Huron-Perth Boomers - Spring 2023

A FREE magazine for adults 50+ 

SPRING 2023 – Volume 8, Issue 1 

TRAVEL 

Surf’s up 

in Hawaii 

So much to do in the 

50th U.S. state 

HISTORY 

No way out 

A history of fire 

at the Huron Gaol 

COMMUNITY 

Love after 60 

Sometimes it finds you, 

even if you’re not looking 

FREE!

T H E T U E R 

A D U L T L I F E S T Y L E L I V I N G 

Modern adult luxury lifestyle apartment rentals located at 125 Orr St, Stratford ON 

COMING SUMMER 2023 

AMENITIES 

UNIT 

- Fitness Centre 

- Underground Parking 

- Coffee Bar 

- Residents Lounge 

- Billiards 

- Storage Locker 

- Private Balcony 

- Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring 

- Quartz Countertops 

- Modern Kitchen Cabinetry 

- In-Suite Laundry 

- Wheelchair Accessible 

INTERESTED IN RENTING? 

Contact Karen | Hyde Construction Limited 

519-276-8837 

www.thetuer.com 

@thetuerapartments 

info@thetuer.com

FROM THE PUBLISHER 

We’ve officially made through the darkest days of the year, in what turned 

out to be a pretty grey and drab winter in Huron and Perth counties. 

Now, though, the sun is setting at 6 p.m. or later and it will continue to shine 

its light past 6 p.m. until the first of November, with each day of the spring 

getting longer until it gives way to summer and fall, and we again begin our 

preparations to hunker down. 

It’s glorious to have these extra hours of daily daylight to spend outside, 

whether it’s family activities, extra ‘me’ time with walks in the sun instead 

of under the cover of darkness, or more time to tackle the never-ending list 

of outside chores. 

This issue marks the beginning of Year 8 for Huron-Perth Boomers, an 

accomplishment of which our family is very proud. With each passing year 

I wonder if we will ever run out of topics that interest local older adults or 

educated and passionate local contributors to write for us. 

CONTENTS 

Surf’s up in Hawaii • 4 

Living with dementia • 10 

Fire at Huron Gaol • 16 

Finding love • 22 

Resilience • 27 

Recipe • 30 

I will forever be amazed at the knowledge, expertise and talent in our 

area, and there seems to be more topics than space to address them all 

in our pages. This issue we’re introduced to ‘By Us For Us’ guides, which 

help people navigate living with dementia, written by people living with 

dementia. We also take a trip to Hawaii, and look at how fire shaped the 

early days of the Huron Gaol in Goderich. We 

get an inside look at navigating new love after 

age 60, as well as the need to be resilient. 

Thanks, as always, to all our contributors, and 

I hope all our readers have a wonderful spring! 

Amy Irwin, Publisher 

Huron-Perth Boomers 

SPRING 2023 

Publisher 

Amy Irwin 

amy@huronperthboomers.com 

Magazine Design 

Becky Grebenjak 

Advertising inquiries 

Amy Irwin 


Huron-Perth Boomers welcomes 

your feedback. 

EMAIL 


PHONE 519-524-0101 

MAIL 

P.O. Box 287, Ripley, ON N0G 2R0 

Huron-Perth Boomers is distributed for free in Huron and Perth 

counties, and is published each March, June, September, and 

December. Distribution of this publication does not constitute 

endorsement of information, products or services by Huron-Perth 

Boomers, its writers or advertisers. Viewpoints of contributors and 

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.

TRAVEL 

Surf’s up 

in Hawaii 

STORY AND PHOTOS 

BY JILL ELLIS-WORTHINGTON 

4 • HURONPERTHBOOMERS.COM 

Buddha Point at Hilton 

Waikoloa Village.

y Jill Ellis-Worthington 

TRAVEL 

For many of us Boomers, travel to exotic locations 

has always been a dream. Now that our biggest 

obstacles – time and money – loom less large, 

achieving dream vacations is becoming more doable. 

Imagine lava fields instead of corn; jungles instead 

of piney woods; sparkling black sand instead of 

golden beaches; and surfboards bobbing on the 

waves instead of jet skiers whizzing around the lake. 

Pushing ahead on a life-list holiday that had been 

sidelined during the worst of the pandemic, my 

husband and I were ready to live the dream of a trip 

to America’s 50th state – Hawaii! 

Honolulu 

Waikiki Beach is the desired destination for most, but 

luxury hotels have luxury price tags (in an already 

very expensive locale), so we opted for a renovated 

older hotel – the Twin Fin – right across from one 

of the world’s most famous strips of sand. You 

can easily walk the beach; reach the iconic Moana 

Surfrider hotel, a former royal residence, to see its 

gallery detailing the history of Duke Kahanamoku, 

Olympic swimmer and legendary surfer; check out 

the oldest banyan tree on the island and shop the 

high-end shops of the Royal Hawaiian Center. 

The Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbour in Honolulu. 

Tiki’s Bar and Grill is adjacent to the pool, which 

overlooks the ocean, at the Twin Fin. It serves a 

mean smoked marlin melt sandwich and an excellent 

Mai Tai. If you’re looking for your sports fix and a 

casual bite, Cheeseburger in Paradise is just a couple 

of blocks down the street. As a couple of football 

addicts, we were able to quench our thirst and get a 

nice juicy burger, while getting an NFL fix. 

To make the most of our time in Honolulu, we put a 

couple of the don’t-miss things on our list – climbing 

Diamond Head and visiting Pearl Harbor. 

A somewhat strenuous two-hour hike (depending on 

your speed and number of breaks) takes you up an 

Ascending the trail to the top of Diamond Head. 

SPRING 2023 • 5

TRAVEL 

by Jill Ellis-Worthington 

often-rocky path to the island’s famous summit and 

the most amazing view of Honolulu and the ocean. 

This is a popular destination for tourists and requires 

you to make online reservations ahead of time. It’s 

only a $5 fee but the limited parking is extra. We took 

an Uber from the hotel and were dropped off at the 

gate. This allowed us to walk across the crater and 

get a panoramic view before our ascent. It opens at 

6 a.m. so being one of the first on the often-narrow 

trail is a good idea, as it gets much busier as the day 

wears on and gets hotter. 

Providing a properly somber atmosphere, it rained 

the day we visited Pearl Harbor. There’s no cost to 

experience the exhibits that detail events leading up 

to the attack, but the on-site museums do charge 

admission. It is also free to take the boat over to 

the Arizona Memorial. Reservations are strongly 

recommended as the walk-up line was long; there 

is a $1 reservation fee for a timed ticket. The boat 

is operated by the navy and manned by uniformed 

sailors. 

Travel writer Jill Ellis-Worthington and her husband 

Ralph Lembcke awaiting the luau, shown below, 

which celebrates the islands in music and dance. 

A part of American history less familiar to many 

will be the story of Hawaiian royalty, so a trip to 

Iolani Palace is a great way to learn a lot. Built by 

King Kalakaua (Kamehameha III), this beautifully 

restored American Florentine-style building houses 

period furniture and royal garb. Guided and audio 

tours are available. 

Ko Olina 

A resort area about 30 minutes from Honolulu, Ko 

Olina offers several lodging options. We chose the 

Marriott’s Beach Club, where you can book directly 

through the hotel or save some dough by renting 

one of the spacious condo suites through an owner. 

Suzanne Kelly, from Grand Bend, has been staying 

there as a Vacation Owner for 12 years. 

“I’ve visited most of the islands, and I love the crosssection 

of cultures because it’s in the middle of the


TRAVEL 

ocean,” Suzanne said, adding that the state’s colours, 

flora, fauna and topography keep pulling her back. 

Though the resort has two kid-oriented pool areas, 

the huge ‘reflection’ pool was a tranquil adults-only 

area. There are also many hot tubs with strong jets. 

The protected lagoon features an immaculately kept 

beach with plenty of lounge chairs for salt-water 

swimmers. 

Our 900 sq. ft., one-bedroom suite had a wellequipped 

kitchen that came in handy because Hawaii 

is expensive, and we like to cook our breakfast and/or 

grab a quick lunch or snack (I recommend stopping 

at a grocery store to stock up on food and libations.) 

Morning coffee on the balcony let us watch the 

sunrise over the mountains, and it was absolute bliss. 

There are a couple of restaurant options at the resort 

and a few more in the area. Longboards is the seaside 

bistro, and the nachos (ahi poke on wonton chips) 

were very tasty. Make sure to upgrade your Mai Tai 

with a Grand Marnier float for a real treat. The 

Nai’a pool bar is a great place to watch the game and 

enjoy a margarita, while the lovely-looking Longhi’s 

restaurant was a disappointment. A short walk away 

is Roy’s at the golf course across the road. It offers 

indoor and outdoor seating options overlooking the 

course and the food is excellent. The raw tuna on the 

appetizer Canoe for Two was fresh and tasty. Try a 

‘pinetini’ – a pineapple martini – delicious. 

A big highlight of this stop was the luau. Held on 

Tuesday evenings, this is a spectacular stage show 

demonstrating the music and dance of the cultures 

of the Pacific islands. The buffet food was good and 

drinks were generously poured. It was an expensive 

indulgence but worth every penny. 


TRAVEL 

by Jill Ellis-Worthington 

This type of resort is perfect for completely detaching 

and just being – reading, swimming, floating – but 

when you’re ready to move, walk the path that leads 

past the other resorts to its end. There’s a ‘secret’ 

cove where endangered Monk seals sometimes 

beach themselves to sleep in the sun. There are only 

about 1,500 of these beautiful creatures left, so staff 

from the adjacent Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute 

place cones to let you know to stay back. While we 

were watching a large male sun himself, we could see 

turtles swimming in the nearby waters. 

Walk in the opposite direction on the path and you’ll 

reach the marina, which houses Ocean Joy Cruises. 

They offer snorkeling trips that guarantee spinner 

dolphin and/or humpback whale sightings, along 

with snorkeling. Captain Doug and his crew are 

friendly and do their best to find these magnificent 

sea creatures, but if they aren’t successful, you are 

able to rebook for a second chance to see them. I did 

and was rewarded with a beautiful show of leaping 

spinner dolphins and a brief sighting of migrating 

humpbacks. 

Isaac Kepo Okalani Hale Beach 

Park, near Hilo, features a long 

stretch of black sand. 

In the foreground are 

tributes to Pele, the 

goddess of volcanoes, as 

steam rises from fresh 

lava from Mauna Lua. 

Waikoloa Village 

A short flight on Hawaiian Airlines took us to Hilo, 

on the Big Island, where we rented a car and drove 

over the volcanoes to our next destination, Hilton’s 

Waikoloa Village. The developer had visions of 

Disney because this spread-out resort has both a 

monorail and a ‘boat’ taking guests from one end to 

the other. 

Our studio suite was equipped with a kitchenette 

(fridge, microwave, coffee maker), so we could 

continue feeding ourselves for breakfast and lunch and 

indulging in dinner out most days. Disappointingly, 

the adult pool is surrounded by a building, so it only 

gets sun part of the day. The man-made beach on 

the lagoon and most pools are heavily populated 

by families, so not ideal for the reading/relaxing 

scenario we desired.


TRAVEL 

A breezeway extends from one end of the resort 

to the other and is populated by artifacts, art and 

craftworks from the area. We really enjoyed learning 

more about Hawaiian history. Walking the resort 

took us by the dolphin lagoon; we were entertained 

by watching them be fed in the evening on our way 

to the lava beach for sunset. Notable restaurants at 

this resort include Nui Italian, with its excellent pizza 

choices, and the Kamuela Provision Company. The 

latter offers beautiful sunset viewing and musical 

entertainment to enjoy with your dinner. 

We were fortunate enough to visit soon after Mauna 

Lua had erupted, so we took the once-in-a-lifetime 

opportunity to drive into the mountains to see the 

still-steaming lava. The arid terrain is a real contrast 

from driving the perimeter highway back to Hilo 

through the lush jungle areas along the coast. 

Hilo 

Our next destination was the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, 

a moderately-priced place to stay right on the bay 

and surrounded by majestic banyan trees. A walk 

around Lili’uokalani Gardens and over the bridge to 

Coconut Island provided a post-drive stretch. 

Rumoured to be the location where some waterfall 

scenes in Jurassic Park were filmed, Akaka Falls is a 

short drive from Hilo. An easy walk on the paved path 

takes you through lush jungles with amazing flora 

to one of the world’s tallest waterfalls. Admission is 

only $5 but go early because parking is very limited, 

and the lot fills up with tour buses. Make sure to stop 

for a taste of fresh coconut juice or pineapple at the 

farm stand outside the park gates. 

A trip to Hawaii wouldn’t be complete without 

visiting a black sand beach. Not far outside of Hilo 

is Isaac Kepo Okalani Hale Beach Park with its long 

stretch of magnificent black sand. 

In Hilo, two not-to-be-missed stops for foodies are the 

The crashing waves 

along the coastline are 

mesmerizing. 

Ola Brew House and the Hilo Bay Café (HBC). The 

former brews craft beers, hard seltzers and ciders, 

and serves to-die-for burgers and sample paddles of 

its products. Ola Gold is a tart pineapple cider that I 

loved. The latter was just a block from our hotel and 

enjoying a leisurely sunset dinner of incredibly fresh 

sushi and innovative cocktails was a great way to cap 

off a trip of a lifetime. 

A writer, public relations professional, traveller and football 

fan, Jill Ellis-Worthington celebrates life every day. You can 

follow her blog at www.writeoncommunicationservices.com. 


HEALTH AND WELLNESS 

By Us For Us 

ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND CARE FOR 

PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA BY TINA MAH 

10 • HURONPERTHBOOMERS.COM

y Tina Mah 

Today, there are more than 500,000 Canadians 

living with dementia, and that number is 

expected to triple by 2050 to more than 1.7 million 

people. (1) That’s an average of 685 people being 

diagnosed every day. 

As the number of people diagnosed with dementia 

continues to rise, so does the likelihood that you will 

know, or become a care partner for, a person living 

with dementia. In fact, for every person in Canada 

living with dementia, a family or friend will spend an 

average of 26 hours per week caring for them. (1) 

Enhancing the quality of care and life of older 

adults living with dementia and their care partners 

is a key goal for the Schlegel-UW Research Institute 

for Aging (RIA). It partners with others to conduct 

groundbreaking research to tackle the issues affecting 

older adults and use those findings to develop 

resources and education. 

While the main focus at the RIA is aging research 

that impacts all older adults, the key priority is 

dementia research and education. In collaboration 

with people with lived experience, the RIA conducts 

research and uses those findings to develop resources 

and training, as well as host events focused on helping 

people navigate a diagnosis, reducing stigma, and 

creating dementia-friendly communities. 

Dementia is not a specific disease but rather a general 


term that refers to the impaired ability to remember, 

think, or make decisions that interfere with daily 

activities. It is not a normal part of aging but does 

have the potential to be one of the biggest health 

challenges facing Canada’s aging population. This 

reinforces the critical need for innovative research, 

education, and resources to support people living 

with dementia, care partners, health care providers, 

and the community in general. 

Resources that can help 

Research shows that when a dementia diagnosis is 

made, most people feel overwhelmed and they don’t 

get the support, resources, and help they need. There 

are a number of resources available to help people 

navigate this journey, whether you are a person 

recently diagnosed with dementia, a care partner, 

health care provider, or a community member. 

‘By Us For Us’ guides 

The By Us For Us guides are unique because they 

were created by people living with dementia for 

people living with dementia and their care partners. 

The guides were founded by Brenda Hounam, who 

after her dementia diagnosis realized there was a 

gap in information available for people living with 

dementia. 

With support and encouragement from her family, 

HURON COUNTY 

MUSEUM 

Experience Huron County’s history 

and unique rural culture 

OPEN YEAR ROUND 

110 North St., Goderich 

www.HuronCountyMuseum.ca Main Street on Fair Day, Clinton, ON, 1933-35 



by Tina Mah 

she and others with lived experience formed a 

working group, and the guides were developed. 

The comprehensive guides – now 15 in total – help 

people navigate a diagnosis, create safer communities 

for people living with dementia, offer strategies and 

support to reduce social isolation and loneliness, and 

provide resources to improve communications and 

understanding of dementia, just to name a few. 

All guides are available for a free download at theria.ca/bufu, 

and the topics include: 

Memory Work Out – This guide provides examples 

of brain games and exercises that encourage regular 

‘workouts’ for the brain to support cognition while 

engaging in enjoyable activities. Some examples 

include crosswords, word searches, word jumbles, 

and Sudoku puzzles, video and computer games, 

playing a musical instrument, brain teasers, darts, 

and billiards. 

Managing Triggers – This guide is designed to 

help people living with dementia, care partners, and 

the community identify, understand, manage and 

respond to triggers. Tips for managing triggers may 

include practicing deep breathing exercises, removing 

yourself from the situation, taking a step back and 

taking a breath (count to 10!), avoiding rushing, and 

giving yourself plenty of time to get ready. 

Enhancing Communication – This guide 

provides helpful information and tools for both 

verbal and non-verbal communication. Both 

methods of communication are important, but 

non-verbal communication becomes an even more 

valuable tool when dealing with memory changes. 

Tips for enhancing communication may include 

joining a support group and talking to people who 

understand what you are going through, sharing 

your challenges and coping tips with others, and 

talking with others about how you want to be 

involved in the decision-making. 

Enhancing Wellness – How we live and 

our lifestyle choices play an important role in 

maintaining good health and preventing illnesses. 

When diagnosed with dementia, a healthy lifestyle 

also becomes important in maintaining functioning, 

coping with stress, and “living well” with the disease. 

Some tips that may help you maintain a healthy 

lifestyle including drinking water, eating foods rich 

in omega-3 fatty acids, exercising your brain daily, 

and getting proper rest. 

Tips and Strategies – This guide offers advice on 

creating a ‘new normal’ in daily life when living with 

dementia. It also includes workout ideas, tips for 

those in the workforce, and strategies for developing 

routines. Some tips may include starting a journal, 

learning a new instrument or language, using your 

non-dominant hand to do routine tasks, and reading 

a magazine, newspaper or book. 

Living and Celebrating Life through Leisure 

– Leisure experiences that are personally meaningful 

fulfill a need in all of us, yet leisure means different 

things to different people. Activities that leave us 

feeling good are so important in contributing to a 

quality of life that everyone strives for. This guide 

shares some thoughts on living and celebrating 

life through leisure, including having fun, finding 

balance, making a difference, and seeking freedom. 

Young Onset Dementia – To have this diagnosis 

means that you have been diagnosed before the age 

of 65. The general population often misunderstands 

young onset dementia because dementia is often 

considered a condition that affects older adults. 

People living with young onset dementia face 

different challenges than those who are older. This 

guide is designed to provide coping tips and strategies 

for those who have received, or are a care partner 

for, a person living with young onset dementia, such 

as navigating new emotions and brain changes, how 

to ask family for help and support, and strategies to 

maintain your independence. 


y Tina Mah 


Before/Early Diagnosis – This guide is part 

of the care partner series and offers help and 

reassurance for those who are concerned about 

changes that their family member or friend may be 

experiencing. If you are noticing changes that are 

out of the ordinary, or there is a history of dementia, 

some strategies to help include paying attention and 

taking note of any changes; visiting the Alzheimer 

Society of Canada’s website or your local Alzheimer 

Society; educating yourself about the different terms 

related to dementia; and talking to others who are 

experiencing a similar situation. 

Role, Health, and Well-Being – This guide 

is written for care partners and offers tips and 

strategies to understand, support, and maintain their 

own health and well-being, such as understanding 

your health and well-being and the journey ahead; 

educating yourself and others by becoming more 

knowledgeable about the illness; not taking changes 

personally; and knowing your “breaking point.” 

Living and Transforming with Loss and Grief 

– This guide explores the experiences of loss and 

grief that come with dementia for care partners as 

well as people living with dementia. It provides useful 

tips and strategies for acknowledging, experiencing 

and transforming these experiences, such as sharing 

your grief, staying connected, seeking support, and 

taking care of yourself. 

Food and Mealtime – This guide presents 

strategies for adapting to the many changes associated 

with food, mealtimes, and living with dementia. 

Whether it be shopping for groceries, preparing 

meals, or going to a restaurant, it is important to 

acknowledge and accept changes around food and 

mealtimes. Some tips include creating a meal plan 

Learn how we make clean energy and medical 

isotopes at the Bruce Power Visitors’ Centre. 

Wonder. 

Explore. 

Discover. 

www.brucepower.com/visit 

3394 BRUCE ROAD 20, NORTH OF TIVERTON, WEST OF HIGHWAY 21. T: (519) 361-7777 



by Tina Mah 

and basing your shopping list on it; going to the same 

store(s), which provides a sense of security and also 

the staff will get to know you over time; and choosing 

a shopping time that is less busy. 

Living Safely – This guide offers many safety tips 

and strategies related to driving, living at home, being 

out in the community, personal identification and 

more. Some tips include identifying and minimizing 

potential falling hazards in the home, such as loose rugs 

or mats, and obstacles and clutter; using appliances 

with an automatic shut-off function; installing grab 

bars inside the toilet and in showers; and seeking help 

with lawn maintenance and snow removal. 

Safety When Out and About – This guide offers 

tips and strategies for staying safe in the community, 

which include using technology and assistive devices, 

such as MedicAlert® Safely Home® bracelet; having 

ID and important information with you at all times; 

carrying memory aids, such as a memo book to jot 

down information or reminders; and sticking to a 

routine and maintaining consistency. 

Isolation and Enhancing Social Connections 

– The guide provides practical strategies to enhance 

social connections and a sense of belonging. Social 

isolation and loneliness can be especially challenging 

for people living with dementia and their care 

partners. Some tips to help people avoid isolation 

and maintain social connections including letting 

the person living with dementia or the care partner 

know about an upcoming event and giving them the 

choice to attend; positioning yourself in an area you 

feel most comfortable when at an event; and writing 

down your feelings and emotions in a journal. 

Support Matters – This guide examines factors 

that are important in the lives of young care partners 

(children, youth, young adults) who may experience 

a shift in their family roles as a result of a family 

member’s expectational needs. This guide includes 

suggestions for ways to manage and cope with 

responsibilities, which may include talking to family 

members and friends about what you’re going 

through; being selective about who you spend your 

time with; connecting with people who understand 

what you’re dealing with; and using technology to 

keep the people involved with your family connected 

and updated. 

John Hammel, a person living with dementia who 

was part of the working group that developed the 

Isolation and Enhancing Social Connections guide, 

found the experience was a good way to give back. 

“I felt it was important to help with the social isolation 

guide as I was able to connect with others going down 

the dementia road and help others who have not yet 

started the journey,” John said. “It was also a way to 

help with the stigma associated with dementia. I find 

this is important to get this message out.” 

Download the ‘By Us For Us’ guides for free at theria.ca/bufu. 

Forward with Dementia 

‘Forward with Dementia’ is a website geared to 

helping people navigate a dementia diagnosis. It also 

improves the experience and care for people living 

with dementia and their care partners. 

“The core message of hope is that people can live 

meaningful lives after a diagnosis of dementia,” 

said Carrie McAiney, Schlegel Research Chair in 

Dementia at the RIA and Professor in the School of 

Public Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo. 

You can visit forwardwithdementia.ca to find a 

checklist of questions to ask health care providers, a 

guide for sharing a diagnosis with family and friends, 

ways to stay physically, mentally and socially active, 

and more. These resources were developed with help 

from people living with dementia, care partners, and 

health- and social-care professionals. 


y Tina Mah 


“Forward with Dementia brings many in-depth 

resources on dementia-related topics that we 

currently don’t see a lot of,” McAiney said. “We aim 

to help people from the day they get a diagnosis, 

through managing symptoms, supporting well-being, 

and everything in-between.” 

The site also includes stories written by persons 

living with dementia and care partners, sharing their 

experiences of adjusting to the diagnosis and learning 

to live well with dementia. The stories, combined 

with evidence-based research, help people living 

with dementia choose their own path forward after a 

diagnosis. One story, shared by Myrna Norman, an 

advocate for those living with dementia, shares her 

experiences navigating the diagnosis and the moment 

she realized her life wasn’t over. Somewhere along 

the line she got permission to be happy, and she sees 

that as a pivotal moment in her life after diagnosis. 

“Things can be better,” Myrna said. “We can actually 

take steps to make them better. We know that there 

are certain tools that we can use, from going for a 

walk in nature to listening to music, that can actually 

improve our life.” 

Source : https://alzheimer.ca/en/research/reports-dementia/ 

landmark-study-report-1-path-forward 

Tina Mah is the Executive Director at the Schlegel-UW 

Research Institute for Aging (RIA). For more information 

about how the RIA is helping to enhance the quality of life 

and care for older adults, visit https://bit.ly/riasubscribe. 

COME HOME 

TO HARBOUR HILL 

It’s the best of both worlds 

Come home to the comfort and convenience of living 

a stress-free lifestyle where the burden of home 

maintenance and property taxes are a distant past. 

Experience the luxury of time. Our lease-only 

approach ensures you have the freedom to live life 

on your terms, with or without health care. 

Start planning your new lease on life today. 

INDEPENDENT LIVIN G 

Contact: Mark Bennett 519-440-1586 

mbennett@harbourhillsuites.com 

104 Suncoast Drive, Goderich 

CAREFREE LIVIN G 


HISTORY 

NO 

way 

out 

A HISTORY OF FIRE AT THE HURON GAOL 

BY SINEAD COX 

No possible escape sounds positive when it comes to jailbreaks, but 

less so in the case of emergency. 

Fire – and what was considered fire safety at its time – has a long history 

at the Huron Historic Gaol. Considering the number of times the 

building has caught fire over its 180-year history, it’s no small miracle 

that today it is one of the most recognizable, historically significant and 

architecturally unique buildings in Huron County, standing as a venue 

for visitors to learn the stories of the prisoners and staff who walked its 

halls. 

Although the outer walls may give the impression that it is solid stone, 

the construction of the gaol’s interior is, in fact, mostly timber. The 

unique octagonal layout of rooms and yards around a central spiral 

staircase are designed to keep prisoners in, with perhaps less architectural 

forethought given to allowing people to quickly get out should the upper 


y Sinead Cox 

HISTORY 

“A terrific electric storm was in progress and firemen 

had difficulty at first in plying streams of water on 

the tower, owing to its height,” the paper stated. 

“Some of the firemen climbed on to the slate roof, 

slippery with rain, and fought the flames from 

perilous positions.” 

A warning sign in the gaol. 

floors become engulfed in flames. 

In 1851, when the building was only a decade old 

and served the United Counties of Huron, Perth 

and Bruce, an errant chimney spark caused the first 

known fire of significance. Fortunately, the only 

harm sustained in that instance was damage to 

the building’s roof. Afterwards, the Gaol Inspector 

recommended covering the roof with metal, and 

that the county purchase a new ladder tall enough 

to enable water to be carried high enough to fight 

a fire (staff, presumably, having discovered the 

inadequacies of the previous ladder during the 

emergency). No ladder would have been very useful 

as a means of rescue for prisoners, however, as all of 

the windows on the gaol’s upper floors were barred 

to prevent escape. 

The newspaper claimed that, despite the late hour 

and extreme weather, a crowd of people gathered 

outside the gaol’s walls to watch their efforts. While 

firefighters risked their lives to stop the fire from 

spreading to the lower floors, a constable escorted 

the seven prisoners who were committed to the 

Huron Gaol at the time to an outside courtyard, still 

confined within the 18-foot walls. Thankfully, the fire 

was contained within the cupola and extinguished, 

but the flames and the water employed to douse 

them had caused more than $1,000 in damages 

(equal to about $16,500 today). The county enlisted 

prisoner labour to help with the subsequent clean-up 

and repairs. 

The cupola caught fire again in 1944, this time from 

burning leaves, either carried from the ground by a 

strong wind or ignited in the eaves by a spark. Although 

this fire burned only briefly, it caused destruction and 

water damage similar or worse than the 1929 blaze – 

costs duly submitted to the county’s insurer. 

Officials and staff recognized the inadequacies 

of the gaol’s design very early in its operation – 

In the 1860s, the County of Huron replaced the 

tin-covered roof with slate, which was swapped 

for asphalt shingles about a century later. When 

reverting to slate in 2021, roofers discovered that 

lumber inside the cupola still bore blackened scorch 

marks from historic fires. The cupola, or central 

tower, has been struck by lightning at least twice – in 

1892 and 1929. Torrential rain prevented fire in the 

first case, but the second strike “set the tower ablaze” 

just after 1 a.m., according to The Clinton News Record. 


HISTORY 

by Sinead Cox 

Fire crew at former Goderich Fire Station 

located on East Street, 1925. A950.1976.001 

the lack of fire exits was one of the reasons that 

District Council and the courts complained about 

meeting there before the construction of a separate 

courthouse in 1856. Despite the general awareness 

of the threat, safety measures provided by the county 

did not always meet the needs of staff or emergency 

responders. 

After the 1892 lightning strike, Gaoler William 

Dickson found that the gaol’s firehose was faulty, and 

burst in multiple places when tested with pressure. 

As early as 1882, after yet another recent narrow 

escape from flames, local newspaper editorials from 

the Goderich Star and Clinton New Era condemned the 

gaol as an outdated fire trap. The Era argued for 

replacing the gaol and courthouse with new, modern 

municipal buildings in a more central location. 

The Gaol and Court House Committee instead 

recommended, “That a Babcock Fire Extinguisher 

for the gaol be furnished, also that a suitable 

water tank be built in the gaol yard, owing to the 

inflammable and unsafe condition of the gaol stairs, 

there is no possible escape for the inmates in case of 

fire.” 

In the 1890s, Huron County 

council acknowledged the 

aging heating stoves in each 

cell block’s dayroom as another 

serious danger, and subsequently 

replaced them. Prior to electric 

lights, staff also had to contend 

with mandatory corridor lamps, 

burning day and night at the risk 

of overheating. Gaoler Dickson 

lamented to county council in 

1896 that, “Twice [a lamp has 

exploded] during the almost 

32 years I have been in your 

employ. The last time it was 

towards morning and fortunately 

my subordinate was awake and 

succeeded in extinguishing the 

fire at the cost of the bedding of 

two beds.” 

Dickson credited the turnkey’s quick action in 

preventing what was nearly a terrible tragedy. 

“At the time of the explosion there were 18 prisoners 

under lock and key, besides five members of my own 

family, who were sleeping on the second floor. Had 

the flames caught the stair, all on the upper floors 

would have been entirely cut off from escape,” 

Dickson said. “In view of this danger to life and 

property, I would respectfully ask that you place one 

incandescent in said hallway.” 

The gaoler’s lobbying resulted in the installation of 

incandescent lights at the gaol, but the issue of the 

single exit remained unaddressed. It’s easy to imagine 

that if the fire had spread beyond the smothering 

power of gaol blankets, that a quick decision may 

have prioritized the evacuation of staff and family 

before the overcrowded inmates who were sleeping 

behind multiple locked doors. 

The close-call fires at the gaol over the decades 


Welcome 

Home! 

Buy or Sell 

your home! 

With over two decades each in the real estate profession, Cathie and Sue are keenly 

aware of the specific needs of consumers 50 plus who seek to downsize, move to a 

retirement community, or sell their home to move into long term care. 

We employ a full-service approach as the hallmark of our business, including a Concierge option to help prepare 

your home for sale. First hand experience in managing sales under Powers of Attorney and Estates as well. 

Sue Fowler, Broker 

519.272.6961 

sue@suefowler.ca 

Cathie Szmon, Broker of Record 

519.272.6019 

cathieszmon@gmail.com 

163 Queen St. E., St. Marys, ON 519.284.4646 peakselectrealty@gmail.com 

Celebrate 

your home! 

16 Water St. South, St. Marys 

519.284.3288 

Craft Wine Making & Gifts 

Ferment on premise licensed Craft Winemaker. Offering 

an exceptional experience to introduce customers to 

high quality wines from all over the world. 

Saving from commercial wines without sacrificing 

any quality or flavour or enjoyment! The Wine Lab 

also has a selection of unique gifts and 

entertaining staples. Friendly environment 

located in the historic Opera House 

in St. Marys. 

DECORATE YOUR HOME! 

101 QUEEN ST. E., ST. MARYS (519) 284-0550

HISTORY 

by Sinead Cox 

were all seemingly accidental, with the exception 

of one incident during the holiday season in 1943. 

The gaol’s annual Christmas celebrations included 

a special meal for the prisoners, with treats donated 

by the community and even a decorated tree. On 

Dec. 27, the dry boughs of the tree caught fire in one 

of the cell blocks, spreading to the woodwork and 

choking the ward with thick smoke. The Goderich 

Fire Department responded to the gaol staff’s call for 

help, and successfully extinguished the flames in a 

manner of minutes. 

A follow-up investigation found that the cell block’s 

three resident inmates had intentionally started the 

fire to create a distraction for escape. Convicted 

forger Floyd McCullough admitted to helping his 

teenaged cellmates, Angus Trudeau and Lorne 

Derevere, in devising how to ignite the Christmas 

tree remnants. The two younger men, committed 

for robbing Bayfield-area cottages, ultimately pled 

guilty to the arson. No opportunity for jailbreak had 

ever actually materialized as planned; the trio were 

simply evacuated to another part of the gaol to avoid 

the smoke inhalation that may have endangered 

their lives if not for a turnkey’s quick arrival on the 

scene. All three faced additional time behind bars for 

the conspiracy. 

The aging building’s vulnerability to fire remained a 

concern throughout the 20 th Century, resulting in a 

fire-proof coating applied to the cells in 1939, various 

furnace installations and upgrades, and an alarm 

system installed by the 1950s. Jurisdiction over county 

correctional facilities transferred to the province in 

1964, and, in 1972, the Ontario Department of 

Correctional Services decided to close the Huron Gaol. 

From 1974, the gaol opened its doors as an historic 

site and museum, originally managed by the Historic 

Jail Board, while the County of Huron retained 

responsibility for fire insurance. The County resumed 

direct control of the building in the 1990s. 

The Huron Historic Gaol passed its 175 th birthday 

before finally gaining a fire escape and new fire 

exits on the second and third floors, after major 

upgrades in 2018. The work was undertaken with 

care to protect the site’s historical appearance and 

architecture. As an historic site, fire safety could be 

addressed to meet contemporary standards without 

concerns about compromising security. 

Today, the spectre of potential disaster by fire need 

not haunt staff and visitors to the degree it once did 

for generations of prisoners and gaol employees. The 

gaol’s countless near misses with destruction are a 

reminder of the importance of adequate preparations 

and equipment to combat fire, as well as the need for 

strict safety regulations for public buildings. 

It is only a mixture of ad hoc precautions, the quick 

actions of the gaol’s small staff, the intervention of local 

firefighters and also simple luck, that has successfully 

preserved this one-of-a-kind building and the lives of 

those who lived and worked within its walls over three 

separate centuries. 

Sinead Cox is the Curator of Engagement and Dialogue at the 

Huron County Museum and Historic Gaol. Learn more about 

the Gaol at www.huroncountymuseum.ca/huron-historic-gaol. 

Reach out today for your free estimate! 

info@lavenderandlemon.ca or 519.590.3228 

We now offer 

a full window 

cleaning service! 


OPINION 

Life Recalibration 

My friends and my sister said I needed a man. 

They said I must be lonely, and that I should 

try to find someone. 

I’m pretty sure they felt sorry for me, even though 

I didn’t feel sorry for me – I was happy on my own. 

I had an active travel life, was working from home 

part time for my “fun money,” and was living 

comfortably on my pension in London, Ont. 

I had total independence in all my decisions. Any 

idea I had, any destination, any weird thing I wanted 

to eat for dinner – all of it was my choice and mine 

alone. There is undeniably absolute freedom in 

single-hood, and I didn’t need a man to ‘complete 

me.’ 

But still… sometimes, if I paid attention, the 

loneliness started to creep in. It happened the 

most when I travelled. Watching couples holding 

hands over candle-lit dinners in romantic European 

restaurants highlighted my alone state, while I had 

meals delivered to my bedside table for one in my 

hotel room, please. 

NAVIGATING A NEW LOVE AFTER 60 

BY LAURALEE GILIBERTI 

Lauralee Giliberti found love later 

in life, despite uncertainty. 

Seeing those happy couples, I remembered the joy 

of having someone to hang out and connect with – 

someone who knows my story and gets me. A part 

of me wanted what love songs and every Christmas 

movie ever made talked about – to be in Love with 

a capital ‘L.’ Even now, years later, admitting I was 

lonely cuts to the quick because I was very adept 

at sailing my boat up the river of denial. One day, 

mustering up all my courage, I decided to dip my toes 


y Lauralee Giliberti 

OPINION 

into the sea of men, where there were, apparently, 

plenty of fish. So where does a 57-year-old, average 

looking woman go to meet a man when she doesn’t 

play golf ? 

She starts online dating, of course! And, suffice it to 

say, oh my God. 

The end of the end 

I don’t care what anyone says, online dating is 

brutal. The endless coffee dates and the boredom of 

the interview-style questions when all you want to do 

is exit stage left. The meet-and-greet awkwardness, 

when, after an hour of mind-numbing chit chat, you 

are left deflated, defeated, and blaming the size of 

your thighs for the fact that you are, after all, alone. 

Still. 

The frustration when you meet the person who 

technically is your match and it’s “zing, zing, zing” 

when talking online, but in real life it’s blah – sadly 

not a zing to be had. For me, it was Brutal with a 

capital ‘B.’ 

Then, one auspicious day, I met “Universe Guy.” 

I labeled him such because, I joked to my friends, 

the universe felt sorry for me, and threw me a bone. 

Universe Guy was perfect. He sailed and I sail! He 

loved adventure and I love adventure! He wanted to 

travel and live on a sailboat and I wanted to travel 

and live on a sailboat! He was kind, funny, attentive 

and interesting. 

Starry eyed, we set up a meeting, and what did we 

feel after that? Nada. Bupkus. Zilch. No chemistry at 

all! Maturely, we talked about it and concluded we 

could be friends, but not romantic partners. 

Sigh. 

Now, I was mad. Enough already! I was Done with a 

capital ‘D.’ If Universe Guy wasn’t my guy when he 

was so perfect on paper then I give up. I was happy 

before all of this, remember? Being part of a couple 

just wasn’t meant to be, and I was fine with it. 

But still… “Give it one more weekend,” my friend 

said. “You have invested years into this, off and on, 

so what’s one more weekend?” my sister added. 

I checked my membership account – it expired in 

two days. Fine, one more weekend, I promised. 

Begrudgingly, I changed my strategy and my criteria 

for messaging matches. They are alive? Check. They 

have a photo? Check. They put a few words down on 

their profile sheet? Literacy is cool! Check. 

I email blitzed scores of men that weekend. One 

guy responded and, wouldn’t you know, he made the 

pain of online dating all worthwhile. 


OPINION 

by Lauralee Giliberti 

A new beginning 

There is a story about online dating at the age of 60, 

but that is not this story. There is also a story about 

facing one’s demons as you approach “old age,” and 

the role of media and society when it comes to the 

“value” of aging women, but that’s not this story 

either. This story is about meeting a person and 

building a life with them, when there are fewer years 

left ahead of us than behind us. 

The man I met after the email blitz seemed to 

be everything I wanted. Smart, successful, good 

looking, capable and the cherry on the cake – he 

could fix stuff! I would be lying to say that wasn’t a 

big attraction – stereotypes be damned! Plus, as if 

that wasn’t enough, he had a really cool job. 

But… and isn’t there always a ‘but’... he was going 

through a challenging divorce. I was patient because 

I wasn’t sure I even wanted a real relationship, which 

meant compromise, adjustment, and a negotiation 

over everything from what colour of bathroom 

towels to buy to where to live in the world. 

I liked my independence and he was just getting 

a taste of his. So we agreed to just be friends. On 

the third “date” over a vegetable curry at a lovely 

little pub in Bayfield, we started talking about how 

we wanted our old age to look. We compared notes 

on desires, dreams and bucket lists. He mentioned 

he wanted to take a sailing course and maybe own 

a sailboat. I shared that in another lifetime, I had 

a sailboat and had also always wanted to take a 

sailing course. I agreed to look into a course and, 

at that moment, we went from friends to… what… 

boyfriend/girlfriend? 

What do you call it when two 60-somethings meet 

and start the dance of partnership? 

End of the new beginning 

To say it was an adjustment for us is like saying -28 C 

is kinda chilly. It was an adjustment for me because 

I had been alone for over 20 years and now I had to 

factor this man into my day, my life and the rhythm 

of that. 

It was a challenge for him because he was coming out 

of a 27-year relationship, and to this day we are still 

navigating that. After all, we all have our bags and 

luggage that we bring to the table. We all have lived 

a life, and that life is the story that’s in the luggage, 

designer or not. 

From our vegetable curry day, we painstakingly built 

and grew our new alliance. I bought a sailboat and 

we spent hours learning to sail both the boat and our 

relationship. Together and apart, push and pull. Ebb 

and flow. 

Despite the fact that we didn’t set out to get married, 


y Lauralee Giliberti 

OPINION 

it became obvious over time, as we adjusted to life 

together, that for me, marriage was the only way 

forward. My Christian beliefs prevented us from 

moving in together and I value the legal document 

of marriage while recognizing that it is rooted in 

historical convention. Now, marriage for us is, and 

will be, a balancing act between maintaining our 

independence while navigating a life together, as one. 

As Kahlil Gabran says, “Sing and dance together 

and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, even 

as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver 

with the same music.” (Kahlil Gibran, On marriage, 

1883-1931) 

The beginning of the middle 

In fairy tales and modern day rom-coms, the 

story always ends right before, or at, the wedding. 

Obviously, everyone lives happily ever after. There 

would be a case for arguing that marriage or 

partnership in later years, is somewhat easier to 

navigate than one established in the early years. At 

60, what you see is what you get! The kids are grown 

and gone and retirement is eminent. Those big life 

choices are behind us. We are definitely set to enjoy 

the next chapter, staring out over the Golden Pond. 

All my beloved husband and I have to do now is 

set our compass for happily ever after and it’s easy 

sailing from here. 

The upside of marrying later in life is that we now 

know what we want in a partner, what we want from 

life, and what is important to us. We also are pretty 

established as people and have a clearer sense of our 

own personal identity. I know, for instance, I much 

rather be in nature than in the city, I like to make big 

changes every five years or so, I really like old stuff, 

TURN UP 

LIFE 

Better hearing starts now. 

Visit a HearCANADA centre and explore a new generation of 

high-tech hearing devices. Take them for a week-long test 

drive with no deposit, no fees, and no obligation to buy. 

Book your free hearing test today.* 

1-855-283-4848 

Locations across Canada to serve you including 

Grand Bend, Goderich, and Mount Forest. 

HearCANADA.com 

Sound of the New Age 

*Free hearing test valid for those over 50. Not applicable on third party claims. 


OPINION 

by Lauralee Giliberti 

and I’m most grounded with a balance of alone and 

together time. I’m not sure I knew any of that at 22! 

On the flip side of that, “till death do you part” is a 

much shorter journey than in your 20s and that’s a 

bit sobering. When you get married in your 60s, old 

age is staring you in the face. It brings a whole new 

meaning to the “in sickness and in health” part! 

There is a story in the stark reality of being there for 

someone in sickness and health, but that’s not this 

story either. 

The middle of the middle 

Armed with the clearer sense of our own personal 

identity and knowing what we want and how we 

want to live, my husband and I are excited about the 

next 25 or 30 years (God willing, inshallah, sickness/ 

death notwithstanding). We discuss so many options 

about our potential lifestyle our minds are constantly 

whirring, and friends and family roll their eyes at our 

“plan du jour” (we really do need to stop sharing). 

We understand their skepticism in their belief. 

Considering our options, I have discovered that 

many Canadians are leaving the country to become 

expats in cheaper countries with better climates. 

A simple Google search opens a whole realm of 

possible countries within which to settle – Panama, 

Portugal, Spain and Central America are the current 

hotspots where one can live for a fraction of the 

cost. Canadians are migrating to these places where 

home ownership is possible at a much reduced price, 

the medical system is more accessible, and the dollar 

at the grocery store goes a very long way. 

There is a window of opportunity here – should we 

grab it before it’s gone? Maybe, but still, being around 

for our kids and families is important to us. Summer 

and fall in Canada are beautiful, and we don’t want 

to miss those seasons. We don’t think the true expat 

life will work for us, but maybe some time here, and 

some time there will work, with the “there” still to be 

determined. Also to consider is how the “here” will 

look. Will it be a practical ‘lock up and go’ condo? 

The sailboat? AirBnb? A cottage or apartment? 

In addition, there are our bucket list items that need 

to be ticked off: the Camino Trail for me and perhaps 

my sister, volunteering in India, visiting Polynesia, 

more train journeys, spending more time in the 

UK, where my soul is happy. We are OK with not 

knowing and we remain open to possibility. There’s a 

freedom in that. For now, there are responsibilities to 

manage and aging mothers to be around for. There 

are commitments to fulfill that are equal parts desire 

and duty. 

We have realized that chunking life down into 

segments seems easier, so now we try to balance 

living in the new, while browsing ideas for the next 

five-year adventure.” 

Beginning, middle and not yet end 

Admitting I was lonely was a tough call, and despite 

the frustration and humiliation of online dating, it 

was worth it in the end. Just barely. 

Likewise, the challenge of merging two lives, both 

together and apart, and the ambivalence of the 

unknown, is also worth it, and I have faith that “all 

things work together for good.” So, as Dory advised 

Nemo, we “just keep swimming.” This is an exciting 

and scary time, and I have learned that all the 

important moments in life are scary. 

So, we choose to clasp our hands and walk this 

wandering road together, my husband and I, and as 

Robert Frost said, “That makes all the difference.” 

Where will your road, take you? 

LauraLee Giliberti is not a rock star, and can be reached for 

comment at lauraleegiliberti@gmail.com. 



Resilience 

IT’S OUR SUPERPOWER BY KATHIE DONOVAN 



The widely accepted definition of resilience 

explains our ability as human beings to adapt 

well when times are tough. 

In my view, resilience is not only about our astonishing 

capacity to endure difficult experiences, but also 

about our ability to adjust and cope with situations in 

a way that empowers us to emerge stronger, to thrive 

in the aftermath and to integrate the lessons learned. 

We do all of this without thinking much about it; it’s 

more proof that we are far more powerful than we 

give ourselves credit for. 

Those of us who work in the adult lifestyle living 

industry see resilience in action every day as folks 

adapt to living in a new community. Over the past 

couple of weeks, I’ve been struck by the many life 

stories that members wanted to share. Resilience 

is at the forefront of many of them, including the 

gentleman who was living alone in a five-bedroom 

home, doing his best to maintain it before he chose to 

give up all that space so he could enjoy some space in 

his life. Not long after moving into his adult lifestyle 

community, he broke his arm and has found great 

support from his new community to do everyday 

tasks. 

Too often we think we can’t do something or we’re 

too frightened to take a risk to see whether it will work 

out. It’s interesting to observe the air of confidence 

of our community members. One woman shared 

by Kathie Donovan 

with us that her blood pressure and anxiety were 

both high while she did her best to take care of the 

family home after her husband passed away. After 

three months in her new adult lifestyle community, 

her mood had completely changed – her blood 

pressure went down and she’s enjoying life. 

There’s the couple who had been experimenting 

with different ways to right-size their lifestyle, after 

giving up their family home. They moved around 

in a motorhome, so they could see the country 

and spend the winter away from the snow. They 

eventually decided to take the plunge and see if adult 

lifestyle community was a fit for their active lifestyle, 

and now they’re leaders in the community, spreading 

positivity and forging great relationships. 

There’s the farmer who lost his wife and wasn’t used 

to going to events on his own, but eight years ago, 

this music lover decided to go to a concert alone. He 

was standing in line waiting to go in when he met 

a lovely woman behind him. She had also lost her 

spouse and, while neither of them had purchased a 

ticket in advance, the music was magic that night and 

brought them together in marriage and eventually. 

One of the most amazing stories I’ve heard from 

adult lifestyle community members is from a woman 

who started by saying that she is the most blessed 

person. She went on to say that, on her birthday at 

the beginning of the pandemic, she wasn’t feeling 


y Kathie Donovan 


well. After loving nudges from her family, she asked 

her partner to take her to the hospital. She had a 

heart attack in the car and died. 

Fortunately, she was revived in just a few minutes by 

the hospital’s medical team. This happened twice 

more on the same day, for a few minutes each time. 

She lights up when she shares her story and now she 

shares her joy of living in the moment with everyone 

she encounters. She sure shines bright. 

We meet people who have moved from other cities 

because they recognize the power of having positive 

social connections. Initially, it’s scary because it’s 

both a geographical move and a shift in lifestyle. 

Once settled into their new community, they tell us 

it was the best move they could have made. New 

friendships are forged and there’s the all-important 

feeling of being part of something that feels familiar 

yet fresh and invigorating. 

Resilience is not something we’re born with, it’s an 

adaptive process that can be learned. If you want to 

nourish more resilience in your life, here are some 

ideas to inspire you. 

• Recognize that life’s challenges and setbacks are 

temporary and are setups for the next chapter. 

• Choose to be optimistic and look for the silver 

lining in every situation. 

• Recognize that some things in life are out of 

your control, and act on things you can manage. 

• Participate in new activities. 

• Ask yourself what is most important right now 

and act on those items. 

• Make stress management practices like exercise 

and breathing techniques part of your daily 

routine. 

• Control your thoughts; don’t let them run wild with 

worry. 

• Make it a habit to help other people. 

• Accept help from other people. 

One of the greatest gifts I’ve received was from 

a woman who said she wasn’t expecting what 

she experienced in her adult lifestyle community 

and was happy to share with me that she learned 

something about herself. I asked her what it was, and 

she replied, “I learned that I’m important.” 

We are all important and we matter at any age or 

stage of life. The beautiful thing about getting older 

is that we have plenty of experience and hopefully 

lots of wisdom to help us see that connection and 

community are important pillars. 

Kathie Donovan is a life coach, happiness expert, author 

and ambassador for the Wellings 55 plus Communities and 

Harbour Hill Retirement Community, in Goderich. For more 

on lifestyle tips and ways to thrive while living in community, 

visit Mywellings.com and Kathiedonovan.com. 

Have you had 

your Italian today? 

Join us for daily deals and 

features. Visit online for details 

or stop in anytime. 

107 Ontario Street 

Stratford • 519.271.3333 

fellinisstratford.com 

fellinisstratford 

@FellinisResto 

classic ~ Italian ~ cucina 


FOOD & DRINK 

Asparagus ravioli 

with basil butter 

INGREDIENTS 

1 lb asparagus, trimmed 

¼ cup butter 

1 garlic clove 

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 for 3 to 5 minutes or 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 the edges of the wrapper; top with a second wrapper. 

Press together, pushing out air and sealing edges. Place on parchment 

lined baking sheet and cover with damp tea towel. 

In a large pot of gently boiling salted water, cook ravioli, in batches, 

for about 3 minutes or until they rise to top and are tender. Remove 

with a slotted spoon onto a clean tea towel and transfer to heated 

serving plates. In the last batch of ravioli, cook asparagus tips for 

2 minutes or until tender; drain well. 

In a small skillet, melt remaining butter; and stir in remaining basil. 

Drizzle butter mixture over ravioli. Garnish with asparagus tips and 

sprinkle with Parmesan. Serve immediately. 

*Recipe courtesy of Foodland Ontario 


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 

Basic Cremation - $1895 plus HST 

• After Care Program 

• Everlasting Tribute® Tree Planting 

• Reception Facilities 

430 Huron St, Stratford, ON N5A 5T7 • Tel: 519.271.7411 

Email: info@wgyoungfuneralhome.com 

www.wgyoungfuneralhome.com

Welcome Home To 

RETIREMENT RESIDENCE 

We take pride in the reputation that we have built. 

Proudly Serving the Goderich Community for over 30 years. 

No matter what your care requirements, we are ready and available to assist. 

Independent Living 

From spacious, thoughtfully designed bachelor 1 & 2 bedroom suites, many with 

kitchens, kitchenettes & balconies to a wide assortment of service packages, 

you will be delighted to call Goderich Place home. 

Well planned amenity spaces include hair salon/spa, 1st rate dining room, 

games room, library, fitness centre, tv lounge, 

nursing care, and 24 hr. snack bar. 

Rehab, Respite & Convalescent Care 

Goderich Place offers the most comprehensive 

short term rehab services in Huron County. 

The focus is on you, your outcomes, your goals, 

returning you home stronger than before. 

Care service packages, can be tailored to suit your needs. 

Call Susan Olson in order to arrange a tour 

519-524-4243 ext 224 

ASK ABOUT OUR MEMORY CARE AREA 

30 BALVINA DRIVE E. GODERICH, ON • www.goderichplace.ca

Huron-Perth Boomers - Spring 2023

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?