December 2010
December 1:
- Town of Penetanguishene Inaugural Meeting of 2010-2014 Council
- Township of Oro-Medonte Inaugural Meeting of 2010-2014 Council
- Township of Tiny Inaugural Meeting of 2010-2014 Council
December 2:
- Township of Severn Inaugural Meeting of 2010-2014 Council
- Township of Tay Inaugural Meeting of 2010-2014 Council
December 3:
- Jingle Bell Skate – Penetanguishene
December 4:
- Santa Claus Parade - Midland
- Candlelight Walk and Santa Claus Parade – Township of Severn (Coldwater)
December 5:
- Annual Tree Lighting – Township of Tiny
- Community Tree Lighting – Township of Tay
- Santa Claus Parade - Township of Springwater (Elmvale)
December 6:
- City of Orillia Inaugural Meeting of 2010-2014 Council
- Town of Midland Inaugural Meeting of 2010-2014 Council
- Township of Georgian Bay Inaugural Meeting of 2010-2014 Council
- Township of Springwater Inaugural Meeting of 2010-2014 Council
December 10:
December 12:
- Santa Claus Parade – Township of Springwater (Anten Mills)
December 13:
- Mental Health Centre and University of Toronto Announce New Partnership – Penetanguishene
December 18:
- Breakfast with Santa – Penetanguishene
December 25:
- Christmas Day
December 31:
- New Year’s Eve
Green Christmas
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! But beware: the gifts we exchange, the food we eat, and the traveling we do, can all have negative effects on our communities and beyond. The good news is, there are many ways that you can make your (white) Christmas a little greener too!
Food and Drink
- A meat-free meal is one option, but you don’t have to go cold turkey. Instead, try a free-range, organic turkey from a local farm, Farmer’s Market or organic store.
- Our area is blessed with an assortment of nutritious produce: turnip, carrots, potatoes, pumpkin, and apples (and more) can all be found at this time of the year.
- Try out some free range eggs and organic butter. Check with the farmers in your area!
- Consider using local maple syrup, honey, jams and jellies to sweeten your desserts!
- Look for fair trade and organic chocolates in your local businesses.
- Don’t forget about the many delicious Niagara wines that are made closer to home!
- Check the Simcoe County Farm Fresh website to find where to buy your local food this year.
Energy
- If you plan to use lights, use the lower energy output LED lights. You may want to put them on a timer too, so that you don’t risk forgetting them on at night when you go to bed.
- Consider replacing your thermostat for a programmable one. Reduce your temperature to 18C when you leave the house or go to bed. Not only will you reduce your greenhouse gas emissions, you’ll save money on your energy bill too!
- If you have guests staying with you, encourage everyone to keep the showers shorter! If your laundry loads increase, remember to also wash in cold water and use biodegradable laundry soap that is safer for our watershed.
Decorations
- Reuse burnt-out incandescent light bulbs by painting them as reindeers and Santa Claus. Add some ribbon, and hang on your tree!
- Cut holiday shapes out of cereal boxes and cover them with reused aluminum foil to add some sparkle!
Gift Giving
- When you’re out shopping, remember to bring your own reusable bag to carry your items back! It will keep your purchases a secret from curious family members too!
- Gift certificates are well received! Give a unique gift certificate from a local business or restaurant they have yet to try!
- Donate to a charity in the name of your loved one or friend where the money is used locally to help out our communities.
- Avoid using paper to wrap your gifts. Put them in a reusable bag or wrap them up in a second gift like a scarf or hat.
- Make gift tags out of scrap paper or last year’s Christmas cards.
- Minimize your purchases – see the Buy Nothing Christmas website for more ideas!