The Citizen - April 26, 2024

2 • Military 4 • Editorials 10 • Mother’s Day 19 • Entertainment

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Friday, April 26, 2024

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Volume 40 No. 17

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, ON N0M 1H0

Tunnel tender awarded

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

A time to learn From left to right, Arvinder Singh, Pardeep Singh and Lovedeep Singh give a hands-on lesson in turban tying, or Dastar wrapping as part of a Vaisakhi celebration held at the Wingham Columbus Centre on Sunday, April 21. The Dastar indicates to others that the wearer embodies Sikh teachings, the love of the Guru and the

desire to do good deeds. The event was organized by local business owner and philanthropist Gurpreet Singh and included an educational presentation from Anmol Kaur about Sikh traditions, teachings and beliefs. Other activities at the free event included a vegetarian feast, dancing, and henna tattooing. (Scott Stephenson photo)

Govt. spat could affect housing project

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Tensions between the provincial and federal governments are having real-world implications at the Huron County level in regards to housing funding, according to some Huron County councillors.

Social and Property Services Director Barbara Hall reported to Huron County Council at its April 17 meeting regarding potential funding changes to the National Housing Strategy. She told council that all of Ontario’s consolidated municipal service managers (CMSM) received correspondence late last month from Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra that relayed information from federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Sean Fraser.

The information relayed told of the federal government considering withholding over $350 million in funding from the provincial government and, in turn, CMSMs. In her report, Hall said the consideration was being attributed to “a lack of progress by the province to meet the affordable housing targets set

under the bilateral agreement.”

She told council that the funding remains up in the air as far as housing programs across the province, including Huron County, are concerned.

“The province has been in discussions with the federal government regarding finalizing the National Housing Strategy’s Action Plan and associated amendments to the bilateral agreement, which affect funding under the National Housing Strategy’s programs,” Hall said in her report to council. “These programs include the CanadaOntario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI), the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) and the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB). The Action Plan was to be mutually agreed upon between the province and the federal government by March 31, 2024. For the time being, the National Housing Strategy planning allocations for these programs for the 2024/2025 program year remain unconfirmed.”

She noted, however, that the Homelessness Prevention Program funding for 2024/2025, in the

amount of $1.086 million for Huron County, remains confirmed.

She said that the county was awarded $6.4 million for the Sanders Street affordable housing project last year through COCHI. To date, the county has received half of that money.

“Completion of structural framing is being confirmed by the consulting architect and, once the certificate of completion is submitted to the Ministry, the next milestone draw for this work is scheduled to be paid at 40 per cent, which is $2,569,600,” Hall said in her report.

She added that the 2024/2025 COCHI allocation of $418,300 and

the OPHI funding of $257,300 are on hold. Both funding allocations were earmarked to be used for the Gibbons Street project.

Councillors were clearly frustrated by this development and suggested reaching out to both upper tiers of government to illustrate the real-world impact this infighting between the two branches of government is having in Huron County and beyond.

Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan suggested strong wording for the letter, pushing the politicians to learn to “play in the same sandbox” and get along.

A motion to send correspondence was carried.

Huron County is moving ahead with the construction of a new tunnel underneath Blyth Road to connect a portion of the Goderichto-Guelph (G2G) Rail Trail just west of Blyth, awarding the tender last week.

Director of Public Works Imran Khalid presented a pair of reports on the matter to Huron County Council at its April 17 meeting, held in Goderich. He recommended awarding the tender to Lavis Contracting Co. Ltd. for a total cost of $414,557, which includes provisional items, a contingency allowance and applicable taxes.

Lavis was the lowest of the five bids received, beating out VanDriel Excavating’s $435,229, Omega Contractors’ $482,614, McCann Redi-Mix’s $485,086 and Kurtis Smith Excavating’s $557,645.

Khalid also noted that the county has worked with Lavis previously on many occasions and has no concerns with recommending the firm for the project.

He told council that the project has come in under the anticipated cost of $500,000. He also noted some of the history of the project, including the 2017 decision by the Huron County Council of the day to contribute $50,000 to the project to match $50,000 contributed by Regional Tourism Organization 4.

The anticipated project surplus, he said, will be transferred back to the G2G Rail Trail Group once the project has been completed.

Huron East Deputy-Mayor Alvin McLellan asked about the timeline for the project and Khalid said that the Lavis proposal would be for fall construction.

At the public meeting for the project in Blyth last month, Khalid said the county would prefer for the project to go ahead in the spring, while, at the same time, avoiding the months of July and August to aid the businesses at the intersection Continued on page 2

Citizens advocate for hospital

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Last week, Dr. Maarten Bokhout, a long-time physician, medical officer of health and coroner in Huron County, gathered over 100 members of the public to discuss the issues facing Clinton Public Hospital and a way forward.

Bokhout, who chaired the

meeting, framed it as an unofficial follow-up to a meeting last fall held by the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA), which operates hospitals in Clinton, Seaforth, St. Marys and Stratford. This was billed as a community meeting, not hosted by HPHA. The purpose of the meeting, Bokhout said, was to gauge the community’s feelings on a number

of issues pertaining to the hospital and deciding on a path forward to ensure its long-term health and viability as a hospital that’s beloved and needed by its community.

First, Bokhout went back in history, discussing last fall’s meeting and updating everyone as to where things stand. The purpose of that meeting, he said, was to Continued on page 15

PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024.

Military provides update on training in Blyth

Operation Trillium Venture At a press conference held in Blyth on Saturday, April 20, Commanding Officer of 31 Territorial Battalion Group, Lieutenant Colonel Chris van den Berg, right, and Chief Warrant Officer, Regimental Sergeant Major Roger Gonsalves, left, provided details on an upcoming training exercise taking place throughout Huron and Bruce Counties from (Scott Stephenson photo) May 3 - 5.

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen Operation Trillium Venture will soon be coming to Huron and Bruce Counties. No, it’s not a new Mission Impossible movie - it’s the latest in a series of annual training

exercises undertaken by the Canadian military to make it more possible for our reserve forces to offer aid in the event of an emergency in Southwestern Ontario.

The exercise will be occurring over the first weekend in May, from

Friday, May 3 to Sunday, May 5.

During that time, approximately 800 military personnel will be participating in simulated emergency scenarios in towns throughout Huron and Bruce Counties. Some will be stationed as far north as Lion’s Head, with the

highest concentration of soldiers located in Blyth.

The press conference was led by Lieutenant Colonel Chris van den Berg, Commanding Officer of 31 Territorial Battalion Group. He hoped to shed some light on the specific purpose of the training exercise. “It’s not complex, what we do, but I don’t think it’s really well understood... the Army Reserves play an important role in supporting the regular Army, in international conflicts and when the military is called upon to support our communities during emergency events.”

The 31 Canadian Brigade Group is a formation of the Canadian Army Reserves. It consists of 12 units, located across Southwestern Ontario, with headquarters in London.

The Brigade has approximately 2,000 reservists part-time soldiers that train on evenings and weekends. “Our area of operations is more or less a triangle that runs from Hamilton to Windsor to Owen Sound.”

Within that Brigade is 31 Territorial Battalion Group - a composite unit consisting of soldiers from all 12 of those units.

“Once we’ve constituted this battalion, it becomes the command structure for the soldiers that we then deploy into an area of operations.”

The simulated emergency scenario for the exercise will be an extreme heatwave, but the main purpose of Operation Trillium Venture is to sharpen members’ collective organizational skills and capacity for teamwork in the face of an emergency. “This year, our aim is to test our ability to rapidly force generate the battalion, and project

them up to 250 kilometres from the force generating station,” said van den Berg. “The exercise will provide a valuable learning experience for our troops.”

Potential training tasks could be anything from population wellness checks to emergency roadwork. “It will also provide us with the opportunity to test our interoperability with provincial and municipal emergency services,” he explained. “Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it’s an opportunity for the people to interact with their soldiers.”

“Fundamentally, the military is in the business of being ready to respond in cases of significant uncertainty,” van den Berg explained, using a recent real-life crisis as an example. During the COVID-19 pandemic, conditions of many Ontario’s long-term care (LTC) homes degraded rapidly, causing undue pain, suffering and even death for residents and staff.

The Canadian military was asked to step in, and soldiers were deployed to assist with the situation before it escalated further.

“That’s a skill set that, prior to COVID, that we never thought we would need. Now, having gone through that experience, we know that we need to acquire that skill set. We hope it never comes to that again, but it’s something we want to be ready to do if we need to again... anything we’ve learned from the past that can help us prepare for the future is something we’re going to try and incorporate into scenarios going forward.”

Further details on the specifics of Operation Trillium Venture will be made available as the launch date for the exercise approaches.

Tunnel construction to avoid July, August Continued from page 1 of London and Blyth Roads, which were impacted greatly last summer due to road construction. The goal was to avoid that occurring two years in a row.

He told council that, now that the tender has been awarded, the county can negotiate with Lavis and perhaps bring about a spring construction, but that would remain to be seen.

Council voted to award the tender.

The second report connected to the project also came from Khalid and recommended that the county enter into a memorandum of understanding with G2G Rail Trail Inc. once the project is complete that states that the county will then assume ownership of the tunnel.

Khalid said this is to ensure a certain standard of maintenance and

care for a tunnel that runs under a county road.

The memorandum of understanding states that G2G will transfer $500,000 to the county for the project, the county will administer the project and tendering process and that the county will repay unused funds from the project back to G2G within three months of completion of the project. It also states that, while the county will assume responsibility for work and expenses related to the rehabilitation, repair, maintenance and restoration of the tunnel, G2G will continue to be responsible for expenses related to maintenance of the trail, such as asphalt repairs, debris and litter removal, pavement markings and weather and environmental maintenance.

The county assuming ownership of the tunnel, however, was not as

straightforward of a vote, as several councillors felt the responsibility of the trail should lie with G2G. Khalid made the case that maintenance for the structure needs to be kept up to a certain standard, but added that the nature of the structure should have at least a 75year life.

Councillor Paul Klopp led the opposition, saying that the 75-year life of the tunnel would be even more of a reason for ownership to stay with the trail group, rather than with the county.

Klopp proposed an amendment to the motion to remove that clause, meaning that tunnel ownership would rest with G2G. That vote failed, however, by a count of six for the removal and nine against it.

The motion, as presented by Khalid, then passed with nine votes for it and six against. Klopp called

for a recorded vote on the matter.

Warden Glen McNeil and Councillors Jim Ginn, Marg Anderson, Bernie MacLellan, Alvin McLellan, Bill Vanstone, Trevor Bazinet, Leah Noel and John Becker voted in favour of the recommendation, while Councillors George Finch, Doug Harding, Jamie Heffer, Paul Heffer, Jim Dietrich and Klopp voted against it.

Klopp also suggested an alternate path on the second motion to award the tender for the project. He felt that, because of the county’s financial position and a number of other factors, that any surplus realized from the project should stay with the county.

This vote found less support, as it was defeated with Klopp as its lone positive vote.

Blyth Annual Used Book Sale Trinity Anglican Church 166 Dinsley St., Blyth

May 31 & June 1 Friday, June 1 ~ 9 pm to 4 pm (no early bird sales) Saturday, June 1 ~ 9 am to 4 pm

Book Intake May 30 from 8 am to 8 pm Donate your clean, gently used books and help us preserve the past.

We regret that we cannot accept text books, encyclopedias, magazines or anything stained, dirty or torn. Please help us save the expense of dumping them!

Join us for our famous

Spring is here With the turn of the seasons, the Auburn Horticultural Society recently met and held a wreath-making workshop so members could spruce up their homes with some fresh, (Photo submitted) colourful decoration ahead of that most hopeful of seasons.

Fill a Box box sale with Books on used books Saturday, June 1 from 2 to 4 for $10 For info contact deb@northhuron.on.ca

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024. PAGE 3.

Wingham plays host to Vaisakhi celebration Gurpreet Singh

Cultural exchange There was food, fun, henna tattooing, dancing, turban tying demonstrations, cultural presentations and more at the Wingham Columbus Centre on Sunday, April 21. In the above photo, Amber Delisle, left, receives a henna tattoo from Satinder Kaur, right.

(Scott Stephenson photos)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

The Wingham Columbus Centre played host to its first-ever Vaisakhi (pronounced like ‘ice hockey’) celebration on Sunday, April 21.

The free event featured an informative cultural presentation, dancing, henna tattooing, turban wrapping demonstrations and an absolutely tremendous community meal.

Last year, revelers enjoyed a great time at the town’s first-ever Diwali celebration at the Wingham Legion, which was co-organized by local business owner and philanthropist Gurpreet Singh. The response was so positive, in fact, that this year, Singh and a team of hardworking volunteers decided to host Sunday’s Vaisakhi event, which celebrates the founding of the Sikh faith. The party was very

well-attended by locals and visitors of all ages who were excited to break bread together and gain a deeper appreciation of a celebration of faith. Upon arrival, guests were encouraged to snack on delicious vegetable pakoras with sweet tamarind and vibrant coriander chutneys.

Once everybody was settled down at tables, Anmol Kaur of Listowel made an informative and enjoyable presentation. She offered an overview of the origins of Sikhism in the agricultural state of Punjab. She also explained a few principles of the faith, and the traditions associated with Vaisakhi.

“A lot of the values we want to represent are the same values that Canada represents,” she said.

A portion of Anmol’s presentation was dedicated to a Sikh house of worship in India known as The Golden Temple,

which contains the largest “langar”, or free kitchen, in the world. They feed an astonishing 100,000 people every day. Huge pots full of lentils, beans and rice are stirred day and night by a huge crew of volunteers, while others produce towering stacks of bread to feed the long line of hungry visitors. The meals are always vegetarian, so as to ensure all who come can partake, no matter what dietary restrictions they may have. The Golden Temple is open 24 hours a day, and strives to never send anyone away hungry. The influx of guests increases every year, but so do donations to keep the langar in operation. In Sikh culture, nourishment is an essential part of everyday spiritual life.

The sharing of food is also an essential part of Vaisakhi. Singh ensured that there was ample food for every community member in attendance, and encouraged one and all to eat together. The vibrant main meal consisted of vegetable manchurian, curry pakoras, butter paneer, raita, rice, chapati and naan, with a delicious carrot halwa for dessert. The food was both invigorating and filling, with a perfect level of spice, just on the border of adventurous for the average Huron County palate. The abundant meal was thoroughly enjoyed by all in attendance, as was the dancing and revelry that followed.

Anmol Kaur

North Huron Reeve Paul Heffer

Living out the lessons in daily life!

(J. R. Miller) “The time is short!” 1 Corinthians 7:29 “If you know these things-blessed are you if you do them.” John 13:17 A great many people know plenty of Scripture truth — but do not live it out.

Yet the real test of knowing Scripture — is obedience. We really know only so much truth — as we get into our experience and conduct. The only part of the Bible we have really learned — is what we have learned to live. It is a beautiful thing when a person has been well-taught; it is still more beautiful when he abides in the things which he has been taught, living out the lessons in daily life.

A Grace Gem Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church, Listowel, ON 519-291-3887

PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024.

Editorials & Opinions

Founding Publisher: Keith Roulston Publisher & President: Deb Sholdice Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Scott Stephenson Advertising Sales: Brenda Nyveld

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Left needing more Advocacy groups for disabled Canadians are deeply disappointed in the Liberals’ federal budget, saying that it doesn’t come anywhere near the government’s promise to lift people with disabilities. According to advocacy group Disability Without Poverty, 41 per cent of low-income Canadians live with a disability and 16.5 per cent of the disabled people in Canada live in poverty. The latest budget rolled out $6.1 billion over the next six years but, while that sounds impressive, it breaks down to $200 per person, doesn’t begin until July 2025 and has further eligibility requirements, so many relying on the disability program will not benefit.

“We called for an end to legislated poverty for people with disabilities. That’s not in here,” said Elizabeth May, co-leader of the Green Party. Jagmeet Singh and the NDP have yet to decide whether to support the budget and are waiting to hear more.

At a time when tented cities and homelessness are making headlines across the country, a rethinking of our social safety net is direly needed, and this increase is only a baby step in the right direction. Social agencies and their workers on the front line see the effect that dire poverty has on their clients and their expertise is needed at the table.

The average person on disability is living on $1,300 per month, below the poverty line of $2,300. With skyrocketing rent and food costs, a single, disabled person can’t afford to live. Canada has to do better. – DS

It is happening again Monday was Earth Day. If you want to talk about finding common ground with someone, it doesn’t get more common than that. We all share the same land, the same air and the same water with each other.

On this year’s installment of Earth Day, two Alberta communities were the subjects of evacuation alerts as wildfires continue to spread in northwestern Alberta. The fire, near Saprae Creek, was detected one day earlier and, in just that day, it had consumed 70 hectares of forest.

Meanwhile, here in Huron County, Canadian military members are preparing for training that will simulate a heat wave scenario on May 3-5. With it will come the threat of wildfires, which, a representative said on Saturday, are destined to become more a part of annual life in Canada as the climate continues to change and temperatures warm.

Last year was record-breaking for wildfires in Canada. There were fires in every province and territory, save the Maritimes. The threat of wildfire season is no longer a farflung one reserved for dry, sweltering locales, Canada is as much a wildfire risk as anywhere else in North America. The military is preparing for it. For now. Not in 10 years.

This Earth Day, people have pitched in. They have gathered trash, reduced electrical consumption and done their part for Mother Earth.

And yet, our Earth is an Earth in peril. Climate change denial, while active, is slowly giving up ground to climate change apathy. The carbon tax, at a time of great financial strain, is feeling to many like a kick while they’re down and taking measures to preserve this world for younger generations keeps inching back to the backest of back burners.

We are seeing the devastation that can (and will) come as a result of climate change. Don’t just accept this most harrowing of fates. – SL

Monorail! Monorail! Monorail!

The “Telephone City” is honouring the life and legacy of Phil Hartman through a new mural. The beloved Brantford-born actor was known for his versatile talents and unforgettable performances. From his portrayal of Troy McClure on The Simpsons to his comedic genius on Saturday Night Live, Hartman’s work lives on through the magic of DVDs, reruns on TV, VHS tape-playing machines and video streaming.

In honouring Hartman, Brantford is celebrating the invaluable role that artists play in shaping culture and enriching lives. However, as we observe one municipality’s commitment to recognizing its cultural icons, we are reminded of the void experienced by Wingham with the closure of the Barn Dance Museum. The disappearance of this landmark is not just a local tragedy, but a loss for the cultural landscape of Canada.

Recently, the back wall of the historic Lyceum Theatre succumbed and crumbled against vicious, modern winds. The faltering structure, once proudly owned and operated by CKNX Barn Dance legend “Doc” Cruikshank, is nearly down to its last wall on Josephine Street. This onthe-nose metaphor should act as a catalyst for a renewed preservation movement. While a promised commemorative plaque at the Town Hall Theatre will serve as a bare minimum acknowledgment, it falls short of truly celebrating the rich heritage embodied by the Barn Dance Museum.

A mural depicting museum founders Earl and Martha Heywood would be a meaningful next step in preserving their legacy.

Restoring the remaining wall and rebuilding the Lyceum Theatre as a multipurpose event space that incorporates the Barn Dance Museum would not only preserve Wingham’s cultural history but also provide a vibrant hub for engagement and artistic expression. By investing in such a project, Wingham can again be a guardian of cultural heritage. – SBS

Looking Back Through the Years April 30, 1969 Forty years of service as a druggist to the people of Blyth and the surrounding area would be coming to an end for R.D. Philp when he locked the door of his store for business purposes for the final time on Saturday. At that time, no word of another druggist starting in Blyth had been forthcoming and the prospects of one coming to open business were not the best, to say the least.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hickey, of Auburn, announced the engagement of their daughter, Marion Jean, to Mr. Frank Hallahan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Hallahan, Blyth. The wedding was set to take place on Saturday, May 31 in St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church at 4:00 p.m.

The regular meeting of the Blyth Lions Club took place in the Memorial Hall last Thursday evening and began with a delicious meal served by the Harmony Unit of the U.C.W. Lion Graham Jackson thanked them for their efforts on behalf of the club.

April 27, 1977 The construction of the new $695,000 Brussels Morris and Grey Community Centre started on Monday as the contractor, XDG Construction Ltd. of Kitchener, moved onto the site. At a meeting on Monday night, the arena committee finalized plans for a sodturning ceremony scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. It was hoped that local Members of Parliament would be able to attend and the public was invited to join.

The Huron County C.C.B. Blue Water Club convened at the Orange Hall in Clinton, with a strong turnout that included two new

members. Harold Beakhust from Bayfield, the guest speaker, delved into the topic of honey bees and their queens.

The ladies from St. James Church in Middleton, namely Mrs. Keith Miller and Mrs. Edward Deeves, provided lunch for the meeting.

The inaugural meeting of the Brussels 4-H Beef Club took place at the Brussels Library on April 12, where the election of officers occurred. Joanne Rock was elected as the president, with Dwayne Raynard as the vice-president, Darlene Raynard as the secretarytreasurer, and Jennifer Rock as the press reporter. Other members included Bonnie McKay, Luke VanDonkersgood, Steven Gulutzen and Stanley Gulutzen. Neil Hemingway served as the club leader.

April 26, 1989 After extensive preparations spanning several weeks, involving a cast of 50 and a crew of over 60 volunteers from North Street United Church, a production was staged last Saturday night and Sunday afternoon to full capacity crowds. The audience’s enthusiastic applause throughout the program and the prolonged standing ovations indicated their enjoyment of the 1.5 hours of entertainment, which featured a variety of music styles from the roaring twenties to rock, and from country and western to Calypso.

The North Huron 4-H Swine Club held a meeting on April 17 at leader Cathy Douglas’ residence in Clifford. Assistant leader Ron Douglas greeted the six members and provided a brief introduction to the club. The executive election resulted in Hazel Rae becoming president, Ron Klingenberg as vice-

president, Christian Feldskon as secretary and Amy Thomas as press reporter.

On Saturday, the annual Huron County Science Fair in Clinton showcased the talents of young minds from the area once again.

This year, students primarily from Grades 7 and 8 participated, marking the first time that the work of Huron County Board of Education schools and the Huron County schools of the Huron-Perth Roman Catholic Separate Schools was combined. Their projects spanned a diverse range of interests, from testing the strength of glues to studying the effects of cholesterol.

April 29, 2004 Young student filmmakers from across southwestern Ontario showcased their creative talent at the third annual Imago Student Film Festival, organized by students enrolled in the digital media studies course at Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton under the supervision of Stephen Oliver. The festival ran for two days, featuring a public presentation of the films on the second day. Over 70 students from various locations gathered to watch and learn about filmmaking at the M.P. Russo building in Clinton.

On April 24, people from various corners of the globe came together to participate in Tai Chi for Arthritis Day, a worldwide event aimed at promoting the benefits of this therapeutic exercise in managing joint pain, particularly for arthritis sufferers. In the local area, residents gathered at the Memorial Hall courtyard in Blyth, joining in the collective celebration of this day by engaging in Tai Chi practice.

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024. PAGE 5.

Other Views

A challenge that still inspires us today

T

here was a reminder of how quickly time passes and how some remarkable things can resist time with a mention of something on the news the other day. It was the anniversary of Terry Fox beginning his Marathon of Hope by dipping his artificial leg in the Atlantic Ocean in Newfoundland and setting off across Canada, running the equivalent of a marathon a day.

I had to look it up to realize it was 1980 that this remarkable story began, one of disbelief that anyone would take on the challenge of running across Canada, aiming for 26 miles (40 kilometres) per day on one leg, having lost his other leg, above the knee, to cancer at 18. It all seemed so ridiculous that we barely took notice at first. His goal was to raise $1 for every Canadian for cancer research, which would have amounted to more than $24 million in 1980.

During the spring, he hobbled across Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec, stopping in towns and cities, the crowds getting larger and larger as each day passed.

By the time he crossed into Ontario on June 28, the country had been taken by storm. He ran hundreds of extra miles as he crisscrossed southern Ontario, being greeted by larger and larger crowds in each town and village. He spent July and August running around southern Ontario. Donations poured in.

The rest of the country awaited with greater and greater excitement. He headed north and west. But on Sept. 1, 1980, near Thunder Bay, he had to stop. His cancer had returned. He had run 5,313 kilometres (3,339 miles) since starting his run four months earlier. Today, a statue marks the spot he had to abandon his run.

Keith Roulston

From the cluttered desk The news shocked Canadians. He had created such hope. Volunteers in towns, villages and cities picked up the challenge he couldn’t complete. Fundraising runs were organized. The Marathon of Hope went on, even if a heartbroken Terry Fox couldn’t take part himself.

Sadly, a year later, on June 28, 1981, Terry Fox passed away, a month before his 23rd birthday. But the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope went on every September as thousands of Canadians ran for the cause. As of today, a little searching on the internet shows that $850 million has been raised for cancer research.

As I researched this column, and as I wrote it, I sometimes had to stop because I was overcome by emotion. It’s such a remarkable story, not only because Terry Fox took on such a challenge and had stirred so many to do the same. If he could see, today, what he has inspired, you wonder what he might think.

Others picked up the challenge. Steve Fonyo was a young Quebec native who lost his left leg to cancer at age 12. In 1984, at age 18, he embarked on a run across Canada entitled the Journey for Lives to raise funds for cancer research. He completed it 425 days later on May 29, 1985, covering 7,924 kilometres (4,924 miles), and raising $14 million. But sadly, he never ignited the kind of support that Terry Fox did. I was surprised to learn on the

internet that he died in 2022.

More inspiring was Rick Hansen. Following a pickup truck crash at the age of 15, Hansen sustained a spinal cord injury and became a paraplegic. Yet he became famous for his Man in Motion World Tour, in which he circled the globe in a wheelchair to raise funds for charity.

Hansen is much more fondly remembered.

He was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. He was one of the final torchbearers in the 1988 Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics. He was profiled and spoke during the 2010 Winter Paralympics opening ceremony. He married his caregiver and they had three children.

All these heroes were (and are) Canadians.

Their fame, especially Fox’s, has lasted. Pierre Trudeau was Prime Minister when Fox made his valiant effort to run across Canada. Today Trudeau is almost forgotten, as are most of the prime ministers who succeeded him, right up to Justin Trudeau who seems soon to be replaced as this is written, yet Fox has persisted.

South of the border, a former President, Donald Trump, is on trial this week for fiddling with the books of his company to try to make payments to a former porn star to hide the fact from his wife, and U.S. voters, that he had extramarital affairs. Hardly the image of Terry Fox’s sacrifice.

It’s so heartwarming that the story of Terry Fox is still inspiring people 44 years after his unfinished run. Every year, people who weren’t even born when he started his run at the Atlantic take part in completing more of his task, raising even more money for cancer research. With so many dispiriting things happening around us, thanks so much, Terry Fox, for giving us reason to hope, despite the many dispiriting bit of news.

This week ‘The Chaff’ is ‘The Qhaff’

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uickly, quietly and quixotically QWERTY CREW QREW - get into the position!

It’s time for The Chaff, but it’s a The Chaff that is unlike any The Chaff The Chaff has ever The Chaff’d before this The Chaff The Chaff’d its way on a spiritual journey toward becoming this The Chaff!

What exactly is so extra-especially The Chaff about this particular The Chaff, you ask? First of all, The Chaff extends a great, big The Chaff-thank you for your The Chafforiented query. Secondly, welcome to The Chaff’s extra-special “The Chaff Salute to the QWERTY Keyboard System!”

QWERTY girls and QWERTY guys with QWERTY eyes and QWERTY lives, queue on up and get down; get all over it and allow it to soak in. Become fully awash in the ethereal experience; let its embrace utterly annihilate your physical being and envelope your spirit entirely, like how it does in your dreams and memories. It’s QWERTY! “QWERTY despair,” when literally translated from pseudo-Latin/dragking’s English/secret code to fully, just regular readable column speak is “Look on my works, ye QWERTY, and despair.” That is a line from the famous poem “QWERTYmandias” by QWERTY Bysshe Shelley. That is, as they say, QWERTY! The origin of QWERTY is shrouded in murky magic and foggy mysteries. Some say it is named in honour of a horrible old ogre named “QWERTY the OGRE”. As the legend goes, “QWERTY the OGRE” was an actual Ogre, who was the absolute worst, grossest, most unreasonable Ogre you could ever imagine. A lot of people think that if this is indeed the true origin story of QWERTY, then the name should be changed, but there’s still a very vocal group of dedicated weirdos

Scott Stephenson The Chaff who are defending “QWERTY the OGRE” and his complicated legacy.

Others believe QWERTY was a gift given to humanity by aliens to help prevent typewriter-based fires from consuming everything. Praise be to our QWERTY alien overlords!

But the truth about QWERTY is literally in the pudding - letters pudding, that is! Letters pudding is English cuisine's answer to “Alphabet Soup”.

Q is for “Quagmires usually avoided by utilizing proper procedures always.”

W is for “World is better because of QWERTY.” E = MC² R is for “Arrrrr, matey”, a quote erroneously attributed to QWERTY the Pirate.

T is for “Tea Time for Mr. T (1988) and Tea Time for Mr. T 2: Pit-tea-ing the Fool (1992)” Y is for “Why do I keep doing this? Oh, that’s right. I do it for QWERTY.” Raised by the influential church of QWERTY, Taylor Swift has conquered all human life. Her devotion to QWERTY is clearly on display in her latest music video with Post Malone, whose own affection for QWERTY is written all over his face.

Has QWERTY taken things too far? Some skeptics of QWERTY’s social benefits are wondering if it’s simply some dangerous form of hypnosis. Has QWERTY captured

the minds of our youths? What about our elders? Any idea about the juniors? What about the mediums? Has anyone seriously considered the small-mediums a.k.a. s’mediums? What about the upper tiers? Has any thought been given to the 30somethings? What about one-third of the underneath area? Has anyone thought about the underneath area? Clear evidence of QWERTY hypnosis in action. You’re getting very QWERTY! You’re getting very QWERTY! After learning of some deeply troubling allegations concerning QWERTY, The Chaff wishes to distance itself from its previous, enthusiastic, slaphappy support of QWERTY. If The Chaff stands against anything, it’s hypocrisy and that is something The Chaff is “for” being against. The Chaff also stands, at full mast, against QWERTY! Always have, always will. ***BREAKING QWERTY NEWS*** The previous, extremely troubling and very upsetting, reports regarding QWERTY have proven to be false. They originated from a deepfake video posted on social media accounts linked to supporters of YTREWQ. The Chaff stands with our faithful ally, dearest friend and erotic partner QWERTY. Always have, always will.

The truth may never truly be known about QWERTY. The world works in mysterious ways and perhaps us puny and doomed humans are not meant to know QWERTY’s deepest secrets, despite our very thorough, extremely focused, unrelenting and intense probing.

As is often the case, ignorance is king!

King QWERTY! We love ya, but you’re QWERTY useless!

Don’t miss next week’s The Chaff on the Dvorak keyboard layout!

Shawn Loughlin Shawn’s Sense

Life is a mystery

W

hen Guns N’ Roses reformed (sans Slash), Jess and I went to see them in Toronto. They went on hours later than they were supposed to. In fact, a friend was working security and when we ran into him an hour or so after the band was supposed to start playing, he said he’d heard lead singer Axl Rose wasn’t even in the building, but in one of Toronto’s premier gentlemen’s clubs.

I didn’t get back home until the sun had come up. Clearly those were my younger days.

I once saw Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and the encore was cut short when David Crosby, seemingly rocking out a bit too hard, fell and injured his hand. (As a Young fan through and through, I can’t feel too bad about Crosby taking a fall. Young may have been the bigger man and let it go, but I’m not.)

Earlier this year, at a show in Florida, Bob Dylan was hit in the face with a request to “play something we know” from the crowd.

Admittedly, when I saw Dylan many years ago I didn’t know many of the tunes I was hearing.

Furthermore, it must have been a weird stage of his career because he almost exclusively played the keyboard, not the guitar.

I once went and saw The Pixies and we left early because we thought the show was bad.

We were in relatively close proximity to one of Toronto’s premier gentlemen’s clubs (not the same one Axl allegedly patronized) and, as men of a certain age and maturity, we jumped ship for what we saw as greener pastures.

I’ve had feet, behinds and everything in between bop me in the head during concerts that are conducive to crowd-surfing. And, because we’re in Canada, you know, I’ve had to endure all kinds of temperature swings, the most popular being the heavy winter coat in a sweltering rock club. If you have to walk from your car, you’ll need to stay warm, but, upon arrival, a lot of these places don’t have a coat check, so you’re either wearing or holding it.

I’ve been to baseball games that have run absurdly long. Jess and I saw the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers in 18 innings back in 2013. Pro: We got to do the seventh and 17th inning stretches. Con: They stopped serving beer and food in the middle of the eighth inning as per usual and never did get it going again, so those left in the stands were hungry.

My sister and I saw the New York Yankees play the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.

The game was scoreless until the 15th inning when Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run home run to win it for the home team. That happened just as we walked in my cousin Mike’s door. He was watching the game. He gave us all kinds of guff about it, but we didn’t want to miss the last train out of The Bronx back to New Jersey.

That could have been a really long night.

The next day after all of these and more (even the one when I was still driving home as it became the next day), I have never, to this day, consulted legal counsel. I never thought to take to the courts to punish those responsible.

So, I had to roll my eyes a bit after reading a story about some concertgoers suing Madonna after a Washington, D.C. show they attended didn’t quite go the way they had hoped. Madge was due to go on at 8:30 p.m. but didn’t grace the stage until a full two hours later. The classaction lawsuit also makes mention of the hot temperature in the venue and alleges Madonna lip-synched much of her performance.

I have kids now and they have a bedtime and frankly I have a bedtime too and it’s before 10:30 p.m., so I get it, but, court? Come on.

I wonder if the statute of limitations has passed on suing Guns N’ Roses, because not only did it take all night, but it wasn’t good.

PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024.

HE passes budget with 10 per cent levy increase

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen On April 16, Huron East Council passed its 2024 budget, which includes a 4.2 per cent capital levy increase for a total municipal levy increase of just over 10 per cent - a decrease from the original proposed increase of 11.8 per cent.

Chief Administrative Officer Brad McRoberts presented the final draft of the budget to both council and the public at council’s April 16 meeting, stating that, as a result of this year’s budget, the residential tax rate will increase by 7.66 per cent.

He told council that, when compared to neighbouring municipalities, such as Huron County’s other eight lower-tier municipalities and nearby HuronKinloss, North Perth and West Perth, Huron East is in the bottom half for its municipal tax rate, in the

lower end of where it should be based on the services provided by Huron East. This year, Huron East sits eighth on that list, with McRoberts estimating that, based on the services provided in the municipality, Huron East could reasonably rank as high as fifth and still be within a reasonable range.

Fifty-one per cent of the property tax dollars being collected in Huron East will be used for municipal purposes, while 36 per cent will go to the county and the remaining 13 per cent will go to the local school boards. When broken down by services, 37 per cent of municipal tax dollars go to transportation in the Huron East budget, followed by 16 per cent for community services, 15 per cent for policing, 13 per cent for administration, 13 per cent for fire, three per cent for the local conservation authorities, two per cent each for economic development and council, one per

cent for waste management and the remaining percentage of less than one per cent for other expenses.

McRoberts also provided an extensive list of amenities afforded to residents in return for their tax dollars, such access to three recreation centres (two arenas and one indoor pool), three fire stations, maintenance of nearly 450 kilometres of roads and over 115 bridges and culverts, waste collection, policing, stormwater management and much more. He also made note of what is not paid for by municipal taxes, such as water and wastewater services, which are paid for by users of the systems, building services, which are funded through building permit fees, and the Seaforth Business Improvement Area, which is fully funded by the organization’s members within that designated area.

He also noted a number of items

Floor-to-ceiling The Brussels Leo Club recently held its biweekly bottle drive and, with cans and bottles making their way up to the rafters, it’s off to a return centre next month to cash in. The fundraiser is the biggest money-maker the club has and the funds collected will come in handy with a busy summer season ahead. (John Stephenson photo)

At the Branch

Marks claims weekly ‘Ace’ prize

By Jo-Ann McDonald Last week at the Branch began with Cadets meeting on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, the Ladies Birthday Group attended the Branch to enjoy a dinner of ham and scalloped potatoes.

There were 18 ladies present to help Alice Marks, Merle Cousins and Betty McCutcheon celebrate their birthdays. Enjoying the meal and the visit with the birthday girls included Betty Cardiff, Esther McCutcheon, Betty Campbell, Rene Richmond, Isabel Wheeler, Audrey Cardiff, Bessie Johnston, Nora Stephenson, Edna McLellan, Janet Hook, Dona Knight, Cora Alcock, Sandra Cable, Joan Bernard and Mabel Glanville.

Happy birthday to the April babies! The cooks of the day were Jo-Ann, Deb, Sandra and Tanya.

On Thursday night the Branch hosted the blind mixed dart night and there were 20 out to take aim at the boards. The first-place team consisted of Paul Willie, Chris Brown and Brenda DeForest. There was a three-way tie for second place and, after the tie breaker games, the victors were the team of

Jim Brown, Lynda Davis and Sandra Brown. The high shots (whether skill or luck) were by Janet Erickson hitting 135, Jim hitting 134 and Bruce Fischer hitting 133.

There were two teams that struggled at times and were skunked. They were Barbara Cadotte and Pete Grey and team Lynda, Jim and Sandra. There are only another few weeks left to play, so consider coming out!

On Friday night was the Catch the Ace draw and the final euchre tournament for this spring. It was a full house with 34 teams playing and hoping the cards would “suit” them. The top winners for the night were Joe and Hannah Nicholson, the second-place team consisted of Joan Smith and Gail White and there was a tie for third between Eric Ross and Barry O’Krafta and Kelly Wharton and Sharon Gredanus, so they split their winnings. It was a great night and lots of fun with old faces and some new faces. The comments were all positive and they can’t wait for the fall to come so we can start again!

The pub grub for the night was

beef on a bun and this week will be wings and fries. It is also karaoke with Stubby D, so come out with your appetite, your singing voice and be ready for a great time.

The Catch the Ace trio of Jo-Ann, Deb and Nanci then went upstairs to conduct the draw for the sixth week. The lucky weekly winner was Joanne Marks and she won $153. Her envelope choice was number eight and the two of hearts was found.

The estimated jackpot for next week will be over $1,400. Get your tickets at the Brussels Pharmacy, Brussels Variety, McDonald Home Hardware and the Brussels Legion.

Get your tickets and maybe you will be the next winner.

On Saturday, the Branch had visitors from across the district for a meeting of the bursary committee.

They were there for just over an hour and then they went their separate ways.

I mistakenly missed President Jamie Mitchell’s name as one of the attendees at the District Convention held in Owen Sound last weekend.

He was joined by Julena and kids for the weekend.

originally proposed for the 2024 budget that will be deferred until next year, such as all public works equipment purchases (with the exception of a new rotary mower) and a number of recreation projects.

Also, per the municipality’s asset management plan, which council passed in 2022, scheduled capital levy increases for the next four years will be 4.8 per cent in 2025, followed by 4.4 per cent in 2026, 4.2 per cent in 2027 and 2.4 per cent in 2028.

Cost of living increases have continued to impact Huron East’s budget, McRoberts said, in addition to the municipality’s recent compensation review, the implementation of its new succession plan, insurance and health and benefits increases and ever-decreasing provincial and federal funding. He also noted that historical deficits for the Brussels Cemetery, Huron East Fire Service and the Brussels, Morris and Grey and Seaforth and District Community Centres will continue this year, despite an original recommendation to the contrary.

The deficits will remain in place for the year due to operating cost pressures, McRoberts said in his report.

Councillors didn’t have much to say on the final draft of the budget, which was largely unchanged from the previous draft. However, Deputy-Mayor Alvin McLellan asked about freezing councillor honorariums and wages for the rest of the term, given the limited finances available in this year’s budget.

Staff reminded McLellan that the increases for councillors, as well as citizen committee members, had already been approved by council.

McLellan asked for a report on council wages, but staff said that report had essentially been

completed late last year for the municipal compensation review and that information could be brought back to council for further discussion.

Councillor John Steffler also asked about reserve levels, which were included in the report. He said that, if the municipality were to deplete that money by 10 or 15 per cent, it would eat into the proposed tax rate increase. However, McRoberts cautioned against that, saying that the vast majority of the municipality’s reserves are dedicated to one project or sector and that unrestricted reserves were very low. He also added that, with how prices are going to complete projects, taking out 10 per cent “today” would mean contributing 20 per cent “tomorrow” to replace it.

Council passed the budget without any changes. A bylaw to establish the budget and tax rates for the year was also passed later in the meeting.

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS

Brussels Legion 218 Catch the Ace Weekly Winner Winning Ticket: Joanne Marks, $153.

Envelope #8 found the 2 of Hearts Next estimated jackpot is $1,400.

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024. PAGE 7.

Brooks, Haggitt take top honours

Grilling... so you don’t have to Three hundred people were well fed last Saturday thanks to the Blyth Lions Club, which again sold out its regular smoked pork chop barbecue. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

By Deb Hakkers Well, spring seems to have decided to stay this time. Now the yard work begins.

I have one of my perennial beds ready to mulch - they are definitely not no-maintenance like people try to tell you, but you don’t have to keep buying plants, just finding places to put the extras when you have to split them up.

This week, we wish a happy birthday to Jerry Hakkers and Anna Lapp on April 26, and Sheron Stadelmann, Alice Hakkers and Samantha Kerr on May 2. We hope everyone enjoys their special day!

Hopefully Fred’s mom will be home for her 96th birthday on May

Another good year for Growing Project The vision of Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) is a world without hunger and, in 2022/2023, CFGB, through various growing projects and donations, raised $21.6 million to that end, benefitting some 1.1 million people in 36 countries. For many projects overseas, the amounts CFGB contributes are matched by a ratio of four to one by Global Affairs Canada, meaning that $10,000 raised locally becomes $50,000 in relief in a developing country!

So in 2022/2023, the total value of 126 projects funded globally amounted to $79.9 million. CFGB

consists of a partnership of 15 Canadian churches and churchbased agencies working together.

One focus of its work is emergency food assistance and, in 2023, that included the Horn of Africa and Pakistan.

On March 21, the committee overseeing the local growing project for Canadian Foodgrains Bank in Blyth and area met at the home of John and Ann Nesbit.

Treasurer Eric Nonkes informed those in attendance of the proceeds raised and forwarded to the national level (in Winnipeg) over the past four years, averaging $12,220 per

year (2023, $11,265; 2022, $15,672; 2021, $11,090; 2020, $10,855). In 2024, the membership plans again to grow IP soybeans on 14 acres locally just north of Blyth on the west side of London Road.

On March 26, three from our Blyth area committee attended a spring information meeting at the Christian Reformed Church in Listowel.

Ontario Regional Representative Henry Reinders reported on the work of CFGB on a national scale. There were also updates from a variety of growing projects (including Listowel, Holstein, Harriston, Owen Sound,

The Reading Web

Brucefield / Bayfield, Palmerston, Mildmay/Macintosh, and Meaford).

Reinders updated those in attendance on the current crisis in Gaza. Half the population is estimated to be experiencing “catastrophic hunger”. CFGB is planning to reach 21,000 people there with food aid. As well, CFGB continues to help build better food systems in environmentally challenged landscapes in countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Maya VanderWoerd, CFGB Continued on page 9

2 after having her vacation in Holland extended for a week due to a paperwork issue. She is now hoping to return this Saturday, instead of last Saturday as planned.

The results from the euchre on April 1 were: first, Shirley Woods (90) and Carol Lahey (93); second, Jane Glousher (79) and Marie Millian (72); lone hands, Nancy Turner with three and Mac Brooks with five. Share the wealth went to Alice Yuill and Brenda Brooks.

The results from euchre on April 15 were: first, Brenda Brooks (75) and Gord Haggitt (68); second, Shirley Woods (72) and Mac Brooks (68). Share the wealth went to Pauline McMichael and Sharon Thompson.

This Saturday is Children’s Story Time at the Blyth Library again with Cindy Norgate. It begins at 9:30 a.m. and the theme for the month is planting.

If there is anything you would like mentioned in this column, please e-mail mcraig1@tcc.on.ca or call 519-525-8640 (evenings only please).

Until next week, take care of yourselves and each other and hopefully enjoy some nice spring weather.

Sudoku Solution

with Cindy Norgate

E

ighty-one per cent of the greatest generation drinks coffee. This was a statistic my husband and I heard on the CBC newscast recently. This brought up our discussion of what this means and why. Britannica states, “This term was coined by Tom Brokaw, a journalist from NBC News, in 1998 after the release of the best-selling book The Greatest Generation. This term refers to North Americans who were born between 1901-1927.”

In an article published in September of 2023 entitled, “Why this generation has become so sensitive” by Srushti Thakre, it is stated that, “This [current] generation is showing a major personality trait which might be concerning: over-sensitivity about every word they are told.” If this is true, then why?

Every generation has different personality traits and different societal beliefs. The article continued, “Surveys and research studies on the attitudes and beliefs of younger generations often reveal their heightened sensitivity to issues related to mental health, social justice, gender equality, and environmental sustainability.” The article also mentioned differences in parenting styles as well. I plan to feature a different parenting style in each of the next few weeks. I would like to ask you to compare each with yours to see if you can resonate with any of them.

Now, let’s talk about summertime.

I have a couple more ideas to share with you. Museum London is offering several summer camps.

There is a cost to these programs, but I thought some of you might be interested. The camps that I researched seemed educational and lots of fun. If you are interested, check out their website at museumlondon.ca. I will provide more local information about summer activities next week.

Tonight (Friday), I am excited to be able to attend the Hullett Whoville Fun Fair and Auction from 5:30-8:30 p.m. The school and parent council have been working hard to plan for the silent auction, photo booth, face painting, classroom creations, bake sale, and much more. The community is invited.

On another note, this week’s reading is Plant the Tiny Seed: A Springtime Book for Kids by Christie Matheson (2017).

According to Amazon, “Beautiful collage-and-watercolor art follows the seed through its entire life cycle, as it grows into a zinnia in a garden full of buzzing bees, curious hummingbirds, and colorful butterflies. Children engage with the book as they wiggle their fingers to water the seeds, clap to make the sunshine after rain, and shoo away a hungry snail. Appropriate for even the youngest child, Plant the Tiny Seed is never the same book twice no matter how many times you read it!”

As I leave it here for this week, I am excited to announce the Blyth Library Children’s Reading Time this week at 9:30 a.m. We will be reading books about planting. I have a special friend named

Hemmingway to introduce. I hope you can join us.

“Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands.” - Anne Frank

NEWS FROM BLYTH

MAITLAND M AITLAND V VALLEY ALLEY C CAMERA AMERA C CLUB LUB

Photography by Liz Allan

PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024.

Sewing for Hope means friendship, giving back

A community effort An Auburn-based quilting group has stepped up its efforts in recent years, establishing a quilter’s dream location and churning out products for those in need

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen There’s a little quilting group located near Auburn known as Sewing for Hope that’s been quietly but mightily making an impact on people’s lives all over the world for almost 15 years, and as an added bonus, they’re keeping unwanted fabric out of landfills, and having a ton of fun while they do it!

Through programs like Heart to Hearts Quilts, these quilters have crafted a tremendous number of blankets and garments for people from as far away as Zimbabwe and as near as Huron County.

Worldwide, there are hospitals, hospices, missions, shelters, communities and homes that are all now just a little bit warmer than they were before these quilters offered them a little piece of their

own hearts in the form of practical objets d’art in the tradition of rural homecraft. Fifty of their latest

here in Huron County and around the world. The group’s most recent donation is 50 quilts to the Auburn Lions Club for children battling cancer. (Scott Stephenson photo) pieces are already earmarked for the Auburn Lions Club (ALC), which is collecting quilts for

Bristow bolsters Fields of Faith’s efforts On May 4, the Fields of Faith Canadian Foodgrains Bank Growing Project is hoping to raise some funds with the help of local musician Naomi Bristow.

Bristow will perform at Brucefield Community United Church on Saturday, May 4 at 7 p.m. and all of the proceeds from the concert will go to the Fields of Faith local growing project to help feed the hungry.

She has recorded 13 albums in total - sometimes on her own and sometimes including numbers with country stars like Vince Gill, and

Jim Ed Brown. Her recording résumé includes 100 songs all told.

She has gone on cross-Canada tours with Scott Woods and opened many concerts with big headline country acts. She has also performed for many seasons on a variety of television shows. And Naomi has won many music accolades over the years - including awards for yodelling!

Advance tickets are only $20 and available at 519-482-7148, 519482-9265 or 519-522-0366 or from any member of the Fields of Faith Growing Project, or you can always

Banks celebrates with friends PEOPLE AROUND WALTON

By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570

The farmers are busy these days getting ready to head to the field. As soon as we get some good weather, they will be in the field cultivating and getting the ground worked for corn planting.

A week ago, there was very little equipment outside to be seen, but as they are checked over, greased, and have their oil and filters changed, they will be ready for action.

Maybe they will need to be fixed or have their points replaced or maybe they need to be washed before they are sitting outside waiting for action.

Some fertilizer has been spread on the wheat and, of course, manure is being spread. Now, we need the sun, warmth and the rain to hold off for a while.

The countdown is on, as there are only nine more weeks of school ahead. That would be

children with cancer, but more creations are almost certainly on the way from this prolific collective.

ALC President Audrey Patterson knows that the collective’s current batch of quilts will brighten the day for children in need.“They’re beautiful quilts, and there’s a variety for boys and girls,” she said.

“I think this is an amazing group for the community. It’s so great that they are willing to donate to different causes. And the set-up they have here is amazing... 50 quilts is a lot of quilts to be donating!”

According to group co-founder Gerrie Bos, all the sewing got started back in 2019. “Marilyn [Bruinsma] called me to see if I could help her make dresses for Haiti. So we did that, and I don’t even know how many dresses we put together!” That was the year that a massive earthquake devastated the island, leaving many Haitians homeless with nothing but the clothes on their backs. The sewers worked out of Bos’ home, using their combined skills and the materials they had on hand to create new clothes for the aid effort.

“Once we had them all done, my daughter was going to Zimbabwe with a group for the first time, and she said ‘could you make some more?’”

For this second round of sewing, more fabric was required, so the ladies sought out some donations Continued on page 9

45 days of class, except we still have one holiday, a couple of PD Days, and days when kids are away on school trips. The time will fly by!

Have you registered your four year old for school in the fall? If not, call the school board office and get it done. They are working on class sizes, bus routes, hiring teachers and EAs, etc. A lot of work goes into preparing for a school year. Call today.

It was a special birthday party for Walton’s Patty Banks last Wednesday. Five special friends of Patty’s took her to The Park House in Goderich for a birthday lunch.

The six, including Judy Emmrich, Judy Lee, Pam, Sandy Maaskant and Heidi McClure, had a fun and delicious meal.

But the party wasn’t over for Patty! On Friday night, many of her extended friends and family gathered at the Walton Hall for a meal and social time. A special surprise for Patty was the arrival of her sister-in-law Charlene and daughter Emily from Vanderhoof, British Columbia. Patty’s children Tanner, Brandi and Cassandra and their families along with about 20 other friends had a great time eating and socializing with one and all.

Happy birthday Patty!

Celebrating birthdays this past week include Clara Blake, Tucker and Ellie Wilson, Betty McCallum, Mandy Mitchell Demerline, Nora McClure, Maelyn Blake, Dennis Rijkhoff, Sandra Pepper, Gail Searle, Sheldon Courtney, Karter Young, Darrell McClure, Amanda Morrison, Jeff McKee, Avery Boven, Dean Glanville, Derick Bachert and Cody Terpstra. Happy birthday to all.

take your chances at the door.

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFG) is a partnership of 15 Canadian churches and churchbased agencies who work together in an ecumenical spirit. With the federal government’s assistance, all members work to achieve the goal of a world without hunger. The Canadian Foodgrains Bank was named, for six years in a row, one of Canada’s Top 10 Impact charities, and it receives extra funding from the government to assist in its mission. Most CFG

workers are volunteers, so the lion’s share of donations go to feed the hungry. In 2023 The Canadian Foodgrains Bank celebrated 40 years of feeding the hungry.

Locally, the Fields of Faith Growing Project has been growing crops to raise funds for the CFG for about 35 years. Originally begun as a growing project of the VarnaGoshen United Church congregation, now Brucefield, Brussels, and Clinton churches work together to increase their efforts to feed the hungry.

The Citizen

405 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4792

Advertise your business here!

One of the most read areas of the paper

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!

NEWS FROM WALTON

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, FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024. PAGE 9.

Nothing goes to waste through Sewing for Hope

Continued from page 8 from nearby community members, which also helped spread the word about what they were up to. “One by one, we got more people to join the sewing group,” Bos recalled.

When the Zimbabwe dress project came to an end, the donations of fabric kept on coming in. “For the first few years, we didn’t make a lot of quilts - we didn’t have the material for it. Once that material started coming in, we made dresses, we made shorts, we made pants.”

This women-led team might just be the antidote to the curse that is modern fast fashion.

“Whatever material you have, you look at it, and say ‘what can we make? Nothing goes to the

garbage,” Bos said firmly.

Co-founder Bruinsma had previously collaborated with Bos on the costumes for a Christmas play, so teaming up again to make clothing for Haiti was an easy decision. “Then we just kept on sewing,” she explained. “I’m more a sewer than a quilter - the other girls are more talented than I am, but that’s what you want in a group.” In the years since 2010, they’ve been asked by other homegrown local charitable groups to donate work to more nearby causes, like the Huron Women’s Shelter in Goderich. “The more local we can sew, the better,” she said.

The group is on its second

Lions working to give vision tests

Studies have shown that children with poor vision learn at a slower rate than their peers, get frustrated with schoolwork and are at risk of leaving school at an early age.

These factors can lead to a negative self-image, behaviour and discipline problems and lifelong disadvantages and possible underachievement.

Young children are unable to recognize their own difficulty with their vision. They think everyone is the same. Parents, too, may not recognize that their children are struggling with poor eyesight. Once a child begins school, a teacher may pick up on the vision problem. It is estimated that one in five children may have an issue with their sight.

Recognizing that poor vision can be the cause of physical, social and cognitive development, the provincial government has now tasked public health units across the province with vision screening. The health units already do dental checks in our schools.

Helping with this program, which is true to their mandate of helping the community, has become a project for some Lion Clubs, including the Londesborough club.

Between May 7 and 22, the health units and local volunteers will be attending 15 public and Catholic schools across Huron and Perth Counties to check all Senior Kindergarten pupils. The children are tested for depth perception and vision. As well, a photo of the eye is

taken to spot issues that could develop as future problems.

If a child is identified as having difficulty, a letter is sent to the parents suggesting a follow-up appointment with an optometrist.

This appointment and testing is free, something of which parents may not be aware. There are optometrists in our area who also offer free glasses to children to help them reach their full potential in school. Parents of any child absent the day of the testing also receive a letter encouraging an optometric test.

Volunteers with the program receive training and must have undergone a police check. The health unit then deals with the paperwork involved. An added benefit locally is the involvement of the School of Optometry from the University of Waterloo. It seems like a win-win experience for all.

Our thanks to the volunteers from the Lions Club who have taken time from their lives to enhance life for our children.

workshop - the current iteration of which is located in the basement of the home of member Marita Oudshoorn. “When Gerrie had to move to an apartment building, we almost thought it was the end of the group, and the end of the sewing. I said to my husband that I’d like to keep things going - it’s our social time, and it’s fun to have everybody together! We started in my old house, at the farm, and then when we built the new house here a year and a half ago, we said that the basement needed to be large enough for the sewing room - for all this!”

Oudshoorn gestured at all the machines, equipment, fabric and notions that the space was designed specifically to hold. “We make nice stuff, and we come up with the ideas. What one person doesn’t know, another will know. And we all crave that social time, even if it’s just getting together once a week.”

Ellen Nyland of Wingham remembers how she first became part of the crew two years ago. “I’m a friend of Marita’s, and she was talking about this group, and for me, to make something at home, but I don’t need more stuff in my house! So now, I make stuff, and then it comes here, and then it goes somewhere else.” In terms of where exactly, the quilts and clothing are going - there’s a colour-coded guide taped to the workshop wall. There’s a yellow tag that says “Dominican Republic”, an orange one that reads “Nunavut”, red for “Nicaragua”.

“It’s such a good feeling!” Nyland exclaimed.

“And it’s such wonderful socializing - I always joke that I come for the coffee!”

Nyland may love to joke around, but she’s not just there for the coffee - she crochets, knits and does fiddley stuff like put elastic in pants. “Ann [Feagan] made a quilt though, that was so friggin’ cute! I wanted to know where that quilt was going, because it was so fun, and she gave it to a family in Lucknow - they were so happy with

it! And we’re so happy that they are so happy with the quilt! Win everywhere! Sometimes, we get stuff donated, and you look at it, and we go - ‘what do we make with this?’ Then somebody comes with an idea, and we run with it!”

Feagan lives in the western suburb of Nile, and became involved with the group when the Auburn branch of the Women’s Institute was making quilts for victims of the Goderich tornado.

One thing led to another, and Feagan found her own set of skills becoming a permanent part of the collective’s patchwork. “We build quilts here, and we make what the fabrics want to be. If it’s fleece, it doesn’t necessarily want to be a quilt; we’ll make it into a hoodie.

Or if it’s flannelette, we’re making pyjamas!” She also tries to document as much of their output as she can. “I just keep taking photos of what we do!” On this day, Feagan was in charge of another important part of the process - the food. “I’ve been up since 5:30 making sure there’s lunch ready for us today - beef soup!”

Martha Sol also found her place in the group through a friendship with Oudshoorn. “We’re both from the Netherlands, and people from the Netherlands always cling together a little bit. I knew she had this group, and I think I was dropping off something about half a year ago, and I just kept coming, and I just kept doing stuff.” Sol has been quilting since she lived in the Netherlands. She’s also a sweater maker who appreciates learning new skills from the others. “You learn so many other things,” she said. “And it’s social, which is so good!”

The quilting group first joined forces to help faraway people deal with unimaginable global tragedies, but over the years, they’ve found that their collective can also be helpful in offering respite for the sorrows that are closest to their hearts of their own members. When Bos’ husband passed away of Alzheimer’s last year at the age of 91, she knew that she wouldn’t be going it alone. Not as long as there are people in the world that need a quilt that’s made with love.

Continued from page 7 digital communications staff, reported on her recent trip to Kenya and Burundi in connection with a Canadian government initiative, “Humanitarian Early Recovery and Development”. She witnessed strong relations there between local partners and actual projects on the ground. She showed a video in which a farmer using traditional methods hesitantly allowed his wife a small plot on which to try newer conservation-friendly methods. Her small plot outproduced all the rest of the farm! Since then, her husband has become convinced, and their capacity has grown from just 70 to 1,750 cassava plants.

The local committee (John

Nesbit, chair; Eric Nonkes, treasurer; Fred Meier, Justin Baarda, Ernest Dow) said there is no way they would have accomplished all that they have without the help of those who donate or provide discounted growing space and inputs, such as Canadian Agra; Midwest Co-op; Shannon Bieman (SeCan); Matt Underwood (Syngenta); Snobelen Farms; Swiss Valley Farms (Fred Meier); Cantelon Farms; Jim Parish (Par-Chier Farms); Nesbit Family Farm, in addition to other private and church donors.

If you’d like to volunteer with this cause, visit foodgrainsbank.ca for more information or contact chair John Nesbit at 519-523-9595.

Success continues

SPECIAL MEETING OF CENTRAL HURON COUNCIL TO DISCUSS REVISIONS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED TO THE CENTRAL HURON OFFICIAL PLAN TAKE NOTICE that Council of the Municipality of Central Huron will hold a Special Meeting of Council to discuss revisions that may be required to the Central Huron Official Plan. This meeting is a legislated meeting under Section 26 of the Planning Act, RSO, 1990.

SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNCIL will be held: Monday, May 27, 2024 at 10:00am Municipality of Central Huron Town Hall 23 Albert Street Clinton, Ontario The community is invited to share ideas about their vision for the Municipality and the policy direction to manage future land use and growth.

BE ADVISED that the Central Huron Official Plan was adopted in 2003 and that under Section 26 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, as amended, the Council of the municipality who adopted the Official Plan shall revise the Official Plan to ensure that it conforms with provincial plans, has regard to matters of provincial interest, and is consistent with policy statements issued by the Province.

ANY PERSON may attend the Special Meeting of Council and/or make written or verbal representation about what revisions may be required.

A virtual option is available for those who are unable to attend the meeting in person. To access the virtual zoom link, please refer to the Special Meeting Agenda for May 27th, 2024 that will be published to our website. Once published, the agenda can be found via the following link: www.centralhuron.ca/agendasandminutes If you are unable to attend the meeting but wish to provide comments, please either email planning@centralhuron.com or mail to: Central Huron Municipal Office, 23 Albert Street, PO Box 400, Clinton, ON, N0M 1L0. Attention: Rachel Anstett, Clerk.

Dated at the Municipality of Central Huron This 17th day of April, 2024

NEWS FROM LONDESBORO

Rachel Anstett, Clerk Municipality of Central Huron 23 Albert Street, PO Box 400 Clinton, ON N0M 1L0 519-482-3997

PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, APRIL 26, 2024

Join us for our Mother’s Day Buffet

Saturday, May 11th The Beaver Tail Truck will be here.

Bring your mom out on Mother’s Day Sunday, May 12th to enjoy treats from Marcelle’s Pink Treat Truck,…specialty coffees, tea, macaroons and more!

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024. PAGE 11.

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PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024.

St. Helen’s Hall Committee members honoured by ACW PEOPLE AROUND BELGRAVE

By Linda Campbell Call 357-2188

Gary and Nellie Clayton from The Olde Tyme Radio Centre in Belgrave had a wonderful warm time in Florida in January, February and March.

They left on Dec. 30 on Gary’s 73rd birthday and arrived home on March 29 with a very full van, as they are both avid deal hunters even a vintage balloon-tired ladies bicycle that is in front of their store

for sale. They also took in “Sight and Sound” theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on their way home and saw Daniel.

Belated birthday greetings are extended to Noah and Grace Cottrill, twins of Matthew and Kathleen Cottrill of New Hamburg.

Hope you had a fun April 20.

On Friday, April 26 cards will be played at the Belgrave Community Centre from 1-4 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

There was a good crowd for coffee break at the Belgrave Community Centre on Tuesday, April 23. Everyone enjoyed coffee, snacks and fellowship. The next coffee break is on May 14.

The St. Helen’s Hall Board was recently recognized with a pair of volunteer awards from the Township of

Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh.

Earlier this month, the hall’s committee was presented with the Outstanding Community Group Award. Mayor Glen McNeil said the volunteers were all deserving of recognition.

“We would like to take this opportunity to recognize the St. Helen’s Hall Committee,” he said.

“In 2002, residents banded together to save the former Women’s Institute, which had fallen into disrepair. For the past 20 years, this dedicated group of AshfieldColborne-Wawanosh citizens have worked hard to keep the hall updated, relevant, accessible, and affordable for community use.”

One committee member, Lila Rintoul, was also honoured with the Outstanding Individual Award. The former St. Helen’s resident

continues to serve on the committee, despite moving to Blyth. She also led the local 4-H with her husband, served as president of the Women’s Institute and volunteers at the seniors dining program.

Councillor Jennifer Miltenburg, who submitted the nominations for both awards, says Rintoul is an inspiration.

“I’ve worked with literally hundreds of volunteers and all of them are great people, but Lila, you are remarkable,” she said. “Not only have you done it for so long, but you came back to do it. You make me feel very welcome...you’re welcoming and always smiling and I just get exhausted looking at you. You do a spectacular job and congratulations to all of you.”

NEWS FROM BELGRAVE

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Thanks to the open-plan design, the great room flows into the dining room, creating an ideal space w as for family activities. Light will flood through the deep dining-room windows, for entertaining as well adding to the area’s spacious feeling. eparated from the dining room and great room by a six-seat eating bar. This will The kitchen is se provide a popular place p for family and visitors alike to perch, preventing the cook from feeling isolated.

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The second bedrroom includes a deep window that looks onto the front garden, with an extra-wide sill. A three-piece bathroom b is located close by, as well as a linen cupboard.

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Exterior finishes include wood siding, painted trim and decorative woodwork, as well as stone accents.

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024. PAGE 13.

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Brussels Ag. Society hosting Family Fun Fair May 5

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

Fall fair season may still be quite a few months away, but all over Huron County there are already dedicated members of Agricultural Societies working hard to bring their municipality’s annual celebration of the harvest to fruition. There’s entertainment to be booked, gate rentals to schedule, livestock to organize, sponsors to secure, judges need to be contracted and updated versions of the annual Homecraft Guide to edit, design and print.

Most fairs already have a draft of their Homecraft Guide available on their websites, which means the forward thinking canners of Seaforth and early-bird quilters of Morris-Turnberry have ample time to complete their entries.

While most modern fall fairs in Huron County have added features like inflatable rides and backyard wrestling to entertain young people, the heart of every fall fair can be found in its long tradition of friendly competition, through the livestock, crop and homecraft competitions.

The earliest fall fairs in North America started out as a chance for

local farmers to gather together in celebration, bringing their best grain, produce and livestock. There was prestige in having your crops declared to be “tops” - various prizes offered up by local businesses became an added bonus.

Slowly, simple categories like “Best Heifer” and “Best 1/2 Bushel of Red Wheat” were joined by traditional homecrafts like baking and quilting, soon to be joined by fine arts, children’s crafts, and any other sort of categories that locals have had an interest in over the years. Those who make the wise choice to enter their work into the Homecraft competition, compete in their chosen category, be it lap quilting or lemon loaf baking, for cash prizes donated by local sponsors.

Seaforth’s Fall Fair has a category for “Best Photo of a Steel Bridge”, while Brussels has two categories for Pickled Eggs “Best Pickled Eggs” and “Best Pickled Eggs - Made by Man”. Obviously, there must have been a lady in Brussels making some pretty impressive pickled eggs at some point. Each class and category has always been a reflection of the community that attends its local fair.

That’s why Lucknow

Agricultural Society President Cam Alton is always interested in hearing new ideas for potential Homecraft categories. “You just let me know what you want to enter, and we’ll see about making a category for it,” he said at a recent Ag. Society meeting. As more and more people move to the area, they bring with them traditions and skills that they just might be interested in showing off.

Dorothy Cummings, former Brussels Ag. Society President, knows that all the hard work is worth it. “We don’t go in for smashup derbies and horse shows. Our fair concentrates on the exhibitors the people that make things to bring to the fair. It makes them a part of the fair. It keeps people proud of the things they’ve done, and brings them to the fairgrounds every year.

We concentrate on what the people bring to it.”

One of the ways Brussels is working to appeal to newcomers to the area is its upcoming Family Fun Fair, which is happening on Sunday, May 5. Brussels Ag. Society President Reg Vinnicombe likens the event to a “practice fair”, that intends to teach fair-curious families what fall fairs are all about.

The event is open to first-time

exhibitors only, and has eight categories that will be judged, including “Best Bouquet of Flowers”, and “Best Photograph of a Farm Animal’”. Vinnicombe believes that once families experience the thrill of crafting something for competition, they’ll be hooked. More information on the Family Fun Fair is available from the Brussels Agricultural Society.

The Junior Farmers and local 4-H Clubs continue to contribute to rural culture each year with various fair entries - the 4-H Beef Show is one of the highlights of the Brussels Fall Fair. “It’s a very important part of the fair,” explained Cummings, “ but it definitely does tie up the kids that are in 4-H for the whole day, so if they want to go enjoy the midway, they have to come on Tuesday night.”

Entrants for the local Ambassador Competition are also already being sought, in order to guarantee a good crop of contestants. The public speaking competition has brought a lot of talented young people into the world of agricultural advocacy Lucknow’s current Ambassador, Shelby Barger, recently gave a report to the Ag. Society about ideas she had after attending an agricultural conference, and

anybody who has attended an event in Brussels lately has likely encountered Fall Fair Ambassador Loretta Higgins, potentially dressed in a pig costume. Higgins’ fiercely porcine look ties in with the theme of the fair in Brussels this year “Pork and Beans”.

Much more must be organized before each of the fall fairs takes place, including the recruiting of local people to make the event go off without a hitch. Volunteers are always needed to help organize all the different parts of the Homecraft competitions, as well as fair set-up and tear-down. Additional people to handle tasks during the fair, like working the entry gate, are also needed.

To learn more about volunteering, or to check out the preliminary Homecraft Guide, visit your local Agricultural Society’s website.

Celebrating A Special Occasion?

Advertise it in

The Citizen 519-523-4792 info@northhuron.on.ca

BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK REPORT For the week ending April 19, 2024 Cows: There were 225 cows on offer:

Lambs:

Thursday – Beef veal sold strong and steady. Holstein veal sold easier.

Lambs sold steady to the week’s decline. Sheep and goats sold steady.

Beef Cows: $140 – $195 up to $248 Good Holstein Cows: $140 – $149 up to $160 Medium Holstein Cows: $128 – $139 Bulls: $180 – $210 Davidson Farms of Monkton, consigned two head. One red cow weighed 1,170 lbs. and sold for $248.

Under 50 lbs.: $350 – $402.50 50-64 lbs.: $341 – $390 65-79 lbs.: $332.50 – $380 80-94 lbs.: $326 – $360 95-109 lbs.: $321 – $340 110 lbs. and over: $245 – $272.50

Friday – Choice calves sold steady; second cut calves sold under pressure. Yearlings sold steady.

180 Dairy Ltd of Dublin, consigned five head. One holstein cow weighed 1,495 lbs. and sold for $160.

Fed Cattle: There were 90 fed cattle on offer:

Veal: There were 150 veal on offer:

Total Receipts: 1,740 cattle, 792 lambs and goats Tuesday – Fed cattle sold steady.

Cows sold steady.

Sheep: $130 – $245 up to $305

Choice Fed Cattle: $236 – $253 Second Cut Fed Cattle: $221 – $235 Aged and Medium Fed Cattle: $181 – $220 Holstein Fed Cattle: $160 – $228 K/C McAlpine Farms of Ailsa Craig, consigned eight head. Five fed steers averaged 1,668 lbs. and sold for an average price of $248.50.

Jessie Van Loo of Bluevale, consigned six head. One fed steer weighed 1,410 lbs. and sold for $249.

Beef Veal: $285 – $319 Good Holsteins: $220 – $230 SL Heavy Holsteins: $215 – $225 Heavy Holsteins: $185 – $214 Medium Holsteins: $205 – $219 Plain Holsteins: $185 – $204 Holstein Drop Calves: $800 – $1,250 / HEAD Abraham B. Martin of Wellesley, consigned four head. One veal weighed 960 lbs. and sold for $319.

Larry Graul of Walkerton, consigned seven head. One holstein veal weighed 705 lbs. and sold for $227.

Jordan Shortreed of Walton, consigned 15 head. Three lambs averaged 82 lbs. and sold for an average price of $360.

Baird Brothers of Wingham, consigned seven head. Four lambs averaged 81 lbs. and sold for an average price of $353.

Goats: Meat Kids: $500 – $540 Dairy Kids: $380 – $500 Mature Bucks: $300 – $400 Mature Does: $110 – $300 Dennis Dietz of Mildmay, consigned four head. One kid goat weighed 55 lbs. and sold for $540.

Ryan Van Miltenburg of Staffa, consigned four head. Four kid goats averaged 58 lbs. and sold for an average price of $520.

Stockers: There were 1,275 stockers on offer:

Elo M. Martin of Teeswater, consigned 20 head. Nine black steers averaged 1,004 lbs. and sold for an average price of $315.50.

Top Quality Steers: Under 400 lbs.: $415 – $515 400 – 499 lbs.: $437.50 – $490 up to $500 500 – 599 lbs.: $391 – $460 up to $500 600 – 699 lbs.: $317 – $399 up to $455 700 – 799 lbs.: $311 – $377 up to $394 800 – 899 lbs.: $290 – $320 up to $337.50 900 – 999 lbs.: $283 – $325.50 1,000 lbs. and over: $265 – $315.50 Top Quality Heifers: Under 400 lbs.: $310 – $385 400 – 499 lbs.: $270 – $418 up to $450 500 – 599 lbs.: $305 – $375 up to $410 600 – 699 lbs.: $306 – $370 700 – 799 lbs.: $270 – $329 up to $338 800 – 899 lbs.: $262.50 – $331 900 lbs. and over: $251 – $297 up to $317.50 Casey and Cathy Hendriks of Lucknow consigned 12 head. Seven gold steers averaged 680 lbs. and sold for an average price of $399.

Elam M. Martin of Clifford, consigned eight head. Five charolais steers averaged 943 lbs. and sold for an average price of $325.

Scott Vosper of Mitchell, consigned seven head. Three charolais heifers averaged 500 lbs. and sold for an average price of $410.

Ken Shortreed of Walton, consigned 27 head. Five charolais heifers averaged 873 lbs. and sold for an average price of $331.

Laverne G. Martin of Moorefield, consigned 12 head. Four charolais heifers averaged 923 lbs. and sold for an average price of $317.50.

BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd.

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PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, APRIL 26, 2024

Classified Advertising – RATES – 20 words or less only $9.00 + HST Additional words 25¢ ea. + HST

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-------------------------------------------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 519-523-4792 or email info@northhuron.on.ca

Coming events AUBURN VILLAGE WIDE Yard and Garage Sales, Saturday, May 4, 2024, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Auburn and District Lions Club Breakfast will be held the same day at the Community Memorial Hall from 8 a.m. - 11 a.m., $12 per person. Maple syrup donated by Robinson Maple Products. Eggs provided by Huron County Egg Farmers. Proceeds for community betterment. We Serve.

-------------------------------------------KARATE! IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL CLASSES AVAILABLE SCHWEITZER'S MARTIAL ARTS Self-defense, Self-discipline, Selfconfidence.GROUP CLASSES FOR AGES 4 TO ADULT Taught by Renshi Becky Schweitzer, 4th Degree Black Belt and 12X World Karate Champion. Location Fresh Wind Revival Centre - 21 Lloyd Street, Wingham. EARLY BIRD SPECIAL ONLY $85 +HST FOR 8 WEEKS. Uniform extra. Special ends May 1. Regular price $105 +HST Call 519-580-1418 or e-mail becky_schweitzer@hotmail.com www.schweitzersmartialarts.com

Hay/straw Hay small square bales; 2nd cut.

Call 519-482-7362 (Clinton area)

Help wanted Help wanted Help wanted Help wanted EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Lighthouse Tour Guides – Seasonal Visit the Township of Huron-Kinloss website to view these employment opportunities. https://www.huronkinloss.com/town-hall/careers/

Join our Board; Make a Difference Join our highly talented and dedicated volunteer Board of Directors!

Potential members must demonstrate a passion for providing compassionate care and dedication to the best interest of Huron Hospice and of the people of our community.

How to Apply Huron Hospice welcomes all applications. Applications due by May 17, 2024. Interested candidates should visit our website to learn more about the application process www.huronhospice.ca/join-our-board

In memoriam Swap shop Citizen-To-Citizen

Community Improvement Assistant (Summer Contract) 35 Hours Per Week Hourly Wage: $20.10

“SWAP SHOP” ad

The Municipality of Central Huron is a friendly, vibrant community of over 7,100 with a unique mix of urban, agriculture and lakeshore. We offer diverse opportunities to live, work and play. We are currently seeking qualified applicants for the summer contract position of Community Improvement Assistant.

Call 519-523-4792 or email: info@northhuron.on.ca • Free ad up to 25 words, person to person only (no businesses), items valued at $1,000 or less. Price must be included in your ad.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.

Reporting to the Community Improvement Coordinator (CIC), this summer contract position will assist with developing and assisting the CIC with various business initiatives for the Municipality of Central Huron.

This position is a part of the Canada Summer Jobs Program with funding to be provided by Service Canada. Candidates must meet the following eligibility requirements to be considered: • Be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of employment; • Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a person on whom refugee protections has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment; and • Be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial legislation and regulations (international students on a work/study permit are not eligible for the Canada Summer Jobs Program).

The ideal candidate will have/be: • In progress of or completion of an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or currently enrolled or graduated from a degree/diploma program in Economic Development, Communications, or Tourism; • Interest or experience in dealing with rural economic development or tourism would be considered an asset; • Knowledge of economic development and/or tourism contacts and programs; and • Valid Ontario driver’s licence and access to a reliable vehicle.

A complete job description for the position is available on the Municipality of Central Huron Website.

Please submit your application by Monday May 6th, 2024 at 3:30 PM preferably by email to: Human Resources, Municipality of Central Huron Box 400, 23 Albert Street, Clinton, Ontario N0M 1L0 cic@centralhuron.com Terms and Conditions of employment as per all Human Resources policies and procedures of the Municipality of Central Huron. We are an equal opportunity employer and support applicants with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request throughout the recruitment process. Please email your request or call (519) 606-1223.

We thank all applicants for their interest and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Personal information being collected will be used in accordance with The Municipal Act and The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and shall only be used in the selection of a suitable candidate.

See News Happening?

Let us know!

The Citizen Call or email us today

519-523-4792 info@northhuron.on.ca

MATHERS - Jean (Elliott) Mathers 1921 - 2024 You did so many things for us.

Your heart was kind and true, And when we needed someone, We could always count on you.

The special years will not return, When we were all together, But with the love in our hearts, You walk with us forever.

Warmly remembered and dearly loved by all her family.

Notices Royal Canadian Legion Branch 420 Blyth, Ontario is hosting a

“Veteran’s Only” Coffee Break Blyth Legion (upstairs) 192 Dinsley St., Blyth (first Wednesday of the month) May 1, June 5, July 3 and September 4 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm

We invite all Veterans and their spouses. Veterans don’t have to be Legion members. Caregivers for veterans, including first responders and RCMP and spouses are welcome.

For more information contact: Kevin McDougall, BSO at kevmcd2016@gmail.com

Services INCOME TAX PREPARATION farm, business, personal. Stephen Thompson, 519-482-3244.

All word ads in The Citizen classifieds are put on our webpage at www.huroncitizen.ca

FOR SALE - Set of four truck tire (not on rims), Goodyear Eagle P275/55R20. $100 for the set. 519357-2768.

17-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - foosball table, $50; pocket door hardware - studs and 2 tracks, $50; storm door fits 36x80, 2” thick, white, $100. Call 519-3574040.

17-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Round kitchen table 40” diameter plus 17” extension solid wood top, wrought iron pedestal base. Comes with four matching chairs. $200; combination china cabinet and wall unit. Has enclosed cupboards and open shelves. Finish matches the table and chairs mentioned above. Phone 519-9121658, Wingham. Leave message.15-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Victorian settee and two matching chairs. New blue upholstery. Excellent condition. $200.

519-612-2770.

15-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Four Continental Procontact-TX tires. 245/45R20.

40,000 km. $200. 519-526-7263.

15-3 --------------------------------------------FREE - Hardwood treetops, near Bluevale. 30” colour tube TV, working. 519-357-5614.

15-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Aerator, hardly used, owner’s manual. $175.; Lawn sweeper, like new, owner’s manual. $300. 519-482-7440.

15-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - 120 bass accordion.

Made in Italy. 519-523-9268. 15-3 --------------------------------------------WANTED - Looking for a ping-pong table. Call 519-529-1023.

15-3 ---------------------------------------------

Advertise in the classifieds today

The Citizen 519-523-4792

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024. PAGE 15.

Bokhout leads group to champion hospital

Circling the wagons Retired Dr. Maarten Bokhout hosted a public meeting regarding the Clinton Public Hospital last week to discuss the community’s priorities for the hospital and the next steps to be taken to champion the location from the ground up. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

Obituaries Memorial donations can be made to the Wingham and District Hospital Foundation or a church of your choice. Friends and family may sign condolences online at www.mackenzieandmccreath.com

DOUGLAS NELSON RAYNARD Douglas Nelson Raynard passed away peacefully in his sleep at Barnswallow Long-Term Care Facility in Elmira on Friday, April 19, 2024, in his 88th year. He was born outside of Lucknow on May 22, 1936.

The beloved husband of Mary Lou Raynard (McAllister) for almost 59 years, Doug was the father of Diane (London), Debbie and Peter (Barrie), and Donna and Cory (Kitchener). He was the grandfather of Kaitlyn and Tyler (Kitchener), brother of Chris (Goderich), brother-in-law of Norma (Lucknow) and Bill (West Wawanosh).

Doug was predeceased by his parents Clara (Ritchie) and Nelson Raynard, siblings Dorothy and Donald Murray, Lillian and Russel Irvin, Ruth and Fred Shropshall, brother Bruce and sister-in-law Patricia Raynard.

Doug loved his life farming before transitioning into the restaurant and catering business, working alongside Mary Lou. Upon retirement, they moved to Listowel where they remained active in the community and the church. He was always up for a game of cards or a Sunday drive to check out the crops, and the drive usually ended up dropping in to see family or friends. He was devoted to his family and the community, always willing to give a helping hand where needed.

Visitation is planned for Tuesday, April 30 from 11-1 p.m. with the funeral to follow at 1:30 p.m.

Interment at Greenhill Cemetery.

Lunch to follow at the Lucknow Legion.

WILDA ELIZABETH (MONTGOMERY) RUTTAN Wilda Elizabeth (Montgomery) Ruttan, formerly of Fordwich and Wingham, passed away at Huronlea, Brussels on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at the age of 95.

Predeceased by her husband Anson (Sam) Ruttan of 77 years, Wilda was the loving mom of Audrey and Garfield Gibson of Listowel, Jack and Helen Ruttan of Fordwich, and Janis and Bill Wallace of Bayfield. Wilda was the grandma of Greg Gibson, Shelley Brooks, Ian Gibson, Ryan Ruttan and Jen Trudeau, Andrea and Brian Verhaeghe, Graham Wallace and Jolyanne Landry and Jennifer Wallace and the great-grandma of Mitchell and MacKenzie Brooks, James Ruttan, and Carter and Camden Verhaeghe.

Wilda is also survived by her sister Melva Fraser, sisters-in-law Marg Montgomery, Lovina Ruttan and Dorothy Ruttan. She was predeceased by her parents Robert and Mary Montgomery, sister Treva Jamieson and brother Keith Montgomery.

Visitation was held at McBurney Funeral Home, Wingham on Wednesday, April 24, followed by the funeral service later that day.

In lieu of flowers, donations to One Care Respite or the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated.

Online condolences at www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com

Continued from page 1 bring forward the concept of amalgamating the four hospitals in an administrative sense for accounting purposes. Rather than four sets of books, one for each hospital, Williams said at the meeting, it would just be one corporation for the alliance’s four hospitals.

As far as he knew, Bokhout said that, after the meeting last September, the proposal was sent to the Ministry of Health in Ontario from the alliance’s board of directors. The Ministry agreed with the board’s proposal and approved it last month, he said.

Indeed, the HPHA website confirms that the hospitals have now officially amalgamated.

“Effective April 1, 2024, the four corporations that comprise the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) - Clinton Public Hospital, St. Marys Memorial Hospital, Seaforth Community Hospital, Stratford General Hospital - have formally amalgamated,” reads the website. “Formed in April, 2003, the HPHA’s four hospitals have effectively operated as an integrated organization, including a single board, administration and professional staff. Amalgamation is a responsible governance progression of our organization and aligns with our vision of innovating for exceptional health.

Amalgamation will not only streamline business operations, it

strengthens business continuity.

“There is no impact on the HPHA’s programs or services and the HPHA’s foundations will remain independent, raising funds for their local hospitals and healthcare priorities.”

Darren Stevenson, chair of the Clinton Public Hospital Foundation, was in attendance and assured everyone there that, as far as the foundation is concerned, the amalgamation will not change anything. Any money raised for the foundation will continue to be used in Clinton for priorities of the local hospital.

He also noted that the foundation has helped secure a doctor to replace Dr. Salisbury, who is retiring at the end of June. The hospital could likely use another doctor or two, he said, but things are looking good. The doctor, who will begin under supervision until her licence is fully obtained, is married to a surgeon, so the recruitment department is working diligently to find work for both professionals and making them feel welcome. In fact, he said, there will likely be a retirement party for Salisbury this fall, in addition to some other doctors who retired during the COVID-19 pandemic and weren’t properly feted (Bokhout included).

Bokhout then encouraged those in attendance to break out into small groups and discuss the issues at hand and some potential solutions.

Once reconvened, the meeting then continued with discussion about the nightly closure of the hospital’s emergency department, which has been in place and remained unchanged since November of 2019.

One member of the public said that local nurses need to be paid more to both attract new nurses and retain existing ones. Furthermore, another resident said that nurses should be offered full-time positions in one location, rather than nurses being used on a parttime basis and being moved throughout the four hospitals within the alliance. That movement, the person opined, is to blame for nurses moving to the newlyamalgamated Goderich and Exeter hospitals.

Residents were also concerned with nurses that were terminated for refusing innoculation against COVID-19. Bokhout said this has been a concern since before the

pandemic in regards to influenza inoculations, but it could be something that could be discussed.

Vaccination mandates are decided by local hospital boards, he said, and while some have upheld them, others have dropped them in recent years, while others still chose not to impose them in the first place.

That would, however, make a minimal impact on the nursing shortage. Bokhout said that, to his knowledge, there were six nurses let go as a result of this policy across the entire four-hospital alliance.

Furthermore, the emergency room closures began before the pandemic, so staffing issues predate the pandemic and vaccination mandates imposed by the alliance.

Indeed, later in the meeting, Bokhout asked for a show of hands from those who would not be comfortable being treated by a nurse who was not vaccinated and, while a handful of people raised their hands (under 10), the majority indicated that they would not have a problem with it.

As far as recruiting new nurses and doctors to the alliance, Stevenson said that work is ongoing and a Stratford-based employee works tirelessly to attract professionals to the four hospitals.

One member of the public asked about outsourcing the work, making it results-based and operating almost as a “head hunter” and Stevenson said that could be raised at the next meeting, but he stood by his assertion that the current team in place is working as hard as it can.

Someone else said that, while the ideas being discussed weren’t bad, perhaps members of the community should prepare itself for the prospect of not attracting the nurses and doctors needed in the traditional sense, and, as a result, think up some out-of-the-box ideas.

Some of these could be establishing a walk-in clinic, more RPNs or other options.

Bokhout said there had been some great discussion and then offered to put things into perspective in regards to Clinton’s current state of affairs. For example, he said, the City of London and its population of nearly 405,000 people is serviced by two emergency rooms. Meanwhile, Huron County and its approximately 60,000 residents have five from which to choose.

He also made a point to say that Continued on page 19

PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024.

From the Minister’s Study

Another look at the Christian worldview: Stanley

By Pastor Michael Stanley, Huron Chapel, Auburn In my previous articles, we have been exploring the Christian “worldview” of how everything came to be. I explained how all of us have a worldview, it is simply the way in which we view… the world.

Our worldview is determined by a number of things: our experiences in life, our culture or what we were taught - and it is important because it determines our actions. For example, our relationships are affected by how we view another person as being worthy of our time, respect, and compassion; our work is affected by if we believe that our work is contributing to a worthy cause. Our beliefs about the origins of humans, or the source of morality, or the afterlife will all affect the decisions we make each day.

We are all faced with the realities of life; we want to live a life that has meaning; we long to experience love and joy in life; we are faced with moral decisions on a daily basis and need some way to determine what is the right thing to do, and we are all faced with the reality of our mortality and question of what happens when we die.

Every worldview (including ones that are influenced by religious views) are trying to guide us through these realities of life. The Christian worldview is informed by the Bible, and I believe that it really does offer the best explanation for what we face in this life.

We started at the beginning of the Bible and, in the very first verse, it states that God created the heavens and the earth. From this short statement, we can put together a simple definition of God that seems to explain the reality of our existence. God is defined as the timeless (because something had to exist first) creator of the material universe. God Himself is not made of matter (as that would require limiting definitions of His size, location, etc.), but rather is spiritual and outside of time and matter. This God is the one who intricately designed every element and scientific law that makes up and governs the universe. The obvious implication is that God must have some purpose in why He made it the way that He did.

The next part of the Bible gives a beautiful description of God creating everything that we can see in the universe with a purpose… just like we would expect. This would seem to align with what we continue to discover through science, which is that everything in

the universe seems to be perfectly tuned to result in the complexity of life that we see all around us.

When it comes to us as humans, we see that God made us unique in several ways. The Bible says that humans were given “dominion over the earth” and this is what we see in our world. We have the ability to do amazing things, like defeat diseases through medical science, or multiply our yields of food a hundredfold. But we also have the ability to pollute and destroy life.

Whether for good or for harm, there is no denying that humankind exercises the most power over nature.

The Bible then says that God gave us the task of caring for the world God created. It is for this reason that I believe that the Christian worldview gives the proper perspective for how we are to care for the environment. The plants and animals of the earth are a gift from God for the good of humanity and so we are to care for them in a way that will lead to humanity flourishing. We are to be a wise steward of the resources God has given us.

There is something else that is different about how God made us as humans. The Bible says that God made us “in His image”. We have unique characteristics that evolution can’t account for, and yet are blatantly apparent in our human experience. We are the only creatures with the ability to have rational thought, compared to animals that function on instinct.

We are imaginative and creative unlike any other creature. All of these characteristics that are unique to us as humans are reflections of

the God who created us in His image.

There is one more aspect of being made in the image of God that is the most unique of all, and that is the spiritual side of us. Remember that God is a spiritual being and, when He made us, He gave us a spiritual part as well…you might call it a soul. This is what sets us apart as the only created thing that can actually relate to God Himself. We see the evidence of this reality throughout history - every civilization has always believed in some kind of god and, even today, those who would consider themselves atheists will often talk about loved ones being with the angels, or speak about their soul, or express other things of a spiritual nature.

It would seem that there is something spiritual that resides deep within us as humans.

Throughout history, humans have searched for the answer to the questions of: “where did I come from?”, “why am I here?” and “what happens when I die?” These questions are all spiritual at their core, which is why every religion has an answer for them.

It should not be surprising that there are so many religions in the world, as religions are simply people’s attempt to find an answer for the deepest questions of the soul. The simple fact that religion exists almost universally within humankind is evidence that there is a source behind our existence and spiritual longings. The fact that animals don’t remotely consider anything spiritual shows that this is something that couldn’t simply evolve by chance.

BRUSSELS S

relationships are what is most valuable. Just think of the difference in how much more you care about your own child when compared to your favourite material possession… there is no comparison. You could lose everything you own as long as you still have loving relationships. The God of the Bible created us out of the overflow of His love and desires to have a relationship with us.

Everything else He created is for that purpose.

The Christian worldview offers the best explanation for why God would even create the universe in the first place and it also explains why, as humans, we have a spiritual longing in our soul to know where we came from and why we are here.

Christianity also offers the hope that the God who created us for relationship with Him has also made a way for us to be with Him after we leave this earthly life. But, before we get there, we have to understand what went wrong with God’s good creation that brought in all the evil and suffering that we encounter in our lives. We will talk about that next time.

The Regional Ministry of Hope Come Worship with Us! Trinity Anglican BLYTH 9:00 AM

St. Paul’s-Trinity Anglican WINGHAM 11:00 AM

519-357-7781 • email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca www.regionalministryofhope.com Weekly service live-streamed at 11:00 a.m. on our Facebook page or on youtube @St. Paul’s-Trinity Anglican Church Wingham.

Brussels Mennonite Fellowship

U United Chu ur urch Join J oin us at at W Worship orship orship Sunday, Sunday y,, April April 28, 28 8, 9:30 a.m.

The notion that because there are so many different religious views on God that we should reject them all is illogical. Rather, the logical conclusion is that there must be something true behind it all that needs to be discovered. This is where I believe the Christian worldview offers the best explanation and evidence for the truth that answers these questions.

The Bible explains that God created the world and then created humans in His image with the ability to relate to Him. First off, this explains why God would choose to create the universe in the first place. Because, if the universe is purely natural and there is nothing spiritual, then it would be basically meaningless; it would be like a beautiful work of art that no one has ever seen. But because God made humans with the ability to relate to God, that means that we are able to praise God for all the magnificence and beauty in the universe.

On top of that, because we can relate to God, God is able to express His love towards us. Love is what relationships are based on, and

H I

ALL ARE WEL LCOME “Games T Tiim me” April 26 at 1:30 p.m.

Beatitudes Group Study y,, May 2, 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. on zoom, contac ct Rev. Alex on email for info Contact Alex at ministter.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com y @g Website: brusselsandblythuc.ca brusselsandblythuc b ca P.O. Box 359, Brussels ~ 519-887-6259 P.

God’s Word is a

lamp to my feet

Welcomes you to Worship with us 10:00 am Worship Service 11:15 am Sunday School for all ages

Interim Pastor Elwin Garland 250 Princess St., Brussels • 519 887 6388

Sunday, April 28 Services are live-streamed and can be found by searching n “Blyth Christian Reformed Church”

at 10 a.m.

BMG Community Centre (upstairs room) 800 Sports Drive, Brussels Childcare and Sunday School provided for children 0 to 8 during the sermon

Worship and Prayer Time Loving Fellowship Expository Preaching

Evangelical Missionary Church

Sunday April 28, 10:30 a.m.

Our 44th Anniversary!

Special Guest Speaker Jeremy Shuart, "Press On, Hold On" (Php.3:12-16)

For additional details please visit: brusselscommunitybiblechapel.ca

Blyth United Churrch Sunday Service at 11:00 am “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherrd d lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 The outreach project for April is Camp Menesetungg

Nursery & Sunday School during worship, POTLUCK to follow On-site and online - live.huronchapel.com 119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131

Contact Alex at: minister.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churche es blythunited@tcc.on.ca ~ 519-523-4224

MEL LV VILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS

Sunday, April 28, 2024 11:00 am - 12 noon We extend a loving welcome to all to join us as Rev. Jan Mclnnes leads us in worship, prayer, and praise to God. Coffee, snacks, and a time for visiting will follow the servicee.

Soup & More 2 Join us every Friday from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. for lunch. This free meal is made possible by the Brussels churches and many volunteers working together to serve our community. c All are welcome!

For pastoral care concerns please call 519-524-7512 2

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024. PAGE 17.

Heading west Glimpses of the Past with Karen Webster Lanfine, Alberta - 1918

I

n time, when the earliest settlers had converted their 100-acre plots from bush land into cultivated acres, a new problem arose. In those days, families were typically large and there were just so many people that a farm could sustain. Many young men turned to trades, training as teachers and doctors, opening their own businesses or moving on.

This was the case for William Henry Burrows (1865-1944), born just east of Sheppardton in Ashfield Township, who went to work on the railroad in the northern United States. He returned to the area in 1894 to marry a neighbourhood girl: Orah Vrooman. Plagued by asthma,

William found the climate in western Canada more conducive to his health and worked on ranches there, returning to Ontario periodically until his health would worsen then heading back out west to earn a living.

By 1911, he had acquired a homestead in central Alberta and had built a sod house for his family.

Orah and their five children, aged 15 years to nine months, sold their belongings and headed west by rail.

William met them at Kindersley, Saskatchewan, and they all rode to the end of the line at Alsask, near the Saskatchewan/Alberta border. From there, the family rode in a Democrat, which was a buggy with seats in it,

all day, until William stopped at a shack and said “This is it.”

According to son George Vrooman Burrows, “Mother burst into tears and cried for three days and, if it had been possible, would have gone back east. “(Sod buildings were common on the prairies during the times of early settlement. Since there were few trees suitable from which to make lumber, pioneers cut sods from the ground and stacked them in the fashion of building blocks. Usually, the house would be dug into a slope so that one or more walls would be formed by the earth. Boards or metal were used for a roof. This would be quite a contrast to the stately two-

storey brick and frame homes that were being built in Ontario in that era.)

“However, as it was time for supper, Mother asked Dad to get some wood, start a fire and she would prepare supper. When Dad came in with an armload of buffalo chips, it was the payoff. Not knowing what they were, she asked.

When told, she just about fainted, so between smoke from the buffalo chips and tears we ate our first meal at the homestead.”

The family decided to make the best of it. The ground was burnt black from a big fire, so there was not a sound of a bird, but there were plenty of mosquitoes. The children ran around in bare feet to save their shoes for Sunday, which was tough at first, but they got used to it.

Cactus plants were a real problem.

In time, more families settled nearby. First there was a post office, then the stage coach started going through. When a Salvation Army man came from Ontario, he held church services in his house and everyone attended, regardless of their religion. When enough families had settled in the area, a school, called Glenavon, was built on the corner of one farm.

When the railroad came through, a tremendous boost was given to the community both with work and as a means to market produce. A town site was laid out on the Burrows farm and it was called Lanfine.

Progress brought a grain elevator and a general store. Next came a train station, two more grain elevators, a rooming house, restaurant, hardware store, bank, lumber company, dray line and a general meeting hall.

George continued his narrative, “Crops were good and business brisk, the elevators were full and scores of granaries were all over the place. It was nothing to see 100 farmers in town at one time. They were hauling wheat 30 miles and many stayed overnight.

“At one time, Lanfine had a skating rink, hockey team, baseball team, golf course, poker game, and had the honour of some good fighting men and some good looking girls.

“Things changed fast when the Hungry Thirties came along. The lumber yard, banks and hardware store were all gone. There was very little rain and the dust was terrible.

There was nothing for the stock to eat and a good steer was only worth two or three dollars.

“The whole country was deader than last year’s bird nest. People were moving out like flies and it was hard to take a last look at years’ worth of work and a cherished thing.”

(In 2010, my husband and I visited the site that once was Lanfine. There was only one house, a trailer home and a building that may have been the meeting hall at one time. Two metal signs announced that a school and a post office had once existed there.)

This story was preserved by the forward thinking of the local Alberta Women’s Institutes, which instigated the gathering of local histories in 1967, Canada’s Centennial year.

Likewise, a committee in Blyth is embarking on a history of the years 1977-2027. To help preserve your family’s stories, contact the Blyth Repository of History at 519-5234792 or info@northhuron.on.ca

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PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024.

Grand Tattoo in Blyth in June of 1930 with pipebands from Listowel, Lucknow, Wingham, Milverton and Blyth. Street parade at 7:30 p.m. Admission 25 cents.

Read more in the Blyth Repository of History.

405 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4792 blythrepositoryofhistory.ca

Fridays

Leadership in energy and environmental design

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The Citizen, Apr. 11, 2019

The Citizen, Apr. 02, 2009

The Citizen, Apr. 03, 2014

The Citizen, Apr. 10, 2014

The Citizen, Apr. 04, 2019

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024. PAGE 19.

Rick Mercer and Jann Arden coming to Kitchener

On the road again Canadian celebrities Rick Mercer and Jann Arden are crisscrossing Canada together this spring with their “Will They or Won’t They” tour. Citizen reporter, and former Rick Mercer Report employee, Scott Stephenson sat down with Mercer in Toronto to discuss the tour, life after the Mercer Report and amateur agricultural activity. (Scott Stephenson photo)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen Comedy jack-of-all-trades Rick Mercer spent 15 years as host of the Rick Mercer Report (RMR), a satirical comedy show that strove to spend a little time each week showing off the unique people, places and events that make Canada into so much more than just a really big country.

RMR took Mercer from the biggest cities to the farthest flung corners of this great nation, and for 12 years, I had the privilege of playing a small part in helping it all come together each week as a researcher and member of the production team. Mercer was kind enough to sit down with The Citizen in his Toronto home for a wide ranging chat about the various ways he’s been engaging the nation since the golden age of television came to an end six years ago.

The conversation began with a challenge of factual accuracy from the man himself. “Has it been six years?” he asked with disbelief.

“One of the advantages and disadvantages of my life is that timelines never really seem to have an impact on me. It surprises me that it’s been six.” A bit of temporal unsurety didn’t dampen his trademark enthusiasm for the task at hand. “I love talking to newspapers! I’m a huge newspaper fan - I’ve always been a huge newspaper fan. So I’m thrilled to do this. One of my favourite things in the world, after a lifetime of travel, is to sit on a plane with all the newspapers... you just consume media differently when it’s a newspaper in your hand than when you’re looking at it online.”

Mercer offered a charmingly macabre example of that difference.

“In The Globe and Mail, they have the ‘Lives Lived’ section, which is someone writing about a notable individual who has passed away. It could be a famous person, or it

could be, you know, a well-known botanist from Northern Ontario.

And then there’s an ‘I Remember’ section, where someone just writes in and talks about remembering someone. You’re never going to read that online! How many times have I been flipping through the newspaper, and I see a photograph of a woman wearing a WWII uniform with a big obit, and I’m like ‘who’s she?’ And you read about her, and her incredible life.

I’ve never looked up an obituary online. Unless it’s somebody I know that’s dead.”

It’s been a busy half dozen years for the Newfoundland funnyman.

He’s starred in music videos, hosted Comedy Night with Rick Mercer, which featured stand-out stand-ups like Sophie Buddle and Dave Merheje, and his latest book, The Road Years: A Memoir Continued, hit shelves last October. Fans of iconic comedy pair-ups also got a bit of good news in February when it was announced that Mercer would be hitting the road for a cross-country comedy tour with Canadian singer-songwriter and RMR regular Jann Arden. The first stop on the Ontario leg of their “Will They or Won’t They” Tour will be in Kitchener this Saturday, with upcoming dates in Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton and London.

The impending tour came as a bit of surprise to Mercer. “Getting ready to go out on the road with Jann is a completely unexpected development. In my last book, I write about my relationship with Jann. You were there - it was odd that she became a regular on a show that didn’t have regulars.” Arden’s first appearance on RMR was intended to be a one-time thing, but the two performers hit it off, and the audience loved it. “She’s incredibly funny, and she’s a great friend. For the first many, many, many years of our friendship we only ever saw each other when we were working together on the show.”

“Jann episodes” became an annual tradition, and a crowd favourite. When the show ended, Mercer assumed that also meant the end of his time with Arden. But laughter, like life, finds a way. “I didn’t see it coming! Certainly, it was never discussed,” he explained.

Their impending project started out as a simple book tour, which, in itself, was another development that took Mercer by surprise. “I guess when I wrapped up the Mercer Report, I was kind of wondering what it is I would do next. I didn’t know, but I certainly didn’t expect that it would be writing books. I got into the bookwriting business, and I only did that because of the pandemic. There was literally nothing else to do. And I realized I really liked the bookwriting part of the book-writing business.”

It just so happens that Arden also really likes the book-writing part of the book-writing business - her most recent book, The Bittlemores, came out a few weeks after Mercer’s. Joining forces just made sense. “I wrote a book, and she wrote a book, and her book was fiction and mine was non-fiction, and they were coming out at the same time, from the same publisher, so we decided to do these events together.”

Mercer and Arden made plans for four dates, which rapidly escalated in scope. “They wanted to give away the books at the events, so then they had to ticket the event, so then they were in real theatres, instead of bookstores.” Conflicting schedules meant the two had no time to discuss what they’d be doing before they stepped out onto a stage for the first time. All four shows went so well that they decided to keep the good times rolling after their book tour came to an end. They’re still not making any plans in advance, though. “I like to be a little more prepared than Jann, but it’s also not unlike when I was doing the TV show - as much as you could prepare, when you were doing things like jumping out of a plane, or whatever, you literally were working without a net. You can only prepare so much, and then, you know, things would go sideways. I’ve realized there’s a certain advantage to not having a safety net, and not having a plan.”

The tour will take Mercer and Arden from coast to coast over the next few months.

Mercer is more than just a little familiar with life on the road hence the title of his memoir. His travels with RMR brought him all over Canada, to which he attributes a lot of the show’s success. “I think people like seeing different parts of the country. It may be cliché, but I think that is an important part of the public broadcaster that, more and more, they’ve lost sight of. I grew up loving the CBC ‘cause I grew up loving regional programming.

Really, I just stole that idea and did it on a national level. The stuff that I loved about CBC St. John’s, from my childhood, I just kind of did the same thing. We never tried to come across as big-city cool. I always hated that when I was a kid.”

Making a national program in Toronto just made sense, but Mercer and the RMR team never forgot that it was a show for all of Canada. “I was really aware of the fact, when we started the Mercer Report, that we did the show out of Toronto. We stood me on top of the CBC Broadcasting Centre, with the CBC logo and the CN Tower in our opening - you couldn’t get a more

urban, big-city Toronto opening.

We didn’t hide the fact that we were in Toronto... but the only time we shot in Toronto was when we needed money. That was the attraction of Toronto - it was cheap to go across the street to a convention centre and shoot a segment. We felt that what made the show great was flying somewhere, and then driving two and a half hours. That’s where the great segments were.”

A few of those great segments were actually filmed in communities that are familiar to Citizen readers, including Mercer’s 2010 visit to the International Plowing Match in St. Thomas, his deep dive into Walton’s dirt bike culture, and his trip to Kincardine where he thanked Kincardine District Senior School’s class of 2018 for their impressive fundraising effort for ‘Spread the Net,’ the charity Mercer co-founded to stop the preventable spread of malaria around the world. Mercer remembers filming those segments fondly. “Oh, Kincardine’s ‘Spread the Net’ episode was a great episode! They were a great school!

And The International Plowing Match, of course, is famous. You can’t become the Premier of this province without partaking in the International Plowing Match, right?

I bet every premier has done it.”

It’s obvious why the IPM appeals to Mercer - as the rural political event of the year, it’s got all of the makings of a great RMR segment.

“It’s always one of those things... certain people, they can go, and enter the International Plowing Match, without worrying about it too much. I think I’m one of those people. I can just say ‘Sure, I’ll go!

What kind of plowing? I’ll do it!’

But [for] some people, of course, it puts the fear of God into them.”

Since he’s stopped jumping out of planes, Mercer’s had some time to develop his agricultural skills. “I would not be able to speak with any authority on the agricultural industry, but I do have a ‘Farmers Feed Families’ sticker in my office, just 10 feet away. And I would never suggest that I’m a farmer, but, in the last 10 years, I’ve got a potato patch, I’ve got a carrot patch,

I’ve got garlic coming this spring that I planted in the fall, and that is something that I’ve done now. I grow vegetables!”

Mercer finds a lot of value in spending time in both rural and urban locations. “I’m very grateful to have my foot in both worlds. I wouldn’t want to pick one, quite frankly. It seems a little bit absurd to pit one against the other.

Somebody could grow up in a rural environment and then go live in the city for a while, go to school in an urban environment and then go back. And then there are all sorts of people like you. You didn’t grow up in a rural environment - well, there you are.”

RMR never brought Mercer to Blyth on official business, but, as a theatre fan, he’s had his eye on the village for a while now. “I love the Blyth Festival’s mandate! I happened to be talking to a young actor the other day who’s going to be in the anniversary production of The Farm Show... It’s an incredibly important show in Canadian theatre history - I mean, it essentially launched the collective movement in Canadian theatre, which had a huge impact in Newfoundland, of all places. Professional theatre in Newfoundland came about because of the collective movement... theatre in general is my favourite thing in the world to do. There’s no greater moment in my entire life than when the lights go down, and you’re in the theatre, and it’s pitch black - in that moment, anything is possible. I’m not the first person to say that.”

Live theatre is one of civilization’s oldest forms of creative expression, and Mercer believes in its staying power, even in a rapidly changing world.

“Technology has played havoc with the way our world works, but none of that is going to have any impact on theatre. A.I. is not going to impact theatre. Streaming is not going to impact theatre. None of that stuff impacts theatre. Theatre is pure, and real - nothing will ever touch it. It’s as good as it ever was, if not better. It’s bulletproof.”

Mercer and Arden will be in Kitchener on Saturday, April 27 and London on Wednesday, May 15.

Perspective needed Continued from page 15 situations like those in Huron County and beyond are not unprecedented, even dating back decades. Bokhout referenced the Stanton Hospital situation of a few years back, in which expecting Yellowknife mothers were forced to find housing and give birth in Edmonton, nearly 1,500 kilometres away.

He told a story about his early career as a doctor in Newfoundland and expecting mothers on the Labrador coast had to travel to mainland Newfoundland in advance of their due date to ensure proper medical services and that was nearly 40 years ago. Bokhout said it was important to retain perspective and understand some of the more extreme scenarios that have been experienced across the country over the years.

Bokhout also noted that, as a long-time medical professional, he had no concerns with the level of care or state-of-the-art equipment at Clinton hospital. When the hospital is operating, he said, the care is topnotch. It’s the closures that have him concerned, he said.

Looking ahead, he asked those in

attendance about their priorities.

First and foremost was 24-hour-aday emergency department access.

Bokhout acknowledged the importance of round-the-clock care, but also stated that emergency calls in this area are rare after midnight.

The public also wanted staffing concerns addressed through recruitment and a potential revisitation of the vaccination policy.

He then suggested he could put some points together on behalf of the group and felt it would be appropriate to ask to speak to the board as a delegation at an upcoming meeting. However, Bokhout then asked anyone interested in getting involved to come up and speak to him after the meeting, so the group could present strength in numbers. “It cannot be just me, it just can’t,” he said.

Bokhout also acknowledged that healthcare, regardless of the level of government, is a political issue, so he encouraged anyone concerned about the future of the hospital in Clinton to reach out to their local representatives, saying the more people supporting the cause, the better.

PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, APRIL 26, 2024

GRAND OPENING

_âÇtÜ _ÉâÇzx April 27th in Blyth Ontario Drop in and meet Leonie between 9:30 am and 12 noon Enjoy coffee, tea and snacks Come check out what the space has already become, and see the vision Leonie has for the space moving forward!

Astrologer Leanne Kavanagh from Bayfield will be speaking around 10AM to explain to us what energy the moon is currently providing to us and how it may affect our day to day lives.

Crystal Elliot will have her artwork on display, many pieces are repurposed and inspired by nature and family.

www.lunarloungesalon.com 519-525-5157

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The Blyth BIA welcomes the Lunar Lounge to our community!