On Monday, March 2, 2026, Bracebridge OPP began investigating a dangerous situation that occurred at a fuel station located on Muskoka Road South in Gravenhurst on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at 6:40 p.m. Three individuals, older teens or young adults, arrived, two of whom were pushing a black vehicle toward the gas pump and when they got close to the pump, one person began dispensing gas into the vehicle. Another person in the group attempted to light the fuel on fire, as it was being dispensed, and was successful, causing a considerable fire to start on the vehicle. The quick-thinking attendant shut the fuel off to the gas pump and arrived with a fire extinguisher.

This incident was quite dangerous and had the potential to cause significant harm as well as property damage.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call Bracebridge OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or if you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.crimestopperssdm.com.

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Stagwell partners with The Globe and Mail to unveil the research at event bringing together Canadian journalists and industry leaders for discussions around the importance of investing in news advertising

Stagwell, the challenger network built to transform marketing, today released new research in partnership with The Globe and Mail, highlighting a major opportunity for brands to connect with a valuable yet often overlooked audience: Canadian news junkies.

Key Findings Include:

• 22% of Canadians are ‘news junkies,’ checking the news an average of five times per day and reading an average of 8.8 news articles per day.
• An even larger share, 71%, are news readers, reading an average of 6.5 news articles/stories per day.
• Canadians are just as likely to follow news as they are sports (22% vs. 21%, respectively).
• Canadians are more likely to follow news (22%) than they are entertainment (14%).
• No brand safety issues were detected among key demographic groups for advertisers, including Gen Z, moms, high earners and university-educated adults.
• Among Gen Z, the average purchase intent for brands whose ads were placed next to news articles on domestic political content was 61%, compared to 59% for sports and 61% for crime—differences that are statistically insignificant.
• Among high earners, the average purchase intent for brands whose ads were placed next to news articles on global politics was 65%, compared to 69% for business, and 64% for entertainment—differences that are also statistically insignificant.

This latest study, conducted by Stagwell’s research consultancy HarrisX, builds on Stagwell’s Future of News initiative, prior U.S. and U.K News Advertising studies, and research into how CEOs and board directors view news media as a powerful advertising tool.

“As we expand our brand safety research to Canada, the message remains clear: advertisers shouldn’t avoid news—they should embrace it. Trusted news delivers engaged audiences and stronger returns worldwide,” said Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO of Stagwell.

“We’re proud to partner with Stagwell to bring the Future of News initiative to Canada. This research underscores the essential role of news media in upholding a healthy democracy, while also offering brands a trusted environment to build meaningful engagement with Canadians,” shared Andrew Saunders, President and CEO, The Globe and Mail.

Stagwell and The Globe and Mail will explore these findings and more at the Future of News Canada Summit today.

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“This is devastating. Devastating for these media workers. Devastating for local news. Devastating for the communities who depend on that local news and devastating for the fabric of our democracy,” says Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “The horrible irony of this announcement happening on World Democracy Day only deepens our awareness of what this loss will mean. As a former journalist myself, it’s days like these that weigh heavy on my heart and mind.”

Metroland Media provided no notice of the layoffs to the local union. Local leadership are learning the details as multiple, separate statements are issued from the company.

“We are disgusted and deeply offended by this news and the way in which it has been shared with the union and its members,” said Carleen Finch, President of Local 87-M. “We have been in weekly meetings with Metroland and weren’t even given the benefit of a conversation before these voice memos and emails started landing in workers’ inboxes.”

The announcement comes on the heels of four months of union-company discussions to merge 13 collective agreements into one agreement with concessions designed to help keep the operation running. The company is in violation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOA) it signed with the union on May 9, 2023 which stipulates there will be no loss of bargaining unit jobs up to and including December 31, 2023.

In addition to the loss of jobs, members have been notified that anyone on a voluntary departure agreement will see their severance payments end today, and post-retirement benefits will end effective September 30.

“This announcement will throw some families into a desperate situation,” said Finch. “We are determined as a union to help workers navigate their next steps, especially in light of the cruel and careless way the employer has dumped this on their laps.”

Unifor continues to promote local news as something corporations and governments must work together to protect and strengthen. The union supported the implementation of Bill C-18, designed to take a share of the massive revenues generated on social media platforms by Canadian news content and put it back into the news organizations that produce it.

Unifor represents 104 of the workers who were notified that yesterday’s paper would be the last and that their employment will end today.

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector and represents 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

The post Metroland Media Betrays Workers And Communities With Local News Cuts appeared first on Muskoka411.

With the adoption of the Online News Act (Bill C-18), the CRTC is sharing its plan for setting up the bargaining framework for fair negotiations between news organizations in Canada and the largest online platforms.

The CRTC will launch a public consultation this fall to gather views. All comments received will form part of the public record and inform the CRTC’s decision. Everyone who is interested should check out the CRTC’s plan and participate in the upcoming consultation.

• The CRTC will:
  • oversee negotiations once the bargaining framework is in place; and
  • publish an annual report prepared by an independent auditor on its website on the impact of the Online News Act.

• Learn more about the CRTC’s regulatory plan
• Statement by the CRTC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Vicky Eatrides, on the Online News Act

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Informing Canadians About Changes To Local News

No News Is Bad News For Canada: CAJ Urges Meta, Google, Government, And News Organizations To Uphold The Public’s Right To Know

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You might not be aware of this, but the way you get your news in Canada is going to change, and it’s changing fast, right before your eyes.

The Federal Government has passed Bill C-18, the Online News Act. This bill will make it increasingly difficult for you to find out what’s going on in your community. You will no longer be able to find your favourite news outlets on Facebook, Instagram and Google. If there’s something big happening in your community, you will not be able to “Google it” or check Facebook for trustworthy news sources.

The government claims the bill “introduces a new bargaining framework intended to support news businesses to secure fair compensation when their news content is made available by dominant digital news intermediaries and generates economic gain.” Simply put, the bill will require companies like Google and Meta to pay Canadian news outlets for distributing articles and other news content on their platforms.

The way the bill is written will make it impossible for local online news outlets to be financially feasible. We were hoping that the Federal Government would work with Google and Meta to come up with a plan that everyone involved could work with. That didn’t happen, and today we find ourselves dealing with the full removal of all news from Facebook, Instagram and Google. That’s why Google and Meta are fighting back.

We want to be very clear: we do not want or need any government intervention. Our businesses are flourishing in the social media environment the way things are right now. We hope that the government and these companies can work together to come up with a solution so we can be left alone to operate our business as we see fit.

Here’s what we do for you that you won’t see anymore: Traffic, road closures, fire bans, severe weather alerts, threats to public safety, active police incidents, small business advertising, local sports and community organizations, community barbecues and events, fundraisers and local feel-good stories that we enjoy writing and you enjoy reading, etc.

If there’s a particular news outlet that you enjoy, please subscribe to their mailing list to ensure you don’t miss out on local news. You can contact your local MP and ask them to work with Google and Meta to find a solution. You can also contact the minister responsible for the bill, Pablo Rodriguez, at pablo.rodriguez@parl.gc.ca.

We are already feeling the impact of Bill C-18 with some popular online news outlets having their content removed from view in Canada. We were told this was not going to happen until at least the end of the year, but it’s already happening.

Please join our team and do your part so that Canadians can continue to enjoy local news. If you are unable to see any local news content, please report it to Google and Meta.

Thank you,

Click Here to sign up for our daily newsletter

The post Informing Canadians About Changes To Local News appeared first on Muskoka411.

1. Huntsville Brain Injury Specialist Appointed To Order Of Ontario After 30 Years Working In Rehabilitation

Huntsville brain injury specialist and Brainworks founder Arden McGregor was appointed to the Order of Ontario in January this year. I spoke to her about how she got started in rehabilitation and what it’s like to be honoured for doing what she loves everyday.

Huntsville Brain Injury Specialist Appointed To Order Of Ontario After 30 Years Working In Rehabilitation

2. Muskoka Musicians Work To Keep The Magic Of Music Alive As Pandemic Cripples Industry

With concerts, festivals and other events on hold for months on end, the music industry was hit hard by the pandemic. I spoke with locals in the industry about what it was like to keep the magic of music alive during the restrictions.

Muskoka Musicians Work To Keep The Magic Of Music Alive As Pandemic Cripples Industry

3. Local Artist To Paint Mural At Andy’s House To Thank Community For Support During Cancer Treatment

Artist Kimberly Rideout went through months of hell with an out-of-the-blue cancer diagnosis, intensive chemo and a major surgery. To thank the community for their support throughout her health issues, she decided to donate a mural to Andy’s House, a hospice facility in Port Carling.

Local Artist To Paint Mural At Andy’s House To Thank Community For Support During Cancer Treatment

4. Blowing Glass And Breaking Barriers: Female Glassblower Reflects On Career Through Writing

Bracebridge artist Kathy Ashby spent nearly four decades blowing glass and breaking barriers for women in a male-dominated industry. Though her days of glassblowing are behind her, she continues to inspire women, young and old, through her writing.

Blowing Glass And Breaking Barriers: Female Glassblower Reflects On Career Through Writing

5. Bracebridge Falls To Light Up Blue For Apraxia Awareness On May 14

Bracebridge Falls lit up blue on May 14 to raise awareness for apraxia, a rare neurological disorder that impacts a person’s ability to speak. I spoke with Bracebridge resident Jody Hamilton about her five-year-old son Nash and how apraxia has affected his life.

Bracebridge Falls To Light Up Blue For Apraxia Awareness On May 14

6. Orillia Youth Centre Awards Nelson Bell Bursary To First-Ever Recipient

The Orillia Youth Centre awarded Grade 12 student Ty Arends with the first-ever Nelson Bell Bursary on May 8, marking the first of many bursaries to support local youth on the autism spectrum. I connected with Ty, Nelson’s family and Kevin from the youth centre to talk about the milestone.

Orillia Youth Centre Awards Nelson Bell Bursary To First-Ever Recipient

7. The Past, Present And Future Of The Balacade

The Balacade was a community hub for decades, so when the previous owners Paul and Patricia Arney decided to sell, I connected with them and the new owners to talk about the history of the business as well as plans for the future.

The Past, Present And Future Of The Balacade

8. Local Business Owner Donates $50,000 To Woodland Cultural Centre’s Save The Evidence Campaign

Leonard Montour, a local business owner and member of Wahta First Nation, raised $50,000 for Woodland Cultural Centre’s Save the Evidence campaign, providing one of the campaign’s largest individual donations to date. I spoke to him about his donation as well as his plans to continue fundraising until he reaches $100,000.

Local Business Owner Donates $50,000 To Woodland Cultural Centre’s Save The Evidence Campaign

9. Mary Lake Marathon Raises Over $27,000 For Port Sydney Girl Facing Upcoming Surgery

Port Sydney resident Robin Mounsteven launched the first-ever Mary Lake Marathon this October. The marathon raised $27,000 for his neighbour and friend Scarlett Seymour, a three-year-old who was born with multiple organs on the outside of her body.

Mary Lake Marathon Raises Over $27,000 For Port Sydney Girl Facing Upcoming Surgery

10. Ribbons At Bracebridge Falls Removed In Preparation For Community Quilt Project

The community came together this fall to tie thousands of orange ribbons at Bracebridge Falls in honour of the Indigenous people who lost their lives at residential schools. The ribbons came down in October so that they could be made into a commemorative quilt.

Ribbons At Bracebridge Falls Removed In Preparation For Community Quilt Project

Thanks for reading about my top 10 stories of 2021, and thank you to all my sources and readers for a great year of stories. Happy New Year and have a wonderful 2022, Muskoka!

The post News Director Maddie Binning’s Top 10 Stories Of 2021 appeared first on Muskoka411.

Munro said Westwind successfully sought support from the province to explore new ideas around utilizing local wood supply that has no current market due to its lower comparative value to prime saw logs accepted by the area’s mills. “The future is bright. Right now, we have an ideal opportunity to improve our forest management, identify efficiencies, and build new businesses,” says Munro.

According to Norman Miller, local MPP, forestry plays an integral role in supporting the area’s economy and communities. “I’m pleased Westwind is taking the initiative to pursue innovative solutions. Ontario has a forest management system that is world- renowned. Investments like this will help keep us on the leading edge.”

Westwind (a not-for-profit, community-based company that holds the Sustainable Forest License for the French-Severn Forest) received $22,500 from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund through their Northern Community Capacity Building Program. Westwind plans to use and distribute underutilized low-end fibre from candidate locations along the Highway 69 corridor, in partnership with Indigenous communities and others.

According to Munro, markets for this type of wood have been slow. “Even though we’re well located in proximity to high density populations, it’s tough to get a new business up and running – it’s very competitive. This funding will help us get ahead.”

Westwind also received matching funds for this project from FedNor, the Government of Canada’s economic development organization for Northern Ontario.

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The Public Health Agency of Canada would like to spend a moment discussing another critical way that we can all continue to protect those we love during the pandemic — by focussing our media and digital literacy skills to counter misinformation. The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated that accurate and timely information is key to saving lives. Throughout the pandemic we have relied on technology and information-sharing platforms to keep us safe, informed, and connected. At the same time, these platforms have contributed to an overabundance of information — an infodemic — that worsens the current pandemic by allowing false information to circulate more easily, hampering public health responses, creating confusion and distrust, and ultimately, making it more difficult for people to make vital decisions about their health and safety.

Infodemics are not new. We have seen them throughout history whenever major disease outbreaks have occurred. However, in a year that has been especially difficult for many of us, Public Health Agency of Canada is increasingly concerned about the number of false and misleading claims related to COVID-19 that make it more difficult for Canadians to determine fact from fiction and make informed decisions. So how do we make sense of what we see, hear and read?

It is not an easy task to keep up with what feels like an avalanche of new information everyday. News and advice from public health officials necessarily changes and evolves quickly, making it difficult at times for Canadians to stay on top of the latest information. As well, Canadians have been asked to remain physically distant, and so we are understandably spending more time “plugged in” to our devices and on social media at a time when the amount of misinformation on digital platforms is increasing. This is why it is so important that we equip ourselves to recognize misinformation when we see it and ensure that that we have tools to find the facts and make informed decisions.

A good place to start is by first acknowledging that misinformation is everywhere online, and anyone can be vulnerable to it. It is also important that we distinguish between misinformation — false information, that is not created with the intention of hurting others — and disinformation, an extreme type of misinformation created with the intention of causing harm. During this pandemic, disinformation has been used to try to erode social cohesion, our trust in each other, our communities, and even our public health institutions.

The real danger is that some of us may stumble upon disinformation and, believing it is true, share it with our loved ones. This contributes to the spread of misinformation and makes it more difficult for us to tease out what’s true and what’s not. It is this spread of misinformation that the Public Health Agency of Canada would like all Canadians to be on alert for — and to PAUSE and carefully CHECK information before you share so that we can break the misinformation chain.

If something you are reading seems alarming, take a pause. Check the source to verify. Be aware that some sources sharing disinformation may be purposefully designed to look like legitimate public health sites and may even have false logos or references. Before sharing, try to “retrace your steps” to ensure that the information originated from a trusted party. Try checking to see if the information can be validated by other legitimate sources, like the Government of Canada’s or the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 websites, from provincial and territorial health ministry sites, or from local public health units or other trusted institutions like universities or health organizations. Finally, consider what the majority of experts are saying over what one or two individuals may have to say.

Thankfully, there are many other tools to help us navigate this infodemic. Private companies, governments and researchers around the world are currently working to address the spread of misinformation. Sites like SPOTFakeNews.ca and social media accounts like ScienceUpFirst have resources to help Canadians identify and misinformation and take action to remove it. Organizations like MediaSmarts have resources for parents, children and teachers to help introduce media literacy concepts for children. The Public Health Agency of Canada has also been encouraged by the efforts made by Facebook, Google, YouTube and Twitter to reduce the volume of misinformation on their platforms.

Just as we have all taken steps to stop the spread of COVID-19, we all have an active role to play in navigating and responding to misinformation. For example, studies show that we are less able to recognize misinformation when we are feeling anxious or scared, and so disinformation aims to explicitly evoke these emotions. Research also shows that we often do not click on headlines to fully read an article before we share it onward. It is no surprise then to learn that disinformation is created with misleading, but official looking, headlines. Individuals can become aware of these tactics and tendencies in order to more vigilantly defend against the spread of misinformation. If you come across misinformation, report it on the social media platform where you see it, speak empathetically with friends and family members about why something is untrue and share sources of accurate information instead. Being aware and prepared to navigate information is essential to ensure that we can plank both the epidemic and infodemic curves.

Public health professionals are dedicated to empowering people to make informed decisions about their health, based on the best available scientific data available at the time. The novel nature of the SARS CoV-2 virus has meant that science and decision-making emerge in real time, as the pandemic continues to evolve. We know this has caused confusion at times, making it more difficult for people to tell good information from bad.

And as the situation in Canada and globally continues to evolve, the Public Health Agency of Canada will continue to share new evidence and data with Canadians so that you can continue to protect your health and stay safe.  Currently we are seeing a steady decline in COVID-19 infections in Canada however, the Chief Medical Officers and I remain concerned about the emergence of a number of SARS-CoV-2 variants in the provinces across the country. Although it is normal for variants to emerge as viruses continuously evolve, these are considered “variants of concern” because they are known to spread more easily, may cause more severe illness and current COVID-19 vaccines may be less effective against them. This is why we need to maintain the strictest vigilance in our public health measures and individual practices. Together these measures will help to prevent these variants from reaccelerating the epidemic and making it much more difficult to control.

One of the great qualities of Canadians is that we take care of each other and we take our responsibilities toward each other seriously. Today the Public Health Agency of Canada is asking you to think twice about the materials you read and share. Remember, when we share information on social media, we have a responsibility to each other, and to all of the people who will read it. Let’s make sure that what we are sharing is accurate and from a trusted source. People’s lives depend on it. Together we can plank the infodemic curve.

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