which were executed between April 30 and May 1 led to the seizure of more than 2,000 grams of cocaine and more than 100 grams of fentanyl valued at more than $192,000 The investigation was launched in the fall of 2024 by officers from the Nottawasaga detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police and resulted in search warrants being carried out in Barrie A drug trafficking investigation that began in 2024 has led to the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of nearly $200,000 worth of drugs A 37-year-old from Orangeville and a 32-year-old from Barrie are both facing drug-trafficking and drug possession charges The investigation continues and anyone with information is asked to call Nottawasaga OPP at 1-888-310-1122 Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account BarrieNewsAsphalt plant in Mono Ont. closed following evening fire By Julianna BalsamoPublished: April 29, 2025 at 12:45PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved Sign in Join now, it's FREE! have been charged in connection to a drug-trafficking investigation the Nottawasaga OPP Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU) entered into a drug-trafficking investigation. Between April 30 and May 1 police say search warrants were executed in Barrie More than 2,000 grams of cocaine and more than 100 grams of fentanyl None of the allegations have been tested in court.  Both accused were held for a bail court at the Ontario Court of Justice in Barrie Units that assisted with the searches and the arrests that followed include the provincial ROPE Unit the Central Region emergency response team Anyone with information that may assist investigators is asked to call Nottawasaga OPP at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online at www.crimestopperssdm.com More Spotlight > Looking for something to do in the community Here's what's going on in Orangeville this weekend Here’s what’s going on in Orangeville this weekend Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event For a full list of events please visit our Events This Weekend page This story was automatically generated using data from the CitySpark events platform We are not responsible or liable for errors and omissions in the event description please contact the event organizer for additional information The Torstar Open Data Team produces articles using data and automation beach water quality reports and election results The team is Lucas Timmons and Cody Gault with support from the Star and Metroland’s editorial and technical teams Submitted photo-note-a section of this photo has been altered due to graphic nature the Wyoming County Dispatch Center received a radio message from a Warsaw Police Officer that the officer was in pursuit of a Blue BMW westbound on West Buffalo Street (Route 20A) in the Village of Warsaw the officer radioed the Dispatch Center that the vehicle had crashed on Route 20A in the Town of Orangeville The Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene along with the New York State Police There was one vehicle with heavy damage in the middle of Route 20A and the BMW had crashed off the south side of the roadway and was on fire The Warsaw Officer and Sheriff’s Deputies were able to knock the fire down with extinguishers and pull the driver from the vehicle The vehicle in the middle of the roadway was struck head-on by the BMW when the BMW lost control around a curve was critically injured and transported to ECMC by ambulance was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Wyoming County Coroner died from his injuries ashort time later at the Wyoming County Community Hospital The investigation is ongoing by the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office regarding the accident and the possibility of the BMW being a stolen vehicle The New York State Attorney General’s Office is involved in the investigation per New York State Executive Law which requires them to investigate anytime there is a civilian death resulting from a police incident Additional Agencies that assisted at the scene were: The Warsaw Police Department Wyoming County Emergency Services and Wyoming County Ambulance Service and site URL in my browser for next time I post a comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" BarrieNewsNearly $200K of cocaine, fentanyl seized in drug trafficking investigationBy Mike LangPublished: May 04, 2025 at 10:20AM EDT in addition to thunderstorms and strong winds 'Very strong wind gusts can damage buildings down trees and blow large vehicles off the road.' “Very strong wind gusts can damage buildings down trees and blow large vehicles off the road.” The Orangeville area is under a severe thunderstorm watch as a line of storms moves across Ontario today (April 29) “Conditions are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms that may be capable of producing damaging wind gusts and large hail,” Environment and Climate Change Canada said in a press release which have also been included in the alert “A cold front moving through the area is expected to trigger severe thunderstorms this afternoon,” the weather agency said “Large hail can damage property and cause injury Very strong wind gusts can damage buildings Wind gusts as high as 110 km/h are anticipated in some areas There is also the potential for tornado activity although the lead time can be less than 10 minutes Take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches There isn’t a place outside that is safe during a thunderstorm You can check your local weather report at weather.gc.ca, or download the WeatherCAN app to get alerts to your smartphone Emergency Management Ontario recommends that you take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches Continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ONstorm@ec.gc.ca or post reports on X using #ONStorm For more information visit ontario.ca/page/be-prepared-emergency Home improvement reality shows have viewers glued to their screens in record numbers As people decide to stay put and improve their biggest investment An Orangeville father and daughter team are among the “contestants” in the Corus original Renovation Resort Season 2 Led by personalities like King Township’s Scott McGillivray and Bryan Baeumler transforming a waterfront property into a stunning The duo “scoured” North America to find four talented contractor-designer duos who will go head-to-head in the ultimate real estate renovation competition battling over eight weeks to create breathtaking Each team must push their creativity and skills to the limit crafting properties that shine in every season.  joined by a lineup of special guest judges to critique every bold design choice A game-changing $100,000 prize and the coveted title of Renovation Resort Champions Orangeville’s Hollie and Graham Laird have rolled up their sleeves and jumped into the competition Hollie grew up visiting her dad on construction sites and running around in the back of the family flooring store when she landed a gig in the big city with a real estate developer after university But feeling stifled creatively in her position and then seeing her dad juggle all elements of being a self-employed contractor she had an epiphany over dinner one night: why not join forces partnering with her dad and able to unleash her design passion every single day Graham moved to Canada when he was a young boy he launched a small flooring business at the young age of 21 which expanded alongside his growing family he continued taking on small home renovation projects he stepped away from retail and focused solely on renovations Always passionate about building a family business it was a no-brainer to partner up with Hollie each renovation isn’t just about solving puzzles or delighting clients – it’s a shared journey with his daughter Their journey together as a family spans Hollie’s entire life While their shared stubbornness and generational differences lead to some head-butting on-site Through dad jokes and an unwavering love and respect for one another They want this opportunity to face an even more extreme challenge together but also to demonstrate that working with family can be fun “Working together with Hollie on Renovation Resort was one of the great joys of my life,” Graham said “Getting to spend so much time with Hollie and watching her vision come to life right before my eyes was truly a gift but I learned what I thought I already knew –– my daughter is not only up to the challenge Hollie noted the duo knows each other so well “We have been working together for a long time so we know how each other operates,” she said It was amazing to see what my dad is capable of accomplishing Age is not a factor; he works harder than anyone I know and inspires me to do the same and to never give up!” The teams are tasked with designing their own vacation home The designs really reflect their characters and tried and true elements Graham noted that people’s tastes are so varied and individual But he says one of the most traditional elements is paying attention to how people move through a space “Good design allows people to move organically through a home.” “anything goes” but having a clear design plan ensures your space is truly unique to you while not sacrificing functionality “I think it’s important when starting with a blank slate that you incorporate something vintage or personal so that the home starts to feel connected to you I find drawing inspiration from different time periods inspires a good balance of modern and nostalgic She also believes that homes feel most “individual” when you move away from matching sets Having variety in your pieces (and patterns) makes a home feel collected Given the shortage of skilled trades in Ontario shows like Renovation Resort just may light a spark for some considering the industry “I believe a show like Renovation Resort encourages people to create And one of the steps in creating is learning a skill or two I feel this show encourages young people to take the necessary steps to get into this industry,” Graham says Hollie agrees and says this show does a great job of representing all sides of a project – the wins “It’s not easy to build something from scratch but it is so rewarding when you do It would be great if this show would encourage more families to consider working together patience goes a long way when you’re working with family!” The rising cost of materials has impacted homeowners when carrying out renovations Hollie says many homeowners are living in their spaces longer than they would like “A lot of our clients have had their same kitchen for 10-20 plus years before they give us a call High material prices can unfortunately discourage homeowners from investing in better quality materials.” but people continue to invest and maintain their biggest asset – their home The uncertainty of the housing market is definitely encouraging homeowners to renovate their existing spaces “Renovating gives homeowners a chance to improve the functionality and value of their home with a comparatively lower price tag,” said Hollie Committing to a home long-term does have an upside Graham points out – taking advantage of the situation to personalize their home and make it their own Check out Resort Renovation to see how this dynamic duo fares in the competition Please note: Comment moderation is enabled and may delay your comment By Sam Odrowski With warmer weather comes the return of outdoor events in Orangeville the outdoor Orangeville Farmers’ Market will return .. 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By Sam Odrowski A naturopathic doctor celebrated the grand opening of her own practice in Orangeville earlier this month By Mark Pavilons Home improvement reality shows have viewers glued to their screens in record numbers As people decide to stay put and improve their .. By Sam Odrowski After first announcing a cybersecurity incident on Feb the Town of Orangeville has returned to normal operations with all services back .. By JAMES MATTHEWS The federal government needs to designate soil as a strategic national asset That’s according to a 2024 report called Critical Ground: Why .. Check our map for live results as polls close across the province Follow Metroland’s coverage of the 2025 Ontario election and check the map for live results Thursday night when polls close (9 p.m.) across the province The provincial government announced last week that it is expanding “strong mayor” powers to 169 municipalities across Ontario The powers allow mayors to hire and fire municipal staff and veto bylaws or approve budgets with only one-third support instead of majority rule While some mayors have welcomed the expansion of these powers many are labelling the move as “undemocratic” and have publicly voiced their concerns Orangeville Mayor Lisa Post is among those troubled by the province’s announcement “One of my biggest concerns is that while I’m a mayor who believes in democracy believes in the power of my council and believes in the collaborative approach that we’ve taken to decision making… it could be dangerous in the wrong hands,” she told the Citizen “Who’s to say who the mayor is going to be eventually I think that it poses a real potential long term negative impact on our community and communities across Ontario.”  Mayor Post also noted issues strong mayor powers can pose for staffing “We’ve seen these powers being utilized in some municipalities to unilaterally hire and fire senior staff without council’s input and that makes staff very uneasy… Is their job safe or can the mayor just walk in and fire them one day “Finding public servants to work in the municipal sector is already challenging concern and angst onto it is problematic.” Strong mayor powers were first rolled out in 2022 for Toronto and Ottawa to tackle Ontario’s housing crisis They’ve since gradually spread across Ontario with nearly half of all municipalities to have the powers after May 1 When strong mayor powers were first announced Mayor Post wrote a paper on their potential dangers while studying at Humber Polytechnic (formerly known as Humber College) for a Community Development Degree “It’s absolutely not my intent to utilize these powers,” Mayor Post said “When I look through the outline of having these powers I don’t see a time where I would utilize them.” One of her biggest areas of concern is the idea of consolidating power into the hands of one individual and those seven people have been voted in by the residents of this area to represent their best interests All seven of us on council have different lived experiences “When you give the mayor the authority to veto a decision of council She said it’s problematic because the council members overridden by strong mayor powers likely voted on a particular issue based on conversations they had with the people they represent “When you consolidate the power into the hands of one individual… it takes away not only the voices of council but the voices of residents,” said Mayor Post after the strong mayor announcement was made by the province Mayor Post noted her concerns and affirmed her belief in democracy “Our council has accomplished great things together through thoughtful dialogue I have no intention of changing that dynamic,” reads the statement are simply another tool in the toolbox –– one that will never replace the importance of teamwork and mutual respect and one that should only be used responsibly and only when it aligns with the values we all hold dear.” The Citizen asked Mayor Post to elaborate on how strong mayor powers are another “tool in the toolbox” or when they might provide benefit to a municipality She responded that she could potentially see the purpose for them when they were tied to housing starts “If you did have a council that was constantly rejecting development opportunities and really doing negative damage to a community by not allowing any housing starts perhaps it could be beneficial in that case,” she told the Citizen I don’t know that – I still believe in democracy and I believe in collaboration so I’m not even certain that I fully support that being one of the targets.” Mayor Post noted that research into strong mayor powers shows no correlation between the powers and housing starts “Their initial intent of trying to link it to housing starts is not working,” she said Mayor Post was also critical of the fact that many of the 169 municipalities set to receive strong mayor powers never asked for them Any municipality in Ontario that has six councillors or more has been granted the powers “I had no idea that these [powers] were coming until I received notification from the province that I was one of the recipients of it We had no previous dialogue with them or expectation that this was happening,” Mayor Post said She noted one of the “less damaging” aspects of the strong mayor powers is the ability for mayors to create committees and appoint chairs of committees “I don’t think that’s a dangerous tool to have,” she noted “It’s something that kind of already happens at the beginning of a council term I’ll send forward my ideas of what our committees should be and who should be chairs of them because I don’t want to appoint anybody to a portfolio that they don’t want “It also allows the mayor to bring forward and present the budget I’ve got a great team who I already collaborate with at the town to create the initial first draft of the budget and then it comes to council for deliberation Mayor Post said she’s seen some mayor use the powers to bring forward council’s priorities instead of the priorities of a municipality’s staff when that becomes an issue the staff works with council already to create the budget in a way that drives forward our values and our strategic priorities so I can see the benefits to that in some areas,” she noted Orangeville Mayor Post says in her statement that strong mayor powers will not alter her approach to the leadership and she’ll remain focused on building a “strong Dufferin Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers responded to a fire at a homeless encampment in Orangeville last Friday (Jan Dufferin OPP responded to a fully engulfed homeless encampment near First Street Orangeville Fire Services were able to put out the flames and confirm there were no safety concerns Dufferin OPP said it would like to thank the multiple members of the public who placed calls to emergency services in relation to this fire.  With cold weather posing many risks to homeless people through the winter they are encouraged to attend the Out of the Cold run by Choices Shelter and Support Services at 20 Town Line on any evening where temperatures fall below -5°C This program partners with the County of Dufferin and the Town of Orangeville to try and assist in providing shelter to encourage people living unhoused to come inside Participants of the Out of the Cold program are provided with a bed They also have access to showers and laundry A local community meal and outreach program is providing a beacon of light and hope to individuals in need provides a free lunch to anyone who steps through its doors It also provides a space for individuals to connect and find support with roughly 30 people accessing it on any given day the program not only addresses physical hunger but guides people to a better place while providing companionship and a sense of community “We try to stand in the gap and give a meal to build a bridge into their lives as we build friendship and trust and care with them We connect them as well to the different organizations and things around the community that can support them,” said Pastor Matthew McLean The Lighthouse served over 8,300 meals in 2024 at an average cost of $9.26 per meal While the free meal program has been offered through the Uptown Church since the early 2000s the Lighthouse in its current form was founded around 15 years ago the program expanded to offer meals on multiple days of the week While some of the Lighthouse’s regular patrons are people struggling to make ends meet or grappling with loneliness suffer from addictions or have poor mental health Pastor Matt grew up in the Orangeville area but moved to Quebec and lived there for 18 years “I just felt called back to this region and area he learned about the church’s soup kitchen The organization’s goal is to look after people’s body that’s great,” said Pastor Matt about feeding the community we’re not going to be a help to them at all [spiritually] With the Lighthouse operating as a faith-based not-for-profit organization Pastor Matt shares his faith with patrons and leads a prayer before each meal and those who access food aren’t pressured to participate in the prayer or attend a church service we’re here to meet people with the basic needs of life “If they’re wanting to or willing to We have Bible studies and other things but none of that is obligatory.” “We just want to walk alongside people and love them,” he added Emergency assistance in the form of essential items like clothing toiletries and non-perishable food is offered through the Lighthouse to people in immediate need In addition to providing a free community meal and emergency assistance takes out groups of program participants to walk the property “Teen Ranch has allowed me to take groups there and pet the horses and that’s where we’ve had major breakthroughs of trust and care,” he said “Many of the people we serve don’t leave Orangeville They never get outside the area because that would involve money but I’m just saying a majority don’t leave Dufferin County.” Working with patrons of the Lighthouse has been an incredibly rewarding experience for Pastor Matt particularly when he’s able to help them get to a better place mentally “It’s a privilege to get to know their stories,” he told the Citizen You get way further in one day than you did in two years.” “That’s not to say the two years of doing this was not worth it – it was he said it becomes easier to connect Lighthouse patrons with social services in the community “We’ve seen people get off the streets and into places where they’re secure with housing and food,” Pastor Matt said During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when Orangeville was without a homeless shelter for men the Lighthouse partnered with Teen Ranch to help get six unhoused individuals off the street were particularly difficult for some of the vulnerable people the Lighthouse serves “Some of our patrons passed away during COVID from different things but what they’re dealing with,” Pastor Matt said “We serve people with addictions and just vulnerable people with mental health issues and different things.” Some of the local organizations that the Lighthouse directs its patrons to include the Salvation Army which operates out of the Edelbrock Centre (30 Centre Street) can connect people with resources that help get them off the streets recently fell on hard times but got to a better place thanks to the Lighthouse “He hit some financial problems right at age 80 and then everything fell out,” Pastor Matt recalled “He spent half a year coming here and using the facilities for what we’re set up for.” Dan was able to get back on his feet with the help of the Lighthouse you made a difference in my life when I needed somebody to be there Pastor Matt said Dan recently got engaged and is looking forward to his marriage “It’s amazing when we see that,” he told the Citizen we’re the only ones that know their names in this community,” Pastor Matt said “That’s not because people wouldn’t try don’t care but these individuals are very quiet and withdrawn They maybe suffer with depression or different things.” The generosity of local businesses towards the Lighthouse over the years has been astounding He said the Lighthouse has never run out of food and that is thanks to the support of the community and Déjà vu Diner are some of the businesses that regularly provide food donations to ensure the community meal is successful “It’s a big collective effort here that has made [the Lighthouse] possible because we’re doing it on a shoe string budget,” Pastor Matt explained he said the community support has been amazing “We live in a pretty special place,” Pastor Matt said “It’s not the Orangeville necessarily it’s changed… but it has the same sense of community and togetherness.” The Lighthouse has 20 volunteers but is always looking for more Anyone interested in learning about volunteering opportunities can call 519-942-0736 monetary or food donations are always welcomed and needed at the Lighthouse Gift cards for local grocery stores or places like Tim Hortons and McDonalds are handed out to patrons and work great as a donation If anyone encounters a homeless or vulnerable person on the streets and doesn’t know what to do and then we’ll send them to the county or connect them with somebody We’ll figure out where they’re at and it all starts with the meal community – it all happens around tables,” Pastor Matt smiled generating nearly 7,000 pounds of food and over $2,500 Volunteers collected non-perishable food and cash at local grocery stores The Orangeville Lions Club had a strong contingent of members out collecting food for the duration of the day “We are incredibly appreciative of the support we received during our Springalicious food drive this past weekend,” said Carrie-Anne DeCaprio outreach manager at the Orangeville Food Bank “A heartfelt thank you goes out to the grocery stores for letting us set up at their entrances as well as to the volunteers and community partners who joyfully and energetically engaged with the public throughout the day “We also extend our gratitude to the community members who generously donated food and financial contributions at each location This food drive plays a crucial role in ensuring we have a diverse selection of food available on our shelves to serve the growing number of individuals seeking our support.” The Orangeville Food Bank continues to see an increase in demand from the community The food bank recently issued a monthly community update with statistics It shows that the food bank served 1,449 individuals in March 2025 compared to 1,402 in March 2024 It also showed that only 27,966 pounds of food came into the Orangeville Food Bank last month compared to 50,524 pounds of food that went out “While the month-over-month increase isn’t as significant as we’ve seen in the past it’s concerning that the food coming in is only about half of what is going out,” the Orangeville Food Bank noted in its March 2025 Monthly Community Update The next opportunity for the community to come together in support of the Orangeville Food Bank is Mayor Lisa Post’s #RootedInCommunity Food Drive The community came together in significant numbers to fight homelessness and food insecurity in Dufferin County over the weekend The Coldest Night of the Year returned to the Orangeville Food Bank on Saturday “The spirit of generosity and community was on full display during this year’s Coldest Night of the Year or as we like to call it at the food bank We are thrilled to announce that the event was a grand success thanks to the incredible support of our 513 walkers photographers and staff,” said Carrie-Anne DeCaprio donor engagement and outreach manager at the Orangeville Food Bank and teams to raise awareness and crucial funds for the Orangeville Food Bank which provides vital support to those experiencing hunger Donations continue to be accepted until March 31 there’s still an opportuity to add to the food bank’s fundraising total “Every dollar raised will go towards essential services that help our most vulnerable community members,” DeCaprio noted The top 10 individual fundraisers this year Wild West Wednesdays and the Rotary Club of Orangeville “We are beyond grateful for the outpouring of generosity from our community,” said DeCaprio “The funds raised will have a lasting impact on those facing food insecurity in our community and we encourage anyone who still wishes to donate to do so before the end of March.” To make a donation, please visit en.cnoy.org/location/orangeville and click “donate direct” or contact Carrie-Anne DeCaprio by phone at 226-558-2109 or email at carrie-anne.decaprio@orangevillefoodbank.org for making this year’s Coldest Night of the Year an overwhelming success,” said DeCaprio It was April 1975 at the Orangeville Arena Close to 1,500 fans packed the stands to watch the Orangeville Stone Crushers and a team from Milton battle it out for the provincial Juvenile A hockey championship The final series was a best-of-seven event with the first team to win four games to become the provincial champions.  The Stone Crushers won the final game 6-1 and became a part of local sports history The series was held at the Orangeville Sports Complex which opened in 1972 and was renamed the Tony Rose Memorial Sports Centre in 1991 The remaining members of the Stone Crushers gathered at Pia’s on Broadway in Orangeville on Saturday to reminisce and celebrate the achievement that took place exactly half a century ago.  The Stone Crushers had a stellar run that year they had a series of playoffs to get through to make it to the provincial championships “This is the 50th anniversary of the win,” explained Roy Bryan we won the All-Ontario Juvenile A Championship some of these guys at the reunion have spread out all over the ice would have been taken out of the arena in April but they kept it in for us because we kept winning more fans came out to the games and packed the arena “We played teams all over and all the way down to Windsor,” said former Stone Crushers goalie Mike Robinson and then we had four or five rounds of playoffs The final was a best-of-seven series and we won it in six games We were called the Stone Crushers because Lockyer Brothers Ltd. was a sand and gravel construction company and they were our main sponsor It was a close series all the way through until the final game.” there were 1,400 fans packed into the arena with standing room only The win placed the Stone Crushers in the record books and gave the Town of Orangeville some local sports heroes.  BarrieNewsFire destroys Orangeville homeless encampment By Cheryl BrownePublished: January 15, 2025 at 7:17AM EST Food insecurity and affordable housing are two issues impacting more people in Dufferin County and communities across Canada than ever before To help offset the growing demand for social services the 8th Annual Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) fundraising walk is returning to Orangeville on Feb Proceeds from the event support the Orangeville Food Bank which saw 1,529 people (615 families) in December last year “We’ve never seen that many people before,” said the food bank’s executive director Heather Hayes who previously told the Citizen she saw just 380 monthly visitors when first joining the organization in 2015 and we expect to see another increase this year – 15 to 20 per cent – and that’s optimistic if the tariffs impact people in manufacturing and that sort of thing.” “We have a lot of local plants around us that this will have a trickledown effect on and lots of families don’t have wiggle room in their budget to even miss a paycheque.” at the Orangeville Food Bank (5 Commerce Rd. Chainsaw carving artist Jim Menken will be on site carving ice sculptures and creative burn barrels will be set up to keep attendees warm there will be opening remarks and the send-off is slated for 5 p.m walkers will complete either two-kilometre or five-kilometre routes there will be a light meal and participants will receive send-off goodie bags The Orangeville Food Bank’s fundraising goal is $200,000 this year “We need 90 teams in order to make that a reality and we’re at about 68 teams right now,” said Hayes “That’s one of the ways that people can support us putting together a team of your family and friends and walking the 2k or 5k route in support of the food bank That’s the big way that we raise funds.” CNOY in Orangeville had 375 walkers registered as of press time but Hayes said 550 are needed to hit the fundraising goal She’s hopeful this target will be reached when the event takes place on Feb Hayes noted the importance of supporting systemic changes to the food system so events like CNOY and her organization are no longer needed “Every time somebody walks into the food bank and we continue to fail people as a province – that a million Ontarians need food banks,” Hayes said There’s enough food in Canada that people should be well fed But until we get to a better distribution system or until a level of government recognizes the need for policy change we have to plan for the worst-case scenario to keep people fed.” It’s really important that if you want those protections and those safeguards put around people we have to vote for policy change so that we don’t exist anymore that people have to use a food bank in this day and age.” Hayes said the feedback from attendees of CNOY in past years has always been positive It’s a great group feeling that happens there and it’s a great way to involve the kids and getting together with your friends,” Hayes enthused “It is a few hours of commitment to support those in our community who really need help The food is awesome at the end of the event and you’re just going to leave with a lighter heart knowing that as a community we pull together to support those in need.” Staying at a hospital can be a scary and difficult situation a local hockey team is helping patients at Headwaters Health Care Centre (HHCC) feel a little more comfortable during their stay after donating teddy bears to the local hospital.  Members of the Orangeville Blitz hockey club dropped off more than 150 stuffed animals at Headwaters Hospital on Tuesday (Feb The plushies were collected through a “teddy bear toss” the Blitz held during one of their games in December.  “It’s important as part of a team in town to make sure we support everyone that we can Over 50 per cent of our team is from the local area so it’s important for us and the players to have that community involvement We’ve been able to touch so many different families within the community and many of these causes resonate with the players; they go through it themselves,” said Terry Sheppard general manager of the Orangeville Blitz.  The Orangeville Blitz was originally based out of Erin but moved to Orangeville in 2023 The team regularly hosts events raising awareness for causes as well as community-focused events The stuffed animals donated by the Orangeville Blitz will be distributed to pediatric patients at Headwaters Health Care Centre to help give them comfort while they are receiving treatment.  “We’re so grateful for the support of our community and the Orangeville Blitz,” said Kim Delahunt “These donations will provide comfort and a sense of security to our pediatric patients during their stay at Headwaters A hospital visit can be overwhelming for children can make a huge difference in a child’s healing journey.” The cast and crew at Theatre Orangeville are thrilled and excited to be the first to produce and perform the World Premiere of “I’m In Love With Your Sister” by Norm Foster This brilliant show opens on May 1 and runs until May 18 What adds to the excitement is the cast themselves each of whom has performed in several Foster plays and appeared here at Theatre Orangeville as well “I’m In Love With Your Sister,” so we were told collectively in an interview with the cast and the director of the piece a life-changing and traumatic fork in the road and the unexpected – all comedy’s favourite elements “It can take a heartbreak to realize what you are after hanging on to what’s convenient,” was MacKinnon’s comment Foster enjoys putting odd characters together to see what will happen.  “His plays are more focused on the characters Nairn expressed his opinion humorously that the playwright gleans most of his dialogue from sitting in coffee shops Foster allows his highly original characters to show themselves This is true especially of his widely accepted talent for portraying women getting inside how they really talk to each other we have all loved and the comedy here is how things can resolve themselves working a mundane sort of job whose life gets turned upside down when he is faced with a revelation The three characters live in the same neighbourhood not in a big city but a place with a small-town life Into this comes a broken heart and a burden for the audience to bear.  Any time the audience comes into the theatre the experience in live theatre of being engaged in the stories of the characters is so meaningful Patsy was “in love with the wrong person,” as she put it There is the element of wanting to change or bring out the best of a man Patsy wants to celebrate Kevin’s strengths – from that place Nairn reminded us that until we love ourselves I’m In Love With Your Sister is a play very carefully constructed Foster’s strength is to take those very real moments in our lives and as these thespians admitted nothing is more truthful than heartbreak while a lot of comedy comes from it too so true” – there are lessons to be learned in this play They are all very happy about doing this play as a World Premiere Janisse explained the excitement of now a new play can be subject to changes by the author it is always special to be the first cast for a play The premiere production of any play goes a long way to defining it for future performances and the responsibility that imposes is thrilling Norm Foster had a picture in his mind of how each of the characters would look physically When Foster and Nairn began talking about the actors they wanted for this production they considered the list of likely actors and thought of these very three people as exactly right.  “We didn’t even open auditions,” Nairn told the Citizen These world class actors in this world-class show,” he added “and with [production manager] Beckie’s creative dream team He continued by offering a personal note: I’m In Love With Your Sister is the last play David Nairn will direct as artistic director of Theatre Orangeville Associate artistic director Jennifer Stewart moves into Nairn’s position on July 1 Since he began as artistic director in 1999 Nairn has programmed 25 shows by Norm Foster Nairn directed 20 of those shows and acted in the other five This show is all about love was the answer to why we should come to fill the audience seats “You’ll laugh for two hours,” one said “You’ll come away with a smile on your face,” said another “That’s our responsibility – to bring joy,” declared the third I’m In Love With Your Sister runs from May 1 to May 18.  For more information and to buy tickets go to www.theatreorangeville.ca or call the Box Office at its new number – 519-938-7584 The delightful people at the Box Office love visitors You can purchase your tickets at Orangeville’s Opera Hosue (87 Broadway) The Huronia Region Short Course Championships brought some of the best swimmers from across the region to compete in the water The swim meet was held in Bracebridge from Feb The Orangeville Otters delivered an outstanding performance This annual event is a highlight of the season where swimmers push their limits and compete for both personal bests and team success It was a spirited competition with some racers competing in as many as 21 races over two and a half days setting personal bests and proving that a strong mindset leads to success For many of the swimmers aged 12 and under the Regionals marked their first multi-day competition supporting each other and racing with determination Several Otters swimmers made history by setting new club records while earning qualifications for the provincial championships Several of the Otters scored a lot of points The Otters had the largest number of first-time qualifiers at 18 swimmers The coaches had great pride in every athlete’s performance at this competition The results of this meet created a strong foundation for the rest of the season the Otters are looking ahead with confidence and are ready to build on this success in upcoming competitions mark your calendars — Orangeville’s Butter Tart Festival is set for May 3 the Alder Street Recreation Centre will be transformed into a market featuring vendors and bakers from across the province Attendees can enjoy unique tart recipes and browse other goods available for purchase from local vendors said the event is all about highlighting bakers and vendors “The festival is bringing multiple bakers from all over Ontario to one location because everybody just seems to love butter tarts around Ontario and Canada,” she said “We’re going to have a vendor marketplace where people can shop among small businesses looking for those spring décor items or Mother’s Day gifts and stuff like that.” A competitive element will also be part of the festival Participants will put their butter tarts to the test before a panel of judges Contestants will be judged on several different aspects the festival will feature a hot sauce component local hot sauce makers will have a dedicated space to sell their homemade recipes “So we’ve got multiple hot sauce vendors at the event as well,” Psutka said “A lot of people love their hot sauces too so it’s kind of like a butter tart and a hot sauce festival all in one but we’re just calling it ‘For The Love of Butter Tarts.’” live music and family-friendly activities will be available “We are also going to be having some live music,” Psutka said and he’s going to be playing from 11 a.m We’re also going to have a balloon twister there for the kids.” the festival is partnering with the Orangeville Food Bank to provide donations in the form of both food and monetary support Visitors who bring a non-perishable food item for donation will receive a discount on their admission fee “And then anybody who doesn’t bring food or whatever we will be donating $1 to the food bank as well This festival is relatively new to the province but has been steadily growing Psutka said the idea came to her after recognizing the demand for butter tart festivals as well as the distance people had to travel to attend existing ones “People just love their butter tarts around here in Ontario — it’s crazy,” she said “I got the idea of doing my own festival in our area after visiting the biggest butter tart festival in Midland it’s kind of a far distance for us to drive.” maybe on a bit of a smaller scale,” she said “So we did our first butter tart festival in Kitchener at Bingemans in 2019,” “And now we’ve had a lot of people ask us to bring it to Orangeville so this will be our first year doing it in town,” Psutka added the Orangeville Butter Tart Festival promises to be a fun-filled day for all ages A naturopathic doctor celebrated the grand opening of her own practice in Orangeville earlier this month dignitaries and supporters to The Health Practice “I’m truly honoured to officially open The Health Practice and join the Orangeville community of family-owned and locally-owned businesses It has been a dream of mine for a long time to be a clinic owner and continue to practice the medicine that I love so dearly and helps so many,” said Dr “It’s exciting to think of the potential to reach more people and help more community members in Orangeville and surrounding areas.” has been practicing naturopathic medicine for 13 years She did an associateship in Burlington and worked locally at a naturopathic medicine practice before purchasing one of her own McGuire said she always wanted to operate a practice locally and is grateful for the opportunity “My hope is that this practice will not only provide care but also be a place of education We want to enrich the integrative healthcare options that our community members need and want,” she said at the grand opening our mission is to empower health and healing naturally using evidence-based medicine and working alongside each patient and their larger team of primary healthcare providers to achieve their optimal well-being.” Naturopathic medicine is integrative and considered complementary to modern medicine It’s evidence-based and can be helpful to patients who aren’t finding solutions “Naturopathic medicine is considered to be a primary care modality I like to think of it as really similar to what your family practitioner does I have additional certifications in intravenous vitamin therapy so that can help folks dealing with chronic diseases like cancer Our scope really ends at certain pharmaceuticals and [diagnostic] images But I refer back to the family doctor in those instances for that real integrative approach that patients need.” chair of the town’s Economic Development Committee attended The Health Practice’s grand opening and congratulated Dr “This represents the expansion of health options that exist in our growing community… and as much as Dr Kelly has identified very clearly her medical background is absolutely critical and imperative,” Andrews noted who has both a naturopath and family doctor attended the grand opening as well and welcomed Dr “Any time our economic development is growing in the community and having a really good mix of businesses down here brings people out,” Mayor Post told the Citizen McGuire has a really great philosophy and setup where she’s really trying to grow an integrated community of care right in our own community.” McGuire told the Citizen she looks forward to serving the community for many years to come “Starting a new chapter in this community is a big step for myself and my family We bought our first home here 10 years ago and are raising our family here lt feels special and I truly feel at home here digging in my roots even deeper now as a business owner partnering with local businesses and contributing to the The Health Practice is looking to grow its team McGuire said she’s bringing in a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) and nutritionist to offer even more services – all under one roof she told the Citizen she may hire a junior associate naturopath McGuire encourages anyone who feels they may benefit from naturopathic medicine to drop by her practice and learn more “If you’re struggling with your health or you’re even just curious about how you can prevent disease then you should get a naturopath on your team,” Dr The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board announced online just before 6 a.m Benedict Catholic Elementary School in Orangeville will be closed on Feb The closures and cancellations are due to “winter weather conditions” in Dufferin County Three Orangeville elementary schools will be closed on Tuesday due to winter weather conditions and there will also be no bus service to a high school in Caledon East There will also be no bus service to Robert F. Hall Catholic Secondary School in Caledon East BarrieNewsMagic mushrooms and cocaine netted in Orangeville raidBy Cheryl BrownePublished: April 14, 2025 at 9:45AM EDT BarrieNewsMan charged after police seize drugs and their delivery instructions: OPPBy Mike LangPublished: March 21, 2025 at 12:00PM EDT Flood Warning until 10:30 this morning for portions of Livingston, Wyoming, & Allegany Counties. Flooding may persist in low-lying areas. RadarPolice identify 2 people killed in head-on crash during Wyoming County chaseby WHAM — Police have identified those involved in a fatal head-on crash Friday morning in Wyoming County that happened while an officer was chasing a vehicle previously reported stolen out of Long Island Dispatch received a radio message around 8:20 a.m that a Warsaw Police Department officer was pursuing a blue BMW westbound on West Buffalo Street in the village according to the Wyoming County Sheriff's Office The officer radioed two minutes later that the vehicle crashed on Route 20A in Orangeville The Warsaw officer and sheriff's deputies reportedly found the BMW on fire when they arrived and knocked down the fire and pulled Dewan from the vehicle He was taken to Wyoming County Community Hospital was taken to Erie County Medical Center with critical injuries The New York State Attorney General’s Office is involved because the deaths resulted from an incident involving law enforcement Barrie Watch$400K in stolen vehicles recovered in Orangeville: OPPOPP says officers recovered $400,000 worth of stolen vehicles in Orangeville. Orangeville has a population of 31,000 and covers an area of 15.16 km² for a population density of 1,989 people/km² Stratford has a population of 34,000 in an area of 30.02 km ² for a density of 1,107 people/km² So as far as population goes they are roughly the same size but urban sprawl has definitely had a bigger impact on Stratford Orangeville Transit has a budget of $1.2 million and is operated for the city by First Student Canada Though the city doesn’t use school buses Looking at the city’s transit map it doesn’t look as if its system's coverage is as great as Stratford’s but the city’s website talks about expanding on demand service to “100% of the city” They also use smaller buses and once again have free transit Stratford Transit's budget was $3.7 million Stratford’s transit budget has definitely been negatively impacted by urban sprawl Orangeville has a hybrid fire department made up of 20 full time firefighters and 32 volunteer firefighters about 40 full time firefighters and two stations Once again you’ve gotta love urban sprawl In 2020 Orangeville decided to disband its city run police force and hire the OPP to patrol the city Stratford’s police budget is $13.8 million with a population of 30,000 has recently been upset that the amount the OPP is charging them is going up to $7.1 million in 2025 Stratford police are asking for a budget of $16 million in 2025 Marys got Stratford Police Services to patrol their town for less than the OPP charged them and Stratford taxpayers are paying double what the OPP would charge them are Stratford taxpayers in fact subsidizing St One thing that this comparison shows is that two communities with relatively the same population can arrive at drastically different budget outcomes based on the choices they make There is more than one way to do things and perhaps it’s time Stratford took a serious look at how it’s running things Stratford is a medium sized town with a medium sized tax base BarrieNewsMan dressed as Spider-Man accused of crime in OrangevilleBy Kim PhillipsPublished: December 20, 2024 at 8:26AM EST Four Dufferin-based non-profits have teamed up to host two local debates for the 2025 Provincial Election.  The Dufferin Board of Trade (DBOT) announced in a Feb 4 press release that they are partnering with the Orangeville Food Bank and the Great Dufferin Home Builders Association to host the Provincial Election Debates for the Dufferin-Caledon riding “These debates provide a vital opportunity for voters to hear directly from the candidates and make informed decisions ahead of the upcoming election,” wrote DBOT 20 at Grace Tipling Hall in Shelburne from 7 p.m Both debates will be open to the public to attend and all residents of Dufferin County and the Town of Caledon have been invited to engage and participate in the democratic events The debate scheduled in Orangeville will also be filmed by Rogers TV with further broadcasting details to follow.   allowing local voters to directly address candidates on the issues that matter most to them.  All candidates who have declared their intention to run in the Dufferin-Caledon riding have been invited to participate in the debates Candidates who are running in the Dufferin-Caledon riding include: Sandy Brown for the Green Party George Nakitas for the New Democratic Party (NDP) Michael Dehn for the Liberal Party and Sylvia Jones for the Conservative Party Voters are encouraged to visit the Dufferin Board of Trade website at www.dufferinbot.ca to get up-to-date information on the election details about the debates and candidate bios The cancellations are due to “road and weather conditions” in Dufferin County Winter weather has again led to the cancellation on Wednesday of bus service to three Orangeville elementary schools and a Caledon East high school The school board said the cancellations are due to “road and weather conditions” in Dufferin County Bus service to the four schools has been cancelled at least six times this winter Orangeville resident William Bousher is among the luckiest men in town Bousher matched the last six of seven ENCORE numbers in the Jan has been playing the lottery with OLG for a decade and always adds ENCORE to his plays Bousher purchased his winning ticket online he received an email from OLG informing him of his first big win.  when I received the email from OLG,” he recalled while visiting the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up his winnings I had read it a few times before it sunk in “I’ve shared the good news with a few family members and friends Everyone is thrilled for me,” Bousher smiled he said he looks forward to taking his kids on a trip I’ll have to talk to them and see what they have in mind,” Bousher noted It’s that time of year when most ice pads are being removed for the summer the Orangeville Curling Club held one final bonspiel on Friday The annual Carey On Bonspiel had the remaining eight teams in the tournament on the ice to see who would win the cup this year The tournament and cup is named after former club member Harry Carey A total of 16 teams entered in the tournament and went through a series of playdowns over two weeks A loss meant they were moved to the consolation round Teams were entered in four different divisions based on experience and skill level Teams were put together with a draft where the skip could select players to be on their team If you’re in the club and in any league you can be part of it,” explained Orangeville Curling Club board member and former president “There are 16 people who are rated as skips They have a list of all the people who are vices The Skips will choose the team on two levels Then the order is reversed when picking the lead A winning team would move along through the schedule a loss meant a team would be dropped to a second round but could still battle their way back into the finals The final night of competition had eight teams playing on the four club ice sheets for a total of 32 players battling it out for the top honours in their division The event is the last tournament of the year at the Orangeville Curling Club There was one day of curling after the bonspiel where Club members could have one final afternoon of recreational curling before the ice was taken out for the summer The final tournament was a fun event with a lot of spectators watching the games from the Club’s lounge and enjoying the end-of-season party.  The story of “Bed and Breakfast” begins in mild tones a chance to meet Brett and Drew who live together as a gay couple in a tiny downtown Toronto apartment We find them charming and amusing as they make plans for what comes next in their search to buy a house when they are interrupted by the news that one of Brett’s favourite relatives – his Aunt Maggie – has suddenly died in a car accident The funeral is held near her home in a small Ontario town where Brett spent many happy summer days as a child his father informs Brett that she has left her house to him “Bed and Breakfast” is on at Theatre Orangeville now and running to March 30 with Adrian Shepherd-Gawinski as Brett and Warren Macaulay as Drew Shepherd-Gawinski is returning to Theatre Orangeville after some years when he joined the cast for separate runs of Screwball Comedy and Queen Milli of Galt Welcome to Warren Macaulay making his debut here The choices this inheritance opens to Brett and Drew take us on a journey to remember whereas their latest offer to buy in Toronto was seriously outbid – out of the blue – they find themselves owners of their own home it is not in the city but as it is in a small town attitudes toward their openly gay relationship might prove difficult.  Playwright Mark Crawford does not pull any punches about this; he writes the story with craft and humour drawing us into loving this couple and accepting wholeheartedly who they are This very funny play is host to – count ’em – 21 characters whom we begin to meet as soon Brett and Drew arrive in Aunt Maggie’s town They vary in nature and approach; they are each quite comical but the magic is in the clever writing and the astonishing rapidity with which Shepherd-Gawinski and Macaulay play every one of them From the baker arriving daily with wonderful treats to the hopeless teenager who says the scope and fun these multi-changes create have audiences ringing the hall with their laughter There are ladies in the cast – one of whom is pregnant and these two actors let us know with real clarity whom we are seeing All they have to keep the continuity are their skill and considerable talent.  The exchanges go on as the two men and the townspeople begin to become acquainted and even friends the playwright admits to the mixed feelings such a blend might realize whether they can stay in their new home or be better off back in the more cosmopolitan city in addition to the fact of actually possessing the place outright is the idea they have of turning it into a Bed and Breakfast place There is much to be done by way of renovations but the growing reality that this could be their new business is exciting They are keen to establish it in this small town Between Brett and Drew and within the community are anguish and anger but to learn how they all deal with this just the two of them carrying the debate among the many is to see comic skill at its best Best to come and see this terrific show for yourselves along with Shepherd-Gawinski and Macaulay brought this play originally to the Lighthouse Festival Theatre in Port Dover In addition to staging it this time here in Orangeville there is the joy of re-mounting it for Theatre Orangeville audiences the chance to expand and even re-think some of the characters Bed and Breakfast is a somewhat complicated production with the large number of those characters being played only by the two actors It is a lot to learn but doing it for the second time has given them the genuine pleasure of digging deeper into those voices Arnott has done a tidy job of keeping the flow moving in a way that maintains cohesion while letting the comedy shine simple geometry encases the set of “Aunt Maggie’s Bed and Breakfast,” designed by William Chesney whose bio tells of his creating set designs for more than 250 productions spanning a career of over forty years the lighting for Bed and Breakfast is designed by Wendy Lundgren while Tim Lindsay debuted as sound designer When viewed at Theatre Orangeville’s recent Starlight Gala the audience positively bounced to their feet for a standing ovation For tickets, go to www.theatreorangeville.ca or call the lovely folks at the Opera House Box Office at 519-938-7584 Please note this is a change from the box office’s usual number Millions of Muslims are marking the Holy Month of Ramadan worldwide a follower of Islam is looking to give back to the community and local resident Tricia Celik is organizing a donation drive for the Orangeville Food Bank and Shelburne Food Bank “I’m trying to build bridges in the community and have a face within the Muslim community at the food bank,” said Celik of why she’s organizing the food drive “It shows support within the community that we’re all here together.” “There’s been an increase every year since we’ve been doing this executive director of the Orangeville Food Bank said the demographics of individuals accessing the food bank has changed dramatically in the last few years we started noticing that individuals accessing the food bank had different food needs than we had seen before,” said Hayes “We’ve worked to ensure we have halal food in the freezer at all times that we have fresh fruits and vegetables because in certain cultures it’s more common to make food from scratch It’s really important to make sure we have the right food so that people can stay healthy and engaged in their communities.” Celik said she’s encouraging donations of perishable and non-perishable items as the Orangeville Food Bank has refrigerated storage for products like milk vegan-friendly items to ensure food-insecure Muslims can eat in accordance with their faith over Ramadan donations of any kind are appreciated by the Orangeville Food Bank and Shelburne Food Bank Some of the most needed food items at the local food bank’s include dried lentils The not-for-profit organizations have seen a steady increase in the number of people accessing food over the last several years When the Orangeville Food Bank’s executive director the food bank served 1,402 different people The Shelburne Food Bank has reported a more than 600 per cent increase in the number of clients they see on a monthly basis since 2017 when they served 41 families in the community They now serve roughly 250 families.  Celik said she’s encouraging donations of quality items that people would enjoy for the Ramadan Food Drive “Give as you would like to receive yourself,” she noted Celik said her goal with the drive is to bring the community together for a good cause If they’re walking [into the food bank] at Christmas time they’re going be used to seeing Christmas stuff all around So maybe there’s a new Muslim that’s going to come here [during Ramadan] and feel welcome,” said Celik of her Ramadan display at the Orangeville Food Bank and people might feel more comfortable if they see a Muslim to ask some questions or learn a little bit.” Donations can be brought directly to the Orangeville Food Bank at 3 Commerce Rd or at donation boxes located at Orangeville Town Hall (87 Broadway) and Alder Recreation Centre (275 Alder Street) A Ramadan table has also been set up at the Orangeville Food Bank by Celik Donations for the Shelburne Food Bank can be dropped off at the No Frills (101 2nd Line RR 1) and Foodland (824 Ojibway Rd.) in Shelburne as well as the Dufferin Muslim Centre (506195 Highway 89 Any inquiries about donations can be directed to Celik by email at theplace2biswithmrs.c@outlook.com Excitement is growing for the 21st Annual Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival as organizers have released the official lineup for the three-day event that will return from May 30 to June 1 The festival’s founder and artistic director said he’s excited for the community to experience this year’s lineup “We are especially proud to highlight an incredible roster of Canadian artists the 2025 Festival will feature some of the finest talent in blues and jazz music,” he enthused “Putting together the lineup is a balancing act I try to include a variety of styles within the Blues and Jazz genres while supporting Canadian artists as much as possible It’s important to keep current with new musical acts but also bring back festival favorites while staying within our budget.” TD Broadway Stage at the Broadway/Second Street intersection and Opera House Stage inside of Town Hall (87 Broadway) will feature several different headliners over three days Some big names on the lineup include Harry Manx “Our Saturday [May 31] headliner Lachy Doley is an award-winning blues artist from Australia. He plays Hammond organ and clavinet with a whammy bar to create a sound unlike anything you have heard before,” said Kurtz “It’s quite amazing and he puts on a dynamic show.” a world-touring musician from British Colombia who blends Indian folk melodies with slide guitar blues will be another headliner to watch out for “He plays an 18-string guitar called a Mohan Veena for a truly original sound,” he said Kurtz said to keep an eye on the Robi Botos trio Larnell Lewis on drums and Robi on the piano is widely considered a master piano player and is a multi-award winner,” said Kurtz Other performing artists include Maple Blues Band Rosie’s Smokehouse Deluxe and Danny Boy Phelan ODSS Teachers Band and Orangeville Community Band will be performing at this year’s festival The celebration of blues and jazz music fosters a strong sense of community while transforming downtown Orangeville into the region’s largest music festival and special event venue “On behalf of the Festival Board of Directors we are thrilled to present another three-day weekend of exceptional music and events for thousands of local residents and visitors,” said Festival Board of Directors President Nancy Claridge “This incredible event is made possible with support from the Orangeville Business Improvement Area and the enthusiastic audiences who attend.” The festival has been on the Top 100 Festivals and Events in Ontario for 12 years in a row and has a reputation as one of the strongest medium-size blues and jazz events in the province The majority of events taking place within the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival are free of charge performer workshops at the Mill Street Library and pop-up street performances “New this year will be a beer garden on the street next to the Broadway Stage which features great local talent,” Kurtz said Weekend passes for access to the TD Mainstage and Opera House from Friday to Sunday are $40 Single-day tickets for Friday or Saturday are $20 each and a single-day ticket for Sunday is $10 Tickets can be purchased online at ticketscene.ca/events/51445 “In a time when many festivals are struggling we want to ensure the festival remains a vital part of what makes Orangeville such a great place to live and work The best way to show your support is to buy a ticket to the main stage,” said Kurtz. “We know it is one of the best values for your money you will find anywhere.” He added that he would encourage members of the public to join the festival’s fantastic team of volunteers Visit orangevillebluesandjazz.ca/volunteer to learn more