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Meet the Baker: Amanda Goerzen

June 2, 2021 Leave a Comment

*Amanda Goerzen is an avid outdoor enthusiast and a baker at heart. She recently moved to the Highlands and has been creating some mouth watering treats in our bakery.*

Amanda Goerzen always loved to bake. Now the hobby she is passionate about has turned into a career at the new SIRCH Bistro.

A world traveler and adventurer, Amanda has deep roots in the Highlands, having spent her childhood summers as a camper at Camp Kawabi. It was this connection that helped land her a job at Abbey Gardens, where she worked in the Food Hub.

While living up here she became aware of SIRCH and the work they were doing in the community. “I was very impressed with SIRCH,” she said. “I was very excited to join the team. I just love our community and our patrons that come into the Bistro. There is such a sense of support, it is so amazing.”

A teacher for the nearly 30 years, Amanda recently went back to school and enrolled in culinary courses at George Brown College. It was there where she learned the skills to make artisan breads and her instructor’s famous rye bread. One of the things she is most excited about is all the community partnerships SIRCH is involved with. “We are currently baking a bread using the spent grains from Haliburton Highlands Brewery,” she said. Her favourite things to bake are breads and cookies and her sourdough loaf, which she said is “becoming a specialty.”

It’s no surprise that Amanda landed in the Highlands. A lover of the outdoors, she has two dogs and can be found most days being active, whether it’s by cycling or being in her garden.

Meet the Baker: Judith Bamford

May 17, 2021 Leave a Comment

Judith Bamford is one of our talented bakers who is bringing her skills to the SIRCH Bistro bakery every Saturday. Her specialties include her artisan breads and everything she makes is made with care.

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.

Online School’s Cool Application

March 25, 2021 Leave a Comment

Do you have a child starting Kindergarten this fall? SIRCH Community Services’ School’s Cool program may be just what your child needs to get ready for their new classroom learning adventures!

School’s Cool has been delivered in person at local schools with amazing results — children increase math, language, self help, social and psychological skills by a year of development in just 6 weeks. Now, due to the pandemic, we have developed an online program — and this is the pilot! This program will be done from your home, with the child and caregiver involved. There are only 12 spaces. The pilot runs April 12 – May 21 every weekday from 9:30 -11:00 a.m.

School’s Cool will be open to children in the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton Country. To adhere to COVID protocol this program will held via Zoom, which means students will require a computer or tablet to participate. The $240 program fee will be waved for our online pilot and activity kits will be provided for a minimal cost.

Apply Now

Program Details:

April 12, 2021 – May 21, 2021

Monday to Friday: 9:30 am – 11:00 am

Phone: 705-457-1742

Email: info@sirch.on.ca

www.sirch.on.ca/programs/schools-cool

Press Release: Cook It Up and Ready For Retail training programs help community members gain practical skills for the workplace

February 19, 2021 Leave a Comment

Have you ever imagined yourself chopping vegetables in a beautiful commercial kitchen? Or helping customers choose gifts from a selection of hand crafted items? Have you felt stuck in a rut in your current job and want to just try something new, but don’t want to pay to take diploma or degree courses until you’re sure? Do you want more stability in a job? Or just a job?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may want to check out Cook It Up and Ready For Retail, two training programs that are starting soon at SIRCH Community Services in partnership with Fleming College. New this year these programs will be offered both onsite and online.

Cook It Up trains people in food services. Over four months, part time, trainees learn about working in a professional kitchen. They not only learn skills like knife handling, nutrition, cooking, and serving but also skills that are invaluable in life – how to work in a team, how to deal with difficult people, what to do about stress, how to focus on the positives. And then trainees get to practice their skills in the SIRCH Community Kitchen and Bistro, which is open to the public. The beautiful space is welcoming and low key, perfect for a beginner!

Ready for Retail trains people to work in retail spaces. The course is the same length of time, with the same communication/teamwork training but retail trainees will also learn cashier duties, merchandizing, loss prevention and much more. Practical experience will be first gained in the SIRCH Marketplace, a vibrant store attached to the Bistro that is filled with unique items from dozens of artists and entrepreneurs.

You can do some courses from home or, if you don’t have an available computer, at the Training Centre. And some of the classes will be in small groups in the SIRCH Training Centre in Haliburton.

“These programs will help you gain the skills and confidence you need to find success. We can help you solve any practical issues that may stand in your way, like if you don’t have transportation, or need to be home when the kids get off the bus. And you’ll get a hot lunch any day you’re on site.” said Gena Robertson, SIRCH Executive Director. “Our instructors will make you feel confident in no time. Our goal is to get you employed, or self employed, and everyone is going to bend over backwards to make that happen.”

Cook It Up and Ready for Retail have six years of success behind them with 90 per cent of graduates being offered jobs upon graduation.

Both these programs are FREE. Yes you read that correctly! Cook It Up and Ready For Retail are offered at no cost to the participant If you’re ready for a new career then don’t hesitate to sign up for this opportunity. If interested in applying or to learn more, contact SIRCH at info@sirch.on.ca or call 705-457-1742. Or you can visit www.sirch.on.ca.

Your one stop shop for Christmas is the SIRCH Bistro & Marketplace

December 15, 2020 Leave a Comment

The SIRCH Bistro & Marketplace showcases handcrafted items made by local artisans.

The holidays are approaching faster than ever and the days to get your shopping done are dwindling! While online shopping is one option, there are plenty of opportunities to shop locally this year and surprise your loved ones with beautifully handcrafted, one of-a-kind items. And the best part is you don’t have to hope it arrives on time!

The SIRCH Bistro & Marketplace is a new initiative that serves a variety of purposes, including supporting local entrepreneurs who are trying to build their business. Take a visit to the Marketplace and you will be amazed by the creativity and affordability of home décor items, artwork, jewelry, Christmas decorations and so much more.

Or perhaps you’re looking for that perfect stocking stuffer for that hard to shop for person on your list. The Bistro & Marketplace also serves delicious, home cooked meals Monday to Fridays. The Bistro’s daily features include healthy breakfast sandwiches, fresh made muffins, hearty soups, pizza, hot lunch entrees and our popular Korean meals. For the holidays we are offering lunch tickets at a cost of $10 (with a $14 value) that include a yummy hot lunch, coffee or tea, and a freshly baked treat. Now that’s value!

Funds from the sale of the items in the Bistro & Marketplace support initiatives of SIRCH like Lunch is On Us and the Community Kitchen frozen prepared meal program. The Marketplace also supports local creators and entrepreneurs. As the old adage goes, it’s the gift that keeps on giving.

The Bistro & Marketplace is located at 49 Maple Ave., Haliburton. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30-3. We hope to see you there.

Happy Holidays!

Recycled shopping the latest trend in fashion

December 11, 2020 1 Comment

Vintage is the new fashion forward trend and Thrift Warehouse is your new destination for unique and affordable clothing finds!

Thrift Warehouse in Haliburton has been pleased to receive wonderful clothing donations from the community since November.

A social enterprise of SIRCH Community Services, Thrift Warehouse has been offering a variety of items to the community for more than a decade and as of this fall is now offering clothing. This is not only a bonus to our shoppers and our community, but helps keep bags and bags of waste out of our landfills every year.

Thrift Warehouse co-lead Heather Wood says that since introducing clothing at the store this past November, shoppers have been flocking to the racks and are impressed with the selection.

“We’ve been getting so many donations,” said Wood. “I am so impressed with the quality of clothing donated.”

Wood says it has been primarily men who have been buying the clothing thus far.

The addition of clothing to the warehouse has brought in many male shoppers, such as Derwin Barry, who has been impressed with the selection of items and organization of the store.

Derwin Barry is a big fan of the Thrift Warehouse and has bought many items at the store, from couches to rugs, clothing, towels and more.

“It’s very organized,” he says about the layout of the store. “I like the addition of clothes. I have bought clothing here, found some great winter gear, socks, even utensils for my kitchen.” The frequent shopper likes that the profits go back into the community to help fund SIRCH programs and initiatives.

“I’m happy to support Thrift Warehouse,” he says.

One shopper came into the store and purchased two faux fur coats, which she said she plans to use to make blankets and pillows, said Wood. What a great example of upcycling! Sometimes is just takes a fresh pair of eyes and some new ideas to bring life back into something. It’s like the saying goes: One mans trash is another mans treasure!

It is estimated that one bag of clothing equates to 25 pounds. Thrift has already received hundreds of bags of donated clothing. Imagine all of the space that would take up at our local landfills alone! According to the Dysart et al Waste Management department, household waste can increase more than 25 per cent during the holiday season.

It’s great to see local shopping at a time when a lot of our local dollars leave the community and profit offshore companies. The prices of items at Thrift Warehouse. are kept very reasonable to offer the community an affordable place to find necessities. “The last thing I want is for someone to come in and not be able to afford stuff,” says Wood.

Keeping prices affordable is a top priority at the Thrift Warehouse.

As well other organizations can request free items for clients who are in need. Recently SIRCH helped a family who had been homeless for several months and finally found a place but had literally nothing to put in it. SIRCH was able to help with furniture, clothing, towels, household items and a $50 gift card.

Since the start of the pandemic, the Thrift Warehouse has seen an increase in donations, which has helped many members of the community, said store co-lead Kerri Marks. “We are seeing people struggling,” she said.

The partnership between TPS Haliburton Holdings and SIRCH (where SIRCH manages the Thrift Warehouse) SIRCH to fund some of its programs that have no base funding. In particular, the free food programs, School’s Cool, Lunch is On Us, the Repair Café, the Applesauce Project and more have benefited from Thrift Warehouse.

And in addition to getting great deals, shoppers at Thrift Warehouse can also go home with a smile knowing they it’s a win-win for them and for our community.

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