Earlier this month at a community meeting, I had the privilege of hearing Joyce Jonathan Crone of Hope Arises Project speak about truth and reconciliation. As part of her presentation, each person received a strip of orange fabric and was challenged to search the National Student Memorial Register and record the name, residential school, and date of death of a child who never returned home.

The name that stood out to me was Abel Hamilton. He was likely close in age to my own sons when he died. He also shared my mother’s maiden name and died at a residential school in Manitoba, the province where my fraternal grandmother was raised. In that moment, this history felt deeply personal. For all of these reasons, Abel’s name resonated with me.

As we approach the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, it is important to remember that the last residential school in Canada closed in 1996. This is not distant history.

We are all called to learn, listen, and confront difficult truths. Because without truth, there can be no reconciliation.

Thank you, Joyce, for your powerful teachings and challenge to remember. To learn more about Hope Arises, please go to HopeArises.ca

Your United Way in Action

OPP Truck Pull

On September 24^th the OPP held their annual Truck Pull. The event rallies teams to tug a truck and raise funds for United Way Simcoe Muskoka’s work in local poverty reduction, community health, and youth support.

This year’s theme was “The road less travelled” – in one sense, it is the path of compassion, for United Way Simcoe Muskoka it is stepping forward to help those in our community in need.

In another perspective, it’s the very terrain the OPP navigate, tackling challenging off-road conditions to reach people and places others cannot.

This year’s event has raised $13, 576. Thank you to the OPP for your support.

Also thank you to Orillia Dodge for their generous $5,000 sponsorship of the OPP Truck Pull.

The People Behind United Way Simcoe Muskoka

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Holiday With A Hero

Holiday with a Hero is our annual event bringing local heroes such as police, paramedics, firefighters, and others, together with vulnerable children to create a magical day. With many families struggling to make ends meet, we know that the holidays can create stress and worry.

Let’s work together to create joy and excitement for these kids instead!

We’re looking for volunteers to help with, activity centre set-up, breakfast service, and family activities & ongoing cleanup.

EVENT DETAILS

When: Saturday, November 21, 2026

Where: YMCA Innisfil 7315 Yonge St #1, Innisfil, ON

When: 8:30 AM-11:30 AM

To Sign Up Please Email: HWAH@uwsimcoemuskoka.ca

Reaching Home Funding

United Way Simcoe Muskoka, in partnership with its Regional Advisory Board (RAB), invites organizations operating in rural and remote communities across Ontario to submit applications for funding consideration for projects starting in April 2027.

Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy is a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada. This program provides funding to urban, Indigenous, rural and remote communities to help them address their local homelessness needs.

Learn More