Susan's Blog

Thursday Night Concert Series August 18th and 25th - Matt Clarke

2011-08-17T06:57:00.000-07:00

Every Thursday night at the bandstand in downtown Goderich from 7 until 8:30 PM there is a free live music concert held by the Goderich BIA! Everyone is invited to come out and listen to the great music. On Thursday the 18th Gerard Creces and Fiends will be playing, and on Thursday the 25th Mary Smith will be performing! Come out and enjoy a great evening of wonderful music for free, I hope to see you there :)

August 11th Concert Night - Matt Clarke

2011-08-10T08:26:00.000-07:00

Hello Everybody ! :)

Its almost Thursday again and that means that another concert night at the bandstand is right around the corner. This Thursday night (August the 11th) the band Cactus Jam is playing at the bandstand in courthouse park Goderich.

The band consist of 3 women who love all styles of music and have been seen and heard in musical venues all over Ontario. The trio play everything from jazz harmonies, to classics, swing, country, and bring a sense of humor that makes any occasion an enjoyable event.

The weather forecast looks good, the band is amazing, and its the Summer so come on down to the bandstand in Goderich at courthouse park and listen to some great music and have some fun !

Ill see you there :)

Movie Night by Matt Clarke

2011-07-15T08:50:00.000-07:00

This Friday, July the 22nd is movie night up at the square in downtown Goderich. Everyone is invited to come down and enjoy a good movie and a fun night in courthouse park. The movie is outside and free for everyone, and the movie that is being played is "Diary of a wimpy kid". Bring lawn chairs, blankets, pillows, or whatever you need to relax and enjoy the movie. It will be a great night and I hope to see everyone there! :)

Bring your friends, family, or just come and meet new people and enjoy the Summer. Turn it into dinner and a movie by eating at a local restaurant at the square before coming over to pick your spot for the movie. :)

There will also be sidewalk chalk painting for children and any one who wants to draw, as well as a magician, and Snippity the clown for everyone's enjoyment. Its going to be an amazing night :)

July the 22nd from 8pm - 11pm

Click this link for a trailer for the movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZVEIgPeDCE

Click on the following link for reviews and a summary about the movie:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1196141/

On the "Flip" Side of Historic Preservation

2011-06-16T09:09:00.000-07:00

On the "Flip" Side of Historic Preservation

GDCI Students Visit the Big Apple

2011-06-03T06:28:00.001-07:00

This past weekend 40 GDCI students embarked on a 10 hour bus ride to the city that never sleeps: New York City. I was one of the lucky students that got to take part in this amazing school trip. On the first night we got there we view the city from great heights- the top of the Empire State building a view that truly took my breath away. The city is delightfully overwhelming. Your senses are put to the test as there is so much to see, smell, touch, taste and feel. Other highlights of the trip included seeing a Broadway play- the smash hit Mama Mia, a walk in Central Park, shopping down Madison Ave, a visit to the museum of modern art. Seeing some of Andy warhol work was truly breath taking. Mr. Lewis stated that we were one of the best groups of kids he has taken on a trip in a long time. I could not agree more. The group was eager to learn and enjoyed every moment of the city. I personally cannot wait to return. It was an extraordinary experience. Bright light, big city, that’s where I want to be.

Photo Cred: Miss Bronwyn Armstrong

Goderich Springs to Life

2011-04-07T10:59:00.000-07:00

Cine-Licious and Film Fest hits Goderich this weekend. I am so excited to have a night on the town. I am looking forward to having a delicious dinner at Bailey’s and then settling down to watch the King's Speech. I hope to see you all out, as our town starts to spring to life.

Also this weekend is the Rotary Youth Talent show. I along with a few others will be representing the GDCI Drama club. There is sure to be lots of talented young people who all share their love for the arts. This weekend is sure to keep me busy. I look forward to a weekend full of entertainment .

BIA Co op Student

Emily Brewster

Sears Drama Fest !! by Emily Brewster

2011-03-28T07:08:00.000-07:00

Sears!!!!

This past week was the 65^th annual Sears Ontario Drama Festival. There are three levels of festival and my school was privileged to host the district level. GDCI was temporarily home to 266 drama students from eleven different schools. This is my last year as a Sears’s participant, as I go off to school next year. I could not have had a better experience during my last Sears. The energy and enthusiasm created a wonderful environment for all the sears participants. I got to co MC the Friday night shows with one of my fellow cast members and good friend Bronwyn Armstrong. Hosting Sears was a unique experience as you are a participant but you are also responsible for making sure everyone is enjoying them self. After a week packed full of activates I am tiered but it is the love of the theatre that keeps me going. My school will advance in the competition to the regional level on April eleventh in Bradford On. This is still so surreal but very exciting! I can not wait till we take the stage again but until then PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!! posted by GDCI student Emily Brewster

March 2011 Spring Fling Ariving Soon

2011-03-02T11:47:00.000-08:00

Febuary has come and gone, and now were into March. Spring Fling is fast approaching. The 7^th annual Goderich Film Festival will be presenting five award winning movies including the Kings Speech, staring Colin Firth. There has been a lot of buzz concerning this movie. At the Academy Awards The kings Speech left with four awards including best movie. It is defiantly on my list of movies to see. I will defiantly be attending the film festival! Hope to see you there!!

Blogged by Emily Brewster, GDCI student at the BIA

February 14, 2011 Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T06:29:00.000-08:00

Today is Valentine's Day. Wikipedia explains the day as " a day often celebrated by couples in love.. the day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs. A day when lovers express their love for each other by sending flowers, candy or heart shaped Valentine cards. Hand written Valentine Day cards have given way to mass produced greeting cards".
Hmmmn "mass produced greeting cards" for some reason that stinks of propoganda and manufactured Hallmark nonsense to sell stuff, actually, I find it usually true that when you give a gift to someone the reward is equally satisfying to you. It just makes us feel better to give or do something for someone else. So hop on down to our downtown and see if you can't find a little something for someone who could use a smile, a hug, a heart or a card.
See you on Family Day.

January 2011 Wow, when did you get here?

2011-01-12T12:45:00.000-08:00

Here we are, landed in January 2011.
Almost half way through the month and time is whizzing by, we are gearing up for another exciting event filled year in downtown Goderich. Already we have drafted some of the dates for events that take place every year.
First up - the Goderich Rotary Club Chili Cook off , part of the Goderich Winterfest weekend celebrations happening downtown on The Square, Saturday February 5th, 2011.
This is what we do. Grab a ballot card, head downtown and sample chili from all the Chili tables on the sidewalk around The Square. As you eat you rate the Chili on a Ballot Card. This is a fun time and highly social as you stop and chat and compare notes. It can be cold so dress warmly. When you are full, take a rest and go for a visit indoors, shopping or browsing through our unique stores.
Talking about unique stores we really do have an amazing variety of businesses located in the downtown. Did you know about?
Josh House, he makes custom order guitars. Wuerth's Shoes and Winston's Mens Wear, Something Irresistible and Schaefers' Ladies Wear. Ernie Kings music store and Kulpeppers' for kitchen stuff. Sunset Blinds and Baechler Kitchens & Interiors, Cravings for coffee, oh so many choices of coffee and ice cream, Sweets & Memories for chocolate and candy, and The Book Peddler for second hand books. Any book lover will love this store, absolutely jam packed full of books and a joy to browse through on a cold wintry day. Down the road is Wicked Willy's Table and Wicked Willy's Pub. I could go on and on there are so many great spots in our downtown.
Perhaps this is a good place to stop, rest and wish you a happy new year.

Merry Christmas !! Yahoo my shopping is done

2010-12-23T11:10:00.000-08:00

Shopping in downtown Goderich has been such a treat. All the store keepers have been pleasant, and I know they are run off their feet. Smiling and cheerful I bet they will be ready to drop come Christmas Eve. Kulpeppers on The Square has some wonderful cooking supplies, pots from France, Olive Oils and Balsamic vinegars, Crabtree & Evelyn soap, great to visit for a cook or Mom who loves the kitchen. All the windows look so enticing and The Square at night is a winter wonderland, so peaceful and beautiful with Christmas lights softly glowing. Make sure you take an evening stroll this Holiday Season, say hello to neighbours and friends. Maitland Golf club has two hills for tobogganingone steep and one gentle hill, so suitable for all ages and fear levels. Stop in to Coffee Cultures for a hot chocolate or take in a movie at the Park House. With the ease of free parking and a wonderful array of shopping ideas there is so much you can do in Downtown Goderich, check out West Street, East Street, North and South Street as well as The Square. It really is all there for you in downtown Goderich. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Susan

Snow

2010-12-08T10:59:00.000-08:00

December 8th, 2010
Day #3 of snow beautiful snow in the #GGA "Greater Goderich Area". The kids have had three days of no school and I have managed to get to work each day. It is so beautiful today. The sun is shining and all is quiet. Snow is good for shopping, I don't know why, but when it is stormy I am out and about spending and shopping. Thinking about Christmas and baking, nothing better than the smell of gingerbread cookies and sitting in front of a Christmas tree on a snowy evening. Time to ease off on the day to day rush and breath. Snow has a way of clearing the air and detoxifying our lives. I saw that East Street Station is doing a kriya for detoxification tonight.
And quoting Katrina Bos; here’s what Gurucharn Khalsa says about it:

“We detoxify continuously throughout life. We process food, thoughts, and all forms of energy. When that flow is continuous and clear, we are steady and flexible. The trouble is that we accumulate more than we process. We become weighted down under the ash of metabolism and the remnants of old emotions. This set systematically moves the energy of the body and mind to keep you light and vitalized.”

Tis the season ALLREADY ???

2010-11-30T11:12:00.000-08:00

A new month, December, starts tomorrow. I don't know why this should be so crazy but where did November go? I think I said that about October too. What a crazy year it's been, good but crazy.
OK so we went live with our website which when all is well looks great, but I am having some design curves. The boxes on our home page ad space didn't seem to fit any picture so we changed it, by we I mean Chris @ Atomic North changed the size to better accommodate our pictures. That was a learning curve. Anthony @ Aurora-bits.com helped me thank goodness by doing the math on the changes we needed to ask for. I had no idea what size, dimension or ratio the pictures should be.
Wazoo our AGM is done. What a compliment to the BIA, Mayor Deb Shewfelt, Deputy Mayor John Grace, and councilors David Yates, Judy Crawford, Myles Murdock, and Kevin Morrison all took the time to attend. Wow was I feeling proud. No joke
Ladies Night Out was a huge success. 23 stores participated this year, that's double the number from last year.
But here's what's not great. ... stores that do not participate, 23 stores pitched in to share the cost of posters and radio and print ads this year, but 3 stores said they did not want to be involved, which is fine. The kicker is this, they were open Ladies Night Out extended hours to take advantage of the busy evening .. that just smacks of bad taste in my opinion.
On to happy news we have a new business in town, say hello to The Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation on 74 Hamilton Street. www.lakehuron.ca We also have a few shifting around, Remax has moved to the old Shoe Barn location on 34 Newgate Street and The Shoe Barn has moved on to The Square.
Gosh the other evening event I meant to mention was the open house "Then" and "Now" photo exhibit Lynn Moreland had at her place Westcoast Photography. Absolutely first class photographs great food amazing turn out and a feet of display that must have taken hours to put together. Stop in and see her on West Street and plan to spend some time. The collection of her photographs of how the buildings looked then and how they look now will keep you suspended there an hour anyway. Hats off to Lynn and the Heritage Committee for a fine job in display and curating the exhibit. Thank you Lynn for your passion in Heritage buildings and preserving what we cherish.

Spooktacular

2010-10-27T10:22:00.001-07:00

Spooktacular is a Halloween tradition in downtown Goderich. It's on Saturday this year a day before Halloween, from 3:30 - 5:00 shop owners will be offering FREE candy to the kids. I'm trying to think up a good excuse to get some candy myself, being a grown up is hard sometimes.
I am amazed at the number of times I now see the word Spooktacular used in marketing for Halloween. As far as I know, the word was the brain child of our summer student when she was conjuring up a Halloween event for the BIA a few years back.
Our downtown is a 360% full circle, although called The Square and because of the wide sidewalks and stores side by side, it's easy for the kids to go trick or treating. Store owners tell me this is a fun time for them. They can slow down and visit with friends and love seeing the children in costume.
The Municipal elections have come and gone, actually the entire month of October has come and gone. What is it about this time of year that everything seems to fly by, witches on broomsticks, fall leaves, October planning. Christmas is right around the corner, time to organize lights, parades, parties oh my. The light is changing, it seemed much darker this morning. Soon we will be turning the clocks back.

The BIA Banners we put up this year look so big bold and beautiful... boy do they stand out...Big Bold Beautiful a design company out of Whistler made them... but the high winds are playing havoc. The bracket arms that hold the banners are not doing the job. A Toronto company supplied the arms. Our Parks crew has had to install extra fasteners to hold the arms in place.

Our summer weather could not have been more perfect. We have had some rain and high winds for Fall but all in all pretty spectacular. This is such a nice time of year to come and see the Fall colours. It is still warm enough to walk along the beach boardwalk or the trails and although our stores are all gearing up for the Christmas season we are not so busy that we can't all take a moment to relax and enjoy a visit with you before the rush of the Festive season.

Fall in Goderich seems to be about colour, theatre, movies and meetings. The Film Festival just had "Get Low" playing last Thursday, our Goderich Little Theatre is running Dr. Barnardo's Children, there is a New Years Eve gala planned at The Livery, and the galleries have some really interesting art on display. Come visit sometime soon, before the snow flies.

Fall hours and a less hectic schedule

2010-10-04T10:44:00.000-07:00

Well, I recently posted Fall hours for our BIA stores and restaurants on the website, which reminds me that yes Summer has been officially replaced with changing colours, softer tones, a less hectic pace and a short "siesta" before gearing up for our Holiday season. Time to put away the white shoes, but I do notice that others like me are still not quite ready to give up wearing their sandals.

Halloween is right around the corner. and The Square is a perfect place to come trick or treating. With broad sidewalks and lots of stores to go into, the kids can walk safely and parents can keep an eye on them easily. The BIA is hosting the ever popular "Spooktacular" again this year. Merchants in the downtown BIA will be handing out candy to the young ones on Saturday October 30th. from 3:30 - 5:00 pm. Look for the "Spooktacular" posters proudly displayed on store doors. Although Halloween falls officially on the Sunday, the BIA events committee thought with more stores open and so many kids coming we would do the Saturday.

When I look back on the summer months I smile. So many great things happened over the summer, with the Celtic Festival weather being good this year, the summer evening concerts were such a hit, the Bluesfest Friday night walkabout was amazing, I am booked for next year for sure and new stores opening in the downtown, Shanahan's Quality Meats for one. The Shoe Barn will be moving on to The Square soon as well.

We're planning for the Annual General Meeting right now. The hardest part of all this is choosing a date. Do you go before the election or after. If we get too close to Christmas people are booked with social events and The Livery is booked for Performance dates this year in November and December so it narrows available space to hold the AGM as well. But....... we did decide on a date, Wednesday, November 17th, because really who does anything on a Wednesday night and I will be sending out a tender to our restaurants to cater this busy event.
This year we are having the AGM at The Canadian Legion, upstairs. I know the Chamber held their Spirit of Success awards there last year and they did a great job of decorating the place. I am sure that the very talented decorating committee from the BIA can make it look splendid.

Well I will finish up for now, somehow this never seems like work, more like writing a letter to a friend.

Susan

2010-09-09T10:46:00.000-07:00

Thursday, September 09, 2010
Blog
This week has brought new beginnings …. and some sad endings. I miss Jessica already! Jessica Adams was our BIA summer student and the originator of the BIA blog. She has high tailed it off full of excitement and some degree of nervousness to her first year at Guelph University. I hear Jessica is LOOOOooving it. We miss her because she brought a cheerful disposition to everything she did and a willingness to reach out and talk to our visitors and locals. We wish her all the best this year at school. I am thinking there must be quite a few parents and family members sending their loved ones off to school this week. May all the best be waiting for our youth and teens as they embark on another year.

This past Thursday was the last 2010 performance for the BIA Summer Evening Concert Series in Courthouse Park. As the weather was rainy we moved our final concert indoors to Paddy O’Neil’s (at The Bedford) and the Saturday afternoon West Coast Blues Fest concert sponsored by the BIA, was moved indoors to The Legion. Thank you to both spots for welcoming us so warmly and to Steve Howard at 104.9 the beach for helping to organize all this mess. A win-win all around as both concerts were well attended by young and old alike. Booking concerts for the year is one of the highlights of my job here as Manager. If you have a new band, local or otherwise you would like to see next year at the BIA Bandstand, drop me a line. It was suggested that we add a Country & Western band to the line up, so I will be on the lookout for that.

Talking about the West Coast Blues Fest what a fantastic weekend, starting with the Friday night Walk About. I did the entire stretch and was only stopped by a full house at Wicked Willy’s so I missed that one, went back to J’s Bistro for a second time to hear Chris Murphy on the sax and watch Gerard play guitar. Also, Coffee Culture was a nice addition for anyone who prefers a little java with their Blues. The Saturday night event went off without a hitch, although the floor was a little wet and the tent poles were weaving in the wind, in time to the Loco Zydeco Band which was a hoot to watch. They played a song I used to roller skate to.

Talking about Roller Skating I did catch the Roller Derby, a couple of Saturdays ago. We need to have these ladies back again. Pure entertainment and a full crowd at the old arena.

Coming up you don’t want to miss the Health & Harvest Festival on Saturday the 18th, pray for sunny weather and no wind. We will have the Health & Harvest trees decorated for the Communitrees event and would prefer that the wind doesn’t wreak havoc on the corn.
Remember the tricycle race is for little ones only, sorry big people, but you can always try your hand at Gourd bowling or watch a yoga demonstration. It runs from 9:00 am to
1 pm. Pick up some goodies at the Farmers Market for lunch and you’ve had a full day by noon.

Well enough for now, and as smiles can come in any sizes I am sending you a very, very big one.
Susan Armstrong, Manager for the downtown Goderich Business Improvement Area

BIA's Bustling Week of Events

2010-08-18T10:53:00.001-07:00

So, you may be racking your mind, thinking of things that you can do for the remainder of this week. I have a great line up for you, that you won't want to miss!

On Thursday, August 19, 2010 from 7-8:30pm, join the BIA at The Courthouse Square in the Bandstand to celebrate the arrival of the Tivoli Boys Guard Band. The Tivoli Boys Guard was founded in 1844 as an honorary guard watching over Tivoli's finest buildings and monuments on festive occasions.
Through the years several divisions have been added to the Guard: Drums and Fifes, Band, Captain and Colour Guard, Golden Coach, and Artillery form the parade which takes place at Tivoli several times every week.

The Tivoli Boys Guard Band plays various genres during their concerts which include marches, polkas, overtures, themes from cartoons, etc. The Guard Band traditionally wear uniforms of the Royal Danish Court with red tunics and black bearskin hats when performing each week at the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. The Tivoli Boys Guard consists of about 100 boys between the ages of 9 and 16. The summer you turn 16, you resign from the Guard. By then you will have received an extensive musical education. In fact, many of the boys become professional musicians.

Originally, the boys were paid in sandwiches and beer! Today, the boys are rewarded for their efforts by the training they receive. Also, they get to see the world and partake in many important events as the Tivoli Boys Guard is often invited to play in Denmark and abroad for openings of conferences and exhibitions, visits of important people etc.

Another great event happening this weekend, is The Village Marketplace. On Saturday, August 21, 2010 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, at the Court House Square, Goderich, come out and enjoy a great afternoon!

Partnering with the Goderich Farmers’ Market and downtown Goderich B.I.A., this event will include the Saturday market vendors as well as:

• Recipe Challenge – using only local ingredients found at the Goderich Farmers’ Market local professional chefs will prepare dishes. Judged on taste and presentation, the best dishes will be awarded prizes in various categories
• Tasting – Local restaurants and chefs will prepare bite-sized samples using local ingredients (venue location at The Livery on South Street)
• Children’s Area – An interactive space that will teach children about where their food comes from

Come out to the BIA Bandstand on August 19th, 2010 at 7pm for a free performance by the Tivoli Boys Guard Band!! And visit the Courthouse Square on Saturday, August 21st, 2010 from 10am to 1pm for The Village Marketplace, through The Taste of Huron!

Hope to see you there!

New BIA Website (http://goderichbia.ca)

2010-08-10T12:12:00.000-07:00

Hello, once again!
Now, I assume that you all must know about the BIA's new website (http://goderichbia.ca) as you are now viewing my webpage. If you are new to the website, or are looking for something in specific, I am here to solve your problems! I will walk you through our new website and let you know about all of the cool things that it has to offer.
To start, you will be directed to the Home Page of the BIA's site. You will see tabs under the BIA Banner, that will lead you to other pages on the website. If you scroll down the page, you will find contact information for the BIA Office, and links to the Town of Goderich, Heritage Goderich, and the BIA Manager, Susan Armstrong's, Twitter Account. Here she tweets about many of the BIA's great events and activities! Follow us on Twitter @SusanCArmstrong! You will also see a Box at the top right of the page, in which you can find out more information about the upcoming Health and Harvest Festival or the Flea and Farmers Markets.
If you are looking for some of the great events that the BIA is hosting, click on the News & Events tab. You can check out Business Opportunities, Upcoming Events, or Local News and Events for all of the events that the BIA is hosting. You can then check out some of the past festivals and events or photos of The Square in the Photos Page.
When you are looking for a business in The Downtown Square, check out the Directory page. Here you can look for a category that your business will be under and from there will find the Business Name, Number, and Address.
For ways to improve your business, visit the Economic Development section, where you will find many of the BIA's Source Reports and Studies over the years and Properties available for rent, lease, or sale in The Downtown. Also, to view many documents pertaining to Economic Development, refer back to the Home page, and scroll down to Documents, in which you will find Town of Goderich plans, Registration Forms, BIA Newsletters, and much more!
The About Us section provides you will some knowledge and background about the BIA, The BIA Board Members, and many of the BIA documents.
The Area Map is extremely useful in looking for businesses around The Square, and is a great visual of The Square and its local businesses.
Lastly, if you are a BIA Member, you may log into the Members page and will receive insider information and news.

I hope that you have enjoyed and benefitted from this walkthrough of the new BIA website. If you have any questions, suggestions, or cannot access or find something, please let us know at bia@goderich. ca or at the BIA Office, at 519-440-0871.

Thanks so much for your support and interest!!

Our Beautiful Town of Goderich

2010-08-06T08:06:00.000-07:00

Last night, while at the BIA's Summer Evening Concert Series, I was chatting with a nice family from Hamilton. They were very impressed with our "genuine, caring town" and the beautiful beach that Goderich has to offer. We compared and contrasted different lifestyles, population sizes (they differed here), and community interest and involvement. In conversing with the father and his son, I realized that we are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful town and a supportive community.
I also have family visiting from Delta, British Columbia, located in North Vancouver with a population of 100,000 people. I was showing them around Goderich, including The Square and the Cove Beach, and they were surprised about how much I not only knew about the town, but also by how many people that I knew in the town. One thing that I admire most about Goderich is the friendly atmosphere and local interest and growth. Many tourists feel welcomed, and like Goderich because we are so inviting and hospitable. As I think about all of the great things that Goderich has to offer, I thought that I would make a list of my Top Ten Things I Like About Goderich:
10. Chiming of the Clock- Whenever I am in town, close enough to hear the chiming of the clock, I can tell what time it is.
9. Summer events on the Square- In working with the BIA this summer, I have realized how many events and activities happen in The Square! They have been a blast, and have been well received! I have met so many great, interesting people and have gotten the opportunity to learn about many different aspects of our lovely town.
8. The movie theatre- I love going to the movies with my friends! It is such a fun place to go to, and is even better on Tuesdays, when it is cheap night!!
7. Maitland Trail- On a nice breezy, summer evening, I like to escape on the Maitland Trail and walk up to Tiger Dunlop's Tomb. The scenery is gorgeous and there are lots of animals to watch.
6. Huron County Courthouse- There is so much history that accompanies the Courthouse. The Courthouse is at the heart of Goderich, and has played an instrumental role in many cases throughout Ontario! It is quite an impressive building.
5. Rural Ontario- I love being able to drive down a dirt road, and see an abundance of crops growing in the fields. Wide open pastures, flowing streams, and country farmhouses are something to be admired.
4. Culberts Bakery- Mmmmmm, cookies and donuts. No where else in town can compare! I love the chocolate shortbread cookies. If you are visiting Goderich, this is one place that you need to visit!
3. The friendly people of Goderich- I love walking down the streets in Goderich and knowing atleast one other person, or being able to smile at a passing resident. This attitude helps to strengthen our community, and town as a whole.
2. The local atmosphere- Many businesses and citizens within the Town of Goderich are very big motivators and believers in the Buy Local, Buy Fresh campaign. There are also many other initiatives and events that take place to promote our local produce, such as Saturday Farmers' Markets on The Square (8am- 1pm), Sunday Flea Market on The Square (9am-3pm). Taste of Huron, and the fall Health and Harvest Festival, where local vendors sell local produce. What a great way to support your community, save money, and help the environment!
1. The beach- As the beach is so close, it is perfect for a day out with your friends or family. We are so fortunate to be on the coastline of Lake Huron, and to be able to access the beach everyday.

Those are just some of the wonderful things that I love about Goderich!
So, get out there and soak up some of the great things that Goderich has to offer!!

Thanks,
Jessica Adams
BIA Summer Student
bia@goderich.ca
519-440-0871

Butt Out!

2010-07-20T13:43:00.000-07:00

Not only do we know that smoking is harmful to human health and the surrounding atmosphere, but it is also detrimental to the environment and natural ecosystems. Each year, approximately 4.5 trillion cigarettes are disposed of. (Elizabeth Batt, http://bit.ly/dvWEIS) Just thinking of the negative impacts that these discarded cigarette butts have on our environment is disheartening. Not only are these butts harmful to land animals, such as raccoons, dogs, cats, and squirrels that may consume these discards, but also saltwater and freshwater animals, such as fish, whales, and seals. Cigarette butts that are not properly disposed of, such as those that are thrown on the ground rather than discarded in a garbage or holding can, are not only more easily accessible to wildlife consumption, but are also an aesthetic displeasure. These poisioning sticks not only affect animal lives, but also human lives, especially children's health. The over 4000 chemicals exhaled and released into the atmosphere from cigarettes are not only harmful to human health, but also the ecosystems and land we live on.
If you choose to smoke, please be respectful of those around you, and disgard your finished cigarette in a garbage can. They are much more harmful to the environment when left on the ground. They will not decompose, like many believe, as the cellulose acetate filters are not biodegradable. Please think of the animals and children that you may be impacting before you throw your next cigarette on the ground. (Jessica Taylor-Cassan, http://bit.ly/wmcTm)
There are a few spots around The Courthouse Square that are littered with cigarette butts. Throwing your finished cigarette butts in the garbage helps to minimize waste, decrease health and environmental risks and damage, and to keep our downtown as beautiful as possible. Please be respectful of others around you when disposing of your cigarette butts.
Thank you.

Website Madness

2010-07-13T13:40:00.000-07:00

Has anyone ever tried to create a webpage? Well let me tell you, it is not easy!
First, you must decide what type of a website you would like to design. Then, decide on a look for your website that will entice people to check it out. Now, that is the easy part. You must follow up by adding important and relevant information to the website. This information may be in the form of pictures, events updates, and PDFs just to name a few. Then, I keep flipping between the Website Manager and the actual site to check up on the changes that I have made. What's worse is when you run into glitches in the system and have no idea how to solve them.

That is all for now! Stay posted for more details about the new Goderich BIA Website! It will be launching in Summer 2010!

Any suggestions or ideas for the website will be greatfully recieved at bia@goderich.ca.

Thanks,
Jessica Adams

Jessica's Top Ten Weeding Tips

2010-07-08T11:50:00.000-07:00

I don’t know how many of our Goderich residents enjoy gardening, but I can tell you one thing. It is a fantastic way for you to calm down and to take out your anger and frustration. Just think of ripping a weed’s root from the ground or pulling grass from the cracks in the sidewalk. This is the task that I was faced with on Monday morning. Under the beating hot sun, I was tugging, ripping, and pulling roots, most of them rooted fairly deep in the soil, the sweat dripping down my face. After my experience in the sun, I thought that I should give you my Top Ten Weeding Tips to a Successful Weeding Experience. Here they are:

1. Wear the right protective gear. Make sure that you are wearing running shoes and comfy clothes that you don’t mind if they get dirty. Also, don’t forget about your gloves and a hat. The sun sure can get hot.

2. WATER WATER WATER. Make sure that you remember to bring along your water bottle. Without it you will become dehydrated and may suffer from heat stroke.

3. Know the difference between flowers and weeds. Do not be pulling your Mother’s prized petunias out of her garden, leaving her with a bed of weeds and you grounded for a week.

4. Don’t overwork yourself. Weeding can be very strenuous and hard labour. Taking breaks and refueling with lots of water is the best idea.

5. Wear Sunscreen!! To beat the sun, stay protected.

6. To avoid being eaten alive by bugs, wear bug repellent! You don’t want to find that you have been the target of a swarm of mosquitoes nor an angry mob of ants.

7. Use gardening or weeding tools. Pulling out weeds with your bare hands can be very tiring, not to mention painful, so by using some tools, you will be making your job a lot easier and saving your hands from pain.

8. Pick the right time of the day. If you are an early riser, you probably prefer gardening in the morning. If you prefer the evening, you should probably begin weeding after supper. Whichever time of day you choose to weed, make sure that you are staying protected from the sun and insects.

9. When you decide to weed. Weeding during a torrential downpour is probably not the best idea, but weeding after rainfall is probably the most ideal time, as the roots are more likely to come out of the soil with little problem, as the soil is wet.

10. Have fun! If you hate weeding, then you will not enjoy your time weeding and it will take much longer!

I hope that these tips and have helped!

If you have any new ideas or events, please feel free to contact me at bia@goderich.ca.

Thanks,

Jessica Adams

It's as Clear as Mud...

2010-07-08T11:34:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Goderich BIA Blog! Wait... What is the Goderich BIA you may be asking? Well for starters, the BIA stands for the Business Improvement Association. The BIA is formed from the Board of Management, with 12 members on the board. This board meets monthly to oversee the improvement, beautification, and maintenance of the municipality of Goderich and to promote the Downtown Core, otherwise known as the Square, as a business or shopping area. The BIA has become involved in numerous activities, such as special events, seasonal decorations, streetscape improvements and other amenities, marketing, and business recruitment. Many of the events and celebrations held within the downtown Goderich are hosted by the BIA and are held to improve awareness about local businesses within the town of Goderich. Our town is a beautiful one, infused with uniqueness and talented individuals. One thing that makes Goderich so unique and so loved is the local and free-spirited atmosphere of our town. Goderich is a great place for families and friends alike to soak up the sun on the beach and then make their way to the beautiful downtown Square to do some local shopping in independently run shops. Beautiful flowers, shady trees, and an abundant amount of birds and squirrels within our beautiful town show the dedication and collaborative nature of all those within the town. Without the efforts and volunteer actions, Goderich would not be as viable nor as beautiful a town as it is!
Please contact Jessica Adams at bia@goderich.ca . Any ideas or questions will be greatly appreciated!

Pull My Strings

2010-07-08T11:21:00.000-07:00

To celebrate Multicultural Day, on Sunday, June 27th, an extremely talented group of 17 teenagers from Saline, Michigan, fiddled their way into town. Fiddlers Restrung captivated and etnthralled their crowd of approximately 150 spectators. Through the group's impressive fiddling skills, swift dance moves, and peaceful voices. Fiddlers Restrung brought forth a show full of energy and passion. Goderich was the first stop on the high school students' Great Tour, followed by a performances in London, Niagara Falls, and numerous stops in the United States. Fiddlers Restrung were a great group of talented youth that amazed and inspired their audience! Followed by Fiddlers Restrung was an unplugged concert by Katy Johnston and Benson Brown. These two proved just how multicultural our county is, performing tunes ranging from old-time country, to classical, to folk. The duo captured the crowd's attention and hearts through their impressive improvisations and their lively personalities. These Huron County natives were a great thrill to watch and a pleasure to listen to. The evening was then concluded with a performance by "thatotherchoir". Composed of Huron County performers hand picked by conductor Louise Dockstader, members of "thatotherchoir" hail from Clinton, Blyth, Goderich, Varna, and points in between. Taking their audience from Sea to Sea, "thatotherchoir" threw the audience overboard with their miraculous voices and talented musical skills. This performance had the crowd clapping their hands and stomping their feet to the tunes performed by the choir. Formed over 19 years ago, "thatotherchoir" is one not soon to be forgotten. Wth performances inbcluding Canadian pop, folk, and classical songs, "thatotherchoir" took their audience on a voyage across Canada. This celebration of our country's multiculturalism was a very bright and inspiring journey across "our home and native land." This concert was a huge success and was a ggreat way to showcase the talent and pride that lives right here in our own backyard!