Friday, February 27, 2009

Government of Canada announces additional projects

Barrie, ON – February 27, 2009 – Canada’s Environment Minister Jim Prentice, joined by the Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of Public Safety, and local member of Parliament Patrick Brown, announced today the second group of projects under the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund.

“We're investing in projects that will help to ensure a healthy future for Lake Simcoe. The lake is a key part of Canada's natural environment, and is also an important resource that provides safe drinking water for eight municipalities and generates more than $200 million a year for the local economy through recreational activities,” said Environment Minister Jim Prentice.

Initiatives funded by the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund are designed to preserve and protect the environment of Lake Simcoe. Twenty-six projects will receive a total of $4,732,031 as part of an overall investment of $30 million over five years, which was announced in February 2008.

This investment to clean up Lake Simcoe is part of the Government’s Action Plan for Clean Water, which includes projects like the Health of the Oceans initiative to protect Canada’s three oceans, the cleanup of Randle Reef in Hamilton Harbour, and action on pollution in Lake Winnipeg.

Youth Haven, Barrie Purchases New Location

What: Youth Haven, Barrie to open new facility

When: June, 2009

Where: 20-22 Wellington Street East


Youth Haven, Barrie is proud to announce the approval from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation for the purchase of a larger facility at 20-22 Wellington Street East. This location will be used as a larger facility to meet the growing demands for a larger youth shelter in Simcoe County. As the sole youth shelter for teens between the ages of 16-21 in all of Simcoe County, we have experienced a significant increase in the number of youth accessing our services every year for the past three years. In 2005, we helped over 300 homeless and abused teens with emergency and transitional shelter and in 2006 we helped over 400 teens; in 2008 we have already provided over 500 homeless and abused teens with the integral supports that they need in order to become independent members in our society. This influx of needy teens has meant that for the past two years Youth Haven has operated over capacity, forced to turn away at least 5 pleas a night for beds due to lack of space.

Thankfully, after a two year application process, Youth Haven received approval for the purchase of the new location and officially closed the deal on the new location February 12th, 2009. With 11 bedrooms and large kitchen, storage and office space, the new location will allow us to house 20 youth a night with the space needed to meet the growing needs of the youth in our community. Officially scheduled to open in June, 2009, Youth Haven will host a grand opening ceremony to celebrate our new journey. Representatives from CMHC, the Provincial and Federal government and our major sponsors will be in attendance to show their support of our home.

We truly appreciate the support of our community members, church groups and service clubs throughout this process and invite you all to visit our new location in June. We would appreciate any gently used furniture donations or monetary support to help prepare our home for our official opening in July.

For more information, please contact:
Denise Ummels
Executive Director
(705) 739-7616
denise.ummels@youthhavenbarrie.com

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

FLAVOURS OF ONTARIO’S LAKE COUNTRY – GREAT FOOD AT GREAT VALUE

Ontario’s Lake Country, ON: Ontario’s Lake Country and restaurants in the region are working in partnership to present Flavours of Ontario’s Lake Country. The two-week event will run from Sunday, March 1 to Saturday, March 14, 2009.

Residents and visitors to the area will have the opportunity to experience a diversity of culinary delights from Ontario’s Lake Country restaurants. Building on the success of the Winterlicious Festival in Toronto, and the Barrielicious Festival in Barrie, Flavours of Ontario’s Lake Country is an exciting new promotion for the region. A three-course mouth-watering fixed price dinner menu will be offered at each of the participating restaurants. Each restaurant in the program will offer a choice of an appetizer, soup or salad plus an entrĂ©e and dessert for the amazing price of $20.10. Alcohol and gratuities will be extra.

“We are pleased to be working with Ontario’s Lake Country in the development of this initiative”, says Terry McNaughton of Ossawippi Express. “It is an opportunity to encourage new and existing patrons to experience the true taste of great food in Ontario’s Lake Country at an affordable price.”

A wide variety of the area’s independent restaurants will be participating, including Abbott’s of Craighurst, Bounty Fish & Chips-Orillia, Brewery Bay-Orillia, C & C Roadhouse & Grill-Lagoon City, Champlain Landing at the Harbour Inn-Lagoon City, Echo’s Dining Lounge at Bayview Wildwood- Port Stanton, The Grape & Olive Wine and Martini Bar-Orillia, Just Eddie’s-Orillia, La Mezzaluna-Orillia, McCabes-Orillia, Marias-Orillia, Mill Street Bistro-Coldwater, Settler’s Ghost Restaurant-Horseshoe Valley, and the Ossawippi Express Dining Cars-Orillia.

Flavours of Ontario’s Lake Country will give patrons the opportunity to experience the flavours that local chefs create. Although sticking to a budget to produce menus for $20.10 is challenging to the chefs, they are thrilled to be participating and are busy planning select menus that are both delicious and exciting.

Ontario’s Lake Country is the Destination Marketing Organization for Orillia, Oro-Medonte, Rama, Ramara, and Severn. Located in the heart of Central Ontario, the area is filled with beautiful lakes, clean waters, fascinating waterways, and rolling hills. In this region, major Ontario resorts offer premier four-season recreation and getaway experiences. A world class casino, hotel, and entertainment complex are just around the corner from a charming city, where visitors can discover fascinating shoppes, enjoy showcase theatre, superb dining, and historical sites. The organization works in partnership with Casino Rama.

For further information and telephone numbers for the participating restaurants, visit the flavours website. Reservations for Flavours of Ontario’s Lake Country can be booked by calling the restaurants directly.

READY, SET – BUILD!

Construction on Royal Victoria Hospital’s Phase 1 Expansion Project is about to begin.

The ambitious redevelopment – the largest in Simcoe Muskoka history -- has reached its final, major milestone before construction can begin. Royal Victoria Hospital and Infrastructure Ontario have achieved Financial Close with the chosen contractor Vanbots, a Division of Carillion Construction Inc.

Financial Close signifies that all necessary steps, including a fixed price of $258.5million and a set completion date have been determined. Work crews will begin to mobilize on RVH property almost immediately. Construction of the new addition and cancer centre is expected to be completed in fall 2011 and the significant renovations to the existing hospital by spring 2013.

“Royal Victoria Hospital is going to be a very busy place over the next three to five years, and this is truly cause for this region to celebrate,” remarks Janice Skot, RVH President and CEO. “This project will double the size of the existing hospital and allow RVH staff, physicians and volunteers to provide exceptional care to patients from throughout Simcoe Muskoka. In these extremely tenuous economic times, the project will be a tremendous boost to the region’s economy in direct jobs and spinoffs, but even most importantly, will bring quality, accessible care closer to home.”

The expansion will add 101 new inpatient beds; two additional Patient Care Units with 64 beds for future expansion; a dedicated coronary care unit, expanded Laboratory, Diagnostic Imaging and Emergency departments; two new operating rooms and the jewel in the crown, the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre.

“This is an exciting time for RVH and an achievement for which our region can be very proud,” says Steve Blanchet, Chair of the RVH Board of Directors. “The hard work and dedication of RVH staff, volunteers, and physicians, teamed with the tremendous community support has taken this project from a dream to a reality.”

That support has come from people right across Simcoe and Muskoka with contributions of a staggering $34 million towards RVH’s $35 million “I Believe” capital fundraising campaign. RVH’s Auxiliary jump-started the efforts with a $5 million pledge – which the volunteers have already met, three years ahead of schedule. Additionally, the commitment of $52.5 million from the City of Barrie and $20 million from the County of Simcoe helped to put this project on the fast-track for approvals from the provincial government.

The expansion will not only create hundreds of direct jobs but also create significant spin-off benefits, which will provide a huge boost to the region during this present economic downturn. When complete, RVH will have added 1,200 skilled health professionals to their payroll.

As a result of the construction, there will be some access changes beginning the first week of March for patients, visitors and staff coming to the hospital. The second floor or ‘main entrance’ will be closed to all but emergency vehicles or patients coming to the Emergency Department. All other patients, visitors and staff will now enter the hospital via the lower level, or ‘Outpatient’ entrance. Signage will direct the public to the appropriate entrance.

Cultural Grant Writing Workshop Offered Again

(Barrie, ON) The City of Barrie’s Department of Culture is encouraging the arts community to learn more about grant writing by attending another workshop by William Moore, the creator of the Barrie Arts Grants program.

Artists can register for the workshop being offered March 7, 2009 from 9:00am-4:00pm at City Hall in the Sir Robert Barrie Room (lunch and refreshments will be included). Topics covered in this workshop will include: eligible applicants, essential information to be included in the application, and tips on how to receive the most from grant writing. This workshop will provide artists and art organizations with the tools necessary to maximize funding.

This workshop has been designed specifically for local not-for-profit arts organizations or individual artists who require additional support. The session will specifically focus on applying for City of Barrie grants; however, the intention is that skills learned in this workshop will be transferable to other grant applications. You can register today by calling Onnie Groves at 739-4220 Ext. 4794 or email her at ogroves@barrie.ca.

Applications for the Cultural Grant Program are now available and posted on the City’s website, www.barrie.ca. The application can be found on the main page by clicking on the “Arts and Culture” icon and by clicking again on the “Cultural Grants 2009.”

Monday, February 23, 2009

Taxes can be social? Connecting online makes filing taxes easier…and can be free!

Back in 1993, the average Canadian would never have dreamed dream of doing their banking or shopping on the Internet. Even a few years ago, getting a date or reconnecting with old friends online was something reserved for the pocket-protector crowd.

But things have changed, and the Internet is now the de facto resource for almost everything even doing your taxes. Web-based tax software, such as QuickTax Online, is gaining popularity as an easy solution that can be used to prepare and file taxes on virtually any operating system with a Web browser.

Any Canadian with a simple tax return, regardless of income level, can now prepare and file taxes this year with QuickTax Online Free. The free version is an easy, online tax preparation solution for Canadians who have income from employment or pensions. And that goes for most students, as well.

Those who need to connect with out-of-town dependents, such as a child off at college or university, also benefit greatly from online tax software, especially since it eliminates the burden of mailing tax forms back and forth ahead of the April deadline.

One user noted his personal reason for switching to online tax software: “My son uses the tax software to file his taxes while at school, and when he gets to a point where he needs help, he shares his password with me, and I just go in and fill out the rest. It’s been a great solution even though we’re 2,000 kilometres apart.”
Another big Internet phenomenon in recent years has been the growth of online communities. Today, everyone is communicating online, whether it’s a quick note to friends on Facebook, trolling Craigslist for deals on a snow blower, and posting a reply on the Dachshunds Owners Group.

Now, that online community spirit is even appearing in the unlikeliest of places: tax preparation.. Tax forums are springing up all over the Web with people seeking and offering advice on every type of tax-related question.

QuickTax even offers a Live Community section built right into the software, where much of the Q&A content is created by the users. Canadians can connect and ask the types of questions traditional FAQs rarely address, such as “We took custody of my wife’s son in April. How do we claim this for the tax year?” or “Which province do I file under if I moved?” or “I forgot to claim a charitable donation last year, so can I claim this year?” and thousands of other situational questions that people from coast to coast have experienced.

“Online communities give people immediate access to information. Often the quickest and most compelling answers come from like-minded Canadians,” said Chris Davey, product marketing manager for QuickTax. “The Live Community gives taxpayers a way to connect with each other, search a database of questions people have already asked, and get answers to questions that address their individual needs.”

To connect with other Canadians on Live Community, visit www.quicktax.intuit.ca

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR BEATS YAHOO!, DIGG & AOL AT THEIR OWN GAME

Brisbane, Australia -- 23rd of February, 2009 --When David beat Goliath with a single stone from his sling, the odds were stacked pretty heavily against him. But even greater were the odds when 23 year-old Brisbane-based entrepreneur Leon Hill embarked on a journey to create an online business that would be fighting against multi-million-dollar social bookmarking giant Digg.com, as well as the multi-billion-dollar juggernaut that is Yahoo! Inc. And although he was flying solo with no outside help, he fought them both -- and won.

uSocial.net (http://usocial.net/) is the brainchild of Hill and is an online traffic generation business that takes advantage of flaws in the systems of social bookmarking sites like Digg, Yahoo! Buzz, StumbleUpon and AOL's Propeller.

"The best way to get a huge amount of traffic to your site is to have it listed on the coveted front page of one of the large social bookmarking sites," says Leon. "The thing is, it can take hundreds of votes in a short period of time to get there which is extremely difficult to attain. But if it does happen, you can expect sometimes hundreds of thousands of people to your site in as little as one day. And for that to happen to a small-business owner, can mean serious cash."

With only his computer, little capitol and a tiny amount of knowledge about how social bookmarking sites work, Leon set out to best several online empires at their own game, including Yahoo!, second only to Google in terms of online might.

After some trial-and-error, Hill figured out a way to seriously increase the amount of votes a page would receive -- up to 1,000 in as little as 24 hours -- which meant that a website would sometimes be placed in front of millions of online web-surfer's eyes in a day or less. This meant immense traffic and for any business owner with a website, immense interest in their product or service.

"When using uSocial, the real winners are small business owners. I personally know people who were paying more than $2 for a single visitor through conventional means. With uSocial.net, we've had people spend as little as $200 and have more than 100,000 people to their site in less than 24 hours," says Leon. "There is literally nothing that compares with what uSocial can do in terms of sending quality traffic to a business' website."

Digg has always claimed the systems they had in place were unbeatable, but now Hill has proved them wrong. "What uSocial is doing is not illegal, it's just that the social bookmarking sites don't like it. I've even tried to contact [Digg CEO] Jay Adelson for his thoughts, but I never got a reply," says Hill. "These online giants said their systems couldn't be beat, but I proved them wrong."

So even in this crazy modern world, David really can beat Goliath.

RURAL BROADBAND INTERNET IS COMING TO THE TOWNSHIP OF SPRINGWATER

SPRINGWATER TOWNSHIP/ February 17, 2009 – The Township of Springwater is excited to announce that, in collaboration with the County of Simcoe, they will soon move forward on plans to build local broadband infrastructure. Beginning in April of 2009, Springwater Township (as part of Project Area C, which does not include Hillsdale) will be the first area to be covered. Township staff have recently been advised that the Request for Proposal (RFP) to potential Internet Service Providers (ISP) is expected to be released in late February, with a response date of late March.

Through a partnership with the Government of Ontario, the Township of Springwater will work with the Rural Connections Broadband Program, which provides funding to help rural municipalities build high-speed Internet projects in their communities. The program’s goal is to bring broadband access to rural and remote areas currently under-serviced in southern Ontario. Broadband combines telecommunications infrastructure and service to deliver more Internet information at speeds far greater than dial-up service, something that will be a great benefit to residents of Springwater Township. The Township of Springwater, along with the municipalities of Adjala-Tosorontio, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Clearview, Essa, New Tecumeth, Tay, Tiny, Severn, and Oro-Medonte, collaborated with the County of Simcoe on this project.

The County of Simcoe was one of fifteen municipalities approved for funding, and IT Director, Brian Smith couldn’t be happier. “The broadband development plan that we put forth will go a long way to closing the Internet service gaps that currently exist across the County,” said Smith. “With the tremendous growth occurring in our region, this is vital infrastructure to support both economic development and quality of life for our residents.” The County of Simcoe is eligible for $1 million, which amounts to one-third of the approved eligible costs of the project.

Springwater is a municipality of approximately 18,000 residents located in the heart of Simcoe County. 2009 celebrates the 15th anniversary of the amalgamated Township of Springwater. The Township is governed by a seven-member council with a complement of 60 full and part-time staff. The municipal office is located at the Simcoe County Administration Centre in Midhurst, with Council Chambers situated in the Village of Elmvale.

Friday, February 13, 2009

RVH MASH BASH ANOTHER SMASH

Attention! Attention! All personnel! The military invasion of Snow Valley has come to an end and Royal Victoria Hospital was the victor with a fantastic ski day fundraiser.

The glorious sunshine helped to warm up the hundreds of skiers and snowboarders who hit the slopes in support of Royal Victoria Hospital. This was the 22nd annual RVH M*A*S*H BASH - a fun-filled day of wacky on-hill events, attractions, live music, giveaways and great skiing and boarding. Snow Valley generously donated the entire day's lift ticket proceeds, raising approximately $20,000 for the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre. Snow Valley was transformed into an M*A*S*H unit -- complete with military tents, equipment and uniformed troops, thanks to CFB Borden who also landed a Griffon helicopter on the ski hills early in the morning.

Other highlights included the Bomb Burst and the Grenade Launch. Of course some of the biggest laughs were reserved for participants of the infamous Bedpan Race. This year’s media/celebrity bed pan race winner was Shane Edwards, Fire Prevention Officer with the Barrie Fire Department who just managed to beat out Snap Barrie’s Mark Wretham and Rock 95’s Darryl Mabley by inches.

It was a double victory for the Barrie Fire Department as Sparky the Fire Dog nosed out the competition in the Mascot bed pan race. Bud the Dog, from Snow Valley and Kempenfelt Kelly, the City of Barrie mascot, rounded out the top three.

“TBD” rocked the back patio with an outdoor concert sponsored by Rock 95 and 107.5 KOOL FM and DooDoo the Clown kept the crowd in stitches entertained the crowds while juggler Darren “Wildman” Bedford and Clarabella the Clown entertained kids inside the chalet.

Over the past 22 years, M*A*S*H BASH has raised more than $360,000 to build the new Royal Victoria Hospital and to help bring care closer to home.

M*A*S*H* Bash is made possible with loyal support from Snow Valley Ski Resort Barrie, CFB Borden, Borden Ski School, 400 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, Pepsi Bottling Group, McDonald's Restaurants, Boston Pizza, Primerica Financial Services, Freshpow.ca, The Barrie Advance, Robin Jones & Nadia DeAmicis, Sales Reps with Re/Max Chay Barrie, B101FM, FM 93, Life 100.3, Rock 95, 107.5 KOOL FM, KICX 106 FM and 104.1 The Dock FM.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

City Seeks “Spring Into Clean!”

(Barrie, Ontario) The City of Barrie is forming a Citizen Committee to actively assist with the planning, organizing and implementation of the “Spring Into Clean!” project. For the last 5 years, “Spring Into Clean” has played a major role in cleaning up various areas of the city in the wake of winter.

This popular initiative not only cleans up debris from around our community, but it also raises the level of environmental awareness and social responsibility through active participation. Volunteers can assist through Student Participation Day, Community Clean-up Days, Corporate Challenge Days, and a Waterfront Clean-up Day.
“The Committee will consist of volunteers who have a strong interest in the environment and are willing to be responsible for organizing one or more of the “Spring Into Clean!” activities. In addition, the Committee will evaluate the project and make any recommendations they feel appropriate to city staff,” says Fred Andrews, Community Events Coordinator.

Interested residents are asked to submit a letter outlining their desire to be on the committee by March 6th, 2009. Letters can be submitted electronically to fandrews@barrie.ca or by mail to Fred Andrews, Community Events Co-ordinator, 70 Collier Street, PO Box 400, Barrie, ON L4M 4T5.

For further information on “Spring Into Clean!” and to review the Committee’s Terms of Reference please visit www.barrie.ca.

The Countdown is on for Canada’s Games!

The City of Barrie gets ready for 2010 Winter Games excitement and the arrival of the Olympic Flame

Barrie, ON. - The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are just around the corner. With just 365 days remaining before the Games period starts, the City of Barrie is having a countdown of its own: only 320 days until it’s the community’s time to shine when the Olympic Flame arrives!

To mark the occasion of the one-year countdown to the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the City of Barrie showed its support and enthusiasm by volunteering to become a torch community in support of the event.

Before the world sets its eyes on Vancouver and the Whistler region where thousands of athletes and tens of thousands of spectators will join to celebrate, the City of Barrie will light up as one of the 1,020 communities and places of interest the Olympic Flame will visit during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, presented by Coca-Cola and RBC and supported by the Government of Canada.

“The City of Barrie is honoured to contribute to this exciting international event. We welcome the Olympic Flame to Barrie on December 29, 2009,” said Mayor Aspden. “On that date, all eyes will be on our community. Our planning for this exciting day is well underway, and we continue to develop ways for residents to come together, celebrate and show our Olympic and Canadian spirit.”

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay is a 106-day celebration that starts in Victoria, British Columbia on October 30, 2009. The Olympic Flame will travel over 45,000 kilometres across Canada making it the longest domestic relay in Olympic history. Over the course of the relay, 12,000 torchbearers will have the opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame. They will largely be selected from the public through programs offered by Coca-Cola and RBC. Residents of Barrie and surrounding area are invited to go to icoke.ca and rbc.com/carrythetorch to submit a torchbearer application for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“One of the most inspiring ways to get involved in the Olympic experience as it sweeps across Canada is to help escort that magnificent Olympic Flame,” said John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). “Everyday Canadians have the opportunity to sign up to become Olympic Torchbearers and have the experience of a lifetime.”

As part of the one-year countdown celebrations, on February 12, 2009 the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch, designed and manufactured by Bombardier, and the Olympic Torchbearer uniforms, designed by the Hudson’s Bay Company, were unveiled to the world in Whistler, BC. For more information on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, visit vancouver2010.com/torchrelay.

Preparations for CT Scanner Underway

ALLISTON, ONTARIO - Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH) is moving ahead with plans to install a CT Scanner this summer.

At their regular board meeting on February 5, the Board gave final approval for CEO, Gary Ryan, to move ahead with the project. The Diagnostic Imaging Department will have to be enlarged to accommodate the scanner. Contractors will quickly begin to prepare the ground for an addition to the existing hospital building.

"The CT Scanner is essential for patient care and having the unit on-site will reduce wait times and provide for efficient service," said Ted Vandevis, Chair of the SMH Board.

"Fundraising to pay for the equipment, and the building to house it, is being well supported," commented Jean Baker-Pearce, President of the SMH Foundation. "We have a lot of work to do and a long way to go, but we're confident that the funds will be raised."

In the next few months, SMH Foundation volunteers will be reaching out to the general public on many levels to ensure the success of this project.

Details of a formal ground-breaking ceremony will be released shortly.

For more information contact:
Kathryn (Kate) Mooij
Community Relations Coordinator
Stevenson Memorial Hospital
(705) 435-3377 ext # 3254

Celebrating Black History Month

(Barrie, ON) The City of Barrie is a proud sponsor of black history month with celebrations taking place Wednesday, February 18, 2009 between 10:30am-11:30am in the Rotunda at City Hall. Several community groups are supporting this event through sponsorship including: the Barrie African Arts Association, Jacob, (Barrie Jewish Association) Barrie’s Multicultural Community Association, Georgian Copy, and Music Pro.

“This event has significant community support and I’m proud to work with all local organizations who have committed to the project. Supporting black history month is an exciting opportunity for the City of Barrie. This year’s celebration will be educational, inspiring and very memorable. Joe Sealy is very talented jazz musician and extraordinary artist who will give an exceptional presentation,” said Rudi Quammie Williams, Director for the Department of Culture.

The guest speaker for the event will be Joe Sealy, a Canadian jazz icon, concert pianist and radio broadcaster. Montreal-born jazz pianist Joe Sealy released a CD of original music, Africville Suite, in 1996 that won a Juno award the following year. It includes twelve pieces reflecting on places and activities in Africville, a community of African people in Nova Scotia’s Bedford Basin from 1830 to 1969, where Sealy's father was born. Sealy was working and living in Halifax during the time of the destruction of the community, and began the suite in memory of his father.

This year’s celebrations will be combining history and entertainment to create a very unique event. “Honouring history and supporting the arts and culture community is important to the City of Barrie and a priority of Council. I’m glad to see this event take place right here in City Hall,” says Williams.

Later in the evening, Joe Sealy and his band members will be performing at the Southshore Community Centre.

Advance tickets are $5 each and are available by calling Elaine Britnell at (705) 739 4299.

ITS TIME FOR THE BASH!

Barrie: The most anticipated ski event of the season arrives tomorrow so bring the kids and support a great cause - Royal Victoria Hospital. The 22nd annual M*A*S*H* Bash hits the slopes Friday, February 13th at Snow Valley Ski Resort. Snow Valley is reporting a ski base of over 65 cm with all lifts and runs operational.

RVH’s M*A*S*H* Bash offers not only a great day of skiing and boarding, but unique activities such as bedpan races, an obstacle course, grenade launch and more. The mascot bed pan race takes place at noon, and the media bedpan race follows right after. At the base of the hill, enjoy a live outdoor concert courtesy of Rock
95 and 107.5 KOOL FM by local rockers “TBD”. Then, laugh yourself silly at the antics of DooDoo the Clown, the most unbelievable clown around. Skiers and boarders are encouraged to wear red to show support for our troops or to bring a letter of thanks that will be forwarded to military personnel stationed overseas.
Tickets for M*A*S*H* Bash are just $20 – Snow Valley pass holders and military personnel pay just $5. Ski all day – the fun starts at 10 a.m. and doesn’t stop until 10 p.m.

Every year Snow Valley generously donates all the lift ticket proceeds to Royal Victoria Hospital and over the past two decades has helped to raise nearly $350,000 to build Barrie’s new hospital and purchase medical equipment. It’s a great day – at a great price, all in support of enhancing quality health care for residents of the
region. Proceeds from this year’s event will go towards Phase 1 of the RVH Expansion which includes the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre. M*A*S*H* Bash is made possible with loyal support from Snow Valley Ski Resort Barrie, CFB Borden,
Borden Ski School, 400 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, Pepsi Bottling Group, McDonald's Restaurants,Boston Pizza, Primerica Financial Services, Freshpow.ca, The Barrie Advance, Robin Jones & Nadia DeAmicis, Sales Reps with Re/Max Chay Barrie, B101FM, FM 93, Life 100.3, Rock 95, 107.5 KOOL FM, KICX 106 FM
and 104.1 The Dock FM.

For more information:
Jane Cocking
Corporate Communications
705-728-9802 ext: 41611

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Water in the Ground – Release Date March 3, 2009

Matching pure and ethereal vocals with poetic lyrics and her uncompromising song writing craft, there is no doubt as to why Catherine MacLellan has become one of the most celebrated new singer-songwriters in Canada, and around the world, by her contemporaries and media alike.
 
Voted ‘Critics Favourite New Discovery’ by Penguin Eggs Magazine in 2008, Catherine has quickly built up a loyal fan base and has been a hit with critics worldwide. Her last album Church Bell Blues hit #1 on the iTunes Canada Roots charts, received critical acclaim and comparisons to Joni Mitchell from international magazines such as Q, Maverick, fRoots, the Austin Chronicle, and Boston Globe. She toured with Bruce Cockburn in the USA and with Steve Forbert in the UK, showcased in Paris, Cannes, Berlin, New York, London, and Memphis. 

Water in the Ground is Catherine’s third and highly anticipated release - a stunning collection that features some of the most prominent roots musicians in Canada, including Treasa Levasseur, Justin Rutledge and David Baxter.

A lighter and more cheerful mood is prominent throughout the CD. From the first track the catchy “Take A Break”   to the finale “Flowers on Your Grave”, Catherine manages to help the listener get lost in the songs and musical conversations. It is like passing time with an old friend.

“Here's a vote for Catherine MacLellan, whose upcoming third album will melt more than a few hearts this miserable winter.”
– John Law, The Niagara Falls Review

Water in the Ground is Catherine’s new album - a brilliant new collection of songs that is a testament to her reputation as a prolific and gifted songwriter.

Think Finding a Date on Valentine's Day is Hard? Imagine if your only pick up line was “woof”

Newmarket, ON, (February 11, 2009) – Are you serious about finding a lasting relationship and loyal companion that loves long walks, snuggling and listening to your every word? Ditch online dating and single bars and visit an Ontario SPCA Community adoption centre for an exciting afternoon of mingling with single furry valentines waiting to find that special someone!
 
Whether you are a single female seeking a love bug that will cuddle all night, a young athletic male seeking a free spirit who likes sports, or a friendly duo looking for new best friends, you will find the perfect match to warm your heart and home.

“We have cats and dogs of all ages, shapes, sizes and breeds, as well as birds, rabbits, guinea pigs and more,” says Director of Animal Care Christa Chadwick. “They are waiting for a home and someone to share their love and life with.”
 
Furry friends are good for your physical and emotional health and are guaranteed to make you feel loved every day! Find your true love at your local Ontario SPCA Community adoption centre just in time for Valentine’s Day!