September brought a fresh start and an exciting new season for Village!
With back-to-school season underway and communities settling into new routines, September brought that familiar feeling of a fresh start. At Village, that same energy carried into an exciting month of growth, new partnerships and community connections.
From our new partnership with OpenAI to the launch of AppletonToday and plenty happening across our communities, here’s a look back at September’s highlights.
We welcomed four new members to the Village team in September:
Trillium reporter Thomas Desormeaux
AppletonToday reporter Celia Hiorns
SheboyganToday editor Cheryl Allen
OshkoshToday editor Heather Graves
Welcome everyone! 👏
Headlines & major wins this month
We’re excited to announce that AppletonToday is officially live! After months of planning, building and preparing behind the scenes, our newest market is active and connecting with the Appleton, Wisconsin community.
A huge thank you to everyone who played a part in bringing AppletonToday to life. This milestone was truly a company-wide effort and we couldn’t have done it without all of the time, creativity and collaboration that went into the launch.
Here’s to a new community, new connections and the beginning of something exciting in Appleton!
Village Media partners with OpenAI 🤖
Earlier this month Village announced an exciting new partnership with OpenAI, marking the first of its kind in Canada.
You’ve heard us talk about Open Door, the first project under this new partnership, which is now taking its next steps in the community.
This AI-powered community resource navigator has Sault Ste. Marie serving as the first community to pilot the tool. Open Door is designed to help residents find trusted local support by connecting them with information from more than 500 community organizations across dozens of categories.
It’s an innovative example of how Village’s local knowledge and community connections can come together with new technology to make it easier for people to find the help and resources they need.
Read the latest story from TorontoToday
We celebrated 12 community leaders in September🏆
Our recognition of changemakers in our communities continued this month with Community Builders Awards being presented in three communities including Collingwood, Timmins and Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Events galore ♾️
September was packed with engaging events across Village Media! From SPACES gatherings and team offsites to the launch of this year’s Reader Favourites. Villagers across our markets were booked and busy bringing people together, celebrating local communities and creating memorable experiences.
The teams at TimminsToday, Sudbury.com, MidlandToday and BurlingtonToday celebrated more than 100 local businesses at their Reader Favourite live events!
SooToday SPACES hosted several events at the Canopy at Village Media this month. With the monthly SPACES Harry Potter Book Club wrapping up in November, attendees are already starting to look forward to finding out which book series will be next!
The team also partnered with Aline Wellness, a local multidisciplinary functional health, rehabilitation and movement studio, to host a networking event focused on the GLA:D program. The event gave attendees an opportunity to learn more about the program and how it can support individuals living with hip or knee osteoarthritis.
SooToday also teamed up with the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre for the second Tech on Tap event, which showcased the latest AI technology developed by a local entrepreneurial group and gave attendees the chance to connect, learn and explore the technology firsthand.
Village was also thrilled to host Product Team members from San Francisco and welcome them to Sault Ste. Marie! The three-day offsite brought the team together for a mix of productive brainstorming sessions, meaningful collaboration and fun team-building activities.
Meanwhile, BurlingtonToday SPACES presented a host-led event featuring two local trailblazing women who led an evening focused on empowerment and meditation. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from other community-minded women, share experiences and learn about important resources available in their community.
Spotted around the Village 🌎
✨ Spotlight on sponsorships ✨
We sponsored 38 community initiatives across our communities in September 🤩
AuroraToday
Aurora Cultural Centre
BarrieToday
Barrie Housing, Barrie Parkinson Walk, CFS Counselling + Wellbeing — The Grand Parade, Mama's Time Out, ALS Canada
BayToday
Bay Beats Fest, Near North Palliative Care
BurlingtonToday
Burlington Ribfest, Woodview Mental Health & Autism Services — Walk & Roll,
CambridgeToday
Habitat For Humanity,
CollingwoodToday
Cycle For Hope, Hope Chapel
EloraFergusToday
Addy-Tude concert, The Elora Singers
GuelphToday
The Elora Singers
HaltonHillsToday
Kathryn's Krop 4 a Kure
NewmarketToday
CMHA York and South Simcoe Mental Health in Motion, YSSN
NOTLLocal
ALS Canada
Oakville News
Community Development Halton, Motionball, Optimist Club of Oakville
SooToday
Align Yoga Fest, Nakehndan — Silent Auction, One Stop Christmas Shop, United Way — The Big Pull, Vivid Arts Fest
StratfordToday
Stratford Symphony Orchestra
Sudbury.com
House of Kin Charity Golf, Latch On Sudbury, Northern Cancer Foundation — Luncheon for Hope, Spark Employment 40th Anniversary
TorontoToday
ALS Canada, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Cabbagetown Fest, Childhood Cancer Canada, Live Loud, Music For Every Child, Tapestry Opera, Word on the Street Fest, World of Jazz
Meet Piper!
At just over two years old, Piper is a Greyhound mix who has found her perfect forever home after being adopted from the Sault Ste. Marie Humane Society. From car rides and treats to snuggling up with her dad, Piper is happiest when she’s surrounded by the people she loves.
She’s already fitting right in at Village HQ, charming everyone she meets with her playful personality, signature pig-like grunts on walks, and her adorable habit of snoring and sighing in her sleep. It may have been an unexpected adoption, but Piper has quickly become the perfect piece of her family’s life puzzle — and they couldn’t be happier to have her!
Proud pet parent: Andrew Stuetz
That’s a wrap on September! 🍂
See you next month!
