North Simcoe Rotaract Hosts Thrilling Cardboard Toboggan Races at Sand Pit Hill
By Kevin Cascagnette, Vice President, North Simcoe Rotaract, March 27, 2025
PENETANGUISHENE, ON – The North Simcoe Rotaract Club brought high-energy winter fun to the community on Sunday, February 23, 2025, with the annual Cardboard Toboggan Races at Sand Pit Hill on Lorne Avenue. Originally scheduled as part of the 77th Annual Winterama, the event was postponed by a week due to weather—but that didn’t stop an incredible turnout.
With 33 toboggans hitting the hill and a crowd of enthusiastic spectators cheering them on, racers of all ages competed for a variety of fun awards, including:
- Grand Champion: The Valentine Crew (Valentine Family)
- Creativity Award Team Flower Power (Jacobs Family)
- Best Wipeout Team Whittmore (Whittmore Family)
- Team Spirit Team Cheeze U L8ER (Nagel-Desjardins Family)
- Bravest Tobogganer Team Unicorn (Ribout Family)
- Most Loaded Toboggan Team Tubboggan (Kenney-Dick Family)
- Exceptional Construction Team Transport Le Caron (Ethan McLeod, Jaxson Moss, Isa Switzer, and Lawson Leroux)
Generously sponsored by Minds Alive Toy Store, the event also featured hot chocolate from Sunday Restoration, keeping participants and spectators warm throughout the action-packed afternoon.
“Once again, we were dazzled by the creativity, ingenuity, enthusiasm, and joy displayed by this wonderful community,” said Parise LeClerc, chair of the event. “The Cardboard Toboggan Races are only as good as the people who help make them happen!”
The Cardboard Toboggan Races continues to be a community favourite, proving that a little cardboard and a lot of imagination can go a long way. North Simcoe Rotaract thanks all participants, sponsors, and spectators for making this event a huge success.
About North Simcoe Rotaract
North Simcoe Rotaract is a service club of young professionals dedicated to community service, leadership, and making a difference in the North Simcoe area. They meeting in bi-weekly on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings.
Tariffs ‘a real threat’ to Midland automotive manufacturing: mayor
By: Derek Howard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: MidlandToday.ca, Mar 05, 2025
Midland council approved a symbolic motion at the recent council meeting as “more than just a signal to the community that we’re not ‘head in the sand’ syndrome,” said Mayor Bill Gordon, anticipating that U.S. tariffs would impact procurement for the municipality and its residents.
The motion, looking at municipal procurement updates, was approved days prior to time-questionable tariffs from the U.S. government which were implemented this week against Canadian goods; retaliatory tariffs were announced on Tuesday against the U.S.
Gordon had crafted the motion with assistance from municipal procurement staff, reflecting comments he had made on his personal website into a more formal item at the council meeting.
In essence, the lengthy motion requested town staff to prepare a report when tariffs were implemented which addressed economic impacts, alternative and mitigation strategies, and council recommendations.
Coun. Catherine MacDonald pointed out that such duties were already within the realm of town staff and asked why a report was required. Gordon replied that “without this direction, this is more symbolic”, but opted to change the wording of the motion to await a time when tariffs would arrive.
“The question remains from a small municipality: what role do we play along from just going along for the ride?” said Gordon in the meeting. “Is our wagon literally hitched and we have no options, or, should we be preparing for the worst – hoping for the best but planning for the worst?”
In speaking with MidlandToday following the meeting, Gordon stated that the U.S. tariffs held particular volatility for the businesses and residents of Midland.
“From a manufacturing perspective, it’s a real threat,” said Gordon. “Most of our manufacturing is tied intimately into the automotive supply chain.”
He shared that he had attended a discussion with members of the Ontario Auto Mayors caucus last week along with Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne.
“All automotive manufacturing in Canada and the U.S. will end within two days; like, it’ll just stop,” predicted Gordon, “because there’s no parts – they just can’t continue.
“I look at the impact in a small urban municipality like Midland: that could mean mass layoffs; it could signal the exit of some of these manufacturers from Canada. None of this happens overnight, but it’s a cascade effect.”
Gordon added that whereas many procurement items would be scrutinized, some could not be delayed such as the $30 million Housing Enabling Water System Fund received from the province last year for usage within a short timeframe.
The procurement report motion is available in the council agenda on the town of Midland website.
Council meetings are held every third Wednesday, and can be viewed on Rogers TV cable channel 53 when available, or through the livestream on the Rogers TV website. Archives of council meetings are available through Rogers TV and on the Town of Midland’s YouTube channel.
Midland bridge player, Josef Rabolt, celebrates 100!
Submitted by Vern Beacock, Mar. 10, 2025
North Simcoe Bridge and Games Club celebrates the 100th birthday of their longtime bridge player, Josef Rabolt.
Josef, who has two children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, was born in Kormend, Hungary. Josef together with his wife Isolde and their two children immigrated to Canada in June 1958.
He lived and worked in Toronto until May 1973, when they moved to the Waubashene/PortSevern area.
In 2003, Josef and his wife moved to Midland. Sadly, Isolde died in 2008. Josef is a remarkably independent, active and determined individual. He lives on his own and until last year still drove but only within the town. He has good health, good eyesight and an acute mind.
Throughout the decades, he has lawn bowled and played golf, achieving two holes-in-one. Bridge is his longtime favourite pastime and he continues to play duplicate bridge every Thursday afternoon with the North Simcoe Bridge and Games Club located at 1157 Hwy 93.
On Thursday March 6, 2025, this happy event will be marked with a light lunch and birthday cake followed by a fun afternoon of duplicate bridge at Brooklea Golf and Country Club, 8567 Hwy 93 from noon to 4 pm
North Simcoe Bridge and Games Club President Gail Chapman noted, “At 100, Josef trumps the rest of us!”