2024 in Review - a year to remember in northern Huron County
BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN
JANUARY
The 2025 Seaforth Homecoming Committee officially launched the countdown to the grand celebration in 2025 on New Year’s Day at the Seaforth Legion. The committee was also in the midst of a logo competition for the event, which was set to close in two weeks.
The annual budget processes began in municipalities like Huron East and Morris-Turnberry with modest tax rate increases being proposed for both.
The Citizen profiled Goderich-based artist Autumn Ducharme, whose historic method of printmaking would be the basis for the artwork for the 50th anniversary season of the Blyth Festival that was to come later in the year.
Blyth-based baker Jess Miners-Bromley was tapped to move on to the next round of The Greatest Baker Competition. She now she had three rounds of the competition between her and victory.
North Huron Council approved a tax levy with an increase under four per cent, which was a far cry from the previous year’s budget process in which drastic measures were proposed to tackle a double-digit proposed increase.
Blyth native Justin Peters was hired as the Ottawa Senators’ new goaltending coach in the National Hockey League (NHL). Peters spent some time in the NHL as a player himself and had been the goaltending coach of the Senators’ American Hockey League affiliate Belleville Senators before getting the call back to The Show.
The Blyth Lions Club marked 50 years of having local teacher and musician Cheryl Cronin as its meeting pianist. They had a small party and presented Cronin with several gifts to thank her for her decades of commitment and dedication.
The Huron County Beef Producers made a special presentation at their annual general meeting held in Brussels, marking nearly 60 years of membership and dedication from Neil Rintoul.
The Huron County community mourned the passing of Jack Riddell at the age of 92 in Exeter. The six-term Liberal MPP and former Minister of Agriculture and Food was beloved by many who knew him from his years of public service.
FEBRUARY
A Brussels-based internet sleuth by the name of Hilary Ibbotson-Machan lent a hand to a decades-old cold case in Wyoming that helped bring closure to the families involved.
The Citizen was shortlisted in the top three of four provincial awards categories as the Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA) was preparing to hand out its annual awards.
Huron County Council continued its budget increase with a recommended 5.54 per cent tax rate increase to be discussed later in the year. This came after staff suggested 16 adjustments to bring that number down.
A trip to Belleville wasn’t golden, but “silver-n” for four Blyth Junior Broomball teams who came back with provincial silver around their necks.
The Special Investigations Unit officially cleared the Huron detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police of any wrongdoing in regards to a shooting and car chase through Seaforth and Clinton the previous October.
After its closure the previous year, St. John’s Anglican Church in Brussels granted the Brussels Legion $25,000 for the eventual renovation of its kitchen.
MARCH
Watson and Associates Economists Ltd. projected that Huron County’s population may top 90,000 in 2051 if its long-term population forecast came to pass.
The U13 BB Huron Heat won gold at the 42nd annual Walter Gretzky Tournament in Brantford, beating the Sault Ste. Marie Soo Junior Greyhounds in the finals to claim gold by a score of 1-0.
The installation of traffic lights at the Blyth intersection of Blyth and London Roads, one of the more troublesome intersections in Huron County, was nearing completion, with the lights erected, but not yet operational.
The Huron County Clean Water Project officially marked its 20th anniversary, reporting to Huron County Council about the number of projects that had been completed over the years.
The U13 HL Huron Heat won gold at a tournament in Mitchell, defeating the Twin Centre Hericanes in the final game by a score of 4-1.
A new harm reduction centre named The Haven opened in Brussels thanks to the hard work and compassion of founder Leesa Stephenson.
The season ended for the Wingham Ironmen after the team lost a hard-fought game seven in the playoffs to the Kincardine Bulldogs.
Jack Ryan, host of the 2017 International Plowing Match in Walton, and Ron Walker, co-founder of the Blyth Festival Art Gallery passed away on subsequent days, seeing the community lose two giants of volunteerism and champions of their communities.
Huron County’s Public Works Department held a public meeting on the construction of a tunnel to connect the Goderich-to-Guelph (G2G) Rail Trail under Blyth Road just west of the village. In order to avoid the second major road closure in as many years in Blyth, the department aimed to avoid the months of July and August as to not affect the tourism season for the village.
Five Huron Heat teams, thanks to their stellar performances in the playoffs, were bound for the provincial championships, set to take place in the Toronto area in early April.
Darrell Bergsma of the Londesborough area won the 2024 4-H Ontario Arbor Award, which is the highest award presented by the association, thanks to his years of hard work and dedication to the Huron County 4-H program.
After 45 years on the job, Steve Coulter retired from McGavin Farm Equipment, now Roberts, and there was a party to celebrate all he’s meant to the company over the years.
APRIL
The Avon Maitland District School Board announced that it would be parting ways with the Centre for Employment and Learning, no longer providing employment services for the county after a one-year transition period.
The U13 HL Huron Heat were crowned Western Ontario Girls Hockey League champions after a 4-0 shutout win over the Lucan Irish in the championship game.
Over 100 people gathered in Clinton at the behest of Dr. Maarten Bokhout in an effort to save the Clinton Public Hospital and see its emergency room restored to its former 24-hour-a-day glory.
Members of the Canadian military were in Blyth for a press conference ahead of a sprawling exercise in Huron County based in Blyth coming in early May.
MAY
Over 800 military reservists from across southwestern Ontario were in Huron County with headquarters based in Blyth for a heat emergency situation training.
As Seaforth’s Britannia Masonic Lodge prepared to close its doors after nearly 160 years, the group dispersed $250,000 in donations to local groups, causes and service clubs.
Nobel Laureate, award-winning author and one of Huron County’s most prominent residents, Alice Munro, passed away at the age of 92.
The Blyth Lions Club and the Blyth Firefighters’ Association teamed up to bring forward a joint project for a new sports pad at Blyth Lions Park, beginning with a $10,000 pledge to the $30,000 project from the association.
For the second straight year, Central Huron Council rejected a request to fly the Pride flag at any of its municipal properties, though in 2024, in contrast to the decision made in 2023, council did declare June to be Pride Month. Huron East Council, on the other hand, opted to fly the flag with little discussion or controversy.
JUNE
FauxPop Media’s Curtis Lobb won a Canadian Screen Award for best editing thanks to his work on BlackBerry, which became the most decorated film in the awards’ history.
The Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre officially reopened to the public with a special donor appreciation night and soft opening, attended by many.
The Clinton Spring Fair thrilled audiences with its usual fare, including the demolition derby, in addition to a concert featuring Owen Riegling, Sloan and 54-40.
Premier Doug Ford shuffled Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson into her fourth position of the last six years, making her the newly-created Minister of Rural Affairs, leaving MPP Rob Flack to take the other half of the portfolio as the Minister of Farming, Agriculture and Agribusiness.
Kaleigh McCallum of Brussels and Leah Boven of Blyth were presented with district broomball awards, recognizing their excellence in play and refereeing, respectively.
It was another successful weekend as Huron County Pride held its second annual Pride Festival in Goderich with plenty to see and do.
The 50th season of the Blyth Festival opened with The Farm Show: Then and Now outdoors at the Harvest Stage.
Faced with a price tag in excess of $5 million, Central Huron Council opted not to build a new pool for Clinton, but instead to fill in the existing pool and convert the area to green space.
Wingham’s Barn Dance Historical Society held a special farewell concert at the Wingham Town Hall Theatre to mark the end of its decades-long body of work.
Saving Graceland, penned by Blyth Festival Artistic Director Gil Garratt, opened the Blyth Festival’s indoor season at Memorial Hall.
JULY
Wingham marked its 150th anniversary with a special homecoming celebration, including a parade and events all over town.
The discussion around lauded author Alice Munro was reframed for many after Andrea Robin Skinner, Munro’s daughter, spoke to the Toronto Star about periods of sexual abuse at the hands of her stepfather, Munro’s husband. She noted that she had told Munro years earlier and that Munro chose to stay with him.
These revelations led to discussions around how Munro would be celebrated and recognized in Huron County and the very future of the Alice Munro Festival of the Short Story.
Mark Crawford’s The Golden Anniversaries opened at the Blyth Festival to much acclaim.
Huron County’s Alyssa Albers won a gold and silver medal at the Dance World Cup in Prague.
AUGUST
Birgitte Solem’s Resort to Murder and Beverley Cooper’s The Trials of Maggie Pollock rounded out the Blyth Festival season indoors with Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes to soon follow outdoors at the Harvest Stage.
Lerissa Stevenson of Brussels won a bronze medal as a member of the Huron Perth Nationals U17 Tier 1 softball team.
Long-time Wingham firefighter Chad Kregar was named the new North Huron Fire Chief. Kregar had served as the interim chief after Kent Readman moved on from North Huron.
Bluevale marked its 170th anniversary with a special homecoming celebration, complete with an extensive parade.
Boris Panovski, the man convicted of the murder of Don Frigo at the Hullett Provincial Wildlife Area in 2014, was acquitted in a St. Thomas courtroom after a successful appeal of his 2018 trial.
By way of a special night at the Brussels Legion, the Brussels Agricultural Society welcomed a new slate of Ambassadors ahead of the Brussels Fall Fair. Emily Bieman would be the Ambassador, Bridget McCallum would be the Junior Ambassador and Sophia Blake would be the Little Ambassador.
SEPTEMBER
Despite the weatherman calling up a rainy weekend, it was another great reunion for the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association in Blyth.
Ted Johns, the most-produced playwright in Blyth Festival history and husband to two-time Festival Artistic Director Janets Amos, completed a trio of sessions at the Phillips Studio on the history of the Festival and theatre itself in Canada, which were very well received.
The Blyth Festival found itself on the receiving end of a $115,000 lawsuit filed by Toronto’s Factory Theatre over the cancellation of The Waltz in 2023.
North Huron staff implored council to consider moving the Blyth Library to the auditorium at the Blyth and District Community Centre, which staff said was underutilized.
The Belmore Stingers won the Huron County Fastball League’s year-end tournament, making them the first non-Brussels Tigers team to win the championship in the last seven seasons.
The Elementary School Fair in Belgrave and the Brussels Fall Fair united the community and provided an opportunity for the area’s young people to show off what they can do.
Blyth-based artist Kelly Stevenson finally mounted her multimedia exhibition “Beyond ana” at the Huron County Museum. The project dated back to her college days and she finally had a place to bring it home to tell the story of her cousin, Sarah, who passed away years ago after battling eating disorders.
OCTOBER
Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Council officially adopted a new three-flag policy that would prohibit the flying of any non-governmental flag - a debate that grew out of a request to fly the Pride flag in June.
Chris Michie won the coveted Jim McGee Volunteer Award for his extensive work in the Belgrave community.
Ken Whitmore handed the Blyth Printing reins to his long-time right-hand man, Steve Dawe, marking the first time the business won’t be owned by a Whitmore in generations. Whitmore planned to still work for Dawe, but on a reduced schedule on the way to semi-retirement.
Dugald McIntosh from the Seaforth area was crowned Junior Champion at the International Plowing Match, which was held in Lindsay, Ontario. The win punched his ticket to the Canadian Plowing Championships in Ayton, Ontario in 2025.
Also at the match, Rachel Gras, the 2023 Huron County Queen of the Furrow, finished fourth in the provincial Queen of the Furrow competition.
A plane crash-landed in a field on Newry Road, but the 68-year-old pilot from Central Huron was unharmed. A few days later, a second plane made an emergency landing in a field north of Bayfield Road on Tipperary Line. The 25-year-old pilot was unharmed and the plane was not damaged.
After being sued for over $100,000 for the cancellation of The Waltz in 2023, the Blyth Festival mounted its defence in the suit filed by Factory Theatre in Toronto and countersued for more than $250,000.
The Seaforth Lions Club marked its 100th anniversary with a special event, awards presentations and more.
South Bruce narrowly voted in favour of willingly hosting a nuclear deep geological repository proposed by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization.
NOVEMBER
A petition officially opposing the relocation of the Blyth Library to the arena was received by North Huron Council, asking that council consider alternative solutions and keep the arena and community centre as it is.
Dana Weber left her long-time post as The Village Barber in exchange for early retirement, but passed the thriving business to Karen Lennox-Moore, who planned to keep things status quo at the beloved barber shop.
Canada Post issued a new stamp to honour the work of the Farmerettes, who had been celebrated on the Blyth Festival’s Harvest Stage earlier in the year.
Linda Stewart, Dan Fritz and Don Dodds were named Citizen of the Year Award winners for the Blyth, Brussels and Huron County communities, respectively.
Neil and Joan Vincent were honoured by the Huron County Federation of Agriculture with its annual Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture Award for their years of dedication to local farming.
Four Blyth teams made it to the finals of the annual Blyth Junior Broomball tournament, though no one would claim gold. Also on that same weekend, the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre held its grand opening, which included a full slate of hockey all day, culminating with a sledge hockey game and a Wingham Ironmen game that Saturday night.
The U18 Rep Blyth Brussels Crusaders won the regional Silver Stick tournament in Wingham, sending them to the next tier of the tournament.
The Township of North Huron sent out a press release saying that Dwayne Evans had “completed his term” as the township’s chief administrative officer.
The Huron 4-H team won the provincial Go for the Gold competition at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. In addition, Auburn’s Holly Gross won gold in the Junior Sheep Show.
The Blyth Festival announced its 2025 season, which will include an outdoor production of Anne Chislett’s Quiet in the Land on the Harvest Stage and a full four-show season indoors at Memorial Hall.
Morris-Turnberry Mayor Jamie Heffer was acclaimed as the next Huron County Warden, running unopposed for the county’s top political position.
Newly-formed No Hate in Huron held a successful fundraiser and cabaret in Goderich aimed at combatting hate, racism and homophobia in Huron County.
DECEMBER
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization decided to bring its deep geological repository for nuclear waste to Northern Ontario and the Township of Ignace, not South Bruce, despite an affirmative vote in the referendum earlier in the year.
A billing glitch in North Huron meant that around 350 people were charged three times their monthly taxes in advance of the due date. The township would return the funds and cover associated fees, but left many people frustrated over the whole thing.
Curtis Campbell, a Toronto-based author and Clinton native, penned an open letter asking for the resignation of three members of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Council for their behaviour during a discussion about a new flag policy earlier this year.
Two Huron Heat teams won gold at tournaments in Guelph and Exeter as the year wound down.