The reminder follows reports of a human case of West Nile virus in Simcoe County, along with five birds and one horse that tested positive for the virus. These findings indicate West Nile virus is circulating in the community. The health unit notes that more infections likely occur than are reported because many people contract the virus do not become ill or seek medical attention.

West Nile virus circulates between birds and some species of mosquitoes. People can become infected if bitten by a mosquito that has first bitten an infected bird.

The health unit recommends following these steps to prevent mosquito bites:

• Use an insect repellent approved for use in Canada and follow label instructions.
• Wear light-coloured clothing and cover exposed skin with long sleeves, long pants, socks and a hat when mosquitoes are present.
• Remove standing water around your home to reduce mosquito breeding sites.
• Make sure window and door screens are in good condition to help keep mosquitoes out.

Most people infected with West Nile virus do not get sick, but some can become seriously ill. Symptoms can include fever, muscle weakness, stiff neck, confusion, severe headache and sensitivity to light. Anyone with these symptoms should seek medical care.

The health unit monitors mosquitoes across Simcoe Muskoka through trapping, testing and larval checks during the summer. Local surveillance data is available on the health unit’s HealthSTATS Infectious Diseases and Insect and Animal Surveillance dashboards.

For more information about West Nile virus, visit smdhu.org/WNv.

The post West Nile Virus Still A Risk Into Fall, Health Unit Says appeared first on Muskoka411.

Taking place along Manitoba Street from Taylor Road to Ontario Street, the Autumn Art Market brings artists, makers, performers and community organizations together in the heart of downtown during one of Muskoka’s most beautiful fall weekends.

Visitors can explore artist booths, watch live demonstrations and plein-air painting, meet local authors, enjoy live music and performances, and discover the many shops, restaurants, galleries and businesses throughout Downtown Bracebridge. This year’s market will feature artists from Muskoka Arts & Crafts and the ANNEX Collective, the Rising
Star Youth Market, Muskoka Group of Artists and Muskoka Authors Association, along with performances by Muskoka Theatre and Muskoka School of Dance Arts. Live music and entertainment will continue throughout the day.

“The Autumn Art Market is a great opportunity to bring people downtown to experience the incredible creativity we have here in Muskoka while also exploring our local businesses,” says Lindsay Alexander, Chair of the Downtown Bracebridge BIA. “We’re excited to continue growing this event and to add the Art That Gives Back Chair Auction this year as another way to showcase local artists while supporting our community.”

New to this year’s event is the Art That Gives Back Chair Auction, featuring six handcrafted Muskoka chairs built by Community Builders’ Muskoka Training Centre trainees working alongside offenders at Beaver Creek Institution through the Second Chances Woodworking Program. Each chair was then transformed into a one-of-a-kind work of art by offenders participating in the program, bringing together craftsmanship, creativity and community giving.

Net proceeds from the auction will be donated to the South Muskoka Manna Food Bank. Online bidding opens Monday, September 21 at 9:00am and closes at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 26. All six chairs will be on display downtown during the Autumn Art Market, giving visitors an opportunity to see the artwork in person before placing their final bids. Details about the chairs and how to bid can be found at downtownbracebridge.com.

The Autumn Art Market is free to attend, and visitors are encouraged to spend the day exploring the market, enjoying the entertainment and experiencing Downtown Bracebridge during the fall season.

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On Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 5:15 p.m., Bracebridge OPP officers were dispatched to a break and enter that was in progress at a building located on McMurray Street near Quebec Street in Bracebridge.

The caller reported hearing items being broken and windows smashed. Officers attended the scene and located four young people inside the building and as a result of their investigation have charged four individuals.

Three Bracebridge youth aged 14, 15 and 16 years old and one 16-year-old Huntsville youth have each been charged with Break and Enter and Mischief.

They will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice – Youth Court- in Bracebridge on November 5, 2026 to answer to their charges. The accused’s identities are protected under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA).

The post Four Teenagers Charged After Break And Enter Incident In Bracebridge appeared first on Muskoka411.

On Monday, September 15, 2025, shortly after 12:00 p.m., the Bracebridge Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a report of a deceased person discovered in a remote area near Hardy Lake Road in Torrance. The deceased was identified as 25-year-old Tyler Penasse (also known as Tyler Pellerin-Penasse) of West Nipissing. His death was deemed a homicide.

On Friday, August 21, 2026, police announced a $50,000 reward offered by the Government of Ontario for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for Tyler Penasse’s death.

The same day, a billboard featuring the reward was installed along Highway 17 West between Cache Bay and Verner, where it is visible to eastbound traffic.

A photo of Tyler is not being shared at this time, in accordance with the family’s wishes.

The investigation is continuing by the Bracebridge OPP Crime Unit, under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service. Assistance is being provided by OPP’s Forensic Identification Services, and North East and Central Region crime units.

Investigators encourage anyone who was in the areas of Hardy Lake Road, Torrance, Bala, Wahta or Gravenhurst between Sunday, September 14, 2025, and Monday, September 15, 2025, or who may have information related to this investigation, to contact the dedicated OPP tipline at 1-833-941-5865. Should you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

The post Police Continue To Seek Public Assistance In Torrance Homicide Case appeared first on Muskoka411.

Partisan Politics in the Muskoka Municipal Election

I am writing this open letter to raise what I believe is an increasingly important issue in Muskoka: the growing role of organized partisan political influence in our municipal elections.

Let me be clear from the outset: my comments are not directed at any individual candidate. Anyone willing to put their name forward and commit four years to serving our community deserves our respect and appreciation. My concern is with the role of the Muskoka Lakes Association (MLA) in municipal politics.

From Information to Political Influence

For more than two decades, the MLA has provided members of the MLA with information about municipal candidates and their positions. Initially, the Association assessed all candidates and shared those assessments privately with its membership and only with its membership.

I participated in that process when I ran for council in 2010 and 2014.  During those years, though the entire process was controversial, they simply ranked all candidates and shared their rankings (1 to 5 star) for all candidates.  Again, they only shared this information with their members.

That changed in 2018 when the MLA moved toward endorsing specific candidates, rather than simply providing comparative information. By 2022, the Association was actively promoting its endorsed candidates through flyers distributed throughout Muskoka Lakes, telephone calls and door-to-door campaigning—including outreach in the GTA.

That represents a significant shift from informing members to influencing all voters in Muskoka to actively helping determine who gets elected.

When Does Advocacy Become Political Influence?

The MLA has every right to advocate for issues it believes are important. The concern arises when the same organization that endorses and helps elect candidates subsequently seeks to influence decisions made by those elected officials.

During my time as Mayor, I was personally approached on several occasions by members of the MLA executive and told, in substance, “we got you elected” and that, because the MLA represented thousands of voters, I should vote accordingly on certain issues.

I was not alone. Other councillors told me they had experienced similar pressure.

That raises a fundamental question:

When an organization works to elect a group of candidates and then expects those elected officials to support its positions, at what point does advocacy become partisan political influence?

A Recent Example

On September 2, 2026, the MLA sent a letter to one of its endorsed candidates, who also serves as Chair of the Planning Committee, thanking the Chair for deferring an update to the Township’s noise by-law because, in the MLA’s view, the proposed changes did not adequately address limiting daytime outdoor music at “tourist establishments.”

The MLA is entirely entitled to advocate for that position.

But the larger question is how municipal decisions are being influenced and whether Council is receiving balanced, independent information before making those decisions.

In this particular case, who conducted the surveys or information gathering? What methodology was used? Were other perspectives considered to help formulate the MLA’s opinion? These are important questions when Council is being asked to make decisions affecting the entire community.

When the organization that helped elect municipal officials subsequently approaches those same officials to advocate for a specific position, taxpayers are entitled to question the relationship.

Council Represents Everyone

The MLA is an important Muskoka organization with a long history of worthwhile community initiatives (Water quality, regattas, responsible taxation). My concern is not with those initiatives, nor with its right to advocate.  My concern is the Association’s expanding role in municipal politics.

A small group of MLA executives (3 or 4 people) determines which candidates receive its endorsement. The Association then uses its organizational resources to promote those candidates throughout the entire community.  Then through inference and threat, directs council on how to vote on topics these three or four individuals deem important.

Councillors and the Mayor are not representatives of the MLA. They are representatives of all of Muskoka Lakes.

They should be free to consider the facts, listen to all constituents, debate the issues and vote independently without undue influence.  Advocacy is part of democracy. Political influence over elected decision-making is a different matter.

Our Mayor and Council should be accountable first and foremost to the people of Muskoka Lakes—not to an association, its executive, or any organization that helped them get elected.

Municipal government works best when elected representatives make independent decisions in the best interests of the entire community. That independence is worth protecting.

The post PHIL HARDING: The Growing Role Of Organized Partisan Political Influence In Our Municipal Elections appeared first on Muskoka411.

The Ontario government is activating the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) program in specific areas of Billings, North Bay, Minden Hills and Muskoka Lakes that were affected by overland flooding from lakes, rivers, and creeks in April 2026. Residents, small businesses, farms and not-for-profit organizations in identified areas can now apply for financial support for damage caused by flooding that is not covered by insurance.

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“Receiving the Best Home Hardware Award for the Central Region is a
tremendous honour for our entire team,” said Rob Clark, Dealer-Owner. “For the
past 19 years, we’ve focused on creating a store where customers know
they’ll receive friendly, knowledgeable service and find what they need quickly
and easily. Our success comes from the dedication of our long-time staff, who
take pride in helping every customer and making each visit a positive
experience. This recognition belongs to them as much as it does to our loyal
customers, whose continued support has made this achievement possible. We are
incredibly grateful to be part of the Bracebridge community and proud to represent
Home Hardware.”

Bracebridge Home Hardware was one of 17 stores recognized with a Proud of My
Home Achievement Award. Recipients are recognized for excellence in customer
service, team performance, and store presentation, while playing an active role in
Dealer network initiatives.

“On behalf of everyone at Home Hardware Stores Limited, I’d like to congratulate
Bracebridge Home Hardware on this well-deserved recognition,” said Cory Hahn,
Territory Manager, Central Retail Operations, Home Hardware Stores Limited. “It is
inspiring to see Dealers like Rob and Kaija setting a high standard for customer
experience and store excellence. I look forward to their continued success, supported
by their hardworking team.”

The post Bracebridge Home Hardware Named Best Home Hardware In Central Canada appeared first on Muskoka411.

The award, presented at the EDAC Conference in Moncton, New Brunswick, recognizes projects that create or enhance physical assets and infrastructure that contribute to a community’s tourism appeal and long-term destination development.

The award recognizes the Town’s Bracebridge 150 Legacy Projects, an initiative that transformed the community’s 150-year anniversary from a year of celebration into a lasting investment in the community’s future. Rather than focusing exclusively on one-time events, the Town used the milestone as an opportunity to create permanent assets that enhance the visitor experience while providing meaningful benefits for residents.

The initiative included four complementary projects:

• Bracebridge 150 Forest – the creation of a new municipal parkland featuring 150 trees and expanded recreational opportunities;
• Memorial Park Bandshell – the replacement of the aging bandshell with a modern gathering space for concerts, festivals, community celebrations and cultural programming;
• Storybook Trail at Woodchester – new original storytelling, illustrations and public art creating an engaging, family-friendly attraction; and the
• Heritage Walking Trail – renewed interpretive signage along the downtown waterfront, encouraging residents and visitors to explore Bracebridge’s history and heritage.

The Town’s approach demonstrates how milestone anniversaries can create opportunities for communities to invest in their long-term future. By connecting parks, trails, heritage, recreation, culture and public gathering spaces under one legacy vision, the projects create a network of experiences that encourage residents and visitors to explore different areas of the community.

These projects were developed and delivered through collaboration across the Town, with contributions from municipal staff, Council, the Downtown Bracebridge Business Improvement Area, Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce, tourism organizations, local businesses, artists, contractors, sponsors, service clubs and volunteers. The EDAC Destination Development Award is a reflection of this collective effort from everyone who helped make Bracebridge 150 a meaningful celebration with a lasting legacy.

The post Bracebridge 150 Legacy Projects Receive National Recognition  appeared first on Muskoka411.

On August 13, 2026, Bracebridge OPP officers responded to a report of a theft that had occurred on Saturday, July 11, 2026. The victim reported that their credit card had been stolen while they were shopping at a Bracebridge grocery store and then used at various retail locations.

Police were able to gather surveillance footage and are asking members of the public to call if they are able to identify the suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to call Bracebridge OPP at 1-888-310-1122. If you remain wish to remain anonymous, you may reach out to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or crimestopperssdm.com. Incident number for reference is E261167352.

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