first nations to be celebrated in clan gregor square 

A free family-oriented outdoor exhibition of traditional First Nation dancers and drummers’ drums will be held in Bayfield's Clan Gregor Square on Oct. 2 as part of Culture Days. The celebration will begin at 2 p.m. As this photo indicates a similar event was held in front of an appreciative crowd that gathered in Clan Gregor in 2009. (Photo by Melody Falconer-Pounder)

The popular Celebration of First Nations event is taking place across Huron County on Oct. 1-2 in conjunction with the national Culture Days celebrations honoring the important contribution that arts and culture makes in our communities.

The main event is a free family-oriented outdoor exhibition of traditional First Nation dancers and drummers’ drums on Oct. 2. Traditional dances will be performed and incorporated with story telling that teach the traditional myths and legends of Canada’s First Nations people. Participants will have the opportunity to take part in a drumming circle and friendship dance. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy the sights and sounds from 2-4 p.m. in Clan Gregor Square, Bayfield.

Prior to the main event on Sunday, special guest for the weekend, Former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, James Bartleman will be reading from his novel “As Long as the River Flows”. The novel examines the long-term impacts of the residential school program on Ontario First Nations and the process of reconciliation and healing happening on reservations today. In 2002, Mr. Bartleman became the first Native Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario. He is the author of the prize-winning memoir “Out of Muskoka” and is very active in promoting literacy programs on northern Ontario reservations. The reading is free of charge and will take place on Oct. 2 at 1 p.m. at the Bayfield Town Hall.

Participants will have the opportunity to take part in a drumming circle and friendship dance as well as see native drummers perform as they did on Oct. 4, 2009. (Photo by Melody Falconer-Pounder)

Both the Goderich and Wingham Libraries are hosting free children’s programs on Oct. 1 featuring children’s author Emilie Corbiere. There is will also be a workshop held in which children can make their own amulet for their journey through life and learn about animal spirits and other sacred elements of the medicine bag.

Adults can also take a workshop and learn to make their own hand drum. This workshop will be held at the Blyth Centre for the Arts on Oct. 1. Space is limited and there is a fee please contact the Blyth Festival Box Office to register at 519-523-9300 or 1-877-862-5984.

Saturday evening at the Blyth Festival there will be a free sneak peak at a new Canadian play “Crees in the Caribbean” by renowned playwright Drew Hayden Taylor. The reading will begin at 8 p.m. at the Blyth Festival.

For full event details visit www.heritageandculture.on.ca.

Celebrations of First Nations is produced by the Huron Arts and Heritage Network with community partners: Huron County Library, Blyth Festival, Village Bookshop, Huron County Historical Society and Foundation for Education. The Government of Canada, Bruce Power and Capital Power Corporation provide funding for the event.

Festival of Fitness and Art just days away

In November of this year, a full-field digital mammography unit will be operative for the people of HC in the completely renovated radiology department at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital in Goderich.

To collect funds for this unit the Keeping Abreast Campaign of the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital Foundation was established.

The citizens of Bayfield are committed to supporting the Keeping Abreast Campaign. On Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 with the generosity of 10 financial sponsors, 70 volunteers and the support of 24 groups, the village will hold the Festival of Fitness and Art in Bayfield (FFAB).

The FFAB is comprised of two parts as suggested in the name. “Breastworks” is the banner name for a silent auction to be held on the night of Sept. 30. The auction will continue the following day from 11 a.m. until early afternoon.

Bayfield artist, Paula Letheren has encouraged participation from over 55 artists from across Canada and the USA and they responded by donating pottery, painting, knitting, quilting, poetry, baking and other arts to this silent auction.

A wine and cheese, generously sponsored by The Little Inn, will be held Friday night from 7-9 p.m. Entertainment on both Friday and Saturday will include three talented young pianists, a local choir and the well-known local playwright, actor and director, Duncan MacGregor. All are welcome to join the artists at this social event.

The fitness portion of the festival includes cycling, running and walking.

Beginning at 11 a.m. on Oct. 1, an 8 KM run/walk will progress through the historic village and the newly developed Woodland Trail. The advanced entry fee is $20 and on the day of the event the fee is $25. Registration is from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Bayfield Arena.

The Virtual High School is the lead sponsor of this event. The Village Bookshop will provide the water for the run/walk.

This run is sanctioned by the Ontario Masters as a regional competition and medals are awarded to winners of each age group. Individual high school cross-country runners and school teams are invited to participate with medals awarded to junior and senior individual and team winners.

The cycling event begins at noon from the Bayfield Arena and will cover a distance of 45 km along paved county roads in Bluewater. CKNX and Outside Projects have made this event possible. Registration for this event will go from 9-11:30 a.m. Cost to participate is $40 in advance or $45 on the day of the event.

For those interested in participating in a shorter and less demanding version of events as well as contributing to this fundraiser, there is a 3 KM route through the village. The cost to participate in the shorter event is $20.

All those 16 and under can participate in any event for $10.

Participants should note that due to the generosity of the Municipalities of Bluewater and Central Huron and those sponsors mentioned above, 100 per cent of the funds raised will go directly to the Keeping Abreast Campaign of the AMGH Foundation for the purchase of the mammography unit.

Information and registration forms are available online at www.amghfoundation.ca/festival.php. They are also available at Outside Projects on Main Street in Bayfield.

For more information contact: Tyler Hessel, 519 565-4034, cycling; Ray Letheren, 519 565-2317, running/walking.

Lions' Club members  to post the "Gone Fishing" sign soon

At the 2009 event, participants were dressed for the weather, as a cold wind blew in off the lake. (Photo by Melody Falconer-Pounder)

The quest for the heaviest Rainbow Trout will once again take centre stage on the weekend of Oct. 14-16 as part of the Bayfield Lions’ Club’s 33rd Annual Joe Brandon Memorial Rainbow Trout Derby.

Fish may be caught from the Bayfield River only from 6 a.m. on Friday to noon on Sunday. The weigh station will be set up at Rainbow Valley Campground.
The top three prizes are: first, $800, second, $400 and third, $300. The Eric Earle Memorial will be awarded to a contestant age 15 years or under. It consists of a cash award of $100 and a plaque. The Bill Thorpe Memorial will go to a person aged from 16-18 years. It is also a $100 cash prize and a plaque.

All participants will have a chance to win a variety of other prizes graciously donated by local merchants.

Tickets for the derby are available now at the following Bayfield locations: Nip N’ Tuck, Brandon Hardware, and Bayfield Convenience. They are also available at Goderich Bait and Tackle and Clinton Live Bait. Tickets are $20 and a limit of 250 are available.

In Memoriam

The community will be saddened to learn of the death on Sept. 11 of Earl Ramsayer, of Stratford. He was 69.

Ramsayer was a resident of Bayfield for about 15 years and was involved in the reconstruction of the Bayfield Town Hall. He also owned the mini-putt that once operated on the south side of the village on Hwy. 21.

Our thoughts are with his wife, Carolyn, their two children and five grandchildren at this time.

Donations may be made as expressions of sympathy to Tavistock Minor Hockey or the Optimist Club of Tavistock.

Interment East Zorra Mennonite Cemetery.

murder mystery

Local talent will be featured in an unique fundraising event for the Bayfield Town Hall. The Black Pearl Murder Mystery Dinner will be held at the hall on Oct. 29 starting at 6:30 p.m.

Anyone who wants to know “who dun it” should be quick to get a ticket for the evening that shall include a three-course dinner and a cash bar. Tickets are $35 and are available now from Pat Langley 519 565-2894 or Judy Keightley 519 565-4515.

town hall 

The Festival City Big Band will be making their annual visit to the Bayfield Town Hall on the evening of Oct. 22.

Based in Stratford, this 17 piece band of very talented musicians has been entertaining audiences since 1995 with a wide range of music including swing-era standards, contemporary jazz charts, Latin numbers and more. Plus the vocals of Cathy Whalen and Chris Adair are a treat for the ears.

An opportunity for dancing will be offered from 9 p.m. to midnight. A light lunch will be served and it is a cash bar. Tickets are available now for $20 by calling Charlie Kalbfleisch at 519 565-2244 or visit ticketscene.ca.

This event is generously sponsored by OLG.

teddy bear check-up

When was the last time your child had their teddy bear’s vision tested? Regular eye examinations are an important part of your child’s eye health and if the appointment would be made easier with teddy by their side then Main Street Optometric in Bayfield welcome them as well. And in the process your child’s school can benefit too.

October is Vision Health Month, and to promote healthy vision and overall well-being Main Street Optometric has started a new program involving local schools. For the month of October they are hosting the “Teddy Bear Check-Up,” where local children are encouraged to bring in their favorite teddy bear with them for a complete eye-exam. To promote healthy eyes and learning, Main Street Optometric is going to donate $10 per child to their respective school's library, as vision is involved in 80 per cent of all learning.

In the province of Ontario children under the age of 19 years are covered annually under OHIP, so this program runs at no expense to parents or schools. Teddy Bears are tested free of charge; limit one teddy per child.

Please call 519 565-2300 to book an appointment with Dr. Rich Samuell.

heritage committee

The Municipality of Bluewater is in need of interested people to serve as members of the Bluewater Heritage Committee (BHC). Their contribution will be invaluable to the past and future history of the community. This Committee of Council meets on the third Tuesday of the month at the Bayfield Lions Community Building. For more information please contact Nellie Evans at the Bluewater Municipal Office in Zurich.

Have you ever looked at the older homes and businesses in Bluewater and considered how it has come to be that they have survived into the present? How is it that they are so lovingly preserved? The members of the BHC feel that such things can only be achieved by people who care about their significance to the heritage of the community. They know that there are many such people in Bluewater. The BHC believes that just looking at the streetscapes and side roads demonstrates how important conservation of heritage buildings is to residents of Bluewater.

bayfield concert series

Jazz artist, Denzel Sinclaire will be the next performer to grace the stage at the Bayfield Town Hall as part of the Bayfield Concert Series.

The show is set for Oct. 1 at 8:30 p.m. Doors open at 8 p.m.

The cost is $45 per person. Tickets are available at ticketscene.ca.

library friends

For many people the Bayfield Library is the hub of the community. These people have recently united as The Friends of the Bayfield Library (FOBL).

The FOBL has been created to promote the library as essential to the community’s quality of life. As enthusiastic supporters, FOBL intends to enhance the profile of the Bayfield Library and to advocate for library services and programs.

To become a member of the FOBL, please send an email to friendsofbayfieldlibrary@hotmail.ca or call Clair at 519-565-2135.

bayfield guiding

Girls and young women in the community are invited to consider Guiding as a great extracurricular activity.

Bayfield Guiding has openings for Sparks, aged 5-6 years; Brownies, aged 7-8 years; Guides aged 9-12 years; Pathfinders, aged 12-15 years; and Rangers, aged 15-17 years. Women interested in joining as leaders are also welcome to contact the number listed below for more information.

The groups meet, with the exception of the Pathfinders and Rangers, on Tuesday afternoons from 5:30-7 p.m. at Trinity Anglican Church, 10 Keith Cres. (doors open at 5:15 p.m.) The Pathfinders and Rangers will meet twice monthly at the Bayfield Village Inn on alternate Wednesdays from 6:30-9 p.m.

Meetings for the Sparks, Brownies and Guides have begun but it is never too late to join!

Pathfinders and Rangers will have their first meeting on Oct. 12. Anyone interested in joining is welcome to attend to learn more about what being a senior member of Guiding is all about.

If you would like to reserve a spot for your daughter please phone Melody Falconer-Pounder at 519 565-2443 or email her at bvi@tcc.on.ca.