The Bayfield BreezeIssue 815 Week 08 Vol 16
February 19, 2025
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BLUEWATER FITNESS HELPS VILLAGERS PRIORITIZE HEALTH AND WELLNESS
PHOTOS AND STORY BY SAMANTHA LAWSON
Jenn Fleury has been involved in the fitness atmosphere for about 20 years and said she just wants to help people.
A new gym in Bayfield is bringing light and positivity to the community during an especially snowy winter, offering residents a way to beat the winter blues and prioritize their health and wellness.
Walking through the front door of Bluewater Fitness, people are greeted by Jenn Fleury, who runs the gym space located at 1C The Square with her husband Mike.
The pair have lived in Bayfield for four years now, and Fleury said she had her eye on this location for a while, thinking it would be the perfect spot for a gym.
Fleury has been involved in the fitness atmosphere for about 20 years and said she just wants to help people. That’s part of the reason why she and her husband decided to open Bluewater Fitness.
“Knowing that I’m helping people stay fit, it just brings me a lot of joy. It brings me joy to just have people come in here and be happy and do their workout and just do their part to make themselves stronger and healthier. I’m honored to be able to provide this for everyone,” Fleury said.
Bluewater Fitness officially opened at the end of November last year. Fleury said she felt that there was an obvious need for a gym in Bayfield.
“The closest [gyms] are Goderich or Grand Bend and a lot of people don’t want to drive that, we don’t want to drive that anymore, so this is like a no excuse gym. You can come here and work out, no excuses, you can walk here, you can bike here, and people need it, obviously, because we have a lot of members,” Fleury said.
Prioritizing fitness is vital for people at any age, but becomes especially important as you get older and your mobility diminishes.
Fleury said fitness to her means being able to move for as long as she can.
“I don’t want to be 90 and not be able to do anything because I can’t squat or I can’t bend or reach for things or open my own jars. And I want that for my members. I want all my members to be able to be strong and be healthy,” Fleury said.
And Fleury said the response from the community has been overwhelming so far. Membership is increasing all the time, with a few new people coming in every week.
“Everyone is so pleased. They come in here and they’re like ‘Oh thank goodness this is here because I don’t want to be driving to Goderich and this is only a little walk away!’” Fleury said.
One such happy customer is Liz Armstrong, who said the gym is a great addition to the community.
“I think it’s excellent. The equipment is great, more classes have been added to the regime, I think it’s perfect. I imagine the average age of clientele is over sixty and with fitness being key in people living longer, I think it’s a great thing. I hope it thrives in the community.”
Bluewater Fitness offers a wide range of classes for all different fitness levels, such as circuit training classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
Guest day passes are available for $20 to allow people to check out the gym before committing to a full membership. And memberships range from a week or a month, to three months, six months, or a full year.
To learn more about the classes offered at Bluewater Fitness and to check membership rates, visit their website or stop in at the gym in-person and review the options there.
BAYFIELD AREA FOOD BANK OUTLINES REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW LOCATION
The Bayfield Area Food Bank (BAFB) continues its urgent search for a new location, either temporary or permanent, as its current home in the former Bayfield Lions Club Building must be vacated by Apr. 4.
There has been much discussion – both public and private – about potential locations for the BAFB. To clarify, the organization wishes to address why suggested options have not been suitable and to seek further recommendations for a space that meets operational needs.
“We appreciate the Municipality’s review of the options we provided, as well as the list of locations we had already investigated and found unsuitable – whether due to size, inaccessibility, or unavailability. In the meantime, we continue to explore other possibilities,” said Claire Trepanier, president of the BAFB Board.
The Board considers the following to be requirements for a new location:
- Capacity to accommodate shelving and refrigeration units
- Suitability for the BAFBs distribution schedule
- Availability for a temporary solution lease of up to six months
“We continue to keep Councilor Bill Whetstone informed and remain hopeful for further support from Council – especially in considering a temporary municipal space that could meet our needs,” said Trepanier.
Additionally, the BAFB has not yet received any commitment from the Municipality regarding whether proceeds from the sale of the former Lions Club Building could be allocated to help the not-for-profit organization secure a new location.
The BAFB is calling on the community for assistance in identifying a viable location. Anyone with suggestions or leads is encouraged to reach out. Support from the community is vital to ensuring that those in need continue to receive food assistance without disruption.
For more information, or to share potential locations, please contact Claire Trepanier, president, Bayfield Area Food Bank via email at bayfieldareafoodbank@gmail.com or call 519-525-8286
The BAFB has been operating for over 20 years and is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing essential food support to individuals and families in Bayfield and the surrounding area. Through community donations and volunteer efforts, the BAFB works to ensure that no one in the community goes hungry.
MADZIAK TO DEFEND FUNNY MEMOIR
Each year, The Village Bookshop presents Bayfield Reads and adopts the theme identified by CBC’s Canada Reads. This year will be no different and on March 16 they will determine which of the five books will be the “one book to change the narrative”.
“Jennie’s Boy: A Newfoundland Childhood” (Knopf Canada, 2022) is a national bestseller and an award winner. Consummate storyteller and bestselling novelist Wayne Johnston reaches back into his past to bring readers a sad, tender, and at times extremely funny memoir of his Newfoundland boyhood.
For six months, between 1966 and 1967, Wayne and his family lived in a wreck of a house across from his grandparents in Goulds, Newfoundland. At seven, Wayne was sickly and skinny, unable to keep food down, plagued with insomnia and a relentless cough that no doctor could diagnose, though they had already removed his tonsils, adenoids, and appendix. To the neighbors, he was known as “Jennie’s boy,” a backhanded salute to his tiny, ferocious mother, who felt judged for his condition at the same time as she worried he might never grow up.
Unable to go to school, Wayne spent his days with his witty, religious, deeply eccentric maternal grandmother, Lucy. During these six months of Wayne’s childhood, he and Lucy faced two life-or-death crises, the odds against them both.
Jennie’s Boy is Wayne’s tribute to a family and a community that were simultaneously fiercely protective of him and fed up with having to make allowances for him. His boyhood was full of pain, yes, but also tenderness and Newfoundland wit. By that wit, and through love – often expressed in the most unlikely ways – Wayne survived.
Anne Marie Madziak, who will be defending Jennie’s Boy: A Newfoundland Childhood, is a retired librarian, trainer, facilitator and leadership coach. She and her partner moved from London to Bayfield in 2023, having vacationed here for 20 years, developing a fierce love for the land and the water. When she’s not reading, or walking, Madziak dabbles in writing haiku and short personal essays.
This year’s books and their defenders are: “Watch Out for Her” by Samantha Bailey, defended by Tony Pemberton; “A Two-Spirit Journey: The Autobiography of a Lesbian Ojibwa-Cree Elder” by Ma-Nee Chacaby, defended by Gemma James-Smith; “Jennie’s Boy: A Newfoundland Childhood” by Wayne Johnston, defended by Anne Marie Madziak; “Dandelion” by Jamie Chai Yun Liew, defended by Ben Woodward; and “Etta and Otto and Russell and James” by Emma Hooper, defended by Shannon Lough.
Judging these debates will be the esteemed panel of judges who are all past defenders: Catherine Tillmann, Faith Wyant and Madison Thornton.
People are invited to read the five featured books and be ready to support the defenders at Bayfield Reads on March 16. The event will be held at the Bayfield Town Hall starting at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door, everyone is welcome and will be encouraged to participate in selecting the People’s Choice Award winner.
This year’s Bayfield Reads book selection, and so many more, are available at The Village Bookshop located at 24 Bayfield Main Street North in Bayfield. The shop is open Thursday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. People can also shop online by visiting: village bookshop.ca.
CATS FROM ABANDONED COLONY NEED HOMES
Matt (Submitted photo)
Sometimes situations arise when multiple felines are found to be in difficulty and this can prove challenging for volunteer driven rescues such as Bayfield’s Forgotten Felines (BFF) but for the sake of the cats they do their best to help.
Such is the story of the Adopt a BFF Cat of the week – Matt.
Deb Penhale representing BFF explained that Matt came to the shelter recently along with eight other cats from a difficult situation.
“Matt came into the shelter from a situation where a person was feeding a colony of cats that were not vetted and it got out of control. This caretaker became ill and is now in a long term care facility and the kitties were left to fend for themselves,” said Penhale. “A kind person who knew of the situation and a neighbor stepped up to try to care for the cats while at the same time trying to find a solution.”
Eventually the person in need of help was directed to BFF. Their volunteers worked with both individuals and were able to get most of the cats.
“Matt is a shy boy with the most fabulous coat – he does love to cuddle and give head butts,” said Penhale. “He is one of nine brought to BFF from this colony, some are friends, others are likely siblings as they look quite similar, all are now looking for their forever homes.”
Please reach out to bayfieldsforgottenfelines@gmail.com to learn more about Matt 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.
ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT BY-LAW REPEAL
Orlagh as seen from the street on Oct. 24, 2010. (Photo by Melody Falconer-Pounder)
The Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of Bluewater has received a request at the initiation of the owner to repeal By-law 257-1985 which designates 41 Bayfield Main Street South (Plan 149 Pt Lot RP22R651, Bayfield Ward, Municipality of Bluewater) under section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.
The Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O., 1990, c. 0.18 as amended, provides that an owner of property designated under the Ontario Heritage Act (section 32) may apply to Municipal Council to repeal the by-law or part thereof designating the property.
The property in question is currently known as Orlagh. It has also been known as Woods House or the Keillor Residence. It was built in 1868 as the residence of Dr. Ninian Mahaffy Woods, a physician and first reeve of Stanley Township and Bayfield.
Heritage attributes include a three-storey residence of buff brick in the Georgian style surrounded by gardens and parkland. The home features an elegant wooden staircase, generous upper hall lit by raised arched-door windows, brick exterior and massing, original high baseboards and deep wood trim.
With regards to the property’s cultural heritage value, there is a summer kitchen connected to the barn by covered walkway; and a Fenian hole (false floor covered hiding space) in the barn.
Additional information about the property is available by contacting Aaron Stewardson, manager of Development Services.
The repeal of the designation by-law is to be considered by the Municipality of Bluewater Council at its regular meeting of Council to be held at 6:30 p.m. on Apr. 7, 2025.
Any person may serve on the Municipal Clerk, Chandra Alexander, a Notice of Objection in writing, setting out the reasons for the objection and all relevant facts. A Notice of Objection is then considered by Council in its deliberation on the matter. A decision of Council may be appealed by submitting a Notice of Appeal with the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) and the Municipal Clerk. More details on the appeal process can be found at Appeals Process.
Notice of Objections must be filed with the Municipal Clerk by Friday, March 14, 2025. Chandra Alexander can be reached via email at clerk@municipalityofbluewater.ca.
MARCH BREAK AT THE LIBRARY
March Break is fast approaching and the staff at the Bayfield Branch Library are organizing a couple of fun activities for youth to take part in.
Budding Botanists are invited to build a terrarium and make a figurine on Monday, March 10.
Those who take part can build a beautiful terrarium to take home. This terrarium will take care of itself while their creators watch the plants grow! Participants will learn about different ecosystems, the water cycle, a variety of species and the importance of biodiversity. They will also sculpt a small clay figure to place inside of their newly created world.
This activity is open to ages four plus and will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
On Tuesday, March 11, gaming enthusiasts can power up for a fast-paced Mario Kart Tournament. Gamers can race against other players over multiple rounds to see who finishes first and is the Mario Kart champion.
This activity will begin at 12:30 p.m. and is open to youth aged eight plus.
To register for these events please email the Bayfield Library at bayfieldlibrary@huroncounty.ca or call 519 565-2886.
The Bayfield Branch Library is located at 18 Main Street North.
FOOD BANK BOARD
“Our client base is growing, and we need your help,” said Claire Trepanier, president of the Bayfield Area Food Bank (BAFB).
The BAFB is currently seeking new board members to help guide and support their mission to strengthen the community through food security.
Qualifications for applicants include a passion for food security and community service.
Their roles and responsibilities will include attending monthly meetings and participating in committees. The BAFB Board is a working board and therefore needs commitment of time and resources to board activities.
According to Trepanier, benefits of becoming a board member include networking opportunities, personal growth and the chance to make a tangible difference in the community.
“As a board member, you will play a crucial role in guiding our mission to alleviate food insecurity and support families in need,” said Trepanier. “Together, we can make a difference!”
Anyone who is passionate about fighting hunger and making a positive impact in the community, is asked to please contact Claire Trepanier by calling 519 525-8286 or by emailing bayfieldareafoodbank@gmail.com.
OPTIMIST CLUB OF BAYFIELD
People often ask if they can add an engraved brick to the path around the Splash Pad in Clan Gregor Square and members of the Optimist Club of Bayfield are pleased to announce that there is further opportunity to have a name added to the circle in 2025.
The engraved pavers in Clan Gregor Square are a reminder of how great area residents and visitors are when it comes to supporting such projects as the Playground and the Splash Pad.
“In Memoriam” stones for loved ones as well as “just because” stones can be ordered with the work being done on site later in 2025 using the same two brick sizes that are already installed around the Splash Pad. The cost of these engraved bricks will be medium, $90; and large, $120. The plan is to have the bricks engraved in late May just prior to opening the Splash Pad.
Anyone with an interest in adding a brick can contact Jeff Kish via email at jeff.kish.home@gmail.com or by calling 416 435-8700 for further information.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Due to some extremely wintery weather the service at Knox Presbyterian Church in Bayfield was cancelled on Feb. 16. Therefore, Knox will welcome Pastor John Bannerman, guest preacher, this Sunday, Feb 23 instead.
People of all ages, stages, and faith experiences are welcome to join in weekly services at Knox, Bayfield on Sundays at 11 a.m. The congregation looks forward to greeting everyone at “Our little church with a great big heart!”
Knox Bayfield holds their Book Study on Mondays at noon (excluding holidays) on the lower level of the church. Their current focus is “Sensible Shoes – A Story About the Spiritual Journey” by Sharon Garlough Brown. For those who wish to take part, the book can be purchased at: The Village Bookshop. All are welcome!
Members of the congregation are currently gathering items for re-use and upcycling. Upcycling takes something no longer in use and gives it a second life with new functions, for example, the outer milk bag can be upcycled into sleeping mats. These mats are distributed to people in need throughout the world. Knox Bayfield gathers clean outer milk bags that have been previously washed and dried, used stamps, empty egg cartons and eyeglasses. Items can be dropped off at the church from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday and Monday (excluding holidays). People’s generous contributions are warmly accepted and will change lives.
Knox Presbyterian Church Bayfield is located at 2 Bayfield Main Street North. To learn more visit knoxbayfield.ca or follow them on YouTube – Knox, Bayfield.
WEDNESDAY BRIDGE
Due to the sale of the Bayfield Lions Municipal Building the organizers of the Bayfield Bridge Club are moving the games to a new location – St. Andrew’s United Church – thus maintaining a card playing tradition of over 35 years!
Players do not need to attend with a partner to participate in these “drop-in” sessions. New people are invited to join in this great opportunity to make new friends as partners are switched after every four hands. There are weekly reviews on bidding responses at the beginning of each session for example, responses to a No Trump open etc. Snacks are served mid-session.
The cost to take part is $4 per player. The cards are shuffled at 1 p.m. All levels of players are welcome to take part in these games that are played year-round.
St Andrew’s United Church is located at 6 The Square in the village.
The CLEVER COOK
In 2024, Bayfield resident Sam Robinson won a Youth in Action grant sponsored by the Perth Huron United Way to create a microscope lending program through the Huron County Library.
This year, Sam has been approved for a Supporting Local Youth Program grant offered by the Huron County Economic Department for a new project.
“I was volunteering at the local food bank and had an idea to make a cookbook for their clients with tips and tricks on how to use unusual items they find at the food bank, how to save money at the supermarket, create healthy meals, stretch their food budget, and reduce food waste,” said Sam.
The SLYP grant will allow the youth the opportunity to make this cookbook a reality! Sam’s plan is to make this cookbook available for the public to purchase as well as making it available to clients at the local food banks for free. For every cookbook purchased ($20-$25) an additional cookbook will be donated to clients at food banks across Huron County. It is Sam’s goal to provide 200 cookbooks to the area food banks.
The youth is hoping that the cookbook will provide people with the knowledge to create healthy and delicious meals using cheap ingredients but he needs the support of the community to make it happen. He is currently inviting area residents to share their best recipes that fit the project criteria to be included in the cookbook.
Sam hopes to have a cookbook launch in March and at the event he would like to hold a cooking contest for students and young adults. He will be looking for teams of two to four to put their cooking skills to the test for a chance to win prizes. He is also in need of chefs to act as judges on the day of the launch.
To submit a recipe please visit: The Clever Cook Recipe Submission Form.
To purchase a cookbook in advance or to make a donation, to register for the cooking contest or volunteer to be a judge please email huroncomunitycookbook@gmail.com.
To learn more about the project overall visit: The Clever Cooks Guide.
CELEBRATING SIX DECADES OF CANADA’S NATIONAL FLAG
BY JULIA ARMSTRONG, ARCHIVIST BAYFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY
February 15 marked National Flag of Canada Day. For 60 years, the distinctive red and white Maple Leaf has rallied Canadians around shared values of democracy, inclusion, and equity. More than ever, these values ring true today.
On Feb. 15, 1965, the new design officially replaced the Canadian Red Ensign, (which included a Union Jack in the upper left corner). However, the notion that Canada would adopt a new flag, proposed the year before by Liberal Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, was controversial. The Red Ensign had been the de facto (though never official) national flag since 1868, and there were strong attachments to the United Kingdom’s Royal Union Flag (commonly called Union Jack), which was used in Canada both before and after Confederation.
Across the country, opinions differed, with organizations such as the Royal Canadian Legion very much against a change. A poll on the streets of Clinton (Clinton News-Record, 17 Dec. 1964) captured the range of feelings.
“I like the old one,” stated one woman. “It took us through both wars and was good enough.” Another person commented: “I’m not too keen about the [new] design, but I approve of a distinctive national flag. The Union Jack is a great flag for Great Britain…not for Canada.” A man who embraced the positive step said, “Maybe with the flag we can get the impression that Canada is something.”
Writing from Bayfield, Lucy Woods, long-time correspondent to the Clinton paper, referenced an article by London Free Press editor emeritus Arthur R. Ford, who had a cherished summer place in Bayfield. As Lucy recounted, Ford “suggested in a humorous vein that if Bayfield and Huron County were asked to haul down the Union Jack they might declare independence of Canada and set up their own commonwealth with the historic name of Huronia” (23 Jan. 1964).
Needless to say, no such dramatic declaration transpired. The new national flag was unfurled across the country on 15 February 1965, including in Bayfield’s Clan Gregor Square, as reported in the Clinton News-Record (18 Feb. 1965). It must have been an emotional moment for the two First World War veterans, Lyle Hill and Frank McFadden, who lowered and folded the old flag.
Today, it’s hard to imagine any design preferable to the one adopted six decades ago. Whether draped over the shoulders of Olympic medallists, printed on “Product of Canada” packages, or flown from businesses and homes, our flag is a symbol of pride under which we stand together, including during these times of adversity and threat.
On this 60th anniversary of the flag, the Bayfield Historical Society (BHS) would love to hear your stories. Do you or your parents remember the introduction of the new design and the debates about it? Or perhaps you recall it being raised for the first time. What does our flag mean to you? Share your memories and thoughts by emailing bhsmembers@gmail.com. Those who wish to are invited to read more at the Great Flag Debate.
THE FOCUS AT HURON HOSPICE IS ON LIVING WELL
Editor’s Note: For anyone who has ever wondered what a day might consist of at Huron Hospice Bender House the following story may provide some insight.
Birds are singing and the morning sun streams in the windows to fill the house with light – it’s another day at Huron Hospice Bender House.
Residents wake as early or as late as they like in their private, spacious rooms. For those who have an appetite, home cooked meals are offered, and favorite foods are prepared on request. Residents might indulge in a trip to the spa bathroom, equipped with an accessible bathtub and walk-in shower. Visitors are welcome at all hours (even for cozy, overnight stays), and are encouraged to make themselves at home in the open concept living areas. Residents’ pets are invited to stop in for lots of snuggles.
The hospice is a calm, peaceful place. Residents might spend time outside in the gardens or in beds that can be rolled out onto private patios. In cool weather, heated blankets are provided so residents can enjoy the changing colors in the Memorial Forest. Music fills the air when volunteer musicians come in with their instruments and good cheer. At other times, the hospice is full of laughter and conversation as families and friends gather for shared meals at the dining room table. The focus in hospice is on living well.
The hospice grows quiet again as the day comes to a close and the sun stretches long across the fields. Specially trained RNs and RPNs will check in with residents and loved ones throughout the day and night to ensure that symptoms are managed, needs are tended to, and all questions are answered. With the help of trained and caring volunteers, nurses guide residents and families through the final days to a peaceful end and provide connection with the hospice’s community bereavement programs.
For loved ones who have been caregiving at home, a stay in the hospice is a chance to fully embrace the role of partner, child, parent, or dear friend once again. For residents, the hospice is a place where they can be cared for in a beautiful home away from home knowing that hospice nurses are close by to address any concern.
Hospice care is fully covered by the provincial government and community donations, so there is no cost to residents or families; everyone is welcome.
To learn more or to book a tour, please call Huron Hospice at 519 606-6600.
ONE MONTH REMAINING TO ORDER TREES FOR SPRING PLANTING
Local landowners plant tens of thousands of trees each year, totaling more than one million trees in the past two decades. (Submitted photo)
Spring is not far away, and ABCA provides the opportunity for bulk-ordering trees through the Spring Tree Order Form now through the end of February. It is posted at the conservation authority website at abca.ca on the Order Trees web page Tree Order Form. The final order deadline is Feb. 28. Ordering sooner is encouraged as availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.
ABCA offers a wide range of trees through its spring tree planting program. The Forestry and Land Stewardship Specialist encourages interested landowners to visit abca.ca for the spring tree order form or to give him a call at 519 235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610 to discuss planting projects.
“We’re happy to help with project design and help to apply for funding for eligible projects,” he said. Funding is available in many areas to support planting trees for windbreaks, for reforestation and for naturalization.
Local landowners plant tens of thousands of trees each year, totaling more than one million trees in the past two decades.
“These efforts have helped tree cover to double in the last 60 years,” said Jean.
However, forest cover in local watersheds remains quite low at only 14 per cent according to the Ausable Bayfield Watershed Report Card (2023).
People plant trees for many different reasons, said Jean. “Everything from field windbreaks, wildlife habitat, bordering walking trails, to retiring unproductive acres or corners of fields to create private natural areas,” he said.
These tree planting projects help protect and improve our soil and water quality that are so important to agriculture, tourism, and quality of life.
Spending time in trees and natural areas has been shown to have physical and mental health benefits, according to Jean. Planting trees is one way a local landowner can achieve recreational and physical and mental well-being benefits on their own property. An article published on Jan. 2nd by “Farmtario” documents how 15 minutes spent around trees and nature can make a big difference in someone’s personal well-being: “Spending time outside, particularly in nature, is important because it can help regulate stress, boost mental health, and improve immune function … But the good news is you don’t need to spend hours outdoors each day to see benefits. Even just 15 minutes a day in nature is enough to boost your mood, concentration and physical health.”
To read the full article visit: Farmtario.
ABCA thanks grant program funding partners including member municipalities; Huron County Clean Water Project; Forests Canada; the Government of Canada’s Canada Nature Fund; the Government of Ontario’s Great Lakes Local Action Fund; Sunset Community Foundation; and Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation; along with other community donors and other valued funding partners.
Anyone who has property on which trees can be planted should consider purchasing a tree through the tree order program. Anyone who doesn’t have room on their property for trees, can still help to improve forest conditions by donating to tree planting through the program Footprints to Forests.
MAiD Q&A
Julie Campbell (Submitted photo)
The MacKay Centre for Seniors in Goderich and Huron Hospice are hosting a special ZOOM presentation on Feb. 27 that people are invited to register to attend.
“Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) in Ontario – a Q &A with Julie Campbell” will be held for one-hour starting at 3:30 p.m.
As a follow-up to their fall sessions on Advanced Care Planning, organizers have asked Julie Campbell, manager, Patient Services with MAiD, to join in this presentation. MAiD is a legal option in Canada for adults who meet specific eligibility criteria and procedural safeguards to have assistance by a physician or nurse practitioner to receive medications that will cause their death.
To register to have an opportunity to ask questions about MAiD call 519 524-6660. A ZOOM link will be provided to those who register.
IMPACT FUNDING
United Way Perth-Huron (UWPH) recently announced the opening of their impact funding process, with expressions of interest (EOI) accepted until March 12 at midnight. This funding cycle is for three years running from Apr. 1, 2026 to March 31st, 2029.
“A focus for us continues to be addressing local needs by funding partners that deliver important programs and services responding to poverty mitigation and prioritizing equity-denied groups,” said Leah Kennedy, UWPH manager, Community Impact. “We look forward to receiving EOIs from organizations and groups who work to improve lives and build belonging in Perth and/or Huron.”
Impact funding is intended to provide financial stability for ongoing projects and/or programs that are part of an organization’s overarching structure and mission. United Way welcomes everyone in the community to submit program funding requests. For a full listing of eligibility requirements, please refer to their 2026 – 2026-2029 Impact Funding Resource Guide.
If an organization or group has never applied for UWPH funding before, please contact Leah Kennedy atlkennedy@perthhuron.unitedway.ca prior to starting the EOI. Appointments will be booked until March 7.
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
The World Day of Prayer for 2025 is highlighted by an art piece by Tarani Napa and Tevairangi Napa. They are a mother-daughter artist team from Cook Islands. (Submitted photo)
A World Day of Prayer service will take place on Friday, March 7 at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in Goderich.
World Day of Prayer is an international, Christian unity movement which enables people to hear the thoughts of women from all parts of the world: their hope, concerns and prayers. Every year one country is chosen to prepare the service and they include stories and prayers from their own country. For 2025, the women of the Cook Islands have created the service. The theme of the prayer service is “I made you wonderful”. (Psalm 139:14)
The Cook Islands consist of 15 islands in the South Pacific Ocean and have a rich and colorful Māori heritage and a deep connection to nature.
World Day of Prayer is celebrated in over 120 countries. This year on March 7, the day will begin in the Pacific Ocean islands, Samoa region, where the prayers will be in native languages. The service will then travel throughout the world – through Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas before finishing in American Samoa some 38 hours later. A worldwide wave of prayer…
The event is hosted by the Goderich World Day of Prayer committee consisting of representatives from all participating churches. They look forward to welcoming everyone to the service which will begin at 2 p.m.
St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in Goderich is located at 156 North Street.
UNITED WAY
Part of what makes United Way Perth-Huron (UWPH) strong is committed volunteers working behind the scenes to ensure the organization continues moving forward with serving Perth-Huron communities. Now, UWPH is looking to add members to its Community Impact and Allocations Committee (CIAC) to help decide how the organization can respond to pressing needs across the region.
“We are excited to work with volunteers who bring diverse perspectives and experiences to making decisions on how we support the community,” said Leah Kennedy, UWPH manager of Community Impact. “If you want to help us make a difference in the lives of local people, we encourage you to apply and become part of our work.”
As a key committee within UWPH, CIAC reviews and evaluates funding applications, chooses community investments to ensure funding matches the needs and addresses systemic and social inequities, engages with the community to set local priorities and acts as a liaison with supported partners when needed. Terms are three years in length and UWPH is particularly looking for members with an interest in and/or experience with equity work who live and/or work in Huron County, including Bluewater, Central Huron, Huron East, North Huron, Howick, Morris-Turnberry, ACW, South Huron and Goderich. To learn more, and to download a copy of the UWPH volunteer application form, visit perthhuron.unitedway.ca.
GOOD NEIGHBOURS OF BLUEWATER
Every Thursday morning, GNOB has the coffee on and warm muffins are served fresh out of the oven. Starting at 10 a.m. folks are invited to drop in and join in the conversation with friends. Organizers would like everyone to be aware that the “Meet Your Neighbour” segment is now being held on Thursday mornings as guest’s schedules allow instead of the previous second Thursday of each month. No matter which Thursday of the month it will still be a casual time of conversation, including a question and answer period.
On Thursday Feb. 20, Patty Laporte and her weavers will be present at GNOB to prepare milk bags for weaving. All who would like to help are welcome – all that is needed are two willing hands to loop the strips together. Please also remember that GNOB is now a collection depot for 4L milk bags.
In the evening on Thursday, Feb. 27, GNOB will host the Kingsfield-Zurich Mennonite Church (KZMC) Boys and Girls Club as they participate in their annual “Out of the Cold Walk”. Anyone who would like to make a donation can do so here: KZMC Team.
GNOB also has an upcoming Tuesday evening event on March 25. Dinner will be available at 5:30 p.m. for $20 followed at 7 p.m. by a reading by Jody Durand from his book “Country Boy Soul; Pasture to Prosperity”.
Remember This
The Huron County Museum is home to thousands of artifacts that illustrate the history of both the rural and urban populations of the area. Space dictates what wonderful curiosities the public regularly gets to see when they visit the museum located at 110 North Street in Goderich. But where there is wifi, there is an opportunity to time-travel with over 6,700 pieces of the museum’s collection now available to view online at huroncountymuseum.pastperfectonline.com.
“Remember This” highlights items from the collection of the Huron County Museum and Historic Gaol. Items that have shaped the fabric of the county and the people who have lived here since before the county became the county in 1835 up until more recent times.
Guide-Scout Week has arrived and there is no better way to mark the occasion than with a Scouting related artifact from the Museum’s collection…
CAMPFIRE BLANKET (PONCHO)
This is a Benmiller wool blanket in red, green and brown plaid. The top and bottom are bound with red, blanket stitches; the centre has a slit bound with a green blanket stitch for a head to go through creating a poncho.
The poncho contains epaulets, ribbons and emblems for the Wolf Cubs, Boy Scouts and Rover Scouts as well as pins and buttons. The poncho’s owner has also displayed his high school athletics letter “G” for Goderich District Collegiate Institute on the blanket. There are roughly 334 badges on display.
This personal campfire blanket (poncho) was donated to the museum by the owner. It is an authentic Benmiller blanket that began its journey when the donor was a Wolf Cub with the Second Goderich Pack in 1958. The donor spent seven years as a Cub, Scout and Rover in Goderich and 22 years as a Scout Leader in his later adult life at various locations across Canada. The collection of badges that are sewn to the campfire blanket tell the story of his achievements and activities throughout his Scouting career. His GDCI letter in athletics is also displayed on the back of the blanket. Some of the crests displayed on the blanket also have meaning because of the trading memories that they hold.
OPTIMIST CLUB OF BAYFIELD
FAMILY DAY FILLED WITH FUN, FOOD AND FITNESS
PHOTOS BY DIANNE BRANDON, SANDY WILSON AND TARA HEARD
According to Optimist Club of Bayfield President Jeff Kish, “Despite the snow and poor highway conditions the community came out for an exciting day of fun, food and fitness” when the club members hosted an event for Family Day at the Bayfield Community Centre and Arena on Monday, Feb. 17.
The Family Day get-together was held in place of the Optimist Club’s Breakfast with Santa that had been scheduled for Dec. 8, 2024 – the same morning that the host venue The Albion Hotel unfortunately suffered a roof collapse resulting in cancellation of the event.
Both the Optimists and the owners and staff of The Albion Hotel teamed up for this Family Day event and over 50 kids and their adults enjoyed a lunch consisting of hotdogs, super-gooey macaroni and cheese and “smiley” face fries as well as freshly popped popcorn.
“Kids enjoyed playing with their friends, engaging in balloon volleyball, and eating lunch, then lacing up their skates to enjoy an afternoon of free ice skating and some youth shinny hockey,” said Kish.
This ice time was generously donated by Joyce Hetherington, representing her late husband Tom Hennessey who was a centenarian and a veteran of World War II.
The Optimists would like to thank their sponsors for ensuring the day was a success: The Albion Hotel, Shop Bike Coffee Roasters, Bayfield Foodland, Bayfield Community Centre and Arena, Elaine Coombs of Remax Reliable Realty and Gurpreet Mann of Edward Jones.
“This was truly a community supported Family Day get-together and it was such a success it will likely become an annual event,” said Kish.
Submit Your photo
Email your photo in Jpeg format to hello@bayfield-breeze.com with the subject line Subscriber Photo of the Week. or…Upload your photo to Flickr.
I am looking for the Bayfield that is a delight to the eye – please share photos with a touch of whimsy, beauty, humor or a sense of fun. If you are to include people in your photos be sure to have their permission to publish their picture on-line and also send in their names and where they are from. And don’t forget to tell me who took the photo for proper credit to be issued.
SUBMISSIONS
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Melody Falconer-Pounder
I am afraid as this old-fashioned winter presses ever forward I have become rather obsessed with checking for weather updates, road closures and school bus cancellations – even when I don’t have anywhere to go and no longer have children attending school.
One of the social media sites I have recently started following is called, “Ontario Storm Watch”. They regularly publish an “Insta Weather Snow Day” Forecast which I know a lot of parents with school age children check often. Last week in advance of the first round of snow that our region would experience, they revived something called the “Storm Chips” Forecast suggesting how many potato chips people might need to make it through the storm. Who am I to question science? When we joined the throngs shopping for provisions in advance of the storm we indulged in picking up the suggested five bags of potato chips – checking first to make sure they were labelled with the good old Canadian Maple leaf. We even treated ourselves to dip!
As the first forecasted winter storm rolled into the second and then the third the potato chips proved beneficial. They have sated our need for some comfort food on a cold winter’s evening. And as we wait for the roads to reopen to allow us to get to the grocery store to stock up once again on essentials, like milk, I am pleased to report that we still have one full bag and three part bags of chips remaining and the dip is holding out nicely as well.
Perhaps Ontario Storm Watch should tell us how many bags of milk we need to weather the next winter blast that might come our way! An idea for next winter maybe – cause we’re just about done with this aren’t we? Only time and some stellar forecasting will tell. – Melody
Ideas and contributions to the Bayfield Breeze are always welcome.
Deadlines for submissions are Sundays at 4 p.m.