PROBUS Club of the Gateway upcoming events

The Utopia Market and Gott Family Farm Tour (12 Aug 2026)

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Join us for a guided tour of their Certified Organic Greenhouse
At 10:30 am
Wednesday August 12, 2026
468264 Grey Road 31
Grey Highlands, On,
N0C1C0
Owners, Jamie and Sandy Gott explain their multi-generational farming history in Grey Highlands and how it led to their goal to develop a system where they can grow their own food year round without importing or leaving a carbon footprint.
We’ll learn more about their ongoing vision and importance to buy Canadian and support local farmers and communities.

The Utopia Market Tour
Drive to 494611 Grey Road 2, Feversham, On.
N0C1C0

Learn about how the marketplace is where local food, family legacy, and a love for the land come together.

Optional: JOIN US FOR LUNCH AFTER THE TOUR
Baked goods and beverages are available as well as sandwiches.
Menu options:
-Reuben on Rye $14
-Montreal Smoked Meat on Rye $12
-BLT on Rosemary $10
-Smoked Salmon on a Bagel $14
-Dagwood Sandwich on Rosemary $10
-In House Roast Beef $14
-Vegetarian Option $10

Choose your sandwich when you register. Pay at the venue. Tax, tip and any beverages are extra.

After lunch you may want to join us at the Eugenia Emporium which is a 5 minute drive from Utopia Market.

Registration opens July 22nd.

Event organizer: Glenda Carson and Marjorie O'Brien

British Home Children - The "Almost Forgotten Children" (18 Aug 2026)

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 14:00:00 GMT

The “Almost Forgotten Children” How did 100,000 children arrive in Canada to WORK?

Speaker: Joan Knighton
Joan is a former teacher, nurse and Ortho Tech. and now is loving the lecture circuit!! Joan, a proud direct descendant of a British Home Child, will describe their lives and the outcome.

BRITISH HOME CHILDREN

The Origin:
Driven by urban overcrowding and poverty in the Victorian era, charities like Dr. Barnardo’s and the Salvation Army relocated these children to rural Canada to supply cheap agricultural and domestic labor.

The Reality:
Only a small percentage were true orphans. Placed with rural Canadian families, some were treated well, but many others suffered severe neglect, physical abuse, and isolation.

The Aftermath:
The program was largely unregulated. Many Home Children served heroically in the World Wars, and it is estimated that about 10% of the Canadian population today has descended from these child migrants

Photo Source: Home Children Canada

Summer Beach Party (19 Aug 2026)

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Come and enjoy the beautiful shores of Tiny Township on Wednesday August 19th at the home of Alex and Tom Wright, rain date Thursday August 20th. Registration opens July 6th.

Bring your bathing suit if you would like to enjoy swimming in Georgian Bay. The bottom is sandy and the access is gradual up to over your head. Bring beach toys if you would like to kayak or paddle board. Alex will be leading a walk along the beach to the sand dunes park and lookout.

This is a pot luck event, bring your own beverages (unbreakable glass), lawn chair and savoury dish to share. Desserts will be provided. There is no cost for this event. If after registering you are unable to attend, please self-cancel or contact the event organizer.

Parking is limited - check the list of participants to arrange car pooling.

Happy Hour at Montana's (27 Aug 2026)

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Join your fellow Probus members on Thursday, August 27th from 3-5 pm for Happy Hour at Montana's in Collingwood. Order and pay at the restaurant.

Daily drink deals starting from $4.99 and Happy Hour starters from $10.

Organized by Janice Martin.

Registration opens August 1st with space for 30 members. If the event is full, please put your name on the Wait list as sometimes there are cancellations.

Hope you can join us.

It's GOOD NEWS...Stories Worth Repeating! (15 Sep 2026)

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Gwen Petreman - Educator, Author, Illustrator

Since retiring from teaching, Gwen has actively promoted bio-diversity and enhanced green spaces in Barrie by planting native flora with groups like Nature Barrie and Living Green. As a founding member of the Barrie Bird Friendly Team, she helped the municipality secure its official Bird Friendly City designation in 2023. To inspire residents to protect local ecosystems, she delivers engaging educational presentations on birds, pollinators, and remarkable trees.

Gwen also writes environmental articles for local newspapers, shares insights on her blog (http://envirogoodtoknow.blogspot.com/), and has written and illustrated 15 children’s picture books that celebrate nature through storytelling.

It's GOOD NEWS...Stories Worth Repeating!

We are bombarded with negative news daily, which is why local educator and environmentalist Gwen created a presentation focused entirely on uplifting global and local events

In this one-of-a-kind, engaging talk, your members will discover fascinating and unusual stories from around the world, including:

The Homework Movement: How a simple school assignment positively impacted millions of lives.
Nature's Superheroes: Why sunflowers are "superflowers," vultures are good news birds, and certain trees act as ultimate carbon-sequestering masters.
Historical Guardians: The heroic efforts that prevented Ontario from turning into a barren wasteland.
Eco-Innovations: How birds combat climate chaos, and why modern farmers are enthusiastically embracing solar panels.
Surprising Remedies: The top pollinating herb that doubles as a memory booster and sleep aid.Inspiring Figures: The world's most heroic dog, and the billionaires using their fortunes to save human lives

This presentation reminds us that while bad news makes headlines,
good news changes lives.
Come be inspired by the stories worth repeating.

Sheffield Park Black History & Cultural Museum (17 Sep 2026)

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Details to follow.

Organized by Pat T. and Linda G.

Tickets are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, it is your responsibility to find a replacement and have the replacement refund you for the ticket price. The organizer may be able to help you with this by providing a list of members on the waitlist.

Theatre Collingwood: Tuesdays with Morrie (23 Sep 2026)

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

On Wednesday, September 23rd at 2:00 p.m., join us for the performance of "Tuesdays with Morrie" at Marsh Street Centre in Clarksburg. Tells the story of a successful journalist consumed by his career and his relationship with his former college professor who is dying from ALS. This funny, tender story of two lives transformed is performed by a remarkable cast.

Tickets cost $55.00 and guests are permitted. Registration is available online now with payment by credit card. 30 tickets are available. Organized by Mary Beth.

Collingwood Food Tour- International Foods (24 Sep 2026)

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Join us for a walking food tour on Thursday, September 24th at 2:00 pm. We stop at 5 local places in downtown Collingwood and have a tasting at each spot. The tour will last around 2 hours and we will walk approximately 2 blocks.

The guide has historical knowledge of Collingwood as well as background on all the restaurants. The vast majority of the tour takes place outside; however, where space permits, we are invited inside the restaurant. Sometimes we are joined by the owners for a bit of a chat. Participants exchange stories about their favourite local restaurants and get to try new things on the menu of places they may have been to before. The spots are not revealed before the tour which makes it fun to wonder, "Where are we going next?"

The cost of the food tour is $52.00. Registration will open August 19th and there is a maximum of 22 participants. If the event is full, join the wait list as there is a possibility that someone may need to cancel.

Typically the tour is not able to cater to special dietary requirements. Registrants will need to decide what they can sample based on their individual needs.

Bruce Nuclear Plant and Optional Lunch (29 Sep 2026)

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

The Bruce Nuclear Power Station, until 2016, was the largest nuclear power plant in the world, producing 6,400 MW of power per day with 8 reactors. Plans are underway to expand the plant by another 4800 MW for a total of just under 12,000 MW. And all this is happening on the South shore of Lake Huron at Kincarden/Tiverton, ON, a short drive away from Collingwood. In addition to power generation, the Bruce facility produces the majority of the world’s supply of Cobalt 90, a critical radioactive isotope of Cobalt used in the treatment of specific cancers. Several other medicinal radioactive isotopes are in production or development. Details of this activity will also be presented.

A plant tour of the facility is planned for Tuesday, September 29 at 10:15 am. The tour will consist of a classroom information session and a bus drive around the plant site.

The address of the plant tour starting point is 3394 Bruce County Rd 20. The drive from Collingwood is approximately 1 hr and 45 minutes, depending on route taken. Check your GPS units and select the route and time allowance for your particular circumstances. Grey Rd 40 appears to be the shortest route and is a lovely, scenic drive.

Make it a special day of enjoyment of Grey/Bruce Counties. Following the tour which should end by 12:30, you can plan to have an optional lunch at The Walker House Restaurant, 146 High Street, Southampton, ON. The meal will be ordered from the menu and you pay the restaurant directly. To ensure your reservation, please indicate if you plan to have lunch at the restaurant when registering.

Registration opens Aug 15 and closes Aug 30. We will initially plan for 20 members. Please reserve by Sunday, Aug 30 to allow us to firm up the spaces available at Bruce. There is no charge for this tour. If the event full, add your name to the waitlist to enable us to make future arrangements for the overload. If after registering you find that you are no longer able to attend please cancel your registration or contact the organizer who will cancel your registration so others can attend.

For further information, contact Brian Herner at bpherner@gmail.com.

Theatre Collingwood: Get Down Tonight (15 Oct 2026)

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

On Thursday, October 15th at 2:00 p.m., join us for the performance of "Get Down Tonight" at Marsh Street Centre in Clarksburg. A high-energy celebration of the 1970's, the disco decade of sparkle, soul and unstoppable rhythm. Relive the songs that made you move, the friendships that made you smile and the music that still makes your heart beat faster. A joyful, feel- good dance party you'll never forget!

Tickets cost $55.00 and guests are permitted. Registration is available online August 4th with payment by credit card. 20 tickets are available. Organized by Mary Beth Sharpe.

Fraud Protection (20 Oct 2026)

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Speaker: Constable Helena Beck,
My name is Helena Beck and I am a police officer with the Ontario Provincial Police. I have been employed with the OPP since 2020 and currently serve as a Community Engagement Officer (CEO). My role focuses on building positive relationships within the community and educating the public on crime prevention.

FRAUD PROTECTION

This presentation is geared toward fraud prevention and will cover topics such as:

Door‑to‑door scams
Romance scams
Email/phone/text scams
Grandparent scam.

The presentation highlights common scam methods, what warning signs to look for, and how to stay safe and avoid becoming a victim.

Haunted Collingwood Walking Tour with Dean Hollin (26 Oct 2026)

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Back by popular demand... We invite you to join us on a haunted walking tour on the evening of October 26th starting at 7:00 p.m. under the full Hunter's Moon! You will have a spook-tacular time listening to tales and ghostly stories as guest host Dean Hollin leads you through the shadows and darkest corners of Collingwood's Heritage Conservation District.

While on the walk, you will hear about ghostly experiences including the legend of David Williams, former editor of the Collingwood Bulletin newspaper, the ever-persistent ghost of Dr. Arthur, the tragic slaying of 13 year old Glory Whalen (among Ontario's oldest cold cases), and other strange sightings.

This 2 km walking loop will take approximately 1.5 hours. The haunted walking tour will proceed rain or shine so please dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy shoes or boots.

Registration will open at the end of September. Cost is $16.00 per member.

Organized by Linda G.

Chair Fitness: Don’t Just Sit There… Get Fit There! (17 Nov 2026)

Tue, 17 Nov 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Speaker & Coach: Steve Black, Seniors' Fitness Specialist at the Collingwood YMCA

Don’t Just Sit There… Get Fit There!

Curious about Chair Fitness? Join Coach Steve for a fun, interactive session where you’ll learn the benefits and try a few simple seated exercises yourself!

GET YOUR M.B.A* with Steve Black
*Muscle, Balance, Activity

Steve will touch on Nutrition since most of us know what this. Followed by an brief overview of health issues including: Heart Disease, Diabetes, Osteoporosis (not medical advice but how physical activity can reduce some of these issues). How fitness and exercise can improve your independence and active daily living

Key Benefits of Chair Fitness

Accessibility:

Allows individuals with limited mobility, arthritis, or balance issues to stay active without the risk of falling.

Full-Body Engagement:

Routines target multiple areas through seated marches, arm reaches, leg extensions, and torso twists.

Customizable Intensity:

Workouts can be scaled up by incorporating small hand weights, resistance bands, or increasing the speed of movements.

Christmas Dinner Dance (3 Dec 2026)

Thu, 03 Dec 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Registration will open in the fall, after we have finalized all the details.

Where: Osler Brook Golf and Country Club

Date: Thursday, December 3rd, 2026

Time: 5 pm to 11 pm

Cost:

Meal choices:

First Course: Choice of apple and carrot ginger soup or salad (mixed greens, roaster butternut squash, roasted beets, pecans and goat cheese with a citrus vinaigrette)

Main Course: Choice of roasted turkey with gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes and green beans almondine; or Bourbon Glazed Salmon with mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus; or Vegan stuffed Squash with mushrooms, pecans and rice.

Dessert: Sticky Toffee Pudding or Flourless Chocolate Cake

No Speaker - HAPPY HOLIDAYS! (15 Dec 2026)

Tue, 15 Dec 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Wish you and yours a Very Happy Holiday Season and Healthy New Year!