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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advertisers are not necessarily those of the Publisher. Huron-Perth 

Boomers reserves the right to edit, reject or comment on all material 

and advertising contributed. No portion of Huron-Perth Boomers may 

be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher.

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. 



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. 



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 


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 


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 


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


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 



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. 

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SPRING 2022 • 19

HISTORY 

STANDING 

TALL 

HURON COUNTY’S FORESTS HAVE HAD A LONG AND 

TUMULTUOUS HISTORY BY KARSTEN STRYKER 


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. 


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 

an element of nuclear 

power generation. 

Pm 

Peace 

of Mind 

Bruce Power generates enough carbon-free 

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. 


Staycation in 

Kincardine this year to ... 

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LIFESTYLE 

SECOND 

SPRING 

NOW IS THE TIME FOR WOMEN IN THEIR 

50S AND 60S TO BE THEIR TRUE SELVES 

BY JO DAVIS 


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 


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 

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Monday - Friday 10 am - 5 pm 

Saturday 10 am - 4 pm 

Sunday Closed 

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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 


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