Spring 2015
Huron Local Immigration Partnership
Active in Huron County
Being active in Huron is as easy as stepping out your front door If you are new to Huron County, Ontario’s West Coast, there are many ways to spend your free time no matter what your interests may be. Active living and participation in recreational and community events is a part of Huron County culture and lifestyle. There is always something going on wherever you live and Huron County residents enjoy easy access to a multitude of recreational activities and events. Being active in Huron County is as easy as stepping out your front door. Whether you like to watch or play a game of baseball, hockey, or soccer; hike or bike one of our many trails; or fish one of our many rivers, there is no shortage of things to do here. Indoor or outdoor, rural or urban, there are numerous recreation options for your leisure time. You can golf, play soccer, baseball, volleyball, and hockey; try indoor skating, curling, or go cross�country skiing on our many trails. If golf is your passion, check out the Huron County Golf Trail: www.golfhuron.ca.
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Photo courtesy Maitland Trail Association
Huron boasts quality sports and recreation facilities From page 1 Our many community sports and recreation facilities are available to the public at little or no charge. Huron County residents enjoy a wide variety of sporting and recreational activities and take full advantage of the excellent sports facilities in our communities. Commonly played sports include hockey, ringette, golf, soccer, and baseball. Huron’s excellent network of sports facilities cater to many tastes and interests. Participating in local team sports is easy and available for all ages, from children to seniors. Soccer fields, skateboard parks, and community swimming pools beckon in the summer months. Our three indoor public pools are open year round. Harness racing, motocross racing, and gaming are but three entertainment options. Visit www.OntariosWestCoast.ca for information on all the entertainment activities available in Huron.
Call or visit any of the various sites below to see what each location has to offer:
Bayfield Arena Belgrave Community Centre Blyth & District Community Centre Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre Clinton Arena & Community Centre / Central Huron YMCA South Huron Recreation Centre Goderich‐Huron YMCA Hensall and District Community Centre Howick Community Centre North Huron Wescast Community Complex Seaforth & District Community Centre Vanastra Recreation Centre Zurich Arena
Outdoor spaces Huron County's 110 km shoreline provides numerous beautiful public beaches for the enjoyment and pleasure of visitors and residents alike. Local parks, conservation areas, and trails are popular hiking, cycling, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing locations. Lake Huron and the many rivers, including the Maitland, Bayfield and Nine Mile, provide great opportunities for fishing. The types of fish caught in Huron County are divided into three distinct groups: the cool and cold water fish communities in Lake Huron cold water fish found in rivers and streams warm water fish found in rivers, streams, and smaller inland lakes
For more information on active living, recreational activities and events in Huron County, contact the Huron
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Tourism Association or visit any branch of the Huron County Library to pick up your free copy of any of these informative guide books: Huron County Vacation Guide – a comprehensive directory of all that Ontario's West Coast has to offer Creative Countryside Guide – Find the art and culture you have been looking for Huron County Fishing and Paddling Guide – featuring maps and information on fishing and paddling Huron County Hiking Guide – featuring maps and descriptions of all hiking trails Huron County Cycling Guide – featuring maps and descriptions of some of the best cycling routes
Local parks & conservation areas
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority: www.abca.on.ca Hullett Provincial Wildlife Area: www.hullettmarsh.com Huron County Tourism Association: www.ontarioswestcoast.ca Maitland Trail Association: www.maitlandtrail.ca Maitland Valley Conservation Authority: www.mvca.on.ca Pinery Provincial Park: www.pinerypark.on.ca Point Farms Provincial Park: www.ontarioparks.com/park/pointfarms Photo courtesy Maitland Trail Association
Upcoming spring activities & events APRIL
MAY
Sat., April 25: Stocked Trout Pond Open. Event Host: Maitland Valley Conservation Authority. Catch a tagged trout and win a prize (one night free camping or daily free admission voucher to use on next visit with us!). Pond permit required ‐ Daily catch limit of 2 trout ‐ Practice catch and release. Falls Reserve is a loaner site for the OFAH Tackleshare program where children and new anglers can sign out a rod and reel and an assortment of tackle the same way they would borrow library materials www.tackleshare.com. Location: Falls Reserve Conservation Area, Benmiller (80900 Falls Reserve Line ‐ junction of County Roads 31 and 1). Contact: Jason Moir. Telephone: 519‐524‐ 6429. Alt Telephone: 1‐877‐325‐5722. Email: falls@mvca.on.ca. Website: www.mvca.on.ca/frca.
Sat., May 2: Fishing Derby. Event Host: Seaforth Lions Club. Trout Derby. Location: Lions Park, Hwy #8 east of Seaforth. Contact: Paul Stephen. Telephone: 519‐527‐2430. Alt Telephone: 519‐525‐6141. Email: seaforthlionsclub@gmail.com.
Sun., April 26: Pedal Pinery Park. Event Host: Friends of the Pinery. Come out to support this fundraising day. Fun for the whole family. Registration starts 12 pm ‐ ride/walk starts at 1 pm. Minimum pledge sheet total of $20. Location: 9526 Lakeshore Rd., Grand Bend. 8 km south of Grand Bend on Hwy #21. Contact: Lindsey Ashworth Ducharme. Telephone: 519‐243‐1521. Email: fopp@oxford.net. Website: www.pinerypark.on.ca.
Sun., May 10: Run Around the Square. Event Host: Run Around the Square. Take part in 5km/10km run around Goderich. For kids a .7km run around The Square for free! Telephone: 519‐524‐6600. Email: JMoon@davemounsey.com. Website: www.runaroundthesquare.ca. Tue., May 12: Annual South Huron Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament. Event Host: South Huron Chamber of Commerce. Location: Ironwood Golf Club, 70969 Morrison Line, Exeter. Telephone: 226‐428‐3008. Email: office@shcc.on.ca. Website: www.shcc.on.ca. Sat., May 30: Creative Arts Festival. Event Host: Art aRound Town. A full day of creative art classes: soap stone carving, belly dancing, painting, and more. Enjoy an Empty Bowls lunch where diners keep their hand crafted pottery bowl. After a full day of learning sit back and enjoy an evening of storytelling and folk music. For registration fees, info and details at please visit the website. Location: 92 Gidley St. E., Exeter. Website: www.artaroundtown.net.
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Coming events continued... JUNE Fri., June 5: First Friday Art Walks. Event Host: Bayfield & Area Chamber of Commerce. Featuring accomplished artists working ‘en plein air’. Mingle, view and purchase their work! Stroll along our heritage Main Street to shop and dine. Stay at one of our historic inns. Take a break and enjoy a FREE horse drawn carriage ride! View our famous sunset at Pioneer Park. Location: Bayfield, ON. Telephone: 519‐482‐8180. Email: info@villageofbayfield.com. Website: www.villageofbayfield.com. Fri., June 12 – Sun., June 14: Wingham Musical Muskrat Festival. Event Host: Township of North Huron. Rib‐off, BBQ, firefighter games, cardboard boat races, arm wrestling, entertainment, refreshment tent, children’s activities! This is a family event you won’t want to miss. Location: Riverside Park. Contact: Connie Goodall. Telephone: 519‐357‐1096. Email: cgoodall@northhuron.ca. Website: www.musicalmuskratfestival.com. Sun., June 14, 2015 – Sun., Sept. 6, 2015: Our Feathered Friends. Event Host: Huron County Museum. Our Feathered Friends introduces visitors to the basics of birdwatching including how to identify birds and how to attract them into your backyards. A traveling exhibit from the Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, ON. Location: 110 North St, Goderich. Date: Sun, June 14, 2015. Contact: Assistant Curator. Telephone: 519‐524‐2686. Email: museum@huroncounty.ca. Website: www.huroncounty.ca/museum Sat., June 20: Huron Multicultural Festival. A free outdoor festival celebrating the customs and traditions of Canada’s diverse ethnic populations. Programming features music and dance from around the world. Along with the stage performances the Festival includes opportunities for participants to interact and explore a variety of different cultures by trying their hand at
For more information contact:
international outdoor games, making crafts and sampling culinary delicacies and beverages from around the world. The event is also fully licensed with beer, sangria and more. For schedule of events and more information please visit www.creativehuron.ca. Location: On the Square, Goderich. Telephone: 529‐524‐8394 ext. 3. Website: www.creativehuron.ca. Fri., June 26 – Sun., June 28: Mopar Nitro Jam Nationals, Grand Bend. Event Host: IHRA Mopar. Quarter‐mile national drag racing championships. Biggest drag racing event in Eastern Canada! Starts Fri. at 1 pm and runs till Sun. at 6 pm. See website for further details. Location: 70292 Bullock Line. Telephone: 519‐238‐7223. Email: motorplx@hay.net. Website: www.grandbendmotorplex.com. Sat., June 27: Goderich Children's Festival. Event Host: Tourism Goderich. Delight in youthful wonder with activities for children, infants to age 12. Enjoy a fun free day with children’s entertainers, play area, crafts, special guests and much more! No admission. Guide dogs only, please. Location: Memorial Arena, Goderich. Telephone: 519‐524‐6600. Alt Telephone: 1‐800‐280‐7637. Email: goderichchildrensfestival@yahoo.ca. Website: www.goderich.ca. Sun., June 28 ‐ Wed, July 1: Goderich Canada Day Celebrations. Event Host: Tourism Goderich. The Port of Goderich waves the Canadian flag to show its civic pride throughout this week. Festivities include: fireworks (June 30), hikes, picnic, Canada Day parade (July 1), Lion’s BBQ, concerts, sail past & more. Location: Goderich. Telephone: 519‐524‐6600. Alt Telephone: 1‐800‐280‐ 7637. Website: www.goderich.ca. For more information on any of the above events, contact the Huron Tourism Association at 519‐524‐ 8394 ext. 3 or visit www.OntariosWestCoast.ca.
Rebecca Rathwell, Project Manager
519‐524‐8394, ext. 3, home@huroncounty.ca, www.makehuronhome.ca