Top Stories

The Year in Books: 2022
Nov 20, 2022 | | ArtsThere’s been an amazing proliferation of new books this year, and local books always make great Christmas gifts! Here’s our annual round-up of what to read this winter.

Home for the Holydays
Nov 20, 2022 | | CommunityAs the end of year draws near, families and friends gather to celebrate the myriad of traditions, festivals and holy days that are observed in the hills.

The Year in Music: 2022
Nov 20, 2022 | | ArtsOur annual review of new recordings by local musicians with flavours of rock, country, jazz and more.

Local Heroes 2022
Nov 20, 2022 | | CommunityEvery year we honour those who go above and beyond to help others, to make exciting things happen, and to improve the quality of life in their communities.

Our Ever Heavier Urban Footprint
Feb 27, 2023 | | Notes from the WildAs development continues unabated, our growing population and urban footprint will inevitably diminish biodiversity.

In the Bleak Midwinter
Nov 20, 2022 | | EnvironmentDon Scallen explores how birds, mammals and reptiles have adapted to survive our long, trying winter.
In Every Issue

Arrival of the Aunties
Nov 20, 2022 | | Headwaters NestFor many of us, as the daylight grows shorter and shorter, it’s a time to gather with friends and family.

Geoff Dilley
Nov 20, 2022 | | Over the Next HillEach of Geoff Dilley’s memory boxes has a unique inlay design, crafted with the types of wood once used to make propellers for World War I aircraft.

Letters – Our Readers Write: Winter 2022
Nov 20, 2022 | | Letters, Our Readers WriteLetters published in the Winter 2022 edition of In The Hills magazine.

Lynden Cowan
Nov 20, 2022 | | Artist in ResidenceLynden Cowan’s highly detailed hyper realistic paintings require “triple-zero brushes by the boxload” to achieve.

Field Notes for Winter 2022
Nov 20, 2022 | | Field NotesHit the great outdoors, take in a play or concert, and get in the holiday spirit this winter

Feed the Birds
Nov 20, 2022 | | Country Living 101Looking to bring colour and joy to those grey winter days? Setting up a feeder for our fine feathered friends is a mutually beneficial move.

Metric Resistance
Nov 20, 2022 | | Over the Next HillDo you still think in a weird mix of metric and imperial? Writer Gail Grant finds that 50 years later conversion doesn’t come easily, especially if you’re in a certain age bracket.

Local Buys: Winter 2022
Nov 20, 2022 | | Made in the HillsLocally grown lavender, handmade pottery, leather beer holders and bold brass earrings will make great gifts to give this season.

A Puzzling Conclusion: Winter 2022
Nov 20, 2022 | | PuzzlesHere are some fun challenges to warm up the brain cells this winter! Crack some codes, think outside the circle and spot the misfit letters to solve these new puzzles.

Modern Family
Nov 20, 2022 | | At Home in the HillsJade and Roland Skuce’s passion for building from scratch dovetailed with the birth of their daughter and resulted in a remarkable modern farmhouse.

Winter Contributors
Nov 18, 2022 | | ContributorsMeet some of the people who bring you these pages.

Meet the Maker: Johana Cordero
Nov 20, 2022 | | Made in the HillsFor this weaver, the warp and weft of life is much more than a metaphor.

Bring It On!
Nov 20, 2022 | | A Day in the LifeWhen the winter wind blows and the flakes fly, snowplow operator Bruce Crawford is ready to go to work.

Elora Cataract Trailway
Nov 20, 2022 | | Take a HikeEnjoy an amble on the Elora Cataract Trailway, a 47km recreational route that was once the path of the Credit Valley Railway.

Taking the Learning Curve Too Fast
Nov 20, 2022 | | Fence PostsSafely navigating the narrow, snow covered hills of Headwaters is no walk in the park, as many long-time residents attest and new arrivals quickly learn.

Food + Drink Winter 2022
Nov 20, 2022 | | Food + DrinkBig flavours brighten the season! From classic bonbons and tourtière to new beers and café treats, a winter of good taste lies ahead.
Notes From the Wild

Not All Invaders Are Bad
Feb 7, 2023 | | Notes from the WildDuring a trip south, naturalist Don Scallen gets a closer look at introduced lizards in Florida and asks questions about our own invasive species in Ontario.

Home Sweet Home
Jan 6, 2023 | | Notes from the WildMost of us have the good fortune to raise our families in safe, comfortable houses. Birds want nothing less.

Return to the Trout Stream
Dec 1, 2022 | | Notes from the WildRivers in the Headwaters region still flow clean, clear and cool through areas not yet urbanized. This natural heritage is a gift to area residents and well worth protecting.

Crooning Tree Crickets
Nov 3, 2022 | | Notes from the WildMale tree crickets – rock stars of the insect realm – sing to attract females, and display other courtship behaviour not so different from ours.
Lace Up!

Geezer Hockey
We play municipal seniors’ pickup hockey for the exercise, the banter, the camaraderie and the sheer joy of the game.

Millpond Hockey at the Alton Mill
What could be more Canadian than lacing up to play on the pond?

Home Game
A backyard rink is just one of the deft holiday moves NHL linesman Shandor Alphonso and his wife, Jacelyn, make for their young boys at home.

The Good Old Hockey Guy
Al Waltho may have replaced two hips and a knee, but he’s not quite ready to hang up his skates.
Winter Wonders

Boreal Birds
Over 300 species, totalling billions of birds rely on Canada’s boreal forest as breeding grounds.

Winter Bird Watching
This is a special winter for bird watching in the hills.

Foul-Weather Friends
Birds are drawn to feeders like Saturday morning coffee drinkers to Tim Hortons. The presence of birds in the winter landscape is life-affirming.

Redpolls
The redpoll feeding etiquette is decidedly boorish; they jostle each other rudely for favoured perches on the feeders.
Comfort and Joy

The Globe’s Tea Biscuits
The tea biscuits at The Globe Restaurant are light and flakey with a hint of sweetness.

Merry & Bright
Local food pros share a few of their favourite holiday recipes, from sugar cookies to Madeleines, to brighten the cookie tray this year.

Cooking with Phil Dewar: Rum Cake
“Just play with the recipe. Have fun,” says Soulyve’s Phil Dewar of his Caribbean rum cake ingredients.

Lee Shaw’s Secret Shortbread Hearts
Serving size depends how big your heart is!