The Citizen - Feb. 24, 2023

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Friday, February 24, 2023

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Volume 39 No. 8

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U15 Heat remain perfect in playoffs

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

Full of hot air The Belgrave Community Centre Board was busy over the weekend, hosting a special children’s carnival on Sunday, largely administered by young people themselves, at the centre for the area’s young people.

The Belgrave Kinsmen also took it upon themselves to

feed the community with a fundraising breakfast over the weekend. The carnival featured face-painting, balloon animals and a number of games to keep eager young people of all ages busy for hours. The event was well attended and well reviewed by those who attended. (John Stephenson photo)

The U15 C Huron Heat are still undefeated in their playoff run, winning their first six games of the postseason.

The team posted a 2-0 win over the Lambton Attack on Feb. 18 on the road, which came after a 2-1 Valentine’s Day win over the Ilderton Jets in Seaforth.

Prior to those games, the Heat had beaten the Lucan Irish on Feb. 5 by a score of 5-0, the Lambton Attack on Jan. 29 by a score of 5-0, the Ilderton Jets on Jan. 28 by a score of 4-0 and the Woodstock Wildcats by a score of 3-1 on Jan. 22.

They continued their playoff push on Feb. 21 with a game against the Lucan Irish in Seaforth, but a score was unavailable at press time. They play against the Wildcats in Woodstock on Feb. 25.

The U18 C Heat have continued their playoff push, with a 2-2 tie with the St. Thomas Panthers on Feb. 18 on the road. This came after they lost to the South Huron Sabres in Clinton on Feb. 12 by a score of 1-0.

Next, they play the Sarnia Lady Sting in Seaforth on Feb. 24, followed by a home-andhome series with the London Continued on page 9

Younan details local crime trends with ACW Council

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Huron County Detachment Commander Inspector Jason Younan addressed the AshfieldColborne-Wawanosh Council on Tuesday, Feb. 21 to provide an update on criminal activity in the township. Inspector Younan said in 2022 the OPP issued 856 tickets, 276 warnings and performed 57 RIDE checks in ACW. Inspector Younan pointed out an uptick in car thefts and noted that agricultural communities are vulnerable during planting and harvesting times because farmers sometimes leave keys in vehicles when they are out working in the fields. Making matters worse, those same stolen vehicles are often used in other crimes like street racing and drug trafficking. Inspector Younan stressed awareness and prevention to reduce the frequency of these types of crimes, and challenged council members to

think outside the box in order to find solutions for crime-related issues facing the community. Using social media to spread awareness was one such idea he put forward.

Inspector Younan advised council that proactive community policing is best aided by public input. “If you see something, call us,” he said.

That includes emergency issues like impaired driving or breaking and entering, and less urgent issues such as theft. He also recommended the use of Crime Stoppers, a community program created for the public to report crimes and provide information to police in an anonymous fashion.

Inspector Younan confirmed that drug use and drug trafficking are major issues confronting the region, and that the county has more than its fair share of this type of crime.

Inspector Younan stressed the importance of all levels of government providing necessary services to combat social issues associated with drug abuse and ailing mental health, but also went

on to explain that the goal is to make the county as uncomfortable as possible for active criminals.

Inspector Younan noted that overall policing costs to ACW have been trending downward for the past several years. He said policing costs for the township exceeded $950,000 in 2019 but the estimated cost in 2023 is anticipated to be $889,000.

The issue of traffic safety was voiced by Benmiller-based Deputy-

Mayor Bill Vanstone and Councillor Evan Hickey, who lives on Nile Road. Vanstone says he has personally observed cars and large trucks failing to stop at stop signs, endangering pedestrians, and Hickey was also frustrated at the extent of observable speeding in the township. Vanstone requested more police vehicles be dispatched to these areas to slow drivers down, and Inspector Younan confirmed the possibility of that as an option.

A final question from Councillor Curtis Blake brought up concerns about human trafficking and prostitution in the area. Inspector Younan assured council that cases of human trafficking are rare in Huron County, though they do happen.

Mayor Glen McNeil thanked Inspector Younan for his report and expressed appreciation for everything being done to keep the ACW community safe.

Homecoming moving ahead: NH

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen The 2024 Wingham Homecoming event has not been canceled, according to North Huron Reeve Paul Heffer, countering social media comments from former organizers indicating otherwise.

Following a special closed session meeting held on Friday, Feb. 17, North Huron Council affirmed its

support for the once-per-decade celebration of all things Wingham, scheduled to take place next year from June 28 until July 1.

“Homecoming celebrations are great community events, and we want to do everything we can, as a municipality, to support the community in putting on a safe and enjoyable 2024 Wingham Homecoming,” said Heffer in a media release issued ahead of the

Family Day long weekend in Ontario.

Council dissolved the recently created 2024 Wingham Homecoming Committee of Council after multiple members reportedly submitted their resignations. Council is instead pivoting to allow a yet-to-bedetermined community-based organization to take the lead in Continued on page 2

PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023.

Lockie to support Homecoming group

Lacing them up The Blyth and District Community Centre played host to a special crafts day, sponsored by the Blyth Legion and Legion Ladies Auxiliary, and free skating, which was sponsored by the Blyth Lions Club on Monday. Dozens of locals took to their home ice to celebrate Family Day together, engaging in one of the country’s most storied pastimes.

(John Stephenson photo)

Continued from page 1 planning the multi-day event.

Council stated a willingness to provide access to township resources, including seed money, and is inviting interested potential organizers to collaborate through the township’s special events approvals process. Community Engagement Co-ordinator Denise Lockie is tapped to provide support to whomever takes on the planning responsibility to ensure the cultivation of a successful event.

Some former members of the now-defunct 2024 Wingham Homecoming Committee of Council unleashed a fury of online panic after a now-deleted post appeared on the group’s Facebook page implying the event was scuttled and any resultant questions from concerned community members should be directed to members of North Huron Council.

The post garnered over 40 comments from a passionate group of potential revelers-to-be. A change.org petition sprouted online with a stated goal to “show the municipality how many of the current residents, past residence (sic) as well as those who love to visit Wingham want this spectacular event to happen for our community.” The petition recorded 232 online signatures.

Angela McPherson and Kendra Kregar, former leading members of the 2024 Wingham Homecoming planning committee, appeared in front of council as a delegation at the Dec. 19, 2022 meeting to advocate for their group to be

accepted as a Committee of Council, a distinction that comes with increased oversight and scrutiny from members of council.

The duo was cautioned by DeputyReeve Kevin Falconer about the deliberative body’s slower-moving qualities and bureaucratic limitations, and they attested to understanding the obstacles and limitations the arrangement might impose on their ability to efficiently plan the event.

On Friday, Feb. 17, McPherson replied to an e-mail request from The Citizen to clarify events that led to the dissolving of the 2024 Wingham Homecoming Committee of Council. McPherson expressed dissatisfaction with the rigidity of the rules imposed by the arrangement initiated by establishing the group as a Committee of Council. McPherson also lamented the township’s ability to assert its mandated oversight over the committee’s composition and procedures.

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News from the Gentlemen’s Club with the Kansas Farmer Special correspondent to The Citizen as curated by Paul Nichol

I

have a big milestone birthday coming up. It will put me into one of Statistics Canada’s upper percentiles. Now, I’m not a big one for parties. And I would certainly never draw attention to myself. But I had to ask my good wife how the celebration plans were coming along.

She let on that she didn’t know what I was talking about. I said that it was a big day for me, and it would seem sensible to invite all my friends over for a birthday party. She replied, “You don’t have any friends anymore, except for maybe Bob Pearson. He’s the only one around here that’s not too picky about the company he keeps.”

To clarify, she informed me. “No one in town wants to associate with you nowadays ever since you started writing those stupid columns.

They’re all afraid that you are going to make fun of them in the paper”.

“Interesting,” I replied. “Jo-Ann McDonald and I were just talking about that very thing the other day.

She told me she has the very same problem. But we both agreed it shouldn’t matter much. Nobody reads The Citizen anyway.”

“Won’t David Blaney come?” I asked.

“He doesn’t live here anymore.

Don’t you remember he and Sheana left town after your last big birthday party? They were looking for a place where that sort of thing never happens to them again.”

“What about King William III?”

“Nope, he’s off snowmobiling that day.”

“But there’s no snow after all this rain,” I exclaimed.

“Bill says if he has to go all the way to Yellowknife just to avoid your birthday, he will.”

“Surely Rick Demaray,” I pleaded.

“He’s given up on you too,” she replied. “These days he’s got his sights set on some new gal down at ‘The Purple Bike.’”

Then, dejectedly, I sighed. “Well if Rick’s not going to be here, Marguerite Thomas is certainly not coming either.”

“How about the ladies down at the Liquid Store? They always seem friendly towards me.” That’s when I really caught it.

“Of course they are kind to you,” she said. “You are responsible for 70 per cent of their gross revenue! Now, you better get this through your head! As far as they are concerned, it’s just business. All business and nothing else.”

In a last-ditch effort, I considered inviting Doug Garniss from Lower Town Wingham. Then I thought better of it. The Thynne and Garniss clans have feuded for generations ever since my great-greatgrandfather stole a hog. (Or was it a cow? Or maybe a wife?) Anyway, I don’t expect Doug’s anywhere near ready to bury the hatchet just yet.

Plus he’ll probably be off playing pickleball somewhere.

Well, my dear readers, I expect I’ll be eating my birthday supper of

burnt toast and canned wieners all by myself. Come to think of it, maybe I can get Bob Pearson to jump out of a cake?

Truthfully Yours, TKF

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023. PAGE 3.

Blyth’s Sawchuk to be featured on AMI program

Moving forward Blyth’s Julie Sawchuk will be featured in a season two episode of Mind Your Own Business, a Dragons’ Den-style program produced by Accessible Media Inc., in which entrepreneurs from the disability community detail their businesses and receive advice from the show’s mentors, who will then check in several months later. Here she is on set in Toronto with the hosts and mentors. From left: Mentors Karen Wong, Henny Yeshanew and Jasmin Ganie-Hobbs, Sawchuk and co-hosts Kevin Shaw and Purdeep Sangha. (Courtesy photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Blyth-based accessible design advisor Julie Sawchuk will be featured on an upcoming episode of Mind Your Own Business, a Dragons’ Den-style reality show on Accessible Media Inc. The show is now in its second season and Sawchuk says it offers opportunities for the disability community to pitch their businesses online to a panel of mentors

(entrepreneurship experts and business people) and receive advice and mentorship from them to help their businesses thrive.

Sawchuk says she was familiar with the show when its first season aired because one of her friends was tapped to take part in it. Now, with work on season two underway, she too has been asked to take part, filming two different segments for the show that she expects will air sometime this summer.

The team behind the program

reached out to Sawchuk, asking her to be part of season two and she said she was eager to get involved.

They had a Zoom conversation that served as somewhat of an audition for the show, Sawchuk said, and she was chosen to be included in the season.

The crew then came to Blyth in late January to film with Sawchuk, interviewing her at her home and at Blyth Cowbell Brewing Company, one of her clients with Sawchuk Accessible Solutions. Then, on Feb.

9, she was in Toronto to film in studio with the mentors for that portion of the show, meeting them and receiving advice to take home and implement into her business.

After that part of the process, she said, the team will follow up with her in a few weeks - she estimates April or so - and see how she’s doing as far as implementing positive changes into her business.

The episode will then air this summer, she said, on the network.

Sawchuk says the whole experience has been fantastic and very inspiring. She says it was really the first time she has been part of a professional film production and she was impressed with the quality of the work of the crew, the mentors and everyone who was involved in the production of the show.

Now, however, she’s left with a page-long to-do list after the advice from the mentors that, with about two weeks since her time meeting with them in Toronto, she hasn’t had much time to work at. She has a few checkmarks on the list, she says, but there is plenty of work to be done before they check back in with her in a few weeks.

Sawchuk said they asked her to focus on one specific aspect of her business with which she felt she needed help. That was tough, she said, because she felt she could have used guidance in all aspects of her business, especially from such accomplished business people who are so in tune with entrepreneurship, but that she was eventually able to hone in on a few things.

She said she’s taken so much away from the advice she received as part of the show and that there were even a few pieces of guidance

that really surprised her. One such nugget was one of the mentors talking to her about who her audience should be when she seeks out speaking engagements, which made Sawchuk look at things in a whole new light.

When she returned from Toronto, she said she spent a day or two working on a massive “brain dump” of all the information that came her way during that portion of the process, resulting in the aforementioned to-do list. Now, she said, it’s a matter of moving forward and implementing all that she can before the next phase of the process goes ahead.

Sawchuk has authored a number of books on accessible design and started Sawchuk Accessible Solutions to aid the public, especially those in housing and urban design, in making spaces more accessible for all. She spent the early years of her career as a teacher at F.E. Madill School in Wingham, but changed her career path after she was struck by a car while cycling in 2015. She suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of the collision, leaving her paralyzed from the chest down.

Since starting her own accessibility design consulting business, she has worked with a number of local businesses and governments to help them be more inclusive.

For more information on Sawchuk Accessible Solutions, visit juliesawchuk.ca and for more information on Accessible Media Inc. and to watch episodes of Mind Your Own Business, visit the network’s website at ami.ca.

Watch for Sawchuk’s episode to become available online sometime later this year.

I take my good works and my bad works!

(Thomas Guthrie, 1803-1873) I remember reading the response of a godly man, when on his deathbed, to his friends who spoke of the many good works he had performed.

“God works! good works!” said the dying man, “I take my good works and my bad works, and cast them into one heap out of my sight, and turn to my only hope—the Cross of Christ!”

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

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Making her case Blyth’s Julie Sawchuk, who is the owner of Sawchuk Accessible Solutions, a consulting firm that aids businesses, governments and builders in making their spaces accessible for all, recently filmed an episode of Mind Your Own Business, which she says has helped her improve her business in a number of ways. Here she is on the set of the show in Toronto. (Courtesy photo)

PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023.

Editorials & Opinions

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

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The human spirit As Turkey and Syria dig out of the rubble left from the devastating earthquake that struck on Feb. 6, two new aftershocks last weekend measuring over six on the Richter scale have caused further casualties to add to the estimated 46,000 killed in the original 7.8 quake. The region had continued to be rocked by more than 7,000 aftershocks, but the ones on Sunday were particularly large and killed six and injured hundreds more, causing even more unimaginable hardship.

Officials announced on Sunday that the country was winding down rescue operations with little hope that anyone could survive any longer while trapped under the tons of debris that was left when scores of buildings collapsed. The human spirit displayed its resiliency, though, as survivors were being pulled out of seemingly unsurvivable chaos days and weeks after the disaster. In fact, people were still being found alive as long as 278 hours (nearly 12 full days) after their homes had collapsed on top of them, including multi-storey apartment buildings.

As rescue missions give way to recovery operations, it will become a much more difficult task for the hundreds of people involved. Each time someone was found alive, it surely gave strength and encouragement to the rescuers to go on despite freezing temperatures and hard work to dig through the rubble. Now, with little hope of finding anyone still alive, the crews will need to soldier on to retrieve the dead to provide closure to loved ones and prepare the area for rebuilding. – DS

Waging war When you Google slogans used by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) over the years, the first one that comes up is from 1977 and it reads, “Bringing Canadians Together”. Well, that may have been true in 1977, but now, not so much.

Federal Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre has made no bones about the fact that, if given the chance, he plans to defund the CBC, saying that the national broadcaster is campaigning for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and spreading Liberal propaganda. Last week, he stepped up that rhetoric, refusing to answer a question from a CBC reporter about Poilievre’s support of the so-called Freedom Convoy, deflecting and taking the opportunity to slander the CBC. He has since engaged in a war of words with CBC President Catherine Tait.

If you feel like you’re seeing Donald Trump vs. CNN 2.0, you don’t have to clean your glasses. Poilievre’s war with the CBC is similar, even down to whipping his supporters into a frenzy against the public broadcaster. Perhaps Poilievre knows something we don’t and sees battering the CBC as his path to 24 Sussex Drive, but for many others, it’s seen as petty, irrelevant and deflecting from his own mistakes.

Regardless of who comes out on top, this war being waged with the CBC is doing nothing more than acting as a diversion and detracting from the real issues facing Canadians in their day-to-day lives. Not unlike Twitter owner Elon Musk’s seemingly never-ending quest to discredit “elitist” journalists (perhaps the greatest accomplishment of the man worth nearly $200 billion has been convincing his minions that poorly-paid journalists are an elite class of snobs out to get you), Poilievre is taking aim at those working to find the truth and, when it doesn’t serve his interests, he seems to cry fake news. – SL

He’s coming home Late last week, the Toronto Maple Leafs completed a three-team trade that brought Seaforth native Ryan O’Reilly to the team and back to his home province for the first time in his professional hockey career.

It’s being heralded as a great move for the team, which, while rich in young talent, has lacked the veteran leadership needed to push the Leafs to the next level come playoff time. However, when it comes to that office component (selling jerseys, tickets and merchandise) it’s a move that will be hard to beat, especially for hockey fans here in Huron County.

The Stanley Cup winner has been the apple of the community’s eye for several years and that adoration reached a new level when the St. Louis Blues, captained by O’Reilly won the Stanley Cup in 2019.

O’Reilly brought the cup back to Huron County, hosting parades in both Seaforth and Goderich and making visits in Clinton.

While it’s safe to say that not everyone in Huron County pulls for the storied Toronto Maple Leafs, O’Reilly being on the Leafs is a big deal for the youngest local hockey fans. Not unlike Blyth native Justin Peters winning an Olympic medal as a member of the Canadian national men’s hockey team at the 2018 Olympics, success found on the ice by players who grew up skating on the same ice at the same arenas as today’s young men and women will work wonders for their confidence.

You can’t be what you can’t see. The young people of Huron County see a Stanley Cup winner who grew up here suiting up for their local National Hockey League team, one of the most celebrated in the league’s history. For many, seeing that can’t help but spur on their own dreams, full of hopes that maybe they too, one day, may hoist the cup. – SL

Looking Back Through the Years February 24, 1966 The Brussels arena came to life for the first ever Topnotch Bonspiel. Sixteen teams competed for glory and the Topnotch Trophy was taken home by a rink skipped

by Roy Facey of Plattsville. All other prizes awarded were items from the Topnotch Feed line of products. Harold Thomas received thanks from the event sponsor for organizing the successful bonspiel.

The Brussels Library acquired a set of The World Book Encyclopedia from the Midwestern Regional Library Co-operative in Kitchener. The set was valued at around $130.

Images of Tweedsmuir Hall, the District Residence and Service Centre for the Blind of Huron, Perth, Middlesex and Elgin Counties were set to broadcast on CKNX-TV. The televised pictures highlighted progress on an addition being added to the building and provided a unique glimpse into the activities that take place inside the space that specifically cater to the needs of the blind.

A small child was dramatically rescued after falling through thin ice on the Maitland River. Fouryear-old Karen Fitch and her fiveyear-old cousin Doug Cousins were playing near the river when Fitch fell through the ice. Cousins quickly alerted family members who were able to act fast enough to rescue the young girl.

February 25, 1976 An annual meeting of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority held in Wroxeter confirmed that an additional 150 square miles of territory had been added to the Authority’s purview, bringing the total area to 1,154 square miles.

The Blyth Broomball League feature game of the week saw the 8th Liners beat the Grads 2-0.

A television, record tapes and a radio, a sabre saw, an electric drill, a propane gas stove, and a tool box were stolen from a home in the Township of Turnberry. The combined total value of items stolen was estimated to be $300.

A new Bible Study group was formed by 17 women representing various local churches in Blyth and Londesborough. The group met every Tuesday from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. All women of the community were welcome and encouraged to join the group.

A new educational film called From Cow to Carton became available in both French and English languages for school and community groups to use. The film was produced in Canada by Dan Gibson Productions Ltd. Topics covered included the history of the dairy industry and information on modern day innovations.

February 25, 1998 The Blyth Lions Club threw a fundraising barbecue as part of celebrations for the anniversary of Knechtel’s grocery store. Proceeds from the event were contributed to the Sunshine Foundation, an organization striving to make dreams come true for children threatened by serious illness or challenged by differing abilities.

Students participating in the Sears Drama Festival being held in Blyth attended various workshops and seminars including training sessions on yoga, relaxation and flexibility.

Attendees at the grand opening of the Clinton Public Hospital ophthalmology service were treated to the opportunity to observe the

new $200,000 cataract surgical equipment. It is likely that some in attendance couldn’t believe what they saw with their own eyes, underscoring the importance of the hospital’s acquisition.

Students from East Wawanosh Public School participated in Canada Week Celebrations.

Activities included indoor curling in the gymnasium and other winter Olympic-inspired events. HuronBruce MP Paul Steckle visited the school and a grand finale took place at the end of the school week.

February 21, 2013 The Brussels Lions Club welcomed two new members to their ranks. Long-time area resident Gary McCutcheon and newcomer Janet Haertel were accepted into the club by Lion Zone Chairman Bruce Bettles of Dublin. The club had added seven new members in recent weeks bringing the total up to 33. “We are so fortunate to have these new members in our club,” said club President Paul Mutter.

The Wingham Ironmen’s season came to a very disappointing conclusion when they were defeated by the Mount Forest Patriots in playoff action. The Ironmen lost three games in a row to the team from Mount Forest including two 4-0 shutouts.

The Wingham Golf and Curling Club hosted a Sweetheart Bonspiel.

The winning team consisted of Julie Hallahan, Carolyn Fear, Murray Fear, and skip Bill McDonald. The team was presented the CKNX trophy by Manager Bruce Skinn.

Morris-Turnberry Mayor Paul Gowing said the municipality would like to carry out its own septic system inspections instead of requiring county participation.

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023. PAGE 5.

Other Views Progress is not totally forward

W

atching what’s happening in Florida and other southern U.S. states these days makes it possible to wonder if anything ever changes, all the while living with the reality that the Americans, only relatively recently, elected their first Black president.

Watching the efforts of Ron DeSantis to restrict teaching, and even reading, about injustice to Black Americans because it might adversely affect white citizens, and watching governors of other southern states rush to follow his example, is really discouraging to those of us who have lived through so much American history.

In her new book The Light We Carry, Michelle Obama, wife of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States and the first Black president, recounts living through so much of the change. Her grandfather grew up in the south when Black people were shot for trying to show up to vote.

When Barack’s white mother married a Black African man in Hawaii in 1961, it was a mixed marriage not allowed in 22 U.S. states.

It wasn’t until Michelle Obama was 10 years old that American women were allowed to use a credit card without their husband’s permission.

She was one year old when John Lewis, Martin Luther King and other civil rights leaders participated in the March of Selma, Alabama. Demonstrators looking to win the right to vote for Black Americans were beaten by a vicious, racist sheriff and his men and state troopers on March 7, 1965. But the determined marchers reorganized and tried again. Some 25,000 people joined them and they marched from Selma to the capital city of Montgomery. They marched to ensure that African Americans could exercise their constitutional right to vote — even in the face

Keith Roulston From the cluttered desk of a segregationist system that wanted to make it impossible.

Obama writes that Dr. Martin Luther King said: “I know that you are asking today: ‘How long will it take?’ Not Long.” She asks how long is, “Not long”?

I’m older than she is. I remember those frantic days of the 1960s when white students were being arrested in U.S. states for joining their Black colleagues in sitting at “whites only” counters in southern coffee shops.

I’m currently rereading Toronto-born film director Norman Jewison’s autobiography This Terrible Business Has Been Good to Me and came across his story of travelling through the southern U.S. immediately after World War II while still dressed in his Canadian Navy uniform and, in one case, bringing a bus trip to a halt because he, innocently, sat in the Black section of a bus.

Perhaps it is his traumatic response to this trip that led to his directing such anti-racist films as In the Heat of the Night and A Soldier’s Story. During filming of In the Heat of the Night in 1966, Black co-star Sidney Poitier would only participate if the movie was shot north of the Mason-Dixon Line. Most of the movie was shot in a remote corner of Illinois, close to Missouri and Kentucky.

Recently I rewatched the 2014 movie Selma and saw not only the re-enactment of battle

between marchers and police at the bridge in Selma, but the quieter incidents like the Black woman who tried to register to vote in Selma and had to “prove” her intelligence by guessing correctly the number of jelly beans in a tall jar.

U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnston, a southerner himself, ended the long battle by stepping in with federal legislation to ensure Blacks could vote and attend the same schools and universities as whites. For a long time, things seemed to improve.

Ironically, while the election of Barack Obama seemed to indicate victory had been won, it also spurred a reaction among Republicans. His presidency had barely begun when the “Tea Party” movement was hatched in right wing opposition.

Things got worse after the election of Donald Trump, who had a history of blaming innocent Black New Yorkers for the attack of a white woman in Central Park, accused Obama of not being born in the U.S., supported Ku Klux Klan demonstrators and opposed Black demonstrations after the killing of George Floyd by Minnesota police. Even out of office as president, he can still raise demonstrations with his racist remarks today.

And so, six years after the election of Trump, 14 years after the election of Obama that seemed to put an end to racist strife in the U.S., racial tension seems higher today than could be imagined.

Progress is not straight forward. It took the deaths of 620,000 people in the U.S. Civil War to abolish slavery, then the south found ways to prevent Blacks from voting. A century later the civil rights movement fought a long battle for Black rights. Now, after the election of the first Black President, the resistance continues.

This week's Maitland Valley Camera Club Photo of the Week comes from Club President Lynda Mayer Smith of Brussels.

She captured this delicate winter orb as the temperatures turned cold recently ­ another sign that while we may be done with winter, it may not be done with us.

Shawn Loughlin Shawn’s Sense

The art of food

R

ecently, I took a sick day from work. A pretty rare occurrence for me, as I’ve only taken a handful over my years here. But, Tallulah brought home a nasty stomach bug from daycare over a weekend and I was unlucky enough to pick it up, so I spent a Monday night slung over a toilet and a Tuesday (our deadline day) lying lifelessly on a couch (taking occasional breaks to sling myself over a toilet once again).

As I floated between sleep and waking and being actively sick versus passively sick, I reran some old episodes of Chef’s Table on Netflix. The show focuses on some of the world’s best chefs creating dishes at some of the best restaurants all over the world (although recent seasons have attempted to lower that high brow with seasons focused on barbecue and pizza, though the dishes look no less delicious). Jess pointed out something that didn’t occur to me at the time, which is how absurd it was that I would sit there for somewhere between eight and 12 hours watching people prepare, cook and eat food, considering what I had been through in the last 24 hours (being violently ill) and, more to the point, what I had not been doing (eating - not that I had any real interest in it at the time).

So, here I am, on an empty stomach, with no interest in filling it, watching Francis Mallmann and Dario Cecchini cook steaks over fire and Rodney Scott and Tootsie Tomanetz make southern barbecue. I can see why Jess would think that was a bit strange, but I didn’t think twice about it.

For whatever reason, I didn’t really make the connection that she did. It didn’t bother me that I watched hour upon hour about food, all the while not personally wanting to have anything to do with food. I guess that’s why she’s the smart one in the house.

I will say, going through what Tallulah had gone through just a few days earlier, it gave me a real appreciation for how tough of a cookie she is. To be as sick as she was, and to really have no idea of what exactly was happening to her poor, little body must have been hard and pretty scary.

On the Sunday she was sick, all she wanted to do was lie on the couch (I can relate) and watch episodes of Peppa Pig (when she wasn’t actually getting sick herself). So, as I sat down on the couch and watched episode after episode of Chef’s Table, I thought that, to a certain extent, my daughter and I aren’t all that different after all. She was watching Peppa Pig episodes she’s watched a million times before and I was doing the same with Chef’s Table.

It brought me back to those sick days I used to have from school when I was a young boy. I think I’ve written about them before, but, in the days before PVRs and video-on-demand (sure, we had VCRs, but that was a lot of effort - plus you needed to be sure you had a blank tape, or a tape with something on it you were alright with taping over) being home from school on a weekday was magical. You could watch all of the shows you always missed while you were at school - mostly game shows and weird daytime talk shows with paternity tests, bad kids going to boot camps or those people who had lost a bunch of weight and wanted to show their high school bully how great they looked now. What a glorious time.

Sick days just aren’t what they used to be, with children, responsibilities, bills to pay and chores to do, but, in both of our cases, we were lucky enough to have Jess there for us, taking care of business so we were free to watch our shows and wait to feel better.

PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023.

At the Branch

Brussels’ Fisher catches the ace, wins $7,339

By Jo-Ann McDonald It’s another week into the new year of 2023 and it’s now the second half of the Legion year. The executive of the Legion has a term of June 1 to May 31. Elections for new executive members are held in April and members are installed in May and begin their term in June.

We are very pleased to have some new members at the Brussels Legion Branch and are excited to have them become involved in the normal running of the Branch and even sit on the executive.

We are going to host the initiation of all the new members in March.

All will be contacted to attend on

March 24. It is only a 15-minute procedure and then the evening will continue with Jelly Bean Blue providing entertainment for a fun and welcoming evening to all the new members. All are invited to attend the evening. Mark your calendars and watch for more details.

The big news of the week is the ace has been found. The Catch the Ace draw was held with leader Deb Ross of team three pulling the winning ticket. The lucky winner was Carol Fisher of Brussels. She chose envelope number 45 and won the weekly prize of $215. When the envelope was opened the ace of spades was revealed - so she won the jackpot of $7,339.50.

Congratulations to Carol!

A great crowd was on hand to witness the draw and enjoy the pub grub of chili and a roll. Next week’s food will be nachos and there will be karaoke!

The Thursday night darts had an interesting evening with 10 darters venturing out to the Branch on the slippery roads and sidewalks. The evening was cut short by the hydro outage, but, at that time the leading team was Sandra Brown and Eric Ross and Chris Brown was third.

The high shots to that point were Chris hitting 140, Eric 125 and Pete Gray hitting 113.

Saturday had the catering committee working to feed a family birthday party. Congratulations to Bev Palmer on celebrating her 90 birthday, surrounded by her family.

There were 18 people on hand to enjoy a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Comrades on the job

were Jo-Ann, Judy Lee and Linda Bird.

The next euchre tournament is scheduled for March 3 and I am pleased to say it is filled. There will be another in April and we hope it too will fill.

The month of March will be busy with the euchre, a wedding, the Brussels Leo Club’s murder mystery dinner, initiation, a performance by Jelly Bean Blue and karaoke.

The Military Service Recognition Book is looking for submissions for the next volume. If you wish to honour and remember your loved ones who have served in World War I, World War II, the Korean War or peacekeeping service, contact JoAnn or the Legion and let us know.

Information required is a copy of the enlistment papers, or service number, where they served, how long, when they were released, a picture and a story of any important medals, service or what they did as civilians. We also remember those who gave their lives in the war and include them in the book. Call JoAnn at 519-887-6570 or the Legion at 519-887-6562 if you need help.

There is a deadline for submissions and it requires time to get everything in order, so think about it today and call with any questions.

Brussels Legion 218 Catch the Ace Weekly Winner WINNER: Carol Fisher, $215 Envelope #45 found the Ace of Spades She won the jackpot of $7,339.50

Taking to the streets

Start Spreading The News!

Over a dozen locals bundled up and walked throughout Blyth on Saturday morning to raise money as part of the United Way’s Coldest Night of the Year annual fundraiser that aims to raise money to house those who are experiencing homelessness and provide a number of resources. This year’s local events are working to raise money for the North Huron Connection Centre, with a goal of $45,000. Local church leaders JoAnn Todd, left, Ernest Dow, right, and Alex Jebson, not pictured, were among those who braved the cold and completed the walk. (John Stephenson photo)

Walk raises funds for centre A NOTE FROM BETTY

By Betty Graber Watson Call 887-9231 Family Day is gone for another year. Well, the official day anyway.

It was certainly good weather to get together and celebrate the connections of family. We live in a fairly stable part of the world where family names from years past remain active.

So, when grandchildren tell you the names, with stories, of their friends, you smile and remember when those names were a bigger part of your life. So, celebrate family any day you wish; it’s good for everyone.

Family does not need to mean blood or legal connection. Looking beyond those guides, we all know someone who needs a bit of help. In the past few years, love and security for people in Huron County, and of course beyond, has caused serious and very visible concerns. People on the margins of society, job insecurity, ongoing health problems

and a multitude of social concerns have brought mental health issues and lack of housing into full view.

A new resource is trying to get up and running to target these very issues.

The North Huron Connection Centre is being readied now, and of course your support is needed. A walk was held in Blyth with the ministerial on Saturday to help finance this place of acceptance and support. A goal of $45,000 is the target. Check it out, learn what you need and see if you can help address the needs here in North Huron.

Sometimes all you can do is shut the television off. With wars ongoing, floods, fire and environmental disasters and then an earthquake or two, you feel awful and helpless. With connections to every bit of the globe, we know more about dire situations than ever before. And so we sigh and shut the television off, trying to protect our own health. Hope is what we keep to balance our sanity.

When I hear of co-operation and groups really, really working together on the many disasters in our world, I feel better. We all know about the Canadian Food Grains Bank and its role in feeding the world, so when the word came that they are working with the United

Church and the Canadian Council of Churches to offer first aid, shelter, good water and food, it was surely good news. Each group is doing what it does best. Now, from our place of privilege, we can offer prayers and a cheque to the organization that works best for you. Then you can watch a little more news.

Take care of yourself – you know what you need to do to be healthy.

Bye now, Betty G.W.

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023. PAGE 7.

Flemings open doors to BDClothing in Blyth

A new look Tara and Chad Fleming are expanding upon their popular auction business with a storefront in Blyth that focuses on clothing, called BDClothing. The new

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

Blyth business person Tara Fleming says she and her husband/partner Chad are excited to once again have a commercial presence on the village’s main street. The Flemings’ latest venture, BDClothing, opened its doors to the public on Thursday, Feb. 9 in the space at 404 Queen Street in the heart of the community’s shopping district.

The new retail store is primarily focused on clothing sales, but will also offer an assortment of other products based on availability. “We want to keep our stock changing.

We don’t want to keep the same

stuff around,” said Fleming.

BDClothing is a standalone operation, but dovetails with the Flemings’ previously established business - Blyth DC - an online auction company now based out of the couples’ home on Blyth Road.

Originally the Flemings’ used the space at 409 Queen Street to operate Blyth DC, but found the physical confines of that storefront put limits on expanding their burgeoning online auction business and forced the couple to relocate, according to Fleming.

The move turned out to be prescient ahead of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic that saw most retail spaces in Ontario shuttered for months

business has been open now for two weeks and the owners are considering a grand opening around the Easter weekend.

(Courtesy photo)

on end.

Requiring only minor tweaks to the online auction’s pick-up process, Blyth DC was not otherwise adversely

affected by pandemic-related restrictions.

Fleming says zoning limitations prevent the couple from operating a

retail space as part of their existing home business and also noted that it can be difficult to successfully auction apparel online. Fleming says this combination contributes to the development of surplus stockpiles of clothing without a direct path to market the merchandise to consumers. When the Flemings learned the space at 404 Queen Street had become available, Tara says they “jumped in” at the opportunity to open a new retail outlet on Blyth’s main street.

Currently the operating hours are listed as Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., and Sundays from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m, but changes are possible and will be communicated through BD Clothing’s Facebook business page, the store’s de facto website for information. Interested shoppers should keep an eye on that same digital space for details on current and upcoming sales, or venture inside the physical space to see what’s new.

Fleming says a grand opening is being planned with Easter weekend as a potential target date, but nothing has yet been confirmed.

McLellan, Leahy on top in euchre From Marilyn’s Desk

By Marilyn Craig Call 523-9318

Happy birthday to Joan Caldwell, who will celebrate Feb. 22; Heidi Martin, Gowanstown, Feb. 24; Aimee Townsend and Sharon Bromley, Feb. 25; Joann MacDonald, Feb. 28 and Dana Weber, Feb. 28 this year, but she will be able to celebrate next year on the right date of Feb. 29.

Winners of the euchre held Feb. 20 at the Blyth Legion Hall were: first, Edna McLellan, 77 and Lou Lahey, 72; second, Veronique Harman, 73 and Alice Yuill, 66; lone hands, Marie Millian, four and Doug Trewartha, three, and share the wealth, Shirley Wood and Sharon Freeman. Congratulations to all the winners.

On Tuesday, as I wrote this column, it was the calm before the storm in the weather department. It was mild with temperatures around 0°C, but what the weather people were forecasting for Wednesday was another big storm of rain, ice and snow with high winds. Mother Nature does not want us to forget it

is still February and winter is not over yet. Although when you can see the grass everywhere you look, it does not seem like winter.

Did you miss your Monday Morning Smile this week because of Family Day? Well, come out on Monday, Feb. 27 from 10 - 11:30 a.m. at Blyth Trinity Anglican Church and join your neighbours and friends with a coffee and maybe a couple of cookies and lots of fun and laughter.

Have a safe week and give someone a phone call to let them know you are thinking of them.

NEWS FROM BLYTH

Loading up The Blyth Legion and Legion Ladies Auxiliary hosted a special Family Day weekend breakfast and welcomed dozens to the Branch to share the most important meal of the day with their closest loved ones. (John Stephenson photo)

PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023.

Sports Ironmen shut out Hawks in Family Day game

Jockeying for position The Wingham Ironmen continue to prepare for the playoffs, showing their opponents they’re up to the challenge with a pair of wins over the weekend, including a Family Day matinee victory over the Mitchell Hawks in Wingham. Goaltender Garrett Golley earned the 2-0 shutout win for the team. (John Stephenson photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen After suffering two losses the previous weekend, the Wingham Ironmen roared back over the

Family Day weekend with two shutout wins.

The Ironmen were home for both games over the weekend, which yielded a 5-0 win over the Kincardine Bulldogs on Friday

night and a 2-0 win over the Mitchell Hawks in a special Family Day matinee contest.

On Family Day, over 425 people packed the Wingham stands to take in the game and see the hometown

Ironmen beat the Mitchell Hawks by a score of 2-0.

There was no scoring in the first period, but Wingham scored all the goals the team would need in the second period within 31 seconds of one another.

Kyle Stanbury scored his 22nd goal of the season, unassisted, just 56 seconds into the second period, followed by Noah Bloemberg’s third goal of the season at 1:27 of the period, assisted by Turner Mckenzie.

There were no goals in the third period.

Garrett Golley earned the shutout win for the Ironmen, stopping all 22 shots he faced, compared to Mitchell’s Joshua Jacklin, who was able to stop 33 of the 35 shots he faced.

All three stars of the game were Ironmen.

Goal-scorer Noah Bloemberg was the first star, while Kyle Stanbury, who scored the team’s other goal, was the second star. Turner Mckenzie, with one assist, was the third star.

The game was a relatively clean affair, with just eight penalty minutes doled out evenly amongst the two teams.

Wingham’s Zach Wall was called for interference at 7:12 of the first period and Mitchell’s Callan Ferguson was called for head contact at 14:34 of the first period.

There were no penalties called in the second period, but Wingham’s Matt Tolton was called for hooking at 2:13 of the third period and Mitchell’s Nolan Gagnier was called for goaltender interference at 3:19 of the third period.

On Friday night in Wingham it was a different story, with just under an hour of penalties assessed to both the Wingham Ironmen and

the Kincardine Bulldogs in a 5-0 Ironmen win.

Wingham’s Matt Tolton opened the scoring at 5:37 of the first period with his 16th goal of the season, assisted by Patrick Galloway.

The onslaught continued with Austin Becker’s ninth goal of the season, scored at 11:16 of the second period, assisted by Kyle Stanbury and Tayt Bramhill, and a power play goal scored by Noah Bloemberg, his second of the season, assisted by Austin Becker.

The Ironmen then closed out the game with a pair of power play goals in the third period. Dawson Fahrer scored his third of the season at 1:27 of the period, assisted by Kyle Stanbury and Noah Bloemberg and then Tyson Fischer scored his first goal of the season at 15:29 of the period, assisted by Tayt Bramhill and Noah Wettlaufer.

In the Wingham net, Garrett Golley stopped all 26 shots that came his way, while Christian DeJong, in the Kincardine net, stopped 33 of the 38 shots he faced.

Wingham’s Austin Becker, with one goal and one assist, was the first star of the game, followed by fellow Ironmen Tyson Fischer with one goal and third star Garrett Golley, who earned the shutout for the Ironmen, making 26 saves along the way.

There was just one penalty in the first period, Kincardine’s Joseph Pringle for interference, but the floodgates opened up in the second.

Wingham’s Dawson Fahrer was called for hooking just 49 seconds into the second period, followed by two roughing calls - Wingham’s Dawson Fahrer and Kincardine’s Joseph Pringle - and a charging Continued on page 11

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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!

Future Ironmen (and Ironwomen) With the Wingham Ironmen taking to the Wingham ice on Family Day, the organization added a number of fun activities for families, specifically young people, to the agenda while they took on the Mitchell Hawks. This included a free skate on the ice and a chance for some young Wingham hockey players to take to the ice during one of the intermissions, with the Ironmen staying on the ice to help out. (John Stephenson photo)

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, FEBRUARY 24, 2023. PAGE 9.

Sports U11 C Heat triumph at Friendship Festival

One step ahead On Sunday, the U15 BB Huron Heat hosted the South Huron Sabres at the Central Huron Community Complex in Clinton. The teams found themselves evenly matched that day, with neither able to break the 1-1 tie. (John Stephenson photo) Continued from page 1 Devilettes - in Clinton on Feb. 26 and in London on March 1 followed by a game with the St. Thomas Panthers in Clinton on March 5 and with the South Huron Sabres on the road on March 11.

The U13 C Heat have had a long break between playoff games, last playing the North Middlesex Junior Stars in Clinton on Feb. 12 and losing by a score of 3-1. They are next in action against the Bluewater Hawks on Feb. 25 on the road.

Then they take on the St. Thomas Panthers in Clinton on Feb. 26, followed by games against the

B.A.D. Blazers on March 5 on the road and then on March 12 in Clinton.

The U11 C Heat have also had a break in their playoff action, last playing to a 1-1 tie with the St. Thomas Panthers in Blyth on Feb. 11.

Next, they played the Central Perth Predators on the road on Feb. 23, but a score was unavailable at press time. They then play the Woodstock Wildcats in Blyth on Feb. 25, followed by a pair of games with the Wallaceburg Lakers on Feb. 26 in Clinton and then on March 11 in Wallaceburg.

Doing their part On Monday night, the Brussels Curling Club donated $2,500 to the Inspiring Our Future campaign to support the renovation and expansion of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. Club Vice-President Brent Alexander, left, presented the club’s cheque to volunteer canvasser Steve Knight after its Monday night meeting. (Courtesy photo)

The U11 C Heat won the 26th annual Friendship Festival in Brampton with a 5-4 win over the Lambeth Lancers in the final.

This came after the team earned a spot in the final with a 2-0 win over the Stratford Aces on Sunday morning.

The Heat played one game on Saturday, posting a 5-0 win over the Upper Maitland Mustangs. This was after two tournament wins on Friday, Feb. 17 - a 5-1 victory over the Cold Creek Comets and a 1-0 win over the Stratford Aces.

The U11 HL Heat posted a scoreless tie with the St. Thomas Panthers on Feb. 17 and played the North Middlesex Junior Stars on Feb. 18 in Blyth, but a score was unavailable at press time.

They are next in action against the Sarnia Lady Sting in Seaforth on Feb. 25, followed by a game with the Mooretown Lady Flags on the road on March 5 and the B.A.D. Blazers on March 12, also on the road.

On Sunday, Feb. 19, the U15 BB Heat tied the South Huron Sabres by a score of 1-1 in a playdown, while the U11 B Heat beat the St. Marys Rock by a score of 4-0, also in a playdown.

The U18 BB Heat beat the Lambton Attack on the road by a score of 3-0 that day, while the U15 C Heat played Milverton on the road and the Senior team took on Monkton in Hensall, but scores were unavailable for those games.

On Feb. 18, the U9 HL White team played the St. Marys Rock in Seaforth, but the game ended in a scoreless tie, while the U11 B Heat tied the Southpoint Stars by a score of 1-1.

The U15 BB Heat beat the South

Huron Sabres by a score of 3-1 that night, while the U18 BB Heat lost to the South Huron Sabres by a score of 3-2.

On Friday, Feb. 17, the U18 BB Heat beat the Stratford Aces in a playdown in Seaforth by a score of 2-0, while the Senior team played Exeter in Zurich in a playdown, but a score was unavailable at press time.

On Feb. 14, the U18 BB Heat played a playdown with the South Huron Sabres, but the game ended in a 2-2 tie.

The U11 C Heat beat the Stratford Aces by a score of 5-1 on Feb. 13 in Stratford.

On Feb. 20, the U15 C Heat played the Upper Maitland Mustangs in a playdown on the road, but a score was unavailable at press time.

On Feb. 21, the U9 B Heat welcomed the South Huron Sabres to Seaforth, while the U15 BB Heat were on the road for a playdown with the South Huron Sabres and the U13 C Heat played an Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) playdown with the South Huron Sabres at the Stephen Township Arena, but scores for those games were unavailable at press time.

On Feb. 23, the U18 C Heat played the South Huron Sabres in a playdown on the road, but a score was unavailable at press time.

Looking ahead, the U13 B Heat will host a playdown in Seaforth against the St. Marys Rock on Feb. 24.

On Feb. 25, the U9 HL White team will welcome the Ilderton Jets to Seaforth, while the U9 HL Black Heat will play the North Middlesex Junior Stars, also in Seaforth.

The Senior team will play Monkton on the road that night, while the U18 BB Heat will play the Bluewater Hawks in Clinton.

On Feb. 26, the U15 C and U15 BB Heat teams will host playdowns with the South Huron Sabres in Clinton, while the U11 B Heat will be in Lucan for a game with the Irish and the Senior team will host Monkton in Hensall.

The U13 C Heat will continue their OWHA playdowns with a game against the Mitchell Meteors in Mitchell.

On Feb. 28, the U9 HL White and Black teams will play each other in Seaforth, while the U11 B Heat will host a playdown with the Stratford Aces in Seaforth.

The U15 BB Heat will be on the road for a playdown with the South Huron Sabres that night, while the U13 Heat will host a playdown with the St. Marys Rock in Seaforth and the U15 C Heat will be on the road for a playdown with the St. Marys Rock.

On March 2, the U11 C Heat will play the South Huron Sabres in a playdown in Blyth, while the U18 BB Heat will welcome the South Huron Sabres to Seaforth for a playdown. The U15 C Heat will be on the road for a playdown with the South Huron Sabres.

FAÇADE GRANT PROGRAM – APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED The Municipality of Central Huron is pleased to announce their annual 2023 Central Huron Façade Grant Program. The Program includes Façade improvements for properties in Central Huron that are assessed as Commercial. The Municipality has set aside funds to help assist property owners in the expansion or improvement of the building Façade or signage. The goal of the program is to enhance the appearance of commercial businesses and by doing so refresh the sense of pride within the community. Please note that the Municipality reserves the right to fund projects as deemed appropriate.

How to Apply: Program details and Application Forms are available at www.centralhuron.ca.

Applications must be received to the undersigned by

February 28, 2023 by 4:30pm: “Central Huron Façade Grant Program” Attention: Nicole Lowe, Records Clerk Municipality of Central Huron 23 Albert Street Clinton, Ontario N0M 1L0 Tel: 519 482 3997 Fax: 519 482 9183 info@centralhuron.com If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact Nicole Lowe at 519-482-3997 Ext. 1230.

PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023.

Sports Playoffs, playdowns continue for Crusaders

Got him on the move The U13 Local League Blyth Brussels Crusaders were in playoff action on Saturday in Brussels against the Mid-Huron Huskies. It was a good day for the locals, as they came away with a 6-2 victory when time ran out. The team hosted the Walkerton Capitals for another playoff game on Feb. 22, but a score was unavailable at press time. They will (John welcome the Minto Mad Dogs to Blyth on March 1 for another playoff game.

Stephenson photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen The playoffs continue for the Blyth Brussels Crusaders, with several teams posting impressive showings over the weekend.

The U21 Crusaders won their playoff game with the Capitals in Walkerton by a score of 4-2 on Sunday, Feb. 19, while the U11 Local League Crusaders lost to the Listowel Cyclones in Blyth that afternoon by a score of 7-2.

On Saturday, Feb. 18, the U13 Local League team won its playoff game with the Mid-Huron Huskies in Brussels by a score of 6-2, while the U15 Local League Crusaders lost their playoff game against the Mid-Huron Huskies on the road by a score of 4-2. The U11 Local League Black team lost its playoff game against the Meteors in Mitchell by a score of 4-3, while the U21 Crusaders lost their playoff game to the Lakers in Shallow Lake by a score of 5-3.

The U11 Local League Burgundy team lost their playoff game to the Wingham Ironmen Blue team by a score of 2-1, while the U9 Crusaders beat the Goderich Sailors Black T2 team in Brussels that day by a score of 7-1.

The U7 Black team played the Howick Hornets on the road and the U6 team welcomed the Wallace Sabres to Blyth on Feb. 18, but scores were not kept for those games. The U7 Burgundy team played the Mid-Huron Huskies in Blyth, but a score was not kept for that game.

The U8 Black and Burgundy

teams were both in Mitchell for games against two Meteors teams, but scores were not kept for those games.

On Feb. 17, the U15 Rep team won its playoff game against the Mitchell Meteors on the road by a score of 3-0, while the U21 Crusaders lost their playoff game with the Hanover Falcons in Brussels by a score of 6-1.

On Feb. 16, the U11 Local League Black team beat the MidHuron Huskies in their playoff game in Seaforth by a score of 2-1.

On Feb. 15, the U13 Local League team beat the Goderich Sailors in their playoff game in Blyth by a score of 5-1. The U13 Rep team was also in Blyth for a playoff game against the Kincardine Kinucks, which the locals won by a score of 4-3.

The U15 Rep team won their playoff game with the Minto Mad Dogs on the road by a score of 6-5, while the U11 Local League Burgundy team lost their playoff game against the Central Perth Predators by a score of 4-2.

On Feb. 14, the U18 Rep team lost its playoff game against the AEMHA Ice Dogs in Brussels by a score of 4-2.

On Feb. 21, three teams had playoff games scheduled. The U13 Rep Crusaders were in Palmerston for a game against the Minto Mad Dogs, while the U15 Rep team played the Walkerton Capitals and the U18 Rep team played the Hanover Falcons, both in Brussels, but scores were unavailable at press time.

On Feb. 22, the U13 Local

League team welcomed the Walkerton Capitals to Blyth for a playoff game and the U18 Local League team played the Mitchell Meteors in a playoff game in

Brussels, but scores were unavailable at press time.

On Feb. 23, the U15 Rep team was on the road in Ripley for a playoff game against the HuronBruce Blizzard, while the U15 Local League team was in Wingham for a playoff game with the Ironmen, but scores for those games were unavailable at press time.

On Feb. 24, the U11 Local League Burgundy team has a playoff game with the Zurich Thunder scheduled, while the U11 Rep team will meet the Wingham Ironmen in the playoffs. Both games will be played in Brussels.

The U18 Local League Crusaders will be in Arthur that night for a game with the Vipers.

On Feb. 25, the U7 Black team will play the Mid-Huron Huskies in Seaforth, while the U6 team will host the Wallace Sabres in Blyth.

The U9 team will play the Zurich Thunder in Brussels, while the U11 Rep team will be on the road for a playoff game against the AEMHA Ice Dogs.

The U7 Burgundy team will play the Wallace Sabres on the road and the U15 Rep team will host the Mitchell Meteors for a playoff game in Blyth. The U13 Rep team also has a playoff game scheduled with the Drayton Defenders that morning on the road.

The U15 Local League Crusaders will host a playoff game with the Mid-Huron Huskies in Brussels that afternoon, while the U21 team will host the Walkerton Capitals for a playoff game that night in Blyth.

On Feb. 26, the U9 team will play the Mid-Huron Huskies in Seaforth, while the U6 team will be in Zurich for a game with the Thunder. The U8 Black and Burgundy teams will host a pair of Kincardine Kinuck teams in Blyth, followed by a trio of

playoff games at the Blyth and District Community Centre: the U11 Local League Black team will play the Mitchell Meteors, the U11 Local League Burgundy team will play the Wingham Ironmen Blue team and the U11 Rep team will host the Mid-Huron Huskies.

That night, the U18 Rep team will be in Chesley for a playoff game against the AEMHA Ice Dogs.

On Feb. 27, the U11 Local League Burgundy team will travel to Seaforth for a playoff game against the Mid-Huron Huskies, while the U15 Local League team will host a playoff game with the Mount Forest Rams and the U18 Local League team will play the Arthur Vipers in playoff action.

Both games will be played in Blyth.

On Feb. 28, the U9 Crusaders will be in Goderich for a game with the Sailors White T1 team, while the U15 Rep team will host a playoff game with the Mount Forest Rams in Brussels. The U18 Local League team will be in Walkerton for a playoff game with the Capitals.

The U13 Local League Crusaders will host the Minto Mad Dogs for a playoff game on March 1, followed by a playoff game between the U13 Rep Crusaders and the Drayton Defenders. Both games will be played in Blyth.

That night, the U11 Local League Black team will be in Listowel for a playoff game with the Cyclones.

On March 2, the U11 Rep team will be on the road for a playoff game with the AEMHA Ice Dogs, followed by a trio of playoff games on March 3. The U11 Local League Black team will host the Mid-Huron Huskies in Brussels and the U21 team will welcome the Shallow Lake Lakers to Brussels, while the U13 Local League team will be in Goderich for a game with the Sailors.

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023. PAGE 11.

Sports Walton’s Skylar Kemp brings home gold

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen Twelve-year-old Walton resident Skylar Kemp brought home a gold medal in kickboxing from the Ontario Winter Games held in Renfrew County earlier this month.

Kemp also earned a Sportsmanship Award, a distinction presented to event participants who actively demonstrate a commitment to good behaviour both inside and outside of the arena of sport.

“I am proud of him and excited for him,” said Kemp’s mother Allyson, speaking in between hockey games at a tournament in Tillsonburg where Skylar’s team was competing. “He is a team player no matter whether he’s fighting against the person or not.

He encourages them and just wants everybody to have a good time.”

Allyson feels that Skylar’s personal motivation and the rigours of his athletic training schedule helped him triumph in eastern

Ontario. In addition to kickboxing and hockey, Skylar also plays baseball, lacrosse and soccer, is a straight-A student in school, and plays several musical instruments, including drums, guitar, piano and trumpet, according to Allyson, positively glowing over the cell phone before handing it to Skylar.

“I felt really proud of myself and happy,” said the Grade 7 Seaforth Public School student when asked how he felt about winning the gold medal. Skylar praised the power, countering ability and quality of punches of his opponent in the championship final, but said an advantage was gained when perceivable signals of his rival’s dwindling energy began materializing in the third round of the championship final.

Skylar said it is meaningful to him to take home the Sportsmanship Award in addition to the gold medal because it’s important to be helpful to the people around you. Skylar said he encouraged his peers at the Ontario

Winter Games, kept his temporary sleeping quarters neat and tidy, and made sure to leave a gratuity behind as a token of his appreciation for the efforts of the facility’s cleaning staff.

Skylar originally connected to the sport through his Wingham-based kickboxing uncle Daniel Kemp.

Daniel introduced the young athlete to a training centre in Hanover known as the Golden Tiger School of Kung Fu and offers round-trip transportation from Wingham - an added bonus, says busy mother Allyson. It was Daniel who shepherded the young Kemp on the fateful journey to Renfrew County where a golden, and very sportsmanlike, destiny was met.

When asked what lessons he’s learned from kickboxing that can be applied to everyday life, Skylar said, “Be patient. It’s not always about strength.”

Looking forward, Skylar hopes to compete at the national tournament in Niagara Falls at the end of March.

Ironmen remain in fourth

Gold medal champion Skylar Kemp brought home a gold medal in kickboxing from the Ontario Winter Games held in Renfrew County earlier this month. (Courtesy photo)

Intense on ice action The Wingham Ironmen triumphed over the squad from Mitchell by a score of 2-0 in Wingham on Monday. (John Stephenson photo) Continued from page 8 penalty also called against Fahrer, all at the 3:55-minute mark of the period.

At the 6:11 mark of the period, Kincardine’s Jake Ertel was called for both cross checking and unsportsmanlike conduct, followed by a charging call on Kincardine’s Jordan Beisel at 8:52 of the period and a roughing call against Kincardine’s Wilson Shipp at 16:31.

Carter Servais of the Bulldogs was then assessed a trio of penalties and ejected from the game. He received a five-minute major fighting penalty, as well as fighting instigator and fighting aggressor penalties at 16:50 of the second period, all of which were served by Hayden Robinson.

Also at 16:50 of the period, Nate Bloemberg of the Ironmen was called for unsportsmanlike conduct and handed a 10-minute major penalty and was also ejected from the game.

In the third period, Kincardine’s

Austin Waite was called for cross checking at 1:05 of the third period.

Wingham’s Tayt Bramhill was called for tripping at 3:25 of the period, followed by a holding call on Austin Becker at 6:33.

Kincardine’s Jake Ertel was then called for slashing at 8:10 of the period and then ejected from the game for abuse of officials.

Wingham’s Matt Tolton was called for tripping at the 11-minute mark of the third period, followed by a pair of head contact penalties called on Kincardine’s Wilson Shipp at 13:58 of the period.

Kincardine’s Caeleb Bowler was called for charging at 14:30 of the period, followed by a slashing penalty called on Ryan Litt of the Bulldogs.

Wingham’s Zach Wall was called for boarding at 17:52 of the period, followed by an interference call on Kincardine’s Wilson Shipp at 18:48 of the period and a charging call on Kincardine’s Caeleb Bowler and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty called against Wingham’s Turner

Mckenzie, both at 19:32 of the period.

The Ironmen now play their final three regular season games on the road. They’re in Walkerton for a game with the Capitals on Feb. 24, Goderich on Feb. 25 for a game with the Flyers and then in Goderich again on March 4 to play the Flyers again.

The Mount Forest Patriots remain in first place in the North Pollock Division of the Provincial Junior Hockey League with 59 points and a record of 29-9-0-1. The Hanover Barons are in second place with a record of 25-9-2-2 and 54 points and the Mitchell Hawks are in third place with 50 points and a record of 23-11-2-2.

The Ironmen are in fourth place with 49 points and a record of 2313-2-1, followed by the Kincardine Bulldogs with 39 points and a record of 17-16-4-1, the sixth-place Walkerton Capitals with 14 points and a record of 6-29-1-1 and the last-place Goderich Flyers with 13 points and a record of 6-30-1-0.

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PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023.

Huron East approves gravel tenders at much higher prices

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

Up the wing The U13 Local League Blyth Brussels Crusaders took on the Mid-Huron Huskies on Saturday in playoff action hosted by the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre.

When it was all said and done, the Crusaders won the game by a score of 6-2.

(John Stephenson photo)

Watson profiled by school PEOPLE AROUND WALTON

By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570

It was another week of weather bouncing up and down, but this time with some nasty freezing rain.

Roads were tricky on Thursday evening, but thankfully they cleared up quickly by mid-morning Friday.

Not soon enough to send buses, so it was a lovely four-day weekend for kids and drivers.

The Ladies Club was finally able to gather and have its monthly birthday celebration meal. They celebrated both January and February birthday girls, which included (January) Joan Bernard and Sandra Cable and (February), Bev Palmer and Marci Bremner.

Bev celebrated a very special birthday, as she turned 90. The group was a little smaller than usual due to some Florida travellers being away and some under-the-weather friends. Having a lovely chicken dinner at JR’s were Joan, Sandra, Bev and Marci who were joined by Audrey Cardiff, Betty McCutcheon, Dale Chesher, Betty Campbell, Sandra Clark, Isobel Wheeler, Alice Marks, Betty Cardiff and Dona Knight. They were all so very pleased to be able to get together again, enjoy a great meal and friendship. Happy birthday ladies!

The Walton Hall was the venue for another family gathering and birthday party. Little Sadie Smith celebrated her fourth birthday with nearly 35 of her relatives. They played, danced and partied as children will do, while adults chatted and visited, and then enjoyed pizza, a variety of snacks and cake. They said the hall was perfect and a great place to have a gathering.

A crew of friends travelled to Mexico for fun, food, sun and parties for a week. The crew reports a fantastic time at the Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda Riviera Maya resort. The group of Lisa

Glanville’s friends included Joan, Mike, John, Gail, Kevin, Rose and Pam. The group did many things, including some who went snorkeling at Yal-Ku Lagoon where they saw many beautiful coloured fish. It was a beautiful beach, so lots of sunning, relaxing and drinks were enjoyed. It was a great time for all.

There was a great feature article

by NOSM (Northern Ontario School of Medicine) on a university medical student, who has local roots. He is Andrew Watson, the son of Mike and Valerie Watson and grandson of Ralph and Betty Watson and Murray and the late Audrey Johnston. It seems Andrew has been a busy boy since he left Brussels for university. He graduated with his nursing degree and then continued his education.

He attended Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia for his undergrad in nursing where he worked in adult critical care. He also worked as a critical care dive technician in a hyperbaric chamber in Halifax for a couple of years. He then started travel nursing in intensive care units across Canada, from across the prairies to the west coast, to the far north in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

He is now in Sudbury at NOSM, starting medical school and is interested in anesthesiology.

Andrew loves the outdoors and especially anything to do in, on or under the water.

It sounds like Andrew has had a great life experience and is working towards another exciting chapter in his life. Congratulations to Andrew on his success and his continued success! Brussels wishes you well!

Our confusing weather has people and animals mixed up. I couldn’t believe the number of motorcycles I saw on Valentine’s Day and the next day. The weather was sunny and warm, not hot, and only kind of warm, but I saw three motorcycles out and about. I would hazard a guess and think that Feb. 14 is one of the earliest times bikers have been out?

The animals that are confused include many raccoons and some skunks. The highway crews on clean-up have been busy picking up the many dead animals that forgot

to look both ways before crossing the road. Reports of raccoon sightings around houses and barns are heard from many folks, out in the country and in town. People are also having a hard time deciding what to wear, snow boots or running shoes, and then the weather changes and it should be running shoes or the snow boots or heavy coats or light coats. Decisions, decisions.

Animals, people and even the trees are confused. The warm weather has the maple syrup producers hustling to get the trees tapped and the lines strung for the running of the sap. It has been reported that the sap is running and we hope the weather straightens around with the necessary cold nights and warm days to ensure a good run.

We send our get-well and speedyrecovery wishes to Carman Bernard, who has had a hip replacement. He will have had a week of recovery by the time you read this. He had his surgery in Sarnia and is said to be doing well.

Happy recovery Carman!

Celebrating birthdays this past week were Monica McNichol, Sadie Smith, Shawna Terpstra, Helen Brenie, Tyler Williamson, Steve Knight, Kevin McNaughton, Bruce McDonald, Tamara Williamson and Chris Lee. Happy birthday to all.

At the last meeting of Huron East Council of 2022, Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson was on hand to present Mayor Bernie MacLellan with a Long-Standing Service Award, marking his 25 years in municipal politics.

She thanked him for his time spent in service of Huron East and his commitment to the community over the past quarter-century and counting. *** Huron East Council has settled the issue of a barricade blocking an alley behind several Seaforth main street businesses.

The property owner who placed the barricade said he would remove it if the municipality assumed responsibility for winter maintenance along the route, ensured strict enforcement of the fire route and installed signage to promote traffic calming.

At council’s Dec. 20 meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Brad McRoberts recommended that the municipality assume responsibility for maintaining the fire route, including snow removal, grading, brush clearing and installation of improved signage.

“It is also recommended that access off of Market Street be appropriately signed to ensure caution to workers and pedestrians and to ensure that the public is aware that it is a private access and that loading and unloading is permitted by the respective property owners,” McRoberts said in his report.

He said that the cost of winter snow removal will be equally distributed among the property owners between 51 and 65 Main Street South in Seaforth. He said the arrangement is appropriate, as the maintenance will specifically benefit the property owners and not the general public.

Council approved McRoberts’ recommendation.

*** Huron East Council approved three gravel tenders - for its North, Central and South patrols - at its Dec. 20 meeting, at a significantly higher cost than in previous years.

Public Works Manager Barry Mills addressed the issue at the meeting, saying that fuel and labour pressures were driving the increases, adding that gravel costs in 2022 were about 30 per cent lower than the tenders he was recommending for approval this year.

Council approved three gravel tenders: • Joe Kerr Limited for the North patrol at a rate of $13.75 per tonne for the supply, crushing, loading, weighing, hauling and spreading of 20,000 tonnes of gravel. The total cost, including taxes, will be $310,750. The Kerr tender was the only one received.

• McCann Redi Mix Inc. for the Central patrol at a rate of $12.95 per tonne for the supply, crushing, loading, weighing, hauling and spreading of 34,000 tonnes of gravel. The total cost, including taxes, will be $497,539. McCann was chosen over tenders received from McKenzie and Henderson and Lavis Contracting Co., both of which came in at higher costs than McCann.

• Lavis Contracting Co. for the South patrol at a rate of $14.15 per tonne for the supply, crushing, loading, weighing, hauling and spreading of 13,300 tonnes of gravel. The total cost, including taxes, will be $212,660.35. Lavis was chosen over one other tender, from McKenzie and Henderson, which came in at a higher cost than Lavis.

The three tenders total just over $900,000 and have been included in the 2023 budget, Mills said.

Council approved Mills’ recommendation and accepted the three tenders. *** Huron East Council accepted the Continued on page 15

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023. PAGE 13.

BLYTH Y 519-523-4244

+XURQ7UDFWRU FRP

Brussels Livestock report

Veal sells on strong, active trade at weekly sale Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending Feb. 17 were 1,310 cattle and 468 lambs and goats.

On Tuesday, fed steers and heifers sold actively on a good steady market trade with quality considered. Choice steers and heifers sold $190 to $200. Aged cattle sold $160 to $175. Holstein steers and heifers sold $126 to $175. Cows sold steady.

On Thursday, veal sold on a strong active trade with prices $2 to $5 higher. Lambs sold steady to higher. Sheep and goats both sold steady.

On Friday, calves and yearlings sold on a strong active market at steady prices.

Warren and Marion Becker of Ayton, consigned 10 head. Two black heifers averaged 1,488 lbs. and sold for an average price of $199.

There were 285 cows on offer.

Beef sold $100 to $129.25; good holstein cows, $98 to $130; medium holstein cows, $80 to $95.

Bulls sold $110 to $135.

There were 125 head of veal on offer. Beef veal sold $215 to $239; good holsteins, $215 to $228; SL heavy holsteins, $200 to $220;

heavy holsteins, $170 to $207; medium holsteins, $195 to $214; plain holsteins, $180 to $194.

Bennewies Livestock Inc. of Bornholm, consigned five head.

One holstein steer weighed 745 lbs. and sold for a price of $228.

Solomon B. Martin of Priceville, consigned eight head. One limousin heifer weighed 910 lbs. and sold for a price of $239.

Lambs under 50 lbs. sold $389 to $410; 50 - 64 lbs., $336 to $355; 65 - 79 lbs., $299.50 to $335; 80 - 94 lbs., $284.50 to $310; 95 - 109 lbs., $244 to $258; 110 lbs. and over, $218 to $240.

Goats: billies sold $150 to $400; nannies, $100 to $200; kids: meat, $330 to $440; dairy, $250 to $400.

Carmen and Cheryl Bridge of Kincardine, consigned 12 head.

Four lambs averaged 74 lbs. and sold for an average price of $326.

Top quality stocker steers, 400 499 lbs. sold $298 to $340; 500 599 lbs., $309.75 to $337.50; 600 699 lbs., $303.75 to $326; 700 - 799 lbs., $288 to $311; 800 - 899 lbs., $256 to $284; 900 - 999 lbs., $261.50 to $274.50; 1,000 lbs. and over, $251.50 to $261.

Top quality stocker heifers, 400 499 lbs. sold $244 to $254; 500 -

599 lbs., $252 to $298; 600 - 699 lbs., $261.50 to $271.50; 700 - 799 lbs., $234 to $258; 800 - 899 lbs., $229.75 to $254; 900 lbs. and over, $220 to $249.50.

Jayme Reid of Tiverton, consigned nine head. Five limousin heifers averaged 895 lbs. and sold for an average price of $254.

Craig Simpson of Glencoe, consigned 12 head. Two simmental heifers averaged 960 lbs. and sold for an average price of $247.50.

Elvin Martin of Mount Forest, consigned 11 head. Four charolais steers averaged 729 lbs. and sold for an average price of $311.

OFA sets out its 2023 federal budget priorities

By Drew Spoelstra, VicePresident, Ontario Federation of Agriculture The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is a provincial organization that represents Ontario’s farmers on the issues that matter to them.

Most of those issues are provincial in nature, and we work with governments at the municipal and provincial levels to raise awareness and find solutions to matters that impact farmers.

When it comes to issues that are national in nature – such as the federal government’s 35 per cent tariff on fertilizer, access to labour or the new national sustainable agriculture strategy currently in development – the OFA turns to its

national counterpart, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), to take the lead.

Our organization is an active member in the CFA. In fact, we’ll shortly be sending our representatives to participate in the CFA annual meeting in Ottawa, which this year will focus on the theme of “Building a Resilient Future for Canadian Agriculture”.

We’ll debate resolutions submitted by farmers from coast to coast and look at how we can build further resilience in agriculture and the Canadian food system in the context of a changing climate and large-scale supply chain disruptions.

Even though we work closely with the CFA, the OFA also does its

own advocacy work at the national level to make sure the voices of our 38,000 farmers are represented.

That’s why, for example, the OFA participates in the federal prebudget consultation process by making submissions to Finance Canada on what we believe is needed to help strengthen our agrifood sector, rural communities and the Canadian economy.

This year, the OFA made five recommendations to the federal government: • Financial compensation for farmers negatively impacted by federal fertilizer tariffs: Last March, the Canadian government imposed a 35 per cent tariff on imports from Russia, which includes fertilizer. Farmers in

A new look The Belgrave Community Centre Board hosted a children’s carnival on Sunday as part of Family Day festivities that were ongoing in the area over the course of the weekend.

The event included face-painting, balloon animals and plenty of games of skill and chance to keep the young people coming back for more. (John Stephenson photo)

Eastern Canada import 85 to 90 per cent of their nitrogen fertilizer from Russia, and the tariffs have added considerable extra costs to food production in an already inflationary environment. In the short-term, we continue to ask that the fertilizer tariff dollars be reimbursed back to the farmers who paid them, and if that’s not feasible, to establish a way that the funds are returned to the agriculture sector.

Long-term, we must reduce our reliance on Russian fertilizer and need federal government investment in domestic nitrogen capacity, particularly in Eastern Canada, so that we minimize future risks to Canada’s food security.

• Exempt farm businesses from filing requirements for the underused housing tax: The new federal Underused Housing Tax Act requires private corporations and partnerships – which includes farms – who own a residential property to file an Underused Housing Tax return even if they don’t have to pay any tax. Farmers don’t play a meaningful role in Canada’s rental housing market and many will be unaware that they have to file such a return.

With the penalties for failing to file set at exorbitantly high levels, we are asking for an exemption from filing requirements for farm businesses to avoid unnecessary financial hardship for farmers.

• Improve the Advance Payment Program: The Advance Payment Program is a federal loan guarantee program that gives farmers access to low-interest cash advances. With ongoing increases in the cost of fuel, fertilizer and other farm inputs, we are asking for the 2022 temporary increase in the interest-free loan amount from $100,000 to $250,000 to be made permanent.

We’re also asking for administrative improvements to the program to make it simpler and more efficient, and for 60 per cent of the advance to be available in the fall when farmers make many of their planting purchases for the following year, instead of having to wait until spring to receive the full amount.

• Funding for clean technology adoption: The Agricultural Clean Technology Program announced by the federal government in 2021 was

extremely well received by farmers and funding requests greatly outweighed the amount of money available to help farmers purchase technologies that help reduce onfarm greenhouse gas emissions.

We’re asking for renewed funding under this program, which will boost uptake of cleantech solutions by farmers and help the government reach its goals of reducing the carbon impact of agriculture.

• Broadening the fuel tax exemption for farmers: Farmers depend on fuels like natural gas and propane to heat and cool livestock barns and dry grain crops to keep them from spoiling. These aren’t optional activities and as we currently lack workable alternative energy options, the federal fuel surcharges for the price on carbon have placed a significant financial burden on farmers. Research has shown that the costs to Ontario farmers between now and full implementation of federal carbon pricing structures in 2030 are estimated at over $890 million.

That’s why we strongly recommend that all MPs support Bill C-234, which would expand the definition of farm machinery exempt under the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act to include heating and cooling of livestock barns and grain drying activities.

We’re prepared to work closely with the federal government to deliver these necessary investments and programs for the benefit of all Canadians and our national economy. More information is available at ofa.on.ca.

BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd.

UPCOMING SALES TUESDAYS 10:00 a.m.

Fed Cattle, Bulls & Cows

THURSDAYS

9:00 a.m. Drop Calves 10:00 a.m.Veal 11:30 a.m. Lambs, Goats & Sheep

FRIDAYS

10:00 a.m. Stockers Visit our webpage at: www.brusselslivestock.ca email us at: info@brusselslivestock.ca

Call us 519-887-6461

PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023.

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DEADLINE 2 p.m. Tuesday Phone 519-523-4792 e-mail: info@northhuron.on.ca

Articles for sale GERBERS FIREWOOD SERVING you for over 15 years. Your number one source of quality slabwood and bodywood. Delivery available. No Sunday calls. 519-274-1236, 519441-2085.

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

Brussels Lions Club

Community Breakfast

2023 Friday, March 3rd 2 p.m.

Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Call 519-887-9017 for more information

Sunday, February 26

wanted

ARE YOU EXPERIENCING AN unplanned pregnancy? Are you a young parent? Do you feel overwhelmed and have questions?

We have answers and we’re here to help. Our services are free and completely confidential. Contact Room2Grow at 519-606-0046 or visit our website www.room2grow.info e6w

MULTI-GENERATION FARM looking for land to rent or share crop long- or short-term agreements.

Cover crops manure and good land stewardship. Competitive prices.

Contact Mark Nesbit 519-524-2474 or John Nesbit 519-530-9595.

07-5p

Services INCOME TAX PREPARATION – farm, business, personal. Stephen Thompson, 519-482-3244. 07-10

8 am - 11 am Brussels Morris and Grey Community Centre 800 Sports Drive, Brussels Breakfast by donation Proceeds towards the Guide Dogs of Canada

Help wanted Help wanted Citizen-To-Citizen is seeking

Seasonal Box Office & Front of House staff More details available at www.blythfestival.com/employment

Births

Municipality of Huron East Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre and Brussels Pool

Summer Student Positions Maintenance and Ground Worker

Announce your new arrival in

The Citizen Email or send in a colour photo and writeup (75 words or less) to info@northhuron.on.ca or mail to PO Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 519-523-4792

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25

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• Summer student required full time 35 hour/week • July to September 2023 • Must be 17 and have a valid driver’s licence and be returning to school in September • Safety shoes required

Certified Lifeguards for Outdoor Pool • Must have all certificates needed to teach lessons and supervise pool activities • Must be willing to work shifts, days, evenings and weekends Please submit résumé to bmgcc@huroneast.com or Mail to: BMG Community Centre 800 Sports Dr., Brussels N0G 1H0 Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted

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

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

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Call 519-523-4792 or email: info@northhuron.on.ca FOR SALE - Safety 1st folding mesh playpen with carrying case, excellent condition, $25. Wingham area, 519-357-2768.

08-3 ------------------------------------------FOR SALE - dry firewood, $70 a cord, approx. 5 cord available. 519887-6605.

08-3 ------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Mason Risch piano, like new; treadmill, both best offer.

Recumbent exercise bike, $75; assorted books, including Jean Paré $1 each. 519-357-7249.

07-3 ------------------------------------------FREE - Yamaha double keyboard organ with bench and music.

Molesworth, 519-291-4147. 07-3 -------------------------------------------

FOR SALE - wooden dressing table with bench, $50; blue tufted arm chair, $40; slow cooker, $20; 2 pc. luggage set with pull-up handle and wheels, excellent condition, $40. 519-482-9868.06-3 ------------------------------------------FOR SALE - fancy self-standing scratch post for cats, $9. 519-5270455.

06-3 ------------------------------------------FOR SALE - futon bunk bed combo, black steel frame with wood posts, extra thick futon mattress, $150. Call 519-887-9104.

06-3 ------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Samsung digital home theatre system. Call 519-5251053.

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023. PAGE 15.

Gateway hosts artificial intelligence lecture Earlier this month, Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH) hosted the 21st Virtual Lecture Series event, discussing societal implications of artificial intelligence (AI).

The lecture was moderated by Dan Stringer, Gateway CERH Chair, and hosted by keynote speaker, Leslie Walker, Research Associate of Gateway CERH, Management Consultant, Price Waterhouse Coopers and Doctorate of Social and Economic Sciences Student at the University of

Technology in Vienna, Austria.

Additionally, the event featured panelists: Geneva Neal, Sr. Data Analyst, Creative Destruction Lab University of Toronto; Stefan Salcher, CEO, Druckster / Founder, Young Entrepreneurs of Vienna, Austria; and Jay McFarlan, Research Chair of Rural Nutrition and Exercise, Gateway CERH. Leslie Walker shared a quote within her study being, “The greatest challenge facing societies and firms would be utilizing the benefits of availing artificial

intelligence technologies, providing vast opportunities for both new products/services and immense productivity improvements while avoiding the dangers and disadvantages in terms of increased unemployment and greater wealth inequalities.”

Walker presented her studies related to her current research as a doctoral student, which focuses on policies to reduce the inequality associated with Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare. As such, she spoke to her research

conclusions being highly relevant to rural regions such as Huron County.

Within Walker’s presentation, she stated five key benefits of AI in healthcare being: reduced patient wait times, more efficient healthcare practices, improved accuracy of diagnoses, improved communication and coordination and substantial cost savings. Within these findings, Walker’s goal was to carry out a case study rationalization approach in hopes of utilizing the benefits of AI while avoiding the disadvantages.

Walker then led a panel discussion, giving each an opportunity to comment on the presentation. Geneva Neal raised the point being that there is plenty of opportunity to utilize AI, however, there is also plenty of infrastructure that needs to be in place to fully take advantage of these opportunities. From a serial entrepreneur's perspective, Stefan Salcher spoke about start-ups incorporating AI in many of the tasks that they do. Additionally, he spoke to the overhead question of

“Is AI going to take our jobs?” by stating that he believes this is actually the opposite, as we will see AI failing in some cases due to lack of human interaction with AI. Lastly, Jay McFarlan weighed in with his perspective as a technology hobbyist by pointing out the use of AI within Microsoft Teams as an example of automatically generating meeting minutes which reduces stress of an employee having to take them and finalize them during or after the fact.

Walker wrapped up the conversation by expressing that AI is similar to a sliding scale in regards to opportunity and risk however can be highly beneficial, if used correctly. Watch the full virtual version of this lecture by visiting Gateway’s YouTube Channel.

The next Gateway Rural Health Lecture is on Tuesday, March 7 at noon EST. The speaker of this lecture will be Scott Brown, who will be speaking on “Gateway: At the Intersection of Organization and Place”.

Centre Board hosts children’s carnival PEOPLE AROUND BELGRAVE

Something to eat?

The Belgrave Community Centre Board hosted a special children’s carnival on Monday to mark Family Day, welcoming young people from the area to both lead the event and (John take part in it. It included treats, games, face-painting and balloon animals.

By Linda Campbell Call 357-2188

Stephenson photo)

Record donations for CFFO Farmers around the world who are struggling to grow enough crops to support their families and families affected by severe hunger are just some of the people who will benefit from the successful Christmas giving partnership between the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) and Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

“We are delighted that once again, Ontario farmers have chosen to share their abundance with others around the world,” says Foodgrains Bank Executive Director Andy Harrington, noting this is the second year for the partnership.

“I’m so very grateful.”

Between Nov. 29 and Dec. 29, 2022, donations made to the Foodgrains Bank as part of the CFFO Giving Tuesday campaign were matched by the federation dollar for dollar, up to $10,000.

Altogether, $45,850 was raised.

For the CFFO, providing members with a way to make a difference in the world via the Foodgrains Bank was a way to allow their members to align their generosity with a cause close to the heart of many within their membership.

CFFO Board of Directors President Ed Scharringa says, “I truly feel that this partnership between CFFO and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank is one of the best ways we as Christian farmers can be charitable, and I’m glad to see that our community feels the same way. The Board of Directors and I

are once again so thankful for the support of each donor this giving season!”

With as many as 828 million people experiencing hunger around the world, this campaign comes at an especially important time. All funds raised will provide emergency food for people affected by crises like violent conflict or natural disaster, or supporting families with agricultural and income programs to help lift them out of poverty in the longer-term.

“Each gift from a member of the Christian Farmers Federation, no matter the amount, means the world,” adds Harrington. “Here at the Foodgrains Bank, we believe it’s God’s desire that no person

should go hungry, and we’re pleased to have the support of the CFFO as they come alongside us in sharing this vision.”

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a partnership of 15 churches and church agencies working together to end hunger. In the 2021-2022 budget year, the Foodgrains Bank provided $52.5 million of assistance for 939,447 people in 34 countries. Canadian Foodgrains Bank programs are undertaken with support from the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada. Assistance from the Foodgrains Bank is provided through its member agencies, which work with local partners in the developing world.

HE approves dust control tender Continued from page 12 tender of Clifford Holland (by way of an Ontario numbered company) to manage its dust control for the year at a total contract price of $302,570 before taxes.

The municipality received three tenders and Holland’s was the lowest, with Pollard Highway Products submitting a total contract price of $335,355 and Da-Lee Dust Control, which came with a total contract price of $406,123.20.

Holland has provided dust

control for Huron East for four of the past five years, with Den-Mar Brines working for Huron East in 2020.

The 2023 unit price of $383 before taxes exceeds the 2022 price of $308.60 and has risen extensively since 2018, when it was $156.

Public Works Manager Barry Mills said the tender amount of $302,570 (before taxes) is included in the municipality’s 2023 transportation budget.

Elwin Garland was the guest speaker on Sunday, Feb. 19 at Knox United Church, Belgrave. After Mr. Garland welcomed the congregation the Christ candle was lit. The call to worship was read responsively.

The scripture lesson was read from Matthew 17: 1-19. The sermon was entitled, “The Transfiguration”.

Susan Barnett is the guest speaker on Sunday, Feb. 26. Everyone is welcome.

The church’s annual meeting will be held following the regular church service. Please bring your annual report with you.

On Family Day weekend the Belgrave Kinsmen had a busy time.

On Friday night the group hosted a “Pub and Wing” night, which was well attended. There was a packed community centre for the Kinsmen breakfast buffet on Sunday. It was delicious, as usual, and prepared by the Kinsmen helpers. It was also a great time to visit with friends, after not being able to in previous years because of COVID-19.

On Sunday afternoon, the

Community Centre Board hosted balloon twisting, face painting, games, cotton candy, popcorn and other food. It was looked after by local youth and was enjoyed by each and everyone attending.

The Community Coffee Break is on Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Community Centre. Everyone is welcome to enjoy coffee, fellowship and snacks.

On Tuesday as I prepared the news, it is Feb. 21, Shrove Tuesday.

The students were lucky to have another day off school on Friday, Feb. 17 because of inclement weather. After that we managed to be blessed with sunshine for a few days.

NEWS FROM BELGRAVE Remembering your loved one

Honour your loved one by placing their obituary in

The Citizen.

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

Cards of thanks can be placed in our classified section, starting at just $8.00.

PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023.

From the Minister’s Study

Accept God’s grace and forgiveness this Lent

By Rev. JoAnn Todd Trinity and St. John’s Anglican Churches By the time you, the reader, see this article, we will have started the liturgical (church) season of Lent.

It’s a season of the church year that seems to pass by many people, unless you go to church!

I wonder if it’s because there’s no real sales angle for Lent that can be picked up by the retailers – Hallmark doesn’t make “Happy Lent” cards – and clothing made from sackcloth and hair products made with ashes have yet to make inroads with today’s clothing and cosmetic companies! (In ancient times, people in mourning, grieving or undertaking a time of penitence would wear very plain clothing made of sack cloth, and put ashes on their heads.)

There are folks who don’t even know what Lent is anymore, and there are even Christian denominations that don’t recognize Lent as a season of the church year.

I think that’s a shame, a missed opportunity.

For observant Christians, Lent is the time of year for self-reflection and prayer; a time to look beyond our own physical desires and wants, which we tend to default to in our day-to-day lives, and instead see to our spiritual needs, rather like a personal spring cleaning. It’s a good time to look beyond ourselves and consider the needs of others less fortunate than ourselves, which is where the idea of giving to the poor (Lenten almsgiving) originated.

One source I read said Lent can be a time of stripping down to the essentials – time to think about things – like what do we really need? Hence the idea of fasting; traditionally only one meal a day and only basic foods. That’s where the idea of Pancake Tuesday came from: it was a way for medieval households to use up the foods in the larder they considered “extravagant”: like eggs, butter, cream and meats.

And the day after Pancake Tuesday is Ash Wednesday. Those who observe Ash Wednesday come to church to pray and receive a cross made with ashes mixed with holy oil on their foreheads. What’s that all about?

So, let’s consider: what are ashes anyway? They are the byproduct of burning something, what’s left over after fire passes over or through something. In the Bible, we read of the “refining fire”, the fire that purifies, like a gold or silversmith working with precious metals,

removing, burning off the “dross”, the unwanted alloys. What’s left?

Pure gold or sterling silver – and ashes, the leftovers that are no longer needed or have much value.

Ashes are what’s left over from burning wood – a byproduct of the heat and light the wood provides us.

The ashes from my wood stove get tossed over the fence onto the sheep pasture, and when they land on the ground, they poof up into a cloud of dust.

So, why do we put these ashes, this dust, on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday? Where did this strange tradition come from and what does it mean? First of all these ashes are a reminder of who we are. In the second creation story from Genesis, (yes, there are two creation stories) the first living human “adam in Hebrew” is made from the dust, in Hebrew the adamah of the ground.

Adam comes to life by virtue of God’s rhuah—rhuah is Hebrew for God’s breath, God’s Spirit. Breath or spirit, the same word means both. What does this creation story tell us? Without the spirit or breath of God within us, then we are but the dust of the ground.

Ashes are an ancient sign of repentance, and of mourning. In biblical times, people in mourning

or deep sadness, or those repenting or asking for forgiveness, showed their repentance by wearing ashes on their heads and clothing made of sackcloth instead of the clothing they normally would use.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of the season of Lent. Lent represents the 40 days of Jesus’ time of testing in the wilderness, after his baptism – his time of preparation before his ministry to the people. Lent is a time when we can symbolically join Jesus on this 40-day journey, in effect walking with Him. We are encouraged to take this time for reflection of our spiritual side, and ask Jesus to come closer to us. We can take this time to look within ourselves for sin – sin being those things that separate us from God, prevent us from getting close to God, and ask God’s forgiveness and the strength to overcome those weaknesses that keep us from a close relationship with our Maker, the one who breathes life, his spirit into us, without whom we are but ashes.

To signify the beginning of our Lenten period of reflection and repentance on Ash Wednesday, we receive a cross of ashes on the forehead, an ancient ritual which joins us to our Hebrew and

Wingham United Church 217 Minnie Street, Wingham

Christian forebears. This is a physical reminder for us of our dependence on our Creator for our very being, and ashes are what is left after the refining fires of repentance. Without the breath – the Spirit of God within us – we too are but dust. The cross is the sign of

Christ, a reminder of our baptismal covenant. We are marked as children of God, and Christ’s own.

So, as we go into Lent, let us open our hearts, ask for God’s forgiveness, and accept the grace and forgiveness that marks us as redeemed children of God. Amen.

Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Join Us In 2023, As We

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

MEL LV VILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS

Sunday, February 26 9:30-10:30 a.m. ds in worship, We extend a loving welcome to all to join us downstairs as Doug Sargent lead praise and prayer to God. A time of fellowship to follow.

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

All are welcome!

For pastoral care concerns please call 519-524-7512

Sunday Morning Worship at 9:30 am Sunday School at 10:30 am Services available on YouTube Rev. Colin S. Snyder rev.colinsnyder@gmail.com Wheelchair accessible 519-357-2961 and parking

winghamunited@hurontel.on.ca winghamuc.webs.com

The Regional Ministry of Hope Weekly service live-streamed at 10:30 a.m. on our facebook page or on youtube @St. Paul’s-Trinity Anglican Church Wingham.

The Regional Ministry of Hope www.regionalministryofhope.com 519-357-7781 email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca

Trinity

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BMG Community Centre (upstairs room) 800 Sports Drive, Brussels **Please note our new location** Childcare provided for children aged 0 to 4 during the sermon

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Blyth United Church Sunday, February 26 at 9:30 a.m.

Nursery & Sunday School during worship

On-site and online live.huronchapel.com Men’s Breakfast - Huron Chapel Feb. 25, 7:30 am

119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to God in heaven.” Matt. 5:16 Outreach project is for the Wharton/Carter family house fire relief

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

Worship and Prayer Time Loving Fellowship Expository Preaching

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

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023. PAGE 17.

Londesborough Masons to disband, host open house

On bacon duty Shane Taylor of the Londesborough and District Lions Club was one of the many members who put their cooking skills to use on Sunday for the club’s “oldetyme” breakfast, held at the Londesborough Community Hall. The event was well attended, with the club serving about 300 people. (John Stephenson photo)

Rev. Jan Aylward led the morning worship at Londesborough United Church on Transfiguration Sunday, Feb. 19. Her supporting scriptures were Exodus 24: 12-18 and Matt.

17:1-9.

In her conversation with the children, in an attempt to help them understand the idea of “transfiguration”, she talked to them about how people might change/transform their appearance, other than at Halloween. Jan noted to the adults that the world and individual lives are constantly undergoing change. Her question was, “Are you listening to the many voices of God as you go about your lives?” She affirmed that every change is filled with God’s presence. We need to listen to Him. Next Sunday will be the first Sunday of Lent leading up to Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Also, Rev. Aylward will be offering the sacrament

of baptism to two children during that service.

Board members are reminded of their next meeting on March 7 at 7 p.m.

The Hullett /Londesborough Masonic Lodge has made the difficult decision to disband their group as of early March. They are inviting the community to visit their meeting rooms this Saturday, Feb. 25 between 1 - 5 p.m. The Masons have always been considered a “secret” organization, but will welcome the public into their midst just this one time. The meeting room is upstairs in the building on the southeast corner of Hwy. 4 and Londesborough Road.

With half the school year finished there are some staff changes happening at Hullett Central Public School. Hullett welcomes back Julie Gilroy who will be the SERT teacher. Assisting with that area will be Mrs. Holmes. Sydney Elder is returning to the Grade 6/7 classroom. Ms. Southgate has been

moved into the EA position for the intermediate hall. Welcome to those new staff. We trust you will enjoy our school.

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PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023.

At the spring millinery show of D.M. McBeath in 1903, popular styles were leghorn, turban, sailor and a flat hat that came well over the face and fitted closely at the back.

Read more in the Blyth Repository of History.

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

Fridays

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devonjhenry@hotmail.com 519-505-2473

The Citizen, Feb. 21, 2013

The Citizen, Feb. 25, 1998

The Citizen, Feb. 18, 1998

The Citizen, Feb. 21, 2013

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023. PAGE 19.

Entertainment & Leisure

Blyth’s Kelly Stevenson readies for new show with materials traditionally considered more “craft” than “art”, Stevenson hopes to challenge the nature of those definitions. “I think part of my problem with so much of the art world is the hierarchies, and the fact that certain things are taken more seriously than others.” Prepandemic, she was working mainly in the more traditional mediums of pen and ink. Only during the enforced solitude of lockdown did she really begin to experiment with techniques often relegated to the category of “women’s crafts”.

Accessibility is also high in the mind of the young artist. “I think creativity and art should be open for anybody. It shouldn’t be such a closed group of people that have access, or the ability to do it.” This focus on making art accessible to all is also evident on the commercial side of her work. An active participant in local arts and crafts fairs, Stevenson offers her art at a variety of price points, since not everybody interested in buying art can afford an original. Beyond person-to-person sales, Stevenson’s online shop (kellyedstevensonshop.ca) carries both original art and items like prints, pins, t-shirts and the aforementioned tote bags.

Stevenson, an alumna of Toronto’s Ontario College of Art & Design University, has had beneficial experience in both urban and rural art scenes. One pitfall of being a rural artist, according to Stevenson, is isolation.

“Sometimes, being out here, it can be kind of isolating, which has been a bit difficult at times, especially when you’re an artist who works alone in a studio.”

This sense of isolation was one of the driving forces behind the recently introduced Critique Night at, you guessed it, BRØD bread & pastry. Critique Night is a chance for local artists to get out of their studios and have actual conversations with real human beings in a comfortable

‘How Far I’ve Fallen’ rises

environment, and artists who submit their work are critiqued by their peers. The first two nights (held on the third Wednesday of every month) have been a great success, and Stevenson is looking forward to the next one.

The topic of mental health is a common theme throughout most of Stevenson’s work, and she hopes it can start a dialogue and open doors to the ability to have difficult conversations. When asked if it can be difficult to be so open about personal issues in such a small community, she responded with a positive message. “I want to be open about what the work means to me, not just say, “Hey, here’s some pretty pictures.”

Stevenson’s pictures are indeed pretty, but they can also be stark, lonely and full of whimsy. There is crumbling brick, but also polka dots. When we gaze at these shambolic constructs - the dilapidated barn, the crumbling church - some of us see the cracks in our own lives. For others, the images evoke the bustling hubs that once housed our communities, our congregations and our cows.

Kelly Stevenson’s “How Far I’ve Fallen” runs from Aug. 18 until Sept. 9 at the home of the Blyth Festival Art Gallery, the Bainton Gallery at Memorial Hall.

Sudoku Solution

Blyth-based artist Kelly Stevenson at BRØD bread & pastry. Stevenson is preparing a new exhibition that will debut as part of the upcoming Blyth Festival Art Gallery (Scott Stephenson photo) season. The show was originally intended to open in 2020.

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

This week, The Citizen sat down at BRØD bread & pastry in Blyth with local artist Kelly Stevenson as part of an ongoing exploration of upcoming exhibitions for the 2023 Blyth Festival Art Gallery season.

Stevenson’s latest solo exhibition “How Far I’ve Fallen” is set to run from Aug. 18 until Sept. 9. The collection, an experimental mixed media showcase, is sure to be an engrossing experience.

We met at beloved local bakery/cafe/artist haunt BRØD bread & pastry. The shop was characteristically packed with bread-heads and cookie enthusiasts looking for answers. Over coffee, the artist spoke with enthusiasm about a trove of topics, including family, memory, isolation, mental health and cats. The charming coffee shop also doubles as an art gallery in its own right - the walls adorned with work by artists from across the province, and as luck would have it, the only table

available that Friday afternoon was right beneath a collection of eyecatching graphic totes designed by none other than Kelly Stevenson.

Featured on the bags is The Everyman - a sort of enigmatic Waldo/Minion hybrid that pops up frequently in Stevenson’s work.

Also featured on the bags are floral and industrial motifs.

As with the gallery’s other upcoming shows, Stevenson’s exhibit was originally slated to open in 2020, and was pushed back repeatedly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The long delay between inception and realization has been a common impact point for all the artists showing this year, and multidisciplinarian Stevenson is no different. “I honestly didn’t plan to be here this long to start with, it was supposed to be a short-term solution that turned into a long-term solution.”

In the long, long ago of 2020, her solo exhibition existed under the moniker “razing landscapes”.

Stevenson, who moved to Blyth from Dublin, Ontario at the age of

eight, has long been fascinated by local landscapes and structures, and “razing landscapes” started as an exploration of the artist’s struggles with mental health through those environments.

While those elements are still at the core of her updated exhibition, transformative times have led to many transformations to her collection, and to reflect that, she has renamed the show “How Far I’ve Fallen”. “I started the series in 2014,” she explained. “It was all mostly abandoned or falling down buildings in the area. It started as kind of a way to capture an era that’s gone by, but as time moves on, they’ve become a little bit more like self portraits to me… I felt a kinship with the images I was making.”

Another notable change to her panoply of pieces is the incorporation of embroidery and other fibre arts. “To me, if you are making something, you’re an artist.

You don’t have to have a background, you don’t have to have an education.” By experimenting

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PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023.

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Baby is getting sleepy. Yawn! Baby goes to bed. Night-night, everyone! This indestructible book is built the way babies “read”: with their hands and mouths. It won’t rip or tear and is 100% washable.

It’s made for baby to hold, grab, chew, pull, and bend. $7.95

THE BLACKSMITH’S CRAFT Blacksmithing is a romantic and practical skill and it still has many applications today. This comprehensive book is a primer of the tools and methods of the blacksmith and provides tips on how to make this skill pay. $27.95

MAKING HOMEMADE WINE This bulletin will take the mystery out of winemaking by teaching you the language of winemakers, ingredients and equipment. It also includes delicious wine recipes. $5.95

FEED THE BIRDS This book is the perfect resource for beginners and experienced birdwatchers alike. Covering 196 bird species that are attracted to backyard feeders. A wide variety of feeders and seed types are discussed as well as bird behaviours. $29.95

THE ITSY BITSY SPIDER Spider climbs the waterspout. Up, up, up! Rain starts falling. Down, down, down! Out come the sun.

Hello again, Spider! This indestructible book is built the way babies “read”: with their hands and mouths. It won’t rip or tear and is 100% washable. It’s made for baby to hold, grab, chew, pull, and bend. $7.95

RUSTY RAILS A photographic record of the branch-line railways in Midwestern Ontario from 19611996. Many of these rail lines are gone now, but their memory lingers, as does their effect on our history. (softcover) $34.95

The Citizen

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