Arts, food and family fun is on the agenda for this year’s Kempenfest. In its 43rd year, Kempenfest (www.kempenfest.com) is bringing everything you know and more: handmade pottery, propane tanks turned planters, and a ferris wheel at the midway. “We have added misting stands in Centennial park,” said Amanda Dyke, assistant for Kempenfest. “They had…
Life is a bowl of cherries. For Josephine Boos, it’s a backyard full and she’s using Barrie’s FruitShare program to share the wealth. The purpose of FruitShare Barrie is to provide a system to help homeowners like Boos who have an abundance of produce while benefitting local charities. When discussing her life and the history…
Famous pop stars are coming to Barrie — or at least their look-alikes. Celsk Benefit Promotions is hosting a live tribute to Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, and One Direction in support of Barrie Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Big Brothers Big Sisters Barrie and District has been serving children in the community for 44 years.…
Georgian College in Barrie is recruiting new families to host incoming international students this fall. With more than 300 students arriving in Barrie in September, Georgian College is looking for at least 50 homestay host families. “It’s a really popular program,” said Sharon Burkhart of Georgian College. “It’s much more than providing room and board.…
Let your senses guide you. Without sight, that is. Barrie Visions Gala is hosting this custom event for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB). “Dining in the Dark is an incredible event that’s all about igniting the senses,” said Diane Woolfrey, chairwoman of the Visions Gala steering committee. To start the evening, Barrie…
Walking into Biinoojinsauk Child Care Centre in Barrie, the smell of maple syrup reminds you of your carefree childhood. The organized chaos, the din of children’s excited voices — there is no question the children are enjoying themselves. One child left his toys and ran up to the door of the play area to say…
Pancakes, music and goodwill are on the menu at Saturday’s pancake breakfast. Rev. Kirsty Hunter is using her personal experiences of the Calgary Stampede’s spirit to raise money for victims of the devastating flood that hit southern Alberta in mid-June. Saturday’s fundraiser is Hunter’s labour of love: she was born in Calgary and moved to…
Seventy years ago, only 1% to 10% of people who experienced a spinal cord injury survived past their first year out of the hospital. Today, life expectancy for those who have sustained a spinal cord injury is between 85% and 90%. Kim Demberline, peer connections co-ordinator with the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Ontario office in…
AIDS activists, feminists and legal experts gathered outside a Barrie courthouse on Monday to protest what they say is the unjust treatment of Jennifer Murphy. Murphy is on trial after she was charged with aggravated sexual assault for allegedly having sex with three men without disclosing her HIV status. Read more here