Hello Ladies,
Welcome to April! I really hope we're having some good weather - as I write this, it hasn't happened yet!
Thank you to all who set up a table at our Member's Showcase in March. We had vistors from the public and some guests who stayed for dinner. It was lovely to have previous members we haven't seen in a while and some new guests, as well.
GALA GALA GALA GALA GALA GALA
How can you help?
1. Find sponsors.
2. Be a sponsor.
3. Share the event on your social media.
4. Nominate an amazing woman you know.
5. Buy a ticket, bring a friend!
6. Be part of the "set-up" team on May 20th.
We will see you April 8th!
Cheers
Trisha Cuthbertson
President
Date: Wednesday, April 08, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Location: Bayside Restaurant 500 Atherley Rd, Orillia, On L3v 8b4
Website: www.orilliabusinesswomen.com
Description: OBWA April Networking Dinner Meeting:
Meeting Location: Bayside Restaurant
Located in: Barnfield Point Recreation Center
Address: 500 Atherley Rd, Orillia, ON L3V 8B4
Time: 5:30 – 8:30 PM
Our Dinner Meeting will be held on Wednesday April 8, 2026
Please select your dinner selection & pay for your dinner ticket on the OBWA Website by 3 pm Friday April 3 to reserve your seat.
We do not accept reservations after the cut off date & time.
Dinner Selection:
Pork Loin with a White Wine Dijon Cream Sauce,
Mashed Potatoes & Broccoli
Vegetarian Option:
Roasted Portebello Mushroom
Dessert:
Selection of Assorted Squares
Please note: if you are wanting the vegetarian option or you have allergies it is important that you e-mail the OBWA and let us know.
A dinner ticket includes your dinner selection, dessert plus coffee & tea as well as gratuities.
Visitor/Guest Ticket is $40 – Select this ticket if you are not a paid OBWA member, a guest of an OBWA member or visiting for the 1st time.
Honorary Member Ticket is $35 – Select this ticket if you are a past WOTY or YWOTY recipient.
Current Member Ticket is $30 – Select this ticket if you are a 2025/26 paid OBWA member in good standing.
You may purchase your dinner ticket(s) on our website under the Online Payments Menu and drop down Dinner Tickets or here:
https://orilliabusinesswomen.com/DinnerTickets
We also accept e-transfer: networking@orilliabusinesswomen.com
Please note: alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available for purchase.
April Guest Speaker: Dr. Becky Van lersel
Dr. Becky Van Iersel is a family physician with clinical and leadership experience across hospital, community, and mental health settings. Her clinical work spans psychotherapy, hospitalist medicine, and shelter-based primary care, with a focus on trauma and concurrent disorders. She currently serves as Medical Director of Integrated Care and Concurrent Disorders at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health, where she supports coordination of services across physical health, mental health, and addictions care.
Her work provides high quality care to some of most vulnerable people in our communities and leads system improvement and alignment that changes how care is delivered and received. Previously, Dr. Van Iersel served as Chief of Family Medicine at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital and as Vice President, Clinical of the North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN. In those roles, she contributed to regional system planning, supported the early development of Ontario Health Teams and helped lead Orillia’s pandemic response.
She has been recognized with an Award of Excellence from the Ontario College of Family Physicians for her contributions to medical assistance in dying (MAiD) and the opioid response. Dr. Van Iersel brings authenticity and compassion into practice. Becky is also a busy mom in a house full of teenagers, a hobby farmer and an endlessly curious daydreamer.
Congratulations to March 50/50 winner of $25 Sandi Clarke.
We encourage members to bring in non-perishable Food Items to our meeting which we take to The Sharing Place. If you have any re-usable grocery bags we collect them & drop them off along with the non-perishables.
Update: Our members Donated 40 lbs food from our February and March Meeting & many reusable bags! Thank you to all who have contributed.
We also collect Toonies for Toiletries, all monies (toonies collected) are donated to those in need of hygiene products in our community.
Business of the Month: Susan Zaroski-Scentsy Consultant.
We welcome all women to the OBWA and we are encouraging our members to bring a guest or two to our new venue in April for our Dinner Meeting.
For more information about the OBWA or to become a member please visit our website: www.OrilliaBusinessWomen.com
We look forward to seeing you in April.
If you need to contact Trisha Cuthbertson – OBWA President or another OBWA Executive Member please
Email: Networking@OrilliaBusinessWomen.com
Happy Birthday to our Members born in April:
Cara Cooper
Susan Zaroski
Starting at our September meeting and running until August 2026 we will be honouring our OBWA members in good standing with Birthdays in that month. Those having Birthdays in July and August will be honoured accordingly. . Please make sure you let Susan Zaroski know the month of your Birthday so she can get you on our Birthday Month list. She will be sitting at the door at the meeting to take the information from you or if you wish please e-mail your Birthday Month to Networking@OrilliaBusinessWomen.com
PLEASE NOTE; Memberships are due September 1st , 2025 & need to be paid for you to be a member in good standing. $100 membership fee will keep you a member in good standing until August 31, 2026. Members have the privilege of posting on social media & have their information about their business and themselves on our website as well as posting on Face Book. With your membership you are encouraged to bring your business cards/brochures etc. to place on the networking table. You also get a chance each month to put your business card in our Business of the Month Draw. Non-members can attend meetings though without the other privileges. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact one of our executive members. Cheques & Cash accepted
Paypal payments : https://orilliabusinesswomen.com/OnlinePayments
Thank You to our Woman of The Year & Young Woman of the Year 2025 Gala Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Sheelagh Gunn – Sheelagh’s Visionaries
Kelsey’s Original Road House
East Side Marios
Montana’s Bar & Grill
Laura Dickson – Harveys
Cara Cooper – Anam Cara Osteo & Energy
Raquel Ness – Ness Law Professional Corporation
HGR Graham Partners LLP
Leah C. Cavanaugh – Century 21
Orillia Area Community Development Corp.
Corry Ticknor – EPIC Luxury Vacations
Danielle Tisi – McLean & Dickey Ltd. Insurance
SILVER SPONSORS
Bronze Sponsors
Door Prize Sponsors
Should you need to contact Trisha Cuthbertson – OBWA President or another OBWA Executive Member
please Email: Networking@OrilliaBusinessWomen.com
The Orillia Business Women’s Association Website & Business Membership Directly is Powered by
www.ShopOrillia.com
Link to the Member Directory: www.
