Author: Collingwood Info

Paul Casey (a Sales Representative) and Christine Smith (a Broker) with Royal LePage Locations North Brokerage based out of Collingwood. We both service areas such as the Blue Mountains, Collingwood, Thornbury, Meaford and Wasaga Beach as well as every wonderful community across the Southern Georgian Bay. If you are looking to buy or sell and not working with an agent -- let us be your guide to real estate across this wonderful area. As professional REALTORS® we both like making the complete process of buying and selling real estate simple as possible.

Biking in Collingwood

by Collingwood InfoCollingwood things to do

With the beautiful weather “starting” to peek through the clouds, we here in Collingwood know that summer is almost here. And what better season to get on your bike than in summer? South Georgian Bay is one of the most fantastic spots to ride a bike, whether you are an avid bicyclist or a novice. People of all ages enjoying biking through and around Collingwood, both on city streets and on trails. Here are some of the best spots for biking in our area!

The Heather Pathway

Starting at Sunset Point Park, you can bike 17kms on easy terrain around this loop. You’ll venture through Millennium Park and the Hen and Chickens boardwalk, while enjoying the very scenic views of Georgian Bay. If you want to stop for a breather, you can learn more about Collingwood’s history, reading the many interpretative signs along the trail. When you get back from your ride, there is food and washrooms at Sunset Point Park for you to use before you head to your next destination.

The Georgian Trail

Starting at 3 Birch Street, you’ll bike all the way to Meaford on this 68km round trip ride. Again, you’ll have beautiful scenic views of the water, as it makes it way along the waterfront on the south shore of Georgian Bay. You can stop along many of the beaches and rest points along the way and this trail is definitely family friendly. Don’t forget your sunscreen!

Clearview-Collingwood Trail

Start at Station Museum and take this 28km round trip to Clearview and back. A crushed gravel trail, you can connect further on to the Collingwood Train Trail, an abandoned rail line that connected Collingwood to Toronto.

Creemore Loop

If you are looking for a longer ride, consider the Creemore loop, a 60km trek starting at Fisher Fields Park. This trail is definitely on the more challenging side with gentle, rolling terrain. The way back has a difficult climb called the Fairgrounds Road climb, so be prepared to work! With views of the Mad River, this is another very scenic trail to take your bike along and will be well-worth the challenge. Stop in Creemore for their fabulous restaurants or shopping and reward yourself for taking the trip.

Badjeros Loop

Starting at Fisher Fields Park, this ride is not for the uninitiated. With 85kms of steep climbs and some of the riding done on high-speed roads, the Badjeros Loops is definitely for the experienced biker. You’ll get views of Georgian Bay from the top of the hills you climb on and then you’ll drop steeply into Creemore. Your ride will be quiet at some points, as you hit Mennonite country, where you can stop and enjoy the pretty views.

Lake Eugenia Loop

Another ride for the advanced rider, start at Fisher Fields Park and proceed to the challenging route, full of climbs and descents. The Kimberley General Store is a well-known spot for bikers to stop and grab a butter tart and some fuel for your tank.

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May Long Weekend Fun in Collingwood!

by Collingwood InfoCollingwood Events

It’s finally here! This weekend we celebrate summer’s first long weekend (unofficially). The weather is supposed to be great, so visitors and residents to Collingwood will be partying and having a fabulous long weekend as there are a number of fun events planned!

Fun at the Blue Mountain Village

You’ll definitely want to head to Blue Mountain Village, where the party won’t stop all weekend long. There are a number of special events planned for the entire family, including a very special performance by Lighthouse, one of Canada’s very own success stories.

Starting on Saturday, there will be music all day at the Coca-Cola Stage in the Village Plaza. DJs will spin the latest tunes from 2pm until 7pm and then live performers will take the stage until 9pm. From 9pm until 10pm, there will be groove dancing and then a fabulous fireworks display over the mountain at 10:15pm.

On Sunday, the music continues with Fresh FM live on location and then Lighthouse’s set at 8pm. Don’t miss out on Rusty’s Rib Eating Contest at 11:30am at Rusty’s at Blue.

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On Monday, there will be even more live music under 3:30pm, plus a really cool hula hooping demonstration at 11:30am.

Be Local at the Collingwood Downtown Farmer’s Market

The May long weekend is also when the Collingwood Downtown Farmer’s Market begins, and you don’t want to miss that. In its 13th year, local vendors offer everything fresh, local and organic, as well as some great handcrafted items. The Collingwood farmer’s market adheres to the 100 mile market credo, with produce only sold that was grown with 100 miles of the market location. Head to the Pine Street parking lot at 8am until 1pm to partake in the fun.

Celebrate Art on the Street

You also won’t want to miss the 7th year of Collingwood Art on the Street, with the streets of Collingwood turning into an outdoor art gallery. This year’s theme is Collingwood celebrates Canada, a very fitting theme with Canada turning 150 years old this year.

Head to a Brew Party

Head to the Collingwood Brewery for their 3rd anniversary party, happening this Saturday from 4pm until 7pm. There will be activities for all ages, plus the live music of Neil Crowe. Adults can try out this year’s 1854 Anniversary Ale, plus the other great brews served. What’s awesome is that they’ve got a Beer Bus, which will shuttle people from Eddie Bush Memorial Arena to and from the brewery for the event.

With so many fun events and activities this May long weekend, you are sure to have too much fun in Collingwood.

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Get Inked for a Cause in Collingwood

by Collingwood InfoUncategorized

We are a philanthropic community in Collingwood, and many of our residents and businesses are always trying to find a way to give back.

If you want to get a tattoo for only $50, with a nautical theme, come to Collingwood on May 27th, when three prominent tattoo shops in the area will give you one in support of raising money for restoration of Collingwood’s lighthouse.

The Nottawasaga Lighthouse Preservation Society is a charity dedicated to restoring and protecting the Nottawasaga Island Lighthouse, a Collingwood historical icon. The lighthouse was built in 1858, used to help warn those entering the Collingwood harbour of the area’s nautical dangers. It is attributed to the saving of hundreds of lives over its storied history in Collingwood. The tower is now in various stages of deterioration, and while it is no longer a visual aid for boaters, it still stands as part of a great history.

Take part in saving this landmark, by going to one of the three tattoo shops participating and order yourself a nautical-themed tattoo. Fifty percent of the proceeds from your tattoo will go directly to the Nottawasaga Lighthouse Preservation Society.

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Where do I go?

Idols and Anchors is a marine-themed tattoo parlour at 201 Hurontario Street, in downtown Collingwood. With two amazing artists, they can do custom tattoos in a clean and sanitary workspace.

The Collingwood Tattoo Company is also located downtown, at 546 First Street. Standing since 2011, resident owner and artist Omri Amar travels often in order to bring back ideas for his shop. There are two other tattoo artists here and they often entertain guest artists through the year.

Steel N’ Ink is a chain tattoo shop, with four locations around Ontario. Their Collingwood location has six artists on staff and is located at 330 First Street. They also offer piercings.

All tattoos for this special event are walk-in only and no reservations will be made for that day. You may want to get in line early that day to ensure you get a spot. The event starts at 11am and goes until 7pm. The tattoos will be from a select set on offer. This great event may only happen once, so if you are in the market for a tattoo from some of our great local talent and want to help out a great cause and preserve Collingwood’s history, mark this on your calendar!

Mother’s Day in Collingwood

by Collingwood InfoCollingwood Events

Mother’s Day is next weekend (May 14th) and how are you going to celebrate Mom in Collingwood? There are a number of events and happenings in the area that Mom is definitely sure to love.

Brunch at the Cranberry Resort

Choose from one of two restaurants at Cranberry for your special brunch. Lakeside Seafood and Grill is offering up a la carte dishes from $14 with offerings like their signature eggs Benedict and their lemon poppyseed French toast. At Memories Restaurant, you’ll be delighted by the brunch buffet for $29.95 including roast beef, fish, breakfast items and more.

Brunch at Simplicity Bistro

Enjoy a special brunch at Simplicity and choose between the Eggs Bageldict (you read that right) or the French toast with mixed berries or the Quiche Lorraine.

Brunch at the Pottery

Dive into brunch at one of Blue Mountain’s most iconic restaurants – The Pottery. Here you will find a fantastic selection of fresh baked breads, crepes, crudités, carved roast sirloin, eggs benny and so much more. You’ll get all of this for only $28 a person, with kids under 12 only $14. Make reservations because they will be busy!

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Go for a hike at Scenic Caves

If Mom is more interested in excitement than sitting down for brunch, take her up to scenic caves for a memorable Mother’s Day adventure. Mom gets free park admission with a paid child admission from age 3-17 for the mini golf and suspension bridge with coupon. You can also use a coupon to get up to $20 off for mom and four other members of the family for the Eco Adventure tour.

Head to the spa at the Georgian Bay Hotel

Treat your mom to a Super Mom Spa Package on the 14th, which includes wine and chocolate plus:

·         60 minute relaxation massage

·         60 minute Eminence organic facial

·         Shellac manicure

·         Paraffin pedicure

This package lasts four hours and costs you $240. Maybe she’d prefer to be pampered and polished in a 2-hour, $110 package, which includes:

·         Lavendar sugar scrub

·         Paraffin hydration treatment

·         Massage

Take in the baths at Scandinave Spa

While they don’t have any particular specials going on, one of the best treats you can give Mom is a day to herself to relax in the baths at Scandinave Spa. You can buy gift cards or if you are over 18, head there with her for a day of relaxation and rest in the mountain.

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Get Set for Golf in Collingwood

by Collingwood InfoCollingwood business

You may have already noticed a familiar happening here in Collingwood. Out for your morning stroll or on your drive to walk, you see them: golfers. Collingwood may be well-known for their skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports, but once that snow melts, the links are where it’s at. We’ve got a number of amazing courses, which is why we are rated one of Ontario’s best golf destinations. Visitors and residents alike enjoy the many choices and levels of golf we have to offer. Here are just a few examples.

Blue Mountain Golf & Country Club

One of the top mentions has to go to this fantastic course, with its natural beauty on the Niagara Escarpment. This 18-hole facility is semi-private, which means there is an application process to become a member, along with initiation fees, but you may also play as a member of the public. Green fees for the public go as low as $45 on Thrifty Thursdays, but are $80 regularly, unless you are a guest of a member. There are also season pass and junior options available. If you are interested in becoming a member, you can join now and get your 2017 membership dues free!

collingwood golf
golf / golfer

Monterra Golf

A favourite of visitors to the area because of its close proximity to the Village at Blue, this easygoing course features rolling bent grass fairways through ravines and creeks, 86 bunkers and some kick-butt elevated tee shots. The setting is of course top-notch and all carts feature GPS tracking. The spring seasons started last week and goes until the snow starts falling. Memberships let you play every day except Saturday all season long, but for 2017, they are already sold out for the season. That tells you how popular this course truly is. You may have to “settle” for a round at $69 with your cart included, or a sunset round for only $39!

Osler Brook Golf and Country Club

Another beautiful course taking advantage of what our area has to offer in terms of scenic views, rolling greens and natural water features, this championship course is the spot to play this season. With views of Georgian Bay, Osler Brook is known as an environmentally responsible course and they actually increased wetland acreage on the property during construction. It was designed by Graham Cooke, a world-renowned golf course architect and this site was chosen for its drama, with high ridges and deep forests on the property. Prior to your tee off, take advantage of unlimited driving range use. Non-member play is restricted to Monday to Thursday and memberships are available to adults, juniors and intermediates.

Are you going to be heading out onto the links in Collingwood this year?

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Collingwood Live & Original Music Series

by Collingwood InfoCollingwood Events

With another stellar Collingwood event that you don’t want to miss, Collingwood Live & Original Music Series is a singer and songwriter competition featuring local talent from around the Collingwood area. This event is happening this year from May 5th to 7th at the Town Hall Theatre at the Eddie Bush Arena.

The competition saw singers and songwriters submit online video auditions in February and March to a panel of judges. Ten semi-finalists were chosen from all who entered – eight via advance entrance and two via social media through a vote system.

These ten will perform live for judges and a willing audience who will vote on May 6th, with only six advancing to the finals on May 7th, where they will be judged and the winner will be chosen.

Already those ten have won in some form, as they will get a free professional recording session, plus free accommodation for the event. First place will take home $3000, second place will get $1500 and third place will be awarded $500.

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How can you participate?

Tickets are $10 to attend the semi-finals, the finals or one of the few workshops that are happening that weekend. A better deal is the weekend pass, which includes access to the full competition and both workshops for $20. Floor seats are for age 19+ only and the bleachers are for all ages. There will also be special performances from previous winners.

The weekend workshops include “Hitting the Studio”, discussing how to get the most of your studio time and lunch is included on May 6th. The second workshop is “Songcraft”, where there will be discussions around the creative process and new approaches on May 7th.

The semi-finalists

Many of the semi-finalists are from Barrie, with others from Azilda, Kitchener, and Huntsville. They are:

·         Brian Tuomi

·         Cam Brown

·         Courtney Dubois

·         James Cameron

·         Jamie Clarke

·         Noelle Cyr

·         The Rip Nancies

·         Sereste Aaron

·         Vokal Legend

·         Whiskey River

This is a great event that helps support local music and art in our region. It is just one of the amazing events that happen in Collingwood yearly.

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Springlicious in Blue Mountain

by Collingwood InfoUncategorized

If you’re looking for a reason to dine out in the Blue Mountain Village (as if you need a reason), Springlicious is the event for you! Featuring specials on food, retail and spa services, Springlicious in Blue Mountain has already begun and goes until May 19th in the Village.

With $25 menus at 15 restaurants, plus other $25 deals, Spring is definitely the best time to visit Blue Mountain.

Enjoy steak and lobster? How about some mashed potatoes, crispy onions and chocolate cake too? You can get all of this for only $25 from Sunday to Thursday at C&A Steak Company. If steak and seafood isn’t your game, they’ve also got grilled Atlantic salmon with maple butter on the menu.

Two can eat for only $25, with two pizzas or pasta dishes for $25 at Firehall Pizza Co. Go on a Sunday night and experience live music along with your fantastic meal. Bring the kids for $6 kid’s meals.

Fancy some Irish grub? MJ Byrnes Irish Pub in Blue Mountain has a three-piece meal for you for only $25, which includes a homemade soup or salad, Collingwood beer battered fish and chips and a house-made apple crumble and ice cream.

If you like to have a variety on your menu, Oliver & Bonacini Cafe Grill has a fairly large menu for this event, including some of their favourites like:

·         Polenta fries

·         Mezze Rigatoni

·         Mushroom Bruschetta

·         Spinach and ricotta ravioli

·         Risotto Milanese

·         Pasta di pesce

Go in for lunch for only $15 for your appetizer and main dish or for dinner for $25 for both features.

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The Pottery has been around for many years and for good reason. This casual dining spot has a starter and an entree for only $25 during Springlicious and you can choose between some amazing options. Beet variations is a start that includes a variety of beets, mixed greens, fried goat’s cheese, toasted pumpkin seeds and a maple walnut dressing. Or go for the spring succotash, with mushrooms and roasted garlic, crispy yam, a fried ratatouille stuffed tomato and grilled asparagus. It all sounds so spring-like.

Head to the iwa spa before or after your meal for a $25 yoga or ganban session from Sunday to Thursday. In case you aren’t familiar with Ganban, it is definitely a unique spa experience featuring a rock sauna with stone beds that are heated. This treatment helps to soothe sore muscles and eliminate toxins from the body.

Do some shopping afterwards and enjoy specials like $25 Suncloud sunglasses at Columbia, a $25 basic logo tee at Lifted, $25 North Face tee at The North Face, boutique summer dresses for $25 at Madison Clothing or buy one, get one half price on Handmade Reiners’s Original ottomans. There are a number of other specials throughout the Village too.

Collingwood Summer Theatre

by Collingwood InfoCollingwood Events

You don’t need to travel to Stratford or Toronto to see amazing theatre: we’ve got it right here in our great town! The Collingwood Summer Theatre Festival starts next month and it is something you truly don’t want to miss.

While The Historic Gayety Theatre holds shows all year, the Summer Theatre Festival features a number of plays that will literally knock your socks off.

Start the season off right at the theatre’s gala event, The Bowties and Bubbly Ball, held on May 5th at the Georgian Bay Hotel.

The season starts off with a marital comedy – “Sexy Laundry” – which portrays a weekend in the life of Alice and Henry, a couple married for 25 years after Alice wants to spice things up a bit and Harry just isn’t game. This show isn’t truly for kids, as there is some adult humour, language and situations. Get your tickets for this show that will play from May 16th until the 20th.

The second show of the summer season celebrates everything that this great nation has to offer. In celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday, “Oh Canada, We Sing For Thee” is basically a musical celebration that will feature music from Canada’s best musical icons like Shania Twain, Neil Young, Anne Murry and so many more. Check this one out from June 20th until the 24th.

collingwood theatre

“Barefoot in the Park” is the next play on the roster, a rendition of Neil Simon’s hit play and movie. Another marital comedy, this one features newlyweds contending with a life in their small and chilly Manhattan brownstone as they adjust to being married. This one plays from July 24th until the 27th.

Summer isn’t quite over when “Over the Rainbow: The Harold Arlen Story” plays from August 15th until the 19th. A musical tribute to the man who wrote the amazing music for the Wizard of Oz, this play will explore his life and music.

You definitely don’t want to miss the last play of the bunch – “Dean and Jerry: What Might Have Been” – a musical tribute featuring all the best hilarious bits and hits from Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Playing as the leaves start to fall, from September 12th until the 16th.

If you want to see all five plays this summer, your best bet is to buy a subscription, which costs $200 a person. If you think you may have to miss one, the 4-play subscription is also a fantastic deal at only $160. Single tickets are $45 each, which means you’ll save $20 on the best subscription. Student and youth tickets are only $20, so this is a great opportunity to enrich the lives of your children with some great theatrical performances. If you want to attend the matinees, you’ll save $7 off the cost of the single ticket and pay only $38. Groups of ten or more will also save with $35 matinee tickets and $40 evening tickets.

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King for a Day

by Collingwood InfoCollingwood Events

Any Collingwood resident knows that the Elvis Festival is one of our most monumentous events. Anyone patiently waiting for that weekend in July will be excited to learn that you can get a little taste of the festival this weekend. But, it isn’t all fun and games.

A new documentary on the Collingwood Elvis Festival, called “King for a Day” is going to be screened on April 1st and 2nd at the Simcoe Street Theatre. While the documentary will talk about all the hype surrounding our festival, this documentary will also get into some of the things that the general public doesn’t know.

After having their media credentials revoked at the 2015 Collingwood Elvis Festival, a small Collingwood-area film and production company called Mountain Goat Film decided to expose some of the problems behind the festival. They did the film based on the premise that a large American corporation – Elvis Presley Enterprises – are the ones in control of our locally-produced and publicly-funded arts and culture festival.

elvis collingwood

The documentary will talk to local people, including town staff, politicians and those involved with the event. It will expose some of the perceived conflicts of interest and other issues surrounding the iconic and well-known Collingwood festival. The film will definitely get into some deep and controversial topics and will ultimately draw some conflicting opinions. The aim of the documentary is to show all sides of the Elvis Festival, including the still-immense popularity of Elvis Presley.

The filmmakers have other films, music videos and sport videos on their resume, including their current production, “Snow People”, which is filmed and about Blue Mountain. It details the last 75 years and 75 stories of people who were or are involved with the mountain in some way, including Olympic athletes, people who helped build the mountain and just people who love the moment. You can get this video on Vimeo on Demand for rent or purchase.

You can get your tickets from Theatre Collingwood for $10 at the box office or online. Show times are 2pm and 7pm. After the show, there will be a Q&A with filmmakers Tracey Johnston and Tom Strnad.

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Another Successful Entrepreneur from Collingwood: Chickapea Pasta

by Collingwood InfoCollingwood business

Being the entrepreneurial town that Collingwood is, a number of amazing businesses and products come out of here. Last summer, we told you about the success of the creators of Georgian Bay Gin Smash. Well, now there is another very successful product line in town, and this one is definitely for Collingwood residents who like to eat healthy.

Chickapea Pasta was started by Collingwood’s Shelby Taylor, who made a successful transition from health food store owner to full-fledged owner of her product line. Feeling a need for more nutritious options for kids that were also quick and easy, a pregnant Taylor got to work on her product – a gluten-free pasta made from chickpeas and lentils.

As the winner of the exC!te Experience in Barrie, where entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas, Taylor started off with a line of dried, organic baby food. From there, she got the attention of the Georgian Angel Network, where investors were keen to award her grant money to get her products out to the market. She received a reward of more than $30,000 from the Ontario Centre for Excellence Smart Start Seed Fund, which allowed her to get her product on the shelves.

The product is now sold in more than 500 Canadian stores and just recently launched in the U.S. market. Canadian Restaurant News named it as one of their products of the week and Taylor has been featured on many news shows in the country to promote her fantastic product.

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Since becoming an entrepreneurial success in Collingwood, Taylor also likes giving back and recently donated more than 3,000 boxes of her Chickapea Pasta to The Stop Community Food Centre in Toronto. She felt that everyone should be able to eat healthy foods, no matter their situation.

So what is Chickapea Pasta?

With three shapes of pasta available, Chickapea Pasta is made from organic chickpeas and red lentils – and that’s it. The ingredients are sourced locally in Ontario, although the manufacturing is done in the U.S., for the time being. The super nutritious pasta has 23 grams of protein, 11 grams of fibre and is high in iron and b vitamins. Taylor says that her pasta tastes even better than regular pasta, with a smooth texture and it may even be hard to overcook it, which is also unlike traditional pasta.

Check out the very healthy and delicious recipes on her site for ideas on how to cook Chickapea Pasta.

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