the Plank fundraiser. Businesses and community organizations quickly joined the effort as sponsors and supporters.

“This is one of the things that makes Orillia special,” said Lafontaine. “The community simply came together.”

From an Idea to a Labour Day Tradition

Another critical piece of the event came when Lafontaine met Tom Hurlbut of the Simcoe Squadron at a pirate event in Penetanguishene.

“Meeting Tom was really the spark that made the magic happen,” said Lafontaine. “Without Tom Hurlbut, this event simply wouldn’t have been as special. He helped turn an event into an experience.”   Hurlbut an Orillia resident, has been doing naval re-enactments for years and this has been an opportunity to bring so many from across Canada to participate in the weekend event.  Even though the Pirates we portray are a made up Johnny Depp version, there are many parts of the late 1600’s golden age of the Caribbean Pirates that ring true to the uniforms, boats and cannons used in the weekend fun.

The first Pirate Party in 2018 helped increase Port occupancy to approximately 65%, with boaters and visitors beginning to embrace the pirate theme. Being a municipal election year, the Walk the Plank quickly became a centrepiece of the weekend, with politicians and community personalities taking the plunge while raising money for the Rotary Aqua Theatre through the Rotary Club of Orillia.

In 2019, MD Marine became a major sponsor of the Chamber’s summer events, providing additional resources to expand the Pirate Party. That year, the Port sold out its slips for the weekend and Couchiching Beach Park filled with boaters, residents and visitors dressed as pirates—with even four-legged pirates joining the fun.

“We knew then that we had something,” Lafontaine said. “By 2021, we had waiting lists for slips and Pirate Party had become one of those weekends boaters planned their summer around, much like Christmas in June.”

Three Days of Free Entertainment

The 2026 celebration kicks off Friday evening with The Mudmen performing at 8 p.m. at the Port of Orillia, followed by Pirates of the Caribbean at 9 p.m. at the Rotary Aqua Theatre.

Saturday features pirate entertainment throughout the day, including epic land and sea battles. At 4 p.m., 14 registered participants will Walk the Plank at the Rotary Aqua Theatre in support of Rotary’s continued involvement with the historic facility.

The Rotary Club of Orillia built the Aqua Theatre in 1958 and subsequently turned it over to the City of Orillia. The Club has remained passionate about its future, including funding accessibility planning and supporting musical programming at the facility.

Saturday evening continues with The Fat Tony Band at 8 p.m.

Pirate activity continues throughout Sunday, including the final land battle in Couchiching Beach Park and another battle on the water, before The Orangeman takes the stage at 8 p.m. to close out the weekend.

A Community Effort

MD Marine continues to play a major role in supporting the event, while Peacock Tariff Consulting is providing music support this year.

The Chamber is also grateful for the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming through the Experience Ontario Program, as well as the City of Orillia through its Special Events Grant. This support helps make it possible to deliver the Pirate Party and continue bringing free entertainment and activities to the community each Labour Day weekend.

The Chamber also recognizes that the Pirate Party would not be possible without the ongoing support of its entire membership.

“Every Chamber member plays a role in making our festivals and events possible,” said Lafontaine. “Through their membership, sponsorships and participation, our businesses invest in activities that bring people into our community. We encourage everyone attending Pirate Party to visit orillia.com, discover a Chamber member and support the businesses that support our community.”

Downtown Orillia is also participating in the celebration, with the downtown street closure returning for a second year and DOMB taking over the downtown treasure hunt for free family fun all day Saturday.

All scheduled music and entertainment at Pirate Party is free to the public. This year, Pirate Party buttons will also be available by donation, with proceeds helping the event continue to grow.

The Chamber looks at Labour Day weekend as an opportunity for our businesses and organizations to give something back to the people who work, live and visit here,” said Lafontaine. “It’s our opportunity to say thank you to the community for being the sunshine in the Sunshine City.   It also gives hotels, shops and restaurants one more weekend to earn income before the fall and winter sets in. ”

The weekend includes considerably more music, pirate entertainment, battles and activities than can be listed here.

For the complete 2026 Port of Orillia Pirate Party schedule, visit:
orillia.com/pirate-party/

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The Township of Muskoka Lakes (“Township”) is moving into the next phase of the Hanna Park Playground Rehabilitation project, with the final playground design now complete and construction scheduled to begin September 14, at which time the playground will be closed until further notice. The surrounding area of Hanna Park will remain open.

The final design follows more than a year of community engagement, independent playground inspections and expert review. On July 29, 2026, Council increased the project budget from $261,300 to $561,300 to support a larger playground that more closely reflects the character and play value of the existing playground.

To fund this increase, Council approved temporarily reallocating funding from the 2026 Wharf Concrete Repair Project. The wharf project will now be considered through the 2027 Capital Budget to proceed in Spring 2027, remaining on track to be completed before the 2027 summer season (see Staff Report for more information).

Working with Earthscape, staff have finalized a design that carries forward many of the features the community values about the existing playground, including timber towers, connected and elevated play, climbing features, slides, swings and plenty of opportunities for imaginative play.

Meaningful pieces of the existing playground will also continue into the new space. Wood in good condition will be repurposed for the picket fence surrounding the new sand play area, alongside the existing commemorative family name plaques.

Final Design

Click here to view in more detail.

Legend

1. Timber Tower 2
2. Traverse Rings
3. Log Tangle 4.1
4. Junior Tower
5. Sand Pit (with diggers) & Commemorative Family Name Picket Fence
6. Log Pile 2.1
7. Triple Bay Swing Set (Combination of: Bay Tot Swing (2), All-User Swing (1) and Belt Swings (3)

The above links will redirect to Earthscapes website.

Explore the final design in more detail on the Township’s Hanna Park Playground Rehabilitation project page, via engagemuskokalakes.ca.

Celebrating 25+ Years of Play, With Many More to Come

For more than 25 years, the Hanna Park Playground has been a place to climb, explore, imagine and make memories. Before construction begins on the new playground, we want to make time to celebrate everything this special place has meant to generations of families, while looking forward to all that’s still to come.

Join us on Friday, September 11, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. for an afternoon at Hanna Park. Bring your family and friends, enjoy some time on the playground, revisit favourite memories and explore the final design for this next chapter of play.

The Township’s Manager of Parks, Recreation and Facilities, Corey Moore will be in attendance to discuss the new design and what’s ahead for Hanna Park. Complimentary ice cream sandwiches, popsicles and refreshments will be available for everyone to enjoy.

Hanna Park Playground: A Community Event
Date: Friday, September 11, 2026
Time: 4:00 p.m. (Remarks & Group Photo at 4:45 p.m.)
Location: Hanna Park (40 Bailey St., Port Carling)

Whether you grew up playing here, bring your children or grandchildren today, helped build the original playground or simply enjoy spending time at Hanna Park, everyone is welcome to join us.

Carrying the Legacy Forward: Family name plaques and wood in good condition from the existing playground will be carefully repurposed as part of the fence surrounding the new sand play area. If your family has a name plaque and you would prefer to keep it, please contact communications@muskokalakes.ca or 705-765-3156.

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The expansion builds on FlixBus’ continued growth in Canada, where the company is adding new destinations and increasing connectivity across its intercity network.The service linking Toronto with Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville and South River, with onward service to North Bay, is now being extended beyond its original seasonal schedule. The move to year-round service reflects the value of the pilot and the shared commitment of FlixBus and Explorers’ Edge to developing reliable, car-free access to rural Ontario.

The evolution from a seasonal pilot to year-round service provides a meaningful indication of the route’s potential and the strength of the partnership behind it.

“This is exactly what a successful pilot should do: help partners learn, demonstrate what is possible and create the confidence to take the next step,” said James Murphy, CEO of Explorers’ Edge. “Moving from seasonal to year-round service is a significant development for our communities and for travellers looking for an easier way to experience this part of Ontario.”

As part of the expanded relationship, Explorers’ Edge has also entered into a corporate client agreement with FlixBus. The agreement enables the regional tourism organization to purchase FlixBus tickets for travellers participating in tourism programs offered through its TICO-licensed travel service, The Great Canadian Wilderness.

This represents an important progression from providing transportation access to creating a more connected visitor journey.

Rather than requiring travellers to coordinate transportation, accommodations, and experiences independently across multiple platforms, Explorers’ Edge can begin bringing those components together through bookable tourism programs. The objective is straightforward: make getting here part of the experience, not a barrier to it.

“The bus ticket is one component of a much larger journey,” Murphy added. “The opportunity is to connect transportation with a great place to stay, something memorable to do and a simple way to experience the destination. When those pieces work together, rural travel becomes accessible to people who may never have considered visiting without their own vehicle.”

Explorers’ Edge is already developing and selling visitor experiences through The Great Canadian Wilderness. The FlixBus agreement positions the organization to connect scheduled transportation with future packages featuring accommodations and experiences such as Indigenous tourism, golf, cycling, culinary offerings and the natural landscape.

“Extending this route year-round is a direct response to demand and makes it easier for more people to experience the region. Muskoka and communities across Northern Ontario have always had a lot to offer visitors. The barrier has often been getting there. By working with Explorers’ Edge to connect transportation with visitor experiences, we can help people discover the region without a car and turn a bus ticket into a reason to travel,” said Karina Frayter, head of communications for Flix North America. The year-round route will also generate further insight into how scheduled transportation can support the visitor economy outside the traditional summer travel period. For Explorers’ Edge, improved access during fall, winter, and spring supports its broader work to encourage year-round visitation and create economic opportunities for tourism businesses throughout the area.

“This collaboration is about looking at the full consumer journey,” said Murphy. “It is no longer simply about having a bus arrive in our communities. It is about what happens next, where that visitor stays, what they experience and how we make the entire journey easier to discover, purchase, and enjoy.”

This agreement gives Explorers’ Edge access to the FlixBus booking platform and supports streamlined ticket booking and delivery for travellers participating in its tourism programs.

Explorers’ Edge and FlixBus will continue working together to promote the year-round service, connect transportation with bookable visitor experiences and identify further opportunities to strengthen car-free travel into and throughout The Great Canadian Wilderness.

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Town and District Councillor, former Coldwell Banker brokerage owner and 35-year Huntsville resident brings business experience, municipal knowledge and a practical record to the mayor’s race.

Scott Morrison has announced his campaign for Mayor of Huntsville, saying the town needs proven leadership to manage growth, protect what residents value, and keep Huntsville moving in the right direction.

Morrison brings a rare combination of experience to the race: 35 years living and working in Huntsville, service as a Town and District Councillor, and the business background to build practical strategies and manage budgets responsibly. He says Huntsville needs leadership with the relationships to get things done, the commitment to involve residents before decisions are made, and the experience to manage growth, tourism, housing, services and affordability.

His doctor recruitment plan is one example. When thousands of Huntsville-area residents were expected to be without a family doctor, Morrison brought forward and led a local recruitment initiative with a clear goal: attract 10 new family doctors in four years. Nine have already been recruited in just two years, with a tenth expected soon.

“That did not happen because we waited for someone else to solve the problem,” said Morrison. “It happened because I brought forward a clear plan, built support around it, and

worked with others to help make it happen. We found responsible funding and stayed focused on results. That is the approach I will bring to the mayor’s office.”

“Huntsville is growing quickly, and that growth has to be managed carefully,” said Morrison. “We can support a strong local economy, welcome visitors and still make sure decisions work for the people who live here year-round. This is my home, and I care about getting that balance right.”

As mayor, Morrison says his focus would be on the priorities residents feel every day: responsible growth, health care, housing, downtown revitalization, recreation, infrastructure, affordability and a more open, accountable Town Hall. He says Huntsville needs leadership that does more than identify the issues — it needs specific plans, strong relationships and the discipline to follow through.

“I believe Huntsville’s best days are ahead,” said Morrison. “With the right leadership, we can welcome growth, protect what makes this community special, and deliver results people can see and feel.”

More information about Scott Morrison’s campaign and platform is available at scottmorrison.ca.

Contact Scott at scott@scottmorrison.ca or 705-783-8199

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“This will be the most robust season we’ve planned since before Covid,” says Laura Kennedy, president of the nonprofit group. “Including our winter matinees, we’re planning 15 films over 22 screenings plus Geordie’s new series where he’ll share how these classics have influenced cinema and continue to inspire filmmakers. We’re also working hard to have more special guest appearances at our regular screenings.”

The regular season opens with Once Upon A Time In A Cinema on Monday, September 14th at 7pm. This Irish dramedy set in 1985 shows in real time how a beleaguered cinema owner’s worst Friday night becomes his crowning moment of glory when a packed show descends into chaos and unites the community.

The following week features the first movie in the Filmmakers Favourites series on Wednesday, September 23rd at 7pm, an Italian cinematic tour de force. Both films are love letters to the in-person movie theatre experience and how it inspires and unites communities – a theme perfectly aligned with Reel Alternatives’ mandate.

Closing out the month on Monday, September 28th is The Christophers starring the great Ian McKellen in Oscar winner Steven Soderbergh’s witty chamber comedy about art, commerce, and avarice.

Tickets for all films are available for $10 online at reelalternativeshuntsville.ca or algonquintheatre.ca, at the door or by calling the Algonquin Theatre box office at 705-789-4975. Reel Alternatives Huntsville gratefully acknowledges their partnership with Film Circuit, presented by the Toronto International Film Festival, and its sponsors and supporters.

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“To address the illegal drug and overdose crisis effectively, Canadians should have access to a range of supports. That is exactly what the City of Orillia is offering. Through its new Community Connection Hub, people who use opioids and struggle with complex mental health and addiction challenges can access the care and services they need and deserve under one roof,” said the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health.

“Health Canada’s investment has enabled the creation of a shared community space that brings services together and makes them easier to access,” said Pamela Hillier, Executive Director of Community Connection. “The Community Connection Hub strengthens collaboration among service providers and helps ensure community members can access support more seamlessly.”

The project was made possible through a successful grant application developed by City of Orillia staff, following opportunities identified several years ago by the City’s Addictions and Overdose Crisis Working Group. Community Connection serves as the project lead, overseeing the development and operation of the Hub on behalf of the City of Orillia.

The Hub is located in a shared, co-located space where partner organizations can meet with clients, deliver services, and collaborate in real time. It offers in-person, low-barrier access through a no-wrong-door approach—no appointments or referrals required—and provides warm handoffs to partner services. The Hub will also pilot digital tools with partner organizations to better share client information and coordinate care.

No single organization can address the complex needs of vulnerable individuals alone. While our community benefits from a broad network of services and program-specific navigators, the system remains fragmented. Program-specific navigators often work independently, with limited mechanisms for securely sharing information, coordinating support, or reducing duplication of effort.

For many people facing multiple and interconnected challenges, navigating these services can be overwhelming. When several organizations are involved, individuals are often left to coordinate their own care and retell their stories multiple times. The challenge is not a lack of navigation services, but a lack of connected navigation. The Community Connection Hub was created to bridge that gap by bringing organizations together around the needs of the people they serve.

The Community Connection Hub reflects a collaborative effort among local service providers, Community Connection, Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, CMHA Simcoe County, the City of Orillia and Health Canada to improve access to community-based supports for residents.

Located at 250 West Street North, Unit 11, the Hub is now open. Visit https://communityconnection.ca/orillia-cc-hub/ for current hours and details.

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