Want to watch some of Ontario’s best paddlers? Got a craving for cleaning up your community? Feel like learning a bit more about local policing? It’s all there for you this weekend.
The warmer weather is bringing out more than just flowers and tree buds — there are so many fun, interesting and important events taking place in South Simcoe on Saturday and Sunday that, frankly, we can’t fit them all into this column.
But here’s a snippet of what’s happening in Bradford and Innisfil in the coming days:
Marsh Mash
The annual contest is the fifth-oldest marathon canoe race in Ontario. It attracts canoeists, kayakers, stand up paddleboarders and outrigger paddlers from across the province. The event is at Sovereign Grace Church (1466 5th Sideroad) on Saturday, May 11. Athlete check-in runs from 8 to 9 a.m., with races starting at 10. Advance registration is required. For more details, visit townofbwg.com.
Pitch-In Day returns
The Town of Innisfil’s annual Pitch-In Day happens Saturday. From 9 to 11 a.m., residents are invited to collect litter from road edges and ends, public trails and parks. Volunteers can grab clean-up kits at Innisfil Town Hall (2101 Innisfil Beach Rd.) and Innisfil ideaLAB and Library branches during operating hours. Throughout the designated clean-up time on May 11, kits can also be obtained at Innisfil Fire and Rescue Services stations 1 (780 Innisfil Beach Rd.) and 2 (1214 20th Sideroad). As well, an appreciation barbecue will be held at Centennial Park (2870 7th Line) from noon to 1:30 p.m. on May 11, with free refreshments, food and entertainment provided to those who volunteered. To help determine the level of community participation and ensure there are sufficient materials available, folks are asked to register online.
Spring Family Fest
CANDY (Children and Youth Entertainment in Simcoe County) presents the Spring Family Fest on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It includes fun-filled activities and entertainment for all ages, including Mother’s Day card making, a vendor market, games and a musical performance by Anna Goldsmith. Admission is free with a donation to the Innisfil Food Bank. The event takes place at IBR Table Greens Farm at 2177 9th Line. More information can be found on CANDY’s Facebook page.
Author talk
The Innisfil ideaLAB and Library’s Lakeshore branch (967 Innisfil Beach Rd.) will host a discussion Saturday with Janika Oza, author of the novel, A History of Burning, winner of the 2024 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature and a finalist for the 2023 Governor General's Award for Fiction. The book extends across India, Uganda, England and Canada, and shows how one act of survival can influence multiple generations of a family. Registration is required. The talk starts at 1 p.m. For more, call 705-431-7410 or visit innisfil.bibliocommons.com.
Police Week open houses
South Simcoe Police Service is hosting its annual open houses on Saturday. Stop by the North (Innisfil) and South (Bradford) divisions and talk to staff, tour the stations and check out vehicles. Specialized units on display include traffic and marine, emergency response, forensic identification, K9, community services and auxiliary. Other community and first-responder partners will also be on hand. Visit the South station (81 Melbourne Dr.) from 9 to 11 a.m.; the North station (2137 Innisfil Beach Rd.) opens from 1 to 3 p.m.
Public skating hits the ice Bradford
The BWG Leisure Centre (471 West Park Ave.) will host all-ages public skating on Sunday, May 12. Everyone who participates in this leisure program should consider wearing a helmet and gloves while on the ice. Children nine years old or younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, while food, drinks, skating aids, sticks, pucks, balls, sleds, chairs and strollers are not permitted. Skating begins at 12:15 p.m. More details can be found at calendar.townofbwg.com.
Got an upcoming event or news tip to share? Email it to [email protected].
