VOLUNTEERS MAKE THE MAGIC HAPPEN

At the conclusion of Christmas in Bayfield weekend, representatives from Compass Minerals, The Salvation Army Suncoast Citadel in Goderich and the Christmas in Bayfield committee gathered for the presentation of the gifts. From l-r: Leah Bauer, Processing and Shipping coordinator, Compass Minerals along with her daughter, Oliva, partner, Robert, and their dog, Jake; Carolyne Champagne, Human Resources manager, Compass Minerals; Captain Joseph Ludlow, Salvation Army;
and Wendy Vasco, Marketing manager, Bayfield and Area Chamber of Commerce.

PHOTOS COURTESY BAYFIELD AND AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Christmas in Bayfield (CIB) weekend, Nov. 15-17, heralded the start of a splendid holiday season in the village.

“What an amazing event!!! From the lighting of the lights, to the parade, children’s events, face painting, fire pits, live entertainment, carriage rides and interactive sports games…the weekend could not have been more enchanting,” said Secretary-Treasurer of the Bayfield and Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC), Terri Louch. “Visitors were drawn from far and near by an amazing advertising campaign created by Wendy Vasco the BACC Marketing Manager spanning print, radio and digital media.”

Louch went on to say that with all the guests that were attracted, the CIB committee needed support and were very fortunate to have three dozen volunteers step up to make the weekend happen.

She added that the CIB committee members are deeply grateful for the generosity and support from the weekend’s sponsors.

“Christmas in Bayfield would not be possible without each and every one of you!” she said. “We are forever grateful for your commitment to our community.”

Appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus over the course of the weekend were a highlight for many families as one visitor to the village expressed in an email to the BACC:

“Oh man! One happy kid! Thank you so much for organizing such a wonderful weekend! It was greatly appreciated! Also, big thanks to Santa and Mrs. Claus for being so kind and wonderful! A day my little guy won’t forget!”

Santa not only participated in the park lighting ceremony along with Mrs. Claus but he also appeared in the parade, and then later again joined by his wife he delighted countless children by listening to their secret wishes throughout the entire weekend, ensuring that each person – small and big was able to have their request heard.

“This magical interaction truly embodies the spirit of the event, bringing smiles to so many faces,” said Louch.

Perhaps the greatest success of the weekend, however, was the amount of food and toys gathered to help support those less fortunate.

“During our first year of the gift drive, sponsored by Compass Minerals, both locals and guests stepped up to help. Already used to providing food during the parade, they also came bearing gifts this year. The Salvation Army was the recipient of a sleigh full of gifts, and the Bayfield Area Food Bank benefitted with a substantial amount of food and items from their wishlist as well,” concluded Louch.

THE ALBION HOTEL TO HOST BREAKFAST

These folks were patiently waiting for the doors to open for Santa’s Breakfast at The Albion Hotel on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023. The doors to The Albion will open for the next instalment of this breakfast sponsored by the Bayfield Optimist Club Sunday, Dec. 8! (Photo by Melody Falconer-Pounder)

The Bayfield Optimist Club has received word that Santa Claus has time in his schedule to come down from the North Pole to visit the village on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 8. He is looking forward to partaking in a breakfast with the young and young at heart!

Breakfast with Santa will be held at The Albion Hotel from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Instead of a buffet, the meals will be plated and the menu will consist of pancakes, sausage, potatoes, eggs, toast and a beverage. The meal will cost $14 for adults and $6 for children under 12 years of age.

Optimists, volunteers and The Albion Hotel staff look forward to helping families make some fun holiday memories at this seventeenth breakfast – the first being held in 2005.

AG SOCIETY RECOGNIZES ACCOMPLISHMENTS

President Doug Yeo recognized outgoing BAS Directors Vicky Culbert, Doug Culbert (absent), and Jean Dunn for their contributions to the BAS over many years. (Submitted photos)

Homecraft President Pamela Stanley presented Rick Kaptein with a thank-you gift of a fresh wreath for his presentation on “Chicken Farming in 2024” at the Annual Meeting.

The Annual Meeting of the Bayfield Agricultural Society (BAS) was held in the basement of St. Andrew’s United Church on Friday, Nov. 22.

Following a delicious meal and illuminating presentation on “Chicken Farming in 2024” by Rick Kaptein, the business of the Annual Meeting proceeded.  Greetings were received on behalf of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS) from OAAS Provincial Director Jentje Steenbeek and from Heidi Danen representing OAAS District 8.

Annual Meetings are held so that members can learn about what the organization has accomplished, approve the financial statement and proposed budget, and appoint people to committees and positions of leadership.

The BAS also used the event to acknowledge and present awards to individuals and organizations that have provided years of support.

This year, an OAAS Accomplishment Award was presented to Agri-Solve Inc. for its longstanding commitment to providing financial support for children’s activities at the fair.  Mervyn Erb, founder of Agri-Solve Inc., accepted the award from BAS Homecraft President Pamela Stanley.

The second OAAS Accomplishment Award was presented to Catherine Thompson, who has provided financial support for horse shows at the fair for many years. This year, Catherine generously supported the Heavy Horse Show. In past years, when the fair featured a mule show, she supported that too. On behalf of her mother, Kimberley Thompson accepted the award from Stanley.

The final OAAS award given out was the OAAS Outstanding Youth Recognition Award. This new award was created by the OAAS to allow an Agricultural Society to recognize youth volunteers who contribute time and energy or resources to their society.   It is meant to honor an individual under 21 years of age in the current year who contributes time and energy to an Agricultural Society. The award was presented to Cate Thompson.

President Doug Yeo also had several President’s Awards to present. The first one was presented to Steve Willis for his many years of running the 4-H Sheep competition and ensuring everything is in place for all the 4-H shows, including all the cleanup after. The second award was presented jointly to Janet Vogelsang and Phil Heath for their involvement in many of the fair activities as well as the recent wreath-making fundraiser. Both are always willing to help with activities at the park. Yeo also recognized outgoing BAS Directors Vicky Culbert, Doug Culbert, and Jean Dunn for their contributions over the years. In Dunn’s case, this has amounted to more than 60 years!

At the Annual Meeting, Yeo was re-elected as President. As part of the President’s Report, he shared this message with the group: “A final note on outreach in our community. The Bayfield Agricultural Society has always been a part of this community. It shares its park with the community for recreation, exercising pets, children’s summer camps and now exploring for treasure. This past year, it loaned out its tables, carts and bar tables to four groups at no cost. The old display/chicken barn has been used by three different organizations to store materials for the long term and also short term. The old pumping station stores materials for two groups and the cattle barn over winter becomes filled with materials from at least two groups. For all these situations, our organization has not charged any fees, just requested written assurances that each group has insurance. The Ag Society continues its tradition of giving back to the community with our resources in addition to the fair experience that is put on annually.”

Several new people have stepped forward in the last few weeks to fill several positions but additional volunteers are needed.  Anyone who wants to be part of an active fair and to see their area of interest as a strong part of the overall experience is encouraged to contact info@bayfieldfair.ca  The BAS is also actively seeking a Volunteer Coordinator.

The hour-long meeting concluded, but people stayed to chat afterward. Gathering over a meal, sharing stories, and discussing new ideas for the fair, as well as celebrating the Society’s relevance in the community are all part of being involved in the BAS!

HERITAGE CENTRE A DESTINATION FOR WORLD TRAVELERS 

In addition to occupying a critical place in Bayfield’s culture and heritage, of the several historical societies in Huron County, the Bayfield Historical Society is the only one with a dedicated site. Their Archives & Heritage Centre, preserves hundreds of irreplaceable archival records, photographs, prints, textiles and objects. (Photo courtesy Bayfield Historical Society)

Karen Ratcliffe (Submitted photo)

Ontario is home to many beautiful places and charming villages and Bayfield is no exception but it still came as a surprise when Karen Ratcliffe, a volunteer with the Bayfield Historical Society (BHS), welcomed summer visitors from five continents in one day to the Archives & Heritage Centre located on Main Street. 

Visitors hailed from Peru, Colorado (US), Brisbane (Australia), Copenhagen (Denmark) and Shanghai (China). One of the visitors even commented on how much the village’s Main Street reminded them of a recent trip to Budapest (Hungary).

“The Bayfield Historical Society has worked diligently over the decades to keep our village authentic. As a volunteer, I was astonished to learn how many visitors wanted to know how our town came to be. They were quite interested in what we had to show them and always wanted to see more,” said Ratcliffe. 

History and its preservation and promotion are at the heart of what the Society does, but it also serves as a tourist centre. Bayfield is a little treasure and a great place to live. To keep it vibrant, it is necessary for both tourist and local dollars to keep flowing.

Barb Durand, president of the BHS, said, “For us and our amazing volunteers like Karen, it is always interesting and gratifying to meet people from all over. We are proud to walk our visitors through the beginnings of Bayfield and recommend how to make the most of their visit. Sometimes, we’ll meet someone who serendipitously has a connection to the town, and the conversation will take on a life of its own – we’re constantly discovering new things about our village. History is a true connector, and heritage tourism benefits all of us on Main Street and our entire community.” 

The BHS is open during the June to Labour Day weekend season, Wednesdays to Sundays, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This year, it welcomed over 3,500 visitors from across Ontario, Canada and abroad, 354 more than the previous year. The Society also opens its doors to support and participate in

special community events like Christmas in Bayfield, the inaugural Main Street Arts Festival, Remembrance Day and Volkfest. However, the BHS never really closes. It is open year-round by appointment for those who have a research request or wish to donate a family heirloom or object that might be of historical significance to the Society’s archives.

Because history never stops, people can help support the BHS by participating in its Giving Tuesday campaign: “Be part of our living history. Let’s keep it alive!”  

According to organizers there is still time to take action: share your connection to Bayfield, become a member, renew a membership, volunteer or make a tax-deductible donation by E-transfer. To keep Bayfield authentic, visit www.bayfieldhistorical.ca. BHS also has a presence on social media and can be found on Facebook.

 FORTY KITTENS IN NEED OF HOMES

Bagel (Submitted photos)

Bayfield’s Forgotten Felines will be hosting their last big “Kitten Palooza” of the year on Dec. 1st.

The Kittenry is closing for the winter but there are still over 40 kittens looking for their forever homes. This is the perfect time to adopt that “Holiday Kitty”; when they have time to adjust to their new home and can then celebrate the holidays with their new family.

Volunteers at this adoption event will have hot chocolate and cookies on offer as well as some amazing items for last minute holiday shopping. Kitten Palooza will be held from 1-4 p.m. at 16 Keith Crescent in Bayfield.

Two of the many in need of their forever home include sisters Bagel and Cream, who are the Adopt a BFF kittens of the week. Born in early September of this year, Bagel is a Calico and Cream a Siamese mix.

Cream

According to Deb Penhale, representing BFF, “Bagel seems to have inherited all of the sass in her family, and is not afraid of telling her foster parent off if dinner has been served late. What counts as late to her? Even her foster parent is still trying to figure that out, but it is probably any time that wasn’t five minutes ago.”

Bagel loves to explore the world around her, and is the ringleader of her sibling group, taking the lead in introducing herself to new people. She loves to be involved with everything that her foster parent tries to do whenever they are in the foster room, including sweeping floors, and is a very curious kitten that loves to watch out the window.

Bagel’s sister Cream is the definition of “fun-sized”.

“Cream is the smallest of her siblings, but is more than capable of holding her own against her larger brothers and sister,” said Penhale. “Despite her spunky streak, however, Cream prefers to enjoy quiet naps, and is not afraid to speak her mind if she is woken up. Her meow matches her ‘old lady’ personality, and she sounds like someone with a 50-year-long pack-a-day habit instead of a kitten telling you off for serving dinner five minutes late.”

She loves to be involved with whatever people are doing, usually observing from a distance in order to ensure that it is being done correctly. Her personality is as much a surprise as her appearance was when she was born, and she will definitely keep people guessing when it comes to what she is thinking about.

Please reach out to bayfieldsforgottenfelines@gmail.com to learn more about Bagel and Cream and others. The adoption fee is $250. Adopted cats are vetted, shots are up-to-date and they are also spayed or neutered. Can’t adopt or foster at this time?  Consider donating for medical care and food to the email address listed above via E-transfer or mail financial donations to P.O. Box 33, Bayfield, ON, N0M 1G0.

Want to see and learn more about the felines at the shelter? This can be done easily by visiting their website! Included on this website is lots of helpful information on how people can help feral kittens. The site, www.bayfieldsforgottenfelines.ca, features a searchable index of all the cats and kittens available for adoption. This includes pictures and descriptions of their personalities. Plus there is  a new option for making donations by credit card. The website also includes online forms that automate the adoption and volunteer application processes as well as testimonials from previous adopters who found their purrfect matches at BFF.

 WREATH SALE AN UNEQUIVOCAL SUCCESS

In addition to evergreen wreaths a few beautiful wreaths made using Bittersweet were available for purchase.

The Bayfield Agricultural Society (BAS) held its annual fundraising Wreath Sale on Nov. 15-16 of the Christmas in Bayfield weekend.

The wreath sales team arrived early to set up in front of St. Andrew’s United Church on the Friday only to find purchasers already waiting to get first crack at the wreaths and additional items on offer. Sales continued briskly throughout Friday evening and again on Saturday, especially just before and after the Santa Claus parade. By early Saturday afternoon, the Wreath Sale was completely sold out!

The BAS is grateful to the Bayfield community and visitors who stopped by to pick up wreaths, tails, greenery bundles, and bows for their holiday decor. All of the proceeds from the Wreath Sale will be used to support the Bayfield Community Fair.

Co-chairs Phil Heath and Janet Vogelsang offer final words on this project: “To the wonderful people who answered our call for volunteers to help with the wreath-making process – from gathering the grapevine for the bases to cutting greens and helping to make the final product – we couldn’t have done it without you! Selling the final product to the community and seeing all the happy faces made the effort worthwhile. We appreciate the support of the Bayfield community and look forward to seeing everyone again at the Wreath Sale next year.”

BAYFIELD RESIDENT A GOLD MEDALIST

North Metro Chorus performed the final song at the convention with the new Queens of Harmony: Clever Girl Quartet (shown wearing green and gold).

Kathy Gray wearing the costume for the Finals performance of “Les Misérables” and proudly displaying her gold medal! (Submitted photos)

Kathy Gray, a resident of Bayfield, is also a gold medalist! 

As a member of the North Metro Chorus from Toronto she recently traveled to Kansas City, Missouri, the site of the 76th Annual International Convention and Competition for Sweet Adelines International. Before an enthusiastic crowd of 5,000 people, North Metro Chorus won the World Championship earning them a gold medal.

According to Gray, members of North Metro come from all over Southern Ontario from such places as French River, Sauble Beach and Midland as well as Buffalo, New York. 

“Due to COVID-19 cancellations, this was the first opportunity for the chorus to repeat their 2017 win in Las Vegas, Nevada,” said Gray. “This is the sixth gold for North Metro.”

For the first time, North Metro received the trophy from a Canadian chorus, Lions Gate Chorus from Vancouver, British Columbia – the 2023 champions. This was also the first time that North Metro received the “Most Entertaining” Award. 

Anyone who would like to see their most entertaining performances is invited to do so by visiting: Semi Finals and Finals.

CAMPAIGN IN SUPPORT OF LOSS, GRIEF AND BEREAVEMENT PROGRAM

The Loss, Grief and Bereavement Support Program is a free service provided by Huron Hospice. (Submitted photo)

Huron Hospice has launched its annual fundraiser called “Wings of a Dove”. This year, the campaign will raise money to fund the Loss, Grief and Bereavement Support Program at Huron Hospice.

This support program helps children, youth and adults learn how to manage their grief. Huron Hospice offers the program at no cost to the participants, because the last thing a family should have to think about at a challenging time is the cost of services. It’s all about making sure that compassionate care is available across Huron County.

According to Huron Hospice Executive Director, Willy Van Klooster, “Loss comes in many forms, the death of someone special, a marital breakdown or the loss of a job. At some point in our lives, we will all experience a loss. When we do, we will grieve. For some people grief becomes a challenge that is hard to manage. This kind of grief can affect daily life and when this happens, it is okay to say, ‘I need help’.”

This year, when people give to Wings of a Dove, Compass Minerals, Merner Contracting, the Lions Club of Brussels and an anonymous donor will match all gifts up to $20,000.

Christopher Walker, manager of Fund Development said, “Compass Minerals and Merner Contracting have been wonderful supporters of the Wings of a Dove campaign for a number of years. When the Brussels Lions Club found out about the match they asked if they could help. The match means a gift of $100 becomes $200 and $250 grows to $500.”

Walker also said, “Giving feels good, and it feels even better when you know you are supporting such an important cause.”

Walker pointed out that “due to the labor disruption at Canada Post, the campaign may be delayed this year. Although it may be delayed, the need is real. People can continue to support Huron Hospice by making a gift online, by E-transfer, or over the phone. If people still want to donate by cheque, it can be dropped off at Bender House.”

People can join the Wings of a Dove fundraiser by logging in to www.huronhospice.ca or calling Christopher Walker at 519 525-7352.

It is important to remember if anyone feels like they are having a difficult time managing their grief, they should not hesitate to call Huron Hospice. They are available to help. Call Sally Brodie at 519 525-6331.

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION LECTURE TOPIC

Dr. Sarah Newbery (Submitted photo)

Recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals in rural regions is a core issue that rural municipalities in Huron, Perth, Grey and Bruce Counties are currently facing. This issue has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and an aging population. In 2023, Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health (Gateway) conducted a needs assessment in Huron County and found a shortfall of 223 healthcare workers!

In recognition of this need, Gateway is hosting a free one-hour webinar on Dec. 3rd, starting at noon via ZOOM featuring Dr. Sarah Newbery, who will be talking about “Retention – Why it is key to Recruitment”. The focus then will be on the retention of clinicians both as a backbone against which recruitment can happen (through mentorship, support, guidance, and system learning) and for education and clinical teaching which opens the door to recruitment.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Newbery is the inaugural Associate Dean of Physician Workforce Strategy at Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) University. In this role, she works alongside faculty, communities and other partner organizations to support strategic initiatives to enhance the physician workforce in Northern Ontario. A practicing rural generalist family physician of over 28 years in the community of Marathon, ON, she has held several leadership roles in primary care and rural medicine locally, regionally and provincially.

Anyone who would like to ask questions on one of the ways to build a more resilient healthcare system, this is an opportunity to engage with a learned practitioner.

To attend this event and future presentations, please register on the Gateway website at: Lecture Series.