Check out our May events happening at The Bistro and Thrift Warehouse!


There are few hotels in Ontario and beyond that Judith Bamford hasn’t worked at. With a lifelong career in the hospitality industry that spans across the country and includes working in establishments such as the Four Seasons and Deerhurst Resort, Judith is no stranger to hard work and making people feel at home. She has spent decades working in various management, sales and marketing positions. She’s even been an executive housekeeper. “Boy can I make a bed,” she said.
She first became involved with SIRCH when she decided retirement wasn’t for her and she joined the organization as the Ready for Retail coordinator. She has held many positions with SIRCH and is currently the Kitchen Coordinator for the Bistro.
You can often find her planning menus, doing inventory and most importantly, baking delicious goods. She learned to bake from her mom, who taught her as a young girl. “We would get off the school bus to be welcomed by the wonderful aroma of home baked breads, pies, cookies and Chelsea buns. I can smell it now. As the oldest of 8, I was Mom’s right hand and from ever since I can remember I loved to bake. The feeling of the dough when kneading, the aroma of the bread baking, nothing beats this,” she said. Some of her specialties include rustic artisan loaves, which she loves to add flavour to with herbs, cheeses and infused oils.
Born and raised in the Harcourt area, Judith’s family roots in the Highlands go as far back as the 1800s. Her grandfather was even the postmaster in Highland Grove. She continues to be involved in the community, serving as the chair of the Harcourt Community Centre and active with the Harcourt Community Chapel.
When she’s not working or volunteering you can most likely find her spending time with her four dogs, Gertie Lou, Coco Grace, Bootsy Boy and Matilda Joy.
Two and a half year-old Nicholas Thaler spent the past summer helping his mom and dad grow a variety of delicious vegetables in their family garden in Ingoldsby.
A gardener at heart, some of the items he grew included zucchinis, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, kale and more. His favourite things to grow and eat are little tomatoes and zucchini, said his mom Katie Paroschy.
“We have a big garden and Nicholas helps plant it,” she said. “Mostly he helps pick things.”
After he helps pick the veggies, he then sells them to neighbours and friends at ‘Nicholas’s Veggie Stand’, said Katie. However Nicholas doesn’t squander his proceeds on candy or toys, but instead puts it to good use.
“With the money he made he got to keep half for his savings account and the other half he donates to a local charity. This year we decided to donate to SIRCH Community Services,” said Katie.
Nicholas donated $93 to SIRCH this fall, all raised from selling his veggies. His donation enabled SIRCH to give more than 18 nutritious meals to those in need. We are so grateful to Nicholas!
Last year he donated his garden proceeds to the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre.
Katie says the large garden is a community effort, with lots of friends and neighbours helping out. However Nicholas pulls his weight.
“He is a good worker, he’s a good helper around the house and the yard,” said his mom.