- Huron County News
- Posts
- Huron County Newsletter #57
Huron County Newsletter
Week of February 2nd to 8th, 2025
Good day,
No housekeeping this week. Enjoy the news, trivia, and if you’re a sports fan, the big game! 🏈
Thank you for your continued support, and have a great week!
 |  |
Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance Recognized For Outstanding Support Of Organ and Tissue Donation
by Bob Montgomery
The Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) celebrated its recognition by Ontario Health’s Trillium Gift of Life Network for outstanding support in organ and tissue donation last week.
This honour emphasizes the Alliance’s commitment to saving and enhancing lives through the gift of donation, a vital aspect of healthcare in Ontario. In the 2023/2024 period, the HPHA supported three organ donors, resulting in the donation of 10 organs for transplant, saving seven lives. Additionally, 15 tissue donors from the Alliance have helped to enhance the lives of numerous individuals.
The HPHA has been awarded the…
Photo courtesy of Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance
Coordination To Monitor Great Lakes Microplastics Proposed By International Joint Commission Science Advisory Board
by Bob Montgomery
Microplastics are present in all five of the Great Lakes, but there is no coordinated, basin wide effort to monitor and report on the status of plastic pollution.
In a new report, the International Joint Commission ’s Great Lakes Science Advisory Board proposes regional coordination to systematically measure Great Lakes microplastics. They're hosting a one-hour public webinar on the report’s findings on Wednesday, February 12th.
International Joint Commission Public Affairs Specialist Allison Voglesong Zejnati says the experts who prepared the report will be on hand to answer questions about the report, some of the best practices for sampling microplastics and what we know about microplastics in the Great Lakes. They will also…
Bank ATM Scams In Huron County
Huron County Ontario Provincial Police is investigating three recent scams that took advantage of Huron County residents while using ATM machines at local banks.
Huron OPP have determined that on January 18th at least three separate incidents took place at two different banks in Exeter and in the Town of Goderich.
In both incidents that occurred in Exeter, victims (aged 64 and 67) were using the bank ATM when they were "assisted" by an unknown person who appeared to be trying to help the victims. The real bank cards were swapped with…
Central Huron Council Approves The Installation Of Door Openers In Central Huron Stores
by Bob Montgomery
Central Huron council has endorsed a proposal to install more door openers in stores in Central Huron.
The project was started a few years ago by Central Huron's Community Improvement Coordinator Angela Smith. She points out the door openers are not just for people with mobility issues, but also for mothers will a stroller or with a young child in one hand and a purse in the other. Smith says store owners have told her that with the…
North Huron Council Approves A Startup Service Agreement With The County Of Huron For Blyth Daycare Expansion
by Bob Montgomery
North Huron council has agreed to enter into a Startup Service Agreement with the County of Huron for the Blyth daycare expansion.
North Huron Director of Recreation & Children’s Services Kelly Steiss, says there are currently no child care spaces within the town of Blyth. One of the directions in the municipality's strategic plan was to explore the expansion of daycare into Blyth. Steiss says there are startup applications available through the county and when she applied, the county felt it made sense to expand into Blyth given the current wait lists there.
Steiss says the grant from the county will allow them to explore the possibility of establishing a day care centre in Blyth and they have a timeline of two years to complete the project. She says at this point the only solution would be a new build and it's difficult to say exactly how long that might take. She will be bringing reports to council on a regular basis to help move the project along and let council and the public know how they're progressing.
Intimate Partner Violence Investigation Results In Charges
On January 31st, 2025, members of the Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigated a matter involving intimate partners in the Town of Goderich.
As a result of the investigation, OPP learned that the involved suspect had allegedly committed several criminal acts against their partner.
A 53-year-old individual from the Goderich area has been arrested and charged under the Criminal Code with the following offences:…
Bluewater Council Approves Sale Of Property At 6 Municipal Road in Bayfield
by Bob Montgomery
Bluewater council unanimously approved the sale of the building at 6 Municipal Road in Bayfield at a special council meeting last night.
With the sale to two physicians from Seaforth now finalized, the next step is to continue looking for a new home from the Bayfield and Area Food Bank. Mayor Paul Klopp says their time and energy moving forward will be spent working with the the Food Bank and the community and listening to their short term and long term ideas
The Bayfield Lions Club and the other community groups that had used the building have indicated they'll find other facilities on their own. He points out that the Bayfield community does have an arena, a library and the town hall that are all looking to attract people who could use some of their space and council will also help wherever they can.
President Of The Bayfield Area Food Bank Says They're Going To Need Funding To Find A New Home
by Bob Montgomery
With the sale of the building on 6 Municipal Road in Bayfield completed, the Bayfield Area Food Bank is going to have to find a new home.
The building was previously occupied by the Bayfield Lions Club and the Bayfield Area Food Bank as well as a few other community groups. The President of the Food Bank was one of about ten people in the council chambers last night to hear the announcement that the sale of the building to two physicians from Seaforth had been finalized.
Claire Trepanier, says the immediate problem for them is…
Intimate Partner Violence Investigation Results In Charges
On February 3rd members of the Huron County Ontario Provincial Police investigated a matter involving intimate partners in the Town of Goderich.
As a result of the investigation, OPP learned that the involved suspect had allegedly committed several criminal acts against their partner.
A 19-year-old individual from Goderich was arrested on February 4th and charged under the Criminal Code with the following offences:…
Gateway Centre Of Excellence In Rural Health Hosts Strategic Planning Day And Welcomes Newest Research Chair
by Bob Montgomery
The Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health recently held its Strategic Planning Day and welcomed its newest Research Chair.
The Strategic Planning Day focused on creating growth, implementing meaningful changes, and identifying strategies to ensure Gateway’s continued success in advancing rural health outcomes. Participants engaged in a series of strategic activities designed to evaluate current initiatives, set priorities, and develop actionable goals for the years ahead.
Adding to the momentum of the day, Gateway…
Photo courtesy of Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health
One Care Launching Seniors Active Living Centre In Clinton
by Bob Montgomery
One Care has announced the opening of a new seniors Active Living Centre in Clinton.
Communication and Engagement Specialist Shelley McPhee Haist says the centre will be located at One Care's Betty Cardno Centre on highway 8. McPhee Haist says the Centre will be a real opportunity to promote wellness, connection and life-long learning for seniors in their community and throughout the area. She says isolation and loneliness can be serious issues for seniors and a real determent to their health. She says they'll be building on the programs they already have and notes recently they had 75 people come out for…
Huron County Museum Will Host A Webinar About Capital Punishment In Canada This Month
by Bob Montgomery
The Huron County Museum is inviting people to learn more about the history of capital punishment in Canada by joining them for a free webinar on Saturday, February 15, 2025.
Curator of Engagement and Dialogue Sinead Cox says during the online presentation, author Lorna Poplak will discuss the history of the death penalty in Canada, including the inconsistent application of the death sentence, the treatment of women, wrongful convictions, the difficult journey towards abolition and the last two hangings at Toronto’s notorious Don Jail.
Poplak will also talk about the…
Benmiller Ballparks To Get An Upgrade
by Bob Montgomery
The two ball diamonds in Benmiller are going to get an upgrade.
Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh (ACW) Mayor Glen McNeil says the Benmiller ballpark is in need of playground equipment for the young people who regularly use the ball diamonds. ACW council has been approached by the Benmiller Hall Board and they have committed to looking into the purchasing of playground equipment for the ballpark.
McNeil points out that playground equipment has to meet certain safety standards so they'll send out requests for the equipment they'll require and see what is available. ACW will be looking for any grants that might be available to help them cover the costs.
McNeil says it's not likely the new playground equipment will be installed this season but they will do their best to get the new playground equipment installed as soon as possible.
Intimate Partner Violence Investigation Results In Charges
On January 31, members of the Huron County Ontario Provincial Police investigated a matter involving intimate partners in the Municipality of Huron East.
As a result of the investigation, OPP learned that the involved suspect had allegedly committed several criminal acts against their partner.
A 56-year-old individual from Huron East has been arrested and charged under the Criminal Code with the following offences:…
Intimate Partner Violence Investigation Results In Charges
On January 31st, members of the Huron County Ontario Provincial Police investigated a matter involving intimate partners in Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Township.
As a result of the investigation, OPP learned that the involved suspect had allegedly committed a criminal act against their partner.
A 26-year-old individual from ACW Twp has been arrested and charged under the Criminal Code with the following offence:…
ALPR Alert Yields Several Charges For Truck Driver And Company
Huron County Ontario Provincial Police has charged a commercial truck driver and the trucking company that owns the vehicle following a traffic stop on February 5th in ACW Twp.
Just before 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 5th, Huron County OPP officers were patrolling on Lucknow Line in ACW Twp when the Automated Licence Plate Recognition equipment in the cruiser alerted the officer to the licence plate of a passing commercial motor vehicle. A traffic stop was…
211 Day Highlights Helpline Connecting People To Services Across Perth-Huron
by Bob Montgomery
February 11th is almost here and that means it’s time for 211 Day, a day highlighting the information available to everyone free of charge, 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year in over 150 languages.
“211 Ontario helps connect people to valuable local programs, services, supports and more,” said Susan Faber, United Way Perth-Huron Director Resource Development and Communications. “This helpline is a valuable resource anyone can access for help making sure that whatever challenges they are facing, they aren’t facing them alone. If you or someone you know needs help, please dial 2-1-1.”
211 provides personalized assistance to people in…
CEO Andrew Williams Presented A Report On The Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance’s Environmental Stewardship Committee To The Board This Week
by Bob Montgomery
CEO Andrew Williams says the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance has always had a focus on the environment and made sure that they considered their impact on the environment when they made decisions.
Williams says over the years that has included things like electricity consumption and switching from hydro to natural gas. This past year they decided to formalize it a bit more and established an…
A Safe Snowmobile Season Comes Down To Risk-Free Riding
by Bob Montgomery
Ahead of Ontario Snowmobile Safety Week, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs are reminding snowmobilers that making each ride risk-free gives them their best chance of safely making it through the season.
The risky driving behaviours that lead to snowmobile fatalities are the same ones year after year, as reflected in the OPP's data.
Over the past 10 snowmobile seasons (2014/15 to 2023/24), 145 snowmobilers have lost their lives in OPP jurisdictions. Excessive speed, in particular driving too fast for the conditions, as well as alcohol impairment were among the leading causes or contributing factors in the fatalities. Driver inattention and…
Weekly Trivia Questions
What historic event led to Anthony Van Egmond’s arrest in Huron County?
a) The Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837
b) The Civil War
c) The Fenian Raids of 1866
d) The War of 1812
Which Huron County village was nearly destroyed by fire in 1876 but was quickly rebuilt?
a) Blyth
b) Bayfield
c) Exeter
d) Hensall
Answers to last week’s questions:
Who founded Brussels?
a) Andrew Steene
b) Christoper Sparling
c) William Ainley*
d) Andrew McLearnan
What year was Brussels accepted as the official name for the village?
a) 1854
b) 1893
c) 1861
d) 1872*