It sure doesn’t feel like the shortest month of the year considering everything we have packed into February!
We have some big industry achievements to celebrate, another new site joining our Village and some impactful continuing coverage of a story affecting a number of our communities.
Village moves 💫
Welcome to our newest Villagers:
Niagara-on-the-Lake Local sales contractor Joy Sanguedolce
BayToday account executive James Dahlke
We are also welcoming back some familiar faces:
Simcoe County feature writers Marg. Bruineman and Gisele Winton-Sarvis
Sudbury.com account executive Ginette Ayotte
Best of luck!👏
Village wins (twice!) at the Canadian Online Publishing Awards 🎉
A big congratulations to the InnisfilToday and BarrieToday teams who were both winners at this year's Canadian Online Publishing Awards!
InnisfilToday took home Gold and BarrieToday won Silver in the Best Daily News/Sports Coverage category for their coverage of the two South Simcoe police officers who were killed in the line of duty.
While it was certainly a very difficult task to take on, they did an incredible job of covering the tragedy and its impact on their community.
Oakville News joins our Village 👋
Our Village has grown again! OakvilleNews.org has joined our network of local news sites, providing it with the support and resources to ensure its long-term sustainability.
Oakville News was created with the goal of providing its hometown with independent journalism that helps strengthen the community, celebrate the achievements of residents and hold local government to account.
We are excited to continue that mission by bolstering the site’s news coverage to deliver even more timely, accurate and reliable local headlines to the community.
Nominations are open for our first CBA of 2024! 🚀
Our first Community Builder Awards event of 2024 is in full swing!
Nominations are now open for the OrilliaMatters awards program, which celebrates the outstanding contributions of individuals and organizations who are working to make Orillia a better place. From innovative programs to inspiring initiatives to simple acts of generosity and positivity, the Community Builders Awards recognize those who have made a significant difference in the lives of others.
If you know a community builder in the Orillia and Lake Country community, nominate them today! Nominations close on March 8.
Exclusive reporting continues to unravel Gen7 legal drama
SooToday’s James Hopkin continues his exclusive reporting on Glenn Page, the non-Indigenous businessman who allegedly used stolen funds to build the Gen7 chain of gas stations in First Nations communities across Ontario. As James first revealed, Page is now the subject of an OPP investigation that centres around missing records. A court has also slapped him with an order that freezes his worldwide assets amid accusations of fraud and misrepresentation.
Stay tuned.
ICYMI: “I feel hugged by my whole community!” We surprised an Elora changemaker with a Random Act of Kindness
A cheering group of over 40 people gathered with EloraFergusToday to celebrate Stephanie Lines-Toohill and her impact on the community.
Stephanie was overjoyed, saying: “I feel hugged by my whole community! The room was full of people - people who I love, some of whom I hadn’t seen for years. I am still fighting back tears!”
Stephanie is the founder of Sparrow's Nest, an inclusive arts space housed at Elora Centre for the Arts (ECFTA) where she runs classes for adults with mixed abilities, teens and young children.
“I always think that kindness and care are the best tools we have for building our community,” Stephanie shared. “Regardless of the age gap, everyone who comes to Sparrow's Nest is on one another’s team. So this recognition isn’t just for me, it’s for them, too.”
Read more about Stephanie and her motivation to give back to her community.
✨ Spotlight on sponsorships ✨
We partnered with over a dozen community organizations in February, including:
BarrieToday
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Barrie and District
BurlingtonToday
VR Pro Race Series
CollingwoodToday
Home Horizons
EloraFergusToday
Curl for a Cause
FlamboroughToday
Healthy Youth Network
GuelphToday
Guelph Dance
HaltonHillsToday
VR Pro Race Series
LongmontLeader
Inn from the Cold
NewmarketToday
Coldest Night of the Year
OrilliaMatters
Hospice Orillia, OSMH Foundation
SooToday
Bon Soo Winter Carnival, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charity Hockey Tournament
Village Media
Benefit Show - Family Entertainment for a Great Cause
There are 18 new jobs posted for our Village
We have open opportunities in 10 different communities in Ontario. Check it out.
Pawesome Villager of the month 🐾
Meet Friendly! 🐾
Friendly loves cashews, playing fetch for HOURS and sleeping in.
Proud pet parent: Dennis Houle
See you in March!
