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.

Collingwood Voted Municipality of the Year

by Collingwood InfoMarch 16, 2017November 9, 2019Collingwood Events

Not only is Collingwood the #1 community for entrepreneurship, we are also the top community for encouraging and supporting special events and festivals! Collingwood was recently voted as the #1 municipality of the year with a population less than 50,000 by Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO).

Judged by an independent panel of judges, communities were considered based on their efforts to create an atmosphere that was beneficial to the success of community festivals and events, whether they were local-only events or internationally recognized.

Basically, Collingwood is an amazing place to be because of the many festivals and events we hold that have the support of the town, the businesses and the residents of Collingwood.

The two other winners with higher populations include Guelph and Mississauga.

Collingwood has won a number of other awards through FEO through the years and has always been included among the top 50 and top 100 festivals for the last 16 years.

What festivals make Collingwood so great?

The Collingwood Elvis Festival is definitely a huge draw to our town and has been since its inception in 1995. As one of the largest Elvis festivals in the world, it brings in entertainers from all over the globe. 30,000 attendees line up to see the entertainment that this festival has to offer, with more than 18,000 visitors coming from over 100km away.

But, this isn’t the only festival that Collingwood has to delight residents and visitors. Other events include:

Whiskylicious

Frozen in Time Festival

Collingwood Santa Claus Parade

Apple Harvest Festival

Craft Beer and Cider Festival

Sidelaunch Days

Taste of the Town

These are just some of the amazing festivals and events that happen in our area on a yearly basis, with new events being added all the time. It is easy to see why the FEO chose Collingwood as the best municipality for bringing these types of happenings to the area. Stay tuned for what’s to come for this spring and summer in your town!

Tagged : collingwood events

Summer Camps in Collingwood

by Collingwood InfoMarch 9, 2017September 28, 2021Uncategorized

While summer seems like eons away, it truly is sooner than you think. Once the kids finish March Break, spring flies by and summer begins. Have you booked your kids into a Collingwood summer camp yet? Here are some great options!

Elephant Thoughts

Dubbed the “coolest science day camp in the universe”, kids aged 5 to 11 get to experience very fun hands-on science activities. Located at the Collingwood Youth Centre, there are also two weeks that will be located at Kimbercote, where kids will learn about environmental science.

Cost: $45 daily or $190 weekly plus a 10% discount for teachers and a 20% discount for siblings

YMCA

The YMCA offers a number of day and overnight camps for kids aged 6 to 12. From camp explorers to art camp to soccer and even a naturalist camp, the YMCA will ensure your kids are never bored. Camps are located at the Collingwood YMCA, but there are also programs for kids to take part in with transportation to the camp site available. This includes Springwater Provincial Park, overnight camp at Camp Kitchikewana and leadership camps at Geneva Park.

Cost: Varies depending on program chosen from $136 weekly

Environment Network

The Explorations Green summer day camp is for campers aged 4 to 13. Discovering the relationship between people and their environment, this camp is challenging, collaborative and fun! Nature is the name of the game and there are weekly themes to support this. Located at Enviro Park, campers will need to bring their bikes and helmets and expect to spend their entire day outdoors.

Cost: $190 a week unless you register and pay before April 14^th and get the early bird rate of $175 weekly

Active Life Conditioning

Sports camp was never so fun! Active Life Conditioning offers one week of summer camp, from July 10^th to 14^th and this camp sells out every year. For kids born from 2002 to 2010, they group kids according to age so they can be challenged and challenge peers their age.

Cost: $350 for the week

Cranberry Golf Resort

With a number of camps for all ages, Cranberry Golf Resort has weekly camps run out of their camp barn, with access to a playground, swimming pools, tennis courts, beach volleyball, basketball, golf, and archery. Every day kids can swim, but you get to choose which camp best suits your child’s interests, including:

· Art and music

· Drama and dance

· Sports and athletics

· Science and discovery

· Golf

· Cooking

Cost: Unknown, but discounts may apply

Free Spirit Tours

For kids aged 5 to 16, this outdoor kids camp provides a very unique experience for kids at the Bygone Days Heritage Village. From trail blazers to extremists, there is something for every kid at this camp.

Cost: $385 per child (age 7-16) and $285 per child (age 5-6)

Blue Mountain

With a number of camps for every level of adventurer, Blue Mountain offers weekly camps with fun, active outdoor activities. The Plunge summer camp offers fun in the waterpark, along with activities like hiking, tennis, swimming lessons, golf and much more. The Beachside camp offers a number of great activities like games, biking, kayak and even the amazing race. Tennis camp is for those kids over age 11 that want to improve their game.

Costs: Varies

These are just some of the amazing camps offered to kids in the Collingwood area. With so much choice, parents will have a tough time choosing the right one.

Magic of Children in the Arts

by Collingwood InfoMarch 2, 2017Collingwood Events

A very magical event is about to take place in Collingwood – the Magic of Children in the Arts 2017 art exhibition. The culmination of many months of Collingwood and Clearview children creating art and it being collected and now displayed, this is Canada’s largest children’s art exhibition. This year’s themes include:

· Imagine: Our Future Habitat

· Imagine: Your Portrait in the Future

· Imagine: Your Favourite Things about Canada

· Imagine: Your Imaginary Canadian Creature

This year’s theme is in celebration of Canada’s 150^th birthday, happening this year and kids were asked to imagine the possibilities of Canada and Canadians in the future. Any media were allowed to be used, including sculptures and kids were asked to create an artist’s statement.

Started in 1994, by Lory MacDonald, one of many amazing local artists, the exhibition is now celebrating its 23^rd year! A partnership between Magic of Children in the Arts, the Town of Collingwood, the public library, as well as local businesses, community groups, parents, volunteers and of course the kids, this charitable event is incredible for everyone involved.

All artwork will be displayed at the Collingwood Public Library starting March 4^th until April 28^th and will be viewable during library hours. The artwork drop-off dates have now passed, but mark this on your calendar for next year if you are interested!

Upcoming with the exhibition are awards receptions for the children who have participated. These will include receiving a prize package, seeing the show, along with refreshments, music and activities for children from kindergarten to grade 8. Older kids will be able to experience a press gallery, which gives the event a more professional feeling. Prior to the opening of the exhibition, there were also many free art workshops through January and February at the library. There are two upcoming art workshops, both of which registration is required.

· March 12^th and 13^th – Community art star workshop

· April 17^th – Family art day

All artwork is reviewed by a professional artist and art materials are awarded to every child who participates.

You can still donate or sponsor for this or future year’s exhibitions, as the entire event is made possible only through donations and sponsorships.

While waiting to visit the event, kids should check out the website for fun activities they can do online or get direction for art activities they can do on their own.

How Airbnb is Affecting Collingwood’s Real Estate & Rental Market

by Collingwood InfoFebruary 22, 2017Collingwood Real Estate

Collingwood is a town with a population of almost 21,000 residents who live here year-round. But, we also have a very thriving visiting population of those who come here to experience all that Collingwood and the Blue Mountains have to offer. While those visitors are here, they inevitably need somewhere to stay. While there are a number of hotels and other types of rental accommodations, short-term accommodations can be had by using a service such as Airbnb, an online marketplace that advertises vacation rentals in homes and apartments. The owner of the home or apartment sets up the accommodations and uses Airbnb to coordinate bookings. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

Airbnb started off as a way that owners could rent out a room or their entire dwelling to those looking for affordable short-term stays, but it has evolved to a giant marketplace where people are purchasing dwellings with the purpose of renting them on an Airbnb service. This is technically a direct violation of the service and is causing larger problems within the real estate market.

Because of the sheer number of properties being used for short-term rental purposes, affordable long-term rental housing is being eaten up. Vacancy rates are dropping while rents are increasing. The short-term housing market is much more lucrative for property owners, so there are even stories of people being evicted and being replaced by short-term renters through these types of services.

Implications for Collingwood

In Collingwood, where tourism is a large part of the framework of the town, this could amount to a significant issue, as it is in other tourism-heavy cities in Canada. Airbnb has over 300 listings for the town of Collingwood and the Blue Mountains, with everything from entire cottages to private rooms. Located throughout the town, including in typically suburban neighbourhoods, it is easy to see that short-term rentals could affect the long-term rental market in Collingwood.

Even in 2014, vacancy rates were incredibly low and were even called disastrous, with rents rising along with the decreasing rates. Airbnb’s impact could very well decrease the number of affordable rental units for residents in Collingwood, while supplying them with raised rents.

Another issue that should be looked at is the fact that there is already fewer and fewer homes for sale all over Canada and by having investors purchase properties for investment purposes, it can encourage the shut-out of other buyers. With increased competition for a limited amount of homes, buyers will have a harder and harder time finding an affordable home to buy.

Done correctly, Airbnb can be a viable option for those looking to help with mortgage costs and daily living expenses, when they rent out a vacant room in their home or their house while they are away. Considering the number of first-time homebuyers in the market and the increase in house prices, new buyers could supplement their incomes, without affecting the long-term rental market.

Tagged : collingwood real estate / collingwood rentals

Treatments for your Winter Back Pain in Collingwood

by Collingwood InfoFebruary 14, 2017July 20, 2021Uncategorized

We have been blasted by snow since the beginning of February. Of course, we can’t expect not to be, while living in Collingwood. Some people love it, as it means they can participate in all of the great winter recreation activities available in the Collingwood area. Others despise the snow and all of the shovelling has probably caused some to have aching backs. The good thing is that there are a number of health care providers in Collingwood that specialize in treating your pain.

Lifemark Sport Medicine and Rehabilitation Centre in Collingwood provides services including physiotherapy, massage, kinesiology and sports/athletic care. They use techniques like Active Release (ART), intramuscular stimulation (IMS) and manual therapy.

If you are looking for something unique, but that works for chronic pain reduction and management, as well as injuries, Low Intensity Laser Therapy is said to reduce your healing time. Offered at the Marsden Wellness Clinic, this innovative treatment provides therapy through light. This clinic also offers massage and osteopathy, along with athletic therapy.

Dr. Beth’s Chiropractic Clint & Bioflex Laser Therapy offers chiropractic care for people of all ages. Prescribing all sorts of state of the art technologies, they’ll work to get you feeling 100% in no time. After 20 years in business in Collingwood, her name is trusted in the community. This clinic uses:

· NASA certified nerve scan technology

· Arthrostim adjusting instrument

· BioFlex Laser Therapy

Bowen therapy, also known as Bowtech is a therapy where subtle inputs to the body allow the body to heal itself. For relief of a number of injuries and acute and chronic health issues done in a holistic way, Isabella Lehmann is a certified Bowen practitioner who can help to heal you.

Sometimes back pain can need varying treatments, and finding a clinic that can give you all of the treatments in one spot is definitely a blessing. At the Collaborative Health Group in Collingwood, you can get chiropractic care, massage therapy and acupuncture for all of your ailments. A free 15-minute consultation is the best way to find out how to treat your issues.

For more vigorous health issues like post-operative conditions, repetitive strain injuries (like the ones you may get from shovelling, but also from using a computer mouse), as well as sports injuries and chronic conditions, a visit to Peak to Shore Physiotherapy in Collingwood might be the ticket. Not only will they use manual, hands-on therapy, they’ll prescribe exercise programs that will help to heal you and keep you healed.

These are just a few of the great clinics in Collingwood that can help heal your winter woes caused by too much skiing (if there is such a thing), too much shovelling, or just the general malaise your body feels when staying inside.

Collingwood is Sponsoring Syrian Refugees

by Collingwood InfoFebruary 7, 2017November 9, 2019Uncategorized

Of course you’ve seen the news about the Syrian refugee crisis and wondered how you could help. Did you know that there is a Collingwood Syrian Sponsorship group? With Collingwood being such a charitable town with amazing people, it is no wonder that Collingwood has raised $92,000 to support Syrian families relocating here.

The Collingwood Syrian Family Sponsorship Committee is comprised of a good cross-section of the community, from residents, business owners, home developers, church representatives and radio personalities. Many businesses in the community are part of the sponsorship efforts and include:

· All Saints Anglican Church

· Apple Self Storage

· Town of Collingwood

· Corus Entertainment

· Elephant Thoughts

· RMD Communications

· SummerBound

· Society of St. Vincent de Paul

· Telus

· Trinity United Church

· Cranberry Golf Resort

· Collingwood Horticultural Society

· Collingwood United SC

· Play it Again Sports

The first sponsored family by the committee arrived in Canada last June and a recent update tells that the Bozan family is settling in very well. The father has found part-time work and is also busy volunteering and taking English lessons. The children are enjoying their new Canadian school and are learning English rapidly.

The second sponsored family is expected to be welcomed at some point in 2017. The Town of Collingwood is working towards getting the federal government to speed up Syrian refugee approvals, recently passing a motion asking for action.

Prior to the first family’s arrival in Canada, local volunteers spent over 300 hours sorting clothing, toys, bedding and personal hygiene items that were donated through the organization Simcoe Cares. Because of the generosity of the people in our community, some of the goods were donated to other communities in Southern Ontario who were welcoming larger numbers of Syrian families. But, help is still needed and donations, especially monetary donations, are always welcomed. Donation money goes towards:

· Housing costs

· Food costs

· Transportation costs

· Counseling

· English tutoring

· Pre-school or daycare costs

The refugee crisis in Syria is still ongoing and help is always needed. Welcoming refugee families to our Collingwood community is a simple way that we can help. Monetary donations over $20 will be awarded a tax receipt, but you can also donate household items and/or your time as well. Contact one of the resource leaders for more information. Alternatively, you can check out the Sharing Registry, which lists items that are still needed. Clothing donations will not be accepted until the status of the second family is known and of what they need.

Tagged : collingwood charities / collingwood news

Services for New Moms in Collingwood

by Collingwood InfoFebruary 2, 2017September 28, 2021Uncategorized

Being a new mom is tough. Most mornings you want to get out of the house just to keep yourself awake. As a new mom in Collingwood, you may be looking for activities to keep you and your little one busy and meet other new moms for connection.

Kidding Around

This almost brand new indoor playground is great for moms of toddlers and preschoolers. A 5,000 square foot space of play equipment for kids under 10, with a dedicated toddler area, your kids will have fun here while you get to relax and chat with the other parents. There is an in-house café and free wi-fi too!

Active Life Conditioning

Not only will you meet other moms, spend time with your baby, you’ll also get into shape. Having a new baby can be tough on the body and you’ll feel great about yourself attending some of the awesome mom and baby classes at Active Life Conditioning. Classes offered include mom and baby core @ the barre and mom and baby conditioning.

Crossfit Mozomo

If you want to take your workout a step further, but wonder how you’ll do it with baby, Crossfit Mozomo encourages moms (and dads) to bring their kids along during their workout. While they don’t have a childminding area, they want to encourage new moms to get back to the gym so she makes time for me.

Collingwood Ontario Early Years Centre

Many new moms find the early years centres to be lifelines in their new mommyhood. With a fun, drop-in facility open daily (except Sunday), you won’t even feel the new to get out of your yoga pants to spend the day here with your young children. You’ll want to drop in to their centre to get more info on parent education workshops, playgroups, literacy, breastfeeding support and so much more. You can even borrow equipment free to use at home or birthday parties. There are also a number of outreach centres in our neighbouring towns, so don’t feel left out if you don’t want to travel into Collingwood for some free fun. Some of the scheduled activities at the centre include:

· Music and movement

· Pow Wow drumming with Lisa Newman

· Pre-natal class

· Baby & me

· The Breastfeeding Place

· Triple P parenting course

Salsa Babies

This chain is located around the world, but there are classes available in Collingwood. There is very little information on the site, so simply send them a message to find out about dancing with your little one.

Snowman Mania in Wasaga Beach

by Collingwood InfoJanuary 26, 2017July 20, 2021Collingwood Events

Get the kids some fresh air this Family Day weekend at check out Snowman Mania in nearby Wasaga Beach. This is the 12^th year of celebrations and this one promises to be bigger and better. Now four days long on February 17^th to 20^th, this event started off as a simple snowman building competition. While the snowmen building competitions are still going strong, there is just so much more to enjoy at Snowman Mania.

There will be music and food, winter sports, a talent showcase along with charity fundraising. Admission is absolutely free, so this is a great event for the entire family. Some events do require you purchase a very affordable $2 Snowman Mania button, which you can get from the Wasaga Beach RecPlex, YMCA, Town Hall, Wasaga Beach Public Library, Chamber of Commerce and other locations in the Wasaga Beach area. Most events are occurring at the Wasaga Beach RecPlex, which is at 1724 Mosley Street in Wasaga Beach. There will be additional parking at the Superstore on 45^th Street.

The kick-off event starts at 5pm at the RecPlex, with music from the James Barker Band, Rebecca Rain and Meghan Patrick. There is an indoor children’s activity hut with face painting, singing and dancing. Outdoor fire pits will keep you warm as you listen to the great Canadian talent. The end of the night will feature a fireworks show.

The weekend’s calendar of events include:

· Brunch & Art Show

· Free family yoga class

· Silent auction

· Free public swim (both at the RecPlex and the YMCA)

· 3 on 3 hockey tournament

· Craft beer tasting

· Chili cook off

· Snowshoe demo

· Pancake breakfast

· Laser tag

· Dinner and a movie – showing Moana

· Hand racing remote control car track

· Figure skating show

· Classic pedal planes

· Rock Solid wrestling

· Free family skating (held at Stars Arena)

Of note are a few events that will surely have you wanting to attend Snowman Mania (if the above list doesn’t sway you already!). The Superdogs will be making three appearances on Sunday at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. These dogs have toured all around the globe and will definitely be one of the highlights of the weekend. You will need your Snowman Mania button to attend.

The other fantastic, not-to-miss event will be the Polar Plunge. The bravest people in the Wasaga Beach area will dunk themselves into icy water, all for charity. You can do it too!

A number of sponsors made this event possible, showing their definitely community spirit. Remember to dress warm and have fun!

Tagged : collingwood events

Whiskylicious in Collingwood

by Collingwood InfoJanuary 20, 2017Collingwood Events

Looking for something unique to do this week in Collingwood? Savour all that is well and good about Canadian whisky at Collingwood’s Whiskylicious event. This event has already started, but goes until January 28^th. This amazing 12-day festival hosts a number of events, all inspired by Collingwood Whisky, a delicious whisky made at a distillery in Collingwood.

All events are hosted by the outstanding local chefs we have in the Collingwood area, where can taste whisky-inspired dishes, learn how to create some signature drinks and have a memorable experience. Many restaurants in the area will be participating and these include:

· The Huron Club

· Azzurra

· Memories Restaurant

· The Smoke

· Beaver & Bulldog

· Lakeside Seafood & Grill

· Harbour Street Fish Bar

· Gustav Chophouse & Bar

· Cabin Bistro

· Reef & Beef

· Tremont Cafe

· The Iron Skillet

· Bent Taco

· Northwinds Brewhouse & Eatery

· Olde Town Terrace

· Santini’s Ristorante

· Pie Wood Fired Pizza Joint

· The Dam Pub

· Tesoro

· Creemore Coffee Studio

· Brunello at 27 On 4^th

· The Candy Factory

· The Strand

· Crave the Chocolatier

Each spot will have a specialized menu for the event, pairing whisky with their wonderful offerings. Imagine a fresh Collingwood Whisky whipped cream, layered with raspberries and toasted oats and served with a nip or a dram of Collingwood Whisky. How about a Collingwood Whiskey Burger or a pan-seared local pork chop with a Collingwood Whisky puree? The possibilities are endless in this town, where the chefs are creative and the local food is literally to-die-for.

The Huron Club is the place to be to learn how to craft signature whisky drinks. Each night features a different personality, teaching you to mix a drink in an intimate, yet engaging setting.

Whiskylicious Central is a 2-day finale event that happens during the festival downtown. Entry is free, but classes or tastings are extra. Located in the Tremont Cafe and Studios on Simcoe Street, experience barrel rolling, art, a whisky master class, live music, and of course, good food and beverage.

On Friday, January 27^th, you can attend the Collingwood LCBO for a bottle engraving from 2 – 6pm, then head over to Whiskylicious Central to see a live band and try some whisky barrel-aged beer. Later, there will be a cookbook demo and tasting and these types of fun events are happening all that weekend.

You can get your tickets for the master class or cookbook tasting online for $30, as well as get your free tickets for the Whiskylicious event on Friday. If you plan to take part in the special menus at the many restaurants in the area, simply walk in or call to make a reservation.

Winter Workshops in Collingwood

by Collingwood InfoJanuary 11, 2017July 20, 2021Uncategorized

DIY is so popular these days as people look to make unique items for their home without the price tag that one-of-a-kind sometimes fetches. But, if your artistic talent stalled in grade 3, you may need a little help getting started. Luckily, the Collingwood area is full of artistic and creative talent and many are offering to give you a hand to reaching your DIY dreams. Spend your winter learning a new skill at one of these amazing and local workshops:

Baywood Designs

This beautiful store offers a number of paint workshops so you can transform your pieces into exactly what you envisioned. These include:

· Introduction to furniture painting

· Bring your own piece workshop

· Ikea step stool workshop

· Kitchen cabinet makeover

Using Annie Sloan paint and prices range from $90 – $120 per person.

Home Depot

Home Depot’s latest venture is holding workshops on a variety of topics for DIYers of all ages. You can learn everything from how to renovate your basement to building a crate tool box. All of their workshops are completely free and the basement renovation workshops are held in a series so you can learn every single aspect of renovating your Collingwood basement just from going to these workshops. There is a schedule online, but you can get more information by going into the store and finding out about Do-It-Herself and Kids workshops.

Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts

While you may be a master crafter, there are other skills you wish to acquire and the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts could just be the spot to go to hone your artistic skills. They have regular workshops that are 1 or 2-day, with small class sizes. These include:

· Drawing fundamentals

· Mixed media

· Zentangle

· Spiral wire necklace

Costs and materials vary for each workshop, but if you are looking to gain some creative knowledge, these workshops are a must!

The Bay School of Art

To learn more about self expression, The Bay School of Art regularly holds workshops and classes for adults and teens. No matter your level of artistry, they will have something for you.

Collingwood Cooking Academy

If your vision of DIY is to cook the perfect meal, you don’t have to leave Collingwood to learn how to do it. The Collingwood Cooking Academy teaches everything from Cooking 101 to a Tour of Italy. Classes and workshops are hands-on and are inexpensive at $90 per person. You’ll learn to cook like a chef in no time.

Tagged : collingwood workshops