The Citizen - Dec. 20, 2024

The

THIS WEEK

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4 • Editorials 8 • Sports 13 • Heritage 19 • Tradition Huron County’s most trusted independent news source

Rockin’ around the Christmas tree Shortly after Santa Claus parade season comes Christmas concert season at area schools, with students working for weeks to prepare an interesting and festive program for their teachers and fellow students, as well as their parents, grandparents and neighbours. In this week’s two-part Seaon’s Greetings issue, The Citizen brings you its regular

slate of news, in addition to coverage of area Christmas concerts and a full holiday traditions special section to mark the holidays and end 2024 on a high note. From left: Mackenzie Malpass, Jazlyn Graham and Rosa Grein of one of Hullett Central Public School’s Kindergarten classes do their part to ready the community for the holidays. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US DELIVER OUR BEST! It has been a challenging month for us here at The Citizen due to the postal strike and with the mail flowing once again, we'd like to thank everyone who helped us get over this hump.

Thank you to all of our drop-off locations: Brussels Foodland, Blyth Food Market, Fogal's Your Independent Grocer (Wingham), Charlie's Variety (Clinton), Seaforth Foodland, Fincher's (Goderich), Belgrave Variety, Auburn Esso, Circle K (Lucknow), Brussels Variety, JR's (Brussels), McDonald Home Hardware (Brussels), Midwest Co-op (Belgrave), the North Huron township office, Pandora's Pantry (Wingham), Circle K (Wingham), Green's Meat Market (Wingham), Lucknow Pharmasave, Armstrong's Bakery (Lucknow), Edgar's Feed and Seed (Whitechurch), the Huron East municipal office, Seaforth Shell, Sill's Hardware (Seaforth), Keating Pharmacy (Seaforth), Clinton Convenience, Clinton Foodland, the Central Huron municipal office, Petro Canada (Goderich), the Town of Goderich tourism office, Goderich Shell (Victoria Street) and the area's numerous retirement communities.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered to help deliver the paper to readers, everyone who picked up extra copies for their friends or neighbours and everyone who couriered the paper to their father in Florida.

Most of all, thank you to our cherished advertisers for continuing to support the work of The Citizen during the strike and to our dear readers who, whether physically or online, found a way to read The Citizen. Thank you for your unwavering enthusiasm for what we create.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and the Best of the Season to you all.

PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024.

Teen author finds success

Jacquie Gowing Accounting Services • Accounting and Income Tax Preparation • Business Management Services Merry Christmas

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& Best Wishes for 2025

Season’s Greetings May your season be aglow with inspiration, enlightenment and joy.

For your kind patronage we are sincerely thankful.

His own destiny Nate Potvin of the Benmiller area took fiction into his own hands when he wasn’t reading what interested him, so he wrote it himself. Now, Arf the Intergalactic Dog is in local stores and libraries and has even won its author an award. (Courtesy photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School is now home to a budding author in the form of 14-year-old Grade 9 student Nate Potvin, whose Arf the Intergalactic Dog has been impressing and selling well locally since he self-published it earlier this year.

Not only has Potvin, who lives in the Benmiller area, self-published his own book, but he’s established his own business, called Novels by Nate, which was recently recognized with the Young Entrepreneur Business of the Year Award at this year’s Children’s Business Market in Clinton.

Furthermore, he’s already mapping out the second and third installments of the Arf series, with hopes of a career as a novelist.

The book tells the story of 12year-old Theo who finds a small, red orb that summons a dog named Arf. From there things take a turn towards the intergalactic and they have to fight evil, complete a prophecy and much, much more.

In an interview with The Citizen, Potvin admits that he just jumped into writing the project at first, which turned out to be a bit of a false start. When he took a step back, regrouped and began to plot out where he wanted the story to go and how he planned on getting there, the more methodical

approach paid off and he could see results on the page.

Potvin has been an avid reader for much of his life, but he says he began to grow frustrated and found the books he was reading wanting for better characters and more intriguing endings. He felt as though if he couldn’t find the book he wanted to read, he would write it himself.

He then incorporated his love of science fiction and fantasy books, television and movies and began a months-long journey on the book, taking breaks when he needed to and returning to the writing process when he felt the creative juices flowing. Whether he was working Continued on page 15

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'O Come All Ye Faithful Guided only by a single star Three wise men journeyed afar To the manger where the infant lay On that very first Christmas Day. May your spirits be lifted and your faith renewed as we recall the miracle of Christmas.

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024. PAGE 3.

Lions host community paramedicine presentation

A day for learning Lori Vermeersch was at the head of the table last week for a discussion on community paramedicine hosted by the Londesborough Lions Club. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

Lori Vermeersch, Superintendent of Professional Standards and Community Programs for Huron County, spoke to those gathered at the Londesborough Community Hall on Dec. 11 about community paramedicine in the county. This program of visiting health care dramatically reduces 911 calls, visits to emergency rooms and extended hospital stays. This is true in all areas of the province in which the program has been instigated.

The community paramedicine program is part of the Ontario Health at Home government program and is free to clients.

This program has grown out of similar/former programs like One Care and Community Care Access (CCAC). The need for this more comprehensive health care is another result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Community paramedics have been working in Huron County since 2021 offering the right care at the right time at the right place. And the right place is in a client’s own home. The service is termed non-emergent mobile response.

The program in Huron County has six full-time paramedics and 18 alternates, should the need arise, in providing this 24/7 care. Every day, three paramedics each make seven visits. At present, there are 370 clients being visited on a regular basis. Four times a year, the paramedics go into community housing sites to assess residents.

The program also checks on homeless sites and Indigenous settlements regularly. Headquarters for the local community paramedicine program is located at the fire station in Clinton Some of us remember the days when a doctor made house calls.

Paramedics have stepped into that role. One must be housebound to become a client and must be referred to the service after an ambulance call or by a doctor or other healthcare agency.

Paramedics assess each client as to needs, work with medications, protect the well-being of clients, advocate for a client with other health professionals and help a client navigate the various other services of care.

Vaccinations and blood draws can also be done by paramedics. Clients dealing with COPD or diabetes have benefited greatly from remote home monitoring of their condition.

End-of-life assistance or MAID is another service paramedics offer along with palliative care. Relatives of family members who tend to wander can now enroll those persons in the tracking service known as Project Lifesaver giving them peace of mind.

Lori emphasized the “Cool Aid” program for anyone, not just those who are clients of paramedicine. A

medical information card is available to everyone for putting on their refrigerator. Emergency personnel entering a home for any type of medical call know to check for this card. Filled out, it is a record of the information about the patient and their medical condition, etc which immediately helps with their care.

Lori mentioned that community paramedicine is funded until 2026 and may be affected by changes in government. However, she noted, the program has shown its value financially for the government and in the health of communities.

Persons who have been involved in this type of care are quick to applaud its benefits.

It was a disturbing week for Londesborough United’s faith community when news was received that two of their members had passed away.

On Dec. 11, the community learned of the passing of Ken Hunking. Ken was born and raised just north of the village on the 13th of Hullett and attended the church faithfully. He was an employee of CIBC locally for a time and then at the bank’s head office in Toronto for many years. He retired to the family farm, though he sold it recently and moved to Wingham to be closer to his sister Shirley and her family. Ken was the church’s treasurer for 25 years as figures, calculations, finances were second nature to him. Ken’s other interests were genealogy and trivia and family. His nieces and nephews remembered him for the trips he took them on, introducing them to a world beyond rural things and introducing them to another of his passions, downhill skiing.

On Thursday, Dec. 12, Alma Finnigan passed away at Huronview. Alma celebrated her 103rd birthday last May and will be sadly missed by her many nieces and nephews. Alma and her first husband, Weldon Tyndall, lived on the first farm west of the village for a number of years. Although Alma had been gone from the village for many years she was always

Keep their families in your thoughts and prayers as they come to terms with their loss particularly during this holiday season.

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519-887-6428 (Shop) 519-524-3543 (Ron) 519-955-1588 (Chad) Happy Holidays from our family to yours.

We’re proud to serve this community.

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His master-purpose!

(Charles Spurgeon, "Christ's Incarnation, the Foundation Christianity") Let us gather with grateful boldness around the infant in the manger, and behold our God! "You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins!" Matthew 1:21 The great object of our Lord's coming here was not to live, but to die.

He appeared, not so much to subdue sin by His teaching, or to manifest goodness, or to perfect an example for us to imitate-but "to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself."

The modern teachers of error would thrust the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus into the background-but our Lord placed it in the forefront. He came to take away our sins. Do not think of Jesus without remembering the design of His coming.

We preach Christ-so do a great many more. But, "we preach Christ crucified!" 1 Corinthians 1:23. We preach, concerning our Lord-His cross, His blood, His death! Upon the blood of His cross we lay great stress, extolling much "the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners," by putting away their sin "by the sacrifice of Himself.'

We will not deny, or conceal, or depreciate His master-purpose-lest we be found guilty of trampling upon His blood, and treating it as an unholy thing.

NEWS FROM LONDESBORO

remembered by our faith community.

The village offers condolences to the families of these two departed.

The Citizen will be closed for holidays from Monday, December 23 until Monday, December 30 at 9:00 am (Closing December 31 at noon and re-opening at 9:00 am January 2) Please Note: There will be no paper published on Friday, December 27

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst!" 1 Timothy 1:15

Deadline for the January 3rd paper is December 20th

A Grace Gem Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church Listowel, ON 519-291-3887

405 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4792 info@northhuron.on.ca

PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024.

Editorials & Opinions

Founding Publisher: Keith Roulston Publisher & President: Deb Sholdice • Editor: Shawn Loughlin Reporter: Scott Stephenson • Photographer: John Stephenson Advertising Sales: Brenda Nyveld

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More than a bottom line In a season closely associated with miserly money lenders gleefully evicting families during a bleak Victorian winter, it’s nice to see a pair of landlords setting an example without the need of a trio of spectres to point out the error of their ways.

Tristan Squire-Smith and Johnny Hewerdine of Coldwell Banker Beaver Realty Brokerage located in London, Ontario are well-known for the wry humour on their billboards, but are quickly making a name for themselves as empathetic and caring landlords. They recently purchased a storefront in the Old East Village section of the city that they planned to renovate to use as their headquarters. The building came complete with an upstairs tenant: a 68-year-old man renting the apartment at a very affordable price. Harold was sure that the sale of his building meant that he would be homeless, as his rent was less than half of the current market value and he was expecting a “renoviction” notice.

However, the realtors made the decision to not only protect Harold’s rent, but to move him downstairs while they completely renovated the upstairs apartment, and then move him back for the same rent he was paying. “There’s a lot more to the value of someone than just the rent they pay,” said Squire-Smith. Finally, landlords with hearts. – DS

The end is nigh Chrystia Freeland, the former Deputy-Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, has dealt perhaps the most severe blow that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has had to absorb in recent months, resigning from his cabinet on Monday and penning a scathing letter, distancing herself from him and suggesting, in so many words, that Trudeau is focused on “costly political gimmicks” instead of “working in good faith and humility with the Premiers of the provinces and territories of our great and diverse country, and building a true Team Canada response” to the economic nationalism and tariffs being threatened by Donald Trump.

On one hand, Freeland has really shown Trudeau in a poor light, standing up for herself after he asked her to step aside, while at the same time positioning herself as the most non-Trudeau member of a Liberal Party that is perhaps in need of an off-ramp from its Trudeau relationship. She has maintained her integrity while standing up to a leader who many feel has lost whatever integrity he once had. And, with Trudeau seemingly willing to cling to power by any means necessary, it’s beginning to feel as though a successor may only come by inter-party hostile takeover, rather than peaceful transition of power.

Meanwhile, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has to be licking his chops as Trump revels in the chaos his tariff threats have created.

The walls have been closing in on Trudeau for some time and, while pundits have been sure that previous developments were sure to be the one to finally unseat Trudeau, this is, by far, the most significant development of Trudeau’s tenure in months. And now NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is calling for Trudeau to resign. It’s hard to envision a Freeland-less future for Trudeau and that may just lead to what’s on many Canadians’ Christmas lists: a Trudeau-less government. – SL

A true community As the year draws to a close, Christmas offers us an opportunity to pause, reflect and express gratitude. And what better space to do so than here, in the editorial section of The Citizen; a space dedicated to sharing ideas, sparking dialogue and reflecting on issues that shape our community? At The Citizen, we are thankful for the privilege of filling this section with commentary and analysis. As the only community newspaper owned and operated within the borders of Huron County, we take great pride in using this space to focus on you: our readers, our neighbours and the tremendous people of Huron County.

While global platforms like Facebook, owned by Meta, see communities like ours as sources of profit, The Citizen, under North Huron Publishing, exists to serve. Our mission isn’t to extract value, but to create it by keeping you informed and connected to the stories that matter. And it’s here, in the editorial section, that we invite you to join the conversation, whether it be through these editorials, page five’s columns or in Letters to the Editor, which sees you take on the role of writer. Whether you agree or disagree with our views, your feedback adds richness to the dialogue and helps shape the stories of our region.

This holiday season, we encourage you to extend that connection. A subscription to The Citizen means more than just a newspaper - it’s an invitation to join a community conversation, a way to share the stories of Huron County with family and friends near and far. By supporting The Citizen, you’re investing in the very space you’re reading now; a space for reflection, thoughtful scrutiny and provocation. As we prepare to turn the page to 2025, we are grateful for the role this editorial section plays in keeping our community connected and engaged.

Wishing you a joyful Christmas and a new year filled with peace, hope and the enduring strength of community. – SBS

Looking Back Through the Years December 22, 1969 The United Church Women (UCW) of Knox United Church, Auburn, hosted their annual candlelighting service last Wednesday evening in the Sunday school room of the church. Women from other denominations in the village attended as guests, along with UCW members from Donnybrook and Westfield.

The Walton Women’s Institute hosted its Christmas meeting last Wednesday evening at the Community Hall. The hall had been beautifully decorated, featuring a Christmas tree adorned with lights and a display highlighting the work of the two 4-H Girls Clubs.

Mrs. Alvin McDonald commenced the meeting with the “Opening Ode”, the “Mary Stewart Collect” and “O’ Canada”. Mrs. Herb Williamson and Mrs. George McCall acted as convenors for the resolution committee. Dr. Herb Williamson introduced the 4-H girls and Miss Lorna Cooper discussed traditions in embroidery for Walton I Needle Pushers.

Misses Janet Shortreed and Karen Coults of Walton II Club demonstrated embroidery techniques, showcasing various stitches on a sketch board.

Prize winners in the Blyth Horticultural Society’s contest for best-decorated home were: first, Grant Sparling’s home; second, George Watt, and third, Ray Griffiths.

The judges, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Nelson, Mrs. Epps, and Miss Dorothy Marquis, from the Clinton Horticultural Society, noted that it had been very difficult to decide which homes should be chosen as winners. They felt that Bill Howson’s, Miller Richmond’s, Ray

Madill’s, and many others deserved honourable mention.

The Horticultural Society expressed gratitude to all who had helped make the village beautiful for the Christmas season.

December 21, 1977 The rain that had been predicted never arrived, but Santa Claus did.

Cold, biting winds chilled spectators, yet they did not deter a large crowd of both young and notso-young who gathered in Brussels on Saturday afternoon to welcome him and watch the Santa Claus parade and the bed race that followed.

The Brussels Legion Pipe Band led the parade, which featured decorated floats, motorcycle clowns, and the Canadettes, a baton-twirling group of red-andwhite-costumed young ladies from Wingham.

These were followed by the star of the show: Santa Claus himself, who, after the parade, handed out treats to the children at the fire hall.

December 19, 1989 Blyth Village Council decided on Wednesday night to take no action on a request for a zoning change to return north-end property to an agricultural designation, pending more information from the landowner.

The Blyth and District Fire Department was called to an Auburn-area house Wednesday night to extinguish a chimney fire that had spread into the attic of the home.

Firefighters were called around 9:30 p.m. to the home of Ross Daer, located on County Road 25, two miles east of Auburn.

Flames were shooting from the chimney as firefighters arrived and, more concerningly,

smoke was pouring from the attic.

Fire Chief Paul Josling stated that approximately $1,000 in damage was done to the house, mostly to one room, as firefighters had to rip out part of the ceiling and walls to access the fire in the attic.

The Christmas meeting of Melville W.M.S. was held at the home of Mrs. Calvin Krauter, with 11 ladies responding to the roll call with a Christmas verse.

The meeting opened with a prayer by Wilma Hemingway.

President Helen Elliott welcomed everyone and thanked Marguerite for the use of her home. The hymn “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” was sung, with Margaret MacLeod leading.

December 23, 2004 St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church in Blyth held its last official mass on Dec. 24, as it was forced to close its doors to the congregation.

Parishioner Mary Sanders of Belgrave said the closure was due to a diminishing congregation and a lack of funds for building repairs.

“Young kids aren’t coming anymore, and that has really hurt attendance,” Sanders explained.

She mentioned that the congregation had lost many younger parishioners since the mass time was changed to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday nights. About 20 to 25 people regularly attended the Saturday night mass.

Two individuals were charged by the Ontario SPCA following an investigation into an alleged puppy mill in the Township of Central Huron. The investigation was launched after concerns were raised about the conditions in which a large number of dogs were being kept.

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024. PAGE 5.

Other Views

How Christmas has changed!

A

n item on the news one night recently caught my attention. It said that Christmas tree yards in the Toronto area expected there to be a shortage of trees this year because growers did not cut as many trees as they sometimes do.

It seems that it costs so much money to plant a tree and nurse it through all the years it takes to grow a tree to the size customers want that growers are wary of having cut trees go to waste. Big growers cut trees to send to Europe and the U.S. as well as to big-city Christmas tree lots in eastern Canada so it becomes wasteful if even a relatively few trees are not sold.

In another story, a Christmas tree grower who sold trees at his farm said fears about the effects of climate change influenced his preparations, but fortunately last spring we had plenty of rain so this year’s trees were healthy.

My own family’s Christmas tree use has changed greatly over the decades. As a kid, it became a signal, as Christmas approached, to visit my uncle’s farm a few miles away. The odd year we could drive back on the unused sideroad that led to the plantation of evergreen trees near the back of the farm, but far more often I recall having to plunge through snow to the rear of the farm, then plunge back to the car dragging a future Christmas tree.

We had a spruce tree because that’s what was in the plantation, but my best friend and nextdoor neighbour had cedar trees from the swamp at the back of their farm.

When I got older, Jill and I got married just before Christmas while I was still a university student. I surprised her by buying a tree (don’t ask me where, now) and decorating it for our new apartment so she’d be surprised when we got home from the wedding. (Since we had little money, our “honeymoon” consisted of a

Keith Roulston

From the cluttered desk train ride home to my parents’ place for Christmas.)

The next few years, buying and decorating a Christmas tree was an annual delight, first for ourselves and then for our four kids as they came along, first in Clinton, then in Blyth and finally in our country home outside of Blyth.

Decorations became more varied, as relatives travelled widely and sent home ornaments, but we always kept a few of the cheap ornaments I’d bought in a Woolworth’s store near our first apartment to decorate that first tree.

The location of our Christmas celebrations also changed. I remember going to my father’s parents’ place when I was very young, and my grandfather surprising me with a tricycle. I rode it proudly in the neighbourhood because it was newer than any of my friends’ trikes. Later, of course, we grew out of trikes and I had to ride my older sister’s girl’s bike, much to my shame.

As we grew older, my parents played host to the family, with both grandmothers (my grandfathers had died) and aunts and uncles coming to my parents’ house. After we were married, it became our turn to host the family Christmas. Now we are the old folks and we no longer host Christmas, travelling instead to our middle daughter’s home south of Blyth. Her children are all grown now and I wonder how long it will be before my daughter and her

husband visit, instead, with one of their daughters.

Our Christmas tree traditions have also changed. For a while we visited a grower near Blyth to pick out a tree. After that, we used to go to the Londesborough Lions’ lot for a tree.

As we got older, we eventually bought an artificial tree to decorate. We had that for a few years, but then, when we no longer hosted Christmas, the whole task of getting the tree out, setting it up and decorating it, seemed too much. We gave the tree away.

One of our daughters thought it was terrible that we didn’t have any sort of Christmas tree so she bought a small tree we simply hide away in an unused bedroom for most of the year. And so our Christmas traditions change, over generations.

One of the changes I’ve seen in general is that every year the reason for Christmas - the celebration of the birth of Christ - seems to recede a little more into the background, and the Santa side of Christmas, and the giftgiving, take over a little more. In general, our churches struggle to keep going and there are fewer ministers to run them. Christmas carols are sung less often; Christmas songs, more.

Present-giving, originally based on the gifts the Shepherds and Wise Men gave Christ, has become even a bigger part of the modern Christmas. I remember, as a child of poor farmers, getting one toy from Santa and one from my parents. We hosted Christmas a few years ago and were flabbergasted at the succession of gifts some parents gave their kids.

So, Christmas has changed as, in general, we’ve become more affluent. The progression in my long lifetime is tremendous. But gifts and decorations in the long run matter little.

What matters is the love the season promotes.

Chaffmas miracle or drop-caps magic?

A

bracadabra, just like that, The Chaff is back! Beaver Chaff has receded like a moonlit tide, and Werewolf Chaff feels like the distant howl of a wolven dreamer’s dreamly and unseemly dream of a werewolf-centric newspaper column. But today, dear readers, we are gloriously ourselves again: restored, renewed and resplendent as The Chaff. And no, contrary to what those cold moon conspiracy theorists are already whispering, the transformation back had nothing to do with lunar cycles or anything of that ilk.

It all came down to drop caps.

For those of you not steeped in the arcane art of typography, a drop cap is the large, decorative first letter at the start of an article or paragraph, like the stately “A” at the beginning of this very piece. Traditionally, drop caps are ornamental, sometimes unnecessarily so, but here at The Chaff, they are sacred. This year, we challenged ourselves to use drop caps that followed the alphabet from A to Z, and then reversed direction, Tenet-style, back to A. Now, you might think, “Surely there’s no connection between a gimmicky alphabet game and The Chaff’s shapeshifting tendencies this year.” But let us assure you, there is. The moment we typed that final “A,” something clicked, or perhaps unclicked. A ripple of energy, like the sound of a thousand rotary presses springing to life, swept through The Chaff’s newsroom. Coffee mugs trembled. The faint scent of ink and hot metal filled the air. And then, with a metaphysical ding, The Chaff returned to its true form.

Of course, some will argue that our transformation had more to do with the waxing and waning of moons or a budget surplus spent on occult consultants. But we are firm in our belief that the drop-cap

Scott Stephenson The Chaff sequence, alphabetized and then reversed, created a harmonious balance in the universe that allowed The Chaff to be itself again.

Now, with that pressing matter settled, we can all relax and enjoy this incredible column. Let’s turn our attention to a magnificent and momentous occasion: Chaffmas.

Chaffmas, as you surely know, is the holiest day in our editorial calendar, marking the anniversary of The Chaff’s first-ever issue.

On this day, we don’t just celebrate the birth of our humble publication, but the enduring spirit of community, chaos and commentary it represents. The Chaff’s inaugural issue, as legend has it, was written entirely by candlelight in a moldy attic, fuelled by a combination of determination, more determination, and some extra determination we had loose in our pockets, just jiggling around.

From these humble beginnings grew a tradition that persists to this day. Whether you honour Chaffmas by reading your favourite columns aloud to your houseplants and pets, composing odes to the most baffling of choices, or simply lighting a candle in the shape of the letter “C,” we wish you joy in your celebrations. The Chaff’s crack team, for its part, will be engaging in its own sacred rituals, including an annual reading of the first issue, a competitive game of “Drop Caps: Monopoly Edition,” and

the ceremonial cutting of the Chaffmas Cake - a confection that, if tradition holds, will be equal parts delicious and dangerous.

And while Chaffmas is a time for reflection and festivity, let us not forget our closest evolutionary relatives: the monkeys. To them, we extend our warmest wishes for a merry Monkey Christmas, a day for bananas, branch-swinging, and general simian mirth.

May their joy remind us all to embrace a bit of mischief in the season.

This year’s Monkey Christmas message comes with an important note of solidarity.

Monkeys, like us, are grappling with challenges we can only imagine: dwindling forests, increasing temperatures and an alarming rise in social-media influencers calling themselves “monkey whisperers.”

This Chaffmas/Monkey Christmas, let us dedicate ourselves to protecting the natural habitats of our primate friends so they can enjoy their banana feasts in peace.

And so, as the year draws to a close and our drop-cap odyssey reaches its symmetrical conclusion, we thank you for joining us on this alphabetic adventure. The Chaff wouldn’t be The Chaff without you, dear readers. Over the course of 51 entries this year, from our audacious January “A” to this final December “A,” we’ve been on a journey together - a journey of letters, moons, and a whole lot of non-descript miscellany.

May your Chaffmas be happy, your Monkey Christmas be merry, and your Huron County hearts be filled with wonder and typographic tidings. Here’s to another year of words and the occasional decorative letter.

Let us raise a glass of ink to the drop caps yet to come.

Happy Chaffmas to all, and to all, a Chaff night.

Shawn Loughlin Shawn’s Sense

God hates journalism

W

hen did it all begin? Was it foretold in Genesis? On the seventh day, did God plop down with a copy of The Heaven Herald and paper cut His thumb? Or is it a more recent development? Does it go back to 1966 when The New York Times declared “God is dead,” followed by Time asking, just a few months later, “Is God dead?” on its cover?

Was it when Elton John sang about the Times in “Levon”, thinking, “Hey, no one reads the dinky little Times, but now he’s on about it on Madman Across the Water? Enough!”

Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe... but I digress. I was inclined to write a third straight column about Spotify, concluding what my “Spotify Trilogy”, the Spotify Era-defining creative pursuit that will echo in the same corridors as Picasso’s Blue Period, Bob Dylan’s white face years and when Andre 3000 of Outkast, one of the most important hip-hop artists of the last generation, decided to only play the flute, but I’ve resisted the urge and robbed you all.

In all seriousness, why would God take journalism’s name in vain? I ask this because, frankly, there is no other explanation. The life of a reporter is tough these days. I think most of us had become used to the usual stuff, you know, the crazy e-mails, autocratic leaders who continue to undermine our work by jailing and killing us and the widening gulf between revenue and expenses and the amount of work and the people employed to do that work. That stuff is all established. But now, even once the work is all said and done - done and dusted, even - we can’t even get the paper to you all.

As the Canada Post strike continued, we could not mail the newspaper to you, as you know. We have done our best to set up pick-up locations for you all and that requires a lot of extra work on our end and the co-operation and generosity of many local business owners.

Furthermore, with Mark Zuckerberg’s war on journalism through his company, Meta, we continue to be unable to post links through our Facebook and Instagram pages. As people complain on our posts, suggesting that we’ve forgotten to post the links to stories or that our (never-posted) link is malfunctioning, we have to navigate that landscape as well, encouraging people to visit our website for articles and the entire e-dition of the paper, all for free during the postal strike. The only way we’ve been able to skirt this war on journalism has been to post pictures and encourage people to visit our site so our page hasn’t been entirely shuttered.

Here’s a quick story. Publisher Deb posted a link during the first week of the postal strike about the free e-dition and pick-up locations for the paper. I was home and saw the post, but noticed that Deb made an error in our website address, so I corrected it. Once I corrected website and directed people to a site that contained - God help us (He won’t) journalism, it got shut down, so I had to go back in and scrap the website reference.

So, you see, this is what we’re up against.

It’s not even the challenge of doing the work anymore. It’s that once the work is done, we can’t even get it to you because of decisions being made by a handful of people who really don’t have much to do with little-old us here at The Citizen based in Blyth, Ontario, Canada.

The only logical explanation left, of course, is that God hates journalism. Everyone from Rupert Murdoch to William Randolph Hearst’s corpse to anyone who’s ever had a paper route: God hates you. It’s just a fact. Go to church all you want... it will change nothing.

It is on that note that I and every other despised cretin here at The Citizen wish our dear readers the warmest of holiday seasons.

PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024.

At the Branch

Branch organizing area New Year’s Day Levee tour

By Jo-Ann McDonald The year is winding down, but there is still lots going on.

Our darters went to play zone senior darts in Exeter and had a good day. Eric Ross qualified for singles competition by placing fifth and will go on to district. Eric Ross and Bob Richardson placed sixth and qualified to advance in doubles play in district. Eric and Bob joined with Bruce Fischer and Randy White to play team darts and the foursome won first place and will go to district play. Congrats to our four senior darters.

The Brussels Lions Club held its Christmas gathering on the evening of Monday, Dec. 9. They had 50 attend the traditional turkey dinner.

Members and their partners then were entertained by playing games such as Wheel of Fortune with their own member version of Vanna White (although she was having a bad hair day). The evening was organized by Patty VanderMeer.

Comrades helping included Linda Bird, Judy Lee, John Lowe, Sandra

Brown and Jo-Ann McDonald The Branch was to have the Camera Club come for a Christmas dinner, but the horrible weather on Thursday had them cancel.

The Thursday night blind mixed darts were also cancelled for the evening. See everyone next week.

Friday night was the euchre tournament for December. There were 34 teams vying for top prize.

First prize went to Curt Terpstra and Shawn Dawe. In second place was the team of Terry and Nick LeFor and in third place were Nancy Bridge and Jim Brown. The lone hand prize went to Doug Sholdice and Joan Smith. It was a great night and lots of fun. The pub grub was beef or peameal bacon on a bun.

Saturday was Huron County darts and the 40 or so men arrived to play for the afternoon. Comrades Sandra Brown, Linda Bird and Jo-Ann McDonald were working that day.

On Sunday, the Richmond family Christmas was held at the Branch.

The family of just over 40 gathered to enjoy visits, a meal, pictures and

some fun. They brought along lots of toys for the 16 greatgrandchildren to play with, and then they received presents and a matching pair of pajamas for the children and Great-Grandma Rene.

It was then picture time for all and then everyone gathered up and headed home. They had a great afternoon! Comrades on the job included Linda Bird, John Lowe, Tanya Martin, Kathy Burkholder, Jo-Ann McDonald and Sandra Brown.

Don’t forget tonight, Friday, Dec. 20, is a busy night at the Branch. It is ugly sweater night, meat draw night, trivia night, turkey on a bun night and there may be some entertainment as well.

The next week is Christmas and, of course, the Branch will be closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day, opening again on Tuesday, Dec. 31.

On Tuesday night it was the Cadet Corp 2967 Christmas gathering before the break. They enjoyed a roast beef dinner and invited their families to attend with

them. The group of 45 had a nice evening together and will see each other again after the holidays.

Comrades helping out included JoAnn McDonald, Judy Lee, Linda Bird and Deb Seili. Thanks to all.

Merry Christmas to all and Happy New Year. The Branch appreciates all the support during the year and

looks forward to 2025!

The Brussels Legion would like to start the new year off with a bus tour on Jan. 1. We will be away from noon until 6 p.m. visiting other Legions having New Year’s Levees. Call Deb at 519-531-1125 or Sandra at Legion at 519-8876562 for more information.

Branch 218 Brussels, ON

Wishes to extend Christmas Tidings and New Year Wishes to all its members and faithful supporters for all their work and support this past year.

Best Wishes for a Happy 2025.

Columnist bids a Merry Christmas A NOTE FROM BETTY

By Betty Graber Watson Call 887-9231 The excitement of the season is building, with visits and parties and meals, all part of many social times this week. Only the variable weather could compete for a good subject for conversation. Was your event cancelled? How bad was the visibility? How high were the drifts? Every spot was unique and personal.

Huron County weather is part of the fun of living in our area. A look out the window indicates if you’re travelling at that moment or not.

Blustering snow is a reminder that control of many things is not yours, but the safety of everyone is. Events get rescheduled, work gets caught up, you have a quiet day and life goes on.

In Advent language, this is the week of joy. The church people were reminded that we need joy in our lives in the good times as well as the bad. The weeks leading to Dec. 25 are for preparation and that means checking on our mental and spiritual well-being. Faith is between you and God and all need the elements of Advent to thrive.

Hope, peace, joy and love need to part of your days in order to truly celebrate life.

For Mary Ann Thompson, the recent death of hubby Jeff was shocking. Life is precious and, when death happens, only later are the good memories truly appreciated. Mary Ann and Jeff were a neat balanced pair. For his quiet calm, Mary Ann offered her enthusiasm for the day. Our goodbye to Jeff was at the United Church on Wednesday, sharing stories of Jeff to help heal the hole in Mary Ann’s heart.

Please take time for a few big breaths as the events of the season can be overwhelming. People like to be with relaxed, calm people, so decide how busy you want to be and then

truly enjoy the people and events you attend.

This is the last paper for this year.

I hope you made good memories in 2024.

Bye now and, from Ralph and I, Merry Christmas to you.

Betty GW

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A

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For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11

May you be blessed with peace and understanding throughout this holy season.

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Blyth’s Santa Claus parade, hosted by Blyth Community Betterment, was a success last Saturday, with people coming from far and wide to take part. They then could meet Santa at Memorial Hall, take part in the Blyth Festival Art Gallery’s new community art project and dance the afternoon away at the Blyth Kids Club’s holiday disco dance party.

(John Stephenson photo)

Parade impresses in Blyth

By Deb Hakkers Well, most of the snow has disappeared with the rain again, but the forecast says snow will return and we could have a white Christmas yet.

The Hakkers family will get together at the McKay Centre in Goderich on Christmas Day. It has become too large to work in someone’s home and needs to be in a wheelchair-accessible space. The Craigs will celebrate on Dec. 29.

We look forward to catching up with everyone and spending time together!

The kids are excited for the end of school and Christmas vacation.

This week was the Clinton Public School winter concert, so it has been a very busy week.

I have been working on chocolates for Christmas. We started making Grandma Johnston’s homemade chocolates when we got married as a special treat for family and friends and it has now stretched into a week-long job between making the centres and dipping them in chocolate, but it’s worth it for something unique as a special treat at Christmas!

Mom continues to rehab at Huronlea and she has been enjoying all the Christmas activities there.

Blyth’s Santa Claus parade on Saturday was a big hit, as usual.

Mom thought she was coming with Huronlea to watch the parade, but ended up riding in the parade, so she was able to see all the people along the route.

Fred’s Mom is also enjoying all the Christmas activities Goderich Place has to offer. She is also looking forward to getting together with the family on Christmas Day! This week we wish a happy birthday to Karen Mason on Dec. 23. Since there is no paper next week, we also need to wish Bill Howson a happy birthday on Dec. 28, Brock Vodden on Dec. 29 and Connie Nesbit on Jan. 1. As well, we need to wish Karen and Rob Mason a happy anniversary on Dec. 28. We hope everyone enjoys their special day!

If there is anything special you would like to see mentioned in this column, please e-mail me at debhakkers@gmail.com or call me at 519-525-8640 (evenings only please).

Until next week, take care of yourselves and each other.

From our family to yours, have a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year!

NEWS FROM BLYTH

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PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024.

Sports Ironmen lose two to remain in distant fourth place the box for 31 minutes on 12 calls.

The Capitals beat Wingham by a score of 4-0 with no scoring in the first period. It wasn’t until 12:25 of the second period that Chase Lorenz scored, assisted by Nathan Doran and Patrick Brown, followed by a goal by Brown at 18:01 of the second, assisted by Lorenz and Aiden Stanley.

Fifty-six seconds into the third period Owen Troyer scored on the power play, assisted by Patrick Brown and Chase Lorenz, followed by a shorthanded goal by Aiden

Stanley at 14:09 of the third, assisted again by Brown, that ended the game.

Noah Ricci was in the Wingham net and stopped 29 of 33 shots for the loss, while Noah Lundgren earned the shutout win for the Capitals, stopping all 29 shots that came his way.

Not much has changed in the North Pollock Division standings in the Provincial Junior Hockey League, with the top three teams in a league of their own, leaving the Continued on page 9

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Finishing in fourth The Wingham Ironmen lost to the Kincardine Bulldogs at home on Friday night by a score of 5-1 as the team’s season remains somewhat middling. (John Stephenson photo)

dŽůůͲ&ƌĞĞ͗ ϭͲϴϬϬͲϲϵϰͲϮϲϬϵ Kƌ ĞŵĂŝů ƵƐ͗ ƐĂůĞƐΛƐǁŝƚnjĞƌƐĂƵĐƚŝŽŶ͘ĐŽŵ s/^/d h^ Λ ǁǁǁ͘ƐǁŝƚnjĞƌƐĂƵĐƚŝŽŶ͘ĐŽŵ ĨŽƌ ƵĐƚŝŽŶ ĂƚĞƐ Θ ĞƚĂŝůƐ

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen After a two-win weekend to begin the month of December, the Wingham Ironmen lost both of their games this past weekend, scoring just one goal to their opponents’ nine.

Friday, Dec. 13 was truly unlucky for the Ironmen, who welcomed the Kincardine Bulldogs to Wingham, only to lose by a score of 5-1.

The Bulldogs opened the scoring with the only two goals scored in the first period. Trent Houghton found the back of the net at 16:26 of the period, assisted by Caeleb Bowler and Aidan Yarde. Then, 59 seconds later, Jordan Beisel scored again for the Bulldogs, assisted by Chad Lawrence and Jordan Moulton.

Tanner Dietz opened the second period with the only Ironmen goal of the game at 5:53 of the period, assisted by Micah Kraayenbrink and Carter Coates. After that, however, it was all Kincardine.

Chad Lawrence scored at 6:09 of the second period, assisted by Bryce Martin and Jordan Moulton, and then Carter Servais scored his 10th goal of the season at 19:38 of the second, assisted by Caeleb Bowler and Jordan Moulton on the power play.

Caeleb Bowler put the icing on the cake in the third period, assisted

by Aidan Yarde and Trent Houghton at 12:39 to close the game out.

Rowen Cherrett won the game in the Kincardine net, stopping 26 of 27 shots, while James Hopper took the loss for the Ironmen, stopping 29 of the 34 shots he faced. It was a relatively clean game, with the Bulldogs only being whistled four times for eight minutes and the Ironmen being called five times for 10 minutes.

The next night, things were not nearly as joyful, as the Ironmen were in Walkerton to play the Capitals and both teams racked up a total of 52 penalty minutes, including several game misconducts for fighting. The Ironmen served 21 minutes on 11 infractions and the Capitals were in

VAN EGMOND HOUSE - MUSEUM We wish to take this special time of year to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and to especially thank our volunteers and supporters for all their contributions to Van Egmond House.

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024. PAGE 9.

Sports Three Blyth teams win Seaforth tournament gold

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

A great weekend On Saturday at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre, the Blyth U14 Girls took on Mildmay on their way to winning tournament gold the next day.

(John Stephenson photo)

Seaforth Junior Broomball held its first-ever tournament over the weekend, hosting dozens of games in both Seaforth and Brussels, in what has been deemed a true success. It certainly was successful for three Blyth teams, who returned home after the weekend with gold medals around their necks.

The U14 Boys, U14 Girls and U16 Girls all triumphed in Seaforth over the weekend. The U14 Boys beat hosts Seaforth by a score of 30 in the finals on Sunday, the U14 Girls beat Mildmay by a score of 10 in their tournament finals, also on Sunday, and the U16 Girls beat Palmerston by a score of 2-1 that day to win their division championship.

The tournament began on Friday with the U9 Bullets losing to the Mildmay Roosters. The U12 Silver and U14 Boys teams tied their games with the Seaforth Cyclones and Seaforth Hurricanes respectively with the U12 game

Ironmen play Hawks to start 2025 Continued from page 8 rest of the division behind.

Things remain tight atop the division with just two points separating the top three teams. The Hanover Barons are in first with a record of 20 wins, one loss, one overtime loss and one shootout loss for a total of 42 points, followed by the Fergus Whalers with 41 points and a record of 19 wins, four losses, two overtime losses and one shootout loss and the Mount Forest Patriots with 40 points and a record of 19 wins, four losses, two overtime losses and two shootout wins.

Then, all the way down at 28 points, the Wingham Ironmen sit in fourth place with a record of 13 wins, 12 losses and two overtime losses. The Kincardine Bulldogs are in fifth place with 26 points and a record of 12 wins, 11 losses, two

overtime losses and two shootout wins.

After another gulf in the standings, the Mitchell Hawks are in sixth place with 15 points and a record of six wins, 14 losses, two overtime losses, one shootout win and one shootout loss. The Walkerton Capitals are in seventh place with 13 points and a record of six wins, 18 losses, one overtime loss and one shootout win, followed by the last-place Goderich Flyers who have just four wins, 16 losses, one overtime loss and three shootout losses and 12 points.

The Ironmen were scheduled to play a make-up game on Wednesday, Dec. 18 with the Mount Forest Patriots on the road, but a score for that game was unavailable at press time. The team is then back in action again tonight, Friday, Dec. 20, in Wingham

Merry Christmas from all of us at...

against the Mitchell Hawks. Then, on Sunday, Dec. 22, the Ironmen are in Fergus to play the Whalers in their last game of 2024.

The Ironmen begin 2025 with a game against the Mitchell Hawks on Friday, Jan. 3 and then a Sunday matinee with the Mount Forest Patriots at Sunday, Jan. 5, both in Wingham. The team then hosts the Walkerton Capitals on Friday, Jan. 10 for Wingham’s only game of the weekend.

ending in a scoreless draw and the U14 Boys game ending tied at one.

Also that night the U20 Girls lost to the Palmerston Terminators by a score of 2-1 and the U20 Boys beat the Seaforth Hitmen by a score of 3-1.

The next day, the U14 Girls beat Palmerston by a score of 3-0, the U12 Silver team tied the Mildmay Moose at one, the U9 Bullets lost to the Keady Crocs in Brussels by a score of 8-0 and the U12 Bullets lost to their age division’s Keady

Crocs by a score of 3-1, also in Brussels.

The U20 Girls ended their game with the Mildmay Twisted Sisters in a scoreless draw, while the U14 Boys beat Palmerston in Brussels by a score of 6-0. The U16 Girls fought to a scoreless draw with Palmerston in Brussels, as did the U14 Girls with Mildmay, also in Brussels.

The U12 Bullets lost to the Mildmay Hawks by a score of 3-0, Continued on page 11

MERRY M HRISTM MAS

hing you the verry best he New Year Lisa Thomp pson

MPP - Huron-Bruce

lisa.thompsonco@pc c.ola.org • lisathompson nmpp.ca

PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024.

Sports Year winding down for Huron Heat teams U13 B Heat will host the South Huron Sabres in Brussels, the U13 HL Heat will play Lucan/Ilderton in Brussels and the U9 C and U9 HL Heat teams will play two Ilderton Jets teams on the road.

On Jan. 2, 2025, the U13 B Heat will begin its annual Silver Stick Tournament in Sarnia, beginning with a game against the Wallaceburg Lakers that day. In regular season action that night, the U15 A Heat will play the South

Huron Sabres on the road in Hensall.

The next day, the U13 B team will continue its Silver Stick journey with a game against Team Wyoming. Meanwhile, the U18 BB Heat will play in the annual Woodstock Wildcats Tournament, beginning with a game against the hosts, followed by another game that night with the Bluewater Hawks. Also that day in regular Continued on page 11

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Ho-ho-hope your holiday delivers all the happiness and good fortune you deserve!

We’re grateful for your thoughtfulness and support this year, and we look forward to seeing more of you in the new year.

Sweet victory On Sunday at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre, the U15 B Huron Heat hosted the St. Marys Rock and sent them home on the wrong end of a 3-1 score in what was a nice win for the locals as the calendar year winds down. (John Stephenson photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen This weekend, the Huron Heat will play some of the last games of 2024 as the calendar winds down and will soon make way for the 2025 half of the hockey season.

This Saturday, there are 11 games on the Huron Heat schedule in the final action before the holidays. The U9 B Heat will host the Guelph Junior Gryphons in Seaforth, the U15 C Heat will play the Central Perth Predators in Goderich, the U11 C Heat will play the Stratford Aces on the road, the U9 C and U9 HL teams will play a pair of Lambeth Lancers teams in Seaforth and the U13 C Heat will host the Central Perth Predators in Blyth.

Also that day, the U11 HL Heat will play the Lucan Irish in Seaforth and the U18 BB Heat will play the

Guelph Junior Gryphons in Clinton, while, on the road, the U15 A Heat will play the Chatham Crush, the U13 B Heat will play the Mount Forest Rams and the U13 HL team will play Lucan/Ilderton.

On Sunday, the U13 A and U11 A Heat teams will play their South Huron Sabres counterparts in Clinton, while the U9 HL team will play the North Middlesex Junior Stars in an exhibition game on the road and the U11 HL Heat will also play the North Middlesex Junior Stars on the road. The U13 B Heat will play the Central Perth Predators on the road, the Senior C team will host Monkton in Brussels and the U18 C Heat will play the Lucan Irish on the road.

Action will then cease over the holidays with the first Heat games on the schedule after Christmas scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 28.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

That day, the U9 B Heat will play the Wilmot Wolverines in Seaforth, the U11 C Heat will play the Sabres in South Huron, the U9 HL Heat will play the Central Perth Predators in Seaforth, the U13 C Heat will play the Twin Centre Hericanes in Blyth and the U9 C team will play the Lucan Irish in Seaforth.

The next day, the U13 A Heat will play the London Devilettes in Clinton, the U15 B Heat will play South Huron/Lucan in Clinton, the

Join us at the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, January 29th Doors open at 6 pm, Potluck at 6:30 pm at the Melville www.brusselsfallfair.ca Presbyterian Church

At the close of another year, y e ear, we w e gratefully pause to wish y you ou o u a warm and happy Holiday y Season and a peaceful and d prosperous prosperous New Ne wY Year. ear. ear.

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024. PAGE 11.

Broomball gold in Blyth Continued from page 9 while the U14 Boys beat Mildmay in Brussels by a score of 1-0, the U12 Silver team beat the Mildmay Falcons by a score of 3-0 and the U12 Bullets made the trip to Brussels from Seaforth to beat Palmerston by a score of 2-1. The U20 Boys beat the Seaforth Hitmen that day by a score of 3-1, the U16 Girls beat the Seaforth Tornadoes by a score of 4-0 and the U20 Girls lost to Mildmay by a score of 1-0.

That paved the way for a Sunday in which the U14 Boys, U14 Girls and U16 Girls all won gold.

On Tuesday, the U12 Bullets and

Last of the season Blyth Community Betterment hosted its now-annual Santa Claus parade on Saturday, which was a sunny, yet bitter cold day for a parade. It was well-attended and well stocked with floats, making it a parade to remember for the village. (John Stephenson photo)

U12 Silver teams were scheduled to take on the Hawks and Falcons in Mildmay, respectively, while the U20 Boys were to host the Outlaws and the U20 Girls were to welcome the Royals to Blyth, but scores for those games were unavailable.

Those are the final games on the 2024 schedule for Blyth Junior Broomball. The league returns for regular season play on Saturday, Jan. 4 when the U9 Bullets play Seaforth, the U12 Silver team plays the Mildmay Moose, the U12 Bullets play the Mildmay Falcons, the U14 Boys and U16 Boys both play Seaforth teams, all in Blyth.

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U18 Heat play in Silver Stick Continued from page 10 season action the Senior C team will play Milverton on the road.

On Saturday, Jan. 4, the U13 B Heat will play the Ann Arbor Biggby and the North Durham Blades in the Silver Stick tournament, while the U18 BB Heat will continue play in the Woodstock area with a game against the Ilderton Jets. In regular season play that day, the U9 C and U9 HL Heat teams will play two South Huron Sabres teams on the road, the U9 B Heat will play the Woolwich Wild, also on the road, and the U11 HL Heat will play the South Huron Sabres, also on the road.

The U15 C Heat will host the Mitchell Meteors in Goderich, the U13 HL Heat will play the Mooretown Lady Flags on the road, the U11 A Heat will play the St. Thomas Panthers in Blyth, the U9 HL team will play the Aces in Stratford and the Senior team will play the Sepoys in Lucknow.

The next day, Sunday, Jan. 5, the U9 B team will play the London Devilettes on the road, while the U11 A Heat will play the Bluewater Hawks, the U13 HL team will play the Mooretown Lady Flags and the Senior C team will play the Upper Maitland Mustangs, all in Brussels.

Looking back, on Sunday, Dec.

15, the U13 A Heat beat the Mooretown Lady Flags in Clinton by a score of 5-0, the U15 B Heat beat the St. Marys Rock in Brussels by a score of 3-1, the U11 A Heat lost to the Bluewater Hawks in Clinton and the U13 HL Heat lost to the Mooretown Lady Flags by a score of 1-0 in Brussels. Also that day, the U9 C team played the St. Thomas Panthers on the road, the U9 B Heat played the Guelph Junior Gryphons on the road, the Senior C team hosted the Wilmot Wolverines in Brussels and the Senior team played the Woolwich Wild on the road, but scores were not available at press time.

On Saturday, Dec. 14, the U15 C Heat lost to the Mitchell Meteors in Goderich by a score of 3-0, the U13 B Heat beat the South Huron Sabres on the road by a score of 31, the U13 C Heat won an exhibition game with the South Huron Sabres in Blyth by a score of 3-0 and the U13 A Heat ended their game with the London Devilettes on the road in a scoreless draw.

The U11 A Heat beat the London Devilettes on the road by a score of 1-0, while the U15 A Heat lost to the Bluewater Hawks by a score of 5-2 in an exhibition game on the road. The U7 team played the Sarnia Lady Sting on the road and

the U18 BB Heat hosted the Wilmot Wolverines in Clinton, but scores were not available for those games at press time.

That weekend, the U9 HL team played in the Meagan Byers Tournament in Mount Forest and the U18 C Heat played in the annual Silver Stick regional tournament in Saugeen Shores.

The U9 HL team played the host Mount Forest Rams on Friday, followed by Saturday games with the Walkerton Capitals and Kitchener Lady Rangers, but scores were not kept for those games.

On Friday, the U18 C Heat opened their tournament with a 1-1 tie with the Kincardine Kinucks, followed by a 1-0 loss at the hands of the Wingham 86ers and another 1-1 tie, this time with the Sarnia Lady Sting. Their last game of the tournament was on Saturday night and it was a 4-0 loss to the Central Perth Predators.

The lone regular season game on Friday, Dec. 1 was a 3-1 loss for the U11 HL Heat in Blyth to the South Huron Sabres. Back on Tuesday, Dec. 10, the U18 C Heat tied the Ilderton Jets on the road at three and, one night earlier, the U13 C Heat lost to the Twin Centre Hericanes on the road by a score of 1-0.

Warm wishes for a wonderful Christmas and all the best for the New Year

Happy Holidays & Best Wishes!

Skip’s Tirecraft 261 Turnberry St., Brussels

519-887-9700 skipsbrussels.ca

May you and your loved ones rejoice in the miracle of this holy season and may this year hold the birth of new blessings and the promise of lasting peace.

Merry Christmas Shari Karen Sarah Chrissy 36 King Street, Brussels

cibc.com

Howson & Howson Ltd. Flour Mill Blyth ~ 519-523-4241

PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024.

Holidays descend on Walton PEOPLE AROUND WALTON

By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570

Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year. Another year has passed and, as my brother says, “another trip around the sun”. I hope everyone had a good year and that you have happiness and health ahead in 2025.

We had another week of some good and bad weather. The first part of the week was alright, then Wednesday afternoon, in came the blowing snow and it was a nasty bus drive. During the night, it was worse and Thursday was a very nasty, snowy day with many road closures. A good day to stay indoors for sure.

If you have to stay indoors, there is always something to do. My choice of what to do was to bake cookies. I always make shortbread cookies; my grandmother’s recipe.

The first batch is always not quite right. The dough is not quite right, but the second and third batches were much better. The feel - the dough has to have the right feel.

Grandma always cut the dough into Christmas shapes and she made dozens because all her grandchildren loved them. I will admit I cheated this year and just made balls and pressed them down with a fork. But they are still good and I thought of Grandma and the many times she let us girls help. A great Christmas memory for me.

I made a second kind of cookies called Villa Cookies. The recipe came from a Ritz Villa cook in Mitchell. Oatmeal and coconut are my favourite. I have fond memories of Mrs. Gloor and how she made these cookies every Monday when I was coming to work because she knew they were my favourite. She was a lovely lady and that is another great Christmas memory for me.

Our deepest sympathy is extended to Mary Ann Thompson on the sudden passing of her husband Jeff Thompson. He was the loving stepfather of Shauna, Kali and Darby and he will be missed by them and their partners and grandchildren, Reed and Penelope. He will also be missed by the extended Thompson and Bernard families.

Jeff loved animals and it defined him as a person. Time with family, pets and lending a helping hand

were his nature. Our sympathies to all.

Congratulations to Chris and Daneille Jutzi on the birth of a son, Jaxson. He will be welcomed home by big sister Nora. Proud grandparents are Greg and Nanci Ducharme and Jim and Lynn Jutzi.

Congratulations to all.

Coffee Chat for the Walton Hall was all set for Dec. 14, but the weatherman had us changing the plan. We felt many folks would not want to come out, especially if they depend on someone else to clear their snow. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and hope to see you in the new year sometime.

It was quite a day on Friday and quite a milestone for Murray Lowe, or Muzzy as he is known by many.

Murray has been the local barber in Brussels for a very long time and he just celebrated his 80th birthday!

Many of his old friends, customers and even relatives dropped into the shop to have coffee and birthday cake on Murray. But nothing stands in the way of his job, and many had a cut and a piece of cake and a coffee. Murray even received some unique presents, such as new glasses. He can really see well now!

There were lots of laughs with Ruth and John on hand to help.

Even Gary Pipe jumped in to help serve cake. A day to remember, right Murray?

Rick’s sister Karen lives in Calgary and had a nice visit with Jean Bewley in Airdrie recently.

Jean is doing well and wants to say

hi and Merry Christmas to all her old friends in Brussels. Jean will have recently celebrated either her 96th or 97th birthday.

Celebrating birthdays this past week were: Nanci Ducharme, Tracey Eckert, Dustin Fritz, Kim Kruse, Anne Clark, Jody White, Conner Shortreed, Nora Brand, Kevin Gillis, Rob MacGillivary, Peter Strong, David Jacklin, Leanne Nolan, Pam Nolan, Adam Shortreed, Murray Lowe, Stephanie Rijkhoff, Abby Strome, Meg Fritz, Geoff Dalton, Jeff Lewington, Glenn Mader, David Pethick, Natalie Wakabayashi. Happy birthday to all.

Todd Wheeler Insurance Inc. AGENT: TODD WHEELER PO Box 394 75 Sports Dr., Brussels, ON N0G 1H0

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year twheeler@mckillopmutual.com OFFICE: 519-357-0155

Merry Christmas!

We sincerely appreciate everyone who has helped us shape our business.

Thank you for a great year and we wish you all of the best as we embark on 2025!

From Greg, Erin & Larry

NEWS FROM WALTON

MERRY CHRISTMAS! HCPA wishes you all the Best for the NEW YEAR See you in 2025!

From our Home to yours we wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and a healthy & prosperous New Year!

Merry Christmas Barry Elliott Mutual Fund Representative

HUB Capital Inc. 340 Bruce Road 86 R.R. #1 Lucknow, ON N0G 2H0 o: 519-357-1532 c: 519-357-5375

t: 1-877-357-1532 f: 519-357-1532

barry.elliott@hubcapital.ca www.hubcapital.ca

Happy Holidays from the McDonald family and staff

Home Hardware Building Centre 519-887-6277 Brussels 1-800-881-0030

www.mcdonaldhomehardware.com

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024. PAGE 13.

BLYTH Y 519-523-4244

+XURQ7UDFWRU FRP

519-523-4311

www.ruralvoice e.ca

A tenth year in the bush Glimpses of the Past with Karen Webster December 10, 1864 Wawanosh Township United Counties of Huron and Bruce Dearest Mother, I am so sorry to hear of Father’s passing. Your letter was dated Oct. 30, but we have only just received it.

I wish that I could be there to help you at this sad time. Father was such a gentle soul and he will be missed by all, but especially you after your 43 years together.

It is hard to believe that we have been here for 10 years now. We are fortunate to have 41 acres cleared on which to plant our crops. We grow wheat, some oats, potatoes, mangles and hay. I had a good garden this year. The frost kept away until midOctober, which was a real blessing.

A huge undertaking was the building of a barn to shelter the two cows, three pigs and two horses. The neighbours came to help, not only the men to do the construction, but also the women to help me feed the workers. I saw one 16-year-old lad eating six pieces of pie. What an appetite!

The barn isn’t the only building to receive attention recently. We have been able to save enough money to buy mortar to chink between the logs and thus find the house much warmer.

My neighbour, Mrs. Currey, has taught me how to braid rugs that are made of rags for the floors. Robert has added another room to the north of the cabin. We were running out of space when the twins arrived and now that little Rebecca, aged two, has joined the clan, we now number nine in the household. Martha at seven is a middle child who alternates between acting babyish and being quite mature for her age.

Robbie, at almost 17, is able to match his father step by step in the work of our farm. Mary, who is 15, has excelled in her studies at Young’s school and will soon be teaching at a school in Manchester.

Tillie, our first-born Canadian at nine years, is a great help to me with the younger children, James and John, five-year-old twins, and, of course, little Becky.

Last year I was invited to a quilting bee. I did not know what to expect when Elizabeth Shannon of Shannon’s Hill asked me to help make a quilt for her daughter Martha who was about to wed James Sanderson. Although I make all of our own clothes, I didn’t know how to quilt.

The ladies of the neighbourhood gathered together on a Wednesday.

All the younger children came with their mothers and played and napped. Oh what fun there was! We heard all the latest news (and perhaps some gossip as well) as the experienced quilters gave us newcomers hints on how to make small, even stitches. I am proud of my improvements in this craft and hope that when my four girls decide to marry I too can host quilting bees to help them start their own households.

No longer do we have to wind our way through the forest. Instead, there is a roadway on our

concession. Robert is a pathmaster, a foreman who looks after a certain section of the road near our farm.

Each neighbour is expected to donate several days’ labour and the use of a team of horses and wagon to keep the road in passable condition.

This involves digging ditches along the sides of the road, as well as filling in potholes with gravel. In the wintertime, everyone uses sleighs to travel over the snow.

Spring is a different matter, however, when the snow starts melting and low areas of the road become real bog holes.

The roadways have helped us to be less isolated than when we first arrived. There are more and more settlers taking up land and it is nice to have neighbours. We are able to attend church in Nile now that a regular preacher comes there every Sunday.

One of our neighbours subscribes to the Goderich Signal Semi-Weekly newspaper and we receive it secondhand to catch up on what is going on around here and in the world too.

There is much concern in the neighbourhood about the American war. We have heard of at least one area young man who has headed south to join the fighting.

Also in that newspaper are many advertisements about farms up for sale because of non-payment of back taxes. So far, we have been able to keep up with our taxes and the payments on the farm. It is hard work, but we believe this is the best place to raise our children.

Through the newspaper, we learned of the annual exhibition of the County of Huron’s Agricultural Society last September. Robert was determined to win the $40 prize offered by the Canada Company for the best 10 bushels of fall wheat. He placed third and as result received $10, a real windfall for our family.

I must close now, Mother. If only we were closer to help you during this sad time. Perhaps, one day soon, you might consider coming to see us. Is it possible that you would consider coming to Canada to make your home with us? I understand that

it only takes eight to nine days to cross the Atlantic in the newer steam boats. They would give you much better accommodation than what we had.

With much love, your daughter, Nancy

Candy cane Christmas Members of Mrs. Bell’s Kindergarten class at Hullett Central Public School sang all about the joys of peppermint candy canes at their annual Christmas concert on Tuesday. From left: Gray Courtney, Tallulah Loughlin, Myla Jenkins and Brandi Graham. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

BOXING DAY CASE SALE

Merry Christmas Wishing all our friends and customers a very Merry Christmas and we look forward to seeing you in the new year!

The Stocking Stuffer Store!!

CHOCOLATE TREATS AND GIFTWARE FOR EVERYONE!

SWEETS N’ TREATS 413 Queen Street, Blyth 226-523-6336

Boxing Day Case Sale is valid on December 27, 28, 29, 2024 at the brewery only. Offer applies to select cases only. Available while supplies last. No substitutions.

PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024.

Classified Advertising

Help wanteed

– RATES – 20 words or less only $9.00 + HST Additional words 25¢ ea. + HST

A Career That Connects C Yo You With Comm munity

DEADLINE 2 p.m. Tuesday Phone 519-523-4792 e-mail: info@northhuron.on.ca

Articles for sale GERBERS FIREWOOD SER RV VING you for over 15 years. Y Yo our number one source of quality slabwood and bodywood. y Delivery y available. No Sunday calls. 519-274-1236, 519441-2085.

------------------------------------------FOR SALE - 2008 T To orrent. 155,000 kms. Asking 2400 as is. 519-3574600.

------------------------------------------REPRINTS OF PHOTOS taken by Citizen photographers are available to purchase. All are in colour. 4x6 $5.00, 5x7 - $6.00, 8x10 - $10.00.

Phone to order 519-523-4792 or email info@northhuron.on.ca ------------------------------------------THE CITIZEN IS AV VA AILABLE TO purchase at these locations - Auburn Esso, Belgrave Variety Va y,, Blyth Food Market, Blyth V Vaariety, Blyth Ultramar, Brussels Foodland, Brussels Vaariety, V Clinton Convenience, Clinton Foodland, Fogal's YIG (Wingham), Seaforth Foodland, Fincher's (Goderich), Goderich V Viictoria St Shell, Goderich Petro-Canada Gas Bar, and The Citizen offffice in Blyth.

HELP WA W ANTED Community Correespondent for Lucknow The Citizen is lookingg for a community correspon ndent to e news of tell our readers all the Lucknow and area.

Call To Today y 519-523-4792 or email: info@northhuron n.on.ca

The Citizen

Swap shop Citizen-To-Ci o tizen “SW WAP SHO OP” ad Call 519-523-47 792 or email: info@northhu uron.on.ca

Celebrate on Christmas Day with friends. Noon Christmas Day dinner at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship.All are welcome! Call Alice (519-887-6705, calls only. No text messages) to reserve a plate or for more information.

------------------------------------------KARA AT TE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL! SCHWEITZER'S MAR RT TIAL AR RT TS - 6 weeks plus uniform only $139.99! Taxes extra. Beginners only. Join now or give as a gift.

Special ends Jan. 4, 2025. Group classes for ages 4 to adult. Classes taught by Renshi Becky Schweitzer, 4th Degree Black Belt and 12X World Karate Champion. Location at Wo Hutton Heights Community Church - 21 Lloyd Street, W Wiingham. Call 519-580-1418 or e-mail becky_schweitzer@hotmail.com www.schweitzersmartialarts.com

• Free ad up to 25 words, wordss person to person only (no businesses), items valued at $1,000 or less. Price must be included in your ad.Y Yo our ad will run three times unless it sells faster!

• The Citizen reserves the right to limit the number of items or ads per person.

FREE - Five-foot artificial Christmas tree. Completely decorated with lights.

519-523-9274.

49-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Snow roof rake, 2 ld electric snow extensions, $20, 0, o free thrower. 519-482-7502 2S 7502 48-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Y Yaardworks 10.5 hp/29” snowblower, 6 speed/2 speed, has reverse, electric start, used very little, asking $725.

Call 519-525-1863.

47-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Seventy gallon fish tank and stand. Complete with Eheim 350 filtration system, heater, bubbler, light, python cleaning system. T Tw wo clown loaches and some other fish. $450., 519-440-8390.

47-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Three pictures of old John Deere tractors, 22”x12” in one frame, $10; Patrick Roy 200 piece puzzle, never been used, $10; child’s doll, $10. Phone 519357-9467.

47-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Vintage 8” Beaver table saw, great condition, moveable base, fence, mitre gauge and long 18 ft. heavy cord. $50 or best offffer. Please text 519887-9577.

47-3 --------------------------------------------------

Help wanted

Help wanted

Coming events

CLWD IS HIRING!

Community Living Wingham & District is wanting you to join our team.

If you are an energetic person who loves people we want to meet you.

All PSW’s or DSW’s Apply T To oday!

Send résumé to lizl@wdcla.org or drop offff in person at 153 John St., W., Wingham

All word ads in The Citizen classifieds are put on our webpage at www.huroncitizen.ca

Christmas is coming Ms. Cameron and Mrs. Clark’s Kindergarten A class at Maitland River Elementary School were busy singing, dancing and spreading holiday cheer last week as the school held its annual Christmas concerts for parents, classmates and community members. From left: Abby, Maddox, Presley, Zoey, Grayson, Marley, Bassel and Rylynn. (Scott Stephenson photo)

Turkey Bingo well-attended PEOPLE AROUND BELGRAVE

By Linda Campbell Call 357-2188

The card results for Friday, Dec. 13 are: high gold card, Gayle Neil; most shoots gold card, Fran Breckenridge; high white card, Blair Liebold, and most shoots white card, Dave Caesar.

The next card party is set for Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 at 1 p.m. at the Belgrave Community Centre.

All are welcome.

The Belgrave Kinsmen held their annual Turkey Bingo at the community centre on Friday, Dec. 13 and it was very well-attended. I think after two weeks of snowy weather, people had cabin fever and were eager to get out of the house.

On Sunday, Dec. 15, Rev. Colin Snyder welcomed the congregation to Knox United Church in

Belgrave. “Happy Birthday” was sung to Connie Shiell, whose birthday is Dec. 16, and Dorothy McLaren, whose birthday is Dec. 18.

On Dec. 24 at 7 p.m., there will be a Christmas Eve service at Knox United Church in Belgrave.

Everyone is welcome.

Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Jeff Olson, who passed away on Dec. 13. He leaves to mourn his wife, Mickey, sister Joanne and brother Mark.

On Sunday, Kimberly Arnold held her “Christmas from the Heart” concert at Memorial Hall in Blyth. John and I enjoyed the show as a tribute to the great Rita McNeil.

Happy birthday to Aleah Liebold on Dec. 23. Have a fun day celebrating your fourth birthday.

We miss you in the village, but you’re not far away.

Our first day of winter happens on Dec 21. We managed to get an early winter with snow blizzard conditions and some of the highways being closed and the school buses being cancelled. I don’t suppose any of the students

complained, because they had days off from school.

Now our snow is disappearing because of the mild temperatures and rain. Hopefully we have snow for Christmas, but not blizzards.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season. Stay safe!

NEWS FROM BELGRAVE

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024. PAGE 15.

‘Arf’ to be trilogy Continued from page 2 on the book or taking a break, however, he said the book was always on his mind. As he would lie in bed trying to get to sleep at night, he said he couldn’t stop his brain from coming up with scenarios for the characters he’d created or ideas on where their stories should take them next. To that point, he’s already done a lot of the planning work on a second book, which he hopes would be published by the early summer of 2026, if not sooner, and brainstorming some ideas for a third book that would conclude the trilogy.

After Potvin self-published the book, complete with cover art he created himself, he began sending

Comin’ right at ya On Monday, the students of North Woods Elementary School just outside of Ethel spread holiday cheer with their annual Christmas concert. Among those working to connect with those in attendance were, from left, Eric Kellington, Iris Pipe and Emily Holthuysen. (Scott Stephenson photo)

Obituaries

KENNETH ALBERT HUNKING Kenneth Albert Hunking of Wingham, formerly of Hullett Township and Toronto, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 at Wingham and District Hospital in his 82nd year.

Ken was born on Oct. 18, 1943 in Blyth to Henry Rundle Hunking and Marion Harriett (Quinn) Hunking, both of whom predeceased Ken. Ken is survived by his sister

Shirley Irene Norman and her family: Darlene Elliott (Ray Eckel), Bill, Cheryl (Larry) Scherbarth, David, Jenn (Tyson) Arts, Julia and

by Shirley’s six grandchildren: Miranda, Austin, and Ethan Scherbarth, and Rylee, Emma, and Dylan Arts.

Ken was predeceased by his sister Bernice (2010), nephew Don Elliott (2007), and brother-in-law Wallace Norman (2001).

Ken joined CIBC (The Commerce) in Auburn in 1962, serving several branches in southwestern Ontario. He was then transferred to Toronto, enjoying many years of work and life there.

After a long career in banking, he returned home to the Hunking farm.

Friends were received at Falconer Funeral Home, Clinton, on Friday Dec. 13 and again on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Londesborough United Church. The funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Spring interment will be at Hope Chapel Cemetery, Hullett Township.

As expressions of sympathy,

Merry Christmas With best wishes and gratitude this holiday season. It’s been great getting to know you, and we look forward to seeing you again next year!

McClinchey South End Auto Wayne McClinchey

82991 London Road, South of Blyth

519-523-4424

memorial donations to the Londesborough United Church or the Wingham and District Hospital Foundation would be appreciated.

Messages of condolence for the Hunking family are welcome at www.falconerfuneralhomes.com.

copies out into the world, but the Children’s Business Market in Clinton was a bit of a big break for him. There, he sold dozens of books and won the aforementioned Young Entrepreneur Business of the Year Award. Potvin said he was proud of how his book was received at the market and pretty surprised, but pleased when he was told that he’d won the prestigious award.

Since then, he’s reached out to a number of local book stores and you can now buy the first installment in the Arf series at Fincher’s in Goderich and The Village Toy Castle in Brucefield in addition to a number of the branches of the Huron County Library.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Have a beautiful Christmas • manicures ~ try shellac nails • pedicures • facials • reflexology • waxing • tinting • paraffin wax therapy

HEIDI’S ESTHETICS

42043 Blyth Rd., Walton

519-887-9348

Have a safe and happy holiday.

Stumpy’s Tree Service

519-482-3976 Dave Bernard

PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024.

From the Minister’s Study

Jesus is no stranger to difficult journeys: Jebson

By Rev. Alex Jebson, Blyth and Brussels United Churches The Advent and Christmas seasons often have unwelcome, uncomfortable, or forced journeys.

Having to pick up your nosy Aunt Roberta and grumpy Uncle Marty from the airport, listening to them bicker for hours about the temperature and the other relations and the “damn kids these days”.

White-knuckling it as you try to guess which part of the stretch in front of you is road and which is the ditch. Trudging over to the neighbours’ with a barely-cooked bird after your partner blew the power trying to outdo last year’s Christmas light display, hoping that they have space in their oven. It’s a wonder any of us dare to venture out of our doors come Christmas.

Chances are, many of you reading this are on journeys we didn’t want or anticipate. I know I am this year.

Perhaps you’re on a journey in a change of relationship, employment or housing. Perhaps this is your first holiday travelling without a trusted and loved companion. Or you might be swept up in the feelings of unease and fear when it comes to global conflicts and local hardships; situations over which we feel like we have no power or say. We just want off this ride.

In the nostalgia and joy that comes with the narrative of the birth of Jesus, we often gloss over the journey that Mary and Joseph had forced upon them. We all recognize the discomfort that Mary must have been in, heavily pregnant during the journey, and we all make the same joke about whether Joseph or the donkey was the bigger youknow-what on the trip. But this journey was far less desired than we might first recognize. Miles upon miles in rough terrain, with hardly any solid footing and hills and valleys galore. No assurance of what accommodations might be at the end of the journey, let alone a place fit to give birth to the Son of Man. All of this was to appease the Romans, often-harsh occupiers who wanted to get a head count of everyone in the region so they could better exploit its people and resources. An entire population, having no power to refuse someone half a world away demanding they make unwanted journeys back to their hometowns. And in the same vein of greed and power and status, in a few short years the Holy Family would once again take an unwanted and forced journey, this time as refugees fleeing the wrath of King Herod, escaping to Egypt on foot.

Whether it was a couple in tough circumstances 2,000 years ago, or in our own lives today, we are often faced with these tough journeys.

And while we might want to focus on the gift at the end of that journey, found wrapped in swaddling clothes, it’s important that we take a moment to unwrap the gifts that can be found on the journey itself.

On the undesired journey, we often unwrap the gift of perspective and discernment. When we feel like things are out of our control, and we aren’t able to stay in the comfort of the familiar, the journey can help us open our eyes to the ways that other people see the world. In losing or leaving behind what we have known and treasured, we can take some time to figure out what exactly is important in our lives, and what we can do with our lives

to live out our discipleship in more driven and faithful ways. Perhaps some of those traditions or assumptions or temptations to compare ourselves to others that have a grip on us can be faithfully tossed out the window on this journey. After all, the Christ we journey towards this Christmas is the one whose yoke is easy and burden is light.

We often unwrap the gift of

solidarity and justice. We are tempted to ignore the pains of the world and the unjustness of the journey with a veneer of twinkle lights and fruitcake. But, in faith, we use our own experiences of these tougher journeys to advocate for and empathize with others. To stand hand-in-hand with people who are pushed around by the powers that be, who are left on the outside looking in.

The Anglican Churches of Blyth, Seaforth and Wingham Welcome You to Sunday Service!

Trinity: 9:00 a.m. Parish of the Holy Spirit: 9:30 a.m. St. Paul’s-Trinity: 11:00 a.m.

21 Jarvis St. Seaforth 519-527-1522

166 Dinsley St. W, Blyth revjoann@hurontel.on.ca The Regional Ministry of Hope

23 John St E Wingham 519-357-4883

holyspirit@tcc.on.ca

stpauls@hurontel.on.ca

www.holyspiritseaforth.ca

www.regionalministryof hope.com

After all, the Mary who undertook that unjust journey at the hands of the Romans is the same Mary who sings about God scattering the proud and lifting up the lowly. In a year when wars and

genocides rage on and the most vulnerable in our local communities are villainized, the journey to the manger must include our walking alongside those in pain and those Continued on page 17

Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Come worship with us Sundays at 10:00 am All are welcome

Christ is born in Bethlehem

Interim Pastor Elwin Garland 250 Princess St., Brussels • 519-887-6388

Service Livestreamed Sundays at 11 a.m. on our facebook page

The Regional Ministry of

Evangelical Missionary Church

Huron Chapel Upcoming Services Sunday Dec. 22 - 10:30 am Fourth Sunday of Advent: Pastor Mike Stanley Christmas Love John 1:1-16

Sunday, December 22 & 29 at 10 a.m.

Tuesday Dec. 24

BMG Community Centre (upstairs room) 800 Sports Drive, Brussels

Tradition Candlelight Christmas Eve Service starting at 6 pm

Childcare and Sunday School provided for children 0 to 8 during the sermon

Oh Come Let Us Adore Him!

All are welcome to join us December 25th at 10 am for a Christmas service!

Sunday Dec. 29 - 10:30 am Guest Speaker Tim Whatley

On-site and online - live.huronchapel.com To talk to Pastor Mike please email pastormike@huronchapel.com

Nursery & Sunday School during worship 119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131

More details at: brusselscommunitybiblechapel.ca

BRUSSELS

United Church Chur

Blyth United Church Sunday, December 22 ~ Service at 9:30 am Tuesday, December 24 ~ Christmas Eve Service at 7 pm Sunday, December 29 ~ No service in Blyth, join with Brussels at 11 am “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:3 The outreach program for December is Gifts with Vision.

4th Sunday of Adv ve ent – Christmas Worship Service December 22 at 11 a.m.

Come celebrate with us All arre welcome Tuesday y,, Dec. 24, 7 p.m. everyone is invited to o Christmas Eve Service at Melville Presbyterian Chu urch Sunday y, Dec. 29, 11 a.m. a Joint Brussels/Blyth Wors ship s Lessons and Carols – bring your at Brussels, Christmas y extra Christmas goodies to share following the serv vice.

Sunday y, January 5, 2 2025 Worship Service at 11 a.m.

Contact Alex at ministe er.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.co y @g om Website: brusselsandblythuc.ca b P.O. Box 359,, Brussels ~ 519-887-6259 P.

Contact Alex at: minister.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches blythunited@tcc.on.ca ~ 519-523-4224

MEL LV VILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS

Sunday, December 22, 2024 9:30 a.m.

We extend a loving welcome to all to join us as Doug Sargent leads us in a service of carols and lessons on the fourth Sunday of Advent.

Sunday, December 22 Wednesday e , December 25 Friday, December 27

Tuesday Dec. 24 at 7p.m. - We invite all to join us in a Christmas Eve service led by Rev. Peter Nijp. Please come, as we worship together on this Holy Night.

Merry Christmas!

Free Skating 10:30 -11:30am at the Blyth arena a

Sunday, December 29, 2024

Sunday, December 29

9:30 a.m.

We extend a loving welcome to all to join us as Doug Sargent leads us in worship, prayer and praise to God. May you have a blessed New Year.

Soup & More 2 Friday, December 20: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Please come and celebrate Christmas with us, as we share in a meal featuring turkey and all the trimmings! We look forward to serving you!

This will be the last meal for the year.

No meal on Dec 27. Kitchen renovation taking place. Thank you to all who have made this possible!

We will reopen on Friday Jan. 10, 2025.

For pastoral care concerns please call 519-524-7512

Services a are re llive-streamed ive-streamed a and nd c can an b be e ffound o by searching ““Blyth Blyth C Christian hristian R Reformed eformed C Church” h

BLYTH H CHRISTIAN REFOR RMED CHURCH Hwy. 4 www.blythcr . c.ca

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024. PAGE 17.

Support one another in love this Christmas Continued from page 16 being pushed aside.

And on this journey to the manger, we unwrap the gift of love.

In our tougher journeys in life, on the other side we often find out who our real friends are; the ones who trudged alongside us and even carried us when our steps faltered; the ones whom we might have thought we couldn’t love or appreciate, but in grace and compassion we grow to embrace.

Like Mary and Joseph supporting one another in love, we are inspired by the love we shall meet in the manger to share love with those around us on the difficult journeys.

I could go on, but in many ways, it is in our own personal journey that we unwrap and unravel these gifts on the road. And that is because God is on the tougher and unwanted journeys with us. Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God-with-us, was born in the midst of such a journey, because God so desires and loves to be with us. To be with us as a vulnerable babe in the middle of nowhere, to grow up and have His ministry be an undesirable and tough journey in many ways, Jesus makes it known that God is with us. Every step, every turn, every passenger - all are an opportunity to unwrap a little more of the Holy Mystery that is our wondrous and loving God. If you are on tough journeys this Christmas season, I pray that you may unwrap the comfort, healing, and hope that God provides. If you are having a smoother crossing, I pray that you may unwrap the call to help others on their journeys. I will wrap this up with a poem by Madeleine L’Engle, entitled “Into the Darkest Hour”.

“It was a time like this, War and tumult of war, a horror in the air.

Hungry yawned the abyssand yet there came the star and the child most wonderfully there.

It was time like this of fear and lust for power, license and greed and blightand yet the Prince of bliss came into the darkest hour in quiet and silent light.

And in a time like this how celebrate His birth when all things fall apart?

Ah! Wonderful it is with no room on the earth the stable is our heart.”

Thanks be to God. Amen.

OPP seeks assistance Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is investigating a series of incidents that took place in Blyth between Saturday, Nov. 30 and Sunday, Dec. 1.

Huron County OPP received information that an individual had trespassed and committed offences on several properties in Blyth.

As a result of the investigation, a 27-year-old North Huron resident has been charged with four counts of Trespassing at Night, two counts of Criminal Harassment (besetting and watching), Criminal Harassment (repeatedly follow), two counts of Indecent Act, Being Unlawfully in a Dwelling House, and Fail to Comply with Probation.

The accused was arrested on Dec. 11, processed at the Huron OPP detachment, and held for a bail hearing where they were remanded into custody.

Police continue to investigate the incidents and are seeking the public’s help. If anyone observed or had an interaction with a suspicious male between Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, police would like to hear from you. If you have any home video surveillance that may be relevant, please contact the OPP. This case’s reference number is E241589568.

The holidays are here After a week of snow-related closures, Maitland River Elementary School held its annual Christmas concerts on Monday, Dec. 9, with the Kindergarten classes first taking centre stage, followed by the Grade 1-2 students later that afternoon. From left: Andre, Avery, Lily, Aiden, Cassidy, Harper, Evangeline and Noah were among the Kindergarten B students who made it their mission to spread holiday cheer that day. (Scott Stephenson photo)

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PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024.

Happy Holidays!

Add a visit to the Huron County Museum this holiday season!

HOLIDAY HOLIDA Y HOURS: Monday, Dec. 23

Saturrday, Dec. 28

Tuesday, Dec. 24

Sund day, Dec. 29

Wednesday, Dec. 25

Mond day, Dec. 30

Thursday, Dec. 26

Tuesday, Dec. 31

Friday, Dec. 27

Wedn nesday, Jan. 1

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024. PAGE 19.

Third generation of Joslings answers the call the gear… everything has changed since I was a little guy seeing my dad run out in a petch coat and tall boots.”

Jacob remembers how it felt when he was just a little guy watching his dad disappear. “It’s definitely different. Growing up, you never really knew if dad was gonna be there or not, just because the calls. I grew up around the fire hall anyway, and as long as I’ve lived, I’ve always wanted to be part of it. It’s a perspective I’ve got that no one else gets to have.”

Emily’s current dream job is working for ORNGE embarking on rescue missions, but she’s willing to

consider any work that will help her to help others. She feels lucky to have grown up with the guidance of her fire-fighting family. “It’s really influenced my career path, I’m wanting to become a paramedic and a firefighter,” she said. “Just because I grew up looking at my dad and seeing him like, accomplishing big things and saving other people just really influenced me that way.”

She knows what it takes to be a great firefighter - she’s been around them all her life! She’s observed that you need more than just brute strength to get the job done. “You Continued on page 20

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Fighting fire with family The Josling family has proudly carried a legacy of firefighting through three generations, dedicating themselves to courage and community service. Pictured in the front row, from left to right, are Kyle Josling, Emily Josling, Dianne Josling and Jacob Josling. In (Scott the back row, from left to right, are Jett Broome, Kelsey Long and Jeff Josling.

Stephenson photo)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen The Joslings are, without doubt, one of the bravest families in Blyth.

They’ve now been fighting fires in the area for three generations, which is certainly an achievement worthy of being immortalized as part of the public record.

Dianne Cook knew Paul Josling was a volunteer firefighter when she married him in the spring of 1976. She was well aware that the life of a firefighter’s wife is often punctuated by sudden exits, missed moments and sleepless nights, but she married him just the same. They moved into a little house in Blyth that Paul had built with his own two hands, and the young couple set about building a life together. Time and again, the shrill song of the town fire alarm sent Paul sprinting out the door towards danger.

Eventually, he became Blyth’s Fire Chief. Dianne was proud, but she was also worried.

Paul Josling went on to serve for 37 years on the Blyth and District Fire Department and later the Fire Department of North Huron. He was also the Huron County Mutual Fire Aid Co-ordinator, the first board member of the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund, a pastpresident of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association.

He was a Crime Stopper, a Master Mason, a Lion, a builder, and a great dad.

As their son Jeff got older, he decided that he wanted to follow his father on that sprint out the door, so he became a firefighter. He eventually had children of his own: Kyle, Jacob and Emily. Jacob decided that he wanted to follow his father on that sprint out the door, so he became a firefighter too. Emily is hoping to someday work in emergency services. Kyle pretty much grew up in the fire hall with Jacob and Emily, but he’s always

been more interested in breakfast than backdrafts.

Jeff feels that growing up amidst the ever-present threat of potential emergency has made his family see the world just a little bit differently.

“Most kids go bonkers over fire trucks and for me, and for my kids, they’re just fire trucks,” he explained. “I grew up in the fire hall, I grew up with dad running out on calls - just being around it all the time. It’s not a fascinating thing for us. It’s just another thing.”

Somewhere along the way, Jeff found a kindred spirit in fellow firefighter Kelsy Long. Her father, Dave Long, was the Hensall Fire Station Chief until his welldeserved retirement a few years ago. “My dad joined the fire

department like, a month after I was born,” she recalled. “I grew up going to parades and being around the fire hall… and having my dad run out on birthdays, and family Christmas and different things like that, and worrying about him, hearing the pager go off in the middle of the night; you’re always worrying about your family when they’re out on calls.” Of course, that worry never quite extinguished her interest in her dad’s dangerous job. “Obviously, it influenced me enough that my brother and myself both became firefighters.”

Jeff pointed out how much has changed in the years between Paul’s first day as a firefighter and Jacob’s first day. “Technology has changed so much,” he said. “The fire trucks,

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PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024.

Paul Josling’s firefighting legacy continues

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Passing the torch Paul Josling receives the fire chief’s helmet from Irvin Bowes in 1988, a pivotal moment that marked the beginning of Josling’s tenure as Blyth’s Fire Chief. Bowes, recognizing Josling’s exceptional dedication and natural leadership, approached him the year before to step into the role. Over the next two decades, Josling would guide the department through countless challenges and transformations, including the eventual amalgamation that created the North Huron Fire Department in 2010. Known for his calm under pressure and unwavering commitment to his community, Josling left a legacy of service, integrity and resilience that continues to inspire his family and fellow firefighters to this day. (File photo) Continued from page 19 have to have thick skin,” she pointed out. “To see what happens, and then go home and take care of your family, like my dad did, you have to be strong that way emotionally and physically.”

In Jeff’s opinion, it takes more than just fatherly inspiration to choose to go into the Josling family business. “You’ve got to have some screws loose to do what we do, for very little money. You have to want to help people. If you're not in it to do that, you're definitely not in it for the money because there's no money in it,” he explained. “It’s a physical job. I've always said, ‘it's the hardest job you'll ever love.”

Because we all love it, and that's

why we do it. It's to help people and it's pretty cool to ride in the big red fire truck, too. We’re kind of adrenaline junkies - like, it gets in your blood on your first call. You can't describe it any other way.”

Jacob can already feel the job changing him. “Within the last few months I’ve gone from never having to worry about anything, I'd run my car out of gas all the time, whatnot, right? But now that I'm in the department - it’s a little more important. You become more responsible, really quickly. I sleep differently. When I'm at work, I'm different. Everything about my life is different now, because I have this other responsibility that's always there. It could be five o'clock in the

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afternoon or five o'clock in the morning, or any time of day - I could get called out. And it doesn't matter if I'm really sore or if I'm in perfect shape, that responsibility is always there, right? It’s a proud feeling… it's good to know that at any time of the day, someone can call, and I can be there to try and help them,” he concluded sagely.

Dianne sees so much of her late husband in her courageous children and grandchildren.

They’re dedicated, caring, smart, and just a little bit stubborn, just like him.

“Paul would be so proud,” she said.

“I'm sure he's just up there beaming - he would never have imagined this. And I am so proud! But also, I worry.”

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PAGE A1. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024.

Home for the Holidays Stories and Traditions, Past and Present

A special supplement to

The Citizen December 20, 2024

PAGE A2. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024.

Norgates cherish time together over holidays perfect for the holidays.

Cindy, on the other hand, grew up in rural Tennessee and only came to Canada in the late 2010s. In fact, the first white Christmas of her life was her first year here: 2017.

However, growing up in the U.S., Cindy says it wasn’t all about Christmas down there like it is up here.

Thanksgiving was the big get-

together for her family and many of her neighbours, which then, much more so than in Canada, leads right into the Christmas season.

She grew up in a small farming community and her family did its best and the holidays were always special. When she was a little girl, she still had many of her greatgrandparents with her, so they Continued on page A3

A cherished time Jeff and Cindy Norgate of Blyth do their best to spend as much time together as possible during the holidays, with somewhat of a checklist of things to do from the lead-up to Christmas all the way through New Year’s Day. Christmas time is also Jeff’s trains’ time to shine, as it’s tough to take a step in their home without coming close to one aspect or another of his extensive set-up. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen The holiday season is quiet for Jeff and Cindy Norgate of Blyth, but they really wouldn’t have it any other way. In their apartment in the village, they have a perfect view of snow-covered trees in the winter that makes them feel as though they’re a million miles away from their closest neighbour.

Jeff, who spent many years with CKNX in Wingham, and Cindy, who is now a teacher at Clinton’s Huron Christian School, have somewhat of a routine for Christmas, New Year’s and the time in between, but it mostly involves spending time together, just the two of them. However, it wasn’t always that way.

Jeff grew up in downtown Toronto, living there until he was a

young adult, moving to Owen Sound to begin his career in radio.

In his younger years, he remembers the omnipresent food and music of the holiday season. When he was a boy in Toronto, he said there were always special holiday treats on the table and music in the air.

His mother, born in England, was always busy in the kitchen and one particular treat he remembers from the holidays is trifle. He and his family would enjoy the uniquely British dessert only around the holidays, so he’s always associated it with Christmas.

Thinking back at memorable Christmas gifts, two of his life’s greatest passions could be traced back to gifts around the holidays.

First, he remembers his mother getting a small transistor radio. The magic of that early radio play, of course, would pave the way for

Jeff’s future career in radio - to the point that he still has a functioning transistor radio in their apartment, which he listens to at least once a day, taking in frequencies from Detroit, usually the local news, all the way to Blyth.

The other was his very first miniature train when he was about seven years old. It was a Lionel, he said, one of the most famous miniature train manufacturers in the world and it has led to something between an obsession and a hostile takeover of their apartment, which is now adorned with multiple trains and full town settings, many of which Jeff has built himself from scratch. It has continued to expand over the years and Jeff cherishes his beloved trains, which are so beautiful and unique and really shine when Christmas rolls around, with so many of the settings being

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024. PAGE A3.

The Reading Web with Cindy Norgate

M

erry Christmas. Happy Holidays. Peace. Good will toward men. Giving.

Kindness. Aren’t those words we hear every holiday season? Have you ever thought about how interesting that is? Why do we choose to be so jolly and giving this time of year? Some might say it is because this is the time of year when we celebrate the birth of Jesus; the Greatest Gift of All. Others, who are non-Christian, might say how nice it is to set aside one time each year to be extra loving to our fellow man.

What is a meaningful way you can teach your child to give to others during this holiday season instead of only thinking about themselves? For this question I turned to the Vancouver Psychology Centre’s article entitled, “Crushing the Want, Want, Want Mood This Holiday (2006)”. One strategy, according to the article, is to offer a 5:1 wish-list ratio. “This could be a year in which a child identifies five things or gifts they’d like to give or five efforts they’d like to make, to every one item they’d like to receive. This idea helps to keep the #want-want-want

more balanced with some give-givegiving energy.” For example, Give 1 - Give five coins from my piggy bank to the Salvation Army; Give 2 Bake cookies for my teacher; Give 3 - Give my hamster an extra scoop of crunchy corn snacks; Give 4 - Make a paper cut-out snowflake for my sister; Give 5: Make a Christmas card for my bus driver, and Want 1 I’d like any kind of new game for my gaming system.”

You can read other ideas by viewing the full article at vancouverpsychologycentre.com/ crushing-the-want-want-wantmood-this-holiday/ For our reading choice, I chose Kittyboy’s Christmas: A Heartwarming Christmas Tale about the Magic of Giving by Amy Ella Blanchard. According to Amazon, “Kittyboy’s Christmas is a heartwarming tale about the magic of giving, perfect for readers who love the festive spirit of the holidays.

In this charming story, a playful stray kitten named Kittyboy finds an unexpected home with a lonely bachelor during Christmas. As the doctor discovers letters addressed to

Santa Claus, he is inspired to bring joy to children in need, reminding readers of the true spirit of the season - kindness, connection, and the joy of giving.”

The children will soon be home for the holidays, so there should be a lot of extra time, hopefully, to spend time with them. I hope you will take time to make a cup of hot chocolate or apple cider, cozy up, and spend time reading with the young ones in your life. There are a multitude of good books to share. If you can’t afford to purchase books, then your local library offers a card for free.

Remember, if you don’t spend time with them now, it will slip away before you realize it. I’ve never heard a parent say, “I spent too much time with my children.” You only have one chance to raise them. Make it count. You can do this! Remember, I’m always cheering for you.

As I leave you now, for 2024, I hope you and your family have a joyous holiday. I urge you to remember the many individuals who are sad, lonely and depressed this season. While your family might feel joy and happiness, which is

wonderful, please take some time to find a way for you and your family to serve someone else. What a valuable lesson for your children!

“Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see.” Chris Van Allsburg

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A white Christmas now essential Continued from page A2 always tried to get together whenever they could and Thanksgiving and Christmas were among those times.

She remembers getting up early, maybe 5:30 a.m. or so, and coming downstairs to see the tree all lit up, the cookies eaten and milk drunk and presents under the tree for her and her brother, left by Santa. She remembers gifts like dolls and stockings with an orange left for her. One year, when there wasn’t an orange in her stocking, Cindy asked her mother, who responded by saying that she had spoken with Santa, who said they weren’t available to him this year. Cindy remembers being blown away by the fact that her mother had some face time with the big guy.

As they grew into adults and had their own families, Jeff and Cindy both had children in their earlier families before they even knew the other one existed.

One of Jeff’s sons was born on Dec. 23, so that Christmas was spent in the delivery room, but Jeff has since worked to make his birthday special every year in the hopes of not letting it get swirled up into the Christmas vortex each year.

With Cindy’s children, she said that, despite not having a ton of money to work with, she always wanted to make the holidays special for them, coming up with activities like making their own Christmas ornaments to get into the spirit.

Now, together, all these years later, Jeff and Cindy have quiet, one-on-one holidays. They always try to take in a Christmas show sometime before the big day and they cherish the time between Christmas and New Year’s together as a time in which they can just lie back, relax and enjoy each other’s company without the trappings of work or responsibility.

They have a handful of Christmas movies they try to watch every year,

like A Christmas Story, A Christmas Carol, The Polar Express and others and really keep to themselves on Christmas Day. And although it’s just the two of them, they always prepare a full Christmas dinner to enjoy.

But it doesn’t end there. Cindy always makes a point to indulge in a particularly southern tradition on New Year’s Day, which is to make a meal of pork, black-eyed peas, greens and more - a meal that, through its symbolism, is meant to bring wealth and good fortune in the new year to those who eat it.

Both agree that the holidays just don’t feel right without snow. For Jeff and Cindy, it simply has to be a white Christmas, despite the fact that this is a new concept for Cindy.

Cindy’s first white Christmas was in 2017, shortly after she moved to Canada, but now she sees it as being synonymous with Christmas and doesn’t know how she lived without it for all those years.

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PAGE A4. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024.

Charlie Brown means Christmas in Main home

A new era Phil Main and his wife Ally have now brought together their holiday traditions (an early Main Christmas can be seen at right) to make entirely new ones. This comes as Phil begins to enjoy semi-retirement after being the voice of southwestern Ontario radio for decades.

(Courtesy photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen It is fitting, perhaps, that the predominant Christmas memory of one of the area’s most prolific radio presenters has its roots in music.

For Goderich’s Phil Main, longtime CKNX on-air personality and

man about town, the holidays simply aren’t the holidays without A Charlie Brown Christmas.

That iconic music - performed by the Vince Guaraldi Trio - signals that it’s the holidays for Main. He always has to watch the special or listen to the music over the holidays and then, and only then, does he

A Beautiful Season Warmest thoughts and best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year from Our Family and Staff to Yours!

- Vern Steffler

truly feel as though Christmas has arrived.

And he’s not alone. Just recently, one of his adult children told him that she has an almost-Pavlovian response to hearing that music that brings her back to opening presents as a child with her dad. She told him that she had heard the music out in the world and was immediately transported back to Huron County for a Christmas of old.

Indeed, Main says that he would always get up in the morning and brew a pot of coffee and put the music on (or play the special on the T.V.) on Christmas morning.

Luckily, there were no surprise drop-ins, he said, as his house at the time was fashioned with an oldfashioned dinner bell, so it wasn’t until after he rang it that the children came down and were ready for Christmas morning.

Though, he says, that may not be entirely true. During that same exchange with one of his daughters, Main was told that they could always hear him coming up and down the stairs, so they knew, when they heard a signature sound, that it was almost time for Christmas presents and breakfast together.

Main says that, for years, his ankles crack distinctly as he ascends or descends a staircase.

And that, his children eventually told him, was the secondary soundtrack to their Christmases.

As for Christmas celebrations as a youngster, Main said he just remembers the atmosphere of the holidays, happiness and the feeling of being together around the holidays.

There was another local family who, for many years, the Mains would celebrate the holidays with.

Those celebrations would eventually grow as the years went on, but they would always get together on Christmas Eve for a bit of a soup potluck dinner. Everyone

would come up with their own soup for the event, bring it along and, as they readied for the coming Christmas morning, certainly no one went home hungry.

Many would go to church that night as well before returning home and opening one present before heading to bed. Then, the next morning, everyone was keen to see what Santa Claus had brought for them and left under the tree.

When he was a kid, however, he had a big Christmas dinner and opened his presents on Christmas Eve, a tradition he has kept up with his family to a certain degree, but with adding in some presents on Christmas Day. As a young man, he would just relax on Christmas Day with his family and play the games they had received, play with their new toys and wear their new clothes.

Main has just recently semiretired from the world of radio after several decades of being the voice

of Huron County in many ways. He is also the host of a wildly successful podcast entitled A Life That’s Good, which began as a project leading up to his 60th birthday, but has expanded into a storytelling vehicle for the area unlike any other. He hopes to keep the podcast going, he said, and is encouraged by recent meetings on potential partnerships that might lead to the continuation of the podcast.

He has, however, taken the last 12 months as a time to reflect back on the working portion of his life and all that it’s meant to him as well as to the community. No more early mornings though, he says, and he is now living in Goderich with his wife, whom he has nicknamed “Milly”, which is short for millennial to his “Boomer” and he is looking forward to the next chapter of his life this holiday season and being reunited with his beloved hometown of Goderich.

Council & Staff of the Municipality of Central Huron would like to wish you a wonderful holiday season and best wishes for 2025!

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024. PAGE A5.

Joslings balance festivity with firefighting Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

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The Joslings cherish Christmas traditions, from decorating the tree to family feasts.

Despite occasional interruptions, they always make time for their favourite holiday movie, Christmas Vacation. Back row, from left: Kyle Josling, Jacob Josling, Kelsy Long and Jeff Josling. Front row, from left: Dianne Josling, Emily Josling and Jett Broome.

(Scott Stephenson photo)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

The Josling family likes all the typical trappings of a traditional Canadian Christmas. They enjoy decorating the tree, exchanging gifts, having festive feasts and seeing family. But the Joslings are also a firefighting family, which means that suddenly cutting your Christmas celebration short to go save lives is just another family tradition. Christmas may be the most magical time of year, but it can quickly turn into the most flammable time of the year if you’re not careful.

When volunteer firefighter Paul Josling married Dianne Cook in 1976, he was joining a family that took the concept of Christmas dinner to the limit. It was not uncommon for upwards of 40 members of the Cook clan to gather under one roof to break bread and eat together. Dianne and Paul’s son Jeff has a lot of great childhood

memories of those times. But he also has more than a few festive memories of his father running off to answer a call during the big family dinner. “It was just chaos,” he recalled. “I loved it. It was so much fun having all those people around. But you know, we sort of can’t get away from being a fire family… we’d usually have to run away on Christmas Eve.” One of the Josling family’s core Christmas traditions is watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation every Christmas Eve. Or at least trying to! “I can remember on Christmas Eve, we’d be sitting down for Christmas Vacation. And I can remember lots of times where we’d just get ready and then we’d have to go out to something, right?”

Even though being a first responder on Christmas sometimes means missing out on the wacky adventures of the Griswold family, the Joslings wouldn’t have it any other way. Being on call during the holidays isn’t just a necessity, it’s a

tangible way to honour Paul’s legacy. As the first firefighter in the family, Paul never hesitated to give up something he wanted to do in favour of something that needed to be done. Paul’s bravery and selflessness inspired Jeff to become a firefighter, which has, in turn, inspired some of Jeff’s own children to also become first responders.

Jeff is always looking for new ways to support those in need during the holidays. “Things have changed a little bit in the last few years,” he explained. “I really look forward to the opportunities we have through the fire department to make a difference. We’ve donated a lot of money to food banks and to families directly. We reached out to schools and asked if there were any families in need, and we were able to help out this Christmas. It really warms my heart to do that.”

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PAGE A6. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024.

Nicholson and Moore embrace ‘Chill Christmas’

‘Tats’ the season Josie Nicholson and Jake Moore, in their second holiday season together, are mastering a stress-free Christmas.

They plan a relaxed Christmas Eve with family, a trip to Collingwood and a tradition of exchanging gifts in their apartment. (Scott Stephenson photo)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen The holiday season is a great time for making memories, but pursuing a picture-perfect Christmas can put a lot of pressure on people.

Shoppers are bombarded with the message that the secret to a memorable moment is to buy, buy, buy! It can turn the lead-up to Dec. 25 into a race against time. But feeling more stressed than festive doesn’t need to become an annual tradition - just ask Josie Nicholson and Jake Moore. Even though they’re only on their second holiday season as a duo, this young couple has already mastered the art of the elusive “Chill Christmas” - all festivity, no negativity. When The Citizen reached out to them in search of helpful tips for relieving some of that holiday fatigue, the pair was more than happy to share some of their secrets to a stress-free Christmas with our readers.

This year, they’re keeping their holiday plans pretty loose. On Christmas Eve, they’re going to hang out with Nicholson’s sister.

There will definitely be brunch, and they might go four-wheeling in the snow, if the urge takes them. Also on the books is a post-Boxing Day trip to Collingwood with Moore’s dad. Right now, the two are living in an apartment on the Nicholson family farm, so tracking down some family for a little quality holiday time doesn’t take very long. When Christmas Day rolls around, all they have to do is get up and walk a few steps to the main house for presents with her parents and a festive brunch. Last year, they marked the occasion of their first Christmas together by starting a simple new tradition: waiting to open the gifts they got for each other until it’s just the two of them, back in their apartment.

Getting together with friends to enjoy a bonafide Brussels tradition is also a possibility. “The Christmas parade is here in town. I think we'll come in, if the weather's nice, and just sit and watch the parade.

Maybe invite a few of my friends, and his friends, and just sit and have maybe pizzas or something together and watch the parade. I’ll have the doors open, so if people want to

come in and check out the [tattoo shop run by Nicholson], they can.”

Although it’s easy to get swept up in the mad ramp-up towards Christmas, Moore prefers to feel insync with the changing of the season. As a mason, he’s busier during the warmer months, so the onset of winter weather is a signal that it’s time to rest, relax and recharge, rather than rush around.

“Everything is slowing down at the end of the year, so people don't have to stress so much,” he pointed out. “Well, they probably still are,” he added.

Presents have become a pretty ubiquitous part of the festive season, but Nicholson feels that the spirit of the season has little to do with shopping. “One thing that I think people just need to do a little less of is stressing about gift giving.

I feel like the meaning of Christmas isn't the gifts. They’re fun, don't get me wrong. One thing that I've always loved doing is opening presents, but I feel like people stress so much about it,” she offered. As the old adage says, it’s the thought that counts.

In Nicholson’s eyes, the recipe for a perfect Christmas only has one ingredient: the people she cares about. “It’s about just being together with your family and friends,” she explained. “I could care less about presents and stuff.

I'd rather hang out with my friends and my family and watch movies and have dinner. That’s what it is for me now. It's family and friends.”

Moore’s favourite childhood Christmas tradition was gathering for a big, traditional dinner with extended family. “I always liked Christmas Eve at my grandma’s house in Kitchener. It was just a nice place. It was just kind of the same thing every year - like a routine.” He likes all the components of Christmas dinner, but he thinks stuffing is probably his favourite. After the meal, everybody would gather around the television and watch whatever classic Christmas movies that happened to be on. His favourite is still the original Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer, while Nicholson is all about Elf. Nicholson’s favourite holiday food isn’t one that most people

associate with Christmas, but it is part of one of her family’s mostloved traditions. “It’s a little harder to do now that my siblings and I are all adults, but one thing we do every year on Christmas Eve is that we have appetizers. And my order every year, and it still is to this day, is stuffed mushrooms. I love stuffed mushrooms,” she confided.

She may put family first, but Nicholson is still very much a fan of the sparkly side of Christmas.

Her family has had a lot of traditions over the years, and she’s taken it upon herself to keep some of them going. “I love decorating the Christmas tree every year. It's my favourite thing to do,” she declared. “That, and my job every year, because I've made it my job, is putting the lights on the house. I love putting up the Christmas lights.”

Decorating the Nicholson family Christmas tree involves more than just tossing on a bunch of random ornaments and calling it a day there are rules to be followed.

“Every year, we do different colour themes. Last year, we did blues and silvers. This year we're doing reds and golds,” she explained. There is one thing on the tree that’s the same every year, but it’s pretty hard to find. ‘“We have a little gherkin pickle that we hide in the tree every year from my one cousin Brielle, because she loves pickles. We’ve made it, like, a new tradition, I guess. This is our new tradition. It’s a German thing, actually, to hide the ornament of a pickle in a tree and people have to find it. It's an actual German tradition that people used to do, so we were like, you know what, we're gonna do it.”

Despite being perfectly satisfied with the comfort and joy of a lowkey Christmas that focuses on family, Nicholson does have one idea for a new tradition that just might catch on, “Fireworks.

Fireworks at Christmas.”

This Christmas season, we’d like to join you and yours in a prayer for harmony, understanding and peace.

As we give thanks to the Lord, we’d also like to acknowledge all the people who have given to us their friendship and generous support. Merry Christmas!

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024. PAGE A7.

New pajamas come every Christmas for de Boers some sticky situations, including taking a ride on the family’s ceiling

fan. However, the elves showing up Continued on page A8

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Keeping it local For the de Boer family of Blyth - that’s Heather, Iver, Isla, Inid and Ray, from left - they’re lucky to have most of their extended family very, very close to the village, so travelling is often done by foot. And, when they return on Christmas Eve, there are always fresh, new, matching pairs of Christmas pajamas waiting for them. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen As of Dec. 1 every year at the de Boer house in Blyth and all the way to Christmas, there’s always somebody watching. More recently, there are always two people watching and they’re little elves... often on shelves.

That’s right, two of the popular members of the Elf on a Shelf family have made their way to Blyth to be part of the de Boer household (Heather, Ray and

children Isla, Iver and Inid); one boy and one girl, aptly named Girl and Boy. And, it’s always a big deal when they arrive and make their presence known for the year.

One year, in the days leading up to Christmas, the family decided to leave the cold of Canada behind and take a vacation in the Dominican Republic.

And while they would be back home for the holidays, the kids were surprised when Boy and Girl popped up in their hotel.

That’s when they were sure

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that their particular elves meant business.

When Isla, who is 12 years old (she may even be 13 by the time you’re reading this), was just about two years old, the first elf showed up. When Iver, five, was born, the second elf arrived and that’s where it’s stayed for the years that have followed, even with Inid’s arrival just over two years ago.

Isla says that over the years the elves have found themselves in

Merry Christmas from our family to yours

Have a safe and Merry Christmas from the Huron East Fire Department

Matt, Julie, Sawyer and Davis McCall

PO Box 640, Brussels, ON N0G 1H0 519-357-7007 mattrmccall@hurontel.on.ca

PAGE A8. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024.

Lifelong traditions born at Christmas for de Boers Continued from page A7 isn’t the only thing that happens at the beginning of the month. The family begins decorating pretty early and does all that it can to make it feel festive inside and out of the house.

The de Boers are lucky to have much of their family nearby for holiday purposes. On Christmas Day, for example, they don’t even have to leave the village of Blyth to go see his father Fred and stepmother Rhonda.

On Boxing Day, they’ll head to the Winthrop area to see members of Heather’s family. They have a farm there, so there is always lots to do outdoors in the cold and the snow. That’s what Heather remembers about the Christmases of her youth there as well - lots of snowmobiling around the farm.

Wherever they are, however, both Heather and Ray really do their best to emphasize the importance of family, relationships and spending time together over the giving of gifts. The kids are not quick to remember specific gifts that they’ve received over the years - aside from Isla discussing her beloved Nintendo Switch and its various

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add-ons - but they remember the holidays they’ve all spent together, where they’ve gone to celebrate and who they’ve been there with.

Even Ray and Heather are the same way when asked to mine their memories for Christmases of the past. Neither could really remember too many of the big gifts they’ve received over the years, but certainly remember spending time with family and friends and, in later years, their beloved children.

However, both remember receiving gifts that have stuck with them for years around the holidays.

First, Heather, who is a noted local event photographer, received her first true camera as a Christmas gift when she was in her teens. That gift would pave the way for a successful career that has flourished in the last decade.

Secondly, Ray would receive farm equipment models for Christmas, many of which he still has to this day. The collectables are important to him, which is why they’ve stuck around for all these years.

One tradition that has not wavered, but involves the giving of gifts, is that the whole family, even

Citizen Friday, October 18, 2024

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Crusaders hockey is back in Brussels

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they hosted an exchange student from Brazil. That year, they made sure to cross a lot of very traditional Canadian Christmas experiences off of their list, like

cutting down their own Christmas tree. The de Boers have since gone the route of an artificial tree after years of having real trees in the home.

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Ray and Heather, get a new matching set of Christmas pajamas each year. They were kind enough to wear some for The Citizen’s picture, though they are from a previous Christmas, as this year’s have not yet been given.

Isla says she has a particular set of pajamas that has been her favourite over the years - a onepiece pajama that had a flap on its bottom.

Another tradition for the family has been taking a short trip together over the holidays. A destination like Niagara Falls, which was one from recent years, is about right and it just gives them a chance to get out of town and into a new setting for some fun time together.

One Christmas that sticks out for the family is the year that

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

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In the midst m of a slide After a bliistering first five games of the regular season, the Wingh ham Ironmen have since lost their subsequent five game es, pulling even to a 5-5 record with their fivegame losiing streak still alive. To make matters worse, head coach Dawson Smith is taking a step back from the team to t spend more time with his family. Above, the

Ironmen lost to the Hanover Barons in Wingham last Saturday by a score of 2-1.

2 1. This came after their Friday night game with the Mount Forest Patriots was postponed due to an ice resurfacer issue at the North Huron Wescast Community Complex in Wingham. See page 8 for the full story.

(John Stephenson photo)

Slowly but surely, the Blyth Brussels Minor Hockey y A i i i getting i Association season is underway for another winter, with most teams practising, but others hitting the ice with some real competition.

Last Saturday, the U11 Rep Crusaders lost to the Wingham Ironmen on the road by a score of 7-3, while the U21 team fell to the Saugeen Vallley Steelheads by a score of 1-0, also on the road. The previous weekend, the U15 Rep Crusaders beat the Kincardine Kinucks on the road by a score of 5-4.

On Tuesday, the U11 Rep team p y the Listowel Cyclones played y in an exhibition h hibi i game on the h road. d The next night, the U18 Rep team played the Mid-Huron Huskies and the U15 Rep Crusaders played the South Bruce Blades, both on the road, but scores were not available for those games at press time.

Looking ahead, tonight (Friday, O t 18), Oct. 18) will ill see the th first fi t regular l season action for the Crusaders at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre, when the U11 Rep team plays the Kincardine Continued on page 9

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FREE Winnte r 2024-2

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Festiv val mounts defence in Factory suit, countersues

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen C In the face of a lawsuit filed by Toronto’s Factory y Theatre last month seeking $115,000 over the 2023 cancellation of The Waltz at the Blyth Festivall, the Festival’s parent company, th he Blyth Centre for the Arts is no ow countersuing Factory y for ov ver $250,000, , , according obtained di to court filings fili b i d

by The Citizen.

The Blyth Festivaal’s counterclaim was filed with the Ontario O Superior Court of Justice last week. The Festival points the finger f at Factory, alleging “over unp preparedness and unwillingness to co o-operate” on the part of the Torrontoo theatre on what it claims was alw ways a touring production. Neitheer Factory’s nor the Festival’s claaims have been tested in court.

In its claim, the Festival alleges that the Factory Theatre did not provide a completee technical rider for the show w,, thuss, breaching the contract between the t two theatres.

The Festival also claimed that there had been extensive correspondence between numerous parties from both sides regarding set and lighting requirements that were never fully y settled,, leadingg to the Festival the on the i l pulling lli h plug l h 2023 production.

According to the court filings, while Factory acknowledged that there was a delay in delivering its technical riderr,, the theatre claimed that the Festival accepted a new timeline as a result, not raising any issues. In its counterclaim, the Festival said that Factory failed to include set measurements in the technical rider of January of 2023 and that when those measurements were provided, the set would not fit on the Memorial Hall stage.

Furthermore, the Festival has claimed that the proposed installation schedule would have been a week-and-a-half, shutting down the Festival during the process, which the Festival claimed was “untenable”.

The two theatres, according to the

Festival’s claim, eventually agreed, in May of that yearr, to use a scaleddown version of the set to be funded and built by the Festival.

The Festival further claims that the lighting g g component p of the was incomplete, technical h i l rider id i l with Factory saying on May 31 that the theatre’s lighting designer might not be able to travel to Blyth for the process and then, on June 3, Factory sent the Festival 41 additional lighting requirements.

Two days laterr, the Festival says it informed Factory that it was cancelling the production due to the disagreement on lighting design and the absence of a complete technical riderr.

This is argued by Factory in its original claim, which states that, “Blyth did not cite any basis for the termination by the terms of the presenting g agreement g itself.”

Andd while the ultimatelyhil h li cancelled 2022 production of The Waltz, commissioned by the Blyth Festival in 2018, is not part of either lawsuit, there is information

in the documents that is being disputed by the two theatres. In its claim, Factory said the 2022 show, outdoors at the Harvest Stage, was to be a joint production by the theatres,, with the Festival building g sets, costumes and d props andd llater invoicing Factory for half of the cost. The Torronto theatre claims that the sets were never built, leading to Factory having to make them for a cost of $34,000.

The Festival, howeverr, is contending that the 2022 show was never supposed to be a coproduction, alleging that the required notification of a joint production to the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association and the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres was never filed.

The Festival statement of defence says that early discussions about the p y as a jjoint production play p took place, but no joint production l b j i d i agreement was negotiated or finalized.

The statement goes on to say that the Festival created props for the

show and shared them with Factory in 2022 for free, calling the gesture “good faith” and a “courtesy”, but not evidence of a joint production agreement. g into a ppresentingg After entering i h Factory in i agreement with December of 2022, according to the Festival’s statement of defence, the Festival paid a deposit of $15,000 plus HST to Factory days laterr. The claim then alleges that Factory failed to provide a technical rider for the show by the Dec. 14, 2022 deadline. The statement of defence further alleges that over a month laterr,, Factory turned in an incomplete technical rider and that the Festival never accepted it, nor signed it.

The Festival also says in its statement of defence that it never waived the requirement of a technical riderr,, noting g that it was a h i condition off the presenting agreement between the two theatres.

In regards to damages, the Continued on page 20

Delivering our o very best wishes fo or a holiday season that’s full of good news!

To all of our readers and advertisers, thanks a million m fo or your support.

The al Voic o e

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The e Citizen

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024. PAGE A9.

Stewarts mine memories of Blyth’s sled hills remembers receiving her first-ever Barbie doll around the holidays, and a pair of brand new figure skating skates was also a memorable gift that she can recall to this day.

There was one year, however, that Linda and her brothers got up really early and went down to the tree, only to see all of their presents waiting for them. Not content to wait until their parents were awake, they opened everything up, took inventory of the year’s take and then wrapped them back up to the best of their ability. Unfortunately for them, it didn’t work and their parents knew instantly, but it was a noble effort.

For Barney, who also grew up in Blyth, it was another large family affair with himself, two brothers and two sisters. And, for the boys, at least, it was all about sports.

Barney’s dad was a big sports fan and he had no trouble passing that down to his three sons, who were then as they are now all big sports fans. So, when it came time to give Christmas presents, it’s not a surprise that gifts for Barney, Ken (known to many as Tigger) and John (known to many as Bear) usually centred around sports. And, if one of them received a new hockey sweater for Christmas, it

would be on full display that afternoon in the driveway or out on the street as the boys played hockey for the rest of the day.

They would also make the rounds over the holidays to see grandparents and relatives and, much like Linda, they didn’t have to travel very far either.

As both Barney and Linda grew into adults and had their own Christmases, they would have their children home and always have a visit from a local branch of Santa’s North Pole on Christmas, which was exciting for all involved.

Usually the boys ended up outdoors playing hockey, much like their father and his brothers.

Usually it was on the street or the driveway, but there was a time that Barney tried to flood his own homemade rink. If that wasn’t working, they would head to the pond if it had been cold enough.

As for decorating around the house, Linda admits that she has scaled back significantly in recent years. She still has a lot of decorations around the house, including an extensive Royal Doulton collection, but when the kids were smaller, she always went all out and the inside of the house was about as festive as a house could be.

Traditions upon traditions

Wishing you comfort and joy this Holiday Season

Linda and Barney Stewart have generations of traditions in Blyth, both having grown up in the village they still call home. So, they can point to homes, streets or sled hills from their window that hold memories from their childhood or their children’s childhoods.

(Shawn Loughlin photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen For Linda Stewart and her husband Don - known to most in and around Blyth as Barney - they were largely spared the early, early mornings that Christmas can bring, as their children tended to sleep in until at least 8 a.m. or so - a blessing, some parents will tell you.

Linda, for her work with Blyth Community Betterment, the Blyth Lions Club, Blyth Minor Hockey (when her children were young), was named this year’s Citizen of the Year Award winner for Blyth.

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Barney, years ago, also won the prestigious award for his extensive work with the Blyth Lions Club, making the couple the first to win the award independently of one another.

Much of Linda’s work with Blyth Community Betterment is done around the holidays, with its annual Santa Claus parade and the New Year’s Eve fireworks. However, it wasn’t always like that. Growing up in Blyth, Linda said she was always on the road to see her grandparents on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. However, she was lucky, as they were all in Blyth, so being on the

road meant walking or taking a very short drive to see her beloved relatives.

Linda had three brothers, so the holidays were a busy time around the house. They would have a delicious Christmas dinner and open up their Christmas gifts. She

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PAGE A10. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024.

The Haven seeks community support this Christmas

The gift of salvation Leesa Stephenson, founder of The Haven in Brussels, has two Christmas wishes: a welcoming space for those in need this season and continued support for her harm-reduction centre. (Scott Stephenson photo)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen As her first year running The Haven in Brussels draws to a close, there are only two things that Leesa Stephenson wants for Christmas.

But the gifts she’s hoping for can’t be found in Santa’s sack, and they won’t fit under any tree.

First, she wants her unique harm reduction centre on Turnberry Street to be of service to anybody who needs it this holiday season.

“My Christmas wish is that as many people who need to can walk in here at Christmas time and find a place where they feel welcome, and that being here matters,” she explained.

While The Haven offers its services to the community yearround, Stephenson has seen that many people need additional support during the holidays.

“Christmas is an incredible time of year. It’s the season of giving, it’s the season of family. It is also the season of loss. A lot of people have lost loved ones, through age or accidents. It’s also a very high-risk season. People tend to enjoy themselves and relax, which is great! But drinking, over-drinking, and taking unnecessary, big risks around this time of year is also very

common… Christmas can be a knife in people’s hearts. Suicides go way up at Christmas time, because it’s great and wonderful if you have a family, and it’s just a horrible reminder if you don’t. Not everybody can cope with that. I liken it to Valentine’s Day - it’s wonderful if you’re in a relationship. If you aren’t, it can just feel like a reminder of how unloveable you are.”

Whether it’s Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or just any old day, Stephenson wants her spot to be a place where people can come to be together. “What I’m trying to do here at The Haven is create a family, create a community. I very much believe that family can also be the family you create - it doesn’t have to be biological… I have learned that a sense of belonging is the most important thing in any person’s life,” she offered.

The second thing on Stephenson’s wishlist is the chance to keep on offering a place for locals to feel safe and supported.

“My Christmas wish is that The Haven still exists next year,” she said. When it comes to most subjects, Stephenson is an open book. Any topic that most people tend to shy away from, she steers straight towards. Death, mental

health, her own personal experiences with substance use, hoarding, OCD, and being a queer person in rural Ontario. But there is one topic she doesn’t like to bring up, and it’s the one she most needs to talk about right now: money. “I hate talking about money,” she admitted. “You need it to survive, but it really is the least worthy thing in the world. It’s just a necessary evil, in my opinion. The people who walk through the door are far more important. Their well-being, and their mental health, is far more important.”

Of course, for people to walk through the door of The Haven, there needs to be a door to walk through. “Up to this point, through November, I had somebody who topped off whatever I could come up with, because I’ve been paying to stay open out of my own pocket.

And I can’t do that anymore. So, donations are always welcome… I am more than happy to put money towards The Haven. I just need help to lower that cost, which is about $1,000. If 10 people gave $50 every month, I would dance a jig. That’s half the rent, right there. That is such a huge help. If people couldn’t afford $50, how about 20 people, 20 bucks each?”

Money may be tight right now, but Stephenson is going to do everything she can to keep The Haven where it is. Not only does she have an awesome landlord, the location has everything she needs to succeed. “I would like it to stay in this spot,” she said. “This is ideal.

It’s a standalone building, it’s kind of tucked-in, and my rent is very reasonable. It’s just too much for one person to carry.”

She also wants to put people at ease with a space that’s more comfy than clinical. “I’ve tried to make this look like a living room - a cool living room where you can just Continued on page A11

Away In A Manger May your home be blessed by the miracle of Christmas To our valued customers and friends, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024. PAGE A11.

Haven a space for healing this holiday season Continued from page A10 come and sit and hang out. I try to encourage people to just be honest with each other, and be okay with each other. And share some of the Christmas memories that they don’t have a place to share elsewhere.”

This holiday season, Stephenson wants people to know that they can come in to talk about whatever might be on their mind. “If you’re missing your husband who passed away a couple of years ago and Christmas is really hard, you could come and talk about that. You can share the good times too. Tell me what you really miss. What was he like? What were the good times? I find that, in a safe environment, it helps relieve some of the pain.”

She understands why it can be hard to open up. “As a society, we don’t want to talk about grief and pain. Some people never talk about the people they’ve lost. Or that their kids aren’t talking to them this Christmas. Nobody wants to talk about those things because they’re afraid of making it worse. In reality, not talking about it often makes it worse, not better. People want to talk about those good memories.

That’s kind of what I’m aiming for this Christmas.”

Stephenson likes to joke that she didn’t just get her training from the University of Waterloo - she also has a degree from the “School of Hard Knocks”. But when it comes to her style of one-on-one support, Stephenson thinks that what she knows isn’t the important part. “I don’t really need to be an expert.

The person who’s meeting with me is the expert - the expert on their own life, I’m simply there to support and guide them. I’m just there as a resource... It’s a different approach to what we usually think of when we think of counseling.”

The Haven does offer counseling and holds workshops, but sometimes just showing up to the space can benefit visitors. “It’s sitting and being in a community where you’re accepted.” Her doors have been open for under a year, but Stephenson has already seen some people not only making real progress, but being of service to their community while they’re at it.

One regular began to chat more and

more about an issue that she has in common with Stephenson compulsive hoarding.

She eventually made the choice to clear out her overflowing closet and donate the extra clothing to a oneman’s-treasure sale to raise money for The Haven.

Another regular has been coming in since the very beginning, hoping that spending some time around other people might help with his extreme social anxiety. Stephenson has been consistently impressed with his efforts. “The progress he has made in his own life, and how he interacts with people is mindboggling,” she said. He’s gone from not knowing if he would even be able to stay in the room to spending an entire evening lending an ear to another visitor who needed to talk.

Momentum has been building slowly and steadily since The Haven opened. “It’s a small town. It takes people a long time to build up the courage to walk through the door,” she explained. In addition to workshops, card games, and offering traditional harm reduction supplies like vitamins, condoms and Naloxone, The Haven has also held a very successful joint car wash with the Tanner Steffler Foundation, and, last week, Stephenson worked on her own hoarding issues by clearing out some of her bookshelves for The Haven’s first Christmas book sale.

She’s also working to build connections with businesses and other community groups.

Stephenson feels that creating a local support network is more important now than ever. “People are struggling, a lot, with things like basic food. The Huron Mobile Food Truck is amazing. That comes very handy.” The 5-Rs Thrift Store has years of experience serving the people of Brussels, and they’ve been very supportive of The Haven’s fledgling efforts at making an impact.

Once she’s figured out her holiday hours, Stephenson will be posting them on the door and on the Brussels Bulletin Board Facebook page. The one day she knows they won’t be open is on Christmas Day, because there’s already another

In the town, or on the farm, we hope the holiday really mooves you! With our thanks and to one and all.

Merry Christmas!

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great event going on that day - the nearby Mennonite Church is inviting one and all to come to enjoy a free Christmas dinner. “I really appreciate what they do. It’s a community thing that’s for everybody, and a lot of people come. It’s awesome!”

Stephenson and her advisory board have considered formally becoming a non-profit organization (NPO), but at this point, it just doesn’t make sense for The Haven.

While it’s true that becoming an NPO would bring in a little bit of help from the government, it would also come with more costs and complications. So, for now, The Haven will remain an independent entity run by the community, for the community. “I very much believe that The Haven is a community thing. It’s not a me thing. I’m the person who, hopefully, pays the bills, but it belongs to everybody who’s here… I try hard to just be one person among many. I’ve learned as much, if not more, from the people who come in here, rather than the other way around.”

The Haven already has two workshops planned for January.

The first one is “Discover Your Inner Creativity”. It’s a hands-on art class that will run on Wednesday nights, from Jan. 15 to Feb. 26. The class will explore different techniques and costs $150, which includes all canvases and art supplies. There’s a four-student maximum, and the registration deadline is Jan. 10, so you’ll have to act fast if you want to snag a spot for yourself or to give as a gift to somebody special.

Then, on Jan. 27, The Haven is hosting a free workshop on conflict de-escalation. It’s geared at anybody who’s ever found themselves in a situation where things suddenly go from a small disagreement to much worse, and will provide an introduction to some techniques intended to

prevent or diffuse potentially harmful happenings.

Even if you don’t like Christmas at all, you can still stop by The Haven this holiday season Stephenson tries to curate an environment that can accommodate everybody. Not into the constant Christmas music? Then you can choose the next CD. “Here, everybody is equal,” Stephenson explained. “We’ll give up our Christmas music for you, but you have to kind of put up with our Christmas jolliness while we decorate!”

Stephenson loves listening to Christmas music, she loves how her

regulars have decked The Haven’s halls this holiday season, and she loves the lights on the little fibre optic Christmas tree she’s been plugging in every December for decades. But she knows that the true meaning of Christmas has nothing to do with decorations. “I tend to be a very spiritual person, not necessarily religious, but spiritual,” she said. “I don’t fit in any boxes, but I believe I’m alive because I have had help from - The Divine, God, whatever you wanna call it. The meaning of Christmas is grace and forgiveness and acceptance. That is what Christmas is.”

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Tidings of Comfort & Peace As we usher in the holiday season, we are moved to remember all of the loved ones past and present who have brought so much joy and light to our lives. We cherish their presence and their memories, and all fo the blessings that touch our hearts and spirits.

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PAGE A12. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024.

Dodds’ hill, mini Christmas city hold up as attractions beef cattle, dairy cows, sheep and pigs. He would help out with the chores, of course, but his parents

would give him the mornings off on school days, so that he and his Continued on page A13

Merry Christmas to all our loyal customers

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year e Taking over When The Citizen profiled Don and Maja Dodds in 2010, their Christmas city and train set had grown to take over much of the house - a process that would only continue in the years to follow until Maja’s death late last year. It remains a fond memory for Don to this day. (File photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen In the winters of yesteryear, the Dodds family farm was the place to be as the snow poured down, the banks rose high and there was tobogganing to be done.

Don Dodds, this year’s choice for Huron County Citizen of the Year due to his decades of volunteerism through 4-H, the Huron County Plowmen’s Association and others, grew up on a family farm that was purchased by his great-grandfather from the Canada Company in the early 1850s. It was a very hilly farm, so, when there was enough snow on the ground, Don and his sister Dorothy, had no shortage of things to do and that courtesy was extended to the other children of the neighbourhood, who would make the trek to “Dodds’ hill” for a bit of winter fun when the time and conditions were right.

As for Christmas, Dodds grew up during the war years, so money was tight and the family had to make do with what it had. To that point, there wasn’t an overflowing mess of presents under the tree each year and what presents were there were often homemade. He can remember wooden cars made with hand-spun wheels and other figurines, but they always had a toboggan on hand, which was essential for where they lived.

Dodds also grew up in the era of working with horses on the farm, so his family had a sleigh in the winter for work in the snow. It also came in handy on the occasional Christmas. When relatives would want to come and celebrate the holidays at the Dodds farm, there were winters when the weather was far too bad for travel and roads were closed. So, his aunts and uncles would drive to the end of the nearest county road and park their

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cars for a few days. Meanwhile, waiting with a horse-drawn sleigh was Dodds’ father ready to take them the rest of the way, with Christmas dinner awaiting them when they arrived.

Those dinners were always very traditional, with Dodds’ mother always busy in the kitchen. He particularly remembers the pie in those days, though he can’t remember his favourite. Now, he says, a blueberry pie is his go-to choice, as not only is it tasty, but it’s good for him and loaded with natural anti-oxidants.

Dodds grew up on a true mixed farm for the era, which included

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Christmases have changed, but are still special friends he’s met, but that his children still come and scoop him up for a family Christmas cele-

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Merry Christmas

A commitment In 2010, when The Citizen profiled the Doddses and their small Christmas city, they said it took approximately three days to set up. No doubt the task grew in stature in the years that followed. (File photo) Continued from page A12 sister, picking up some friends along the way, could make the mileand-a-half journey to their school every morning and make it on time.

Sometimes, in those winters full of heavy, unrelenting snowfall, Don and Dorothy would ski to school, which provided a bit of fun on a school morning.

As Don moved into adulthood and eventually married Maja, the love of his life, he said that not too much changed, in that they would still celebrate Christmas with his family and extended family as he did when he was a boy. When they had their own children, however, things changed a bit and they began hosting celebrations for their own family, while also travelling to see others over the holidays.

One of the couples’ sources of pride and joy that wasn’t one of their children was an extensive Christmas display that was mostly Maja’s domain, but that Don helped to construct to the best of his ability.

It all began when Maja, who passed away just two days after Christmas last year, received a

small, decorative house from Canadian Tire for Christmas. Don remembers it coming from their daughter Lynne Godkin. Little did any of them know what that small gesture would spawn.

Maja loved it and the rest of her family took note, so, one by one, the town would grow and, before they knew it, they had an entire city on their hands. Don said that, at its height, it would take him two nights to assemble it, put it together and have it ready and operational for the holidays. He said it eventually grew to be so large that he had to build platforms for it and it would take over shelving and just about every other flat surface in their home around the holidays.

When the Dodds family was profiled by The Citizen in 2010 for their small Christmas city, there were more than 40 buildings in the collection. No doubt it grew over the time between 2010 and Maja’s death late last year.

Don tells a story of a coveted lighthouse piece that reminded the pair of a trip to Newfoundland they had so enjoyed in years past. They saw it in a Christmas display at

Sears, he said, and were dismayed to find out that was the only one left. However, after seeing just how deeply they wanted to make it their own, the clerk helped Maja disassemble it from the display and sold it to her on the spot.

Her white whale was a hospital.

Maja had worked for so many years in the hospital, Don said, and she was always on the lookout for one, but it never materialized. They even went to a recommended shop in Michigan when they were there last, with their friend sure they’d find what they needed there. Don said he was unimpressed and was sure that they had a bigger collection on their own than what they found in the store.

Now, as a resident of Goderich Place, Don says holidays are nice with his fellow residents and

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PAGE A14. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024.

For the Field/Barnett family, Christmas is eclectic

Field notes on Christmas A unique holiday celebration unfolds at the Field/Barnett household, where every corner tells a story. Pictured here, back row: Frankie Field and Ross Barnett; front row: Nathanya Field and Dr. Rosanne Field. Together, they create a Christmas experience filled with nostalgia, creativity and a lot of laughter.

resides in the attic with Vila.

Rosanne is massively allergic to cats.

Ross set this whole story into motion on one fateful New Year’s Eve, almost 40 years ago, by jumping over a bar to steal a kiss from Rosanne. Six weeks later, they were married.

Azula the cat walks alone on the main floor of the Hunter House.

Her original owner moved to Taiwan for work.

Nathanya is the official tour guide of the house, but each member of the family carries their own fragments of the holiday history. There is no single story.

“My mom loves Christmas, and so do the rest of us,” Nathanya intoned.

The Field Family Holiday House Tour starts at the very top, which requires winding one’s way through the entire house, past all the as yet unexplained trees, nativities and bric-a-brac, up some narrow stairs, down halls, beyond craft closets and up more narrow stairs until only those who know the way could navigate their way back down to the

starting point. The attic had been just as it had ever been from 1906 to 2020, at which point it was converted to an apartment. Space is in short supply, so Nathanya and Frankie have to be selective when choosing which ornaments from their collection will score a spot on their little tree. “A lot of them are the ones we made, or somebody made for us,” Nathanya explained.

There’s also a little spot carved out for Frankie’s grandmother’s vintage Christmas village, which is now

populated by a community of Dungeons and Dragons figurines.

Their apartment is equipped with a kitchenette, but, more often than not, they end up in the main kitchen, helping Rosanne with whatever culinary excursion is currently occupying her time.

After a round of coffee and cookies for all, it was time to start exploring the main floor - aka Planet Christmas. “This is the Continued on page A15

eason’s Greetings With best wishes from our entire team.

Susan, Doug, Kim, Michelle and Sue

480 Turnberry St., Brussels www.sholdicefinancial.com

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(Scott Stephenson photo)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy once wrote that all happy families are alike. And perhaps that was true of families living in Russia circa 1875. But in modern-day Goderich, there’s a one-of-a-kind happy family quite unlike any other, and they celebrate Christmas in such a super-specific, joyous way that it might even be enough to make Tolstoy change his tune entirely.

Warning: while The Field/Barnett Family Christmas is much more light-hearted than a Russian novel, it has nearly as many characters.

Don’t get bogged down in the details - rather, think of the house in this story as an invented reality or pocket universe capable of taking us to a place we’ve never been before.

Rosanne Field and Ross Barnett bought the house on Victoria Street in 2013. The two-and-half-storey red brick Queen Ann was constructed in 1906. It’s a heritage home, so the family needs to seek approval before making any changes to the living room fireplace - it was made by somebody significant. In early summer, it is the conduit that the June bugs use to infiltrate the house.

At last count, the house was inhabited by a total of four humans and three cats.

Nathanya is a writer, lives in the attic, and is married to Frankie Frankie is a visual artist, lives in the attic, and is married to Nathanya.

Vila is one of the two cats residing in the attic. She is bonded with Victor.

Victor, who is the second cat,

A Time for Remembering At Christmastime, may the company of loved ones present and the fond memories of those who have passed surround you with happiness and fill your heart with peace.

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024. PAGE A15.

Historic halls redefine what it means to be decked

Heritage home for the holidays Stockings hang by the historic fireplace in the Field/Barnett home. This century-old feature remains a centrepiece of the family’s Christmas traditions, despite the occasional June bug infiltration. (Scott Stephenson photo) Continued from page A14 Nativity scene we’ve had since we were children. My dad painted everybody. Well, almost everybody.

Except the hippo. My parents have a lot of knick knacks regularly, including this hippo and that elephant. So she’ll just add them to the Nativity scene, because they’re animals,” Nathanya explains.

Rosanne wants to add an orphaned gorilla to the manger’s menagerie, but Nathanya vetoes the idea before moving on with the tour. “We’re not putting the gorilla in the Nativity scene,” she says with certitude.

“Behind you is the Angel Tree. It is all angels.” However, it’s not a holy free-for-all - there is a hierarchy in Heaven. “On the back side are all, like, the ugly angels I made mom as a child, and the front side is the pretty ones. And that’s the Angel Tree.”

After that comes the most diminutive tree on the tour. “The little ceramic one is the first Christmas tree my parents ever had - they lived in a tiny apartment in Toronto, and it was a wedding gift.

It’s, like, very from the 80s,” Nathanya states. Rosanne has one small adjustment to that timeline.

“It was in Kingston, because I was doing my PhD. I was still a student.”

The next Nativity is sheltered in the space under the stairs, at the perfect height for Azula to contemplate its majesty. “I don’t know where that one came from,” Nathanya admitted. A right turn leads into the Nautical Pachyderm Room, which now holds Ross and Frankie’s Christmas village in progress, snowman-themed decorations, and the Vintage Ornament Tree. “All of these ornaments are from one side of the family or the other, like, greatgrandmothers. There’s two boxes of these inherited ornaments and they get their own tree,” Nathanya explains.

This particular sort of vintage ornaments is sometimes known as “Shiny Brites,” after the company that once popularized them. These silvery glass baubles come in shapes that simultaneously evoke Turkish lamps and atomic isotopes, and were once a subconscious signal of a far more singular celebration than Christmas. To a whole generation of people, seeing this style of ornament back in stores meant that World War II was finally over. Every single scrap of metal had been needed for the war effort, and that included the metal that would otherwise have gone into the paint that gave Shiny Brites their

distinctive reflective shimmer.

During the war years, clear glass ornaments with non-reflective paint were still produced.

The next stop brings us to the belly of the Jingle Bell Beast, the Festive Forest Primeval - the Main Christmas Tree. “It has, like, all of the ornaments ever. We’re not allowed to buy my parents Christmas ornaments anymore - the tree is pretty full,” our tour guide offers.

Frankie wants to set the collective-mind mood with some musical mentions. “One thing that y’all haven’t mentioned is listening to that hyper-specific album while decorating.” That album is It’s Christmas by Quartette. The whole family loves it. Nathanya elucidates further. “The reason this is a tradition is because it was the only Christmas album my parents had when we were kids. So we listen to Quartette’s Christmas album as we decorate. Literally anything on that Quartette album is my favourite.

Luckily, it’s on Spotify because we have no idea where that CD is.”

Rosanne reminds her that it was stolen from their car years ago.

Ross actually acquired the unusual album when he did the lights for a show Quartette performed in Blyth.

“I don’t know if I was actually paid, but they signed the CD. We still have the cover, because the CD was in a sleeve in the van for some reason.”

Growing up, Frankie couldn’t get enough Christmas music. “In Detroit, there is a station, 100.3 WNIC Dearborn, that is 24/7 Christmas music, starting Nov. 1.

That was, like, a hallmark of my childhood. I was listening to

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whatever Christmas songs I could download off the Limewire in August. I love Christmas music,” they explained.

“And then I remember slowly, as I got older, more and more people were like, ‘No! It shouldn’t be played until after Thanksgiving! And slowly, WNIC just started pushing it back further and further. I don’t even think they do it anymore.”

Without the hook of their house to hang their holiday history on, the Continued on page A16

The Old Mill 1 mile south of Blyth

theoldmill.ca 519-523-4595

PAGE A16. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024.

Holiday hospitality helps heal homesick hearts Continued from page A15 to hang their holiday history on, the Field family narrative expands out infinitely from the molten core of their shared memories, sprawling in every direction at once. And contained within one will find all the variety, all the charm, and all the beauty of Christmas, in all its light and shadows.

Nathanya loves how open their annual holiday celebration is. “We usually have an exchange student,” she said. “Christmas is peak homesickness time for exchange kids. Like, they are struggling, and so mom has always tried to really integrate them into the family at that time and to share our Christmas celebrations with them. But also to ask them to share with us.”

In 2019, a Polish exchange student named Nico shared a Christmas Eve tradition with the Field family. “You would break a piece of bread and then say something you were grateful for,” Nathanya recalls. Frankie corrects the recollection. “No, it’s a wish for the next person.”

An exchange student from Thailand once impressed all with hand-painted Christmas cards featuring portraits of each family member, and Ross fondly remembers one thing they didn’t.

“We decided not to do the Danish, jumping-off-the-furniture thing too many people get hurt.”

Traditionally, they’ve held an open house for family, friends, coworkers and neighbours on Christmas Eve. There’s a big buffet with so many things that you can eat. The family’s collective list of beloved holiday foods is an eclectic one. They’ve done vegetarian dinners, lamb, chicken, turkey - you name it. Mussels, artichokes, tourtiere, homemade ramen, bread gnocchi, and, of course, Aiden’s sweet potato casserole.

Konafa is a Syrian cheesecake.

Rosanne, Ross and Nathanya all think of Russian Cream with Strawberries Romanov as one of the newest additions to their pantheon of desserts, but it predates Frankie’s time, which means Rosanne has been making it for at least 10 years. “I had strawberries Romanov in a restaurant 40 years ago.” So I looked it up, and the only recipes I could find also had Russian cream with it, so I tried it.”

An aside erupts. Ross, apropos of nothing, turns to Nathanya, and asks her to give Ashley a heads-up.

Nathanya asks, “For the rum balls?” and he says, “Yeah! No rum balls, and that girl is going to the store!”

As a child, Frankie fixated on NORAD’s Santa-tracking system.

“I was always sitting at the computer while everybody else was drinking champagne and having fun. I was like, ‘Aunt Wendy! What is the website?! I need to see where Santa is right now!”

There also may or may not have been some French boys in attendance at some point.

Nathanya’s not sure, but Rosanne distinctly recalls a couple of couquets engaging in a festive fight about champagne.

Rosanne is the secret source of this family’s festive spirit. “When I was at university, it started because I didn’t have somewhere to go home for Christmas. I had ‘Orphan Christmas.’ For anybody who was a foreign student, or lived in Vancouver, I made Christmas. It’s about choosing to have a type of Christmas that didn’t involve a lot of alcohol, and didn’t involve all the things that go with that… There are a lot of chaotic things in my Christmas history. And there is a very chaotic family history in my life. In choosing Christmas, I have focused on traditions and family

activities. I have focused on cooking and baking and doing things together. We usually make gingerbread houses. Christmas is supposed to be a time of calm, and peace, and happiness, and openness, and acceptance. I have a complicated version of faith, but I would say it is believing that

someone can make a difference in the world and that we can make the world a better place, even if it’s just one person at a time. And believing in the values of taking care of others: love one another, do unto others as you’d have them do unto yourselves. It’s a day where we remember that that’s what we’re

supposed to be aspiring to. That’s why my Christmas has always been open,” xe concludes.

Regardless of all that may happen at the Field Family Christmas this holiday season, every minute of it will have the unquestionable meaning of the good which they’ve put in it.

We’d like to take this opportunity to wish our members and friends a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024. PAGE A17.

For Christmas, the Heffers focus on family and faith

Heffers rejoice!

New Warden of Huron County, Jamie Heffer, values a quiet Christmas at home, while his wife Lori embraces the festivities as the ultimate “Christmas Grandma”. The couple enjoys hosting their children and grandchildren on the family farm, celebrating the season with joy, tradition and faith. This year, Jamie gifted Lori a homemade crèche, as seen in the righthand photo. (Scott Stephenson photo)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

A few weeks ago, MorrisTurnberry Mayor Jamie Heffer was officially sworn in as the new Warden of Huron County. While he was more than kind enough to accommodate The Citizen’s request for a holiday interview, there was one thing that Heffer wanted to make abundantly clear - he doesn’t think of himself as being much of a “Christmas Person”. And, even though his new position as Warden is recognized all over Huron County, his wife, Lori, is still the Heffer family’s ultimate authority when it comes to all things Christmas.

For Jamie, all it takes to make a perfect Christmas is a little bit of solitude and a day off from doing his daily farm chores. “It’s the one day a year when I don’t leave the house,” he joked.

Lori does consider herself to be a “Christmas Person”. In fact, she loves pretty much every aspect of the holiday season. She loves decorating every year and baking

festive treats for her whole family to enjoy when they come for their annual visit to the family farm.

While Jamie is still settling into his new role as Warden, Lori is fully embracing her “Christmas Grandma” persona with open arms.

“It’s even more exciting now that there are grandchildren - it’s just wonderful! We have our six children, so that makes it a big crowd when we get together,” she explained.

Lori never tires of making holiday-themed baked goods in the lead-up to Christmas, but when the big day rolls around, the last place you’re going to find her is the kitchen. In fact, not cooking on Dec. 25 has become one of her favourite solo traditions. “I decided early on that I wasn’t going to do a Christmas meal,” she recalled. “I thought, ‘Hey! I give you meals all the rest of the year. I want to enjoy the day too. So I do a lot of baking and then we have brunch. I’ll do other meals, I’ll do Easter, I’ll do Thanksgiving, whatever, but for

Christmas Day, I said, ‘no, it’s for me to enjoy, too.’ I’ll do a casserole brunch and then in the afternoon we just graze on all the good stuff.”

If she absolutely had to choose one particular aspect of the festive season to single out as her all-time favourite thing about Christmas, Lori would probably have to go with the simple transformative qualities of the holidays. “I really like just the joy of the season, because it brings about a lot more pleasantness than we’d normally get at this time of year,” she said.

Even though Jamie and Lori have very different styles when it comes to how they celebrate Christmas, they’re in total agreement as to why they celebrate. “It’s about the birth of our Saviour,” Jamie explained.

“We do have Santa stuff and whatnot, but I would prefer to focus on the birth of our Saviour, and just getting together… we enjoy the day together as a family, and we read the Christmas story of Luke’s Gospel, just to kind of set the tone for the day.”

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PAGE A18. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024.

The spirit of Christmas is growing in Belgrave

Jingle Belgrave Em y Beard and Trevor Hopf s Be grave home s a warm haven of ho day cheer At age two and a ha f, the r daughter, Soph a, s now o d enough to apprec ate the exc tement and mag c that s assoc ated w th the ho day season Sco S ephenson pho o Every year, as the weather gets colder and the days grow shorter, The Citizen staff is given the enviable task of combing through all the unique communities of Huron County in search of seasonal stories and festive folks to feature in its annual Christmas issue. By this point in the crazed countdown to Christmas, the whole of Huron County is so chock full of cheer that it’s practically bursting at the seams with stories. The only hard part, really, is deciding which stories will end up in the paper!

Based purely on their own merit,

Emily Beard and Trevor Hopf would almost certainly make the cut - they’re not only a cute young

couple living in Belgrave, they’re actively involved with their community. When she was still a

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on the Blyth Greenway Trail in the summer of 2017. Their reception was at the Belgrave Community Centre, right by the old house they’ve been renovating together for years. Christmas is, handsdown, Emily’s favourite holiday.

Trevor is more of a Halloween man, but Emily is hesitant to call him a Grinch. Every year, he tends to find creative ways to celebrate.

Take, for example, their first Christmas as a couple. They were at a silent auction when, suddenly, Trevor had an idea - a wonderful, awful idea! “Emily really wanted this knife set, so I went over and put a fake name down.” Emily, unaware of his present plan, asked a friend of her mother to bid on the knives on her behalf. Already too invested to accept being outbid, Trevor asked Emily’s mother’s friend to stand down. In the end, he won the knives and was able to sneak them out to his truck, only to have his brother inadvertently spoil the surprise when he stumbled upon them later.

Rather than accept that he had lost the element of surprise, Trevor Cont nued on page A19

Municip pal Holidaay Hourss Hu Facilities rt Huron orth North

Warm wishes for a safe & happy Holiday Season

student, Emily planted the first seeds of the Wingham Community Garden, which now produces thousands of pounds of fresh produce for the North Huron Community Food Share across the street. Trevor is a past-president of the Belgrave Kinsmen, and together, the pair has spent the last year raising money to improve the Belgrave playground for future generations. As an extra bonus, they have an adorable two-year-old daughter named Sophia who wears party dresses and can very nearly do a handstand without help. But none of that stuff is why the BeardHopfs have been selected for this year’s Christmas issue of The Citizen. The real reason is as simple as it is selfish - for years now, my wife and I have been of the opinion that Emily and Trevor are the just the coolest, and this interview was a great excuse to hang out with them this holiday season. When we arrived at their lovely home, we were met with fancy drinks and a festive snack spread that featured truffled cheese, crackers and nuts.

We had a great time.

Emily and Trevor were married

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024. PAGE A19.

Young family shares holiday cheer with others

Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2025.

Thank you kindly for your loyal support.

85345 Brussels Line, Box 140, BRUSSELS, ON

Ross McCall

Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 519-887-9571 Email. . . . mccall.lvstk@hurontel.on.ca

Mer r y Christmas

Christmas cuties Emily Beard and Trevor Hopf share a festive moment with their daughter, Sophia, as they embrace their unique holiday traditions. From homemade ornaments to creative gift surprises, the family’s Christmas season is filled with warmth, magic and joyful chaos. (Scott Stephenson photo) Continued from page A18 also wrote out a list of tasks Emily would need to achieve in order to earn the knife set. He also replaced all the knives in the set with disposable plastic cutlery and weighed it down with old books.

Then he taped the whole thing together, put it in an old briefcase, and headed off to her parents’ house. Emily did jumping jacks, pushups, got drinks for people, wore socks on her ears - she even donned a Montreal Canadiens hockey jersey!

When she finally finished the list, Emily took the still-unopened briefcase over to her grandmother’s house to show off her new knives. When the plastic knives and forks were finally revealed, her grandmother gazed down at them and said “Oh, those

are lovely.” And that was that!

Sophia came along in 2022. This Christmas may not be her first, but it is the first year she’s been capable of commenting on the goings-on.

Last year, Sophia was still too young to fully grasp the significance of the celebration, so they simply wrapped up some of her existing toys. “And it was just as exciting as if there was a new toy,” Emily explained. “I think this year will be different for her because she understands more.

She’ll probably open gifts.”

Now that he has a daughter in the mix, Trevor has been taking Christmas a bit more seriously.

“Ever since she’s come around, I’m just trying to make sure that Christmas is good for her,” he admitted. “It’s not always just about the gifts. It’s more about just seeing

whoever else is around you and making sure everyone else is happy.”

This year, mother and daughter have been busy making spiced dough ornaments to hang over the fireplace. “They’re made out of applesauce, glue, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger, allspice all the seasonings that you associate with Christmas. We hung them over the fireplace, because as they start to even remotely get warm you start smelling it,” Emily explained. “They were pretty fun to make - it was so messy, and so wonderful.

Like Christmas exploded.”

519-887-8253 Office brettandlaura@plantpioneer.com

NEW YEAR

Doctors Nisbett, Padfield, Weaver, Taylor, Kuiper, Brunk along with their families & staff of Huron Optometric Centres of Goderich, Clinton, Wingham wish you a very Happy Holiday Season.

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Best wishes to all our friends and customers now and in the coming year.

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PAGE A20. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024.

Angela Keeley enjoys Christmas wherever, whenever

Big Christmas energy Angela Keeley, a dynamic force in Huron-Bruce, juggles multiple roles with charm, wit and grace.

Despite her busy schedule, Keeley always finds time for Christmas celebrations in Kingsbridge, Clinton and Seaforth. (Scott Stephenson photo)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

It makes total sense that Angela Keeley loves Christmas; it’s the one time a year when the true spirit of the season gives a gentle goose to the general population, which boosts their festive energy to a level

that almost matches the extreme energy Keeley exudes all day, every day. Almost, but not quite.

Now, don’t go thinking that this rare bird’s energy is in any way excessive - Keeley has been gifted with the exact amount of spirit she needs to get it all done, every single day. Currently, Keeley is not only

the Riding Association President of the Huron-Bruce New Democratic Party (NDP), she’s also the group’s LGTBQ2+ committee representative. She works for the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance, and even though she now resides in Seaforth with her husband Matt, Ang remains loyal to her hometown’s cultural hub: the Kingsbridge Centre. She also volunteers at the Goderich Little Theatre, and every summer you can find her at the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival, where she does everything from parking cars to giving speeches. In her spare time, Keeley makes weird stuffed animals out of scrap materials.

But no matter how many irons she has in the fire, Keeley always finds a little time for Christmas. It may take until mid-January, but she’ll find it. She always does.

Whenever possible, she heads to Kingsbridge for Christmas Eve. “We’ve always done Christmas Eve at Kingsbridge, always, always, always. We’d be going to the Christmas Eve mass, and then we would go to Mimie’s and we’d be up until 12, maybe, sometimes. And that was always great fun! But then the next morning everybody was very tired, but we’d still go to Christmas morning mass!” she exclaimed. “I love singing in the choir on Christmas.

The Kingsbridge Choir always does a Christmas pageant and everything, and singing in that choir is always wonderful! But it doesn’t always work out, timing-wise. If we do get to sing a song at Christmas, I think my favourite song is when we do

‘Gifts for the World’. It’s a beautiful song… but if I had to pick a different Christmas carol, I personally like ‘Good King Wenceslas’. It’s a great march. It’s just a really fast song - it’s almost as fast as I talk, which is lovely.”

In 2025, Keeley plans to use her platform to draw attention to the rural issues that matter most to her.

“Coming up in the new year, I’ll be going to the NDP Provincial Council in Toronto, which will be exciting. It’ll be a chance for me to talk about what’s going on in Huron County and Bruce County and bring rural to the forefront of some of those conversations again at a provincial level, which is very exciting.”

She believes that Canadians are starting to feel a bit worn out by the constant tug-of-war between Liberals and Conservatives. “We have such a diverse political atmosphere in Canada, but we like to pretend we only have two parties… I think the NDP is always strongest when we are the official opposition. It means we have the ability to make deals with whoever is leading the country in a way that we can push for more social supports, better restrictions on things that would potentially really hurt other people, like, you know, when you’re talking about housing, when you’re talking about food, when you’re talking about benefits.”

Keeley has spent her last few Christmases working with the Huron-Perth Healthcare Alliance to provide transitional housing for those in need. The annual

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experience is a far cry from the big family Christmas parties of her youth, and it’s been giving her a fresh perspective on the holidays.

“If we have clients on Christmas, we try to make it special. The hospital will do a turkey dinner that we can go and pick up for them so they have something nice. And we’ll put up a Christmas tree and buy small gifts for the clients that are there. Nothing too personal - we don’t know our clients that well.

But, you know, we get them like a box of chocolates, or nice mitts, a nice hat, that kind of stuff. The thing is: Christmas isn’t happy for everybody. Sometimes Christmas is one of the hardest times of the year.

We have far more crisis calls over the holidays than we do any other time of the year. It brings up some sad memories, some bad memories.

Some people feel more lonely at Christmas,” she lamented.

This year, Keeley thinks she’s finally figured out the real reason for the season, and she’d like to share that reason with the world.

“Christmas should be the one time a year where you want to try and make a difference in somebody’s life and you feel that urge. Ask what you could do this year to make a difference for somebody. It doesn’t have to be church-associated.

Could you just maybe offer to shovel somebody else’s sidewalk?

Look at somebody and say, ‘I can have empathy for you.’ Reach out a hand! Is there something you could do that just shows a bit more of human compassion?

This Christmas, why not ask what you can do for your fellow man?”