VOTE FOR BFF 

Readers can help Osprey win the title of “America’s Favorite Pet” by casting a free vote via Facebook. (Submitted photo)

Volunteers with Bayfield’s Forgotten Felines’ (BFF) have helped countless cats and kittens find their forever homes over the last several years – but it takes more than good intentions to make a difference – it takes money! That is why they have entered one of their shelter cats into a contest for a chance to win a tidy sum that could indeed make a difference and all they need from people is a daily free vote. And it’s crunch time! Only the first place entry in each grouping will move on to the quarter-finals after tomorrow night (Feb. 12). People will need to cast their free vote and invite others to do so like they’ve never done so before to move and keep this special cat in  first place! 

The voting competition invites people to donate money to “purchase” votes. This is not necessary, BFF is most appreciative of the free votes. The money being raised by the contest is earmarked for the non-profit PAWS. Anyone who would like to learn more about the beneficiary and also take a look at previous winners of the contest is invited to visit: Fundraiser for PAWS and past winners.

Anyone with a Facebook account can help by voting for a BFF kitten named Osprey who has been nominated to be “America’s Favorite Pet”. If Osprey makes it to the quarter-finals they will be steps closer to winning $10,000 USD for the shelter and to also be on the cover of “Modern Cat Magazine” but she’s got to make it into first place to do so. The current round of voting ends at 7 p.m. PST tomorrow (Feb. 12). Voters are allowed one free vote per day. Please visit Osprey – America’s Favorite Pet to learn more and to cast a free vote for BFF! 

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID

An opportunity to take a globally recognized training that empowers everyday people to recognize when someone may be experiencing mental health challenges and equip them with practical skills to provide initial support is coming to Bayfield this Spring!

A Mental Health First Aid course will be held in the village at the TSJ Hall on Wednesday, Apr. 29 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This full-day, in-person courses will equip participants with:

• Knowledge and confidence to recognize and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges and crises
• Information on local, regional and national resources
• Enhanced knowledge and awareness of mental health and substance use issues and illnesses
• Strategies and tools to improve and maintain personal mental wellness

Those who take the course will build confidence to respond calmly and offer meaningful help during tough moments – all without need to be a mental health expert.

The cost of the training is $182.02 including fees and HST. To register visit: Mental Health First Aid Training.

Anyone would like to learn more about this valuable training opportunity to help build more supportive, healthy communities is asked to contact Grace Bonnett via email at mhfatraininggateway@gmail.com.

The TSJ Hall is located at 10 Keith Cres. in Bayfield.

MS HEALTH AND FITNESS

Jennifer Fleury (Photo by Samantha Lawson)

Bayfield entrepreneur, Jennifer Fleury, owner of Bluewater Fitness, has entered a contest to become Ms Health and Fitness, to appear on the cover of “Muscle & Fitness Hers” magazine, and to win $20,000 USD.

According to Jennifer’s husband, Mike Croteau, the contest is an annual activity in the Health and Fitness industry to promote and encourage a healthy lifestyle for women of all sizes, ages and abilities.  It also serves as a major fundraiser to the “Be Positive Foundation” in the field of childhood cancer research.  While a daily online vote is free, it is also possible to “purchase” votes through donation, however, this is not necessary.

The contest, which commenced on Jan. 28, will run through February and into March. Voting for the Top 15 of the Group Phase will end tomorrow night (Feb. 12) at 7 p.m. PST. There will be a series of voting rounds to pare the contestants down to three finalists by the end of the month. At the time of this writing, Jenn currently sits in third place in her grouping and with continued voter support should make it through to the next round.

To cast a daily free vote for Jenn please visit: Jennifer Fleury | Ms. Health & Fitness.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

“Living in God’s Mission Today”, a study and discussion group for adults during the season of Lent, will begin on Monday, Feb. 23, at Knox Presbyterian Church in Bayfield.

The world is undergoing many changes, and people are finding themselves in a fresh and challenging context for mission. What does the word “mission” mean? If you were asked to explain what Christian mission is, what would you say? Is mission something that is done overseas by missionaries or something done by a congregation in its local situation or both? Do you consider yourself to be a kind of missionary?

Anyone who is interested in these and other similar questions, is invited to participate in this six-session study of Living in God’s Mission Today, a statement from The Presbyterian Church in Canada.

The study group will meet at Knox Church in Bayfield on Mondays at 2 p.m. from Feb. 23 to March 30th. Copies of the study are available at the church office and online at presbyterian.ca. For more information or to register for the study group please contact Rev. John Bannerman at 226 919-9180.

Knox Church also holds regular weekly services at 11 a.m. on Sundays.

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.

PILATES

The Bayfield Community Centre and Arena invites people to experience Pilates for all levels – from complete beginners to seasoned practitioners on Mondays and Thursdays beginning in March.

“Classical Pilates with Props” will be held on Mondays for six weeks starting on March 9 at 6:30 p.m.

This class will be a wonderful opportunity to explore the transformative benefits of Pilates. Using hand-held weights and a small Pilates ball, participants will deepen their practice, build strength, and enhance overall well‑being. The class is adaptable for all levels, offering a supportive environment to boost energy, improve mobility, and cultivate a sense of calm.

“Foam Roller and Pilates Props” will be held on Thursdays for eight weeks, starting on March 5 at 6:30 p.m.

This dynamic class will blend Pilates fundamentals with the foam roller, a small Pilates ball, and resistance bands. Participants will lengthen and tone their muscles while enjoying the added benefit of gentle myofascial release. It’s an invigorating and restorative way to elevate a weekly movement routine.

Ready to join the fun? Register online at www.thewellnesspotion.com.

LEGO CLUB

The Bayfield Lego Club will meet on the morning of Valentine’s Day. Organizers wonder what fun-loving creations those who attend will build? (Submitted photo)

The Bayfield Lego Club would like to invite all enthusiastic Lego builders to their next meeting on Saturday, Feb. 14. They are also encouraged to spread the news and invite friends to join in the fun of creative and imaginative play!

This free activity, thanks to the sponsorship of the Optimist Club of Bayfield, will take place from 10-11:30 a.m. in the TSJ Hall. For those who attend regularly there is also now an opportunity to earn free Lego to take home!

Bayfield Lego Club is open to children two years and up, accompanied by an adult, as the club has some bigger blocks in the collection so younger kids can build too!

TSJ Hall is located at 10 Keith Crescent in Bayfield.

LIVERY FILM FEST

Tomorrow, (Feb. 12), the Livery Film Fest presents its next screening, “No Other Choice”, for one night only at the Park Theatre in Goderich. From visionary director Park Chan-wook, (“The Handmaiden”, “Decision To Leave”) No Other Choice is a dark comedic thriller about survival in an age of corporate despair.

When devoted husband and longtime paper-mill employee Man-soo is abruptly laid off after 25 years, his stable life collapses overnight. Facing debt, humiliation, and a shrinking future, he makes one fateful decision: if the job market won’t give him a chance, he’ll simply remove the competition — literally.

As Man-soo’s plan spirals from desperate pragmatism to cold-blooded violence, Park transforms an ordinary man’s downfall into a razor-edged satire of capitalism and conformity. Mixing dark humor with chilling precision, No Other Choice exposes the absurdity of a system that rewards cruelty and calls it necessity.

Winner of the International People’s Choice Award at TIFF 2025, No Other Choice is stylish, tense, and a painfully relevant reflection of modern survival — a story that asks how far one will go when the world insists there’s no other choice.

The Livery Film Fest is proud to partner with TIFF Film Circuit and the Goderich Little Theatre to bring outstanding films from around the world to this community. Film enthusiasts are encouraged to experience this acclaimed film on the big screen. The box office opens at 6:30 p.m., with showtime at 7 p.m.

The Park Theatre is located at 30 Courthouse Square in Goderich.

BLUEWATER NEWS

The office of the Municipality of Bluewater Council has submitted the following to the Bayfield Breeze as highlights of their regular meeting of council held on Feb. 2nd.

• Directed staff to proceed with capital project FAC 26-07 being the installation of an exterior enclosed storage unit with gravel pad to house tables, chairs, and other event equipment currently stored in the gymnasium at the Stanley Complex in Varna.
• Awarded the Roadside Grass Cutting Tender for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 seasons to Brad’s Lawn Care in the amount of $71,500 plus HST for the 2026 base bid.
• Directed Staff to amend the Traffic and Parking By-law (By-law 76-2023) to permit overnight parking between the hours of 3 a.m. and 6 a.m., from Nov. 15 to Apr. 15 of each year, on the west side of Wellington Street between King Street (CR 84) and Richmond Street South in Hensall.
• Directed Staff to accommodate parallel parking stalls in the reconstruction design for Wellington Street from King Street (CR 84) to Richmond Street South in Hensall.
• Entered into a transfer payment agreement with His Majesty the King in Right of Ontario, as represented by the Minister of Transportation, for $38,000 in funding under the Pothole Prevention and Repair Program.
• Entered into a transfer payment agreement with His Majesty the King in Right of Ontario, as represented by the Solicitor General, for $69,418.58 in funding under the Fire Protection Grant (2025–2026).

TODAY IS 211 DAY

Today, (Feb. 11), is 211 Day, highlighting the free, confidential service available to everyone, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in more than 150 languages. 211 connects people with the support they need when they don’t know where to turn.

“211 is an important service providing people with connection and support,” said Susan Faber, United Way Perth-Huron (UWPH) director of Resource Development and Communications. “Unfortunately, not everyone knows about the hotline, so 211 Day is an opportunity to let people know there is a resource available to help ensure that whatever challenge you may face, you don’t have to face it alone.”

Whether someone is struggling with mental health, facing food insecurity, or looking for immediate financial assistance, 211 can help.

Locally, UWPH funds 211 and the helpline is the first step in accessing the organization’s Urgent Needs Fund. UWPH also maintains local records in the 211 database, ensuring people have access to the most up-to-date information about programs and services across the region. Last year, more than 1,500 calls came to 211 Ontario from Perth-Huron.

As Canada’s primary source of information for government and community-based, non-clinical health and social services, 211 plays a critical role in helping people navigate support quickly and effectively.

United Way Centraide Canada is a proud founding partner of 211 in Canada, providing funding and support, and advocating to make it available across the country.

UNITED WAY

United Way Perth-Huron’s (UWPH) Social Research and Planning Council (SRPC) is releasing a new report shedding light on the experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ residents across Perth and Huron, filling a gap in local research and understanding.

“We knew this was an important topic to research after hearing countless reports from community partners about discrimination against the 2SLGBTQ+ community,” said Kristin Crane, UWPH director of Community Impact and Research. “We wanted to help give voice to people’s experiences and create a space to share ideas for strengthening inclusion, safety and local support.”

Discrimination and Community Integration Experienced by 2SLGBTQ+ in Perth and Huron Counties, developed in partnership with University of Guelph’s School of Environmental Design and Rural Development and the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute, draws on data from online surveys, interviews and a participatory workshop.

The findings paint a stark picture: many 2SLGBTQ+ individuals in the region face isolation, high rates of discrimination, and a sense of feeling unseen, unsupported and disconnected from their communities.

The report highlights the urgent need for more inclusive services and spaces. It calls for better education about the barriers 2SLGBTQ+ residents face, stronger organizational commitments, safer community spaces and policy changes prohibiting hate-based discrimination. To read the full report, visit perthhuron.unitedway.ca.

GOOD NEIGHBOURS OF BLUEWATER

On Feb. 19, those who attend Muffin Time at Good Neighbours of Bluewater (GNOB) will meet one of their new neighbors, Executive Director Chris Allan of the Huron County Food Bank Distribution Centre.

Muffin Time will begin at 10 a.m. and all are welcome.

On Family Day, Feb. 16, GNOB is proud to sponsor public skating at the Zurich Arena once again. Hot chocolate and treats will be available for purchase with proceeds going to GNOB’s community programs.

Back by popular demand is a Pop-up Mending Café on Saturday, Feb. 21. People are encouraged to bring their mending to GNOB between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to have their experienced sewers assist them. All mending is done by donation – no zippers please!

On Saturday, Feb. 28, from 2-4 p.m. folks won’t want to miss the “Kitchen Party with Celtic Music” by Devon Martene and Becky Van Harn of “Feed The Ducks”. Admission will be $15 in advance so call soon to reserve tickets.

Lots of other exciting things are in the works at GNOB so be sure to follow them on Facebook at “Good Neighbours of Bluewater“ or visit their website at www.gnob.org,, better yet, stop in for a visit at 28 Goshen Street North in Zurich.

WAKE-UP WEDNESDAYS

United Way Perth‑Huron (UWPH) invites people to attend  “Wake-Up Wednesdays” at the Goderich Legion’s Café 109 on Feb. 11 and Feb. 18. These sessions will give more insight into the importance of the “Coldest Night of the Year” (CNOY), deepen understanding of homelessness, inspire community action and highlight local support.

The one hour sessions will begin at 9 a.m.

The sessions began on Feb. 4th. The first was entitled, “Why We Walk”. It examined the purpose behind CNOY and how funds raised support local programs addressing hurt, hunger and homelessness. Those who attended learned how CNOY dollars strengthen frontline services and why community involvement is critical to reaching this year’s fundraising goal.

In the second talk, “Awareness to Action”, set for Feb. 11, UWPH will help people learn about the complexity of homelessness, evidence-based outcomes and the importance of housing as the first solution. The public will be encouraged to advocate for housing‑focused policies and to help identify a suitable location for a local Connection Centre.

“United Way’s Hidden Gems”, will be the highlight of the final session on Feb. 18. It will spotlight two community supports that play a vital role for residents in crisis or on low incomes: 211 and free tax clinics. The session explains how 211 connects people with local services and how tax clinics help ensure vulnerable residents access the benefits they’re entitled to.

“When people understand the real stories behind homelessness, they want to take meaningful action,” said Michelle Millar, UWPH manager Community Development Mid-Huron. “These sessions help shine a light on pressing challenges, resources and solutions, leading us to an even stronger, more unified community that’s working toward lasting change.”

WE LEND A HAND

“We Lend a Hand: The Forgotten Story of Ontario Farmerettes” has been shown locally in Brucefield, Goderich, Bayfield and Clinton. And now it is Exeter’s turn to experience this riveting film!

This 50 minute documentary tells the extraordinary story of the 40,000 young women who volunteered on Canadian farms during WWII doing their part for the war effort.

Tickets for the documentary are available now for $20 each including service fees and HST. Visit We Lend A Hand for tickets. The film will be showcased on Wednesday, Feb. 11  at the South Huron Recreation Centre. There will be two shows at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

Following the screening there will be a question and answer with the filmmakers and a chance to acquire film autographed copies of “Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: Memories of Ontario Farmerettes’. The book that inspired the film, was authored by Shirleyan English and Bonnie Sitter.

Two years in the making the film is selling out in theatres across the province and has also been scooping up awards!

This event is generously sponsored by West Coast Active Living.

The South Huron Recreation Centre is located at 94 Victoria Street Easter in Exeter, ON.

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.

Throughout 2026, Bayfield is celebrating 150 years since incorporation. This is the perfect excuse to occasionally feature artifacts that represent village history. This week, we highlight a piece in the Museum collection linked to the history of Bayfield bridges…

IRON BRIDGE PLAQUE

This is an iron plaque. It is painted orange with raised letters painted white. There is a hole at top and bottom centre for mounting. This plaque was originally from the old iron bridge at Bayfield along the highway.

The plaque reads: “BUILT BY A. HILL & CO. MITCHELL –  J.T. CURRIE WARDEN – 1907 ROAD & BRIDGE COMMITTEE: P. LAMONT, CHAIRMAN; W. FRASER, J. GOVENLOCK, R. ELLIOTT, H. WILLERT, D. PATTERSON, ENGINEER – HURON CO.”