A wine and cheese party to welcome newcomers was held on Oct. 24 at the community hall here.
A year ago, Georgie Hutchison and Isabel Senek proposed a plan to offer welcome packages to new home and business owners in Clifford and area. They approached businesses and clubs to add something to the package and soon had a dozen bags filled with coupons, business cards, and other items. The women then visited newcomers and presented them with a welcome package.
To bring the business community and new citizens of Clifford together for a meet and greet session, they proposed a wine and cheese evening. A video highlighting the best features of Clifford was showing on the big screen.
Town of Minto business and economic development manager Belinda Wick-Graham thanked Hutchison and Senek for their initiative and for hosting the event.
Minto councillor Ron Elliott shared memories of Clifford pitcher Reggie Walls and congratulated the community on the dedicated volunteers who form the heart of a community.
Hutchison thanked the businesses for contributing to the welcome packages. She introduced Carrick Wines entrepreneur Gary Fischer, a relative newcomer himself to the business of growing grapes and creating award winning wines and cider. His wife and children live on a farm between Mildmay and Walkerton.
Fischer shared stories of growing experimental varieties of grapes to finding hearty breeds resistant to disease, insects and the cold.
Fischer invites people to tour his farm, meet his sheep and sheep dog, visit the warehouse, see the production facilities, and sample the fruit of the vine in the century home wine cellar. Contact him at www.carrickwines.ca or info@carrickwines.ca.
The event was sponsored by the Clifford downtown revitalization committee.
