by Kelly Skinner-Meyer
A fond farewell to a faithful volunteer and thank yous to all!
Winter came in like a lion, and the snow arrived early this year. But we can’t complain, the summer and fall were lovely. The fall colours this year were brilliant and bright. However, they did lose their brilliance with the passing of one of our volunteers, our friend, our neighbour and Vice Chair of the Carley Community Hall, our dear Sherrill Gill.
She was a lifelong member at the Carley Hall and an integral part of the Hall. Sherrill had a huge impact on the Hall’s growth and importance in the community. Her knowledge of the building and history were always an important part of our board. She could organize and set up an event with precision and perfection. She will be missed by all of us in the Carley Valley. Her volunteerism and commitment to community were inspiring. “What is the essence of life? To serve others and to do good.” – Aristotle….You did good, Sherrill, we thank you.
The Carley Hall has been very busy and the rentals for special events have kept the calendar full. We also had our annual Christmas Craft Sale on November 1, and it was a huge success. We had some remarkable artisans and crafters, with such a unique display of their talents.
The Hall was full of wonderful visitors ready to enjoy the works of art and purchase gifts for friends, family and themselves. The Carley Community Hall volunteers put on a wonderful lunch of Bison Chilli and Minestrone soup, professionally made and donated by Northwinds Brewhouse and Kitchen in Collingwood. It was delicious and the compliments were evident.
A huge thank you to Northwinds for the sponsorship, they recognize the importance of community and helping out our little Hall. These smaller country events are what remind us of yesteryear and people coming together, sharing conversations and appreciating the works done by hand in the crafters’ homes. We also thank the Orillia Bakery who have been sponsoring our event for years, with their donation of the dinner rolls. I also wish to thank all of our volunteers, without whom these events would not be possible, so thank you! If you would like to be a volunteer at the Carley Community Hall please contact us at carleycommunityhall.com
The Hall is available year-round for rentals. The cost is only $113 per day, it can be booked by contacting Oro-Medonte Township at 705-487-2171 or [email protected].
Please watch for our next event, the Annual Pancake Breakfast in April of 2026 date TBA.
All of us at the Carley Community Hall wish you all the best during the holiday season, the joy of friends, family and good health in the New Year!