UPDATED BAYFIELD HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT PLAN ADOPTED BY BLUEWATER COUNCIL

The updated Bayfield Heritage Conservation District Plan contains current photographs such as this one for the building located at 8 Bayfield Main Street North. (Photo courtesy of GSP Group)

The Municipality of Bluewater has completed an update of the Bayfield Heritage Conservation District Plan (Plan) that was initially established 40 years ago. Bluewater Council adopted the Plan and established a new heritage permit process on Nov. 18.

The updated Plan establishes policies and guidelines for managing change on Bayfield’s Main Street. The key-shaped Heritage Conservation District is anchored by community parks. Between these parks are historic and newer properties that contribute to the distinctive character of the village. Three character areas were created. These properties are also categorized by their historic value to the district. Landowners who are considering alterations to their property will use the updated Plan to determine whether a permit is required under the Ontario Heritage Act. They will learn how their project aligns with the preservation goals for the district. They will learn what heritage attributes are identified for their property and others using the written and photographic information contained in the guidelines.

In creating the Plan, photographs became important tools in telling the stories of Bayfield. Many of these photographs were gratefully received from the Bayfield Historical Society and Archives. They were also combined to create an interactive story board. The story board illustrates that many of the buildings on Main Street are original.

The updated Bayfield Heritage Conservation District Plan contains historic photographs such as this one of the building located at 8 Bayfield Main Street North. The building was built in 1860. (Photo courtesy Bayfield Archives)

Heritage permit applications are now sorted by size of project and guided into the appropriate permitting processes. For example, a building addition would be a major project. This type of project impacts the heritage attributes of the property and the heritage conservation district. A major application would be considered by the municipal council in consultation with the Heritage Advisory Committee. A change that does not significantly impact heritage attributes would be considered by municipal staff. These minor projects are often not visible from the street. An example of a minor project is replacement of new windows and doors.

Council adopted the Plan and guidelines on Nov. 18. Owners of designated properties who object to the by-law may file an appeal with the municipal Clerk until Jan. 3rd, 2025. By-law 105-2024 will come into full force following the 30-day appeal period.

Additional information and the Notice of Passing of the By-law can be obtained from the Heritage Advisory Committee page of the municipal website.

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.

HISTORICAL SOCIETY ENCOURAGES YOUNG PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR ROOTS

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)

Giving Tuesday (Dec. 3rd) has come and gone, but the Bayfield Historical Society (BHS) is extending its campaign until the end of December: “Be part of our living history. Let’s keep it alive!”

“We are grateful to those who have been supporting our campaign and hope more people will join us to keep the unique history of our village alive,” said Barb Durand, president of the BHS.

She would like to encourage residents to give the gift of history this festive season “to help pass down our collective stories and traditions to our children and grandchildren.”

Knowing the past helps make sense of the present, particularly in light of current events, while making informed decisions about the future. The BHS empowers young people to grow personally and professionally by learning about their roots.

Ben Woodward is among those who have benefitted from the BHS. As a University of Waterloo undergraduate and with the expert guidance of BHS Archivist Julia Armstrong, he helped digitize and catalogue their photo albums and postcard collection several summers ago, honing his research abilities and learning about archival preservation skills. Thanks to his experience, Woodward created the Bayfield Historical Web Map, making information about the village’s heritage accessible to more people in exciting new ways.

A few years later, Woodward, now doing coastal research as part of his master’s degree at  the University, returned to BHS as a volunteer, sifting through documents and maps to trace the history of the bluff retreat in Huron County since the 1800s. He constructed a 190-year history of the bluff retreat between Goderich and Grand Bend to predict how much the bluffs would recede, when, and where — critical information that will protect land and homes and save municipal taxes. His work was not only driven by his studies but also by his passion for the environment.

“We are always impressed by young people like Ben who want to make a difference in their community, and we’re happy to give them a chance to expand their skills and horizons,” added Durand. ” Thanks to our archivist, we can secure grants through government programs like Canada Summer Jobs and Young Canada Works and assign specific projects to students and interns during the summer and beyond. Increasingly, though, the competition for these grants is getting fierce.”

That is why the BHS encourages residents to consider the gift of history this holiday season. People can sign up as a single member for $30 or as a family for $40 by E-transfer. To learn more about annual memberships and other ways to participate in the campaign, visit  Bayfield Historical Society. Or visit BHS Canada Helps  to make a tax-deductible donation.

EIGHT KITTENS ADOPTED OVER WEEKEND

Merlin (Submitted photos)

Fluff

Bayfield’s Forgotten Felines is happy to announce that they had eight adoptions over the weekend with the Tortoiseshell sisters at Pet Valu in Goderich and six more kittens finding forever homes during “Kitten Palooza” held on Dec. 1st.

And although it is a happy story for these eight, there are still many more in need need of  homes including, Merlin and Fluff, who are the Adopt a BFF kittens of the week.

Merlin is one of four all black siblings born on May 23, 2024.

According to Deb Penhale, representing BFF, “Getting pictures of Merlin and his siblings is difficult, not just because they are all black but because they are seldom not moving. And when they do slow down they are usually a black kitten pile.”

Merlin is a very active little boy who loves to climb and wrestle with his siblings. He also loves to climb into a lap for a belly rub. In fact, volunteers note that he often forgoes dinner for a cuddle.

Fluff is a grey Tabby that was born on June 16 of this year.

“One look at her picture will tell you why we called this little girl Fluff,” said Penhale. “She is very sweet and loves cuddles between times of exploration with her siblings.”

Please reach out to bayfieldsforgottenfelines@gmail.com to learn more about Merlin and Fluff 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.

FIELDS OF FAITH CONCERT

The Huron Honour Band and the Blyth Festival Orchestra performed on Sunday, Nov. 17 at Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton to benefit the “Fields of Faith Growing Project”, a group of several local United Churches that make annual donations to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. The event was well attended as people from the Seaforth, Brucefield, Brussels and Clinton congregations all attended the matinee performance. In addition to the orchestra, and under the umbrella of the Huron Honour Band members of the Intermediate, Senior (pictured) and Jazz bands provided music. The event raised over $1,300 which will be matched by the Canadian government to bring food aid through Canadian Foodgrains projects throughout the world. (Photo by Wilhelmina Laurie)

THOMPSON LEARNED HOW BLUEWATER USED GRANT MONEY FOR RECREATION

On Sunday, Dec. 1st, MPP for Huron-Bruce Lisa Thompson met with the team at the Municipality of Bluewater to hear more about their use of the $125,700 Resilient Communities Fund from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). In attendance were from l-r: Denver Boertien, Bluewater Recreation coordinator; Maggie Off, manager of Facilities; MPP Lisa Thompson; Mayor of Bluewater Paul Klopp; Stanley East Ward Councillor Peter Walden; Ralph Blasting, Bayfield River Valley Trail Association; and Sinnan Halton, Huron Area Search and Rescue. (Submitted photo)

On Sunday, Dec. 1st, MPP for Huron-Bruce Lisa Thompson met with the team at the Municipality of Bluewater to hear more about the $125,700 Resilient Communities Fund from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) that was used to hire a Recreation Coordinator to develop programming, fundraising and volunteer management plans and increase community access to health, mental well-being, recreation and fitness activities.

“This project is a great investment for the community. The Youth Sport Club will engage people of all ages and encourage active living for all,” said Thompson.

Grant funds were used to support community programming for all ages, specifically March Break Camp, adult pickleball and badminton, Youth Sport Club, and community events such as the Candy Cane Hunt. Additionally, Bluewater has purchased equipment for community usage when attending programming or renting the facilities.

“The grant has allowed Bluewater to offer sports and activities for the community including: pickleball, badminton, line dancing, yoga and various youth programming,” said Pat Harwood, Acting manager of Facilities, Municipality of Bluewater. “The Bluewater facilities have never been so busy!”

The Municipality of Bluewater includes the communities of Bayfield, Brucefield, Dashwood, Hensall, Varna and Zurich. Please visit: Municipality of Bluewater to see upcoming community events and programs.

“Non-profit organizations across Ontario deliver programming that makes a difference,” said Neil Lumsden, minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “That’s why funding that my ministry is providing through the OTF is so important. Our government wants to ensure that these programs and spaces remain the heart of communities across our province.”

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested more than $110 million into 1,044 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca  to learn more.

PROJECT BETWEEN ENBRIDGE GAS AND BLUEWATER FIRE SERVICES SHOULD SAVE LIVES

Enbridge Gas and Bluewater Fire Services recently announced they are working together to improve home safety and bring fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths down to zero through “Safe Community Project Zero” Participating in the announcement were from l-r: Bluewater Fire Chief, Dave Erb; Megan Shannon, coordinator Stakeholder Engagement, Enbridge Gas; Laurie Spence Bannerman, CAO Municipality of Bluewater; Mayor Paul Klopp; Deputy Mayor, John Becker; Peter Walden, Stanley East councilor. (Submitted photo)

On Nov. 29, Enbridge Gas Inc. (Enbridge Gas) and Bluewater Fire Services announced they are working together to improve home safety and bring fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths down to zero.

Bluewater Fire Services received 144 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through “Safe Community Project Zero” – a public education campaign with the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council (FMPFSC) that will provide more than 14,500 alarms to residents in 75 communities across Ontario.

This year, Enbridge Gas invested $450,000 in Safe Community Project Zero, and over the past 16 years, the program has provided more than 101,000 alarms to Ontario fire departments.

When properly installed and maintained, combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms help provide the early warning to safely escape from a house fire or carbon monoxide exposure. Carbon monoxide is a toxic, odourless gas that is a by-product of incomplete combustion of many types of common fuels.

“The best way to reduce potential exposure to carbon monoxide is to properly maintain fuel-burning equipment,” said Megan Shannon, coordinator Stakeholder Engagement, Enbridge Gas. “These alarms are a critical second line of defence against carbon monoxide poisoning, known as ‘the silent killer’. We’re proud to support our communities, and raise awareness and help Ontarians implement these protection strategies.”

“Across Ontario there is a renewed focus on the importance of having working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home. The objective of Safe Community Project Zero is to deliver these alarms to areas where they are needed most,” said Acting Ontario Fire Marshal and Acting Chair of the FMPFSC, John McBeth. “It’s a program that helps fire departments educate their communities about the requirements to have working smoke alarms installed in all Ontario homes and for all Ontario homes to have a carbon monoxide alarm if they have a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage.”

“I’d like to thank Enbridge and the FMPFSC for the work they do and the donation of these alarms. Bluewater Fire Services members have already conducted a door-to-door campaign in the villages and put most of these alarms in service. While conducting door-to-door campaigns, firefighters used this time to educate the residents on the importance of having working smoke and CO alarms in their home,” said Bluewater Fire Chief, Dave Erb.

Bluewater Fire Services provides fire protection and prevention services for the Municipality of Bluewater. Approximately 100 volunteer firefighters staff the four stations, located in Zurich, Hensall, Brucefield and Bayfield. These  firefighters are passionate about the communities they serve and spreading awareness about the benefits of working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

The FMPFSC was established in 1993 with a mission to help create “a world where no one is hurt by fire.” Chaired by the Ontario Fire Marshal, the FMPFSC promotes fire prevention and public education through sponsorships and partnerships with various groups and individuals with an interest in public safety.

Enbridge Gas is Canada’s largest natural gas storage, transmission and distribution company based in Ontario, with 2023 marking its 175th anniversary of serving customers.

CAMPAIGN IN SUPPORT OF LOSS, GRIEF AND BEREAVEMENT PROGRAM

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.

FOLK-INFLUENCED CONCERT TO RAISE FUNDS FOR HURON HOSPICE

Jack Clarke (left) and Deb Shelley will be performing an acoustic, folk-influenced concert in Bayfield on Jan. 12. (Submitted photo)

Evoke, a singer-songwriter duo featuring Jack Clarke and Deb Shelley, is delighted to be coming to Bayfield on Sunday, Jan. 12.  Their afternoon concert of acoustic, folk-influenced music and song has taken as the “Well-Seasoned” inviting listeners on a musical journey through a year of life and beyond.

All proceeds of this event will be in support of Huron Hospice.  The Province of Ontario covers about half of a hospice’s operating expenses, while all hospice care and grief services are provided at no charge to residents and their families.

Both Clarke and Shelley have a background steeped in music-making, and have performed together in different capacities.

Clarke is a trained and gifted guitarist and composer, creating and arranging songs from a spectrum of musical styles. He is equally at home crafting blues, folk, light jazz, and classical sounding music on his guitar or ukulele, with occasional harmonica woven in. His soothing, gentle voice provides an easy welcome to the listener.

Over the years, Shelley has focused on developing and directing community vocal groups, such as “Solace”, “Driftwood Harmony”, and “Full Circle Singers”.  In 2022, she completed her M.A. in Community Music at Wilfrid Laurier University, and was instrumental in leading Huron Hospice in their quest to become Music Care Certified earlier this year. When asked, Shelley claims that her instrument of choice is a “Pilot” gel pen; she appreciates the power, musicality, and poetry of language.  Beyond that, she loves to sing, most often choosing a harmony part.

A few years ago, Clarke sent Shelley the recording of a song he’d created that was in need of lyrics.  They’ve been co-creating songs ever since. Their ever-expanding repertoire is rich with reflective songs that by turns will have the listener tapping their foot, closing their eyes in thought, or humming along.

Cliff and Penny, recent attendees at an Evoke concert, extended their thanks for the “soothing song, beautiful harmony and gentle lyrics,” adding that “the performance was extremely well received.” Another attendee, Doug, declared “Jack and Deb are pure joy.  Evoke creates a journey and brings the listener along for the ride, with lyrics and music harmonized into a feeling of bliss.”

All are welcome to attend Evoke’s “Well-Seasoned” concert on January 12 at 2 p.m., at St. Andrews United Church, Bayfield, which is wheelchair accessible.  Admission is by donation; tax receipts from Huron Hospice will be issued for donations of $20 or more.

An anonymous donor has offered to match all funds collected to a maximum of $5,000, so individual donations will have double the impact!

To add a touch of extra flavor, a delectable basket of seasonings from The Gravy Boat in Bayfield will be offered as a door prize at the event.

Please note that if winter weather is prohibitive on Jan. 12, the concert will be rescheduled to Sunday, Jan. 19, at the same time and location.  Updates will be provided on the Huron Hospice website and on social media.

For further information, please visit www.huronhospice.ca/events