The Bayfield BreezeIssue 858 Week 51 Vol 17
December 17, 2025
2480 views
VILLAGE PHOTOGRAPHS SOUGHT FOR COMMEMORATIVE PROJECT
To help celebrate Bayfield’s 150th anniversary, the Photography Club of Bayfield (PCoB), the Bayfield Lions Club, and the Bayfield Historical Society are producing a high-quality coffee table book featuring photos of Bayfield. The call is now going out for people to submit images for possible inclusion. The images above are examples of what organizers are looking for. (Submitted photos)
In 1876, with a population of 800 people, Bayfield was incorporated as a village.
To help celebrate Bayfield’s 150th anniversary, the Photography Club of Bayfield (PCoB), the Bayfield Lions Club (Lions) and the Bayfield Historical Society (BHS) are producing a high-quality coffee table book featuring photos of Bayfield.
This is an exciting opportunity for individuals who have created great Bayfield images over the years to have their photos take a place of honor in what will be a legacy book that will be valued for decades.
The book will be a high-quality, hard-covered book with stunning photographs and short historical vignettes celebrating 150 years of Bayfield. The book will be developed and produced wholly in Canada with photos contributed from PCoB members, the BHS and other area photographers. The book will be sold through multiple channels in and around Bayfield, making this a great opportunity to showcase a photographer’s work.
To participate:
- Please submit high resolution (>7.5 MPixels) stunning photos of Bayfield to pcob.book150@gmail.com.
- Photos can be emailed directly (no more than two per gmail) or via DropBox, Google Drive or any other transfer app.
- Photos can be any size/aspect ratio, and portrait, landscape, square or panorama.
- Individuals may submit as many as they like and are encouraged to invite their friends to submit as well.
Organizers are seeking photos of all aspects of Bayfield: Main Street, historic buildings, beaches, Bayfield Harbour, sailing, bridges, fishing, industry, retail, hospitality, parks, Two-Cow Barns, war memorial, churches, trails, sunsets, seasons, golf course, croquet court etc.
Participants are asked to please submit as soon as possible, the deadline for submissions is Friday, Jan. 30th. The sooner organizers can collect the photos; the sooner they can get the book into print.
Please note that submission will constitute permission to use these images in both the book and marketing materials.
Those who wish to take part should feel free to reply with any questions or suggestions to the email listed above. Organizers are very excited about this project and feel it will be a great legacy gift for Bayfield that all can be an integral part of it!
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA MOVES TO BAYFIELD TOWN HALL
Breakfast with Santa hosted by the Optimist Club of Bayfield was started in 2005. Over the years it has been held at the Bayfield Village Inn, The Ashwood Inn, The Docks Restaurant and The Albion Hotel. The 17th iteration to be held on Sunday, Dec. 21 will be held at the Bayfield Town Hall and catered by The Albion Hotel. This throwback photo shows a youngster enjoying a moment with Jolly Old Saint Nick at the event held in 2017. (Photo by Melody Falconer-Pounder)
The Optimist Club of Bayfield will be serving up fun at “Breakfast with Santa” this year in an all new location and at a new time of the month! Started in 2005, this will be the 17th iteration of this very popular family event.
The Bayfield Town Hall will be the location for the Buffet Style Breakfast that will be held on Sunday, Dec. 21. The meal will be served from 9:30-11:30 a.m. On the menu will be pancakes, sausage and scrambled eggs along with juice, coffee and hot chocolate.
Santa will be at the event for photos and visits. People are encouraged to keep an eye on the Bayfield Optimist Club social media page in the coming weeks for more information about a children’s prize draw being held at the event.
The cost will be $10 for adults. Cash is preferred but E-transfer will be accepted at the door. The Bayfield Optimist Club is asking that children’s admission costs be honored through the donation of a non-perishable food item or a $5 donation to the Bayfield Area Food Bank. Hosts will be collecting monetary and/or food donations as guests enter the hall.
Organizers would like to extend huge thanks to The Albion Hotel for catering the event; to Shopbike Coffee Roasters for providing coffee and hot chocolate; and to all of their donors and volunteers who make these events possible. Santa reports he is looking forward to seeing everyone!
For further details please email optimistbayfield@gmail.com.
The Bayfield Town Hall is located at 11 The Square in the village.
INVEST IN LOCAL HISTORICAL PRESERVATION THROUGH MEMBERSHIP PURCHASE
The Bayfield Historical Society (BHS) would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who responded to their one-day “Giving Tuesday” social media campaign on Dec. 2nd.
In just a few hours, they raised more than $1,000! Campaigns like these are not just about fundraising, but they are also about honoring village history and celebrating community spirit.
“These funds help us preserve and promote our village’s rich heritage and also ensure that our growing archival collections are maintained and safeguarded for future generations. These cultural assets belong to all of us — they are our shared memories and stories,” said President of the BHS, Barb Durand.
She added, “We are also grateful for the continuing support of our wonderful members who help make our work happen. If you are not a member, it’s a perfect time to give yourself and others the gift of history by joining our family. If you are already a member, we encourage you to renew your membership before the end of December.”
Members receive regular e-newsletters, are the first to know about special events such as the BHS “Speakers Series”, and enjoy a 10 per cent discount on BHS books, postcards, prints and posters. Fully paid-up members also receive invitations to annual general meetings with voting privileges.
“Memberships are well worth the investment because historical preservation has never been so vital in keeping communities like ours strong and connected,” said Durand.
Individual memberships cost $30, while family memberships are $40 and cover the period of January through December.
Whether renewing or joining for the first time, please visit Bayfield Historical Society – Membership and click on the blue button that applies. Happy holidays!
OCCASIONALLY, SOME CATS ARE BETTER OFF SOLO
Frodo (Submitted photo)
While volunteers with Bayfield’s Forgotten Felines (BFF) are quick to point out that most cats should be adopted in pairs or join a home with existing cats, that can’t be said of all cats – some are simply better off solo.
Such is the case for this week’s Adopt a BFF cat of the week, Frodo.
“Frodo was reported to us by people who said he was found in a shed and had barely moved in a week. One of our volunteers headed right over to get him. He was emaciated, filthy and full of worms. He likely had a family but we have no idea how he ended up on the street. His survival skills, or lack thereof, also indicated he had a home at one time,” said Deb Penhale, representing BFF.
Once at the Rescue, Frodo regained his health and put on weight. He was neutered and given all the necessary vaccinations.
“As he’s such a handsome, social boy, he was adopted quickly into a loving home,” recalled Penhale. “But unfortunately, he now needs to be rehomed.”
This situation has arisen because Frodo has had a hard time living with the other cat in his current household, even though everyone has tried their best and followed a vet behaviour plan. Frodo is not aggressive with people at all; he just gets stressed with other cats. His vet has suggested that he would be happiest and healthiest as an only cat. Frodo’s adopters are heartbroken to say goodbye after five months, but they love him very much and want him to have the peaceful, loving home he deserves.
Frodo enjoys cuddling, sitting on laps, receiving pets, giving head bumps, and rubbing his face all over his humans to show them how much he loves them and he is happiest when close to people. He may have some Siamese ancestry, which would explain why he is so social, talkative, and very attached to his humans. He has been exposed to children as young as six years and has proven to be great with them! He is also learning to go on leash walks. He enjoys being outside with his humans, and is getting more comfortable with the harness through “treat training”.
Anyone looking for a loving, social, expressive cat who will happily nap on a lap, follow them around, talk to them, and shower them with affection may just find that Frodo is the perfect choice of furry companion.
Please reach out to bayfieldsforgottenfelines@gmail.com to learn more about adopting Frodo. 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.
In addition to accepting monetary donations, BFF has an Amazon wish list. This list contains items they need for the day-to-day care of their cats and kittens as well as some truly “wish” items. Items are marked as to their priority, number needed, and many explain what their use will be. There is a wide variety of prices and BFF appreciates whatever you can supply. Items need not be purchased through Amazon, the list is merely a guideline.
To view the items on the list please visit: BFF Wish List.
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.
CHRISTMAS CAROLING
All in the community are invited to join the members of Lakeview Mennonite Church for an evening of Christmas Caroling at the Bayfield Town Hall on Friday evening, Dec. 19.
Voices will be united in song starting at 7:00 p.m.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Advent and Christmas worship continues at Knox Presbyterian Church in Bayfield.
On Sunday, Dec. 21, Advent 4 will be recognized with a joint worship service at neighboring St. Andrew’s United Church. This service will start at 11 a.m. That same evening, Knox, Bayfield will host their annual “Longest NIght” service led by the “Solace Singers” starting at 7 p.m. This special service provides “an opportunity to just be in the candlelight, blanketed with quiet song because sometimes the season is anything but merry.”
Knox, Bayfield will host their Christmas Eve service on Wednesday, Dec. 24 at 7 p.m. followed by Christmas worship on Sunday, Dec. 28 at 11 a.m.
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.
CHESS CLUB
Check mate! Bayfield resident Gayle Beuermann is hoping to start a Chess Club in the village and is looking for like-minded individuals who might want to join.
The club would meet weekly and be open to all ages and experience levels and offer people an opportunity to improve their game or simply learn the basics to play.
To learn more or to express interest please contact Gayle Beuermann at 519 525-6498 or email gaylbeue@tcc.on.ca.
BRICK FUNDRAISER
Looking for a unique Christmas gift idea? The Bayfield Optimist Club is organizing their annual “Engrave Your Brick” campaign starting now instead of in the winter months to allow people the opportunity to give them as presents!
Large bricks are available for $130 while medium size bricks will cost $100.
Bricks will be engraved in the Spring but can be purchased in advance by contacting Optimist Jeff Kish via email at jeff.kish.home@gmail.com.
SANTA LETTERS
Santa Claus has gone digital! The good news is the North Pole has the technology to accept letters by email and so everyone is invited to send their wish lists to santaslittleworkshopnp@gmail.com.
Parents should ensure that their child’s full name is included with their letter. Please only send one letter so as not to overload the workshop! Emailed letters will be accepted until Dec. 19.
UNITED CHURCH
At St. Andrew’s United Church the Advent Season has begun. Rev. Dr. Sheila Macgregor will be leading in worship during the season and on Christmas Eve.
On the fourth Sunday of Advent, Dec. 21, St. Andrew’s is delighted to welcome Rev. John Bannerman and the congregation of Knox Presbyterian Church to share in their service, at which Rev. Bannerman will be preaching. Later that same evening St. Andrew’s will join their friends at Knox at 7 p.m. for their very beautiful and meditative Longest Night worship service.
The Christmas cycle then begins on Christmas Eve with a worship service at St. Andrew’s at 4 p.m. Everyone is welcome!
MAHJONG
Mahjong will be held on Wednesdays at the Bayfield Branch Library on a weekly basis.
Anyone who would like to learn this fun tile game are invited to join returning players starting at 1:30 p.m. Instruction will be given to those wanting to learn. Individuals who already know how to play are encouraged to come out to enjoy meeting others in a social setting.
Those who would like to learn more about MahJong are asked to please contact Marlene McDougall by calling 226 441-2075 or emailing marlenemcdougall7@gmail.com.
The Bayfield Branch Library is located at 18 Main Street North in the village.
RECIPES WANTED
The Bayfield Agricultural Society is planning a commemorative recipe book with stories to celebrate the Society’s 170th anniversary. Community members are invited to be part of the celebration by contributing family-favorite recipes and stories or anecdotes about the Society and the Bayfield Community Fair. (Submitted photo)
The Bayfield Agricultural Society (BAS) will be celebrating its 170th anniversary next year. No, that’s not a misprint. The BAS was formed in 1856, more than 10 years before Confederation and has been in continuous operation ever since then!
One of the special activities planned to celebrate this special anniversary is the creation of a commemorative recipe book as a fundraiser. This commemorative book will contain family-favorite recipes interspersed with shared stories and anecdotes or memories about the BAS and the fair. Everyone has a story! This is the perfect opportunity to get those memories into print and share them with others.
The BAS is inviting community members to send recipes and stories in Word format or in handwriting. Anyone submitting is kindly asked to use Imperial measurement units (teaspoon, tablespoon, cups, etc.) for the recipes.
Recipes and stories have been coming in but more are needed and as a result the deadline for submissions has been extended to Dec. 20. These should be sent to bas170cookbook@gmail.com. Handwritten submissions can be scanned and sent to the same email address. If needed, a board member can arrange to pick up handwritten submissions within the local area.
The completed book of recipes and stories is expected to be available by the summer of 2026 to purchase as gifts for friends and loved ones or as a keepsake to celebrate 170 years of BAS as an incorporated organization in the Bayfield community.
There are business advertising opportunities as well to help offset the cost of printing. The rates are: $25 for quarter page (business card size) and $50 for half page with the artwork to be submitted. Please send advertising requests to the above email address and a committee member will be in touch.
Stories are important and so is good food – one nourishes the soul and the other the body. The BAS hopes that this commemorative book will satisfy the nourishment of both.
WEDNESDAY BRIDGE
The Bayfield Bridge Club meets on Wednesday afternoons at St. Andrew’s United Church.
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.
NAVIGATING THE WORLD OF INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES ONE MONTH AT A TIME
Editor’s Note: December is slipping by quickly and area gardens are currently sleeping under a thick blanket of snow but two local residents, Helen Varekamp and Renee Sandelowsky, who are both volunteers with the Canadian Coalition for Invasive Plant Regulation (CCIPR), are hoping to continue to inspire our readers in helping the planet through gardening with this monthly column.
For support in navigating some of the terminology used in this article please visit: Bayfield Breeze Vol. 16 Issue 809 Week 2 published Jan. 8, 2025.
BY HELEN VAREKAMP AND RENEE SANDELOWSKY
Invasive species spread into our natural areas in many ways, including wind, birds carrying seed, wildlife, dogs and humans. Individuals need to rethink their gardening practices to create healthy and functional spaces for pollinators, other insects, birds and wildlife so that humans continue to reap the invaluable ecological services they provide, such as pollination, decomposition, pest control, and food web integrity.
GARRATT’S HARP PERFORMANCE EMOTIONAL CORE OF BLYTH HOLIDAY PRODUCTION
Nine year-old Goldie Garratt (centre) is joined by the cast of “A Huron County Christmas Carol” during a recent performance on the Blyth Festival Stage. From l-r are: Graham Hargrove, Randy Hughson, Madeline Elliott Kennedy, Nathan Howe, Gil Garratt, George Meanwell and Brontae Hunter. (Photo by Terry Manzo – Blyth 2025)
People are encouraged not to miss out on the last few opportunities to see local resident Goldie Garratt, aged nine years, in “A Huron County Christmas Carol”!
Goldie stars as “Tiny Tillie,” Bob Cratchit’s (played by Nathan Howe) terminally ill daughter. With no money for store-bought presents, she gives her parents a song, played beautifully on the harp, as her Christmas gift.
Goldie has been taking harp lessons for the past few years with Bayfield’s Martha Lawrance. The song she plays, “Tomorrow Will Be Better”, was written by Goderich’s John Powers. Lawrance arranged and practiced it with Goldie so she could play it confidently at each performance.
Director Gil Garratt, who also happens to be Goldie’s Dad, said, “Martha is such a kind and generous teacher…she’s been a real gift to Goldie. She made the song both playable and a perfect showcase for Goldie’s talents.”
Writing in the popular theater blog “Ontario Stage”, Kelly Monaghan noted Goldie’s performance “is the emotional core of the show and it reduced more than one member of the audience to tears.”
A Huron County Christmas Carol is on now at The Blyth Festival. The final performance will be held this Sunday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m.
Bayfield Breeze readers can use the promo code “friend” for a buy-one-get-one-free ticket offer applicable to any evening performance.
Please visit blythfestival.com or call 1-877-862-5984 to reserve seats.
SOUTH HURON WEEKEND WALK-IN CLINIC CLOSING
Huron Health System (HHS) is announcing the difficult decision to close South Huron Hospital’s (SHH) Weekend Walk-In Clinic (WIC) services at the South Huron Medical Centre effective Dec. 29, due to significant and ongoing human resource challenges, specifically a critical shortage of available physicians.
Over the past year, the hospital has undertaken sustained efforts to recruit physicians to support weekend walk-in coverage. Despite these efforts, physician availability has continued to decline locally and nationally, making it no longer possible to safely and reliably staff weekend WIC operations.
The focus at SHH remains on providing high-quality, 24/7 emergency department coverage, which it has successfully been able to maintain.
“We know how much our community relies on convenient access to care on weekends,” said President & CEO of HHS Jimmy Trieu. “Unfortunately, the persistent shortage of physicians has led us to make this very difficult decision. Protecting patient safety and the quality of care must remain our priority.”
Dr. Sean Ryan, Chief of Staff of South Huron Hospital added, “Our physicians have been doing everything they can to support access to care, but the current staffing realities are simply unsustainable. Our priorities are maintaining 24/7 coverage in our emergency department and for our patients admitted to hospital. We remain committed to working with our partners to find long-term solutions, but in the meantime, we must make decisions that protect both patients and our clinical teams.”
Individuals seeking medical care on weekends for non-urgent concerns are encouraged to dial 811, where registered nurses are available to provide advice and help determine appropriate next steps. They may also access the Virtual Urgent Care Program at UrgentCareOntario.ca or by calling 1-844-227-3844 for support with urgent but non-emergency medical issues.
During the week, those without a family doctor may also schedule an appointment at an Unattached Care Clinic in their area. For urgent or emergency medical needs, all patients should proceed to the nearest Emergency Department for immediate care.
All other hospital services remain unchanged.
HHS remains committed to advocating for long-term solutions to physician recruitment and retention and will continue working with regional partners to support sustainable access to care for the community.
IN MEMORIAM
Editor’s Note: The community will no doubt be saddened to learn of the recent passing of a former village resident.
Carol Thornley-Hall (Photo by Melody Falconer-Pounder)
“Gabby” Carol Thornley-Hall (née Purvis), a darling Mother and Grandmother, died on Saturday, Dec. 6. As in life, Carol was surrounded by her children and grandchildren.
Carol, born Apr. 30, 1936, was endlessly entertaining, full of wit and grit, exceptionally charming, elegant, stylish, intelligent, opinionated, ebullient, provocative and unfailingly at the centre of every gathering. Her mischievous and engaging nature brought endless entertainment to every occasion. She could make us laugh by being ridiculous, rude and irreverent. She was always the one you wanted to be next to. Her love and lust for life was infectious.
Carol was born in Toronto, the fifth of six children of William and Ada Purvis. She graduated from Victoria College, University of Toronto, with a degree in English Language and Literature. She then completed a Teaching Certification from Queens University and a Master of Education from OISE. Carol met her husband Ivan at the University of Toronto where they acted together in a production of “The Beaux’ Stratagem” at Hart House. Ivan was the love of her life until his death in 2002. Together they raised three children: Kate (Ted), David (Jacqueline), and Gill (Jim), and delighted in nine grandchildren: Olivia, Lucy, Joe, James, Natalie, Ben, Tess, Lily, and Georgina, who knew her as the grandmother who always entertained with the best stories, songs and theatrics.
Carol threw her whole heart into her career as an educator, first as a beloved teacher then as Curriculum Advisor for the Ontario Ministry of Education. Later in life, she brought her enthusiasm to Bayfield, where she enjoyed chairing the Bayfield Historical Society and engaged in a lively and hilarious amateur theatre career. She loved to read, to have rowdy intellectual conversations, to laugh, entertain and to spoil her dog, Nelson. Carol was a lifelong world traveler, an explorer who never tired of adventures and rarely said no to any invitation. She seized every opportunity for joy.
She leaves many dear friends in Bayfield and Toronto, but her deepest legacy lives in her family, who knew her as their anchor, their champion, and their greatest source of laughter and light.
A celebration of Carol’s wonderful life will be held on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. in Toronto at Trinity College Chapel, University of Toronto with a reception to follow.
In honor of Carol, please consider a donation in her name to the Collingwood General & Marine Hospital, whose care was both exceptional and compassionate, or the Georgian Triangle Humane Society, where she loved to walk the rescued Chihuahuas.
Arrangements entrusted to Fawcett Funeral Home – Collingwood, ON.
LIVERY FILM FEST
The Livery Film Fest is pleased to present its next screening, “Sentimental Value”, on Thursday, Dec. 18 at the Park Theatre in Goderich. This was one of the standout selections viewed by the Film Fest group at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in September. The film left a lasting impression and is highly recommended.
Sentimental Value is Norway’s choice to win the coveted Oscar for Best International Feature at the 2026 Academy Awards. The film has already received many accolades including the Grand Prix at Cannes, Best International Film at the British Film Awards and it was the runner-up People’s Choice Award at TIFF.
Swedish actor, Stellan Skarsgård, 74, who stars in the film, suffered a stroke three years ago. It wasn’t catastrophic but it left him with damage to his short-term memory and focus. He was certain his acting career was over. But with the help of a small earpiece feeding him dialogue, it has allowed him to keep working.
Sentimental Value follows two sisters drawn back into the orbit of their famous but emotionally distant father, Gustav Borg (Stellan Skarsgård), a once-revered filmmaker preparing an unexpected return to the screen. His reappearance forces them to confront unresolved childhood wounds, long-simmering resentment, and questions about forgiveness, memory, and truth.
Renate Reinsve is widely praised for her authentic and emotionally intense portrayal as the elder sister, Nora, a brilliant and accomplished stage actor. Gustav invites Nora to play the lead in his new film, both as an opportunity to revive his artistic legacy and a means to mend his deeply fractured relationships with his daughters. When Nora refuses, a popular American actress, Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning), accepts the role and the boundaries between art and real life start to blur.
Quietly devastating and deeply intimate, Sentimental Value illustrates how art itself can be a vessel for reconciliation and healing.
Save the date! Sentimental Value plays for one night only in Goderich at the Park Theatre on Dec.18. The box office opens at 6:30 p.m. and showtime is 7 p.m. Please note that this film is in Norwegian and English with English subtitles.
Park Theatre is located at 30 Courthouse Square in Goderich.
HURONSONG CHORUS
The “HuronSong Chorus” will present two benefit concerts for Artemis Huron, formerly known as the Huron Women’s Shelter, in mid-December.
The first concert will be held tonight (Dec. 17) at Northside United Church in Seaforth. followed by a second performance on Monday, Dec. 22 at Lakeshore United Church in Goderich. Both concerts will commence at 7:30 p.m.
Admission to both shows is a freewill donation that will be given to Artemis Huron.
Northside United is located at 54 Goderich Street West in Seaforth. Lakeshore United can be found at 56 North Street in Goderich.
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.
The sending and receiving of holiday cards is a long standing tradition for many…this week, we highlight one such card handcrafted by a county arist…
CHRISTMAS CARD
This Christmas Card is entitled, “Carolers”. The image was painted and the card was handmade by Dorothy Cruickshank. It depicts a group of five carolers, one of whom is playing a violin, in front of a lit window and beside a streetlamp.
Artist Dorothy (Wade) Cruickshank, was the wife of Gerald William “Bud” Cruickshank, and the daughter-on-law of Doc Cruickshank, the founder of CKNX. She was a member of the Wingham Art Club and was known for her watercolor drawings and paintings.
BAYFIELD LIONS CLUB
GENEROSITY OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS TWO CHARITIES
PHOTOS BY JENNY WALLACE
On Dec. 8, the doors to the Bayfield Community Centre were opened 45 minutes prior to the start of the Bayfield Lions Club’s annual Turkey Bingo and the people poured in out of the cold, clear night. The capacity crowd came to play.
The participants were a wonderful mix of first time participants and veterans all with their Bingo dabbers at the ready. Lion Tom Grasby was once again at the helm performing his duties as caller while alongside him sat his capable assistant Lion Rolly Scott.
Sixteen turkeys (two were door prizes) were won and cash winnings were awarded to five lucky individuals. Players were both enthusiastic and generous this year and as a result the Bayfield Lions were able to donate $2,000 each to the Bayfield Area Food Bank (BAFB) and Artemis Huron (formerly known as the Women’s Shelter). In addition some non-perishable food items totalling 239 lbs. and toys were collected at the event. BAFB received the food while Artemis Huron was presented with the toys.
“We were pleased to have a full house for the Turkey Bingo, which helped us collect more cash, food and toys than ever before,” said Bingo Chair and Club Secretary, Lion Kathy Gray.
The Lions are grateful to everyone who came out for a fun evening in support of these two charities.
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 issue
SUBMISSIONS
51854912498_7d52e952ba_k
Melody Falconer-Pounder
I don’t remember the first time I ever stepped into Fincher’s in Goderich but I’m cautiously optimistic that I was likely carried in there before I took my first baby steps. Fincher’s has just always been there. But after next Tuesday, Dec. 30th it won’t be. Owners Tom and Dawn Fincher are retiring and along with them the business name will also be retired, closing the book on nearly 70 years of this family run shop that seamlessly passed between father and son over the decades. Fincher’s ongoing success was likely owed to its constant evolution. It changed with the times and the needs of its customers yet all the while remaining consistent with good friendly service and a touch of that old world charm that only small town shops can muster.
As a child I remember going there after a matinee movie at the Park Theatre for a treat. In my teens they fuelled my magazine habit. They never seemed to mind how long I took to decide which ones I would purchase with my hard earned babysitting money. And later as my purchasing power grew they became a wonderful place to buy books. I have a lot of paperbacks on my shelves with the Fincher’s price sticker still in the corner. Can you believe not that long ago you could get a novel for $3.95? Well, okay it was nearly 40 years ago but still…
One of the highlights for a lot of people in the community was the addition of the toy section in the basement of the store – a section that opened in 1987. Once in the early 90s, on assignment for the local newspaper I had some fun photographing my five year-old nephew for the Christmas wish section of the paper. Tom was kind enough to give us carte blanche before the store opened to get the shots! And who could forget the toy display they put on in a specially selected house on the IODE Christmas House Tour for a number of years. The display was surely a Christmas morning fantasy for many!
Today, in my opinion, Fincher’s is still a terrific place to get magazines, books and toys, however, I’m sure if you ask other people they would likely come up with a whole separate list of favorites.
New owners Mark and Heather McCutcheon will be setting up shop at 16 Courthouse Square in the coming weeks and I’m sure the community will embrace them just as they would have when Tom’s father Dennis purchased the former F.M. Wood’s and Son Tobacco Store and Poolroom in 1956.
Happy retirement Tom and Dawn and welcome Mark and Heather! – Melody
P.S. Local historian David Yates has penned a piece on the history of Fincher’s in Goderich and he was kind enough to share it with our readers. You can find it here:
BY DAVID YATES
Fincher’s! The name says it all. No one asks where it is or what you can purchase there. To some, it’s a newsstand, others it’s a book store, a Goderich swag store and still others call it a toy store or model shop. Nearly 70 years of what has become one of Goderich’s anchor stores on the Square is about to pass on one of the area’s cultural gems to another era.
On Monday, Feb. 20, 1956, Dennis Fincher ended a 46 year-old commercial legacy when he bought out F. M. Wood’s and Son Tobacco Store and Poolroom at 16 Courthouse Square. Dennis had originally come to the area in 1940 as an English airman posted to the Port Albert Air Navigation School. He met and married a local woman, Mary McAstocker and moved back to the United Kingdom after the war.
After having lived in Canada and saw the tremendous opportunities, the Finchers with son, Eric, returned to Goderich, Ontario in 1947. A further five children were born to the Finchers in Canada which added incentive to Dennis’ need to find good paying employment. Dennis was hired by Air Vice-Marshall Sully to work at his Dominion Roads Machine Company.
After working nine years for Dominion Roads, Dennis purchased the F. M. Woods and Son Tobacco business and named his new business the Goderich Newsstand. With Dennis’ son, Eric, the Goderich Newsstand carried a wide array of newspapers and magazines. It also operated a coffee bar, tobacco shop and pool hall. The business thrived because in 1963, the Goderich Newsstand. underwent $8,000 in renovations and, in 1964, changed the name to Fincher’s Smoke and Gift Shop where both could be purchased and a game of pool enjoyed.
In an age when smoking tobacco was the norm, Fincher’s offered a wide selection of tobacco products and accessories. On occasion, the store held contests where occasionally winners won cartons of cigarettes. Closing the pool hall in the back in 1972 probably did not help tobacco sales. In 1976, Fincher’s dropped “Tobacco Shop” from the store name and, in 2008, stopped selling all tobacco products.
Nineteen seventy-two was also an important year in the store’s evolution as Fincher’s became a book store by adding a book section to their store consisting of current hard cover and paper back books.
Tom Fincher in a recent interview with the Goderich Signal-Star remembered that he had been working in the store since he was seven.
“I had a wooden pop bottle crate, and I’d stand on that and ring things through the cash register. I didn’t think it was weird, and my mom and dad didn’t discourage me.”
In 1973, an unusual notice in the Goderich Signal-Star announced that, “Fincher’s leather specialist – 12 old year-old Tom Fincher, buyer and merchandiser of Tilley leather goods” would assist customers.
Recalling that time, Tom said it was advertised as a novelty but he did go to trade shows with his father and select the leather goods appropriate for the store. Dennis introduced model airplane, car and boat kits to the merchandise lineup. Son Tom was helping to buy the model kits. He liked building models and thought others his age did too. For the low price of a couple of dollars, many a child went to the Fincher’s model shelves and agonized over which model kit to buy and assemble. Fincher’s still carries models but the prices have become much higher compared to the heyday of model-building in the 1960s and 1970s.
In November 1976, Dennis opened Leisure World at the Suncoast Mall where they advertised ‘Books Galore-Hard Cover Books-Paperbacks’ and other hobby supplies. A Kincardine location on Queen Street was opened in 1978. Although the Leisure World store closed in 1983, a new Fincher’s store was opened on Exeter’s Main Street in 1983; the Exeter store closed in 1992 due to a shortage of retail space at the time.
Meanwhile, the Goderich store expanded, in 1987, with the removal of the old bowling alley in the lower level. With new fixtures and concrete floor, Fincher’s was able to expand retail space by 25 per cent. The lower level was given over to toys and children’s books. Tom told the Signal-Star that “we’ve brought in two new toy lines, Lego and Playskool” and added 30 per cent more children’s books. As soon as the lower level opened, Fincher’s noticed a jump in the number of customers and added three new employees. Over 30 years later, the lower level has expanded to include other children’s favorites like Thomas the Tank Engine, and the whole community of Playmobil characters, buildings and vehicles and many sorts of animals.
An “integral part” of Fincher’s success has always been the family atmosphere fostered by Dennis and his wife, Mary, who worked together in the store. Tom recalls that all five of his siblings worked at the store at one time or another. They also hired “some really great people” over the years “who feel very much like family to us” recalled Fincher in a 2017 interview with the Signal-Star. Bernice Kemp worked at the store for 29 years before her passing in 2015; Christine Harkness worked 50 years between the Goderich and Kincardine locations; andErin Greer is a 25 year employee at the Goderich store.
That family tradition continued when Tom married Dawn McDonald in 1994. She became the store’s accountant and merchandiser who expanded the line of Goderich clothing which proved popular with both visitors and Goderich natives alike. Indeed, Dawn has seen Goderich clothing from Fincher’s all over Ontario.
Since 1972, books, magazines and newspapers remain a mainstay of the business. Amazingly, in a town of 8,000 people, one may get “The Atlantic Monthly”, “The New Yorker”, “Model Railroader”, “The Civil War Times” and a host of other specialty periodicals that one would have difficulty obtaining in much larger centres. Currently, Fincher’s carries an astounding 400-500 periodical titles but, Tom said, just a few years ago, the store carried twice as many.
Besides the standard New York Times best sellers, Fincher’s has been a great promoter of local history. Tom has encouraged many local authors to publish their books. Gordon Strathdee’s photographic essays “Goderich: On the Edge of Huron” and “Goderich: Tiger’s Legacy” which highlighted the beauty of Goderich were bestsellers. Other local authors’ works have found a welcome home on Fincher’s bookshelves. The emphasis on local history has made Fincher’s a cultural capital in the heart of Goderich’s Square. It’s no exaggeration to say that many local authors would not have published if they could not rely on Fincher’s to carry their volumes.
Fincher’s has become so closely identified with the town that Dawn has said that they receive calls that are more appropriately directed to the Tourist Office. On one occasion, Dawn even received a complaint from a caller that they did not get their weekly flyers.
As retirement gets closer, Tom and Dawn both have “no regrets” about selling the business but it is a “bittersweet, melancholy time” reflecting on a lifetime spent in the family business. Tom said he will “miss the people but it’s time.” They’re looking forward to more time for “ourselves” to travel. Ironically, one of the things Dawn is looking forward to is having more time to read books.
As the time on Fincher’s Books and Gifts winds down, there has been a surge of customers who have come to share 70 years of memories of Fincher’s store. On the eve of 2026, new owners Mark and Heather McCutcheon are ready to establish their own dynasty in this county cultural gem.
Ideas and contributions to the Bayfield Breeze are always welcome.
Deadlines for submissions are Sundays at 4 p.m.