
๐โจ Hello Norfolk! โจ๐
From historic tales that send shivers down your spine ๐ข๐ฅ, to laugh-out-loud stories from our own neighbours ๐๐ด, and weekends packed with live music, festivals, and community fun ๐ถ๐ฝ๐ โ The Insider has it all.
This week, weโre turning the spotlight on you ๐ค๐ก. Writers, poets, photographers, storytellers โ Norfolk is full of voices waiting to be heard, and weโre opening the door wide. Plus, weโve got unforgettable history, hilarious local wisdom, and a stacked lineup of happenings thatโll keep your calendar full. ๐ ๐
So grab a coffee โ, settle in, and letโs dive into what makes Norfolk shine. ๐โค๏ธ
โ Brad
Ps. If you want to contribute, partner, suggest something, or just make a new friend, reach out to me HERE
CONTRIBUTE
โ๏ธ Calling All Creatives! ๐จ๐๐ธ๐ถ
Do you have a story to tell ๐, a poem to share โ๏ธ, or an eye for capturing life in Norfolk ๐ท๐ณ? The Insider is opening its doors to citizen journalists, writers, poets, and creatives of all kinds ๐.
Whether itโs local history ๐ก, community news ๐ฐ, a personal essay ๐ญ, or a snapshot of everyday life ๐โ weโd love to feature your voice ๐ค. This is your chance to share your creativity with thousands of readers across Norfolk County ๐โค๏ธ.
If youโd like to contribute, send us a note ๐ฉ and letโs get your work out into the community! ๐๐
NORFOLK HISTORY

๐ข๐ฅ The Burning of the Atlantic
In August 1852, the passenger steamer Atlantic caught fire after colliding with the steamer Ogdensburg off Long Point, with more than 500 people on board โ many of them Norwegian immigrants heading west ๐. Within minutes, flames raced through the wooden decks ๐ฅ. Lifeboats were scarce ๐ฃ, and panic overtook the ship as desperate passengers leapt into Lake Erie ๐, clinging to wreckage or trying to swim for shore.
Local settlers rushed to the beaches ๐๏ธ to rescue survivors, but the loss was staggering. As many as 300 lives were lost โฐ๏ธ, making it one of the worst disasters in Great Lakes history. For days afterward, bodies washed up along Norfolkโs shoreline, leaving the community shaken ๐ and cementing Long Pointโs reputation as the โGraveyard of the Great Lakes.โ โ
The tragedy was the subject of a documentary on the show โThe Sea Huntersโ which you can watch here: YouTube: The Sea Hunters โ The Steamship Atlantic
FUNNY
Local writer (and Insider reader) โ๏ธ Allan Eizinas reached out after hearing we were looking for contributors. He shared a witty ๐, laugh-out-loud ๐คญ, embellished account of aging in Norfolk ๐ดโtoo good not to pass along.
Thanks, Allan ๐ฉ, for letting us in on the fun! ๐
I am an 81 yr old who lives a very dull life disturbed occasionally by reminders of my age. A few days ago I passed my mandatory retest at 80 yrs for the Ontario drivers licence for the next two years. I shared the details of this experience with my family and decided to also share the particulars at the Wednesday weekly meetings with my fellow members of the “tall story” round table at our local Legion of which I have been a proud member for over 50 years. There is a sculpture of a 10 inch bull in the middle of the table. This group usually consists of about 7 octogenarians and a couple of really old guys.
Most at the table had also successfully gone through the licence renewal process, some a number of times. Julius recounted that a few years ago he arrived for his test and told to take the elevator to the third floor. He joined a queue of obviously old fellow participants lined up outside a locked storage room door waiting for the elevator which never came. Eventually they were led to the proper site.
I also shared my difficulty with finding my dentures in the morning. I was assured to not worry about this common occurrence because there was a constantly replenished supply to be found at any one of our four funeral homes. Apparently, these were also guaranteed sources for free glasses, hearing aids and new shoes if you knew the right people and timed it right. Our local nursing home was also identified as a bountiful source for dentures.
I got an email from one of my grandchildren stating “Gramps, there is something special about the following phrase: WAS IT A CAT I SAW. Look at it backwards!”. I printed the phrase out in large letters and then looked at it in the mirror – gibberish! Scrambled mess. This grandson is not the sharpest knife in the drawer and I just wrote it off as an attempt to punk me.
Went to bed after another dull day but also considering my new found possible sources of free personal products.
HAPPENINGS



Thursday September 11th
- ๐ค Delhi Legion General Meeting | Delhi Legion | 7pm – 9pm | Bring membership card
- ๐งผ Non Toxic Cleaners Class | Generations Marketplace | 6pm | Learn to make safe cleaning products | Register
- ๐ Wing Night | Simcoe Army, Navy, Air Force Club | 4pm – 7pm | Dine In/Take Out/Phone for Pick Up before 6:30pm (519-426-9768). 1lb Wings with a generous portion of fries, onion rings or 1/2 & 1/2 for $14.00. 1lb Wings $12.00, Sides $4.00. Bar is open regular hours | More
Friday September 12th
- ๐ฝ๏ธ Free Movie: How to Train Your Dragon | Delhi Soccer Club | 8:30pm | Cash BBQ and concession starting at 6pm | More
- ๐คฃ Stand up Comedy | Capitol 33 | Laugh with Martin Philips | Tickets
- โณ๏ธ Mini Putt Classic and BBQ | Arbortown Mini Golf | 4:30pm or 6pm | A Port Dover Foundation event | Register
- โฒ๏ธ Festival Of Fountains Show | Whistling Gardens | 22 acres of paradise | Musical fountain show at nightfall | More
Saturday September 13th
- ๐น Axtion Sports Jam for Child and Youth Mental Health | Waterford Skatepark | 9:30am – 3:30pm | Skateboarding, BMX, and scooter showcases | Register
- ๐ณ Forest Bathing Walk | Harlow Dune Nature Reserve | 1pm – 3pm | Slow down, practice mindfulness, reconnect with nature | Register | (Join the waitlist)
- ๐ธ Papaโs Hope Fundraiser | Simcoe Legion | 5pm – Midnight | Silent auction, 50/50, cash bar | Elvis, Johnny Cash, country music | Advance tickets only | Contact Lou Porter 519-410-3002 or Liz Starr 519-770-6970
- ๐ฝ Pork on a Bun Dinner with Corn on the Cob | Marburg Hall | 5pm – 7pm | $15/Adult and $10/Child | Dine in or take out | More
- ๐ Summer Showdown 16 | Norfolk Fairgrounds | 10am – 5pm | Car show, driving competition, audio competition, camping | More
- ๐ธ Whole Lotta Love: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin | Capitol 33 | 7pm | Tickets
- ๐ Fall at the Fields | Delhi Soccer Club | 10am – 1am | Full market with vendors, amazing race, touch a truck, 4H Club, cornhole, BBQ, live music | More
- ๐บ Line Dance Lessons | Red Fox Farms | 7pm – 10pm | $20 at the door | More
- ๐ณ Menโs Breakfast | St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Simcoe | 9am – 11am | More
- ๐ช Tough Mudder | Gopher Dunes | 2 day event | Register
- ๐ฝ CORNStalk 2025 | Meuse Brewery | 3:30pm – 10pm | All you can eat corn, live music, corn eating contest | Tickets
- โฒ๏ธ Festival Of Fountains Show | Whistling Gardens | 22 acres of paradise | Musical fountain show at nightfall | More
- ๐ธ๏ธ Irisโs Speakeasy | Ferrera | 7pm – 10pm | 1920โs fundraiser | Email [email protected] or call 519-426-0130 X2456 (LIMITED TICKETS) | More
- ๐พ Bottle & Can Drive | Delhi German Home Parking Lot | 10am | The Kin Club of Delhi bottle drive | More
Sunday September 14th
- ๐โโ๏ธ Terry Fox Run and BBQ | Simcoe Lions Ball Park | 10am | Prizes, food, t-shirts | More
- ๐ท Latin Jazz Ensemble | Red Fox Farms | 3pm – 5pm | Tickets
- ๐ถ Sunday Safari Paddles | Newfie Nautical Tours | 9:30am | Register
- ๐ช Tough Mudder | Gopher Dunes | 2 day event | Register
- ๐ถ Pug Dog Meetup | Hounds of Erie Winery | 12pm – 2pm | One free drink and a treat flight for your furry friend | Register
- ๐งโ๐พ WHAM Agricultural Hall of Fame | Waterford Heritage & Agricultural Museum | 2pm | New exhibit unveiling | More
- ๐ค Courtland Country Open Mic Jam | Courtland Community Centre | 1pm | $7 admission โ Dinner at 5pm ($14) | More
Monday September 15th
- ๐ Show and Shine | Silver Lake Park | 4pm – Dusk | Classic cars, music, food
- ๐ถ Free Summer Social Paddles | Newfie Nautical Tours | 6pm | Register
- ๐ฅซ Canning Class | Cashmere & Cobwebs | 4pm – 7pm | Register
Tuesday September 16th
- ๐ชจ Rock Dot Painting Workshop | Blue Elephant | 6pm – 8pm | Register
- ๐ณ Under the Willows | Simcoe | 6pm – 8pm | $30 per person or 2 for $50 | A relaxing evening of guided breathwork, reiki energy and visualization | Pre-registration: [email protected]
Wednesday September 17th
- ๐ฏ Summer Darts | Delhi Legion | 7pm – 11pm | Make friends and score points
COMING UP


The Port Dover and Woodhouse Agricultural Society are a very active group of almost 300 members involved in various horticultural activities. They maintain the community gardens in Port Dover, including a garden which provides harvest for the local food bank.
LIVE MUSIC
Friday September 12th
- ๐ถ Teeterville Legion | Mudmen | 8pm | See poster above for details
- ๐ถ Frisky Beaver | The Jazzman Band with Scott Bollert | 6:30
- ๐ถ 211 Main | Shane Pinchen | 7:30pm
- ๐ถ Sandbar On the Beach | Justin Sawicki | 6pm
Saturday September 13th
- ๐ถ Delhi German Home | Pure Vintage | 8pm
- ๐ถ Frisky Beaver | Sharla Ross | 6:30pm
- ๐ถ Capitol 33 | Whole Lotta Love: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin | 7pm | Tickets
- ๐ถ Delhi Soccer Club | Multiple Bands | 10am – 1am | More
- ๐ถ Hoovers Marina | Whiskey Chasers | 7pm
- ๐ถ Schofieldโs | May to September | 6pm
- ๐ถ 211 Main | 3 Avocados | 7:30pm
Sunday September 14th
- ๐ถ Frisky Beaver | Spilly and Marns | 1pm
- ๐ถ Port Dover Legion | J. Atlee Band | 2pm
Tuesday September 16th
- ๐ถ Lounge 33 | Felicia McMinn | 7pm
Wednesday September 17th
- ๐ถ 211 Main | Felicia McMinn | 8pm
WEATHER
Thursday High 23ยฐC ๐ก๏ธ Low 14ยฐC ๐ค๏ธ
Friday High 23ยฐC ๐ก๏ธ Low 14ยฐC ๐ค๏ธ
๐ก๏ธ View current weather
HERE
๐ Check out local gas prices
HERE
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No longer live in Norfolk but daughter, is still on homestead with her husband, Chris Rait (The Treeline Band) and daughter. Enjoy reading about what is happening down home. Keep up the great work.