HuronPerthBoomers_Spring2022

A FREE magazine for adults 50+
SPRING 2022 — Volume 7, Issue 1
HOME
Let’s get
organized
Tips for cancelling clutter
LIFESTYLE
SECOND
HISTORY
SPRING
Standing tall
Huron County forests changed
with European settlement
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FROM THE PUBLISHER
Do you see that light? It’s floating there, just at the end of our outreached
fingers, beckoning us to approach. With every day, we inch closer to the end
of this tunnel, steeling ourselves for what the world will be when we breach
the exit, yet more than ready to bask in the warmth of the other side.
We’re all exhausted of the uncertainty, the restrictions, and the societal
cracks the pandemic has created these past two years. Soon – so very soon
– we’ll embrace our neighbours and hopefully, with internal temperatures
dropping, we will renew our acquaintances, accept the differences of our
opinions and beliefs, and heal each other, our superhuman small businesses
owners, and our communities.
The past two years have been like none since the Second World War, a
time few of us experienced for themselves, a time of uncertainty we almost
certainly cannot comprehend. The pandemic has brought out the best of us
and, at times, dropped us to our knees. Yet amongst the bad, there has been
much good. We’ve selflessly protected our most vulnerable, rediscovered
family game night, perfected sourdough bread recipes, learned a new skill,
and breathed in nature in ways most hadn’t in years.
CONTENTS
Let’s get organized • 4
Going grey gracefully • 10
Explore Quebec • 14
Huron County forests • 20
Second Spring • 26
Recipe • 30
The pandemic is the Kennedy assassination-moon landing-Henderson goal-
9/11 for our children and grandchildren. It’s up to each of us what we – as
a society – take from this experience, and how we learn from the challenges
we’ve overcome to make our friendships, our family relationships, and our
communities stronger for what we’ve overcome
and how we’re moving forward – marching,
heads held high, to the finish line.
Amy Irwin, Publisher
Huron-Perth Boomers
SPRING 2022
Publisher
Amy Irwin
amy@huronperthboomers.com
Magazine Design
Becky Grebenjak
Huron-Perth Boomers welcomes
your feedback.
EMAIL
amy@huronperthboomers.com
PHONE 519-524-0101
MAIL
P.O. Box 287, Ripley, ON N0G 2R0
Huron-Perth Boomers is distributed for free in Huron and Perth
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December. Distribution of this publication does not constitute
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and advertising contributed. No portion of Huron-Perth Boomers may
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HOME
Let’s get
organized
SEVEN STEPS FOR SPRING CLEANING
AND GETTING YOUR SPACE IN ORDER
BY HELEN DOWD & PATTI HENHOEFFER
4 • HURONPERTHBOOMERS.COM

y Helen Dowd & Patti Henhoeffer
HOME
There is nothing like the energy that comes from
longer daylight hours combined with the smell
of spring air to unite the mind, body and soul to the
notion that it is time for some spring cleaning and
organizing!
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadians
have spent a lot more time at home, so cleaning and
organizing our spaces has become more of a priority.
This article has been written to give you the “dirt”
on what it takes to clean and organize your space.
Step 1: Inspect. Pretend you are a first-time visitor
and walk around your living space with a discerning
eye. Grab a pen and a notebook or use your cell
phone as you go “on tour.” Record what you want to
accomplish by listing the jobs you need to tackle or
take photos of the problem areas. You can organize
this list by each room and then prioritize your plan
from there.
Step 2: Phone a friend. Most jobs are more fun
if you work in pairs, so if you are alone, recruit the
help of a friend, child/grandchild or a cleaning/
organizing service to work alongside you. You will
appreciate their input and non-biased opinions as it
is always difficult to make decisions when you are
emotionally invested. A trusted friend or companion
will ensure you have the honest feedback you need
to decide on what to keep, toss, or donate. You can
always reciprocate by helping your friend with their
spring cleaning or offering your grandchildren some
money for their education fund. Remind them to
wear old clothing and closed-toe footwear so they
are prepared.
Step 3: Find a time. Once you have found a
buddy, book an appointment in your calendars and
let them know what to expect. For example, “On
Monday when you arrive, we are going to organize
the garage and clean the bathroom.” This will get
them mentally prepared for the activity. If your
energy level maxes out after two hours or a half a
day, then book that amount of time so you don’t
exhaust yourself. Depending on the size of your
space and the volume of your possessions, you can
always spread the task out over a couple of days or
even weeks. Use the list you created in Step 1 as your
guide and remember to cross off what you accomplish
when the task is complete. Research shows this gives
your brain a shot of dopamine (a neurotransmitter
that is responsible for generating feelings of
accomplishment, satisfaction and happiness). The
dopamine makes you feel good and also motivates
you to continue completing tasks (facilethings.com).
Before and after photos are also great for tracking
your progress and providing motivation.
Step 4: Take inventory. Before your scheduled
appointment, take an inventory of what products you
have and what you will need to tackle your various
projects. It is always prudent to wait and see how
much you will be keeping before you run out and
purchase bins and totes, as unused organizational
items can lead to additional clutter. When it comes
to cleaning, take an inventory of the products you
have on hand so you know what you need to source.
There is an incredible selection of cleaning products
and systems on the market these days so do some
research.
SPRING 2022 • 5

HOME
by Helen Dowd & Patti Henhoeffer
Step 5: Ready, set, go! It is prudent to purge your
space before you clean it so you don’t put yourself
through extra work. Hanging onto things that are
making your home too cluttered to enjoy or unsafe to
move around is not ideal. Local thrift stores welcome
donations of good, clean and undamaged items so
learn to let go so others can benefit – it will be a winwin!
Gather up cardboard boxes for items to donate,
use garbage bags for what you want to toss, and set
aside anything you want to keep. We all arrive on
Earth with nothing and we can take nothing with us,
so do your family a favour and make the decisions
now before it is too late!
Step 6: Let’s organize! Before we begin, it is
important to understand that everything you bring
into your space needs energy to look after it. Think
of the work it takes to store, wash, dry, dust, clean,
recycle, sort, rinse, change the batteries, update, and
track. So please be mindful of this as you begin your
task. First, start by removing everything in the area
that you are going to tackle (if you only have time
for a room, start there, if you only have an hour start
with a closet). As you touch it, make a decision –
keep, toss or donate? Group like-items together to
better understand the quantity you have and how
you will store them.
Secondly, when the drawer, closet or room is empty,
now is the time to clean it. Start up high and work
your way down. Wipe down walls, dust surfaces and
vacuum or sweep the floors. If anything is dirty or
soiled, give it a good clean. Then take a break and
drop off your donation items at the local thrift store,
deal with your garbage and recycling, and stop off
at a local home supply store to purchase the storage
containers, bins and hangers for what you’re keeping.
It’s now time for the fun part as you get to arrange
all the “keep” items into the clean, empty space you
just created. You can organize like-items in drawers,
totes and bins with labels on them. A suggestion is to
keep back some of your favourite items and curate
a small display that you can enjoy. A favourite stack
of books, a framed photo and a retro alarm clock
would look great on your night stand.
6 • HURONPERTHBOOMERS.COM

y Helen Dowd & Patti Henhoeffer
HOME
Helpful hints
• If you are unsure if you will use an item, it is
okay to keep it, put it in a box or tote, store it
away and if, in six months, you haven’t looked for
it, then it is time to move it along.
• You can place all your clothes hangers
“backwards” in your closet, when you wear the
garment, you can return the hanger to “normal.”
It is quick and easy method to know what you
wore and what you can donate at the end of
each season.
• Have a rule that when you purchase something
new for your space, that you should select one (or
two) items to toss or donate in order to maintain
the harmony you have just created in your home.
• Planning to leave keepsakes to your children or
grandchildren? Then use this process as a way to
simply note on the item the name of the person
you wish to have the article when you are gone.
Step 7: Let’s clean! There could be other rooms
that require more cleaning than organizing, so think
about your own protection before you start. It is wise
to protect your eyes, ears and nose, depending on
the chore. It is very rewarding to do a deep clean of
any room in your house so that you leave it smelling
as fresh as the spring air. If you have no physical
restrictions, cleaning is really just a mindset, so put
your mind to doing your absolute best!
Cleaning tips
• The more people that use a space, the more often
it will need cleaning.
SPRING 2022 • 7

HOME
• Always start at the top of the room and work
your way down when cleaning.
• If guests are coming over, focus on the bathroom
they will use.
• Buy quality cleaning products, they work better
and you will use less of them.
• Store cleaning products where you use them
(if you have three bathrooms, keep a stash in
each).
• When you walk into a room you should feel a
sense of relief/comfort. If you don’t, it is time
to ask yourself why not, and tackle the problem
areas.
Optional cleaning checklist
Daily:
• Do dishes (by hand or in the dishwasher).
• Clean off kitchen counters and/or kitchen table.
• Sweep kitchen and entryway floors.
• Wipe down shower glass.
Weekly:
• Clean bathrooms.
• Laundry – wash hand towels and tea towels.
• Laundry – wash clothing, bath towels and
bedding.
• Plan next week’s meals and shop for groceries.
• Empty garbage and recycling bins.
Bi-weekly:
• Take out garbage and recycling to curbside for
municipal collection.
• Dust horizontal surfaces.
• Vacuum carpets and wash floors.
Change of each season:
• Check/add to softener salt levels.
8 • HURONPERTHBOOMERS.COM

y Helen Dowd & Patti Henhoeffer
HOME
• Check/change furnace filters.
• Flip mattresses to spread wear evenly.
• Wash comforters on beds.
• Wash windows.
• Wipe down baseboards.
Semi-annually:
Check batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide
detectors.
Annually:
• Have furnace, air conditioning unit, and standby
generator inspected.
• Wipe down kitchen cupboards and clean out
shelves and drawers.
• Wipe down walls.
• Inspect your inventory of pillows, linens and
towels, and replace any that are threadbare or
worn. Cut them into rags for cleaning in the
garage/car.
Helen Dowd and Patti Henhoeffer are senior team members at
Operation Organize Inc., a local network of caring, qualified
and insured team members offering non-medical solutions for
seniors in Stratford & Perth County. They provide a variety
of services that help keep seniors living independently in their
own surroundings. Learn more at www.operationorganize.ca.
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SPRING 2022 • 9

LIFESTYLE
GOING
grey
MANY ARE DECIDING TO GO NATURAL
BY APRIL TAYLOR
10 • HURONPERTHBOOMERS.COM

y April Taylor
“It is not by the gray of
the hair that one knows
the age of the heart.”
- Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton
​
I
’ve been in the hair business for over 30 years and
have watched styles come and go.
Spiral perms with bangs teased a mile high, spikyshort,
rat-tails, crazy colours, and stripy streaks – we
all get on board and wear whatever happens to be in
vogue that year. Changing our hair is a fun way to
express ourselves. Anything goes, and we can change
it again on a whim.
As my clients mature, more are pondering whether
to go “au naturale.” Yet many are worried about
how to make the transition? They wonder if their
roots will look horrible, if it’ll make them look older,
or if they’ll have to cut off all their hair. Well, yes, the
roots will look awful but there are ways to help make
the transition from coloured to grey go more quickly,
while still looking nice.
LIFESTYLE
hair colour and make the hair appear lighter, thus
making the contrast of your grey roots not as obvious.
Highlights should be a shade that compliments your
skin. This step also helps you adjust to seeing yourself
with lighter hair. Another choice is low lights which
are the same as highlights, but we use a darker shade
of hair colour. This helps break up the roots helping
to camouflage the regrowth.
Get regular trims. I suggest even more often
during the growing out process. Each haircut will get
you closer to destination.
Use a good shampoo and conditioner. I believe
this is where great hair begins. Some supermarket
products or even so-called natural products are full
of greasy wax, which leaves your hair dull and flat.
During the growing-out process you will endure
it better if your hair looks healthy and shiny with
Tips for growing out your hair colour
Decide if you want to cut your hair. Cutting some off
is the quickest way to remove old hair colour. If your
hair is long but you don’t want to lose a lot of length,
consider getting layers. This will cut off some of your
old colour but keep the length. Also, layers will give
you body and bounce.
Understand your complexion. Is it cool or
warm? I think this is the most important thing when
choosing a hair colour or transitioning to grey (more
on this below). You could have the best haircut
and hair tint, but if it’s not the right shade for your
complexion it will still fall short.
Consider highlights. This will help remove some
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SPRING 2022 • 11

LIFESTYLE
by April Taylor
“The transition is so very
temporary. My new grey and
newfound confidence has
been well worth the wait!”
- Brenda
“I went grey and I’m happy.
I get so many compliments!”
- Judy
“Going grey has been
liberating. It’s who I am!”
- Heather
body. Ask your hairstylist to recommend products
that are best suited for you.
Will it make me look older? Well, possibly.
Consider having your hair styled in a more current
look or even a fun and trendy cut to keep your look
youthful. Grey hair can look dull, but using a shine
product when styling adds life to your hair, making
you look younger.
Find time to groom. Make time to style your hair
in the morning even if it’s a quick blow dry and a
little hair polish. This alone can take years off your
appearance.
Cool or warm?
I consider this the most important thing to know
before embarking on any form of hair colour. With
a warm complexion:
• Skin appears to be a yellowish or golden tone.
• Veins in arms look green.
• Person may tan easily.
• Eyes are brown, amber or hazel.
• Hair colours that look best are strawberry blonde,
auburn or chestnut.
• You look great wearing clothing that is olive,
rust, orange, browns and golds. Earth shades.
As an example, your hair is shoulder-length and a
reddish brown. Consider having layers cut in, taking
off some length, and add low lights of a lighter warm
12 • HURONPERTHBOOMERS.COM

y April Taylor
LIFESTYLE
brown shade to blend into the regrowth.
Another example is to get cap highlights. This
procedure takes a lot of small strands and removes
the hair colour to a golden shade. From there, your
stylist can tone the highlights to a soft caramel shade
that will show off your glowing warm complexion.
Traits of a cool complexion include:
• Skin having an underlying pink of red colour.
• Veins in arms look bluish.
• Skin may tend to burn.
• Eyes are vibrant green, gray or blue.
• Hair colours that look great include black, grey,
ash brown, platinum, and ash blonde.
• Your best clothing is true colours such as red,
black, white and icy hues.
Highlighting with a cool blonde or a wheat colour,
or low lighting with an ash shade of brown, may be
the way to go.
I hope this will help you decide whether to take the
plunge into embracing your grey. Personally I think
colouring hair well into our later years is fine, as is
changing and softening the shades as we go. It comes
down to personal preference.
You may be curious to see how you look with your
natural colour or have become tired of the up-keep,
so I recommend trying it. If you like it, great! If not,
you can add some colour at any time.
April Taylor is a hairstylist and freelance writer in Stratford.
SPRING 2022 • 13

TRAVEL
Explore Quebec, Canada’s Europe
WHEN YOU CAN’T TRAVEL OVERSEAS, VISIT LA BELLE PROVINCE
BY JILL ELLIS-WORTHINGTON
14 • HURONPERTHBOOMERS.COM

y Jill Ellis-Worthington
When the travel bug bites and gives us itchy feet,
the urge to see new places is undeniable.
After all, it’s been nearly two years of pandemic
travel restriction, yet, if you remain hesitant to book
overseas travel, you can satisfy the itch by planning
your next trip to Canada’s Europe – ‘La Belle
Province’ of Quebec.
Getting from here to there can be an adventure in
itself – a ride on Via Rail may feel like you’re already
in Europe with its famed Eurail system. Flying is
quickest (and the most authentic for mimicking a trip
across the pond) but can be pricey, or you can take a
good old fashioned road trip. It’s about an eight-hour
drive to Montreal. That’s not onerous, but why not
break it up about halfway with a stop in Kingston?
With its decidedly English flavour, Canada’s first
capital city offers many sightseeing options to enjoy
during a day or two layover.
Start with a Kingston Trolley Tour to get the lay of
the land and then branch out from there to explore
Fort Henry, built during the War of 1812, the
Murney Museum in one of the Martello Towers, the
infamous Kingston Penitentiary, and Confederation
Park, along the city’s waterfront where buskers often
play.
Definite must-tries for breaks between sites are
Diane’s Fish Shack and Smokehouse (adjacent to
Confederation Park) for amazing fish and chips;
the iconic Chez Piggy (Zal Yanovsky, of the Lovin’
Spoonful, was one of its founders), where a treat of
fresh, sustainable oysters and sparkling wine hits the
spot; and the luxurious Aqua Terra with its harbour
views and excellent fine cuisine, like the scrumptious
compressed watermelon and feta salad.
For small-town flavour, Gananoque is a 20-minute
drive east and has charming shops and great eateries,
such as Riva Restaurant (which serves the best
caprese salad) with its charming ambiance including
a hibiscus-ringed patio.
TRAVEL
Thousand Island Cruises depart from both
Gananoque and Kingston, and they vary in length
from one to three hours. Take a longer one for a
relaxing voyage on the St. Lawrence River and see
Heart Island with the famous Boldt Castle. View
scenery along the banks of both Canadian and
American sides of the river while enjoying cool
breezes.
Next stop – Montreal. Canada’s second-largest city
can be explored by various means of transportation.
The Metro is clean, fast and efficient. This subway
will carry you to many areas of the city, including
downtown to gaze at the forest of skyscrapers.
Cycle-friendly Montreal claims one of North
America’s top spots for enjoying hundreds of
kilometres of bike lanes and paths. Bring your twowheelers
or rent from Ca Roule Montreal on Wheels,
just across from the Old Port. With several large,
covered parking structures, finding parking here is
an easy but pricey option.
Explore the city on two- and four-hour bike tours
on regular or electric-assist bikes, then keep them for
the rest of the day to explore on your own. Tours
go from the riverfront to the base of Mont Royal,
with stops at libraries, parks, universities, and other
architecturally significant buildings found in the
city’s diverse neighbourhoods. Take a rest to sample
famous Montreal-style bagels, then bike across the
bridges to Montreal’s two famous islands. On Ile
Sainte Helene check out the Biosphere, made famous
by Expo 67, and race fans will want to take a lap on
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Ile Notre-Dame.
Walking is a great way to get around Old Montreal,
with its pedestrian-only cobblestone streets and
narrow roads. Start off with a coffee and a crepe at
Creperie chez Suzette or eggs with a side of smoked
meat at Eggspectation to fuel up before exploring
SPRING 2022 • 15

TRAVEL
this historic area that runs from the port to the edge
of downtown. Souvenir shops, boutiques, quaint inns,
eateries and coffee shops housed in brick and stone
buildings line its streets. Visit Place Jacques Cartier
and the Notre Dame Cathedral to boost the European
feel.
Strolling down L’Avenue de Mont-Royal, with vendor
stalls lining the roadway, is a real European-style treat.
Rue Ste-Catherine is one of the best places to stroll
and people watch while ducking in and out of highend
retailers like Holt Renfrew.
At the river’s edge is Vieux (Old) Port, a child’s delight
with a pirate ship aerial park, called Voiles en Voiles.
Adventurous types may want to zipline across the
waterfront and romantics will want to cozy up in
the Le Grande Roue du Montreal (ferris wheel). It
is a great way to get off your feet in air-conditioned
comfort and see the city from a bird’s eye view.
The cobblestone streets of
Old Quebec give it a
distinct European feel.
Writer Jill Ellis-Worthington
and her husband Ralph Lembcke
explore Montreal on bikes.
Montrealers love a good meal so a stop at the popular
restaurant area on Rue Crescent to sample a giant
meatball at Weinstein and Gavinos is a great way to
end a day in this city. Many eateries in Old Montreal
are housed in converted warehouses along the river,
like Taverne Gaspar, where an Aperol spritz and
charcuterie plate hit the spot. Terrasse Nelligan (in
Hotel Nelligan near Notre Dame) gives the feeling of
eating in a French café surrounded by rooftops of the
area’s heritage buildings. Keep it cool by sharing a plate
of the organic salmon tartare. When you want to be
more deeply steeped in old-world charm, it’s off to
Quebec City. Smaller than Montreal, Quebec City is
easier to get around in some ways but beware if you
have mobility issues. Worn by age, the cobblestone
streets dictate wearing flat, sturdy footwear, and the
Funiculaire (inclined railway elevator) is an easier way
to ascend and descend the city’s steepest slope.
As you look at the entrance to the Funiculaire, to
the left is Rue Petit Champlain, cited as one of the
prettiest streets in the world by Architectural Digest

y Jill Ellis-Worthington
in 2019. Look to the right and you’ll see Escalier
Casse-Cou (Breakneck Steps). This is the steepest set
of stairs in the city and one of the best places to take
photographs.
The Funiculaire
makes walking
Quebec City
much easier.
A one-hour double-decker bus tour gives a quick
overview of the city with highlights pointed out by a
guide simultaneously in French and English, including
the Ramparts (walls) of the original city; Dufferin
Terrace, overlooking the St. Lawrence River and
adjacent to the Chateau Fairmont; Place Royal, where
a scene from the Tom Hanks/Leonardo DiCaprio
film Catch Me If You Can was shot; Quebec’s National
Assembly, with the fontaine de Tourny; Battlefields
Park and the Plains of Abraham.
Combine this with a 90-minute afternoon cruise on
the St. Lawrence and you’ll learn much more from
the knowledgeable, tri-lingual, costumed guide while
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SPRING 2022 • 17

TRAVEL
by Jill Ellis-Worthington
Rue Saint-Paul in
Old Montreal.
sliding by Montmorency Falls and the site of the
Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist. The narration
includes a colourful tale about Quebec City’s role in
the Seven Years War during the Battle of the Plains
of Abraham.
What is better than a free tour? Samuel Dubois shares
humorous lessons on all things Quebec City as he
leads walking tours in either French or English. There
really is no charge, but you can show appreciation for
his knowledgeable, funny storytelling with a tip at the
end. This two-hour jaunt takes visitors all through
Old Quebec City – up and down hills and around
the narrow, winding streets – and is not to be missed.
It is said that an ‘army marches on its stomach’ and
so do travellers. Cotes a Cotes is a charming stone
restaurant with patio views of the harbour. Feel
very French by ordering the sumptuous foie gras.
Quebec City has so many small cafes and bistros
that you’ll never lack somewhere to grab a snack or
a thirst quencher. Those who want a rich ambiance
and unsurpassed view will want to try Restaurant
Champlain, inside Hotel Frontenac.
Leave behind the buzz of the city for a beautiful
drive through the Laurentian Mountains to go whale
watching. While conversing in both official languages
is de rigour in metropolitan areas, you may not find
as many English speakers in the more rural settings.
Tadoussac is a three-hour drive from Quebec City
and while the drive is spectacular, the charm of this
village is undeniable. It’s reached by a free 15-minute
ferry ride from just outside Baie-Sainte-Catherine
across the dark depths of the Saguenay Fjord.
Book tickets on a zodiac or a cruise boat to see the
18 • HURONPERTHBOOMERS.COM

y Jill Ellis-Worthington
TRAVEL
spectacular mammals. During the summer months,
when whales come to the estuary to feed, humpbacks,
belugas, fin whales and several other species are often
seen. Boats get close enough to see whales breach,
spouting water through their blowholes and flipping
their tails, without impinging on them.
To up the ante even more for this once-in-a-lifetime
experience, upgrade to VIP on a three-hour Croisieres
AML cruise and be treated to an elevated glassed
viewing room protected from the elements, as well as
a raised private deck area for the best outdoor viewing
opportunities. VIPs are welcomed aboard with a glass
of bubbly and munch on a superior charcuterie box on
the way back to dock. Beer, wine and cocktails are also
included.
To allow time to process this thrilling experience,
sitting on the lawn of one of the area’s charming
B&Bs and gazing at those same waters will quiet the
mind. Perched on a bluff in Baie-Sainte-Catherine,
Gita la Maison Rochefort owner Johanne serves a
carbolicious feast for breakfast the next morning, with
homemade croissants and pastries. If your French
isn’t strong, book online, but Johanne’s gracious smile
and hospitality overcome any language barriers.
I guarantee you’ll head home with the feeling
of having crossed the ocean to experience the
architecture, language and food of France, without
having left the True North Strong and Free.
Jill Ellis-Worthington is writer, editor and communications
consultant. Visit her at writeoncommunicationsservices.com.
STRATFORD MEMORIALS
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classic ~ Italian ~ cucina
SPRING 2022 • 19

HISTORY
STANDING
TALL
HURON COUNTY’S FORESTS HAVE HAD A LONG AND
TUMULTUOUS HISTORY BY KARSTEN STRYKER
20 • HURONPERTHBOOMERS.COM

y Karsten Stryker
When hiking through or driving past any of
Huron County’s forests, it’s easy to believe
they have remained relatively unchanged for time
immemorial.
However, Huron County’s forests have had a long
and, at times, tumultuous history.
Most of southwestern Ontario’s native tree species
were in place about 9,000 years ago and, until fairly
recently, there was minimal disturbance of the local
environment. The Anishinaabe inhabitants of what
is now Huron County lived a primarily huntergatherer
lifestyle, taking from the land only what was
needed. This was supplemented with small garden
plots in the summer. They also made extensive use
of canoes, which of course did not require the forest
clearing that roads do.
HISTORY
Hunting, gathering, and navigating via the waterways
are examples of a way of living that developed over
centuries – working with the land, not against it.
This is in stark contrast to how the land was used
after European arrival in the early-1800s. At that
time the forests displayed a great diversity of species
including oak, pine, cedar, sugar maple, yellow
birch, swamp elm, beech-tree, white ash, black elm,
red elm, viscous elm, walnut, butternut, “hollowtree,”
and cherry tree. In addition to having a great
diversity of species, many of the trees are described
as measuring 50 to 60 feet from the base to the lowest
branches.
The settlers quickly set about clearing the land to
harvest timber and make farms, taking advantage
of the “rights and responsibilities granted them
as private landowners.” By the end of the
19th Century, in an effort to build profitable farms
and better lives for themselves and their families,
European immigrants had cut down the vast
majority of old growth forests throughout southern
Ontario. Approximately 15 per cent of Huron
County is now forested, and much of that is the
result of later conservation efforts.
By the late-19th Century, the removal of forest cover,
particularly around watersheds, was beginning to
have harmful effects on agriculture. In the summer,
droughts would often last two to three weeks; in
the winter, roads would have to be redirected over
fields as they became impassible due to unimpeded
blowing snow and drifting, which could bring about
serious loss for the farmer.
Realizing the necessity of forests, a few groups such
as the Fruit Growers’ Association of Ontario (FGAO)
SPRING 2022 • 21

HISTORY
by Karsten Stryker
Moving logs, 1911, Photographer:
Reuben R. Sallows (1855-1937). From the
archival collection of the Huron County
Museum, Object ID : 0363-rrs-ogohc-ph.
22 • HURONPERTHBOOMERS.COM

y Karsten Stryker
HISTORY
began encouraging farmers to plant trees on their
property, as well as lobbying for greater restrictions
on cutting trees. In the case of the FGAO, attention
was often placed on planting “natural fences” on
the edges of farms. With an increasing popularity
of scientific agriculture and growing influence of
the Ontario Agriculture College, the following
century would see increased conservation efforts
as the understanding of ecosystems became more
common.
Moving into the first half of the 20th Century,
more groups formed and began working to increase
the amount of forest cover in Ontario. Two of the
most important were the Ontario Conservation and
Reforestation Association (OCRA) and the Ontario
Crop Improvement Association (OCIA), both
forming in 1937 after a devastatingly warm summer.
In Huron County, a testament to 20th Century
reforestation efforts is the 13 county forest tracts,
which total over 1,500 acres. Many of these tracts
were donated by private landowners who were aware
of the importance of the forests. These tracts provide
environmental protection, as well as recreation for
local residents. Another lasting result of these efforts
is the tree bylaw, which was passed in 1947 with the
support of farmers and landowners. This bylaw
regulates the harvesting of trees in all woodlots which
measure over half an acre in size.
Vast amounts of Huron County’s forests were lost
in the process of colonization and farm-making.
Thanks to historic and on-going conservation efforts,
about 15 per cent of Huron County is currently
forested. With that in mind, be sure not to take what
you find for granted next time you visit one of Huron
County’s forests.
58.93319
27
Peace of mind is
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electricity to power one out of every three
homes, hospitals and businesses across Ontario.
Its reactors also produce Cobalt-60, a medical
isotope used to sterilize 40 per cent of the
world’s single-use medical devices, like masks
and gloves, that are used everyday in the fight
against COVID-19. To learn more about Cobalt-60,
visit brucepower.com/isotopes.
SPRING 2022 • 23

HISTORY
by Karsten Stryker
Sources
Kuhlberg, Mark, ed. “Challenges, Conflicts
and Cooperation: The Ministry of Natural
Resources and Forestry’s Complicated History
with Ontario’s First Nations.” Forest History
Society of Ontario. Ministry of Natural
Resources and Forestry, 2017. www.
ontarioforesthistory.ca/files/mnrf_history_
relations_with_first_nations.pdf.
Plain, David D. A Brief History of the Saugeen
Peninsula. Trafford Publishing, 2018.
Suffling, Roger, Michael Evans, and Ajith
Perera. “Presettlement Forest in Southern
Ontario: Ecosystems Measured through a
Cultural Prism.” The Forestry Chronicle 79,
no. 3 (May 2003): 486–87. https://doi.org/
https://pubs.cif-ifc.org/doi/pdf/10.5558/
tfc79485-3
Bowley, Patricia “Farm Forestry in
Agricultural Southern Ontario, ca. 1850-
1940: Evolving Strategies in the Management
and Conservation of Forests, Soils and Water
on Private Lands.” Scientia Canadensis 38,
no. 1 (2015): 22–49. https://doi.
org/10.7202/1036041ar
Pullen, David. “Forests For Our Future”
Management Plan for the County Forests,
Recommendations for Tree Cover Enhancement.
Huron County, 2014. www.huroncounty.ca/
wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Forest_For_
Our_Future_2014-2033.pdf
Huron Stewardship Council, www.
huronstewardship.ca/nature/forests/
Forestry Services, www.huroncounty.ca/
plandev/forestry-services
Above: Cutting pine tree, 1917, Photographer: Reuben
R. Sallows (1855-1937). Object ID : 0363-rrs-ogohc-ph.
Below: Dunlop Tomb, Garbraid, date unknown,
Photographer: Reuben R. Sallows. Object ID :
0346-rrs-ogohc-ph. Both photos courtesy the archival
collection of the Huron County Museum.
Karsten Stryker was the Huron County
Museum’s Exhibit and Program
Assistant during the summer of 2021.
To learn more about the Museum and
how it shares the stories of Huron
County’s history and culture, visit www.
HuronCountyMuseum.ca.
24 • HURONPERTHBOOMERS.COM

Staycation in
Kincardine this year to ...
Stroll the beach
Swing with us
Shop & sip
Share the sunset
with the piper
kincardine.ca/staycation

LIFESTYLE
SECOND
SPRING
NOW IS THE TIME FOR WOMEN IN THEIR
50S AND 60S TO BE THEIR TRUE SELVES
BY JO DAVIS
26 • HURONPERTHBOOMERS.COM

y Jo Davis
As Mary Oliver said in her famous poem The
Summer Day, “What is it you plan to do with your
one wild and precious life?”
As I approached my 50th birthday, this question
spun around in my head and a voice kept repeating,
“It’s time… it’s time!”
“Time for what?” I wondered.
As the day came and went, the answer began to
reveal itself. I’m now 50. Time is not infinite. If
there are things I want to do, now is the time to
start.
After over 25 years working as a professional in the
social profit sector, and receiving some life-altering
coaching myself, I decided to embark on a journey
to become a personal development coach. I was
unsettled by this throw-caution-to-the-wind decision,
but halfway through one of the courses, I had an
overwhelming, solid, confident feeling that coaching
was my calling. Did it matter that I was in my early-
50s? Was it too late?
Over the next two years, I completed my training
and became a Certified Professional Co-Active
Coach (CPCC). I put out my shingle and started my
business. As I was developing my niche, a wise coach
asked me who I was drawn to and who was coming
to me. I realized that all of my clients were women,
just like me, in their 50s and 60s, experiencing a
new kind of phase in their lives. We all had so many
uncanny similarities – children launching (who am
I now?), desire for more meaning and giving back
(generativity), needing a shift in perspective or a
new career, fear of ageism, and increasing health
concerns.
I got more curious and began a conversation about
this with a young friend. She said that in Traditional
Chinese Medicine, when a woman has finished her
childbearing years and enters menopause, her life
LIFESTYLE
force or chi energy moves upwards to her heart and
mind. This gives rise to a new, refreshed life phase or
a “Second Spring.”
This knowledge has been around for thousands of
years. The following is an excerpt from The Yellow
Emperor’s Classic Medicine, a famous book written in
China around 2,600 BC.
“At seven times seven a woman’s heavenly dew wanes;
the pulse of her Conception channel decreases. The
Qi that dwelt in the baby’s palace moves upward
into her heart, and her wisdom is deepened.” (Ni,
1995, as cited in Nelson, 2019)
This poetic way of explaining the mental and
physiological changes that occur during menopause
made perfect sense to me. This is what my clients
were describing – the presence of a new phase, a
letting go, an opportunity for renewal and navigating
minimal space. I began to delve more deeply into
this idea of a new adult phase of life for women.
As I read and listened, my thoughts got a little
clearer. In our culture we have markers or signposts
for women – daughter, young woman, mother,
grandmother – but there is a missing marker.
Between mother and grandmother, in our 50s and
60s and even 70s, there is a phase that is discernibly
different. It can feel robust, healthy, sexy, wise and
knowledgeable. Unfortunately, in our western
culture, women often feel the opposite – invisible,
washed up, “over the hill,” and in decline.
My thoughts were that we needed a mindset shift,
to reclaim and redefine this phase and throw off the
negative stereotypes our culture has given it. It is
and should be a time when wisdom and experience
are celebrated and deeply held values lived out with
intention and purpose. As Gail Sheehy said in her
book, Sex and the Passionate Life, “A seasoned woman
is spicy, she has marinated in life experience. She
is at the peak of her influence and power. She is
SPRING 2022 • 27

LIFESTYLE
by Jo Davis
committed to living fully and passionately in the
second half of her life, despite failures and false
starts.” (2006)
This time is and can be a time of rebirth and renewal
and giving back… indeed a Second Spring.
Enter the great pandemic. While it has been an
extraordinarily difficult time to live through, it has
given us pause to reflect on who and what is important
in our lives. Some folks have made significant changes
in relationships, careers, and where they live. It
has caused people to take stock of what they want
in the future. Women in their Second Spring and
living through the pandemic have a perfect storm of
circumstances to redefine themselves and what they
want. People have realized that life is short and if
there are things to change, they need to take action.
time. We work as a partner with clients to create brave
spaces to explore what is needed to move forward.
Coaches create trusting relationships, ask powerful
questions, listen deeply to what is being expressed
out loud or in the energy of the space. Many
times, coaching allows clients to question limiting
assumptions about themselves and lives. Together
new mindsets are examined and carved out. Existing
old belief systems are replaced with resonant ones
that support forward motion and weed out the loud
self-critic.
Another reason coaching is powerful is that the
coach holds clients accountable for their actions.
Clients take full ownership for what they want and
move forward with the coach walking alongside
them. Coaching really does shorten the time needed
for change and helps ensure a smooth transition.
Coaching can be a great choice for women at this
28 • HURONPERTHBOOMERS.COM

y Jo Davis
LIFESTYLE
Coaches ask powerful questions like:
• What and who are you becoming?
• What are you letting go of ?
• What are you holding on to?
• What is at stake for you right now?
• What do you want?
Is it time for you to cast off old limiting thoughts and
mindsets? Is it time for you to renew, refresh and move
long-held goals and dreams into action? Are you ready
to claim your Second Spring?
As the voice in my head said, “It’s time. If there
are things you want to do, then start.” There is
no rehearsal. This is your life. Your one wild and
precious life.
References
Nelson, J. (2019, December 17). Menopause: A
second spring. Power Health Chinook. https://
powerhealthchinook.ca/menopause-second-spring
Ni, Maoshing. (1995). The yellow emperor’s classic
of medicine: A new translation of the neijing suwen
with commentary (revised edition). Shambala.
Oliver, Mary. (2017). Devotions: The selected poems
of Mary Oliver. Penguin Random House.
Sheehy, Gail. (2006). Sex and the seasoned woman:
Pursuing the passionate life. Random House Inc.
Jo Davis, BA, ACC, CPCC, is the founder Jo Davis Coaching
and Facilitation. She is a resident of Kitchener but is grateful
to spend her summers overlooking the stunningly beautiful Lake
Huron at Sauble Beach. Learn more at www.jodaviscoaching.
com or by contacting her at jodaviscoaching@gmail.com or
519-502-2029.
Find your fit!
Peggy, Olivia,
Suzanne or Christina
We stock regular
and petite sizes
Monday - Friday 10 am - 5 pm
Saturday 10 am - 4 pm
Sunday Closed
Great gifts for You, Your
Friends and Your Home
143 Queen St. E, St. Marys
519-284-4436
www.ogradysclothing.com
101 QUEEN ST. E., ST. MARYS (519) 284-0550
SPRING 2022 • 29

FOOD & DRINK
Asparagus ravioli
with basil butter
INGREDIENTS
1 lb asparagus, trimmed
¼ cup butter
1 clove garlic
1 green onion, chopped
Salt and pepper
¼ cup fresh basil, finely chopped
¼ cup water
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
48 wonton wrappers (round or square)
¼ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Instructions
Cut asparagus stalks into 2-inch lengths; reserve tips for garnish.
In large skillet, heat 1 tbsp of butter over medium-high heat; add
asparagus stalks, garlic and green onion. Season with salt and pepper
to taste; stir to coat. Stir in half of the basil and 2 tbsp of water; cover
and cook until asparagus is tender. Purée; let cool. Cover and refrigerate
until cold.
Stir together flour and remaining 2 tbsp water to make smooth paste.
Working in batches, place wonton wrappers on work surface; spoon
one heaping teaspoon of asparagus filling in centre of each. Brush
flour paste around edges of wrapper; top with second wrapper. Press
together, pressing out air and sealing edges. Place on parchment lined
baking sheet and cover with damp tea towel.
In large pot of gently boiling salted water, cook ravioli, in batches, for
about three minutes or until they rise to top and are tender. Remove with
slotted spoon onto clean tea towel and transfer to heated serving plates. In
last batch of ravioli, cook asparagus tips until tender; drain well.
In small skillet, melt remaining butter; stir in remaining basil. Drizzle
butter mixture over ravioli. Garnish with asparagus tips and sprinkle
with Parmesan. Serve immediately.
*Recipe courtesy of Foodland Ontario
30 • HURONPERTHBOOMERS.COM

W.G.Young Funeral Home Ltd.
CELEBRATION, RECEPTION AND CREMATION CENTRE
Family owned and family operated since 1984.
Your wishes tended to in a warm friendly atmosphere.
• Traditional Services • Preplanning
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• Reception Facilities
430 Huron St, Stratford, ON N5A 5T7 • Tel: 519.271.7411
Email: info@wgyoungfuneralhome.com
www.wgyoungfuneralhome.com

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