The Citizen - April 22, 2021

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Thursday, April 22, 2021

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Volume 37 No. 16

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Servicing meeting looming

By Denny Scott The Citizen

Battling the blaze On Friday morning, both the Blyth and Wingham stations of the Fire Department of North Huron, as well as the Central Huron Fire Department, attended a house fire on Elizabeth Street in Londesborough.

Nobody was reported to be home at the time of the blaze, but the home was showing heavy amounts of smoke when crews arrived on the scene. This came just

days after a fire at an abandoned house just west of Londesborough, though Central Huron Chief Dave Renner said there is little suspicion that the fires are connected or could be tied to vandalism. According to Londesborough correspondent Brenda Radford, a collection has been set up for the Spencer family, the owners of the Elizabeth Street home, at Nature’s Nest. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

North Huron and MorrisTurnberry Councils have some ground to cover at the negotiating table to craft a cross-border servicing agreement, with the two groups looking for different outcomes.

While a date has not yet been set for a day-long meeting North Huron Council proposed, both sides have expressed different goals for the discussion. Recently, Reeve Bernie Bailey of North Huron and Mayor Jamie Heffer of MorrisTurnberry discussed the issue with The Citizen, explaining what their councils are currently hoping for and what they’re willing to work on.

MEETING TERMS Morris-Turnberry Council members recently spoke in favour of a third-party-mediated meeting, making several suggestions as to who could chair such a meeting.

Heffer reiterated the importance of the mediation from his point of view, saying it was a good way for the meeting to go ahead.

His council had suggested the current Huron County Warden Glen McNeil, his predecessor Central Huron Mayor Jim Ginn or local agricultural scholar Wayne Caldwell.

Bailey, however, is staunchly against not only the mediation, but those specific suggestions as well for several reasons.

Bailey said mediation had been suggested by Huron County staff and council members, however when county staff presented him with an option for a mediator, it would have cost thousands of Continued on page 3

Festival Art Gallery to host virtual showcase

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen This summer, the Blyth Festival Art Gallery is going virtual in an effort to showcase local artists and help them sell their work as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to drag on.

The gallery is now calling for submissions for its Blyth Festival Art Gallery Virtual Community Artists’ Showcase, which will run from June 5 until Sept. 30.

The showcase will be non-juried and the Gallery will not be seeking any fees or commissions on work sold. Gallery President Carl

Stevenson says the goal is to simply connect local artists to local art lovers; any sales will be conducted by buyers directly with the artists.

The Gallery will then feature one or two artists each week through its social media channels, supported by the Blyth Festival and its social media channels as well. Posts will include up to six items of artwork by each artist and include prices, the artist’s biography and contact information.

The deadline for submissions is May 30. For those wanting to be part of the showcase, e-mail blythfestivalartgallery@gmail.com

with the following details: up to six high-quality images of works of art to be featured (including the title, type of media, size and price of each piece), the artist’s name and contact information, website and social media platforms and the artist’s biography (a maximum of 150 words).

In an interview with The Citizen, Stevenson said members of the Gallery committee knew they wanted to do something to support local artists this year, after having to cancel every one of its shows scheduled in 2020, from the annual Student Show to the entire professional season. He received

direction from those at the Blyth Festival that essentially nothing will go forward in the Memorial Hall building this year, so if the Gallery wanted to host an event, it needed to be either outdoors or virtual.

Stevenson also said that it’s been no secret that the pandemic has been hard on artists, who have not had anywhere to exhibit and sell their work with the closure of galleries and markets for over a year now. He said the committee looked at what it could offer and, through its social media presence, felt it could provide a boost and an opportunity to artists in the area that

have not been able to connect with potential customers for a very long time.

With the Festival considering the production of outdoor plays at the natural amphitheatre at the Blyth Campground, Stevenson said there had been some discussion about hosting outdoor art exhibits to coincide with those shows. The expertise necessary, however, and the risk involved proved to be too concerning on such a short timeline for the committee and was shelved as perhaps something to be considered in the future.

Stevenson also said Gallery Continued on page 23

PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021.

In bloom It is Trillium season in Ontario and many photographers both amateur and professional are out and about, camera in hand, to capture these beautiful flowers that are so important to the province. Here, Joan Perrie of the Maitland Valley Camera Club captured one of the beautiful flowers in bloom. (Photo courtesy of Joan Perrie of the Maitland Valley Camera Club)

Sharp case increase concerns Klassen

By Denny Scott The Citizen Huron and Perth County COVID19 cases are continuing to rise, with Medical Officer of Health Dr. Miriam Klassen being concerned by the significant increase in local COVID-19 infection incidence rate.

The incidence rate, which is the number of new cases per 100,000 people per week, increased from 32.9 on April 13 to 37.9 on April 15 last week. The latter increase marks a near doubling of incidence rate within a week as the rate on April 8 was 19.3.

Klassen, during a Huron Perth Public Health press conference on Monday, said control measures need to be recognized and upheld across the area to prevent variants, which are currently predominant, from spreading, as they are far more infectious.

While incidence rates are climbing, the percentage of the population in the area with one vaccine dose completed has also increased, Klassen said. In Huron and Perth County, 99.8 per cent of residents 80 years old or older have had their first dose while 94.6 per cent of residents between the ages of 75 and 79 have been vaccinated.

All, or 100 per cent, of the residents between the ages of 70 and 74 have been vaccinated while 14.9 per cent of residents 65 to 69 years old have been vaccinated.

Klassen said 26 per cent of the total population that could eventually be vaccinated has been.

During an HPPH press on Monday conference, Andrew Williams, Chief Administrative Officer of the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance, confirmed that Huron and Perth Counties have recently received patients from the Greater Toronto Area for care in the region’s Intensive Care Units (ICUs).

Williams said that patients had already been moved to local

intensive care units from the Greater Toronto Area, saying two such patients had been moved into Stratford’s ICU and more were on the way. He also said two patients had been moved to the hospital’s medicine unit with more expected.

“Our Stratford site is the only Level 3 centre,” he said, adding those are the only centres being considered for transfers. “Today we have two [in the ICU] and we are confirmed to be receiving two more in the next 48 hours. We have two medicine patients and are expecting another one. That’s a total of seven and we expect to see that increase over the next few days.”

That number is more than double what he reported during an HPPH teleconference on Thursday, April 15.

Williams said the alliance has been given permission to create three new ICU beds and the organization is currently working to reschedule operating room staff to redeploy them to help with the ICU. He said staffing is a very significant issue for local hospitals, which Klassen echoed saying it’s not just an issue of ICU beds but one of staff to work in the ICU. Williams said patients are moving daily throughout the province and he expects more to be decanted from hot spots to local hospitals.

During the teleconference on Thursday, local doctors Paul Gill and Kim Gilmour spoke to AstraZeneca clinics that were held earlier this week in Goderich and Stratford. The clinics welcomed individuals who were 55 years old or older to get doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The clinics were booked within six hours of opening, according to Klassen.

Gill explained that, due to the logistics of providing clinics, it made sense for primary care clinics to consolidate the vaccines they receive into centralized clinics.

When asked about clinics being Continued on page 24

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021. PAGE 3.

NH seeks holistic, M-T seeks single issue in agreement Continued from page 1 dollars a day, and he anticipated the mediator would spend weeks preparing for it.

Beyond that, he was told by McNeil that the sitting warden couldn’t mediate the situation.

As for Ginn, Bailey pointed out that, currently, North Huron and Central Huron don’t have a crossborder servicing agreement either, so Ginn and Central Huron could benefit from steering the negotiations. Finally, he said Caldwell wasn’t a good fit either, saying he had failed to mediate a dispute between North Huron and Morris-Turnberry regarding fire protection several years ago. He feels that issue was only resolved when Morris-Turnberry Council realized how difficult a proposition building their own fire department would be.

“I was hired by North Huron [ratepayers] to make sure the township is run properly, legally and not to give money away,” Bailey said, adding that he felt, to meet that mandate, the meeting should be held only between the two municipalities.

BAILEY’S STANCE In representing his council, Bailey said he felt that the issue had been mishandled because the previous sitting North Huron

Council let the existing agreement lapse, then handed the issue to the current council to clear up.

He was also unhappy that, as the Reeve-elect at the time, he wasn’t invited to a meeting in late 2018 between North Huron’s then-Reeve Neil Vincent and MorrisTurnberry’s then-Mayor Paul Gowing and Heffer, who was Mayor-elect at the time. Bailey also felt the lack of municipal staff at the meeting was suspect, as only Huron County staff were represented.

Going forward from that, Bailey feels that simply charging a multiplier of the regular bill (1.5 times, for example) isn’t fair to North Huron ratepayers and wants to tie cross-border services together, representing both soft services like community centres and childcare programming to infrastructure like water and wastewater.

Morris-Turnberry Council, in Bailey’s opinion, hasn’t been negotiating fairly, both by “debating in the press” and reducing payments to North Huron that he felt were guaranteed in a “gentlemen’s agreement” struck when the two councils first started dealing with the issue.

Bailey was referring to financial contributions Morris-Turnberry makes to soft services like

Having a blast Charlotte Jutzi was caught in a gleeful moment by her mother Laura recently. Charlotte was making her way through her spring garden, Laura said, when the photo was snapped. You can get your photos in The Citizen as well by e-mailing them to reporter@northhuron.on.ca (Photo submitted)

community centres.

Those contributions were cut due to COVID-19. Bailey said what Morris-Turnberry had done to North Huron, but not other neighbours, was unfair. He also commented that Morris-Turnberry’s current discussions about similar changes to money paid to North Huron cemeteries, which are used

by Morris-Turnberry residents, is similarly unfair, adding it was a “low” move.

Bailey said Morris-Turnberry Council and staff were fortunate as they have little in terms of infrastructure and services that has been impacted by COVID-19, and the moves being made were taking advantage of the fact that North Huron provides services that Morris-Turnberry’s ratepayers use.

He went on to say, if council supports him, this will be the last time Morris-Turnberry is offered a chance to find an agreement, saying that North Huron has been given a legal opinion that says North Huron’s services, including soft services and infrastructure like water and wastewater, can be cut off to Morris-Turnberry ratepayers if an agreement can’t be reached.

Bailey said that wasn’t a threat, but the only way that North Huron can guarantee its systems and facilities remain in operational condition as, without an agreement, North Huron staff or contractors can’t evaluate existing water or wastewater systems in MorrisTurnberry.

“We have legal documentation that tells us what we should be doing,” he said. “We pay these people because they know; it’s their job to know what we should and shouldn’t do. If we decide to forget all that, and carry on as things are, there will come a day North Huron will face a billion-dollar lawsuit because someone got sick on water…. In my mind, we can’t do that.”

Finally, Bailey said that North Huron ratepayers voted for him to keep the municipality safe and in a financially stable state, which he was doing by pushing for these negotiations.

HEFFER’S STANCE Heffer said Morris-Turnberry Council’s stance has been consistent since the negotiations started: council wants the water and wastewater issue to be dealt with independently of other cross-border issues.

“The goal is to come to an agreement for a fair and reasonable rate for the Morris-Turnberry users of the system,” he said. “Our position hasn’t changed. We want what’s fair for our residents for water and sewer services that North Huron provides.”

While Bailey wants a more holistic approach to the issue, Heffer said he and his council want to see issues dealt with independently, saying the last agreement, which started as a crossborder servicing agreement and then grew to include financial contributions from MorrisTurnberry to North Huron for soft services, represents a complicated way to do business.

When talking about Section F, the part of the now-defunct agreement which included financial contributions from MorrisTurnberry to North Huron for soft services, Heffer said that kind of decision-making can lead to distractions.

“We understand [why that’s appealing], but those are discussions for another day and

another agreement,” he said.

“We’re trying to keep the water and sewer discussions about water and sewer without other issues snowballing into it.”

He said that, when it comes time to discuss these issues, it’s easy to “lose sight of the real goal” by discussing ancillary issues.

“That was the problem we had with the previous agreement,” he said. “Things kept getting added instead of having their own agreement and the document got to be cumbersome and out of scope of water and sewer issues.”

He said he wasn’t criticizing North Huron Council’s way of looking at the issue, but saying that Morris-Turnberry wants to look at the singular issue of cross-border water and wastewater infrastructure.

Heffer also pointed out that Morris-Turnberry has a similar agreement with Huron East in which Morris-Turnberry water users pay 1.5 times the rate that

Huron East users pay to access a Huron East system.

“We also have an agreement for the Belgrave water system that Morris-Turnberry owns and operates,” he said, referencing the system that supplies water to both North Huron and Morris-Turnberry residents of the village. “We do it at the same rate regardless of what side of the street people live on. We feel that’s fair in that system.”

Heffer said no one looks forward to dealing with these kinds of challenging issues, but his belief is that breaking issues down into achievable steps, like isolating the water and sewer cross-border agreement from other aspects of cross-border servicing, is the way to make progress. He went on to say he doesn’t want to dwell on the past or the history of the agreement as that’s “not productive in this case.”

“We want to make it work [in] as fair a way as we can,” he said.

“Other issues, we can address going forward.”

No regrets Local photographer Liz Allan sent this photo to The Citizen of a furry friend caught up high trying to get a snack. (Photo courtesy of Liz Allan of the Maitland Valley Camera Club)

Mapped, arranged, and provided for (Octavius Winslow, “Morning Thoughts”) “He knows the way that I take!” Job 23:10 Untried, untrodden, and unknown as your future path may be,it is, each step—mapped, arranged, and provided for, in the everlasting and unchangeable covenant of God! To Him who leads us, who accepts us in the Son of His love, who knows the end from the beginning—it is no new, or uncertain, or hidden way! We thank Him that while He wisely and kindly veils all the future from our reach; all that future—its minutest event—is as transparent and visible to Him as the past. Our Shepherd knows the windings along which He skillfully, gently, and safely leads His flock. Oh, it is a thought replete with strong consolation, and well calculated to gird us for the coming year—that the Lord knows and has ordained each step of the untrodden path upon which I am about to enter!

The infinite forethought, wisdom, and goodness which have ordained each step of our new path—have also provided for its every necessity.

Each difficulty in the new year has been anticipated.

Each need will bring its appropriate and adequate supply.

Each perplexity will have its guidance.

Each sorrow will have its comfort.

Each temptation will have its shield.

Each cloud will have its light.

Each affliction will suggest its lesson.

Each correction will impart its teaching.

Each mercy will convey its message of love.

The promise will be fulfilled to the letter, “As your days, so shall your strength be!”

A Grace Gem Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church, Listowel, ON 519-492-1359

PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021.

Editorials & Opinions

Founding Publisher: Keith Roulston Publisher & President: Deb Sholdice Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny Scott Advertising Sales: Brenda Nyveld • Heather Fraser The Citizen is published 51 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $40.00/year ($38.10 + $1.90 G.S.T.) in Canada; $190.00/year in U.S.A. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited.

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The Citizen P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. N0M 1H0 N0G 1H0 Ph. 519-523-4792 Phone Fax 519-523-9140 519-887-9114 E-mail info@northhuron.on.ca Website www.huroncitizen.ca Member CCNA

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Maintaining perspective The vaccine roll-out continues as our local health unit temporarily suspended new vaccination clinics while their scheduled supply is redistributed to hotspots in Ontario. Pharmacies and primary care providers welcomed an increase in AstraZeneca vaccine and a lowered age limit for distribution. Then on top of the redistribution plan, Moderna announced major delays to scheduled shipments but was quickly replaced by an additional eight million doses from Pfizer.

While the distribution of the vaccine in Canada has been slow, confusing and frustrating, it’s important to put things in perspective.

Canada has focused its efforts on getting as many citizens their first dose as possible and we are now ranked third among G20 countries, behind only the U.S. and the UK in first dose rates. Everyone wants to put the pandemic behind us and get back to at least a semblance of normal life and waiting for vaccinations while a third wave is raging around us is difficult. The key to getting the pandemic under control is getting shots in arms, especially in areas where infections are outstripping resources.

Our next challenge will be reaching herd immunity and overcoming vaccine hesitancy. In the U.S., almost half of all adults have now received at least one dose. However, the numbers seem to be stalling as less people are now getting vaccinated. Some mass vaccination sites are now closing, as there is no uptake. While the exact number for herd immunity has not been determined yet, the goal of most countries is to get to at least 70-85 per cent immunity in their population, and vaccines rather than infection would seem to be the preferable route to take.

Hopefully the spread of misinformation and fear doesn’t jeopardize the rate of vaccination and our ability to get ahead of this virus. – DS

Here we go again How did we get here? Perhaps we have always been here. At least since amalgamation at the turn of the century here in Huron County.

While Morris-Turnberry and North Huron Councils should be applauded for working towards a cross-border servicing meeting with a third-party mediator (with varying degrees of enthusiasm), it’s fair to wonder how the blood turned so bad between these two neighbours.

Not unlike divorce proceedings, the need for a third-party mediator signifies an absolute breakdown in communication. One could argue the councils should have turned to mediation even earlier, but we’re here and it’s safe to say it’s unfortunate all around.

While other municipalities have been creative and found ways to be more efficient by working together, these two municipalities have been at each other’s throats for as long as many can remember, but things have turned especially vicious since the last election when North Huron Council made cross-border servicing renegotiation a priority.

While it can be tempting for a politician to cling to a sense of tribalistic protectionism, the hope can only be that councillors on both sides aspire to be good neighbours, as opposed to ruthless politicians.

There is always plenty of talk of “hats” around a council table. No doubt many residents of both municipalities hope councillors will wear the hat of a good neighbour - though not Robert Frost’s idea of a good neighbour, made by way of good fences - looking beyond his or her own home and considering the betterment of the whole block. – SL

A promising direction It took over a decade, but a former Buffalo police officer who stopped a fellow officer from utilizing a chokehold on a handcuffed suspect has received some closure. Officer Cariol Horne was fired from the Buffalo Police Department, which she had been a part of for 19 years, due to her actions. She stood by her intervention at the time, saying that while her family may have lost everything, the suspect still had his life. “If I have nothing else to live for in life, at least I can know that I did the right thing and that [he] still breathes,” she said at the time of her dismissal.

With 19 years on the force, Horne was one year shy of receiving her pension for the position, however last week, a ruling restored her pension to her and vacated the court ruling that upheld her dismissal.

The move is an important one, as Supreme Court Judge Dennis E. Ward, who issued the verdict, drew reference to the deaths of George Floyd, who died after having an officer using his knee to put pressure on his neck for more than nine minutes, and Eric Garner, a man from New York who was killed by police after being placed in a chokehold.

In his ruling, Ward acknowledged the importance of the role of other officers on the scene and how, by not acting, they are failing to save the life of the person being the target of “unreasonable physical force.”

Ward also pointed to Buffalo lawmakers naming a law after Horne, compelling officers to intervene when they witness excessive force and protecting them, showing that lawmakers know that change is necessary.

These protections and officers like Horne are necessary to make people see the police as trustworthy, approachable and able to police themselves and they need to be the rule, rather than the exception. – JDS

Looking Back Through the Years April 23, 1964 Rhinehart Bauer, the new Massey Ferguson dealer in Brussels, was busy making alterations to the building he had recently purchased from Bridge Motors. He expected to be open to the public the next week.

Vandals had swept through Brussels, damaging the tulip beds on the south side of the municipal office and the newly-seeded lawn in front of Brussels Public School.

The tulip beds were deliberately damaged and the nearby curb was cracked, with large tire tracks on the tulip beds, while the lawns were damaged by cars driving upon them.

The Brussels Post attributed the damage to “immature” adults, rather than children, due to the involvement of vehicles.

April 17, 1974 A tornado that hit the Seaforth and Dublin areas caused a threehour blackout in much of Huron and Perth Counties, uprooting trees and destroying barns along the way.

Huron MPP Jack Riddell said he was very concerned about rumours that Ontario Hydro planned to build a new nuclear power plant just south of Goderich. He was concerned the plant would have a negative effect on agriculture and take plenty of prime agricultural land out of production.

With the Huron County Board of Education due to present its annual budget on April 22, field trips were being put under the microscope.

Director of Education D.J. Cochrane said field trips throughout the county were proving to be a sticking point in the budget, with some schools requesting more trips than others over the course of the average school year.

April 17, 1996 Blyth Reeve Mason Bailey said he was seeing strong support for the Blyth “tax revolt” from other municipalities. The initiative asked that education taxes would no longer be collected through municipal offices as of 1997.

Clerk John Stewart told Blyth Village Council that, to date, 83 municipalities had voiced their support for Blyth’s proposal and that over 750 letters had been sent.

With the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics set to make its way through Huron County again, Blyth’s Kendra Carter was chosen to lead the procession on her bike.

The group was due to start in Wingham and make its way through Blyth being joined by a group of students from Blyth Public School.

Kathy Hunt of Ethel was in fine form in Red Deer, Alberta, as she captured four gold medals at the North American Speed Skating Championships.

Hunt triumphed in the 500metre, 777-metre, 1,000-metre and 1,500-metre races, setting several records along the way. Hunt, who only took up speed skating at the age of 37, held all North American records in the Masters age group (for those aged 35 to 50), at the age of 42.

The Melville Presbyterian Church held its annual talent auction and one of the hot items up for bids was an Ontario flag donated to the auction by Huron MPP Helen Johns.

April 21, 2011 Students from throughout the Avon Maitland District School Board were treated to a screening of world-renowned nature expert David Suzuki’s newest film. The

students were also given the opportunity to ask Suzuki questions at the conclusion of the film.

Several local students, including some from Hullett Central Public School, were at the screening and heard Suzuki speak on the future of the environment.

North Huron Council approved its 2011 budget, which included a spending increase of 3.5 per cent.

Two councillors, however, Bernie Bailey and Ray Hallahan, voted against passing the budget, saying they had questions that had been left unanswered.

The Western Junior C Hockey League handed out its year-end awards and Chris Corbett of Brussels, captain of the Wingham Ironmen, ended the night winning two awards, including the league’s most valuable player award after notching 35 goals and 28 assists.

The congregation of Duff’s United Church in Walton was in the planning stages of creating a cookbook to celebrate 100 years of recipes at the church. The book would mark the centennial anniversary of the Duff’s building.

The book was due to include 450 recipes that would reflect the cooking traditions of those who attended the church over the past 100 years.

Green’s Meat Market, on the edge of Wingham, was in the midst of planning for a major expansion and the company got a boost from the provincial government.

Huron-Bruce MPP and Minister of Agriculture Carol Mitchell visited the location to announce that the government would be handing the business nearly $130,000 to aid the project through the government’s Rural Economic Development Program.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021. PAGE 5.

Other Views

We’ve abandoned Afghan women

C

anadians are hardly in a position to criticize U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw the last U.S. troops from Afghanistan by September. After all, we brought our troops home 10 years ago.

And one can imagine Americans are feeling the same sense of relief in ending their country’s 20-year involvement in that chaotic country that Canadians felt. We had 165 Canadians killed and more than 2,000 wounded during the war. U.S. deaths so far have totalled 2,298 .

Still, when I heard the news I couldn’t help thinking of a column written a year ago in the Globe and Mail by human rights activist and author Sally Armstrong about the plight of Afghan women after former U.S. President Donald Trump signed a peace agreement with the Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.

Armstrong reminded readers that during the time when the Taliban ruled all of Afghanistan between Sept. 1996 and the U.S. and Nato invasion on Oct. 7, 2001, it had made the lives of women a living nightmare. Girls weren’t allowed to attend school, women couldn’t take jobs and a woman had to wear a burka and couldn’t leave the house unless in the company of a husband, brother or son. A woman had to paint the windows of her house black in case a man caught a glimpse of her from outside. She could only wear shoes with a wedge heel because the Taliban couldn’t stand hearing the tapping of her heels. Wearing white socks was regarded as being sexually promiscuous.

Enforcing these ludicrous, cruel laws were Vice and Virtue Squads which roamed the streets, whipping women whose ankles were showing or who didn’t cover their hands while paying a vendor in a market. Music was forbidden, along with singing or even laughing.

Keith Roulston From the cluttered desk There was instant justice for women who broke the rules seriously enough to draw attention. A woman would be dragged to a soccer stadium where her persecutors made a circle around her and threw rocks at her head until she was dead. The Taliban had a rule that “you must not throw a rock so big as to kill her quickly.”

Life improved greatly for women in areas of Afghanistan that were liberated by Americans, Canadians and troops of other NATO countries. According to a New York Times article last week, over two decades, the United States spent more than $780 million to promote women’s rights. The result is a generation that came of age in a period of hope for women’s equality.

Although progress has been uneven, The Times points out girls and women now make up about 40 per cent of students. “They have joined the military and police, held political office, become internationally recognized singers, competed in the Olympics and on robotics teams, climbed mountains and more – all things that were nearly impossible at the turn of the century.”

Now, with the Taliban still in control of many rural parts of the country and moderate Afghans worried that it will take over the entire country after the last U.S. and NATO troops leave, these women are incredibly vulnerable.

“I remember when Americans came and

they said that they will not leave us alone, and that Afghanistan will be free of oppression, and will be free of war and women’s rights will be protected,” said Shahida Husain, an activist in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province, where the Taliban first rose and now controls large stretches of territory. “Now it looks like it was just slogans.”

“All the time, women are the victims of men’s wars,” added Raihana Azad, a member of Afghanistan’s Parliament. “But they will be the victims of their peace, too.”

Even if they don’t actually control all of Afghanistan, the Taliban’s influence is likely to spread, observers in that country believe. And they haven’t changed. The Times article quoted a woman from a Taliban-occupied area in the north who witnessed a neighbour being flogged last month for showing her face.

The mistreatment of women doesn’t even require Taliban control. According to The Times, domestic violence remains an enduring problem in Afghanistan. About 87 per cent of Afghan women and girls experience domestic abuse in their lifetimes, according to a Human Rights Watch report. Often police and justice officials just ignore the problem, even in government-controlled parts of the country.

I know one Canadian soldier who risked his life in Afghanistan, coming under fire on patrols. When he came home he said it would take at least one generation to make a real change there. The Americans have given a generation that chance. One can’t blame them for wanting to end this war.

Still, we’ve given that generation of women a taste of freedom, and now by coming home we’ve abandoned them to the possibility of a terrible fate at the hands of fanatical monsters.

Ford needs to learn to hold his ground

E

ffectively leading a country, a province, a county or even a municipality takes a special kind of person: to be that kind of a leader, you need to be ready for people to not like you.

Elected leaders need to be liked enough to get voted into the position, but ready to fall in the eyes of the very people who put them in power because you can’t always make popular decisions. The most important part of the job, however, is to stick to your guns and make those decisions for the betterment of all your constituents.

Recently, Premier Doug Ford, as an example, has continued to hedge his bets and walk back rulings based on the reaction of the public which, in my opinion, is one of the main reasons we’re sitting in the middle of the third, and now most deadly, wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whether it’s Ford pushing off important lockdown rules until after major events (like Easter or Christmas) or even just putting those rules off until after a weekend, he’s doing more harm than good: people are rushing to get events in or crowding malls because of the warning given.

Keep in mind this is different from, say, the decision to close schools, which won’t cause any kind of rush to buy or race to get together with people, but could be made far ahead of time to make things easier for parents.

Being a good leader might mean being an unpopular leader and having to make tough decisions, but that’s the role that Ford and his ilk signed up for when they let their names stand for public office.

While many people were impressed (and a great many of us surprised) with how he handled the pandemic early on, he has continued to fail this province through not listening to the experts, siding with big-box

Denny Scott Denny’s Den stores over mom-and-pop businesses and not standing his ground.

That’s the problem with politicians in the modern era: they’re more worried about their next term than making the important decisions in their current term.

I, for one, was happy when Ford decided to issue more police powers as part of the most recent round of actions (the stay-at-home order) because it might actually mean that people would think twice about breaking the rules and help to curb the pandemic. It might also put a stop to the number of people travelling from “hotspots” to other areas, like say the communities near cottages along the lakes of Huron County which will inevitably see cottagers return soon despite the stay-athome order.

However, in the face of becoming unpopular due to the action, Ford once again walked back the decision.

If you want to compare his actions to a politician who is putting what they feel is the best plan of action forward, despite the potential backlash, you don’t have to look much further than North Huron Township.

While it is true that I don’t agree with a lot of the actions taken by North Huron recently, it would be hard to say they are backtracking on their plans.

Take, for example, the hotly-contested cross-border servicing issue: the council has again decided to re-enter negotiations with

Morris-Turnberry for cross-border servicing, and if it doesn’t work out, North Huron council will face some difficult decisions.

In a recent interview with The Citizen, Reeve Bernie Bailey said that, if an agreement can’t be reached, North Huron Township Council may have to consider turning off the water to existing Morris-Turnberry residents on the water system. He says that, because of the legalities of having cross-border infrastructure, an agreement is absolutely necessary for North Huron to be able to maintain the integrity of its infrastructure and guarantee the safety of everyone who accesses the water and wastewater systems.

As part of the negotiations, Bailey wants to look at other ways that Morris-Turnberry can contribute to North Huron to offset the costs of maintaining and upgrading its infrastructure that goes beyond the regular usage.

Morris-Turnberry Mayor Jamie Heffer has stated that Morris-Turnberry wants the agreement to only deal with water and wastewater.

Despite both stances being logical Both councils, however, have found themselves maligned in the public and in “Letters to the Editor” in The Citizen for sticking to their guns.

Again, I’m not saying what’s right or wrong here, just that it’s admirable that the politicians are sticking to their guns and following the suggestions of their own staff and legal counsel, in the face of a potential backlash.

Sticking to your guns is what makes you a good politician. Great politicians, however, can have their mind changed as a result of the facts, not as a result of potentially becoming unpopular or wanting to improve their chances in the polls. The Ontario PC Party would be wise to take that kind of lesson to heart and review who they have leading the party.

Shawn Loughlin Shawn’s Sense

Robocopping

B

ecoming a father in the last year, my world has obviously changed. I got thinking about that over the weekend as I listened to my wife chat with my ninemonth-old daughter as she changed her diaper.

Tallulah (daughter) had been really fussy the past three or four days and Jess (wife) and I knew that something must be wrong. Tallulah is always so happy and calm, so we figured it must have been the teething process rearing its ugly head yet again.

Jess laid Tallulah down to change her diaper and Tallulah started crying. Jess immediately began to console our daughter, apologizing to her and conceding that she knew Tallulah still wished she was “Robocopping” around the house and not having her diaper changed.

So by now it should be obvious that I’ve written this story out of sequence.

For the previous half-hour or so, as Jess prepared food for Tallulah, using everything in the kitchen from pots and pans to blenders and coffee grinders, Tallulah was fussy and wasn’t comfortable in any position. Nothing was doing the trick, so I turned Tallulah around and was walking with her facing outwards, so it felt like she was floating on her own.

Something about it reminded me of the 1987 film, Robocop (likely Peter Weller’s little face peeking out of a big machine body when he had his face shield up with Tallulah being the little peeking face and me as the big machine body). You know what happened next.

As I walked around with Tallulah with her facing outwards on my chest, I started making the distinctive (for anyone who has seen the movie) Robocop walking noise and she took to really enjoying the “whurrr/thump” of each heavily exaggerated step, despite the toll it was taking on my throat.

So, yes, it’s hard to think up a better way to describe what Tallulah and I were doing than Robocopping from one end of the house to the other. And she loved it. If I stopped to take a break, Tallulah would get excited and smile, figuring I was just taking a dramatic pause before getting back to the business of Robocopping with her.

It was hearing Jess talk about Robocopping that made think of all we’ve done and the lengths we’ve gone to in order to make Tallulah feel happy, comfortable and loved since she was born - not just through times when she has felt like she’s at war with sleep, her teeth and every other thing that must seem like a major inconvenience when you’re that age, but just to get her through the day.

My mom has often commented that having a young one in your life can make you feel like you’re being ridiculous the vast majority of the time. Since most of her interactions with Tallulah have been through FaceTime, she says that the goofy stuff she has done to make Tallulah smile or laugh must seem... a bit odd to say the least to someone on her side of the call. But, like she says, these are the kinds of things you do for your children. They may make you question your own sanity from time to time, but you do it to get through the day.

In the early days, when Jess was working to get Tallulah to sleep each night, she would recount her strategy to me the next morning.

The sounds, holds and motions she would have to employ to do the trick were always changing, depending on the night and the mood of our daughter.

So, whether it’s Robocopping or any of the other silly tricks we’ve brought to the table in the last nine months, it seems like these kinds of ideas, spread out over a lifetime, equate to parenting, figured out one day at a time.

PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021.

Dee’z Deelicious Dogs stand opens in Brussels

Feeling welcome Dee Hodgson recently opened up Dee’z Delicious Dogs, a hot dog stand serving hot dogs, sausage and burgers, on Brussels’ main street. She said the number of customers she has had coming to the relocated business is both surprising and welcoming, saying she has more business here than she had in St. Thomas. (Denny Scott photo)

At the Branch

Stories sought for book

By Jo-Ann McDonald The week at the Brussels Legion Branch, of course, is very quiet, but not at my house.

I mentioned a few months ago about the Military Service Recognition Book, that is put out by Ontario Command of the Royal Canadian Legion. It is a book that recognizes Canadians who served their country. I am very pleased with the response I have received and am giving those who wish to participate in the upcoming issue, one more chance to contact me.

The submission form is found on the Ontario Legion website at www.on.legion.ca . The home page comes up and on the left hand side is an index of areas. Click on Military Service Recognition Book and that page will come up explaining what it is about. On the

right hand side is the index. Click on “Submission” and you will see it.

Some of the things it asks for is full name, date of birth, death, place of birth, where they lived, area of service, date of enlistment and discharge, branch of service, unit, deployments, Legion membership status and number of years (not mandatory). Submissions must be signed by the individual or family member. A photograph, that will not be returned, is wanted.

It also asks for a paragraph about the individual (200 words maximum), including special stories or memories, unusual or special awards, wounds, or civilian life after returning.

At this point, anyone interested has to proceed immediately. If you are not computer literate, give me a

call and I can drop off a form to you from a distance and or pick it up from you. The information must be to me by May 1, so I can send it off to the next deadline.

The Branch is having a Mother’s Day fish fry and the response is growing. Please call 519-531-1125 or e-mail the Branch at legion218@ezlink and make your reservation today.

The Catch the Ace draw was suspended, due to the Branch closure, but not before finding the Ace! Lucky Joe Seili was the winner. We have a new licence and will begin the new draw when we are able to re-open. The aim was early May but that will be put off until at least end of May. We thank everyone who supports the draw and look forward to your support when we resume the draw.

Columnist enjoys roadtrip A NOTE FROM BETTY

By Betty Graber Watson Call 887-9231 Ah the sun is shining and I’ve just had a nice FaceTime with Hark and Weston in Edmonton, so all is well in my world. The thrill of this morning was watching an Edmonton moving truck take away one of its boxes with a lift. Seeing what the boys see through their preschool words is an excellent start to any day.

Gardening has taken on new importance as we find ways to divert our minds to productive activities. Learning and doing with seeds and plants has given a whole new group something to think about. A bag of strange wee purple potatoes has made its way to Listowel and the message last night: is it too early to plant those potatoes and how do I do that?

So, instructions have been sent

and we’ll await the progress report.

An essential trip to North Bay on Saturday had us feeling very strange, as we motored forth. It’s been a long, long time since we did a road trip and it felt good.

Robyn needed to exit Nipissing and a truck was needed to complete the move home for the summer.

Restrictions were in mind and details were reviewed before we left. All went well. Public toilets

were found and outside eating was good. Mission accomplished; the girl is home and everyone is safe and sound.

Just so you know, Jean Davidson had another birthday, one of many.

Her language has still not improved when she plays cards with some of us. We were sure it was this year she’d be a little more tolerant.

Enjoy the sunshine. Be safe. Be kind.

Bye now, Betty G.W.

has received. She said some of that is tied to people wanting to support local businesses, which has become a priority during the pandemic.

Speaking of COVID-19, she said that, aside from it taking a little extra time to get her licence approved by Huron East due to the pandemic and having some signs printed, the pandemic hasn’t proven to be much of a hindrance for her to open up.

“I had to put up COVID signs to tell people to keep six feet apart and wear masks in line,” she said.

“I didn’t need plexiglass as we have a six-foot distance due to a table in front of the actual cart creating distance.

“Getting my permit was a lengthy process,” she said. “I had to find a place that I would be allowed to set up, and they’re so busy with COVID, it took longer to get the permit through, but that’s understandable.”

Aside from her spot on main street, Hodgson said she wants to do special events locally, like birthday parties, events, baseball tournaments or fairs.

For more information, look for Dee’z Deeliciouz Dogs on Facebook or call 226-373-2298.

Dee Hodgson has been impressed by the support her business, Dee’z Deeliciouz Dogz, has received since opening in Brussels last week.

The hot dog cart, which is located on the village’s main street in front of Don Montgomery Autobody Collision and Restoration, opened up just last weekend after Hodgson had spent years operating the cart and, before that, working in a food truck in St. Thomas.

“I worked for my boss in St. Thomas, who had a chip wagon, from 2007 up until 2018 and, for four years, he had this cart and I ran it at the Home Hardware in St. Thomas,” she said. “At the beginning of 2018, he found out that his chip wagon was doing really good business and he didn’t need the cart. He offered it to me and I bought it off of him and set it up in St. Thomas in the [summers] of 2018 and 2019.”

Hodgson met Christopher Bank, a tattoo artist in Brussels, through Facebook, and Hodgson moved to Brussels afterwards to set up her hot dog cart there.

The shop sells hot dogs, jumbo hot dogs, beef burgers, polish sausage and a mild Debrecener sausage, she said.

“I opened [April 10],” she said.

“That was my first day here. I’ll be open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday until the May 24 weekend, when we’ll look at expanded hours.”

Hodgson said she has been surprised how many people have come out in the cold weather for a hot dog, saying her business is busier in Brussels, which has just over 1,000 people, than it was in St. Thomas, a city of nearly 40,000.

“My business has been double what it was in St. Thomas,” she said. “Brussels is such a small town and the people are amazingly great.”

Hodgson has family in the area, so she knew she was moving to a more rural area, but she didn’t expect the kind of patronage she

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS

Municipality of Morris-Turnberry

2021 SPRING YARD WASTE COLLECTION The Municipality will be picking up leaves, grass clippings and yard waste in the Morris-Turnberry

Urban Areas on the following dates:

Monday April 26th, 2021, and Tuesday May 25, 2021 For more information, please refer to the flyer you received by mail, or on the website at www.morristurnberry.ca

Brussels Legion

Mother’s Day Drive Thru

Fish Fry

with all the fixins’ May 9 Reservations for drive thru times from 5-7 pm

Toad-ally cool Local photographer Liz Allan captured this reptile recently and shared the photo with The Citizen. Share your photos by e-mailing reporter@northhuron.on.ca (Photo courtesy of Liz Allan of the Maitland Valley Camera Club)

Call 519-531-1125 or email the Branch at legion218@ezlink.ca Delivery available in town between 4:30-5:00 pm

$

1500

Correct cash only

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021. PAGE 7.

Vodden leaves Blyth after years as historian, author 2012. Prior to that, he released a historical view of the community of Blyth called Blyth Through the Lens.

Vodden grew up in the village, where his father first ran a bakery and then, after losing his vision, became a television repairman.

Janis also lived in Blyth, and shared not only Brock’s love of local history, but sharing her own stories.

Vodden was a North Huron Township Councillor for two terms: he was appointed to fill an empty seat mid-way through the 2007-

2011 term of council, then was elected for the 2012-2016 term of council.

As a council member, Vodden tackled a number of high profile issues including homelessness, recreation centre planning and the future of the North Huron museum.

He was a vocal opponent of the closure of Blyth Public School, both as a councillor and as a citizen, fighting the closure through various avenues over the course of several years.

Remember Earth Day From Marilyn’s Desk

By Marilyn Craig Call 523-9318

A great ambassador Brock Vodden, right, is well known as a local historian, author and politician. Vodden and his late wife Janis created the Blyth Repository of History, helped families connect with their roots and worked on numerous local historic initiatives. Above, Vodden gives one of many tours he hosted in the community for visitors looking to connect with their past. (File photo)

By Denny Scott The Citizen Last Wednesday, Blyth and its surrounding communities bid farewell to local historian, author and politician Brock Vodden, who moved from Blyth to London.

Vodden has been an integral part of local initiatives designed to focus on the history of Blyth, which makes sense given that he and his late wife Janis created and maintained the Blyth Repository of History, which is now located at the offices of The Citizen. Aside from curating decades of knowledge about the history of the community, the Voddens also helped people, both those local to the area and those from afar, track their heritage through the village and its surrounding communities.

The Voddens shared their knowledge with anyone interested, holding special seminars and events whenever it was requested as well

as physically meeting or taking people to important sites of their family history. In the past, Brock could often be found taking visitors to the community around on foot to show them not only what was important in his family history but also to show just how unique a place Blyth is.

Vodden and his wife were also intricately involved in the creation of Blyth Cowbell Brewing Company’s Founder Series, each of which is tied to an event in the annals of Blyth history.

Blyth Bike Tours, originally opened by Reece Sparling, focused on the history of the village with help from Vodden. The historian helped the young entrepreneur uncover information about the village to share on his tours.

The historical plaques on buildings in the village are also thanks, in part, to the efforts of the Voddens. The Blyth Business

Improvement Area (BIA) project, which was co-funded by Regional Tourism Organization 4, saw the plaques installed. Each features little-known or long-forgotten facts about the buildings and businesses of the community, going back years.

Vodden also helped with the creation of plays with local ties that graced the stage of the Blyth Festival. He and his wife were interviewed extensively for plays like Wing Night at the Boot, Beyond The Farm Show, Pearl Gidley and Innocence Lost: A play about Steven Truscott, all of which focus on Blyth and the surrounding communities.

Vodden penned two books in the past several years, most recently putting together Blyth Schools And Then There Were None, detailing the history of education in Blyth from the earliest history of the village to when Blyth Public School closed its doors for the final time in

to come on Wednesday. Hopefully they are wrong.

The lockdown has been extended into May so we are asked to stay home longer than we first thought.

Our numbers on COVID-19 are going the wrong way, heading up instead of down.

Stay safe everyone and call someone to let them know you are thinking of them.

Sympathy is extended to Laura Lawrence, Goderich and her family in the death of her husband Fred this past week.

Happy birthday to Sheila Moore, Wingham and Paul Craig who both celebrate April 22; Sandra deCorte, April 23 and Tanner Brooks on April 24. Happy birthday everyone and enjoy your day the best way possible.

Remember April 22 is Earth Day. Plant a tree or plant some flowers to remember.

Monday was a sunny spring day, but the forecast is predicting snow

Spring Cleaning Blyth Laundromat 191 Westmoreland St., Blyth 519-523-9687

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Bidding farewell Local author, historian and politician Brock Vodden bid farewell to the village of Blyth last Wednesday after being a part of the village for most of his life. Several local organizations came together to mark the occasion with a drive-by event. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

Start your subscription today by phoning 519-523-4792 or online at huroncitizen.ca or mail cheque made payable to

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PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021.

North Huron seeks input on rec. master plan

By Denny Scott The Citizen North Huron Township is seeking input as part of the master plan for the community’s parks and recreation and culture facilities and programs.

Director of Recreation and Facilities Vicky Luttenberger told

The Citizen that a survey is already live for the plan, which will help direct council’s decision-making process regarding recreation, culture and parks decisions in the future.

“The first part of the project started in January,” she said, referring to information-gathering exercises being undertaken by

consultants. “[We are] gathering information and user stats for our facilities, as well as other local facilities like school board facilities and third-party facilities like the Columbus Centre [in Wingham] and the Belgrave Community Centre, to send to the consultants.”

She said the information provided to the consultants reviewed the last

Big winner The Wingham Hospital Auxiliary recently held its quilt draw and the grand prize went to Doug and Gayle Neil of Wingham. Hilda Wales of Teeswater made the quilt and donated it for the draw. The draw’s second prize of a local grocery gift certificate went to Tom Hawkins of Flesherton. (Photo submitted)

Writer critical of Ford and mammoth bonuses to CEOs and other high-ranking white collar workers. No handouts for them, as they are slow learners with “greed and grab” as their motto.

Regarding vaccines, let the government bureaucrats do their job to provide the vaccines and related equipment. You must change the focus from vaccines to lockdowns zero-tolerance lockdowns to stop all viruses from entering our province (and our country - Prime Minister Trudeau).

If you own a henhouse with a hole in the wire screening, the fox (the virus) will get in and kill not one, but many hens (the people of Ontario). Fix the hole, but not that loose board and the fox will still get in. Common sense says do a complete lockdown to stop the virus (it has no legs). We want to stay alive and get back to some form of normal - fast! Not three or four years from now! Bite the bullet and close down the virus now.

Don’t be afraid and don’t try to please the voters; do the right thing and you will get elected. Dance around and up and down and you will pay the price.

We must get down to zero people

Virtual public information centres will also be held, Luttenberger said, due to the pandemic.

The data from the surveys, meetings and research will be analyzed and presented in the fall, Luttenberger said. The presentation will include recommendations for council to consider for the recreational needs of its residents for the next decade.

“It could include changes to programming,” she said. “For example, with COVID right now, there’s a need for outdoor recreation. The consultants could make suggestions there.”

She said those kinds of suggestions aren’t without precedent as there tends to be a lot of interest in trail use in the area, so more work on the trail system might be a worthwhile change.

“The consultants could also identify issues with facilities, saying they need to be updated, or a playground needs to be replaced, or similar suggestions,” Luttenberger said.

“Our hope is to take those recommendations and incorporate them into the township’s asset management plan, especially the parts that are structural,” she said.

“Programming recommendations, we could build into the budget.”

The project is an important one, Luttenberger said, as COVID-19 has proven the importance of local recreation facilities and outdoor opportunities.

“Recreation and parks have such an impact on everyone’s lives, and that’s become very apparent during COVID-19,” she said. “[The lockdowns] affect us physically and mentally. Regardless of activity level, people have wanted to sit in parks or use trails. There are so many benefits to outdoor facilities.”

For more information, look for the parks, recreation and culture master plan on North Huron Township’s website at northhuron.ca.

Locally owned and serving Huron County for 14 years

Letter to the Editor THE EDITOR, Below is a letter I wrote to Premier Doug Ford on Feb. 4, 2021.

Hi Doug, Since March 15, 2020 when my wife and I self-isolated, we watched you and felt you were doing a great job with a great attitude. However, your inability to lockdown a week before Christmas was disappointing. You failed to act and save lives. What will you do when young children start dying too? Or your own family members ? You must learn to be proactive in advance of more trouble.

Are you more interested in saving lives or keeping business people happy? Every business owner or company knows the risks when they open a business. Those who failed probably failed to plan and lost their business, only to start again on their own when circumstances were better. In many instances they didn’t take heed to save some earnings for a rainy day.

The big companies and global giants in many cases didn’t learn either and expected handouts from the government, when previously they spent money like a drunken sailor and paid out immoral salaries

three to five years of activity and will provide a good baseline for the study.

“They will also be looking at population demographics and forecasts,” she said, “as well as what the community overall offers, not just in this township, but others.”

The next phase is community awareness and consultation, Luttenberger said, which is ongoing.

“We launched a new web page and survey for the community to complete,” she said. “We’re going to gather information on what the community is looking for in terms of programming interest, satisfaction levels and facilities that are provided.”

The survey, available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/PRCMP northhuron, includes not just questions about general usage, but about how members of the community have used available facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire includes 20 opportunities for input.

“We’re going to gather information on what the community is looking for in terms of programming interest, satisfaction levels and facilities that are provided,” Luttenberger said. “The survey is open to the public to complete until May 7. After that time, the consultants will compile the information.”

The consultants will also receive e-mail comments through North Huron’s Marketing and Promotion Assistant Denise Lockie at dlockie@northhuron.ca, Luttenberger said.

“Once we’ve moved on from that process, we’re looking to set up consultation sessions or focus group sessions based on users and groups,” she said. “We’ll work with recreational user groups like indoor recreational groups, outdoor users and community and service groups.”

positive, zero deaths, zero flying, zero entries into our province, zero stress in our hospitals for doctors and nurses and jail terms and fines for no masks. How many people have to die before we act? What is your number? Act now, not two days from now, not two weeks, not two months, not six months. No businesses should be allowed to open until COVID-19 is wiped out in our province.

At what death level and complete breakdown of our health system will you wait to act? This is a deadly health disaster. Look at the worst case future scenario and plan for it now - not next week - get on it now and stop the dying.

Remember you can please some of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, but not all the people all the time. Do the right thing - do what you would do if the life of your wife or daughter was at risk. I want you to bring COVID-19 to its knees and I believe you can do it. Keep up the good work.

My wife and I are concerned citizens counting on you to do the right thing. You are a leader.

Don Chesher, Brussels.

New this year offering pest control for spiders, cluster flies and other creepy crawlers, as well as mice and rats.

Book now for your lawn fertilizer and weed control package.

Call or text Todd at 519-357-7580 e-mail walkerspropertycare@gmail.com

SUDOKU Fun By The Numbers Like puzzles?

Then you’ll love sudoku. This mindbending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test!

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021. PAGE 9.

519-523-4311

www.ruralvoice.ca

Agriculture

BLYTH 519-523-4244

www.hurontractor.com

Brussels Livestock report

Fed steers, heifers sell actively at sale Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending April 16 were 2,495 cattle and 672 lambs and goats.

On Tuesday, fed steers and heifers sold actively with prices $2 to $3 higher. Choice steers and heifers sold $142 to $151 with sales to $151.50. Second-cut cattle sold $132 to $141. Aged and mediumfed steers and heifers sold $112 to $132. Cows sold on an active trade with prices $3 to $5 higher.

On Thursday, veal sold actively with steady prices. Lambs and sheep sold steady. Goats sold higher.

On Friday, calves sold actively

with steady prices. Yearlings sold steady.

Sue Getkhe of Bornholm sold one red steer weighing 1,510 lbs. for a price of $145.

Art Bos of Blyth, consigned two head. One pied heifer weighed 1,560 lbs. and sold for a price of $151.50.

There were 350 cows on offer.

Beef sold $75 to $98 with sales to $107; good holstein cows, $74 to $85.50; medium, holstein cows, $65 to $72 and plain cows, $57 to $64.

There were 160 head of veal on offer. Beef veal sold $135 to $175; good holsteins, $120 to $135; SL

heavy holsteins, $115 to $130; heavy holsteins, $100 to $122; medium holsteins, $110 to $120.

Lambs under 50 lbs. sold $425.50 to $435; 50 - 64 lbs., $421 to $435; 65 - 79 lbs., $405.50 to $433; 80 94 lbs., $392 to $397; 95 - 109 lbs., $376.75 to $385; 110 lbs. and over, $363.50 to $384.

Sheep sold $80 to $270.

Goats: billies sold $200 to $375; nannies, $100 to $275; kids, meat, $600 to $650; dairy, $550 to $635.

Lars Steuebrink of Kirkton, consigned 25 dairy kids. Nine kids averaged 61 lbs. and sold for an average price of $635. Kent Wilson of Conn, consigned 13 head. Six

kids averaged 45 lbs. and sold for an average price of $650.

Top quality stocker steers under 400 lbs. sold $218 to $230; 400 499 lbs., $245 to $273; 500 - 599 lbs., $223 to $253; 600 - 699 lbs., $217 to $235.75; 700 - 799 lbs., $204.50 to $220.25; 800 - 899 lbs., $188.50 to $206; 900 - 999 lbs., $176.50 to $192; 1,000 lbs. and over, $163.50 to $179 Top quality stocker heifers, 400 499 lbs. sold $201.50 to $227; 500 599 lbs., $189.50 to $220; 600 - 699 lbs., $181.75 to $210; 700 - 799 lbs., $171.50 to $191; 800 - 899 lbs., $154 to $187; 900 lbs. and over, $148.50 to $180.50.

T&A Dalton Farms Inc. of Lucknow, consigned 100 head.

Eleven charolais heifers averaged 710 lbs. and sold for an average price of $186.50. Fourteen black steers averaged 651 lbs. and sold for an average price of $225.25.

Jason Boyd of Meaford, consigned 11 head. Ten red steers averaged 711 lbs. and sold for an average price of $220.25. Steve Pastoor of Kerwood, consigned 26 head. Eighteen charolais steers averaged 911 lbs. and sold for an average price of $192. Eight charolais steers averaged 889 lbs. and sold for an average price of $193.50.

MZOs jeopardizing food supply says OFA

By Peggy Brekveld, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture Do you know where your food comes from? It’s a simple question with a surprisingly complex answer.

Our food security and the economies that rely on it are dependent on a complicated agricultural supply chain – one that starts on the farm and ends at the dinner table.

However, this doesn’t tell the whole story. No matter where or when you are talking about it, there is one truth about farmers everywhere: you cannot farm without farmland. Whether you are talking about your morning toast, the cream in your coffee, the chicken on your dinner plate or the apple slices in your children’s lunch – all of these ingredients depend on Ontario farmers and Ontario farmland.

Protecting and preserving the land that grows these products is a key priority of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA).

Agricultural land is a finite and shrinking resource the agri-food sector depends on to effectively produce food, fibre and fuel for Ontario, Canada and the world.

Farmers continue to be the definition of innovation, producing more yield with less inputs. With advances in technology and new, innovative techniques, farmers have become increasingly efficient at maximizing the productivity of farmland.

However, urban sprawl continues to threaten the sustainability and viability of our sector. Today, Ontario farmers grow and produce more than 200 different commodities and the industry employs nearly one million workers in food production and processing.

Additionally, the agri-food sector contributes $47 billion annually to the provincial economy.

Over the past 25 years, Ontario has lost farmland at an alarming rate. To put the problem into perspective, according to Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) data collected from the 2016 Census of Agriculture, from 1996-2016, Ontario lost 1.5 million acres of farmland to development, at a daily rate loss of 175 acres per day — roughly the size of 135 football fields. That works out to be an average of five farms per week lost to development in an effort to keep

That time of year Alycia Coultes, one of the area’s newest amateur photographers, recently snapped this picture at her home farm in the Belgrave area. The Coultes family is just about through calving season and she feels calves can brighten just about anyone’s day. (Photo submitted)

pace with Ontario’s growing population.

The rate at which our province is losing agricultural land is not sustainable. Especially given the fact that less than five per cent of Ontario’s land base can support agricultural production of any kind.

With the demand to increase the production of food, fibre and fuel for an ever-growing population, farmers struggle as our finite resources continue to diminish.

With the development of farmland, jobs are being lost, resources are becoming limited, and our agri-food system is experiencing more pressure to be sparing with their land. This can all have extremely detrimental effects on the security of food production in Ontario.

Over the past two years, we have seen an increase in the use of Minister’s Zoning Orders (MZOs).

MZOs allow the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing the ability to bypass previous planning rules in order to change the zoning of a piece of property. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been over six MZOs issued that have directly impacted farmland.

The Ontario government is using

MZOs to permit low-density housing subdivisions, nursing homes, warehouses, factories and other non-agriculture uses on productive farmland, contributing to urban sprawl with projects better suited to an urban landscape.

The OFA urges the government to prioritize the protection and preservation of viable farmland used to grow grains, fruits and vegetables and raise our livestock for meat, poultry and dairy. Canada is one of the very few developed countries that can currently meet the food requirements of our population while continuing to export to other areas of the world.

We saw the importance of this during the early days of the COVID-19 crisis when borders closed and store shelves ran dangerously low on supplies. This raised awareness about the importance of food security and food sovereignty. Consumers have gained a newfound appreciation for locally-sourced foods.

The increased use of MZOs has the potential to jeopardize the future of our domestic food supply.

The loss of farmland affects both producers and consumers, threatening the supply of our

domestic food production. Similar to how we view climate change, policymakers need to look to the future. When it comes to farming, the OFA wants to ensure the next generation has the resources and land to produce food, fibre and fuel for the future.

Land use planning matters; where our food comes from matters too.

When we lose agricultural land to urban sprawl, it is lost forever.

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PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021.

Friday morning fire claims Londesborough home

A bad week Emergency service vehicles were observed in and around the village of Londesborough several times last week including the above fire that claimed the Spencer family home in the village on Friday. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

PEOPLE AROUND LONDESBORO

By BRENDA RADFORD Call 523-4296

April 12-19 is celebrated in the Canadian Military to remember the Battle of Vimy fought that week in 1917. That battle by Canadian Expeditionary Forces is spoken of as the time when Canadian troops coalesced and proved their worth to the Allies. It was a bloody battle with the loss of hundreds of men on both sides during a spring snowstorm.

Following the Second World War, France gave 100 hectares of land that were the site of the battle/victory to Canada to show their appreciation. Our government

commissioned Walter Allward to build a monument on the site. This commission, which took years to complete, is known as the Vimy Memorial. It is a breathtaking, beautiful and awe-inspiring work. It is Allward's finest work. It is a place of commemoration for all Canadian soldiers killed or presumed dead during the war in France. It was finally dedicated in 1936.

The site of the Vimy battle and memorial is just a few miles outside of Arras, France. The site is not signed as things in North America are advertised. Consequently as we approached the area when we visited we seemed to be driving in a wooded country area. We turned a corner and were astounded by the sudden sight of this marvellous memorial.

It was in those woods that many lost their lives. And areas around the memorial are still 'no man's land' where a tourist cannot walk for fear of setting off still buried

Phoenix Press

By Noah Wiggins My name is Noah Wiggins and I am a Grade 12 student from Central Huron Secondary School. In this column I will be writing about the events of the past week at the high school.

In the week before the April Break, everybody had two days with their classes of this quadmester. On Tuesday and Wednesday, you would have had class one and on Thursday and Friday it would be class two, but on Friday, the Student Council set up a mental health and wellness day, which included a lot of activities for every class involved.

The activities were bucket drumming, painting a large canvas, tie-dying t-shirts and the Goderich Bike Shop was there to fix bikes.

The school set up chairs and set buckets upside down in the back

parking lot. Tom McLelland was helping with teaching the class how to bucket drum. He would start playing the drums while the class would bucket drum behind him.

For the painting, Tova Hasiwar, the owner of Totally Vintage in Goderich, was the instructor. Tiedying the shirts was relatively easy.

Students rolled up the white tshirts like a scrunchy, then kept them together with rubber bands and dunked in different colours of dye.

The Goderich Bike Shop was at the school to fix up students’ bikes for free and to test out some of their mountain bikes.

Lots of students enjoyed the day and it was a beautiful day for bucket drumming, painting a large canvas, tie-dying t-shirts and the Goderich Bike Shop to fix up bikes.

artillery. Adjacent to the memorial is an area of excavated and opened tunnels. It was amazing to me just how close the two armies were to each other in those tunnels.

Conditions in the tunnels were deplorable for the men.

Part of the reason the memorial took so long was that Walt Allward searched the world for the stone he had in his mind to use. Eventually he found the pure white limestone he desired in a quarry near Split in Yugoslavia. The vast majority of the carvers on the memorial were Italians. The site continues to be maintained by the Canadian War Grave Commission.

Coincidentally I have just reread the historical novel, The Stone Carvers, by Jane Urquhart. The first part of the book, “The Needle and the Chisel”, is the background of carvers who lived, supposedly, in Southwestern Ontario. Towns like Goderich, Sarnia, Berlin, Clinton and Hamilton are mentioned. The second part of the book, “The Road”, is the story of those carvers and their time working on the Vimy Memorial. I recommend the book to you. A good read to fill the hours of isolation.

It was quite a week in Londesborough last week.

Just as village folk headed to bed on Wednesday evening, fire trucks

and police cars had everyone looking out their windows. The county road through the village was quickly closed to the west as a fire in the rear portion of the former Josling home was battled. The house had been empty for a couple of years.

It has been suggested to me that the house had originally been a log cabin and some of those logs are still in the building. Because someone is apparently interested in having those logs the front portion of the house was saved.

The next morning the presence of emergency vehicles in the village were an indication of sadness. As news travels in a small community villagers soon were aware that Wayne Riley had passed away.

Wayne and Deb lived in Wayne’s parents’ former home on Main Street. Wayne was the son of Alex and Ora Riley. Poor health had plagued Wayne for some time. He worked for a time since coming to the village for a dead stock company.

Condolences are extended from villagers to Wayne’s family as they mourn his sudden passing.

More sadness arrived midmorning on Friday when the Spencer family lost their home to fire. Thankfully no one was home at the time of the fire. The area was filled for several hours with clouds of white smoke. I have learned that Nature’s Nest is accepting donations to the family, which has lost all of its possessions. There are three Spencer children. If you can help in any regard give Tim and Jenn a call.

Thursday, April 22 is Earth Day. I watched the Zoom worship service conducted by Rev. Colin Swan last Sunday. He reminded those in attendance that our earth is a gift from God. His garden is ours to care for and protecting the earth and environment are ways of loving our neighbours as ourselves.

It is usually encouraged to go hydro-free for an hour that evening.

But there are other ways to protect the earth. We’ve all been driving less through this pandemic. Perhaps that has shown us ways to reduce the carbon tax going forward beyond the pandemic. Recycling materials is an easy way to reduce waste and help the environment.

Maybe look through those closets this week and see if you have items you could pass on to others, like the Spencers.

The United Nations has declared that plastic pollution is the second most ominous threat to the planet after climate change.The Canadian government plans on banning a variety of single use plastics by the end 2021, including grocery bags, plastic straws and plastic cutlery,

Off a... goose’s back?

Local photographer Liz Allan captured this goose getting wet and sent it to The Citizen for print. You can do the same, just e-mail photos, alongside the names of anyone in them to reporter@northhuron.on.ca. (Photo courtesy of Liz Allan of the Maitland Valley Camera Club)

stir-sticks, plastic six-pack rings.

Plastics break down into microplastics that end up in the world's waterways, soils, plants and humans.

It really is up to all of us to be more aware of our purchases, cutting back on even the packing materials our purchases come in and disposing of them properly.

Efforts are being made by governments and watchdog groups to eliminate plastic packaging by large distributors like Amazon and force them to use green packaging.

Last September, the International Coastal Clean-up reported 62,000 items of discarded personal protective equipment were collected by volunteers from beaches around the world. There is no reason 100 per cent of this equipment can’t be discarded properly.

NEWS FROM LONDESBORO

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021. PAGE 11.

NH Council takes first step to decommission dam

By Denny Scott The Citizen

“It is staff’s recommendation to decommission the [Howson Bridge and Dam] based off the engineering completed.”

North Huron Director of Public Works and Facilities Jamie McCarthy reiterated those words, which were part of her report to North Huron Council during its meeting last night, starting the first step towards the Howson Bridge and Dam being removed in Wingham.

While the statement was a brief one, it represented not just months of meetings of the Howson Bridge and Dam Committee, but also years of engineering reports, going back decades, that said the existing dam structure was beyond saving. The recommendation also received support from council with five of seven members voting in favour of proceeding with the decommissioning process. Reeve Bernie Bailey and Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip, both of the Wingham ward, voted against starting that process.

Before McCarthy’s presentation, engineering firm Chant Limited’s Wayne Brooks spoke to the state of the structure.

After some discussion, Brooks agreed with an assessment from Councillor Kevin Falconer that the current dam is only good for weighted fill for any subsequent structure to be built or attached to or through.

Brooks didn’t mince words, saying the bridge has to be removed and the concrete is very poor and doesn’t meet current standards for strength, meaning the dam doesn’t qualify for rehabilitation.

Chant Limited is the latest in a line of engineering firms asked to weigh in on the structure. Brooks reported that even finding the

proper places to take core samples of the concrete was difficult, requiring engineers to change plans and, at their own expense, take more cores than were originally planned.

In his report, Brooks presented side-by-side core samples of what he called the best- and worst-case scenarios, with the two showing “severe fractures, fractured planes, numerous hairline cracks, moderate-to-severe deterioration and [greater than two-inch] large aggregates.”

Of the 12 recovered samples, the average concrete compressive strength was 28.8 megapascals (MPa), which is lower than the 30 MPa requirement for such structures.

“The low value was 20.5 MPa,” he said.

While this was outside of what was asked of the company, Brooks said the firm had provided what engineers considered to be costeffective ways the municipality could use the existing structures as weight for new structures that would be built alongside the old dam. The estimates ranged from $2,902,000 to $4,198,000, however, as Falconer pointed out, that wouldn’t restore the dam to what it was before, instead only repairing the structure to hold water to the current level of the weirs.

“The crest elevation is 309.26,” Brooks said of the new design.

“That’s pretty much the existing crest of the tops of the weirs right now.”

Falconer said that would likely result in significant land rehabilitation being required and, after some discussion, said that wasn’t what the people arguing for the dam wanted. He said they are looking to recreate a large body of water that was used for recreation.

As it was proposed, he said, it

wouldn’t sustain recreational water uses like boating or water skiing and wouldn’t allow for much fishing.

Reeve Bernie Bailey agreed, saying that the existing water height is often mistaken for the low-water mark, when in fact it is with the dam in full operation with boards in place to raise the height of the river throughout the community.

Council asked several questions of the designs, however, Brooks explained they were simply concepts at this point and he or his colleagues couldn’t provide direct answers about how much it would cost to raise the water level or how long the proposed “revitalized” structures would last.

Council later discussed McCarthy’s report in which she said staff recommends going forward with the decommissioning process.

McCarthy said the $46,000 engineering analysis is just part of $143,000 that has been spent on engineering over the past several years and said, based on those reports, staff suggested decommissioning the dam, saying the move falls in line with the strategic plan.

Bailey asked about giving time for fundraising, which McCarthy said was a risky proposition.

“We would have to set a timeline if either option was to be considered,” she said. “You would not be able to [pursue those options while removing the bridge]. That would need further engineering… [and increase] the townships’s liability.”

She said that would have a cost and would drive the expenses far higher than what was reported by Chant or herself.

“It would be a substantial increase,” she said. “For someone to fundraise that amount of money in a short period of time… I don’t know if that would be feasible.”

Seip asked if the bridge could be removed but the dam structure could remain in place to allow time for fundraising and McCarthy said it couldn’t, going on to explain that council needs to be aware of the liability of the structure as it stands and that removing the bridge would necessitate removing the dam structure as well, unless it was being rehabilitated.

Falconer once again reiterated that what was suggested was not to bring the pond to its historic level, but to keep it at the level it is right now, before the boards are put into the dam.

“We’re not replacing the dam as it was,” he said, speaking about the possibilities presented by Chant.

“None of the information brought forward does any of that, it just helps us deal with the concrete.”

After some discussion, council voted in favour of moving forward with the decommissioning, giving

staff direction to prepare a request for proposals to go ahead with the project.

In separate interviews with The Citizen after the meeting, Bailey and Seip explained why they voted against the motion.

Bailey said he wanted to give the community a chance to fundraise to replace the dam in the manner suggested by Chant Limited, saying that if council removed the existing dam structure, it would be paying to remove fill that a group would later need to replace. Bailey reiterated that tax dollars would not be used for the project.

Seip also said he wanted to give the community group time to review the findings and consider going forward with some kind of plan for rehabilitation. Seip also addressed taxpayer funding, saying none would go towards the structure for rehabilitation or revitalization.

Bailey addresses ‘attacks’ Reeve Bernie Bailey directed some terse comments to MorrisTurnberry residents harassing North Huron employees regarding non-resident fees: take it up with your own council and staff.

During North Huron Township Council’s meeting on Monday night, Bailey thanked his staff, his residents and his fellow councillors for working through the pandemic, but then said Morris-Turnberry residents’ comments or “attacks” on North Huron staff weren’t welcome.

“Our staff are being criticized by Morris-Turnberry residents because Morris-Turnbery [Council] stopped paying [for] their share of childcare centres, trails and facilities,” he said. “Morris-Turnberry Council decided to stop paying that.”

Bailey said North Huron added

the fees in response to keep the centres, programming and trails open, saying the “attacks” were “hurtful”.

“You [Morris-Turnberry residents] have your own council and your own staff,” he said.

“Attack them. They are the ones who stopped paying.”

He said that North Huron is being a good neighbour and that the last thing Morris-Turnberry residents should be doing is attacking North Huron staff for doing the job that North Huron Council put before them. He then reiterated that Morris-Turnberry ratepayers should take the issue up with their council members.

“We are responsible for the trails, arenas, daycares and everything,” he said. “All your council had to do was sign that cheque and they didn’t do that.”

GIVE YOUR INPUT! The Township of North Huron is developing a

Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan (PRCMP) to guide and manage the direction of parks, open spaces, recreation and culture opportunities over the next ten years.

Survey due by May 7th Making a splash Laura Jutzi caught this photo of her son Harvey making a splash while enjoying some time outside recently. Get your photos in The Citizen by submitting them to reporter@northhuron.on.ca. (Denny Scott photo)

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PRCMPnorthhuron For more information visit northhuron.ca Hard copies available at the North Huron Wescast Community Complex as well as the Blyth & District Community Centre.

PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021.

CH tax levy to rise under two per cent in 2021

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Central Huron Council has passed its budget for 2021, which includes

a three per cent increase to the municipal tax levy. With the Huron County and education tax levies included, the budget results in an increase of under two per cent to

Welcoming spring Evelynn, left, and Emmalee Riley were recently caught in their Easter best by Candace Riley who shared the photo with The Citizen through Facebook. (Denny Scott photo)

the overall levy for Central Huron ratepayers.

The budget equates to $1,259.68 to be paid in taxes for municipal, county and education purposes per $100,000 of residential assessment.

That is up slightly from last year’s figure of $1,237.32, but lower than in all four previous budgets, stretching back to 2016.

For a Central Huron house assessed at $200,000, the 2021 taxes will be $2,519.36.

Treasurer Jeff Boyes presented the final draft of the budget to council at its April 19 meeting, which was held virtually via Zoom on Monday night.

This year’s budget includes over $7.7 million in taxation requirements for municipal purposes. The levy increase of just over $330,000 represents a 4.46 per cent increase to the levy in 2021.

This comes after a year without a levy increase in 2020, a 6.5 per cent increase in 2019 and a 9.77 per cent increase in 2018.

The municipal portion of the budget, Boyes explained to councillors, accounts for just over 51 per cent of the taxes collected, with 35.56 per cent going to Huron

County and just over 12 per cent allocated to the school boards.

The bulk of the municipality’s revenue, just under 85 per cent, comes from taxation and grants.

Over 62 per cent of Central Huron’s revenue comes from taxation, while 22.3 per cent comes from federal and provincial grants.

The remaining 15 per cent is divided between other grants, fees and charges, licences, permits and rentals, interest and investment income, solar panel revenue and casino revenue.

As for the expense budget breakdown, 36 per cent will be spent on roads, fleet and street lights, while 19 per cent is for protective and inspection costs, 15 per cent is allocated for recreation and facilities, 12 per cent is for water and sewer, nine per cent is for general government, five per cent is for planning, economic development and agriculture and four per cent is set aside for the environment.

In this year’s budget, the municipality will be transferring just over $1.5 million to reserves, but withdrawing over $2.5 million from its reserves at the same time.

The budget also contains a two per cent increase to the wastewater operating budget.

Big ticket capital items in the budget include just under $2 million for urban reconstruction of the main street through Clinton, over $1.2 million in top coat paving for eight roads, basecoat asphalt for Tipperary Line for over $230,000 and the purchase of the former Bluewater Youth Centre, which has yet to be finalized, for just over $5 million.

As a result, the municipality will be taking on nearly $6 million in new debt this year, $5 million for the Bluewater Youth Centre purchase and $815,000 for the construction of a new utilities work centre. That is in addition to over $380,000 in current debt principal payments for the Central Huron Community Complex ($103,943), the Regional Equine and Agricultural Centre of Huron ($128,917), Clinton LED street lights ($64,455), the Josling pit ($23,306) and other assorted roadwork $61,476).

Council passed the budget with no discussion, having honed it over five previous budget meetings.

SWIFT bringing broadband infrastructure to Huron More than 1,850 homes and businesses of Huron County are one step closer to fast, reliable internet access with the signing of 10 contracts for broadband infrastructure.

The governments of Canada and Ontario each committed up to $2.4 million to create more economic and educational opportunities in rural, remote and underserved areas of Huron County through an improved, modern broadband network.

Construction of the infrastructure networks in Huron County are expected to be up and running with service to start in February, 2022.

These projects are valued at $15 million and will deliver reliable internet access to more homes and businesses in underserved areas of the community.

The contracts to expand fibre optic broadband services in Huron County were awarded by Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) Inc., a notfor-profit corporation initiated by local municipalities to address connectivity in Southwestern Ontario. To date, more than 3,000 households and businesses in Southwestern Ontario have received access to improved broadband through SWIFT. “I am proud of the progress our government has made, in collaboration with our partners, towards reaching our goal of connecting all Canadian homes and businesses to high-speed internet,” said Tim Louis, Member of Parliament for KitchenerConestoga, on behalf of the

Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development. “Today’s announcement will bring fast and reliable broadband access to more than 1,850 homes and businesses in Huron County, giving them access to essential services that are critical to ensuring the health, safety, and wellbeing of their families. We will continue our work connecting communities to the high-speed internet they need here in southwestern Ontario, and across Canada.”

“The construction of broadband infrastructure in Huron County will help businesses to expand, help create new job opportunities and connect more people to the services and information they need,” said

A sign of the times Two weeks ago students were enjoying time outside, including a rousing game of foursquare. Those same students are now at home, learning through the internet due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Shown enjoying what was one of their last recesses before being sent home are, back row, from left: Jordan Shannon, Tynleigh Woodall and Peyton Badley. Playing the game are Emma Howson, Summer Shannon, Aiden Hokmeijer and Mackenzie Shannon. (Denny Scott photo)

the Honourable Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “Our government recognizes the importance of expanding broadband connectivity to rural and remote areas and we're making it happen.”

“In rural Ontario, we know good internet access is a gateway to growth,” said Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson. “This is great and timely news that will connect more than 1,850 households and businesses in Huron County to high speed internet. We have adjusted to working and learning from home during the pandemic, and this broadband expansion will be key to our recovery and future success.”

“Expanding broadband access throughout Southwestern Ontario is essential to the economic recovery and long-term prosperity of our region,” said Barry Field, Executive Director, SWIFT. “Today in partnership with the Governments

of Ontario and Canada, we are pleased to announce that SWIFT has awarded $15 million in contracts to bring greater access to high-speed internet throughout Huron County. Once complete, the newly awarded projects will deliver long-term sustainable broadband solutions to further support online learning, work from home opportunities and unlock greater economic growth potential for businesses.”

Efforts continue to bridge the gaps in broadband access in Southwestern Ontario, as part of a combined federal-provincial investment of more than $191 million to bring fast, reliable and affordable internet to thousands of homes and businesses. This will allow communities to attract new businesses, strengthen local economies and create more wellpaying jobs and opportunities in rural Ontario.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021. PAGE 13.

SPRING CARE Be ready for a breakdown

The benefits of a test drive

The next steps after a collision

Hit the road and live the RV life

PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021.

Tips for what to do after experiencing a collision

Now what?

After being in a collision there are a number of steps to take to make sure that things don’t get worse. From what to do to make the scene safe to what needs to happen next, being prepared can make all the difference. (MS photo) MS - Car accidents happen every day. Though the World Health Organization reports that approximately 1.35 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes, many more people walk away from such accidents relatively unscathed. In such instances, knowing what to do in the immediate aftermath of an accident can help drivers and passengers stay safe and start on their road to physical and financial recovery.

No two car accidents are the same, but the Insurance Information Institute (III) recommends anyone involved in a car accident take the following steps to make the most informed decisions in what is often a difficult situation. · Assess your physical condition: The III recommends people involved in accidents check themselves for injuries in the immediate aftermath of an accident.

Call 911 if you are hurt. If you’re seriously injured, try to remain still and only move with the assistance of emergency response personnel. · Assess passengers' physical condition: Drivers who are not too hurt to move can check on their passengers after assessing their own condition. Before moving a passenger who is injured, speak with an emergency response professional. This person can assess the situation and determine if it’s safe to move an injured passenger or if it’s best to wait for first responders to arrive on the scene. · Get to a safe place: If possible, move to the side of the road or a sidewalk. If it’s safe to move a vehicle and the vehicle is in a hazardous position, such as in the middle of the road, pull it to the side of the road. If the vehicle won’t start, or you suspect it could be dangerous to move it, leave the car

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type, colour and model of the other driver’s vehicle also should be exchanged and noted. · Avoid discussing fault with the other driver: Drivers will not determine who’s at fault. Such decisions are made by insurance adjusters. Discussing fault with the other driver in the immediate aftermath of an accident can lead to difficult, potentially heated exchanges. · Document the accident: The III recommends motorists involved in accidents identify the responding police officers and ask them how to obtain copies of the official accident report. Take pictures and speak with any witnesses, jotting down their names and contact information if possible. · Notify your insurance provider: Notify your insurance provider as soon as possible. You can even do so from the scene of the accident if you’re capable of doing so. This can jump-start the claims process.

Knowing what to do in the immediate aftermath of a car accident can calm drivers’ nerves and get them on the road to recovery that much sooner.

where it is and get yourself and any passengers who can move to the side of the road or a sidewalk. · Call 911: If you have not already done so, call 911 once you have gotten to a safe place. The III notes that no accident is too minor to involve the police, and some local laws even mandate that all traffic accidents be immediately reported. Be sure to fill out an accident report, which can be vital for drivers who intend to file claims with their insurance providers. · Turn the vehicle off: If the vehicle is still running, turn it off.

Turn on the vehicle’s hazard lights and, if you can physically do so and it’s safe to do so, place road flares around the car to warn fellow motorists. · Exchange information: Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver once everyone has determined that they are not injured. The III recommends exchanging full names and contact information. Specific information like insurance companies and policy numbers, driver’s licence numbers and licence plate numbers, the exact location of the accident, and the

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021. PAGE 15.

Pre-owned vehicle sales surging due to confidence

Testing out used cars Buying pre-owned vehicles can be a great way to find a reliable, inexpensive car, truck or SUV. Make sure to test drive them though to get a feel for the vehicle before purchasing. (MS photo) MS - Pre-owned vehicles have become hot commodities in recent years, reflecting a change in what drivers are looking for when it’s time to get a new ride.

According to the market and consumer data experts at Statista, pre-owned vehicle sales increased

every year between 2014 and 2019 and more than doubled the number of new cars sold each year during that period. For example, in 2019 United States car buyers purchased 40.8 million pre-owned vehicles and right around 17 million new vehicles.

There are many reasons why more car buyers are increasingly looking to the pre-owned vehicle market when replacing their existing vehicles. Certified preowned vehicles have increased consumer confidence in used cars and trucks and extended warranties

have helped ease concerns buyers may have about such vehicles.

As reliable as pre-owned vehicles can be, prospective buyers must remain diligent when considering a used car and truck. Potential mechanical issues can be discussed with a mechanic of buyers’ choosing, but it’s up to drivers to gauge other factors that can affect how enjoyable it may or may not be to drive a given vehicle. Test drives remain a great way to get a feel for pre-owned vehicles and prospective buyers can consider various factors to determine if a given car or truck is for them.

• Comfort: Comfort is a big consideration when purchasing new vehicles, and there’s no reason to downplay the importance of comfort when shopping for preowned vehicles.

Consider the available headroom and legroom when test driving a vehicle, but also take note of comfort-based accessories that the vehicle may or may not have. For example, if you’ve grown accustomed to heated seats on your existing vehicle, then a pre-owned vehicle without such seats, or one without functioning heated seats, will likely

bother you in the years to come.

• Visibility: Sight lines vary from vehicle to vehicle, so make sure your test drive is long enough to give you an accurate idea of a vehicle’s visibility. Blind spots may not differ much in new models versus older models or even in vehicles made by the same manufacturer, but they can differ considerably between manufacturers (i.e., Toyota versus Nissan). Get a feel for blind spots during the test drive to determine if you’ll be comfortable driving a given vehicle.

• Connectivity: Modern vehicles are designed to connect with our devices and drivers have quickly grown to prioritize connectivity.

Compatibility with devices can make it easier to use GPS and stream music while driving, so don’t hesitate to connect your phone when test driving a vehicle.

If the car and phone are incompatible, that can affect how much you enjoy driving the car.

Pre-owned vehicles are incredibly popular.

Buyers considering used cars or trucks can look for certain things during a test drive to determine if a given vehicle is the right fit for them

For all your Towing and Repair Needs Call

RVs a great way to travel, save MS - Individuals who are approaching retirement or those who already have said goodbye to the working world may find they are ready to make some life changes. Travel is something many older adults enjoy when they have much more free time to see the sights.

Recreational vehicles (RVs) are great ways for people to get out and about. An RV is more than just a way to get around; for many people it becomes a lifestyle.

According to the RV Industry Association (RVIA), about 10 million American households own RVs. There have been more RVs on the road in recent years, and there are

now more facilities to accommodate them. RVIA says there are now roughly 18,000 campgrounds around the country and certain facilities are pushing to improve and upgrade campgrounds in national parks and on federal lands.

Individuals considering if the RV lifestyle is for them can refer to this list of RVing benefits.

• Inexpensive travel (or living): RVers may be attracted by the idea of low-cost travel that doesn’t involve hotels and airfare and greatly reduces their reliance on restaurants while travelling. RVs can be rented for roughly $100 to $500 per day, and RV parks usually run between $35 and $50 per night,

If Your Vehicle Needs Some TLC....

according to Allianz Travel Insurance.

To keep costs even lower, certain truck stops, big box retailers, churches, hotels, movie theaters, casinos, rest stops and other roadside locations will allow free overnight parking. Just verify Continued on page 16

Your

Authorized Retailer.

...bring it to us for expert service and repair.

Since 1995, Jack has been your trusted choice for repairs and service on your vehicles.

Jack is also an OMVIC certified Used Car Dealer and member of the Used Car Dealer Association of Ontario.

Jack brings that same integrity to finding you the previously-owned vehicle that works for your needs.

2 miles south of Blyth corner of London Rd. & Hullett McKillop Rd., Central Huron

Book your service today

519-523-9308

• Full Mechanical Services • Alignment Specialists Vehicle Sales & Service

519-523-4742 • 1-877-619-7877 40356 Londesboro Rd. www.townsendtire.ca

PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021.

Keeping up to date on what’s beneath the hood

A trade-off While driving down the road in a classic car can be the epitome of freedom to some, it’s a calculated decision that means foregoing some modern advancements to vehicles that make them more reliable and safe. (MS photo) MS - Each model year, vehicles evolve a little further. What once was popular or essential gets updated with something new and a little more innovative. While certain car parts may always be necessary, others may age out or evolve over the years.

One of the challenges automotive repair professionals often face is the constant need to stay abreast of the changes in automotive design. As features change, so does the knowledge required to keep

vehicles on the road. The following are some of the components you likely won’t find rolling off of the assembly line these days.

• Carburetor: Vehicles previously used a carburetor, which was a bulky device that sat on top of the engine. Classic cars have carburetors, but modern ones do not. Most car manufacturers stopped using carburetors in the 1980s because fuel injector systems proved to be more efficient and improved fuel economy.

Carburetors created an air-fuel mixture needed for engine combustion.

Very often carburetors were the culprits in poor engine performance because they weren’t creating the right air and fuel mixture. Also, jets on the carburetor could easily become clogged.

• G e n e r a t o r : M o d e r n automobiles no longer use a generator, which is a device used to produce electricity through the rotation of fine wires in a magnetic

RV community can be helpful RVs are available across a wide range of price points. So if the idea is to trade in a stationary house for an RV, you may be able to do so for as little as $6,000 to as much as $500,000.

The RV lifestyle may attract soon-to-be retirees. There are various advantages to getting on board.

Plan it out Many retirees find that RVs offer them freedom to visit far-off locales with all the comforts of home. (MS photo) Continued from page 15 before staying to avoid being ticketed.

• Freedom to come and go: When traveling in an RV, there are no set check-in-/check-out times to follow or boarding times to meet.

RV travel can be strictly on your schedule.

• Plenty of help: Others who have embraced the RV lifestyle tend to be very friendly and ready to make new acquaintances at campgrounds and other stops.

Those with more experience may be willing to share their expertise and pitch in to offer tips for better excursions.

• Creature comforts: People who vacation or choose to live in their RVs tend to keep familiar items and essentials on hand. Those can include preferred linens, clothing, toiletries, books, games and more. When taking such items along, there’s no need to pack and unpack much for any trip.

• Follow the weather: If desired, RVers can pick up and follow the jet stream. If warm days are your thing, then follow those temperatures coast-to-coast. If you like skiing or snowboarding, you can head to colder climates.

• Downsize: The RVIA says that

Follow The Citizen on Facebook, Twitter or through our website at huroncitizen.ca for the most up-to-date information.

Need A Spring Tune Up?

field. Cars today use alternators.

Instead of an armature rotating inside a stationary magnetic field as with a generator, an alternator has a magnetic field that rotates around a stationary armature, according to the online resource Electrical Technology.

Alternators are more efficient because they can produce more power, even charging a car battery, at low engine speeds and idling.

• Audible turn signals: Turn signals, also called blinkers, typically have a clicking sound to alert the driver that the signal is still engaged and needs to be switched off after a turn. However, many modern cars are phasing out audible turn signals.

• Car keys: Newer vehicles do not have stamped metal keys, which have been replaced by electronic fobs. When the fob is near to the vehicle, doors automatically unlock. The fob is used in combination with a push-button

SPRING IS HERE...

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ignition, making a key start obsolete.

• Full-sized spare tires: Not too long ago, if a flat tire required a roadside change, drivers could rely on a full-sized spare in the trunk or under the vehicle. According to AAA, spare tires have been replaced by tire inflator kits on millions of vehicles in the last 10 model years. Finding a full-sized spare is a rare occurrence.

• Control knobs: Radios, heating and cooling systems and other car features are increasingly being activated by buttons or digital displays. Gone are knobs and actual levers. This may be one feature that may have decreased safety and efficiency. Buttons rather than easily manipulated knobs require drivers to take their eyes off the road to find them and engage.

People in the market for new vehicles should familiarize themselves with features that already are extinct or are slowly becoming obsolete.

$5,995.

2009 Kia Borrego

Black, 3.8 litre, leather, loaded, moon roof, heated seats, DVD entertainment centre, 7 passenger, fold away seating, 4x4, 166,227 km $6,495.

2013 GMC Sierra 1500 - blue, 4.8 litre, loaded, crew cab, 4 dr, 4x4, 178,766 kms .......................$17,995 2012 VW Jetta - black, 2 litre, automatic, loaded, 4 dr, 253,259 kms..............................................$5,995.

2011 Ford Fusion Sport - red, 3.5 litre, automatic, loaded, leather, sunroof, navigation, AWD, 138,723 kms.....................................................................................................$6,495.

2011 Dodge Grand Caravan SE - blue, 3.6 litre, loaded, 7 passenger, stow ’n go seats, 206,163 kms......................................................................................................$6,995.

2010 Dodge Grand Caravan - grey, 3.3 litre, loaded, 7 passenger, stow ’n go seats, 228,164 kms..................................................................................................................................$5,995.

2010 VW Jetta - silver, 2.5 litre, automatic, loaded, 4 dr, 224,115 kms............................................$5,495.

2009 Hyundai Santa Fe - black, 3.3 litre, loaded, leather, sunroof, AWD, 229,013 kms.................$5,495.

2009 Hyundai Sonata Sport - grey, 2.4 litre, loaded, automatic, sunroof, 4 dr, 223,372 kms ........$4,995.

2009 Subaru Legacy - grey, 2.5 litre, special edition, loaded, 4 dr, sunroof, AWD, 132,597 miles........................................................................................................$4,995.

2009 Subaru Outback - silver, 2.5 litre, loaded, automatic, AWD, 269,831 kms.............................$4,995.

2007 Subaru Forester - red, 2.5 litre, leather, loaded, sunroof, 5 dr, wagon, AWD, 246,002 kms.........$4,495.

2007 Ford Edge SEL - purple, 3.5 litre, leather, loaded, 4 dr, AWD, 173,229 kms .........................$6,995.

2002 Dodge Durango - burgundy, 4.7 litre, loaded, leather, sunroof, 4x4, summer and winter tires on aluminum rims, 7 passenger, WeatherTech floor mats, well maintained, no rust, 411,118 kms .........................................................................................$3,995.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021. PAGE 17.

Tips, supply list to mitigate breakdown breakdowns

Breakdown preparedness Whether its a pre-made kit or something you put together yourself, having the right supplies can prevent a breakdown from becoming a major issue. (MS photo) MS - Unforeseen situations can crop up at any time. Anyone who has had a roadside breakdown in their car understands this.

A flat tire or an engine malfunction is something no driver wants to experience, but those with a well-stocked vehicle emergency kit and breakdown strategy can get through most situations rather easily.

A 2017 survey from AAA found that 40 per cent of drivers in the United States are not ready to handle a typical roadside emergency breakdown.

The organization estimates it helps some seven million motorists get back on the road each summer. A well-equipped roadside emergency kit may help drivers get their

and replace plugs one by one with a spark plug socket, wrench or ratchet.

• Change the oil and oil filter: Because changing the oil in a vehicle requires jacking up the car or truck and getting a little dirty, some people prefer to leave it to an oil change centre. However, it can save money to do it yourself.

Never change the oil while the engine is hot. And remember to lubricate the rubber gasket on the new oil filter and allocate enough oil to fill the filter with about twothirds of new oil in addition to what is put in the engine.

• Replace headlight bulbs:

screwdriver, ratchet set and wrench may enable drivers to complete minor repairs. Tools also should include tire-changing gear, such as a jack and lug nut remover.

• Traction aid: Non-clumping kitty litter or sand can provide the traction needed to get off of a slippery area of roadway.

• Flashlight: A flashlight can help keep you visible and able to see your surroundings in dark conditions.

• Flares: Should a breakdown occur in the dark, flares can alert other drivers.

• Snacks and water: Water and food that stores well, such as emergency rations, granola bars or trail mix, can quell hunger pangs and provide an energy boost while waiting for help.

• Rope/bungee cords/tarp: These items can be used in various situations to secure a vehicle.

While drivers can gather these items separately, many companies offer all-in-one vehicle emergency kits. A safety kit is essential for all drivers.

vehicles back on the road on their own.

• First aid kit: The first aid kit will celebrate its 133rd birthday in 2021. The Johnson & Johnson company began commercializing first aid kits in 1888. Having a first aid kit in the car to treat minor injuries can be helpful in the event of an accident or even after injuring

DIY car projects can save cash MS - During the global COVID19 pandemic, many people looked for ways to save money. One way to live a frugal life is to take on more projects. In addition to lawn and garden upkeep and minor home improvements, a number of people may be able to tackle some auto repair and maintenance jobs themselves.

Performing routine vehicle maintenance tasks on one’s own is an ideal way to reduce automotive expenditures. The following are several vehicle maintenance jobs skilled DIYers may be able to handle on their own.

• Replace the air filter: An air filter should be changed annually or more frequently if you reside in a dry, dusty climate. A clogged filter can stress the vehicle’s air conditioning system and reduce heat capacity in the winter. Check the location of the air filter in the owner’s manual; pay attention to how it is placed before removing.

Then replace it with a clean filter.

• Replace the wiper blades: When wiper blades are worn out, visibility in rainy or snowy weather is reduced. Choose a quality wiper blade, as they usually are made with high-quality rubber, clean better and have more UV protection than manufacturer-provided blades.

Follow the installation instructions on the package, and be sure to refer to the particular manufacturer’s buying guide to get the right size for your make and model of vehicle.

• Replace spark plugs: The money management site Money Crashers says spark plugs need to be replaced after around 30,000 miles or as indicated by your owner’s manual. Vehicles will have four, six or eight plugs, depending on how many cylinders the car has.

The plugs need to be changed in a certain order, so only remove the first wire and spark plug. Remove

oneself during a breakdown.

• Fire extinguisher: Cars are full of various mechanical parts and are susceptible to catching on fire. The National Fire Protection Association in the U.S. says vehicle fire extinguishers need to be rated for Class B and C fires.

• Jumper cables: A weak or dead battery is often the culprit in breakdowns. Jumper cables enable drivers to get a charge from another motorist, and may help get a person back on the road quickly. If possible, get a set of cables that also comes with safety gloves and heavy duty clamps, offers Defensive Driving Online, a defensive driving course.

• Mobile phone and charger: A mobile phone is essential for calling for assistance, but the phone is only useful if it’s charged.

• Blanket: Keep a blanket in the trunk or another storage area.

Should the vehicle die in cold weather, that blanket can help keep passengers warm until assistance arrives.

• Basic tools: Tools like a

Replacing headlight bulbs is a fairly easy project and will only take around 10 minutes to do after you purchase the right bulbs for your vehicle.

Each vehicle is different, but many bulbs are housed inside of a bulb holder, which is shaped like a trapezoid with three wires coming out of it, advises U.S. News & World Report. Remove the old bulb and put in the new. Plug the wires back in and test to see if the headlight works.

The above automotive tasks are just some that people can try themselves to save time and money.

It’s Spring tune-up time!

It’s time to remove your snow tires and get your brakes serviced

Complete Mechanical Service Tires - Mufflers - Brakes Vehicle Inspection Station Book your spring tune-up today!

DAN’S AUTO REPAIR RR #3 Blyth (on the Westfield Rd.) 519-523-4356

RADAR AUTO PARTS

"You will find it at CARQUEST" Time to change out your winter tires

Take advantage of Mail-in Rebates on BF Goodrich, Firestone, Michelin and Bridgestone * Limited time offers. Some conditions apply. Ask for details

Brophy Tire 104 Pine St., Wingham

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235 Turnberry St., BRUSSELS 887-9661 Also at:

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20 King St., CLINTON 482-3445

PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021.

Classified Advertisements – RATES – 20 words or less only $7.00 + HST. Additional words 20¢ each + HST. 50¢ will be deducted if ad is paid in advance

DEADLINE

Help wanted Help wanted Help wanted Help wanted HELP WANTED is looking for a concrete floor finisher, form setter and manual labourer.

No experience necessary - will train.

Hours are Monday to Friday - to start immediately.

2 p.m. Monday in Brussels 4 p.m. Monday in Blyth Phone 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 e-mail: info@northhuron.on.ca

If interested call Josh 519-357-5187

Full-Time Farm Workers

Articles for sale GERBERS FIREWOOD SERVING you for over 10 years. Your number one source of quality slabwood and bodywood. Delivery available. No Sunday calls. 519-656-2057, 519441-2085.

01-50p ----------------------------------------REPRINTS OF PHOTOS taken by Citizen photographers are available to purchase. All are in colour. 4x6 – $5.00, 5x7 – $6.00, 8x10 – $10.00. Phone to order 519523-4792 or 519-887-9114. tfn -----------------------------------------THE CITIZEN IS AVAILABLE TO purchase at these locations – Auburn Co-op, Belgrave Variety, Blyth Variety, Blyth Food Market, Blyth Ultramar, Brussels Foodland, Brussels Variety, Clinton Convenience, Clinton Foodland, Dean’s Valu-Mart in Wingham, Wingham Mini Mart, Seaforth Foodland, GT Mini Mart in Seaforth, Fincher’s in Goderich and The Citizen Blyth.

In memoriam

24-month position Brussels Livestock, Div. of Gamble & Rogers Limited has two positions available for full-time farm workers for a 24-month period.

Job Start Date: on or about April 15, 2021 End Date: on or about March 14, 2023 Rate of Pay: $14.25/hour Hours: 40-80 Hours / Week. (Working hours are variable due to position being dependent upon weather conditions) Number of Vacancies: 2 Terms of Employment: 24 months, full-time Job Location: Brussels, Ontario Job • • • •

Description: Feed and tend livestock Plant, fertilize, cultivate, spray, irrigate and harvest crops Operate and maintain farm machinery and equipment Follow food safety and security and animal bio-security procedures • Detect disease and health problems in crops, livestock and poultry • Set and monitor water lines, air flow and temperature in barns, and pens • Maintain or assist in the maintenance of facilities and farm infrastructure including cleaning stables, barns, barnyards and pens

Class AZ Drivers Howson Transportation Inc. has full-time, year-round openings for experienced Class AZ Drivers based out of Blyth, ON. Requirements: • Class AZ Licence • Clean Driver’s Abstract Interested persons can forward cover letter, résumé and driver’s abstract to: Email - rick@howsons.ca Fax - 519-523-4920 Mail - Howson Transportation Inc. Attn: Human Resources P.O. Box 390 Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 We are an equal opportunity employer offering a competitive wage and benefits package.

We thank all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Tenders

Tenders

FOR SALE BY TENDER 60 Southampton St. Dungannon Dungannon United Church built 1909 on 0.33 acres, spacious, theatre-style sanctuary with full basement of 2700 ft2

Work Conditions and Physical Capabilities: • Inside and outdoors • Fast-paced environment • Work under pressure • Tight deadlines • Repetitive tasks • Handling heavy loads and physically demanding • Attention to detail • Combination of sitting, walking, or standing for extended periods of time • Work any shift: days or evenings; including weekends and holidays Personal Suitability: Flexible, organized, team player, effective interpersonal skills, works well with others, but also should be able to be independent and take initiative.

HENRY GROBBINK In memory of the fifth anniversary of Henry’s passing on April 26.

Time does not change how much we love you or how much we miss you, Your legacy continues through your children and grandchild.

God saw you getting tired, When a cure was not to be, He closed His arms around you, And whispered “Come to Me.” In tears we saw you sinking, We watched you fade away, Our hearts are almost broken, You fought so hard to stay.

But when we saw you sleeping, So peacefully free from pain, We would not wish you back, To suffer that again.

So treasure him, Lord, In your garden of rest, For here on earth He was one of the best.

16-1p

Howson Transportation Inc.

Beuermann Construction ( Brussels, ON)

Skills Required: • Fluent English speaker • Tending to livestock • Planting, hoeing/weeding, grading/sorting, harvesting crops • Property/farm maintenance • Ability to safely operate farm equipment Education: None required.

Experience: Experience is an asset; but willing to train.

Work Eligibility: Only applicants legally eligible to work in Canada will be considered.

Equal opportunity Employer: Brussels Livestock is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

Applications can be emailed to: Cindy Ferraro: cindyf@brusselslivestock.ca P.O. Box 59, Brussels, ON N0G 1H0 Canada

For details contact Kay Logtenberg: logtenbg@hurontel.on.ca or 519-529-7439 before May 6.

Appraised at $225,000.

Tender acceptance must be approved by the United Church of Canada - therefore, highest or any bid not necessarily accepted.

The Municipality of Huron East

2021 Tenders Sealed tenders marked as to contents, will be accepted until 12 Noon on Wednesday, May 5th, 2021 for the following contracts:

HE-05-2021 Asphalt Paving on Morrison Line from Mill Road (County Road 3) to Kippen Road (County Road 12) HE-06-2021 One Current Model Year ½ Ton Pick Up Truck The Municipality of Huron East reserves the right to accept any Quotation, in whole or in part that it feels is most beneficial to the residents of the Municipality of Huron East. Therefore, the lowest or any Quotation may not necessarily be accepted.

Tender Forms available upon request from the Huron East Public Works Manager Barry Mills 72 Main Street South, Box 610, Seaforth, Ontario N0K 1W0 Phone (519) 527-1710 Fax (519) 527-2561 Toll free phone 1-888-868-7513 bmills@huroneast.com

Services

Services

LOVED ONES’ GRAVESTONES need cared for? I can do this for you. Call 519-887-9257.

13-4p

INCOME TAX PREPARATION – farm, business, personal. Stephen Thompson, 519-482-3244. 09-8b

All word ads in The Citizen classifieds are put on our webpage at

www.huroncitizen.ca

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021. PAGE 19.

Obituaries

YVONNE ELIZABETH MARTIN Mrs. Yvonne Elizabeth (née Connelly) Martin passed away peacefully surrounded by family at Listowel Memorial Hospital on April 19, 2021. She was in her 76th year.

Yvonne was the beloved wife of Don for 50 years and the loving sister-in-law of Elizabeth Anne (George) Procter, and Gertraude Martin. She was the cherished aunt of Gordon (Andrea) Martin, Kate Procter, Jennifer Cooper, and Tammy Martin.

Yvonne was predeceased by her parents Ferg (1963) and Leona (2010) Connelly, brother-in-law Peter Martin (2013), and nephew David Martin (1992). She will be especially missed by furry friends Molly and Dusty.

Friendship was one of the most important aspects of Yvonne’s life.

She touched many lives with her caring ways, sense of humour, zest for life and ability to connect with people of all ages. A life-long learner herself, she was a positive influence on her students as she prepared them for life. Starting in 1964, she spent most of her career at Grey Central Public School. She earned her BA in Education in 1977 and dedicated her life to her school and her students. She had the respect of her students and colleagues, who were her special friends.

She met Don in 1964, the love of her life, and they married on Aug. 1, 1970, beginning a life-long adventure. Along with her teaching and learning roles, she made a vital contribution to the farm she and Don shared near Ethel.

Active and outdoorsy, Don and Yvonne enjoyed canoeing, before taking up flying. Yvonne and Don both obtained their pilot licences, and they enjoyed many hours of seeing the world from a bird’s eye view. This led to an active

membership in the International Flying Farmers, of which Ontario Flying Farmers was a chapter.

Yvonne was honoured to be named Duchess of the International Flying Farmers, and she used her skills to write the newsletter for the Ontario Flying Farmers for several years.

She developed many friends throughout the U.S. and Canada through her passion for flying. Don and Yvonne hosted several fly-ins at their farm.

Yvonne loved music. She was an accomplished pianist and was a valued member of several choirs and enjoyed dancing and square dancing.

After retirement, Yvonne enjoyed pursuing her love of photography and was a member of the Maitland Valley Camera Club. Yvonne and Don also enjoyed travelling and were able to explore Scotland, Ireland, England, Newfoundland, and the east and west coasts of Canada.

Yvonne kept her positive attitude throughout her battle with lymphoma and passed peacefully, with her family close by.

A Catholic Funeral Mass took place on Wednesday, April 21 at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Brussels. Father Vargees Devas officiated.

Cremation will take place and a private, family interment will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers and as expressions of sympathy, donations to The Citizen newspaper, The Blyth Centre for the Arts, the Brussels Cemetery, or the Listowel Memorial Hospital would be appreciated.

Cards of sympathy and donations may be sent to Box 340, Brussels, ON N0G 1H0.

Condolences may be left at www.riversidefuneralhome.ca.

Eccles and Wellington Dow, the youngest sibling of the late Ada Taylor, Eva Snell, Nelson and Donald, Ivan Campbell Dow bid his world goodbye. An end to an era.

“I never met anyone I didn’t like.” Will Rogers said it, Ivan Dow lived it. He was a genuine people person! A stranger was a friend tobe. Ivan saw and respected the good in people.

As with so many others, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic hit hard. In March of 2020, Ivan was hospitalized and waited four months for a long-term care bed.

The isolation of visitor restrictions took its toll. And though he would rather have gone home to his van Dow farm on Belfast Road, he moved to Huronlea Home of the Aged, Brussels. He took it all in stride, settled right in and never complained. He appreciated the loving attention and nothing but excellent care he received at Huronlea.

To honour Ivan’s memory, his wife Elly and his family kindly ask that you forget flowers and sympathy cards, buy a book of stamps and connect with family and friends who you are blessed to still have with you. Or, for those who wish, Ivan’s favourite charity was Operation Smile Canada.

A graveside service and celebration of an admirably lived (at his own pace) life will be held at a later date. “Yes dear!”

Online condolences may be left at www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com

Lennon and Lily and the dear brother and brother-in-law of Glenn and Eileen Skinn, Mary Ann and Alan Weishar, Barbara and Denis Heller, Ken Skinn, Brian and Cathy Skinn, Bruce and Jayne Skinn, Gerald and Roseanne Skinn, Paul and Cindy Skinn and Cathy and Larry Machan.

Doug will be lovingly remembered by Marie’s family, as well as his many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Alex and Jean (Wheeler) Skinn, brothers Joseph in infancy and Bill Skinn.

Visitation took place on Wednesday, April 21 at the McBurney Funeral Home, Wingham. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic

The Citizen’s obituaries are available online at huroncitizen.ca, as well as archives of obituaries going back several years.

Church on Thursday, April 22.

Interment will take place at Wingham Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Parkinson Society of Southwestern Ontario or the Wingham & District Hospital Foundation would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.

Online condolences may be left at www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com

Walk Ins Welcome SHEAR TALENT Hair Design & Tanning 45 West St., Goderich 519-524-6555

www.shear-talent.ca

Wingham Memorials Distinctive memorials of lasting satisfaction produced by us to your specifications.

Owned and operated by Mac and Donna Anderson Assisted by Mandy & Kaitlyn

519-357-1910 E-mail: andgranite@bellnet.ca After hours appointments available 89 North Street W., Wingham www.winghammemorials.com

Remembering your loved one Honour your loved one by placing their obituary in

The Citizen.

This is a free service provided by The Citizen. We encourage you to share the story of your loved one in a special remembrance of their life.

Cards of thanks can be placed in our classified section, starting at just $7.00.

IVAN CAMPBELL DOW Eighty-five years after coming into this world, the youngest son of

DOUGLAS JOHN SKINN Doug Skinn of Wingham passed away at Braemar Nursing Home on Sunday, April 18, 2021. He was 79 years old.

Doug was the devoted husband of Marie (Adams) Skinn and the loving dad of Steve and Mary Skinn, Wingham and Gary and Crystal Skinn, Orangeville. He was the cherished grandpa of Nathan (Laura), Jeanna (Drew), Kristen,

Citizen-To-Citizen “SWAP SHOP” ad “One person’s junk is another’s treasure”

Let us help you turn that junk into $$ • Free ad up to 25 words, person to person only (no businesses), items valued at $1,000 or less. Your ad will run three times unless it sells faster!

• The Citizen reserves the right to limit the number of items or ads per person.

STRATFORD MEMORIALS Creating Memories in Stone for Over 95 years

We are now open but by appointment only and following government recommended protocols to ensure the safety of all visitors and our staff. Please call or email us to set up an appointment.

Spring gardening Sandra Brown has been keeping busy during the recent stay-at-home order by planting early vegetables in her homemade planters, crafted by her husband Jim. (Photo submitted)

519-524-8457 email: mfalconer@stratfordmemorials.com

Goderich/Clinton Michael Falconer Memorial Counsellor www.stratfordmemorials.com

Call 519-523-4792 or email: info@northhuron.on.ca FOR SALE - 20 western pocket books, $20; 20 other assorted books, detective and Paul Bernardo, $15. Phone 519-3579467.

16-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE - lawnmower Craftsman 21" cut, variable speed rear wheel drive, bagging/mulching discharge deck, 8" wheels, includes bag, $75. 519-357-2850, Wingham.

15-3 -----------------------------------------WANTED - one wire rabbit cage in good clean condition, approx.

30x36x15 inches high. Call 519440-6647.

15-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE – 6-foot patio door, white millennium covered, $200.

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14-3

FOR SALE – JVC 32" TV, free; Xpressvu HD receiver with PVR, $50; two garden tillers, $50 and $75; two push mowers, $20 your choice; Maytag washer and dryer, $75 for pair. 519-523-4711. 14-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE – Black and Decker belt sander 3"x24", $50. 519-3579694.

14-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE – four-head HiFi stereo, $25, Sony DVD player, $25; small freezer, $75. 226-420-2067.

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PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021.

Bacherts to open market east of Stratford

By Denny Scott The Citizen

Marvin Bachert, alongside his wife Wendy, likely best known for their family business, Bachert Meats in Walton, are getting ready to chase a dream that he has had for years.

The family is opening a multipurpose market east of Stratford called Wild Hog Country Market, which will offer locally-produced goods, meats, a bakery and an espresso bar, Bachert told The Citizen.

Thanks to his eldest son Derick and Derick’s wife Kaitlynn taking over the slaughtering plant in Walton, Bachert said he has been able to pursue his dream of opening a facility like the one that he hopes will open late next month.

“They’re doing a very good job of running the plant,” he said. “We’re

just so pleased with the way Derick is handling the business, so we felt we were free to try this dream.

Wendy and I have never had the opportunity to get away from the slaughtering plant to make a go of it.”

Part of what made Bachert and his wife sure this was the time was the fact that the plant, under Derick and Kaitlynn, recently earned the highest audit score of all Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) slaughterhouses across the province.

“That covers all areas of meat inspection,” Bachert said. “We’re very happy about that.”

The new business will be just as much a family affair as the last one, Bachert said.

“Our youngest son Devin and his wife Jessica, who live in Stratford, will be helping us at the store, as

will our younger daughter Hillary,” he said.

The new business will be located at the former site of John’s Garden Centre, 2785 Line 34 in Perth East, which was demolished last year, Bachert said.

“I really wanted a good location and I think that’s what that is,” he said. “We’ll catch all the people coming into Stratford, and it’s only a two-minute drive from the main shopping mall [and businesses like] Canadian Tire and Wal-mart. I’m sure local area people will be a good part of our clientele, but I’m also happy we’ll be able to attract tourists.”

Bachert said the meat the family has become famous for will be a mainstay at the market, as will new offerings including deli meat and specialty items.

“Meat is the main focus,” he said.

“We’re also going to handle very

good quality local produce like vegetables and honey, jams and maple syrups.”

He said that, like the first family business, the focus will be on sourcing local livestock, with some coming off farms the Bacherts have been working with for years. He said it will create a unique synergy between the family businesses, which will see products sold for which Bacherts are completely responsible.

“We’re happy to be able to retail our own products,” he said, saying they will continue to sell through other markets as well. “We look after the livestock through the whole process until the consumer buys it and takes it home. Hardly any retail markets can make that claim. We have the livestock on the farm, we control the feed, we have the slaughtering plant and now we’ll have our own retail market.”

As stated above, the market will offer a number of different services and shopping opportunities, including home-style meals.

“We’re also planning to make very healthy, homestyle meals that people can just take home and set in the oven or microwave and have a nice high-quality meal,” he said.

“There will be quite a good selection of that, as well as soups.”

Meals will also be available at the espresso bar, including soups and sandwiches for lunch and different offerings for breakfast, Bachert said.

The espresso bar will offer specialty coffee drinks, Bachert said, as well as baking and desserts, muffins, tarts and pies made at the on-site bakery.

For more information, watch the Wild Hog Country Market’s website at wildhog.ca.

Local students move to online learning for classes PEOPLE AROUND WALTON

By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570

What a surprise to wake up and find snowflakes falling on Thursday morning. When walking in the afternoon, again it snowed on us. It is only the middle of April, so anything can happen with the weather. We all just have to go with the flow.

The weekend was much nicer and many folks were out taking advantage of the Goderich-toGuelph Rail Trail. Walkers and bikers alike were enjoying the great weather and trail. The Walton area part of the trail is nice and tidy now and turning green, with flowers

blooming along the sides. Canada Geese can be seen on the pond and even on the trail sometimes. Birds, squirrels and bunnies, even a snake has been seen to keep up interest in nature. My grandchildren have enjoyed walking the trail and riding their bikes and it is great to be outside.

COVID-19 and the shut down has certainly slowed down hearing news for me, so I am a little slow about a new arrival. We congratulate Carter and Krista Cloakey on the birth of a son they have named Cameron. I learned this from the still-excited first-time grandmother Patricia McKay and Danny. Doug and Joan Cloakey are also first time grandparents.

Cameron was born in February and is growing fast and doing well.

I thank other folks who do call and tell their exciting news, such as Rose Mary Bishop. She was excited to tell me of the arrival of her first great-grandchild. Proud parents are

Wade and Kayla Lowry and they have welcomed a little girl they have named Kinsley Colleen. Firsttime grandparents are Kevin and Jacquie Bishop and Rob and Judy (Work) Lowry.

Monday morning was a little different because children are now going to be at home for online learning. Huron-Perth schools did not start until Tuesday for some, because children had to go to the school on Monday to get their Chromebooks to use for the online classes. It looks like they will be doing the classes this way for a while. I am not very good at getting them online, but thankfully, the eight year old can do it! Grandma will have to learn.

The children did not have classes Monday, so my two grandchildren and I went outside to enjoy the beautiful weather. We picked up the garbage in the ditch along our property. It was lots of fun when doing it with help. We only saw one snake, found lots of

worms under rocks we picked in the field and one caterpillar. Later we went walking and biking on the trail and there were lots of folks enjoying the mild, yet windy day.

Just a reminder again that it is past the middle of April, so hopefully you have your books done, or everything gathered for your income tax preparation. I have heard of some that have theirs done and have received their refunds back. Oh, to be so organized!

Celebrating birthdays last week were Tom Warwick, Murray Pepper, Edgar Andrades, Diety Bos, Sarah Alexander, Jacob Gulutzen, Ben Terpstra, Patty Banks, Blair Fraser, Edward Glanville, Heather Godkin, Katharine Bernard, Clara Blake, Tucker and Ellie Wilson, Betty McCallum, Many Mitchell Demaline, Nora McClure, Maelyn Blake, Dennis Rijkhoff and

Danielle Williamson. birthday to all.

NEWS FROM WALTON

Good Employees are hard to find

Out and about With a province-wide stay-at-home order, many people are rediscovering their communities and local trails. Local photographer Liz Allan snapped this photo of the dam and river in Brussels recently and sent it to The Citizen to see it in print. You can do the same by e-mailing photos to reporter@northhuron.on.ca. (Photo courtesy of Liz Allan of the Maitland Valley Camera Club)

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021. PAGE 21.

From the Minister’s Study

Simple on the surface can be anything but

By Jason Hovius Brussels Community Bible Chapel It has been noted by many that a subject often seems simple until you delve into it. Then you start to see its complexity and how much there is to know. The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know, if that makes any sense.

This is why many of our careers require us to become more and more specialized. You can’t know everything anymore; you have to choose a narrow focus in order to be competent in your field of expertise.

This has been my experience as I have been reading and learning about archaeology. I naïvely thought archaeology consisted of digging stuff out of the ground and at the end of the day you have a pile of cool artifacts that get shipped off to a museum. Kind of like what five-year-olds do in the sandbox. Of course, I have been discovering that it is more complicated than that.

Archaeology is not an easy discipline. It is painstaking and, to my surprise, subject to a great deal of interpretation. That’s right. It is not cut and dry, so a lot of background knowledge and detective work is required to discover the actual significance of any given artifact.

Most archaeologists have to be quite highly educated in subjects like history and anthropology so as to interpret finds accurately. Besides all that, it goes without saying that bias plays a major role in anything involving interpretation.

The difficulties are nearly endless. Around here, towns like Brussels or Blyth are only about 150 years old, and they have been spared from decimation by natural disasters or by invading armies.

However, most ancient cities have been plundered or abandoned or rebuilt many times over the millennia, and the ruins of each successive layer have collapsed into each other, rendering it difficult to estimate the age of an artifact. I heard someone compare it to several jigsaw puzzles whose pieces are all mixed up and there are no pictures to follow to help you visualize the whole thing put together.

You can start to see why it’s complicated. On top of all that, today’s Middle Eastern government regulations, political agendas, war and looting make it that much harder.

The Bible deals with snapshots of

very specific people in very specific places and times in history. The chance of overlap between the Bible and current archaeological discoveries is there, but not as high as one might think. We’re talking thousands of years and thousands of towns and cities – a lot of chances to miss. Nevertheless, many digs shed light on the culture of a region during a certain time period. In my research, it has amazed me how many finds have corroborated the Biblical narrative in this way.

For example, several ancient structures called ziggurats have been discovered in modern-day Iraq (ancient Mesopotamia). They are stepped towers that the Sumerians, Babylonians and other societies built as temples for their gods.

Ancient cultures considered them to be a link between heaven and earth.

Many secular scholars associate ziggurats with the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens…” (Genesis 11:4) There have been several instances where people have used the absence of archaeological evidence as “proof” of error in the Bible. One example is that of the Hittites, a powerful nation featured prominently in the Old Testament from Abraham’s time all the way to the time of the Kings of Israel and Judah.

Until late in the 19th century, the Biblical record of the Hittites was doubted and even mocked because there was no archaeological evidence for their existence. Since

then, tens of thousands of tablets and artifacts from dozens of Hittite settlements in modern-day Syria and Turkey have been discovered.

The Bible’s description of who the Hittites were and what they were like has shown once again that it can be relied upon for accurate historical information.

Christian archeologist Walter Kaiser was once quoted as saying that there have been so many archaeological finds that give credibility to the Bible that he believes the Bible should be assumed “innocent until proven guilty”.

Unfortunately, mountains of evidence have little to do with matters of faith. Various opinions surrounding COVID-19, masking, vaccines and lockdowns prove that people with the same information at their fingertips can still believe whatever they choose to believe.

The Pharisees in Jesus’ time were a prime example of this. Despite being confounded numerous times

by Jesus’ wisdom, and despite witnessing healings and the resurrection of Lazarus and of Jesus Himself, they chose not to believe in Him. It’s the same today with archaeological finds that support the Biblical narrative. Smoking gun or not, scraps of evidence or mountains of it, people will still have to pick a side on which to place their faith. Hopefully people still use their intellect and an open mind to honestly search out the truth, which should be the foundation of

The Regional Ministry of Hope

Watch HuronChapel.com/Videos Sundays 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Apr. 25 (online only) Bob Bramhill, Caring for the Heart Ministries Canada

“Do I REALLY Have to Deal With My Past?”

Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector 519-357-7781 email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca The­Regional­Ministry­of­ Hope

Trinity

St. John’s

BLYTH

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St. Paul’s Trinity

COME WORSHIP WITH US! Our 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. services have extremely limited capacity.

Services are live streamed and can be watched by searching “Blyth Christian Reformed Church”

Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743

Blyth United Church "But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. (Romans 6:8-9)

huronchapel.com 119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131

BRUSSELS

United Church No in-person worship at present, join us for worship via YouTube “Brussels and Blyth United Churches “With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:33) Contact Alex at minister.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com Website: brusselsandblythuc.ca P.O. Box 359, Brussels ~ 519-887-6259

Brussels Mennonite Fellowship God Is Good, All The Time, All The Time, God Is Good His Love Is Never Shut Down!!!

“God’s love is like an ocean.

You can see its beginning, but not its end ‐ Rick Warren No in­person services until further notice

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Stay home. Stay safe. Follow our services via YouTube “Brussels and Blyth United Churches”

Check out our LifeGroups online!

of Ben-Hur and Lee Strobel, author of The Case for Christ have similar stories. I have no doubt that many lesser-known Christians have done the same.

The concept of there being a God is not so far-fetched. The only barrier that exists is faith in the absence of the supernatural.

Believing in the Bible’s historical accuracy is not at all far-fetched either, thanks to archaeological discoveries in recent centuries.

So, if there is a God and His Word can be relied upon for accurate historical and geographical information, what about everything that the Bible says can’t be verified Continued on page 22

250 Princess St., Brussels • 519­887­6388 • Pastor Ken Gazley

Join us for worship on our facebook page or on youtube @ St.Paul’s-Trinity Anglican Church Wingham.

BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Evangelical Missionary Church

faith, spiritual or otherwise.

Josh McDowell, Christian author of Evidence That Demands a Verdict and other books, was once confronted by the importance of the pursuit of truth. During his studies at university, he was challenged by a Christian classmate to examine the life and claims of Jesus Christ to see if they were true. He took the challenge earnestly, literally seeking to discredit the Bible and the Christian faith. He even dropped out of school in order to immerse himself more fully in his research. His conclusion led him to a conviction in the reliability of the Bible and subsequently to faith in Jesus Christ. Lew Wallace, author

Contact Alex at: minister.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com

Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches blythunited@tcc.on.ca ~ 519-523-4224

Search on YouTube for "St. Andrew's and Melville Sermon" for a new virtual worship every Sunday morning.

Stay safe and healthy!

Brussels Soup and More 2 is cancelled until further notice.

519-357-5273

THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH

OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES

ARE CANCELLED

UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday ~ 6:00 p.m.

17 Flora Street Wingham: Sacred Heart Sunday ~ 9:00 a.m.

220 Carling Terrace Listowel: St. Joseph’s Sunday ~ 11:00 a.m.

1025 Wallace Avenue N.

PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021.

Local school boards receive new funding School boards in Huron-Bruce will receive more than $8.4 million in funding to upgrade infrastructure at local schools and protect against COVID-19.

The funding comes from the governments of Ontario and Canada through the COVID-19 Reliance Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP).

Funding will support building retrofits, updates and upgrades to their schools and co-located childcare facilities. Projects can include HVAC renovations to improve air quality, installing water bottle refilling stations to improve access to safe drinking water, and space reconfigurations, such as new walls and doors to enhance physical distancing.

The distribution of funding per school board is as follows: Avon Maitland District School Board, $2,974,509; Huron Perth Catholic District School Board, $1,700,000; Bluewater District School Board,

$3,447,500 and Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board $305,532.

“This pandemic has turned our world upside down and makes every day a challenge and every week uncertain. These funds will help us get back to a more regular regimen sooner,” said Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson.

“Last week’s announcement of support for Ontario’s schools will help provide critical infrastructure to keep students, teachers, and staff in Huron-Bruce and across the province safe throughout the pandemic and into the future,” said Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb.

The investments build on the more than $1 billion the Ontario government has invested since 2019 in new schools and child care spaces. Supported by provincial funding, 95 per cent of Ontario schools have reported upgrades or enhancements to their air filtration systems, with over 40,000 HEPA filters

and other ventilation devices in classrooms.

“Ontario’s government is focused on protecting the lives of students, staff and their families. We put a plan into action that leads the nation — delivering air ventilation improvements to over 95 per cent of schools, 7,000 additional staff and improved cleaning, testing and stronger screening,” said Minister of Education Stephen Lecce.

“This one-time investment will help improve the safety of schools, building upon Ontario’s annual investment of over $1.4 billion to maintain schools and $550 million to build new schools. We also recognize that in addition to these school-based infrastructure investments, Ontario’s plan to defeat this pandemic includes vaccines for school staff. We have prioritized education staff in high priority communities and all special education staff across the province, and will expand to all staff as supply becomes

available,” he added.

The Government of Canada is investing up to $525.2 million towards these projects through the COVID-19 Resilience

Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of Ontario is contributing $131.3 million to the projects.

Examine the Word Continued from page 21 whether by archaeology or by any other field of study? Is all that stuff true as well? Like when it talks about my sin separating me from a good and perfect God? Like when it talks about forgiveness of sin by God’s grace through faith in Christ’s death and resurrection? Or like when it says Jesus is coming

back to earth to save the forgiven and judge the world that rejected Him? You owe it to yourself to examine God’s Word to see if it’s true. You can’t afford to ignore the message of the Bible. It could cost you for eternity, and who knows how much time you have before you have to start paying?

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021. PAGE 23.

Entertainment & Leisure

Gallery to showcase local artists this summer Continued from page 1 representatives would be reaching out to the local high schools and encouraging students to submit their work to be included. The Student Show, which is Stevenson’s favourite Gallery event of the season, won’t be moving forward this year either, but if students can be included in the showcase, it might serve to give students an opportunity to show off their work that they might not have had otherwise.

As for the Blyth Festival Art Gallery’s regular season, it will be fully shifted to 2022 with all three artists agreeing to move their work

Community Drive-By Bridal Shower

to next year in hopes of hosting a proper exhibition at Memorial Hall.

The season, which was originally supposed to take place last year, includes exhibitions by Blyth-based artist Kelly Stevenson, Lucknowbased photographer Hannah Dickie and a survey exhibition of pottery by eight Ontario artists.

All artists have agreed to move their exhibitions, which Stevenson says is not ideal, but that it will give them more time to refine their art before it is shown in the gallery.

For more information, visit the Gallery’s page on the Blyth Festival website at blythfestival.com.

Happy 6th Birthday Anna Lapp!

for

Julena Pipe in celebration of her upcoming marriage to Jamie Mitchell

Saturday, April 24th 1:00-3:00 pm 54 McCutcheon Drive, Brussels (home of Gary & Lori Pipe)

Going virtual This year, in an effort to support local artists and help them generate sales, the Blyth Festival Art Gallery will be hosting a local artist showcase from June until September, exhibiting artists and their works on their social media sites, supported by the Blyth Festival and its social media channels. Above, celebrated Blyth-based artist Scott Ramsay poses with one of his paintings. Ramsay has exhibited at the Gallery’s Community Show before and will be one of many artists featured this summer. (Courtesy photo)

Coates moves on from GCTC After nine years as the artistic director of the Great Canadian Theatre Company, Eric Coates, a former long-time artistic director of the Blyth Festival, will be moving on to new projects.

The Ottawa-based theatre company made the announcement last week, saying Coates’ time in Ottawa would come to an end this May. The company stated that it would soon begin the search for a new artistic director who would hopefully be in place in advance of the company’s next season.

Coates started with the Blyth Festival in 1995 as an actor on the Memorial Hall stage in productions of The Tomorrow Box, Jake’s Place and He Won’t Come In From The

Barn. In a previous interview with The Citizen, Coates said he had found a “dream come true” for an actor in the Festival, something he had been looking forward to for a very long time.

He said that acting with the Festival was a perfect fit for him, both in terms of the art as well as how it connected to his sensibilities and values.

The next season, he said, thenArtistic Director Anne Chislett began grooming him for the artistic director position, beginning the conversation by asking him about his long-term goals. Soon, he began working under Chislett part-time as the assistant artistic director and when she retired in 2002, there was

Happy 80th Birthday Elsie Jenkins Much love from Dwayne, Melanie & Blake Monica & Peter Carlin, Jeremy & Kinslee

an expectation that he would step in and fill the role. And while that next step was far from a foregone conclusion, Coates says the board of directors selected him as Chislett’s successor and that 2003 would be his first season as the artistic director of the Blyth Festival.

The Festival struggled to attract Continued on page 24

Please come share well wishes to the bride abiding by COVID-19 restrictions. With social distancing and maximum 5 gathering outdoors. Please stay in your vehicle and one of the attendees will come to you. We ask that you turn onto McCutcheon Drive from Ainley Street and then exit onto Turnberry Street.

A big thank you to St. Ambrose and close friends for arranging the drive-by.

Love, Mom, Dad and Penny (Brad and Andrea)

Graduation Betty Jane and Greg Higgins are proud to announce their daughter Kate’s graduation from Palmer College of Chiropractic School of Davenport, Iowa.

Her formal graduation took place on February 26.

Kate received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Western Ontario in June 2017.

She has accepted a position at CURAVITA Health Group, Ottawa.

Good luck for the future Dr. Kate Higgins.

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PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021.

Coates plans future projects out west

Some exploration Kayleen and Graysen Wright spent a little time enjoying the great outdoors recently at the home of their grandparents, Mary and Maurice Douma, keeping their eyes peeled for anything alive and interesting in the water. (Photo submitted)

Vaccinations continue Continued from page 2 offered in other communities, Gill said that’s a goal for the Huron Perth Mass Vaccination Advisory Committee.

He said principal care physicians want to move the vaccine close to where people are, as opposed to moving people to where the vaccine is, but the logistics of each location handling it independently are difficult.

“One [primary care centre] gets 30 doses, and that means three dozen phone calls,” he said, adding that the more vaccines that are brought together, the easier it becomes to schedule. “As supply improves, we’re optimistic we can get vaccinating in home communities as soon as possible.”

Gilmour also pointed out that community partners in the area are available to help with transportation for those that need to get to the clinics.

The AstraZeneca vaccine will also be available for people over 40 years of age from local pharmacies in communities such as Wingham, Brussels and Goderich. For more information visit covid19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations.

Recently, Klassen began sharing the Ontario Health - West snapshots for the two counties, showing how HPPH measures against neighbouring health units.

Currently, of the western health units, 11 of 13 are posting numbers congruent with the Red - Control level of the provincial pandemic response framework, with Huron Perth Public Health and its counterpart in Chatham Kent reporting incidence rates and per cent positivity (based on a sevenday average) in the Orange Restrict level of the framework. As of April 15, ICU occupancy across the area was above 65 per cent, with the exception of HaldimandNorfolk which was at 17 per cent.

Acute occupancy across the area sits at 70 per cent or higher across the area. For more information, visit ohwestcovid19.ca.

As far as local cases go, 1,528 cases have been reported in Huron and Perth Counties since the start of the pandemic, an increase of 48 over last week, with

the majority being in Perth County.

Locally, new cases were reported in Huron East, where two new cases bring the municipality’s cumulative total to 105. North Huron gained four new cases over the past week, bringing its total to 54. Morris-Turnberry gained two new cases, bringing its total to 53.

Bluewater gained one case, bringing its total to 39. In AshfieldColborne-Wawanosh (ACW), five new cases have been reported, bringing the municipality’s cumulative total to 28.

South Huron remained at 109 cases, Central Huron at 54, Howick at 35 and Goderich at 21.

In Perth County, Stratford gained 10 new cases, bringing its cumulative total to 386. North Perth gained 15 new cases, bringing its total to 375. Perth East gained two new cases, bringing its case count to 140. West Perth gained seven new cases bringing its total to 49.

Perth South held at 42 cases while St. Marys held at 38.

Active cases can be found in Huron County in ACW and North Huron, which have four each, Morris-Turnberry, which has three, Huron East, which has two, and Bluewater, Goderich and South Huron, which have one active case each.

In Perth County, there are 15 active cases in North Perth, nine active cases in Stratford, seven active cases in West Perth and one active case each in Perth South, Perth East and St. Marys.

There was one community death connected to COVID-19 over the past week, meaning the death didn’t occur in an outbreak setting. The death brings the total number of fatalities connected to COVID-19 to 52 in Huron and Perth Counties.

There are currently 205 people in isolation across Huron and Perth Counties, up 60 from last week.

More than 10,000 more people have received a COVID-19 vaccine in Huron and Perth Counties over the past week, bringing the total number of people who have had at least one vaccine shot to 34,104.

Nearly 3,000 people across the two counties were tested for COVID-19 over the last week, bringing the total to 126,128.

Continued from page 23 an audience in his first season, Coates said. That and some staffing changes resulted in a trying first season at the helm.

In those early days, Coates said, he learned a lot about pushing the boundaries at the Festival. There was a backlash to his selection of Leaving Home by David French, which dealt with the topic of abuse. That challenge, however, equated to walking before he could run, saying that without the production of Leaving Home, there wouldn’t have been boundarypushing shows like Innocence Lost: A Play About Steven Truscott, Reverend Jonah, The Book of Esther and others.

When he left the Blyth Festival in the fall of 2012, he said he was looking forward to the challenge offered by the Great Canadian Theatre Company.

Now, after nine years with the company, he is moving on. In an emailed statement in the Great Canadian Theatre Company’s

newsletter last week, Coates said that “an assortment of projects and dreams lie ahead” for him.

“My foremost plan is to increase time spent with my extended family on the west coast, where I plan to build my language skills and help keep my ancestors’ dialect of Straits Salish alive,” Coates wrote in the newsletter. “I am starting a contract to work with playwright, and my childhood friend, Hiro Kanagawa, on a play about the unlikely intersection of shipwrecked Japanese fishermen and Indigenous people of the Northwest in the 19th century. I will spend every available minute on skis when it’s practical, and it will be a rare day that I spend more time indoors than out....”

Coates also pledged to return to the Great Canadian Theatre Company in Ottawa when shows are back on stage and everyone is celebrating together indoors again to thank the Ottawa community.

Books to get you exploring!

101 Things For Kids To Do Outside Let them go outside and play! 101 Things For Kids To Do Outside is ideal for parents, teachers, and all those working with youth.

This book is ideal for the children who like gaming, TV and movies. Even kids who believe "there's nothing to do outside" can learn and be encouraged to experience the joy of outdoor play. Perfect for rainy days, sunshiny days, even snowy days. $19.95

UNFORGETTABLE CANADA Explore your country, if only in print with this beautifully illustrated tour to 100 destinations across the country from Signal Hill, Newfoundland to the killer whales off the west coast to the Yukon’s Top of the World highway. $29.95

BACKROADS OF ONTARIO Ron Brown has updated and expanded this guide to hundreds of interesting places to visit throughout Ontario. Mapped out routes for daytrips let you get to know rural Ontario with interesting stories about spots along the way. $29.95

UNFORGETTABLE ONTARIO This beautifully illustrated guide celebrates 100 of the destinations and events that make Ontario an unforgettable place to travel. $29.95

Prices subject to change with increases in wholesale prices, postage, taxes, etc. Please refer to current issue for correct figures. Incorrect payment will delay delivery.

TOP 160 UNUSUAL THINGS TO SEE IN ONTARIO Ron Brown just keeps finding more interesting places to visit. This book reveals the best odd, unexpected and fascinating places and things in the province. $29.95 Total

Qty.

101 THINGS FOR KIDS TO DO OUTSIDE BACKROADS OF ONTARIO WATERFALLS OF ONTARIO UNFORGETTABLE CANADA UNFORGETTABLE ONTARIO TOP 160 UNUSUAL THINGS TO SEE IN ONTARIO

WATERFALLS OF ONTARIO Revised and expanded featuring over 125 waterfalls including stunning photographs and detailed descriptions of over 100 falls organized into eight regions. $29.95

$19.95 $29.95 $29.95 $29.95 $29.95 $29.95

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