Welcome to the end-of-year, holiday edition of our newsletter. 🎄
We are wrapping up an incredible year for Village Media, thanks to you!
As we navigate through this season of gratitude, let's take a moment to reflect on our collective accomplishments and celebrate the dedication and hard work that continue to drive us forward.
Below are some year end highlights to close 2023 on a high note!
Since our last newsletter we are thrilled to have welcomed the following new Villagers: 👋
BradfordToday & InnisfilToday editor Chris Simon
Marketing & Communications Specialist Katie Wright
Welcome 👏
Introducing the Villager Volunteer Program ❤️
Local non-profits and charity initiatives are the lifeblood of our communities. What better way to deliver on our mission of strengthening the communities we serve than by continuing to support them in any way we can.
The Villager Volunteer Program provides an opportunity to help those working on the front lines to improve the quality of life in our hometowns. The newly launched initiative offers each employee the opportunity to take up to 10 hours of paid volunteer hours each calendar year for you to volunteer your time for a local charity of your choice.
We are eager to have our team further deepen the connection with our communities and have our Village show up to help those in need.
The anniversary season 🥳
We celebrated two major milestones in the fall: BayToday’s 20th anniversary and Village Media turning 10!
As we look back on all that has been accomplished during the years since launch - none of it could be done without the dedication of everyone in our Village.
Delivering a crucial service to our readers is both an honour and a responsibility we don’t take lightly. We look forward to what’s to come in our communities over the next decade 🎊
The season of celebrations 🎊
BarrieToday recently celebrated outstanding local leaders with its second annual Community Builders Awards program.
The awards provide an opportunity to recognize extraordinary individuals and groups who have created lasting positive change in Barrie, making it a better place for years to come.
To learn more about the inspiring recipients of this year’s awards, visit here.
The giving season 🎁
Our annual Food Drives made a big impact with record fundraising results this year!
Over $41,000 in cash (between reader donations plus local business and Village donation matches), and 135 food packages/gift cards were donated to food banks in nine cities across our Village.
At a time of year where food banks feel the strain of holiday demand, this type of support goes a long way. A big thank you to everyone who helped give a hand up to those in need this holiday season.
We gave a ‘beary’ Merry Christmas to over 200 local children with our annual Teddy Bear Caper. This year, we raised $17,000 in four communities and donated 225 cuddly bears to children in the hospital over the holidays.
The annual Teddy Bear Caper calls on the Guelph, Cambridge, Elora Fergus and Halton Hills business communities to purchase stuffed animals to be given to the children in hospital. In addition to donating the stuffies, 100 per cent of all funds raised during this initiative are donated to those community’s hospitals. In the previous 6 years, GuelphToday alone has raised over $50,000 for The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital.
What a fun way to give back 🧸
To celebrate our recent 10th anniversary milestone, we were thrilled to donate $1,000 each to five separate organizations that are on the front lines of helping vulnerable populations in Village Media’s hometown: The Sault Ste. Marie Soup Kitchen Community Centre, St. Vincent Place, Pauline’s Place, Women in Crisis and the Sault Ste. Marie Humane Society.
While these organizations stopped by our downtown office to pick up their donations, we also shared the 500 Holiday Smile Cookies that our readers helped us purchase (with all funds raised benefitting our local Children’s Aid Society Kinship Service program) for them to share with community members who use their food banks and shelter resources.
ICYMI: This is Burlington
What makes Burlington special?
That was the question a new special series, launched to coincide with BurlingtonToday’s first anniversary, aimed to answer.
It took a closer look at the people, businesses and unique corners tucked away in Burlington that make it not just a great city, but a great community.
From a feature on the best-kept-secret neighourhood diner to the magic magnetic hill and everything in-between, you can learn more about Burlington with the This is Burlington series.
✨ Spotlight on sponsorships ✨
We sponsored almost 40 community events around our Village in the last few months, including:
BarrieToday
Simcoe Makers Market, May Court Club of Barrie - Homes for the Holidays, Benefit Show Net - Country Legends, Support and Hope for Individuals and Families Today
BayToday
Nipissing Serenity Hospice - Hike for Hospice, Capitol Centre, Near North Palliative Care Network - Monster March, Benefit Show Net - The Traveling Milburys in support of One Kids Place
BradfordToday
Support and Hope for Individuals and Families Today, Children's Treatment Network, Spookfest
BurlingtonToday
Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation - Diwali Garbi Celebration, AGO
CambridgeToday
YWCA Cambridge's Walk A Mile Fundraiser
GuelphToday
Wellington Catholic District School Board - 21st Annual Bishop's Dinner, Guelph Humane Society - Happy Tails Gala
HaltonHillsToday
Halton Children's Foundation
InnisfilToday
Support and Hope for Individuals and Families Today, Children's Treatment Network
LongmontLeader
Heart of Longmont - Renewal, Habitat Gift of Home Tour
MidlandToday
Huronia Historical Parks - Pumpkinferno, Discovery Harbour Festival
NewmarketToday
Mercy 4 Mankind - Run for Newmarket, Business Women's Network of York Region - Awards Gala Celebration Fundraiser
OrilliaMatters
The Big Event - 90's Video Dance Party Fundraiser
PelhamToday
Welland Food Fest, 18th Annual Chooclate Ball
SooToday
Nakehndan New Year's Before New Year's Party, Easter Seals hockey tournament, Group Health Centre Trust Fund 50/50 Draw, Algoma University John Rhodes Scholarship Dinner & Art Auction, Candy sponsor for Halloween on Queen, One Stop Christmas Show, Sault Symphony Orchestra
Sudbury.com
Nick's Place for Us - Art Battle Sudbury, YWCA Women of Distinction Awards, La Theatre du Nouvel-Ontario, Bizzy Bea's Western & Country Gala, Benefit Show Net - The Traveling Milburys in support of Diabetes Canada
ThoroldToday
18th Annual Chooclate Ball
Village Media
Soo Curlers Association, Northern Ontario Tourism Summit
A dozen new job openings are up 👀
There are currently 13 opportunities available with Village Media. Check them out!
Spotted around the Village:
Pawesome Villagers of the month 🐾
Meet Maple & Syrup! 🐾
Maple is a Great Pyrenees/Australian Shepherd and Syrup is a Great Pyrenees/Golden Retriever. They are a pair of big, loving, furry, happy and protective dogs.
(Proud pet parent: Stephanie Foulkes)
See you in 2024!
