The County of Simcoe has a history of being one of United Way Simcoe Muskoka’s strongest partners in driving positive change. Not only are we fortunate enough to work next door to County staff, but the support that we get every year from the County...
By: Mary Ferguson If you get a chance to meet Melissa Hurst, do it. You will never forget it. Melissa is the mother of Luke, who died of an opioid overdose on Mother’s Day in 2017. He was 19. Since his death, she has taken her message of...
Poverty isn’t easy to escape. The many issues that arise from poverty help to feed the cycle that keeps people trapped. Worse, this cycle often traps the children of those living in poverty, which means that many are stuck from a young age. One of the...
By: Mary Ferguson The end of summer is upon us as parents and students prepare to return to the classroom, which for many families can put additional pressure on their budget. Recent studies by Deloitte Consulting found that the cost of back to school shopping is $519...
Tiana is a Barrie communications professional, specializing in event planning and social media strategies. She is passionate about the ability of effective communications to elevate philanthropy, enhance donor stewardship, drive strategy and improve leadership. Since graduating from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2018, Tiana has worked...
By: Deborah Burrows Poverty today doesn't look like it did a decade or two ago. The way that we have faced poverty has changed since Canada was founded and continues to evolve even today. We’ve had poverty in our area for centuries. In fact, in 1791, when...
Most residents of Simcoe Muskoka have been enjoying the sunshine and clear skies that we’ve been having this summer, and so they should. Our region is home to over 1,600 lakes, tens of thousands of acres of forest, historic downtown districts and a ton of...
Summer is in full swing in Simcoe Muskoka and there’s no shortage of things for you to do while the weather is nice. We’re lucky to live in one of the most beautiful regions in the world, so it would be a shame for you...
By: Dale Biddell, United Way Simcoe Muskoka CEO Women care about other girls and women. Starting the Women’s Leadership Council at United Way Simcoe Muskoka made it clear: women don’t look away from the issues that make us uncomfortable – our inner voices tell us to...
When people think of poverty, they often think in terms of absolute poverty or the low-income threshold. What people don’t normally think of is just how much you need to survive month-to-month. That number is known as the Living Wage, and it varies from region to...
