General News

March is #ITSTARTS Month in Simcoe County

March 5, 2026   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

The County of Simcoe officially launched the 2026 #ITSTARTS campaign, as Simcoe County Wardan Basil Clarke proclaimed the month of March as #ITSTARTS Month and raised the flag at the Administration Centre in Midhurst.

This marks 10 years of the #ITSTARTS campaign. #ITSARTS is a public awareness campaign designed to take a proactive step towards addressing racism and discrimination in Simcoe County.

For a decade, this campaign has brought communities across Simcoe County together, championing inclusion, equity, and meaningful connection.

What began as a simple idea has evolved into one of the region’s most recognized grassroots initiatives, now reaching over 4.5 million people.

This year’s campaign builds on that legacy.

“Marking 10 years of #ITSTARTS is a testament to the incredible dedication of our Local Immigration Partnership and our many Community Champions,” said Simcoe County Warden Basil Clarke. “Their leadership has helped shape a more welcoming and inclusive Simcoe County, supporting more than 82,000 immigrant residents who enrich our communities every day. Together, we’ve made significant progress over the past decade as our population and communities continue to become more diverse. We look forward to continuing the momentum with successful programs and awareness initiatives just like the #ITSTARTS campaign.” 

With the flag now raised for 2026, #ITSTARTS banners, flags, and symbols will be displayed at municipal offices and community locations across the county through #ITSTARTS month in March.

Residents, businesses, schools, and community organizations can participate by requesting campaign cards from the Local Immigration Partnership.

Multilingual digital cards are also available on the County’s website. 

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