Hi

I'm currently in Ontario visiting a few places on a scouting mission and came across Huron. Up until then I was a little disappointed by Ontario, I couldn't put my finger on it but felt there was something missing. It may have been the areas I visited but there was no community spirit until now.

Does anyone have any information experiences about Huron? In particular St. Joseph, Baywater and Goderich. We have 2 children and would need to know about schools in the area, do they have good reputations etc. Does anyone commute to London for work? If so, what is the journey like in the winter. In fact what is Huron like in the winter?

I'm a Graphic Designer and my wife is an Office Manager in a Recruitment Consultants. Are either of our occupations in demand within this area on Ontario?

Any help would be appreciated.

Many thanks
Leigh & family.

Hi there, I live on the outskirts of Toronto and always make a couple of trips during the summer every year to the Goderich/Bayfield area. Bayfield is a gem of a town, sort of a mini Niagara-on-the-Lake and I believe is generally undiscovered by the masses. A few years ago, Goderich was voted Ontario's prettiest town and quite rightly so. Volvo has a major plant in Goderich and the nearest major centres are Kitchener/Waterloo or London, which are commutable, at least by Canadian standards.

Do not give up on your dream, this is a great area. I have been in Canada since 1987 and this is still one of the areas I am drawn to, very underrated, has great countryside, restaurants, etc.

PM me if you wish, I can give you quite a lot of info. for this area.

I've spent much time in Bayfield for vacation. Beautiful country. Very cold in winter - like most of CAN. It is a very rural area - but not too far from Kitchener/Waterloo. Slightly further to London. Other nice areas include Stratford, Thedford and Forest.

Properties are beginning to climb as Torontonians buy up properties for summer residences. Good luck with your dream . . . make it happen, eh?

Doesn't Oldbag live in that area??

She certainly does...and leaves at the end of this month!

I live in Seaforth, a small town about 15 minutes inland from Bayfield, which is a lovely little place, but expensive for real estate because of its history, quaintness and proximity to the lake...........it enjoys the most fabulous sunsets. The only employment is in the hospitality trade........restaurants and bars, and is seasonal. It also boasts the biggest marina in the area.
Goderich is much bigger; it, too is a quite a pretty town on the shores of Lake Huron, but has a real blot on the landscape with it's salt mines and all that goes with it........right on the lake. There's the usual collection of stores: Zehrs, Crappy Tire, Walmart and at least 2 T Hortons. Slightly more industry with a Volvo plant which makes graders (vehicles which level the gravel roads and soft shoulders on the highways). Sorry, I can't give you any info about schools as I have no children of school age.

St Josephs is a small collection of houses on Highway 21 (Bluewater highway) and has no schools or industry. There is one gas station with a small variety store.

Grand Bend, further south on Highway 21 is a larger town and is the hangout for the local kids as there are bars a plenty. In summer there's a big race track (cars....I think it's stock car racing)....again a big draw for the kids. The whole place is a typical "sea side" town, but on a lake.

This whole area is extremely cold in winter, and has high snowfall due to the "lake effect" snow. As I type this we're enduring temperatures in the low 30's and very high humidity. It will get worse in July and August.

The area is very flat and rural, and I would honestly say the real points of interest are on the coast. There are farms everywhere you look: beef farms, pig farms, chicken farms (for battery hens); crops such as corn, beans, fruit are all produced here, but you rarely see roadside stands in summer.

Lack of employment is a big issue in this area; even though Mr Oldbag is Canadian it has been virtually impossible for him to find work. Small towns are dying.......on each side of Main St in Seaforth there are many empty store fronts and no sign of new ones opening.

I have never thought that title was justified.......you must have seen the central "wheel" area with that monstrous court building in the middle! For my money I'd vote Stratford or Kincardine any day over Goderich.