Times, they are a changing

Life as we know it in much of Northeastearn and Central Ontario is about to change; ten digit dialing is coming to the 705. Because of the proliferation of cell phone the CRTC estimates that there is only about a year of 705 numbers left to give out. As of March 19, the CRTC will begin implementing the new 249 area code that will overlay the 705 region. From Jan. 15 to March 19 callers will receive a message reminding them to add the area code to their calls. After March 19, seven digit number will no longer be connected.  
From Manitoulin Island to Timmins to Orillia, dialing the area code before any local call will become mandatory.
While this may seem like an easy transition to make, I had a friend in college who was unable to figure out why she could call her parents long distance, but couldn't order up a local pizza shop. Living in a dorm, pizza was one of the only local, out or Rez calls she made. For months she chalked up her inability to order to being too tipsy to get the pizza number right before realizing that Hamilton, the city she had moved to, had ten-digit dialing. Here is hoping Ontarians in general fair better.

New Year, Old loves

Watching the World Junior World Cup finals tonight was heartbreaking. The helplessness and inevitability that I, and the rest of Canada, felt watching the gold medal slip away; the dreams of those young men dashed by the tenacious Russian, has put a serious dent in our collective ego.
Whether or not you spent your formative years with a runny nose in local arena or grew up worshiping a dynasty like the Leafs or Habs, hockey runs in our Canadian blood.
Even advertisers recognize that hockey is unites us, from coast to coast. It is our emotional Achilles heel that the likes of Tim Horton's expertly pokes at with its well timed, nostalgic, rink themed commercials.
While we may not have come away winners at this year,  (though most would consider silver an excellent showing), the competition has once again awaken the fanatic in us.

In this spirit, I thought I would post some local opportunities we have have to show our support for the great game that has enriched most of our lives, in one way or another.
Hockey Day Orillia kicks off with Orillia's Rotary Orillia Tundras Senior AAA games will both kick  hosting Whitby at 7:45 p.m. on Friday, Jan 7 at Rotary Place. This is an opportunity to see the volunteers, coaches and players who make this sport possible locally honoured for their efforts.
The Orillia Girls Hockey Association is hosting their fifteenth annual tournament Jan 14-16 at venues all around the sunshine city. This year's special guest is three time Olympic gold medalist Becky Kellar will drop the puck and sign autographs between 2 and 4 pm on the Jan 15, at the new Rotary Place Arena.

If hockey isn't your bag, but you love the ice, you can still get involved by hitting up some of Orillia's public skating opportunities.
For a mere $2.75 you too can remember how good it feels to glide (not-so) effortlessly along the boards.  I can't think of a better way to stay active and have some good clean fun this winter.