Simcoe Rising Star 2026

Katherine Chabot is a passionate musician, performer, and founder of Music On the Go, bringing music education and live entertainment to the Simcoe County community. Recognized as the 2025 Best Musician of the Year by Readers Digest Barrie, Kat was also a finalist for the Creative Visionary Award through the Women in Business Chamber of Commerce Awards. With years of experience performing at local events, festivals, private functions, and community celebrations, Kat has built a reputation for creating memorable musical experiences while inspiring the next generation of performers. She is thrilled to share her knowledge, creativity, and love of music as a judge for Simcoe County Rising Star. 

Michael Chorney, born sometime in the late 1900s, this aging but still functional human spends his days chasing flashing lights, breaking news, and that one photo everyone else somehow missed.

Known for dramatic concert photography, questionable sleep habits, and an unhealthy commitment to hamburgers, Michael from At the Scene firmly believes every story deserves to be told—and every burger deserves to be reviewed.

He knows life isn't just about more cowbell. It's about knowing the cow, appreciating the craftsman who made the bell, and somehow ending up photographing both before dinner.

From Donaleighs to Coops, Debut to St Louis he's a Stompin' Tom Song lyric from being at the Next Tall Pines or Gussapoloza, he will go anywhere.

When he's not roaming Simcoe County and Barrie with a camera in hand, he's proving that caffeine and curiosity are a perfectly acceptable personality Because at the end of the day, there's nowhere he'd rather be than the City of Barrie, unless someone tells him there's a breaking story five minutes outside city limits.

Keira Brooks has been happily married for the past 27 years. She is a proud mother of two very active smart young men. Her eldest son recently started as a police officer with Barrie police and the youngest is on the auxiliary police department in North Bay. Keira started a career as a police officer 29 years ago. It’s no wonder her children chose the same path of service, dedication and honour.

Keira’s current role as a Detective in the Crimes Against Persons Unit has her solely working with victims and survivors of crime including but not limited to sexual assault, intimate partner violence and families experiencing the loss of a loved one. Being able to connect with victim’s and survivors during their most difficult time is one of Keira’s ultimate passions. 

Keira prides herself on representing her community with the utmost professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity, and excellence. She is really looking forward to seeing Barrie’s talented community members over the next few months.