Episodes
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~ For Brianna Latimer (Marshall) ~
One of the things I've come to love about this podcast, is when we have people on who I think I know a bit about, only to discover that my understanding of their lives barely scratches the surface.
Herb & Sherry Marshall are two such people and they join us this week to chat about a couple of places that we believe are an integral part of the fabric of Canada's prettiest town.
The Park House, iconic and full of great stories, is the oldest building in Goderich. We'll also talk about another pretty "old" building, moved and refurbished, with tales of its own, Beach Street Station.
Both have a very special place in Milli's and my heart. We had our first actual "date" at Beach Street and dinner there just prior to my proposing a couple of years later on the beach, which of course is right there in the restaurant's front yard.
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Thankfully, one of the things you could still do during the covid shutdown a few years ago was go for a drive and/or hike and that lent itself well to Milli's and my shared interest in nature photography.
One of our earliest adventures was to Point Clark to watch a sunset from the historic lighthouse. We were really taken with the beauty of the lighthouse itself and of course, nothing beats a Lake Huron Sunset.
This week on the podcast we're going to learn more about the historic lighthouse, it's history, what it was like to be a lighthouse keeper, winding the light and more, including the "Secrets of the Back 40."
Amy Irwin, Economic Development Officer for Huron Kinloss is our guest.
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Missing episodes?
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Golf is one of my favourite pastimes although I don't play nearly as often as I'd like too and maybe for that reason, I don't play nearly as well as I'd like to ;) It can be social or not, it's great low impact exercise and it's something you can do at almost any age.
In this episode, a chat with Gary and Lynne Gravett who owned and operated Goderich Sunset Golf Course for many years. It's probably the course I've played most in my lifetime whether with friends or in any one of many charity golf tourneys.
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"We are not makers of history. We are made by history."
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
I've had a personal fascination with history most of my life and it was always a favourite subject in school so I'm pretty excited to chat with David Armstrong, President of the Huron County Historical Society.
We will chat about the many ways that we, here in Midwestern Ontario, have been made by our history.
We'll discuss the Society and what they do, our Indigenous and European roots, some upcoming historical anniversaries, some must see tourist destinations in our area along Tiger Dunlop, John Galt and were the plans for Guelph and Goderich really mixed up?
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It's that time of year again when most of us just can't wait to get outside and get all the pretty things growing again.
As sometimes happens, a small labour of love can grow into a force to be reckoned with and such is the case with Greyhaven Gardens. It began more than 34 years ago as a small vegetable growing operation and greenhouse and has evolved into a MUCH larger and well loved independent, family run, garden centre.
This week we're chatting with owner Michelle Greydanus about: humble beginnings, surprise careers, family, flowers, workshops, Mother's Day, Christmas, the new store, the future and ... Beavertails?
Join us for a fun and enlightening chat about this beautiful oasis in Londesboro.
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It's been a popular spot for a very long time. People stopped at the corner of Queen Street and Dinsley in Blyth, as far back as 172 years ago! This week we're going to chat about some of the history of this iconic place, a place that's had a few official names over the years but few, if any of us, know or have ever used those names.
Manager Ang Cullen joins us to talk past, present and future of the legendary Blyth Inn, or let's just call it what we've always called it ... The Boot!
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We realize that we featured Blyth Festival in episode 2 of our 65 show adventure, but some things are so great you just have to go back and check in again. This time, artistic Director Gil Garratt tells us about the history of the theatre itself, it's mission and the new Harvest Stage. After that, a brief synopsis of 6 exciting plays coming to Blyth this summer as we all celebrate 50 seasons.
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Since 1975, the Blyth Festival Theatre has put all Canadians and certainly rural Canadians centre stage, telling our stories, sharing our history, and celebrating our way of life.
The Blyth Festival has always remained true to its original mandate: To produce and present the best in Canadian storytelling.
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I've been very lucky in my career to meet and interview a lot of well known people, so why was I so nervous about this one? Perhaps it's because, as the bassist for Gordon Lightfoot for 55 years, Rick Haynes has been an integral part of the soundtrack of my life.
In this episode:
* Being a career musician was not the plan
* An encounter with Duane Eddy
* Who was Gordon Lightfoot to Rick?
* Musicians & Chemistry
* Gord's legacy
* The Lightfoot Band
* Rick's favourite Lightfoot song
So grateful to have had this opportunity. The Lightfoot Band plays Blyth Memorial Hall on Friday, April 26th, 2024.
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Milli had an idea to create a few podcasts under the sub-heading of "Pockets of Peace." To seek out some hidden, peaceful gems in Midwestern Ontario and I loved the idea. I'm sure it's no coincidence that the first place we thought of was Bayfield Lavender.
We'd set out on a bit of a photo adventure one day last summer and through a series of fortunate events, ended up at this beautiful oasis just outside of Bayfield on Porter's Hill Line. We could feel the anxiety leaving our bodies as we strolled about this peaceful, sustainable, small scale lavender farm.
We're excited to share it with you today as we sit down for a chat with owner operator, farmer, creator ... Gemma James Smith.
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When we set out on this journey more than a year ago, we thought we would be focussing on a lot of places and things that we find amazing about Midwestern Ontario and we hope we're doing that to some extent. What it seems to have evolved into though, is a podcast that's more about people.
We say often that everybody has a story and we've come to love the stories.
In this episode, we chat with a guy who stepped into a very difficult role last year after the town of Goderich lost it's second mayor in as many years.
Trevor Bazinet joins us to chat about that journey, his life in Goderich, family, friends and his meeting and friendship with hockey great Guy Lafleur.
Also, do yourself a favour and don't miss "The Fast Five" at the end of the show where Ally Anderson confesses her morbid fear of ... yarn.
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Husband, father, farmer, mayor, author, writer, playwright, broadcaster, storyteller ... Just a few of the things our guest has been called in his life. Dave Scott is also known as a man who loves his hometown of Seaforth.
In this episode, we will chat about the Scott family legacy in the Seaforth area, a couple of books he's written on his passion for hockey, old plowing matches, his friendship with Stompin Tom and the highly successful play that came out of that and a new podcast we're all working on together called - "All Roads Lead Home" - for Seaforth Homecoming 2025.
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This week, our sweetest adventure yet, as Milli and I hit the road for a few live "on location" chats.
First we'll visit our friends Ben and Brianna at Coastal Coffee near Kintail then move to Cranston Farms Maple Syrup for a quick catch up with Ivan. After that a stop at Robinson Maple Products for a chat with Kevin Snider before returning to the studio meet up with Barry Mulvey from The Belmore Maple Syrup Festival.
We love our live on location chats with all the ambient sounds of maple syrup being made.
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Today were meeting up with an old high-school friend of mine, Marianne Hogan who has been a big part of the transformation of the former St. Joseph's Church into the Kingsbridge Centre. We'll get the story on how the historic church and rectory was purchased and turned into a spot that would host community gatherings, concerts and performances, rental options and a lot more.
Also joining Milli and I, a very good friend of ours, Cheryl Prashker, who wears many hats including Percussionist for the Celtic Roots band RUNA and Artistic Director - The Goderich Celtic Roots Festival.
It's old friends catching up today to chat about the Centre, the upcoming RUNA concert there, Celtic Festival and things that make life good.
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As a boy, I was hockey obsessed and growing up in Goderich meant I had access every year to the grand-daddy of all hockey tournaments.
Young Canada Week began in 1950 as a one-day, 12-team competition for peewee age players and over the years it grew into an exciting and important part of the fabric of Goderich and area. It would go on to draw players like: Paul Henderson, Darryl Sittler, Brad Park, Ron Ellis, Goderich's own Larry Jeffrey and Gary Doak and yes, Wayne Gretzky ... and many more.
On this episode, Lion's Club member, former teacher & coach Richard Madge will join us along with one of my oldest friends, Rob Bundy to chat about the tourney's humble beginnings, it's rise to become one of the most famous tournaments in the world, the push to stay relevant in an ever changing world and some of our own special memories and brushes with hockey fame.
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I have memories of Listowel Paddyfest that go back to the early 90's but of course it's been around a lot longer than that. This week, Paddyfest chairman Ben Zavitz tells us just how far back it goes, who started it all and some of the things we can look forward to this year.
One of those things is a concert with an amazing singer/songwriter out of Mildmay who is currently taking the world by storm with hit songs like "Love (The Sweater Song) , "Old Dirt Roads" and "Home Less". Owen Riegling joins us to talk about growing up in a small town, family, friends, writing/singing from the heart and life on the road.
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If you understand the title of this week's podcast, you probably had a great childhood.
We didn't really plan it this way, but today's episode is perfect for Family Day! From his days playing road hockey on King Street in Blyth to World Championship teams, Justin Peters is here to talk about the importance of the "families" he's been a part of on that journey: his birth family, the teams, the friends and the county/hometown he still has so much love for.
Also:
* Career highlights
* People and coaches who made a difference
* His new role with the Ottawa Senators
* Are the goal posts really a goaltenders best friend?
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In 2015, her life was forever changed when, while biking, she was hit by a car as she trained for a triathlon. Her new life in a wheelchair meant relearning so much of what she and most of us take for granted. Everything from having a shower, to cooking, to tucking her kids in at night ... to putting on her socks.
The journey through that, hard to imagine darkness, led her to a place where she made the decision to shine light on it all. This week we're joined in the studio by a strong woman, wife, mother, friend and founder of Sawchuk Accessible Solutions, Julie Sawchuk.
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Most of us have a teacher or two that's made a difference in our lives. Someone who met us where we were at the time and then helped us to become the best version of ourselves.
I've told stories for much of my life about a select group of remarkable educators whom I owe, so very much too. In most cases it's a lot less to do with the actual content of the classes I was in and a lot more about finding out who I was, exploring that and finding joy in a life I was born to live.
I'm almost giddy to have this man on the show today. There's no doubt in my mind or I'm sure, in the minds of 1000's of students he's taught in his lifetime, that he, was born to be a teacher.
Today on "A Life That's Good" ... Mr. Smallwood.
"Little Seahorse" Bruce Cockburn ©1976 *Used with permission
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It's one of our favourite places to eat in Midwestern Ontario. Fancy enough that it can be a special occasion and casual enough that it can be just because, it's Part 2 Bistro, on the Square in Goderich.
With beginnings in Blyth it has matured into a great place to seek a little refuge from the world and to just sit and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and first rate food.
Peter Gusso is here today: husband, dad, chef and friend. We'll talk about growing up in Bluevale, travelling through the UK, Bistro beginnings, and the love of food and cooking!
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A bonus episode this week!
One of the things that makes life so good for us in Midwestern Ontario is live music AND some of the amazing venues we get to enjoy artists in ... like the Blyth Memorial Community Hall.
It's especially great when world class performers recognize the beauty, the sound quality and the intimacy of some of our performance venues like Blyth where this Sunday evening, The Jim Cuddy Band will play.
We were lucky enough to have a quick phone chat with Jim this week. He is, of course, a founding member of one of Canada's preeminent bands, Blue Rodeo, and as mentioned, his solo band.
We talked about how music has been a compulsion in his life, early inspirations, the creation of "Blue Rodeo" and "The Jim Cuddy Band" ... and a few surprises :)
Tickets for Jim's show in Blyth this Sunday: www.blythfestivalcom
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