BAYFIELD READS RETURNS TO TOWN HALL

The countdown is now on for Bayfield Reads! This tradition corresponds with CBC’s Canada Reads. Just as they will do on the National level, Bayfield will choose their winner for this annual event determining the results with the help of a slate of local defenders.

And for the first time since prior to the pandemic, Bayfield Reads will be live and in person. People are invited to attend the event to be held at the Bayfield Town Hall on Sunday, March 26 starting at 2 p.m.

This year’s defenders are: Dave MacLaren, Judy Whittaker, Tina Bax, Kristin Strang and Tyler Hessel. In the weeks leading up to Bayfield Reads, these defenders and the books they are defending will be profiled in the Bayfield Breeze starting with Dave MacLaren.

MacLaren is a retired IT executive who found his way to Bayfield through sailing. He has lived in a wonderful Bayfield heritage property for the past 25 years. MacLaren has read most of his life. He belongs to a Squash Club and joins other squash players in a book club. They have read every type of book and remarkably are now on their 89th.  MacLaren will be defending “Ducks” by Kate Beaton.

Ducks is an autobiographical graphic novel that recounts author Kate Beaton’s time spent working in the Alberta oil sands. With the goal of paying off her student loans. Beaton leaves her tight-knit seaside Nova Scotia community and heads west, where she encounters harsh realities, including the everyday trauma that no one discusses.

Tickets to Bayfield Reads will be $5 at the door and refreshments are included.

BAYFIELD’S FORGOTTEN FELINES SUBJECT OF NEXT SATURDAYS AT THE LIBRARY

Roberta Stemp, a partner in Bayfield’s Forgotten Felines, 24/7 volunteer and respected cat whisperer will be one of the guest presenters at March’s Virtual Saturdays at the Library. (Submitted photo)

The Friends of Bayfield Library (FOBL) and Huron County Library are pleased to co-sponsor another speaker event in the 2023 Virtual Saturdays at the Library program.

All are welcome to join the ZOOM meeting on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 10:30 a.m. The February topic will be “Bayfield’s Forgotten Felines” (BFF) with guest speakers: Deb Penhale, well-known Bayfield resident, real estate broker and founder of BFF; and Roberta Stemp, a partner in BFF, 24/7 volunteer and respected cat whisperer.

Participants will learn how the organization started with a litter of tiny motherless kittens housed in Penhale’s office and what it takes to shelter, foster, and find “fur-ever” homes for hundreds of abandoned, stray and feral cats in the community each year.

Anyone wishing to participate in the ZOOM meeting is asked to pre-register by clicking on the link provided on the FOBL website: www.FOBL.ca

WOODLAND TRAIL LOCATION FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY HIKE

The Bayfield River Valley Trails Association (BRVTA) will be hosting two hikes in March inspired by International Women’s Day as well as species at risk.

On Saturday, March 4, the fourth annual International Women’s Day Hike will take place on the Woodland Trail beginning at 10 a.m. Along the route, the stories of inspirational women will be highlighted! Hikers are asked to meet at the David St. trailhead.

Then on Saturday, March 18, Denise Iszczuk, the conservation educator from the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) will be leading a “Species at Risk” hike. Join the hike and learn about species at risk and actions that can be taken to protect these species. Hikers are asked to park and meet at the Pavilion at 71042 Morrison Line, Exeter. Those interested in carpooling to Exeter (as driver or rider) are asked to please meet at the Clan Gregor Square Gazebo at 9:15 a.m.

Both hikes are free and open to the public without pre-registration. The schedule is subject to change, so always check for updates in the Bayfield Breeze, the BRVTA Facebook page, and the Municipality of Bluewater events calendar, or contact hike coordinator Ralph Blasting by calling 519 525-3205 or emailing rjblastingjr@gmail.com.

From now through Feb. 25, Guided Winter Walks will be offered every Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Varna Nature Trails. Participants are asked to meet at the Varna Community Centre, 1 km west of Varna, to hike the Taylor Trail and Mavis’ Trail.  These walks will be between 1 km and 3.5 km and last an hour or less, depending on the group and the weather.

DILUTE CALICO UP FOR ADOPTION

Gina (Submitted photo)

BFF has so many wonderful cats and kittens looking for their forever families right now.

Gina is the Adopt a BFF cat of the week.

This lovely Dilute Calico came to the Rescue with five adorable newborn babies.

Deb Penhale, representing BFF explained, “She was found with her litter shortly after giving birth. The kind person who found her had to untangle the babies from their birthing sack as two had become entangled and her quick actions saved them. She then contacted us immediately.”

Gina was brought in with her adorable litter. She proved to be an excellent mother.

“She was proud to show off her crew and allowed us to handle the babies but was a bit nervous about being touched herself,” said Penhale. “Once she became more comfortable in her surroundings she warmed up and is now happy to have attention lavished upon her.”

According to Penhale, Gina likes to be up high and watches what is going on during the kittens’ naptime. She loves ear scratches and chin rubs and will offer up her tummy with those she feels comfortable with. She is also a great conversationalist and will respond when spoken to.

To learn more about adopting Gina please contact BFF via email at bayfieldsforgottenfelines@gmail.com for more information. The adoption fee is now $200. Adopted cats are vetted, shots are up-to-date and they are also spayed or neutered. Not able to adopt but still want to help? Donations are always gratefully accepted and can be e-transferred to the email above.

SOCIETAL IMPLICATIONS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TOPIC OF LECTURE

Participants in the 21st Virtual Lecture Series hosted by Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health were clockwise from top left: Leslie Walker, Jay McFarlan, Geneva Neal and Stefan Salcher. (Submitted photo)

On Tuesday, Feb. 7, Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health (Gateway) hosted their 21st Virtual Lecture Series discussing “Societal Implications of Artificial Intelligence”.

The lecture was moderated by Gateway Chair Dan Stringer and hosted by keynote speaker Leslie Walker. She is a Research Associate at Gateway, as well as a Management Consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers and a Doctorate of Social and Economic Sciences Student at the University of Technology in Vienna, Austria.

Additionally, the event featured panelists: Sr. Data Analyst with Creative Destruction Lab at the University of Toronto, Geneva Neal; CEO of Druckster and Founder of Young Entrepreneurs of Vienna, Austria, Stefan Salcher; and Gateway Research Chair of Rural Nutrition and Exercise, Jay McFarlan.

Walker shared a quote from her study:

“The greatest challenge facing societies and firms would be utilizing the benefits of availing artificial intelligence technologies, providing vast opportunities for both new products/services and immense productivity improvements while avoiding the dangers and disadvantages in terms of increased unemployment and greater wealth inequalities.”

Walker presented her studies related to her current research as a Doctoral Student which focuses on policies to reduce the inequality associated with Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare. As such, she spoke to her research conclusions being highly relevant to rural regions such as Huron County.

Within Walker’s presentation she states five key benefits of AI in healthcare being: reduced patient wait times, more efficient healthcare practices, improved accuracy of diagnoses, improved communication and coordination, and substantial cost savings. Within these findings, Walker’s goal was to carry out a case study rationalization approach in hopes of utilizing the benefits of AI while avoiding the disadvantages.

Walker then led the conversation with a panel discussion, giving each an opportunity to comment on the presentation.

Neal raised the point being that there is plenty of opportunity to utilize AI however there is also plenty of infrastructure that needs to be done to fully take advantage of these opportunities.

From a serial entrepreneur’s perspective, Salcher spoke about startups incorporating AI in many of the tasks that they do. Additionally, he spoke to the question: is AI going to take people’s jobs? He stated that he actually believes the opposite will happen – AI failing in some cases due to lack of human interaction.

Lastly, Jay McFarlan weighed in with his perspective as a technology hobbyist by pointing out the use of AI within Microsoft Teams as an example of automatically generating meeting minutes which reduces stress of an employee having to take them and finalize them during or after the fact.

Walker wrapped up the conversation by expressing that AI is similar to a sliding scale in regards to opportunity and risk; however it can be highly beneficial, if used correctly.

People are invited to watch the full virtual version of this lecture by visiting the: Gateway YouTube Channel.

All are invited to attend the next Gateway Rural Health Lecture on Tuesday, March 7 at noon. People can join by going to: Gateway Rural Health Lecture Series Registration.  The next lecture will feature speaker Scott Brown. He will be speaking to the theme, “Gateway: At the Intersection of Organization and Place”.

Gateway recognizes their generous donors for their support of this lecture series.

HURON PERTH RESIDENTS OFFERED GUIDANCE ON ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION

In January, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction released Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health. The guidance replaces the 2011 Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines. It is based on the latest research into alcohol as a risk factor for injuries, violence, and several chronic diseases (including cancer, heart disease and stroke). Data show that alcohol consumption causes nearly 7,000 deaths from cancer each year in Canada.

“The more drinks you have weekly, the greater the risk of alcohol-related harms,” said Lindsay O’Donnell, Public Health promoter at Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH). “The best way to reduce your risk is to lower your alcohol use. No matter how much alcohol you currently consume, drinking less is better for your health.”

The updated advice supports people to make informed decisions about the amount of alcohol they consume. It outlines a continuum of risk associated with weekly alcohol use:

• Zero drinks per week, zero health risk. (Not drinking has many health benefits, including better sleep.)
• One to two standard drinks per week is considered low risk.
• Three to six standard drinks per week is a moderate risk. (Risk of developing several types of cancer, including breast and colon cancer, increases.)
• Seven or more standard drinks per week is an increasingly high risk. (Risk of heart disease or stroke increases.)
• With every additional drink, the risk of alcohol-related consequences, including injuries and violence, increases.
• When pregnant or trying to get pregnant, there is no known safe amount of alcohol. When breastfeeding, having no alcohol is safest.

Data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (2015-2020) shows that 26 per cent of Huron Perth residents aged 19 and older self-report consuming alcohol at a high risk level for alcohol-related consequences. This is more than the Ontario average of 21 per cent. Seventeen percent of local residents report having three to six drinks per week, while 38 per cent report having zero drinks in the past week. Compared to Ontario, fewer Huron Perth residents consume alcohol at a zero, low or moderate risk level.

Lower consumption means a lower risk of alcohol-related harm. No matter where a person places on the continuum, less alcohol is better. Anyone thinking about how they can reduce their risk should take stock of how many standard drinks they have in a week. In Canada, a standard drink is:

•  Beer (12 oz., 341 ml, 5% alcohol)
•  Cider or cooler (12 oz., 341 ml, 5% alcohol)
• Wine (5 oz., 142 ml, 12% alcohol)
• Spirits (1.5 oz., 43 ml, 40% alcohol)

Anyone who is looking for support to reduce alcohol consumption can talk to their health care provider; Call 2-1-1 or visit 211ontario.ca for social services, programs and community support; visit HPPH Community Services for addiction support services and other resources.