The Citizen - January 27, 2022

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The

THIS WEEK

Citizen

Huron County’s most trusted independent news source Volume 38 No. 4

Thursday, January 27, 2022

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Huron East Council passes 2022 budget

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

Look out below!

Chrissy Dignan shared this picture with The Citizen of her daughter Hannah, out having fun at their farm just outside of Blyth, taking full advantage of the dumping of snow the area has seen in the last few weeks. It doesn’t get more Huron County winter than this.

If you want to share your winter activity pictures with The Citizen, e-mail them to Denny Scott at reporter@northhuron.on.ca and they may be included in a future issue. (Photo submitted)

COVID-19 cases still rising

By Denny Scott The Citizen Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH) has further reduced the information available to the public regarding COVID-19 case counts, no longer reporting the number of confirmed active cases on its website.

The change comes after new testing guidelines came in, making it difficult to portray an accurate case count. During a teleconference last week, Chief Medical Officer of Health for Huron and Perth Dr. Miriam Klassen said case counts are almost guaranteed to be much higher than what is reported on the website due to testing

not being available for everyone.

“The focus is on the highest-risk settings,” she said, explaining that means long-term care facilities, retirement homes and congregate living settings.

Klassen said the best defence against both infection and hospitalization was to get fully Continued on page 3

Huron East Council has passed its 2022 budget, which includes operating expenditures of $13.7 million and a 9.49 per cent increase to the municipal tax levy.

Council held its public meeting to consider and adopt the 2022 budget on Jan. 18. The meeting was held virtually via Zoom.

Because Huron East Council began its 2022 budget process earlier than it has in previous years, the municipal budget is now complete before the Huron County and education levies have been established and just as many other councils are looking at their first drafts. As a result, only the municipal impact on Huron East ratepayers is known at the time.

The municipal tax levy will increase by 2.05 per cent in Seaforth, 8.34 per cent in Brussels, 8.56 per cent in Grey, 11.72 per cent in Tuckersmith and 15.40 per cent in McKillop, resulting in the municipality-wide average increase of 9.49 per cent when special area rates are also included.

On the average residential home in Huron East, which Michiels says is currently valued at $197,000, the municipal portion of taxes in Seaforth will be $1,521 (an increase of about $11), $1,511 in Brussels (an increase of about $85), $1,096 in Tuckersmith (an increase of about $110), $1,004 in McKillop (an increase of about $112) and $1,041 in Grey (an increase of about $120).

In Huron East, Michiels noted in her presentation, the municipal portion of taxes represents 47 per cent of a ratepayer’s tax bill, while Huron County accounts for 38 per cent and education makes up the remaining 15 per cent.

With much of the debate over the budget happening in previous meetings over earlier drafts of the document, there was very little discussion about the final draft of the budget. While council voted to adopt the budget, Councillor Larry McGrath made it known that he was voting against approval, though he didn’t specifically state why.

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In the 2022 budget, the municipality’s reserve levels will be reduced from $12 million to $11.8 million. Michiels also noted that, in the past four years, the municipal portion of Huron East’s taxes have increased by over 26 per cent, while at the same time, the municipality’s allocation of Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) money has decreased by over 18 per cent.

The budget includes nearly $2.5 million for the renovation and expansion of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre (with an additional $4,778,940 to be funded by the provincial and federal governments, as well as by community fundraising), nearly $1.3 million for the reconstruction of Princess Street in Brussels and $750,000 for the expansion of the Brussels fire hall.

Other projects include: the repaving of Hensall Road from Staffa Road to Chiselhurst Road ($500,000); a new tandem truck ($303,215); the final payment for the replacement of a tanker truck for the Grey Fire Department ($234,116); a new backhoe ($180,000); electronic meeting and records management systems ($168,000); municipal service delivery review and information technology service delivery review ($110,000); asset management improvements and data cleaning ($80,590); pre-design and approvals for several bridges and culverts ($75,000); kitchen renovations, new sound baffles and pool deck resurfacing at the Vanastra Recreation Centre ($63,000); a new one-tonne truck ($63,000); new well design for the Brucefield water system ($25,000) and two dual electric charging stations ($20,000).

The municipality has applied for modernization funding from the provincial government for the electronic meeting and records management systems, the municipal service delivery review and the information technology service delivery review and the asset management improvements and data cleaning.

Council passed the 2022 budget with just McGrath voting against it.

PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022.

DMMF names its newest award for Josling

An honour to remember The Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund has named its sixth Order of the Good Samaritan Award after long-time Blyth Fire Chief Paul Josling, left, seen here in 2014 receiving the Meritorious Service Cross from the charitable organization. Josling, who passed away in early 2017, was the first Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund board member, its first vicepresident and one of the first people approached by Fund co-founder Patrick Armstrong, right, when he had the idea to start the charity. The award in Josling’s name will honour community organizations or businesses that go above and beyond for both their communities and for their employees or members. (File photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen The Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund is adding a sixth Order of the Good Samaritan Award to its roster which be named the Paul Josling Award for community outreach after the long-time Blyth fire chief and charter member of the Fund’s board.

Fund Co-founder Patrick

Armstrong officially made the announcement on Monday, adding that nominations for the new award are now open for anyone wanting to recognize a business or community organization that goes above and beyond in its community.

The Josling Award joins five others honouring upstanding members of the community, all in the name of fallen police officers, paramedics and military personnel.

There is the Sergeant Margaret Eve Award for Volunteer of the Year, the Corporal Matthew Dinning Award for Volunteers for Veterans and

Service Persons, the Provincial Constable Vu Pham Award for Youth Volunteers, the Senior Constable Bruce Crew Award for Sportsmanship and the Paramedic Paul Patterson Award for Lifesaving. Josling’s award is the first to honour a fallen firefighter.

Nominations for all six awards are now open at the Fund’s website at davemounsey.com and can be submitted until the middle of February, Armstrong says.

In an interview with The Citizen, Armstrong said the Fund wanted to add another award to recognize businesses and organizations that serve their community, while also wanting to ensure that the firefighting arm of emergency services was represented in the roster of awards. Honouring Josling through the naming of an award, Armstrong said, was an easy decision.

Armstrong says that, after Mounsey passed away and Armstrong and Dave Matheson began to consider the concept of the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund, Josling was the first person he approached for help. Armstrong says Josling was on board immediately and Armstrong almost had to slow Josling down because he was so enthusiastic about the project.

Mounsey, for whom the Fund is named, was an Ontario Provincial Police officer based in Wingham. He was killed in a single-vehicle accident in 2006 and the Fund was established a few years later.

Before his death, Mounsey had trained to compete in a marathon in hopes of raising enough money to buy a defibrillator for the Blyth Fire Department, of which he was also a member. After Mounsey died, Armstrong established the Fund to continue doing that work, placing life-saving defibrillators in public buildings across southwestern Ontario. To date, defibrillators have been placed in the names of police officers, firefighters, paramedics and

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soldiers who were killed in the line of duty.

To date, the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund has placed over 135 defibrillators around southwestern Ontario. Three lives have been saved

by Mounsey defibrillators as a result.

The first-ever donation was made in Mounsey’s name at Memorial Hall in Blyth and the second donation was made in the name of Cpl. Matthew Dinning of Wingham at the Wingham Legion. Dinning was killed in Afghanistan, serving as a member of the Canadian military police.

In addition to being the Fund’s first board member, Josling was also its first vice-president, serving in that capacity until 2013 when he left the Fund in an official capacity, though he would continue to volunteer with the organization for several years.

Josling received the Fund’s Meritorious Service Cross in 2014 and was honoured through a defibrillator donation in 2018. The money for the donation was raised through the Fund’s Run Around the Square that year.

For more information on the Fund or to nominate someone for one of its six Order of the Good Samaritan Awards, visit the Fund’s website at davemounsey.com.

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A helping hand The Brussels Legion recently handed out proceeds from its Catch the Ace draw and Brussels Mennonite Fellowship church was one of the lucky recipients.

Kathy Burkholder of the Legion’s Ace Committee, left, presented a cheque for $500 to Mary Baan, right, of the church. (Photo submitted)

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Long-term, retirement home outbreaks persist Continued from page 1 vaccinated as soon as possible and get boosters whenever available.

She explained that, since April of last year, 81 per cent of Huron Perth residents treated in hospital were not fully vaccinated, while 69 per cent of COVID-19 fatalities were in individuals not fully vaccinated.

“Evidence continues to show that people who are unvaccinated are at much greater risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 infection,” she said. “The Ontario Science Advisory Table dashboard indicates that the rate of hospitalization is five times higher among unvaccinated people compared to those with at least two doses of vaccine. In Huron-Perth, the 20 per cent of the population who are not fully vaccinated are overrepresented when it comes to hospitalizations and deaths.”

When asked about the province loosening restrictions, Klassen said that hospitals are still under significant pressure with COVID19 hospitalization and ICU admittance at a high rate.

“We’re hoping [the wave caused by the Omicron variant] will peak soon,” she said. “As we ease restrictions, we have to keep monitoring those indicators. We would like to see hospitals get back to full function so schools can stay open.”

Klassen also spoke to the opening of schools, saying that while numbers are still high, the situation is different from the first time students were sent home two years ago.

“The coronavirus was new to us, and we didn’t know how it would impact children and youth,” she said. “We also didn’t have vaccines.

Fast-forward two years, and we now do have data that children are less [impacted], particularly with the Omicron variant.”

She said pairing that information with the fact that school closures cause harm to mental health and educational achievement, and it became important to keep children in school if possible. She noted that, while some students can flourish through online learning, that can’t be said for all.

“Now we have evidence that closing schools has less of an impact on community transmission than many other public health measures,” she said, adding that COVID-19 spread is different from typical influenza spread.

“Typically, in flu seasons, outbreaks start at schools and drive out into the community. It’s the opposite

with COVID,” she said.

“Taking into consideration all those different factors and the fact that I liken in-person learning to the essential work of childhood, [I believe] in-person learning needs support…. There are lots of enhanced measures in place at schools and it’s important that all of us send people to school, staff or students.”

During the teleconference, Klassen said HPPH has switched to the provincial vaccine appointment booking system after HPPH ran into problems with its previous booking systems. For more information, visit covid-19.ontario.ca/bookvaccine.

LOCAL STATISTICS COVID-19 continues to circulate in Huron and Perth Counties with 294 new cases reported over the past week, 108 of which were reported over the weekend.

One new Huron-Perth COVID19-linked fatality has been reported, bringing the total to 79, while there are nine individuals hospitalized due to the disease, seven of whom are considered to have an active case. Since the pandemic started, 159 people have been hospitalized, an increase of five over last week.

There are currently 11 identified outbreaks in Huron and Perth Counties: five in long-term care centres, two in retirement homes and four in congregate living settings.

The long-term care outbreaks include: • Hillside Manor in Perth East, declared on Dec. 31 where six staff are infected.

• Kingsway Lodge in St. Marys, declared on Jan. 3 where 12 residents and 14 staff are infected.

• Knollcrest Lodge in Milverton, declared on Jan. 12, where one resident and nine staff are infected.

• Braemar Nursing Home in North Huron, declared Jan. 25, where 20 residents and 12 staff are infected.

• Huronview in Central Huron, declared on Jan. 21, where four staff are infected.

The retirement home outbreaks include Caressant Care Retirement Home in North Perth, which was declared in outbreak on Jan. 2, where five staff currently are considered infected, and Maplewood Manor Retirement Home in Huron East, which was declared on Dec. 30, where two staff and two residents are considered infected.

The four congregate living settings in outbreak have not been

identified by Huron Perth Public Health.

Huron and Perth Counties continue to be in the “red” zone of the now-defunct colour-coded provincial reopening plan, with an incidence rate (or the number of cases per 100,000 people) at 208.2, up five from last week. Positivity per cent, or the percentage of tests coming back positive, increased from 8.07 per cent to 10.38 per cent.

As far as the impact of vaccination, 71 per cent of treated cases are in unvaccinated individuals, while 21 per cent are “breakthrough cases” in vaccinated individuals, four per cent are in partially-vaccinated individuals and four per cent are in individuals who were vaccinated but had not had enough time for the vaccinations to take full effect.

VACCINATION STATISTICS COVID-19 vaccination efforts continue across Huron and Perth Counties with some people having their second booster, or fourth total dose of COVID-19 vaccine, being reported.

The number of individuals with one COVID-19 vaccination increased from 116,584 to 116,821 between Jan. 17 and Jan. 24, representing an increase from 83.9 per cent to 84 per cent.

Changes in demographic information for those with at least one dose is as follows: • 5-11: 5,388 (45.5 per cent of eligible recipients) to 5,550 (46.4) • 12-17: 7,784 (77.4) to 7,806 (77.6) • 18-24: 8,847 (73) to 8,868 (73.2) • 25-29: 7,082 (82.8) to 7,119 (83.2) • 30-39: 13,637 (83.1) to 13,648 (83.2) • 40-49: 13,391 (83.6) to 13,406 (83.7) • 50-59: 17,191 (86) to 17,154 (85.8) • 60-69: 20,645 (98.6) to 20,634 (98.6) • 70-79: 14,542 (99.7) to 14,560 (99.7) • 80+: 8,077 (93.2) to 8,126 (93.7) Fully-vaccinated residents (or residents with two vaccine shots) account for 79.4 per cent of eligible residents, up from 79.1, or 110,224 people, up from 109,850.

• 5-11: 1,267 (10.7) to 1,510 (12.7) • 12-17: 7,484 (74.4) to 7,500 (74.6) • 18-24: 8,481 (70) to 8,504 (70.2)

Morris-Turnberry man arrested after tractor chase A resident of Morris-Turnberry is facing three criminal charges following an incident that took place over the weekend in Huron East.

Police say that, on Jan. 22 at approximately 11:49 p.m., Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers responded to a report of a possible impaired driver who was operating a pick-up truck in an erratic manner on Cranbrook Road.

The OPP say that, upon arrival, officers located the suspect vehicle getting pulled out of the ditch on Perrie Line. Further investigation revealed the suspect had fled the

suspect vehicle and was now driving a farm tractor. About an hour after the original call officers were able to locate and stop the tractor. An officer spoke with the driver of the tractor and ordered the driver out onto ground level, however the driver refused and drove away.

Police say the officer followed after the tractor and watched as the driver drove into a ditch and then into a field. Officers were able to contain the area and a search commenced for the accused. Some time later, officers located the accused running on foot toward Moncrieff Road, where he

was arrested and taken into custody.

Police say the accused was then transported to the Huron OPP Detachment for breath tests and processing. The accused ultimately refused to provide a breath sample to the Intoxilizer technician.

A 33-year-old from MorrisTurnberry has been charged with Operation While Impaired, Flight from Peace Officer and Refusal to Comply with Demand. The accused has since been released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for March 7 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Goderich.

• 25-29: 6,750 (78.9) to 6,782 (79.3) • 30-39: 13,158 (80.2) to 13,187 (80.4) • 40-49: 13,067 (81.6) to 13,071 (81.6) • 50-59: 16,683 (83.5) to 16,676 (83.5) • 60-69: 20,347 (97.4) to 20,333 (97.3) • 70-79: 14,456 (99.7) to 14,457 (99.7) • 80+: 8,157 (95.3) to 8,204 (95.8) There are 66,619 fully-vaccinated individuals in the two counties who have received a third “booster” shot of the vaccine, or 48.2 per cent of eligible residents, up from 62,726 individuals or 48.2 per cent.

• 12-17: 148 (1.5 per cent of eligible residents) to 156 (1.6) • 18-24: 2,995 (24.7) to 3,341 (27.6) • 25-29: 2,350 (27.5) to 2,656 (31.1) • 30-39: 5,499 (33.5) to 6,070 (37)

• 40-49: 6,342 (39.6) to 6,956 (43.4) • 50-59: 10,229 (51.3) to 10,934 (54.8) • 60-69: 15,385 (73.8) to 16,165 (77.6) • 70-79: 12,525 (88.9) to 12,887 (91.4) • 80+: 7,523 (88.8) to 7,454 (91.2) As of Monday, there were 744 individuals, or 0.5 per cent of eligible residents, who had received a second booster shot.

• 12-17: one person (less than 0.1 per cent of eligible residents) • 18-24: two people (less than 0.1 per cent) • 25-29: two people (less than 0.1 per cent) • 30-39: eight people (less than 0.1 per cent) • 40-49: 12 (0.1) • 50-59: 31 (0.2) • 60-69: 89 (0.4) • 70-79: 169 (1.2) • 80+: 430 (5.3) For the most up-to-date statistics, visit hpph.ca.

Sufficient strength!

(J.R. Miller, “The Shining Light”) “As your days—so shall your strength be!” Deuteronomy 33:25 Strength was not promised in advance—enough for all of life, or even for a year, or for a month. The promise was, that for each day, when it came with its own needs, duties, battles, and griefs—enough strength would be given. As the burden increased—more strength would be imparted. As the night grew darker—the lamps would shine out more brightly.

The important thought here is, that strength is not emptied into our hearts in bulk—a supply for years to come—but is kept in reserve, and divinely given day by day, just as the day’s needs require.

“Give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11 “On the day I called, You answered me; You increased strength within me!”

Psalm 138:3 A Grace Gem Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church, Listowel, ON 519-492-1359

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PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022.

Editorials & Opinions

Founding Publisher: Keith Roulston Publisher & President: Deb Sholdice Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny Scott Advertising Sales: Brenda Nyveld The Citizen is published 51 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $45.00/year ($42.86 + $2.14 G.S.T.) in Canada; $190.00/year in U.S.A. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited.

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Not done yet As the pandemic continues into its third year, letters to the editor and social media memes continue to claim that the COVID-19 virus is “nothing more than the common cold”. As science continues to evolve and we learn more about the virus that marched into our lives in early 2020, we know that it is not a common cold. While it is true that many people who contract the virus will experience mild to moderate cold-like symptoms, a few will develop severe illness and some will die.

By now, all of us know someone who has contracted the illness and many of us know someone who was quite ill. What most of us still find scary is that science has not evolved to the point where we know exactly what triggers the extreme illness. We know that the elderly and people with underlying conditions are most at risk, but at the same time we see reports of previously healthy individuals succumbing to the illness.

That’s what makes it difficult to open up the economy, when we only have a minimal amount of information to decide who needs protection and who could probably survive.

While the vaccines have not been the panacea that we had all hoped for, it still appears to be the best way to avoid the most severe illness.

Last week Huron Perth Public Health released data that showed that since April 2021 (when vaccines became widely available in the region), 81 per cent of hospitalizations for COVID-19 have been in unvaccinated people, despite comprising a far lower percentage of the population.

Since no one knows whether they will have the sniffles or lifethreatening pneumonia as a result of catching COVID-19, getting vaccinated remains our best bet for keeping safe, keeping our health care from being overwhelmed and for keeping our economy open. – DS

Outside of the box Restaurants have been among the industries hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic and the see-saw approach to lockdowns and restrictions by the provincial government and we have yet to find the silver bullet that will restore these establishments to their past glory. As the pandemic enters its third year, restaurant owners, chefs and cooks and others in the hospitality industry have become increasingly fed up with all levels of government, with many insisting that the pandemic (and control measures) may have just killed the industry off for good.

That’s why it’s refreshing to see the City of Barrie initiate a program aimed at revitalizing its restaurants, despite taking a bite out of city revenue. The city announced on Jan. 18 that anyone who receives a parking ticket in one of the city’s paid lots will have the opportunity to cancel that fine by providing proof of purchase from a Barrie restaurant that is equal to or greater than the fine within five days of receiving the ticket. Barrie actually had implemented the program from April to June of 2021, but will now bring it back any time restaurants are closed for in-person dining over the course of 2022.

It might not be perfect and may not even work, but it’s innovative and it shows Barrie’s commitment to helping its businesses in the face of extremely challenging circumstances. People have since called on other Ontario cities, namely Toronto, to similarly commit to their restaurants as they teeter on the brink of an uncertain future.

Restaurants (and many other industries) have a long road ahead of them, whether it’s shutdowns, capacity limits or helping the more cautious among us feel comfortable with in-person dining again. Right, wrong or indifferent, having your local government in your corner, working to help you succeed, is a step in the right direction. – SL

Digging a deeper hole Toronto got hit by a pretty significant snowstorm last week, leaving thousands snowed in and in need of help. Fortunately, the business of running the province was apparently pretty light that day as Ontario Premier Doug Ford found time in his schedule to drive around the city shovelling people out with a child-sized shovel and give a ride or two.

In hindsight, it’s pretty apparent that Ford was using the snowstorm to pull a snow job on the province. That same day, his approval ratings came out and he was at his lowest point, as low as Kathleen Wynne was before she left office. However, not everyone realized that at the time.

Some Canadian media organizations bent over backwards to cover Ford despite the fact that his government has made a habit of playing favourites with media outlets or just creating its own. Canada’s media did such a bad job of giving Ford a stage that it was among the top issues on Twitter the following days with a hashtag of #CdnMediaFailed.

Should we help our neighbours? Definitely. Ford, however, was likely trying to curry favour with voters. While it’s great to have a leader who embodies the spirit of a good neighbour, the fact that he’s so far down in approval means, at best, his motives were questionable. His actions were also inappropriate from a safety standpoint.

The media needs to realize that, when someone who stonewalls you is suddenly looking for attention, there’s likely an ulterior motive. – JDS

Looking Back Through the Years January 28, 1965 As the Brussels Brownies began the new year, six new members were enrolled into the organization: Kim Sullivan, Susie Speir, Julie Hanna, Lori McCutcheon, Joyce Pearson and Dianne Thomas.

Joan Simpson, Pauline McCutcheon and Joan Elliott were both promoted from Brownies to Guides, being presented with special certificates as a result.

The Brussels Horticultural Society held its annual meeting and installed its new slate of officers.

Mrs. Carl Hemingway would be the president for the coming year, while Mrs. D.A. Rann would be the first vice-president and Mr. A. Knight was named second vice-president for the 1965 term.

January 29, 1975 A study on policing in Huron County was expected to be complete by the end of the week and ready to be considered by Ontario Solicitor General George Kerr. The study aimed to investigate alternative methods of policing in the county after it was requested by the police chiefs of the county’s five towns in May of 1974.

The request was prompted by recommendations from the Ontario Task Force on Policing, one of which was that the Ontario Provincial Police should be employed to police towns with a population of under 15,000.

The five chiefs were concerned that a shift to the Ontario Provincial Police would result in more costly policing in Huron County and a more impersonal system.

The Auburn Horticultural Society held its annual meeting and Mrs. Kenneth Scott was named the president for 1975, replacing Mrs.

Celia Taylor. Mrs. Elmer Trommer and Mrs. Dorothy Grange were elected as vice-presidents, while Mrs. Beth Lansing would serve as the secretary and Mrs. Eleanor Bradnock was elected the treasurer.

January 29, 1997 A new approach to local hospital restructuring was being called “unique” and “novel” in Huron County. The proposal would keep all eight area hospitals open and establish a singular Huron-Perth hospital system with one board and one administrative team.

Task Force Chair Janet Hook and District Health Council Chief Executive Officer Fraser Bell announced the new plan to the media on Jan. 27 with the help of several local hospital chief executive officers and Perth County MPP Bert Johnson.

The Huron County Board of Education held its annual meeting with Huron MPP Helen Johns and, while she said it was “hard to keep up” with the changes that had affected education in Huron County in the past year, she felt that education finance reform was “good news” for the sector.

The Brussels Agricultural Society presented a number of awards at its annual meeting.

Robbie Semple, Emily Cardiff and Julia Schlumpf won the Jeanne Ireland Award, while Robbie Archambault was awarded for having the Grand Champion Calf at the Brussels Fall Fair and Brent Wheeler won the Murray Cardiff Award as the student with the most points in the school division at the Brussels Fall Fair.

The Blyth Juvenile hockey team had been reclassified just ahead of the playoffs, moving up to the “C” Division for competition. The

team’s first series was against their northwest neighbours in Lucknow.

Despite scoring five goals, Blyth came out on the losing end of the first game of the series by a score of 7-5.

January 26, 2012 Alan and Laurie Willits of RR1, Wingham were back home in Huron County after their brush with disaster aboard the cruise ship named the Costa Concordia, which ran aground off the coast of Giglio Island in Italy.

Sixteen people had been confirmed dead, while 15 more were missing at the time of reporting. The Willitses, however, were able to make their way off of the island and spend a few days in Italy before returning to Canada.

Canadian Pickers, the show on the History Channel, was in Huron County to film an episode featuring Ken Anderson of Anderson Salvage in the Winthrop area. This was the second time in the span of two years that the show had filmed in Huron County, after an episode featured Tim Saunders of Blyth in 2010. In fact, it was Saunders who floated Anderson’s name to the producers of the show, who then returned two years later.

In the first round of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association playoffs, the Blyth PeeWee AE team fell by a score of 4-1 to their opponents from Lambton Shores.

The team was then due to travel to Thedford on Jan. 24 for the second game of the series.

Local sledge hockey players Doug McArter and Steve McCutcheon, as members of the Kitchener-Waterloo Sidewinders, took on a sledge hockey team from Russia, which was touring Ontario as a warm-up for the Paralympics.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022. PAGE 5.

Other Views

So far travelled, so far still to go

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week ago Monday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a national holiday in the U.S., and I thought the current politics south of the border had done much to undermine the great man’s work. But then I pulled the movie Selma off my movie shelf.

Led by pressure to re-elect Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, it often seems the Republican legislators in various states have been rewriting election rules to make it as hard as possible for people of colour to vote, since they’re more likely to vote Democratic.

Often it seems Republicans are attempting to bring back the days when only the white people were allowed to vote.

But although we still celebrate King, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, most of us have forgotten just how things were back in the late 1950s and early 1960s when there were far more barriers to trying to vote if you were Black, particularly in the southern states.

Those states broke away from the United States of America in the 1860s because northern states, under President Abraham Lincoln, wanted to end slavery. They lost the Civil War, but they managed to ignore national laws that gave Black people more rights and freedoms.

Early in Selma, we see a black woman (played by Oprah Winfrey) try to register to vote in Alabama in 1964. To prove she is literate and therefore eligible to vote, the white voting registrar asks her to repeat the American Constitution. When she does that successfully, he comes up with a harder question. When she can’t answer it, he denies her the right to vote. One suspects few white voters could answer the same questions – but they didn’t have to.

Also near the beginning of Selma, we’re introduced to a group of Black children who

Keith Roulston From the cluttered desk are going down the steps in their southern church when a bomb, set by the Ku Klux Klan, explodes and four little girls are killed.

The movie kicks into gear when King and other Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) leaders, and Black Selma residents march to the registration office to register to vote. After a confrontation in front of the courthouse, a shoving match occurs as the police go into the crowd. Winfrey’s character fights back, knocking Sheriff Jim Clark to the ground, leading to the arrest of her, King, and others.

While King is in jail, Alabama Governor George Wallace appeals to U.S. President Lyndon Johnson to respect the rights of states like his. Though he disagrees, Johnson has his own priorities and he and King are often opposed.

Following his release from prison, King agrees with other Black leaders that there should be a march from Selma to the state capital of Montgomery, Alabama to to support allowing Black people to register to vote. King wasn’t with the group, however (he was home with his wife Coretta), when they are confronted and attacked by Sheriff Clark and his troops as they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Dozens were injured, including the future Congressman John Lewis of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), who was beaten.

There were several other interrupted attempts to hold the march but the national publicity of the attack by Clark’s armed police swelled support for the march from across the U.S., with many white people joining the protest. The movie shows that each time they crossed that bridge, the number of supporters grew, until Clark and his men simply stepped aside.

It’s amazing the changes (eventually supported by President Johnson) brought. As more Black people voted, people like Sheriff Clark lost their jobs. Often southern states are now headed by Black governors.

The old sentiments haven’t died out completely, however. People like former President Trump and his supporters often resent that Black, Latino and Asian voters have different priorities than they do. They have done everything they can to make it difficult for non-white people to vote, whether it is restrictions on mail-in ballots or reducing the number of polling places in less affluent neighbourhoods so people have to stay in line for hours (and are sometimes forbidden to be given water or food).

It’s disappointing that after more than 50 years there are still any restrictions to try to make it harder to vote south of the border. (It makes our own system seem so much more advanced.)

The next few years will tell us much about our southern neighbours. It’s possible that Donald Trump and his willing helping hands will turn back the clock and make the U.S. less a beacon of democracy than it has been for the last century. On the other hand, here’s hoping there are enough people who believe in democracy among our neighbours to fight the battles that must be fought – and won. Only time will tell but here’s wishing them luck.

My own personal history with Meat Loaf

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t would appear that my column from two weeks ago, in which I said that 2022 had started off on the wrong foot with so many cherished celebrity deaths, was a bit premature as more were yet to come.

Last Thursday evening, The Bat Out of Hell himself, Marvin/Michael Lee Aday, or Meat Loaf as he’s better known, passed away. He was 74 years old.

Long-time readers of The Citizen may recall that Meat Loaf is (was) one of my favourite musicians and, just a few years ago, I actually had the chance to take in one of his performances live alongside my mother (who was primarily responsible for some of my first brushes with Meat Loaf’s music).

Sure, I wish I could have seen him earlier in his career but it was a great moment and a great memory and I’m glad, especially now, that I made that effort.

It may seem odd, since the heights of his popularity pre-dated even my birth, but as long as I’ve had access to music, I’ve had Meat Loaf. My first personal music player, a classic Walkman cassette player, usually had a tape from a selection of music including Billy Joel and, as stated, Meat Loaf in it.

I played those tapes until they were warped to the point of uselessness. I went through so many batteries that my parents likely should’ve invested in Duracell. Music was a big part of my life but Meat Loaf’s music was something different. It reached me on some level and it wasn’t necessarily the lyrics (that likely went over my eight-year-old head), so it must have just been how great the sound was.

I was still trying to play piano at the time (a skill I always do plan to return to) and I wanted to learn to tickle the ivories like Jim Steinman (Meat Loaf’s composer) who also passed away recently (last April). Man, this decade sucks and we’re just over two years in.

My first CD player boombox, which I got

Denny Scott Denny’s Den when I was 12, often played discs by Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, Crash Test Dummies, No Doubt and, of course, Meat Loaf. I would fall asleep every night listening to some kind of music and more often than not, it was Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell.

When I was 14, I saved up my hard-earned chore money and bought a Discman as a teenager and alternated between Big Shiny Tunes 2 and the aforementioned Bat Out of Hell II album as I cycled around Goderich.

For a very long time, I alternated between cassettes and CDs of his music, knowing only that small slice of his work. It wasn’t until I went to Brantford to pursue a post-secondary education that I discovered just how deep Meat Loaf’s musical catalogue was. Sure, I had “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”, “You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth”, “Two out of Three Ain’t Bad”, “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I won’t Do That)” and of course the title track from Bat out of Hell, but I had no idea how much more there was, and how great it all was.

While downtown Brantford is turning into a hidden gem, when I was there it was definitely a bit rougher. Buildings burned down more often than they should, there was a murder or two within blocks of my apartment and things were just downright sketchy.

However, sketchy turned out to be exactly what I needed to continue my Meat Loaf musical education because when you have a sketchy place, some of the few businesses that

flourish are pawn shops.

Within a six-block radius of my on-campus apartment were five pawn shops. They kept my friends, roommates and myself entertained with old video games through my school career, but also made it so I could collect every Meat Loaf album imaginable. From original releases to later collections, I found a treasuretrove of his music. I located most of his (atthe-time) nine studio albums (after I graduated, he released three more albums) and a couple of the live albums. Later on, I even got my hands on a DVD of concert performances which still holds a special place among the few physical media I still own.

Heck, one of my roommates still remembers the day I first heard Meat Loaf and Marion Raven’s take on “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now”, because I listened to it on repeat for hours. I may have also sung along after the first half-dozen times. I may have also tried to breathe some Meat Loaf into a Celine Dion recording of it during a karaoke night or two.

There have been a lot of great memories like that one tied to Meat Loaf’s music, including cycling around Goderich and belting out the music at the top of my lungs whenever I had the house to myself. Okay, maybe I still do that last one. But one of my favourite memories is showing up for an interview at a reader’s house and hearing Meat Loaf coming out of their entertainment system. I said “I love Meat Loaf,” and they said they knew, because they’d read a column I wrote about it and put it on since I was coming over.

From those great memories to modernity, when my personal digital music collection includes all those Meat Loaf tunes, and my streaming services have his work bookmarked as well, Meat Loaf’s music has been like a friend to me for years. Even in death I’m sure he’ll still be there. It still sucks losing him though.

Shawn Loughlin Shawn’s Sense

Losing our history

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n late 2020, I wrote about a study showing a shocking lack of knowledge on the Holocaust. Conducted in the U.S. among adults under the age of 40, the survey showed that 63 per cent of those asked did not know six million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust. More than half thought the death toll was lower than two million and one in 10 couldn’t recall hearing “Holocaust” before.

This lack of knowledge was shocking at the time. However, as time has gone on, it’s clear that while people of all ages may know what the Holocaust is, they’re clearly not grasping the severity of what happened all those years ago. The Holocaust has quickly turned into an easy synonym for feeling aggrieved.

A few weeks ago I had to write “Nazism” in a headline over a letter to the editor. The letter didn’t speak about the systematic murder of a group of people based on their race, but rather the government shutting down a farm. An article on the situation quoted one of the farm’s owners (who didn’t write the letter) as saying it all “really irks” him. I can’t be the only one who fails to equate being irked to being viciously murdered in a gas chamber, raped or buried in an unmarked mass grave.

This, of course, isn’t the only letter to the editor that we’ve received in the past few years to make Nazi comparisons. Thankfully, however, those other letters are padded with so much disinformation that we can’t print them.

Yes, equating the need to provide proof of vaccination to eat at McDonald’s to the worst chapter in modern history is commonplace in these days of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s become downright offensive how many times in a month I stumble across such irresponsible and uneducated comparisons.

There are the “show me your papers” posts or the yellow star comparisons or the alwaysfun Nuremberg Code lies all being invoked by increasingly-desperate people who are really getting tired of being called stupid. But all they do is reveal a level of ignorance that we all hoped would have been left behind by now. In fact, just last week, Fox News’ dirtbag-inresidence Tucker Carlson compared vaccine mandates to Nazi experimentation and Robert Kennedy Jr. said, essentially, that Anne Frank had it better than the unvaccinated do now.

Curse lockdowns, don’t get vaccinated, post on Facebook that Bill Gates created COVID19 the same week he released Windows 95, but maybe try and exercise a little self control in not equating your plight as a person who has made the personal choice not to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to that of millions of people who were systematically murdered by a madman because of their race.

A quick Google search (or as our antivaccination friends call it, scientific research) shows that most sane people are growing increasingly disgusted by these comparisons.

The stories will show protestors wearing yellow stars or hoisting pictures of Anne Frank, while people like Andrea Freedman, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, call the comparisons “vile”, “dangerous” and a “gross and wilful distortion of history.”

Back when I wrote about the “No More Lockdowns” movement, I said it felt like runof-the-mill suburbanites having fun at a prison fantasy camp. This is like its sick cousin.

People who haven’t suffered a fraction of what those targeted by the Holocaust did get to play dress-up and feel persecuted. Not my ideal Friday night, but different strokes, I guess.

I’d end this column by asking people to have a little respect, but I’m afraid that ship has sailed for many, which really is a shame.

PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022.

A call for optimism A NOTE FROM BETTY

By Betty Graber Watson Call 887-9231

Winter fun There are hills all over Huron County where people can find a fun time in the winter with family of all ages. Above, a trio of tobogganers, Chris Riley and his daughters Evelynn and Emmalee, tackled one of the hills in Brussels recently, making good use of the dumpings of snow that has hit the areas this month. (John Stephenson photo)

It’s time for a little controlled optimism. The word is that we may be hitting the peak of this variant.

Being as we’ve been cautious and sensible so far, we need to continue. So keep on and carry on with distancing, staying home, getting shots and washing your hands. It’s just as important to put a lot of positive thoughts and hope into our minds. Really, really, this too shall pass.

I like winter, more now than when I had to drive to work.

Wonder and amazement were with me as I enjoyed my window seat view of the snowstorms of the last weeks. Magnificent stuff to behold; diamonds in the snow, icicles forming, branches glistening, multiple sizes of snowflakes dancing. Ah, nature.

In order to feel good about ourselves, we need to go beyond ourselves to help improve the world. To be of service to others sounds pretty dramatic, but really it just means being of help to others.

As we wander through this pandemic, it can be hard to find little things to let others know you care. Visits are restricted, face-toface contact is limited, but

At the Branch

Thoughts and prayers sent to Hepworth

By Jo-Ann McDonald It’s another week of being closed at the Brussels Legion Branch, but another week of housecleaning and refreshing some painted areas.

Comrade Deb Ross has been busy getting some of these jobs done.

Sad news for all Legionnaires across Ontario with the news of the devastating fire and loss of the Hepworth Legion Branch. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the Hepworth members as they face a most difficult time ahead.

The winter months are usually quiet and with the COVID-19 pandemic and the many closures or scaled-back operations for many things, it is a good time to work on a project in memory of your loved ones who served their country in war.

The Military Service Recognition Books are a project by Ontario Command of the Royal Canadian Legion. It was developed to commemorate and remember the veterans who have protected our

country and way of life for generations. These books are a way for our families, our Branches and our community to remember and celebrate their family military heritage and it is free of charge.

Fenety Marketing is the publisher of the books and secures the advertising for them. They contact businesses across Ontario to secure advertising dollars for the books so they can remain free of charge for all.

Submissions are being accepted for the ninth edition of the book now and must be done through your local Legion Branch. There have been almost 6,000 submissions in the eight books published. The Brussels Legion is pleased to have had almost 50 submissions published in the books, and now we are looking for more. The information required is the name of the service person, place of birth, date of birth, date of death, where they lived, which service, Branch of

Imagine It may be hard to remember, but just a few weeks back, there wasn’t snow everywhere. During a warmer period of the season, Sylvia Nonkes caught this reflective piece. (Photo courtesy of Sylvia Nonkes of the Maitland Valley Camera Club)

service, unit, date of enlistment and release, deployments and a signed consent form with this information.

A picture of the service person in uniform if available, or another, is needed as well.

The form is available at the Legion, once we are open again, or from myself. If you have any questions concerning a submission, please call. There are many stories to be told and a short 200-word paragraph of their time served/wounded, medals, prisoner of war, or life after the war would be appreciated. Please call me (JoAnn) at 519-887-6570 and maybe I

can help with some research. World War I information can be found online but not World War II or others. I will be very happy to hear from you and I will also be making some calls to those who had family serve.

Thank you in advance for your contributions to the Military Service Recognition Book and to the history books for the Brussels Legion.

Government announcements mean the Branch can re-open Jan. 31. We hope we will be ready and things can be back to the new normal.

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS connections are kept in different ways. Small communities do a pretty good job of keeping in touch.

During a pandemic, “pretty good” does not cut it for some. As we sit in the comfort of our homes, with heat and food to spare, we could think of the board of North Huron Food Share. As a board, they have done their best to offer nutrition to their increasing numbers. Last count showed 4,500 clients with one third of the users being children. Yes, right here a cheque will help you and them.

Another area of need is the global vaccine gap. In last week’s issue of The Citizen, there was an article about the need to vaccinate everyone, worldwide if we hope to control this virus in the future.

Illness and death have been part of our news for two years now as we chase this illusive organism over land and sea. The World Health Organization, along with many charities that work in the global south, know vaccines need to be in arms as quickly as possible.

The United Church has taken this cause seriously and has set a program to get the needed vaccines there. Cheques to local United Churches, to the Global South Vaccine Project, will make an impact, as $25 will give one person a chance to live and in turn, the world will be a safer place. Check with other groups with similar programs, we can make a difference when we work together.

Be kind. Be safe.

Bye now, Betty G.W.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022. PAGE 7.

Village Pizzeria expands to Blyth, opened this week

New to the core Blyth’s downtown core has a new restaurant in the Blyth branch of the Village Pizzeria.

The restaurant is a franchise of the business that started in Lucknow under Scott Heard, not shown. Locally, people will get to know, from left, Kristina Mitchell and Gail and Carlo Isetta. The business held a soft opening on Tuesday and will be looking at a grand opening in the future. (Denny Scott photo)

By Denny Scott The Citizen

Blyth’s main street has a new restaurant in Village Pizzeria, which opened its newest branch

earlier this week in the village.

The pizza shop, which offers over 20 specialty pizzas, chicken wings, submarine sandwiches, pastas and salads, opened on Tuesday after generating a significant amount of

buzz with residents according to Scott Heard, the founder of the chain and Chief Operating Officer of BG Wealth, which owns the chain.

The local restaurant, located at

Churches collect for vaccines From Marilyn’s Desk

By Marilyn Craig Call 523-9318

Happy birthday to Fred Hakkers, who will celebrate Jan. 27; Alvin Wallace, Jan. 28; Doug Howson, Goderich, Jan. 31 and Brenda Edgar, Bayfield and Wayne McDougall, on Feb. 1. Happy birthday everyone and enjoy your special day.

By the reporting of the birthdays this week, we have moved into the month of February. As we approach the month of February, our days become longer and hopefully we will see more sunshine. This past week has been one of cold temperatures with readings of 15˚C but feeling like -20˚C. Today as I look out my window sometimes I can see the neighbours and sometimes it is snowing

too hard to see their buildings.

Blyth and Brussels United Churches are collecting monetary donations for the Global COVID Vaccine Project from January through until Easter. You can send

your donations to either church treasurer and they will see that it gets to its proper place.

Stay safe this coming week and give someone a call to let them know you are thinking of them.

409 Queen Street, will be run by franchisees Carlo and Gail Isetta, who look forward to announcing a grand opening in the near future.

The chain, which is almost 10 years old, started in 2013 in Lucknow when Heard and his wife Tracy Skillen took over a local pizza shop.

Heard said Skillen left her job at a local nursing home due to medical reasons, and the couple bought the pizza business to give her a place to work.

“She changed a few of the recipes and the sales just grew and grew and grew,” Heard said.

It didn’t take long before Heard and Skillen had opened their second shop in 2014, opening a store to sell pizza and ice cream in Point Clark.

He said the business continued to grow, going from making 60 pizzas a week at one location to 500.

Following that, he opened another location in Erin that is run by his daughter.

Eventually, Heard started looking at retirement, however, and cut down on the number of restaurants until December of 2020 when he received an offer from BG Wealth to buy the chain.

“Part of the offer was that I would build them restaurants for the next three years and be COO of the company and run the franchises,” he said.

Since then, despite the pandemic, Heard has overseen the business continuing to grow, including locations in Goderich, Owen Sound and the new storefront in Blyth.

As for why the new location is opening in Blyth, Heard said the space is a great fit for the pizzeria.

“We’ve been looking in the area for quite awhile, and had our franchisees looking,” he said.

“Blyth seemed to be the perfect town. We know what a nice town it is and know how nice the people are and the location is great. It’s a great small town, which is exactly what we look for.”

The feeling is mutual, according to Heard, who said the interest from

NEWS FROM BLYTH locals has been significant.

“We get all sorts of phone calls and people coming into the Lucknow store asking when we’re going to open the Blyth store,” he said. “We are looking forward to servicing and working with the people in the town.”

As far as the soft opening, Heard said it’s an important step in letting both the franchisees and their employees know what’s coming, adding that the Isettas have hired some staff for the restaurant but are looking for more.

Heard also said the company has opened a chain of restaurants called Coach’s Burger Joint with one currently open in Wiarton and another opening shortly in Goderich, with more locations coming soon.

For more information, call the restaurant at 226-523-2824, visit villagepizzeriablyth.com.

Feeling Dirty?

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

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519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114

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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!

Just one (frozen) wave Down in Bayfield, Bodhi Stevenson, with his father Mathew supervising, put on a brave face and did some small-scale snowboarding to pass the time earlier this month. To submit your pictures to The Citizen, e-mail reporter@northhuron.on.ca. (Photo submitted)

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!

PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022.

Position, promotion leads to sr. management debate

By Denny Scott The Citizen The creation of a new position and promotion of an existing staff member to fill the new position resulted in a heated discussion at North Huron Township Council’s Jan. 17 meeting.

During the meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Dwayne Evans presented a new job description to council for a Community Engagement Coordinator, which resulted in a $6,000 increase to the draft 2022 budget. The employee would report to Evans as part of the administrative department and handle corporate marketing, community engagement and community events. If council ever did pursue creation of an economic development officer, which was an issue of debate at council’s budget meeting last week, the co-ordinator would then report to that person instead of Evans. The co-ordinator would work out of North Huron’s town hall in Wingham.

As part of the motion to create the

new position, council named the incumbent Recreation Clerical and Marketing Assistant, which is listed on North Huron’s website as Denise Lockie, to the position.

When first discussed, Councillor Kevin Falconer said he was fully in favour of the position as it “ticks all the boxes” that he had concerns about, saying it would address many complaints he had received from community members.

Councillor Chris Palmer, however, wasn’t as excited, saying that while it was a good idea, and while the person he believed would be promoted (who was never identified throughout the discussion) could handle the extra responsibilities, he had concerns.

Palmer asked what Director of Recreation and Community Services Vicky Luttenberger thought of the move, which led to some heated debate.

Luttenberger said the move would have a negative impact on her department as she would be losing a staff member who not only helped her with many aspects of her job, including grant applications

and communication with local community events, but who was integral to communication with other departments.

“For me, personally, I will no longer have an assistant,” she said.

“That person will no longer be assisting me with tendering, funding applications and drafting reports.”

She said the Recreation Clerical and Marketing Assistant position was crucial to her department, as that employee handles social media, website responsibilities, design responsibilities and advertising.

She said the location change, from the recreation department’s offices to town hall will result in challenges for her and her department as the co-ordinator will be focused on the entire community insead of the recreation department.

Luttenberger also said that the new position wasn’t really a new position, but recognition of all the additional responsibilities the current Recreation Clerical and Marketing Assistant had picked up over the years.

Evans clarified that, while the co-

The view from the Olympics

The thoughtful quote for this week comes from the comic strip, “Mutts”. This particular morning, the cat is excited to announce to his owners at the dawn of a new day: “Happiness is right in front of you.”

Paige Noelle Radford started her faith journey when her parents, Eric and Halee, presented her for baptism at Londesborough United Church on Sunday, Jan. 23. Rev. Jan Aylward performed the sacrament. The congregation, which included family and friends of Paige, welcomed her into the family of God with joy and thanksgiving. Paige and her family were presented with a cozy quilt from the UCW and a Bible and candle to symbolize a new light from God by the official board.

Londesborough United has tentatively set its annual meeting for Tuesday, Feb. 22. Secretary Marg Bakker would appreciate having reports for the annual report by the end of January.

Knox United in Auburn has decided to return to in-person church services on Feb. 6.

If you are a regular reader of this space you may recall that some months ago I remarked that we had a niece who was heading to Tokyo to work at the Olympics. These games were held in spite of COVID-19. And now we are gearing up for another Olympic Games in Beijing in spite of Omicron. For the next two weeks, Holly will tell us about her experience in Tokyo. Enjoy!

HOLLY IN TOKYO The Beijing Winter Olympics are fast approaching, with the opening ceremony set for Feb. 4. Despite the rapid rise of Omicron, the other COVID-19 variants still at play, the restrictions of the pandemic, and the tight controls within the country, China is still forging ahead with these games. And I was supposed to be there.

Holly Horton Let me back up. I’m a sportscaster by trade. I worked for 11 years for various media outlets, including TSN from 2004-2011.

When my first son was a year old, I decided motherhood combined with late-night hours and weekend shifts weren’t a future I envisioned and “retired”. I dabbled in freelance for a few years after, most notably with CBC Sports, which is where I met my boss, Trevor. Several years later, my freelance work behind me, he e-mailed me out of the blue. I hadn’t realized he had left CBC to head up OBS (Olympic Broadcasting Services), which is the official host network of the Olympics, providing non-biased broadcasting to rights holders in 200 countries worldwide. Trevor was in charge of OCN, the Olympic Channel Network and asked, would I be interested in travelling to Tokyo, Japan to be an announcer for the channel during the 2020 Summer Games? Why yes, Trevor, yes I would, very much so.

But then the pandemic hit and as we know, those Olympics were postponed a year and then almost cancelled again. It became a very different-looking scenario, precarious and unpredictable. I had heard colleagues and friends in the business talk about the Olympic experience: how exciting it was, how fun it was, living in the Athletes’ Village, with 24-hour bars, thriving restaurants, and free passes to just about any and every venue and event.

Tokyo... Well, Tokyo was nothing like that. Not one little bit. To begin, there was an incredible

amount of very precise COVID-19 testing and documentation required just to get into the country. Make one small misstep and they would send you right home. We heard stories of colleagues arriving ahead of time and being detained in the airport for several hours while they frantically tried to get hold of their doctors’ offices (don’t forget the 13-hour time difference) to send them the approved medical clearance. It was a nail-biting process and even though I made it through smoothly, it was still a four-and-a-half hour procedure once we landed in Tokyo before we were finally allowed to leave and head to the hotel.

Then there was the “soft quarantine” for the first two weeks.

Specially-designated buses shuttled us between work and the hotel. The only other place we were allowed to go was the 7-11 about 200 metres from our hotel. One visit a day and it was a timed, 15-minute venture.

A guard sat in the hotel lobby and we had to sign in and out. Tracking devices on our phones monitored our whereabouts. There was daily COVID-19 screening, infrared cameras that took our temperature when we entered our venue, weekly COVID-19 testing during our stay, and we were masked during all waking hours, inside and outside.

Part two next week. In the meantime, stay safe! stay well.

Wear your mask!

ordinator would report to him, the position would service all departments, including continuing to provide support to Luttenberger’s team.

Councillor Anita van Hittersum was concerned about Luttenberger’s comments, saying she felt the recreation department would suffer by moving this staff member.

She said that she would like to see the motion deferred until council made a decision on an economic development officer. At that point, van Hittersum said, staff could consider which parts of the current Recreation Clerical and Marketing Assistant position could be picked up by other staff members in the recreation department.

Reeve Bernie Bailey, however, felt that Luttenberger wasn’t looking at the big picture.

“I’m quite disappointed to hear what Vicky had to say,” he said.

“She knows damn well she’s not losing this person. This person will continue doing their job, we’re just going to add to the job.”

Bailey said this individual was responsible for the implementation of the new website and that job was not for the recreation department, but the municipality as a whole.

“It wasn’t for a little building down in Wingham,” he said. “We’re going to promote this person up and make our community better.”

He also said it might be time for council to consider having staffing reviewed at a municipal level to see who is handling which positions.

Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip took a

more measured approach, saying more information may be necessary to find out which responsibilities would need to be covered at the recreation department as a result of the move.

Falconer echoed Bailey’s concerns, saying that having senior staff members undermine recommendations from the CAO wasn’t how he wanted to see the municipality run. He said, if council is led to believe they can’t trust their CAO’s recommendations, council is “dead in the water”.

“This is a recommendation by the CAO, the head of senior management staff, and we’re having a direct rebuttal from another senior member of staff wanting to control the narrative,” he said, adding he felt council was being put in the middle of an argument between the two.

Luttenberger refuted those claims, saying she started the whole process alongside the existing Recreation Clerical and Marketing Assistant before the current term of council.

She said the previous council wanted someone to handle special events, and that started this process.

Luttenberger once again said the new job description isn’t a new job, but recognition of what the current staff member is currently doing.

She said she isn’t looking to hold that staff member back, but was concerned about the functions that the staff member won’t be performing, including grant applications, administrative work Continued on page 12

SPECIAL MEETING OF NORTH HURON COUNCIL TO DISCUSS REVISIONS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED TO THE NORTH HURON OFFICIAL PLAN TAKE NOTICE that Council of the Township of North Huron will hold a Special Meeting of Council to discuss revisions that may be required to the North Huron Official Plan. This meeting is a legislated meeting under Section 26(3b) of the Planning Act, RSO, 1990.

A SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNCIL will be held on: February 24, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.

REVISED PROCEDURE DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC This meeting will be held electronically in response to the current situation. For those persons who wish to participate orally at the meeting, there is an option to join the electronic meeting; please email clamb@northhuron.ca for instructions on how to join the meeting prior to 4:30 p.m. on February 23, 2022.

BE ADVISED that the North Huron Official Plan came into effect in 2004 and that under section 26 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, as amended, the Council of the municipality who adopted the Official Plan shall revise the Official Plan to ensure that it conforms with provincial plans, has regard to matters of provincial interest, and is consistent with policy statements issued by the Province.

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

The community is invited to share ideas about their vision for the Township and the policy direction to manage future land use and growth. Persons wishing to participate in the planning process are strongly encouraged to send their comments or questions via email, mail or telephone to Hanna Holman, Planner, at hholman@huroncounty.ca or to Carson Lamb, Clerk, at clamb@northhuron.ca.

Dated at the Township of North Huron This 19th day of January, 2022

NEWS FROM LONDESBORO

Carson Lamb, Clerk Township of North Huron, 274 Josephine Street, Wingham ON N0G 2W0 (519)-357-3550

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022. PAGE 9.

Ballagh family wins on ‘Family Feud’ PEOPLE AROUND WALTON

By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570

It has been cold. We have had a couple of days of snow and wind and some slippery roads. But the month of January is almost over and there are only 53 days until spring!

The first week of school is over and the children are settling into the routine of riding the bus again.

Many reminders of keeping masks on, staying in seats and sitting down are needed. All rules of riding the bus are for the safety of the children and parents can be helpful by also reminding their children to follow the rules and listen to the bus driver. I know it is cold, but children need to be out waiting for the bus in the mornings, not the bus waiting for the children. It makes all the next pick-ups out in the cold take longer and the whole bus late for school. The children seem happy and excited to be back in school and to see their friends.

I hear the good news that Jean Davidson is home again and we hope she is doing well. Jean had suffered a fall and has been in hospital since before Christmas but I imagine she is happy to be home.

Friends of Marion Smith will be happy to know she is now at Caressant Care in Listowel. She had been staying with her daughter but now is busy settling into her new surroundings.

Our get-well and healing wishes go to Val Gratto, who has suffered a fall. She will be in hospital for a while as she heals and recovers from some broken bones. Our healing thoughts to her.

Enjoying some one-on-one time with his daughter was Chris Ryan.

Chris and daughter Celeste drove to the west where she is now going to be working. Celeste is a registered nurse and is starting a job in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. They drove out in the truck and hauled her car in a trailer there. They went through northern Ontario and had a good drive. Unfortunately for Chris, his truck blew some lines after arrival and he had to spend an extra day or so while it was getting fixed. He says he feels really lucky though because the lines blew right across from a Canadian Tire so it was a short trip to the fix-it shop!

Good luck to Celeste in her new job and welcome back Chris.

Many area folks were tuned to their televisions on Wednesday and Thursday evenings to watch the

popular musical group, the Ballagh family, appear on Family Feud Canada. Members of the family included mom Jan and children Devan, Paige, Michael and Matt. It was fantastic that they won the first night and played for the $10,000 prize money. It was so close for the win, but came up five points shy for the money. They returned to play again on Thursday evening and did not fare as well to play for the money. To be honest, we had trouble coming up with the answers when playing along to the questions. They were tough. It was great to see the local family from Teeswater having a fun time on the show! Congratulations to the Ballaghs.

Finally Christmas is over at our house and the tree and most of the decorations came down on the weekend. The living room is back to normal but I left the snowman in the kitchen up for another month.

Snow is here, so the snowmen are in season!

Our sympathies are extended to the Hoonaard family on the passing of John Hoonaard. He will be missed by his wife Jenny and his children Tina, Peter, Carl, Evan and Camellia and their families. He will also be missed by his brother Clem and family and the extended Stryker families. John was a very pleasant and happy fellow to chat with. He loved farming and was an accomplished fine woodworker. He made some replacement barn windows for us many years ago. He enjoyed helping with the Goderichto-Guelph Rail Trail and other community projects.

Our condolences to the Hoonaard family.

Celebrating birthdays this past week were Nadine Ringgenberg, Lauralei Shortreed, Kaitlin Ritchie, Knox Gillis, Hannah Dalton, Brandon McGavin, Joan Smith, Scott Bromley and Brenda McIntosh. Happy birthday to all.

NEWS FROM WALTON

On the trail again Jack, Weston and Pearl Lee have made being active a big part of their routine in recent weeks thanks to the beautiful winter weather in Huron County, and they have explored many of the local trails, including the Stevenson Tract, above, which sits between Belgrave and Brussels. (Photo submitted)

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The Citizen

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Send cheque or money order for full amount to: Books: North Huron Publishing P.O. Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 or call and pay by credit card 519-523-4792

MAIL BOOKS TO: Name: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Address: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _________________________ Code _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Phone:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Visit huroncitizen.ca for more rural living books and local authors.

New titles being added as we build the site.

Mail order or curbside pick up available.

PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022.

N. Huron seeking members for fundraising committee

By Denny Scott The Citizen

Having set the draft terms of reference for the fundraising committee for the North Huron museum, North Huron Council is taking the next step to relocate the facility.

During its Jan. 17 meeting, council adopted the terms of reference, as well as acknowledged that the original estimated price for relocating the museum to the former Wingham rail station and setting up the facility of $338,075 may not be realistic, increasing the goal of the committee to $420,000.

In his report to council, Clerk Carson Lamb explained the committee’s mandate is to be responsible for all the fundraising necessary to support the capital and relocation costs associated with the project, including preparing the former train station to house the museum.

“The purpose of the committee is to plan, co-ordinate, implement and evaluate fundraising activities in support of the project,” he said. “As part of the committee’s mandate, the committee will be required to develop a fundraising and donorship recognition strategy prior to any fundraising activities commencing.”

That strategy will outline how the committee plans to fundraise for the project and how it plans to recognize and acknowledge donors of the project.

Lamb also reported that the first $20,000 raised will be earmarked for advertising of the fundraising committee’s goals, with the remaining $400,000 to fund the relocation and capital project.

The committee will consist of at least five members, Lamb said, including one representative from North Huron Township Council.

The committee members can be appointed by council, he said.

Lamb went on to say the representative of council won’t be directly involved in implementation of fundraising activities, instead working as a conduit for council to stay informed about the committee’s efforts and vice versa.

“In other words, the council representative will be tasked with keeping council informed on the status and fundraising efforts/activities of the committee, but will not be involved in the ‘door-to-door fundraising efforts’,” Lamb said.

He also reported that applicants will be reviewed by a team consisting of staff, as is laid out in the municipality’s committee appointment policy, which is part of Bylaw 54-2015. “[The review will be] based on the specific expertise needed by the committee and the need to reflect the community,” he said. “As council is aware, an evaluation of all applications will be conducted by a staff review team based on

these criteria and will be presented to council in a closed session meeting.”

Lamb did say the committee could face difficulty as it’s considered an ad hoc committee of council, which is automatically dissolved at the end of the current term of council.

“It is important to note that due to the 2022 municipal election, the committee will automatically dissolve at the end of the term of

which will be selected by Lamb. He went on to say that, between those supports and advertising costs, the financial impact of the committee would be minimal to the municipality.

Councillor Chris Palmer asked what would happen if the committee fell short of its goal, and Lamb said that nothing would move forward until all the necessary funds had been raised.

“Once [the funds are] raised, the capital work occurs and the

relocation work occurs,” Lamb said. “After that, we get into the next steps for determining what operations look like and the assumption of the business.”

Lamb said the speed with which the project will progress is solely determined by how fast the committee can raise the necessary funds.

Council approved the terms of reference and, earlier this week, started welcoming applications through the municipality’s website.

N.H. set to start official plan review

By Denny Scott The Citizen

Home rink

Sell It Fast in the Classifieds CALL 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 info@northhuron.on.ca To place your classified ad in

The Citizen

the 2018-2022 term of council ([Nov.] 14, 2022),” he said.

“Should the fundraising goal of the project not be met by that date, it will be at the discretion of the 20222026 council as to whether the fundraising committee is reappointed.”

Finally, Lamb outlined which municipal resources the committee will have, including support from the Director of Finance Darcy Chapman and a recording secretary

Anna Wilson, not shown, recently sent this photo from the Brussels area featuring Ellie and Tucker having fun on their home ice rink. Share your winter activity photos with The Citizen for a chance to see them in print. Email photos to reporter@northhuron.on.ca. (Photo submitted)

Remember Last Winter?

North Huron Township Council will be reviewing and directing the municipality’s next Official Plan amendment just before a new council takes office later this year.

During council’s Jan. 17 meeting, Huron County Planner Hanna Holman told council the current document, which was drafted in 2013, needed to be amended. The existing plan is based on a document which was initially adopted in 2004, which replaced the pre-amalgamation official plans of Wingham, Blyth and East Wawanosh.

Holman said it is important to begin the review process, which starts with a public meeting, so that it could be completed this September or October.

The suggested schedule, she said, includes that first public meeting in February, the presentation of a draft amendment to the Official Plan in March, a public open house in April to consult with the public on the document, another draft amendment presented in June and a final public meeting in August, followed by North Huron approving the amendment. The final step, approval by Huron County, would then follow in September or October, Holman said.

“It’s worth noting that,

throughout the process, staff members will be engaging with the public, community groups and prescribed agencies, as well as landowners,” she said.

She said groups like the local business improvement areas (BIAs), the Blyth Festival, the Chamber of Commerce and Amish and Old Order Mennonite communities will be consulted, as will key agencies like the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority.

The process will be documented through the county’s feedback portal at connectedcountyofhuron.ca.

Holman suggested setting the first meeting for Feb. 24, but noted that meeting clashed with a local BIA meeting, and said she would schedule the meeting accordingly.

Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip questioned the wisdom of an outgoing council setting the goals for a new council, asking if that was normal practice. Huron County Manager of Planning Denise van Amersfoort, who was also part of the meeting, said that Official Plan reviews don’t typically cover a broad range between councils, saying, ultimately, the desire to promote growth in the community tends to have similar goals throughout different councils.

Council agreed to commence the review of the official plan with the meeting set for Feb. 24 to discuss initial revisions.

No Need To Go Out In That!

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Order from the comfort of your own home • advertise • subscribe • buy books Call our Blyth office 405 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4792

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022. PAGE 11.

M-T sets committee, board appointments for year

By Denny Scott The Citizen

During its Jan. 11 meeting, Morris-Turnberry Council approved its 2022 appointment bylaw, which sets out who will represent the municipality in various capacities.

The document outlines positions like council’s Huron County Council representative (Mayor Jamie Heffer) and alternate (Deputy-Mayor Sharen Zinn), as well as appointed officials and organizations, some of whom are detailed below.

Appointed officials for MorrisTurnberry are as follows: • Community Emergency Management Co-ordinator - Dave Clarke.

• Community Emergency Management Alternate - Chief Administrative Officer Trevor Hallam.

• Drainage Superintendent - Kirk Livingston.

• Tile Drainage Inspector - Kirk Livingston.

• Chief Fire Official - Marty Bedard.

• Fire Chief - North Huron Fire Department - Marty Bedard.

• Fire Chief - Huron East Brussels Fire Department - Marty Bedard.

• Auditor - Seebach and Company.

• Dog Pound - Wingham Veterinary Clinic.

• Livestock Pound - Brussels Livestock.

• Fenceviewers - Robert Hammell, Paul Coultes, Vaughn Toll, Jim Ross and Doug Walker.

• Livestock Evaluator - Randy Scott.

• Solicitors (general legal matters) - Donnelly and Murphy Law Office.

• Weed Inspector - Dave Pullen.

Council committee representatives are as follows: • Compliance Audit Committee Jacquie Bishop, Jack McLachlan, Tom Prout and Luanne Phair (alternate).

• Emergency Management Planning and Program Committee -

Mayor Jamie Heffer, Director of Public Works (currently Mike Alcock) and CAO/Clerk (currently Hallam).

• Human Resources Committee Heffer and Zinn.

• Cross-Border Services Committee - Heffer, Zinn and Councillor Jim Nelemans.

Local board representatives are as follows: • Ausable Bayfield Source Protection Committee - North Huron Councillor Paul Heffer.

• Bluevale Community Committee - Chairman Randy Greenaway, Vice-Chairman Jamie Caswell, Treasurer Katie Clark, Secretary Tyler Verbeek, Happy Card Players representative John Mundle, Municipal Representative Councillor Kevin Freiburger, volunteer representative Keith Moffat and representatives at-large Tyler Johnson, Ryan Shaw, Jason Breckenridge, Mark Campbell, Rob Warwick, Darren Tanner and Kim Johnston.

• Belmore Arena Board Nelemans.

The architects George and Lorna Oldreive and Brian and Juanita Hamp are to thank for the new community skating rink in Auburn, which has been enjoyed by plenty of the community’s young people in recent weeks. (Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot photo)

Letter to the Editor

Students enjoy being in print THE EDITOR, In the Jan. 13 issue of The Citizen, my grandchildren, Axel and Revel Beck, had their picture published. This was a thrill for them, but when they returned to school, their bus driver had their picture on a poster displayed in the

bus. Well, when they got off the bus that night, they were beaming with excitement.

With everything going on in the world these days, our children feel the impact too. It warmed my heart to know that the bus driver took the time to do a small act of kindness

to make two little people very happy.

Firstly, thank you to The Citizen for publishing the picture and secondly, thank you Mr. Bus Driver for going above and beyond the call of duty.

Ruth Gordon.

• Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre Board Freiburger and Brad Beuermann.

• Brussels Medical Dental Centre Board - Zinn and Maurice Douma.

• Brussels Fire Area Protection Sub-committee - Nelemans.

• Coalition for Huron Injury Prevention - Councillor Jamie McCallum.

• Maitland Valley Conservation Authority - Freiburger.

• Maitland Source Protection

Authority Board - Freiburger.

• Physician Recruitment Committee - Zinn.

• Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority - Mike Niesen.

• Sustainable Huron Steering Committee - McCallum.

• North Perth - North Huron Family Health Team Board - North Huron Councillor Anita Van Hittersum Council approved the list unanimously.

New rules for local cannabis production

By Denny Scott The Citizen

North Huron Township Council approved a zoning bylaw amendment during its recent meeting that will dictate where cannabis production facilities can be erected throughout the township.

Presented by Huron County Planner Hanna Holman, the amendment is applicable to all lands in North Huron, but has specific rules for agricultural sites and for other sites.

She explained that, in general agricultural zones (AG1) and agriculture commercial/industrial zones (AG3), there would be a minimum 150-metre setback from sensitive uses for facilities with air treatment control, or a 300-metre setback for facilities without.

The rules, Holman said, were similar to those used both across the province and across the county.

Sensitive uses, she said, include residential zones, community facility zones, commercial recreation facilities, parks or similar recreational grounds and daycare facilities, though noted that the list isn’t exhaustive. She said there was an exception for dwellings located on the same title property as the cannabis facilities.

Facilities constructed near general industrial (IND2) or light industrial (IND1) zones would require a minimum 150-metre setback to sensitive uses and would be required to include air treatment control mechanisms. She said that such facilities would also need to be fully enclosed with no outdoor storage, though she noted outlying security buildings were allowed.

The amendment was circulated last month, Holman said, which resulted in no comments from staff or other organizations, aside from the suggestion that a planting strip or fence should be required between cannabis facilities and other land uses that aren’t industrial or agricultural.

Holman recommended council approve the amendment.

Councillor Chris Palmer asked how effective air control systems could be, and Holman said she couldn’t comment on that aside from saying they would at least reduce odour issues.

Councillor Paul Heffer asked if trails, like those surrounding and crossing Wingham, would be protected, and Holman said they are classified as sensitive uses.

Council approved the amendment.

Citizen Phone Book Cover

Contest The Citizen 2021 PHONE BOOK

What does Huron County mean to you in one photo?

• AUBURN • BLYTH •BRUSSELS • CLINTON • GODERICH• GORRIE • SEAFORTH • WINGHAM

The winner will get the coveted cover spot

White-out Tammy Nonkes recently captured this image of snow-covered forestry during a hike near Auburn, showing the beauty Huron County is capable of in the cold winter months.

(Photo submitted)

on our 2022 phone book (with credit) and a special North Huron Publishing prize package.

Submit your digital photo to: Citizen Phone Book Cover at: info@northhuron.on.ca Deadline is February 25, 2022

PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022.

150th Homecoming committee pushing ahead

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen While the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t going in the right direction to make event planning easy, those behind the Brussels 150th Homecoming for this summer are still moving ahead in the hopes of having an in-person celebration of the village.

Alix Sholdice from the committee recently spoke with The Citizen, saying that the committee has been meeting monthly and working towards a plan with the intention

that the event will be going ahead.

Planning is underway for a number of events, including a car show, coed ball tournament, duck races, other water events, a parade and more.

She says the community support for the event thus far has been tremendous and very inspiring for those working behind the scenes to make the event a reality.

The committee is still in search of sponsorship, however, and are accepting monetary donations from individuals and families as well as in-kind donations and equipment rentals.

Volunteer positions, sponsorship packages and other information is available on the event’s website at brusselshomecoming.ca.

There are different tiers of sponsorship opportunities, as well as event-specific packages. One initiative that has been very successful, Sholdice says, has been the light post banner sales.

Similar in design to those hung in the fall by the Brussels Legion to mark Remembrance Day, the banners can honour an individual or a family, while helping to spread the word of the Brussels

Homecoming. She says there are limited spots available and if too many applications are received, a lottery will determine banners and their placement.

Sholdice says the planning process has been going well, though it has been difficult for committee members to get too specific on some things with the unpredictable nature of the pandemic.

She said that, if necessary, the event would be moved to 2023 and go ahead then if restrictions made an in-person event impossible this summer, but the planning is

currently to move ahead with the event this year.

Merchandise for the big event is also moving ahead, with pre-orders now being accepted on the website.

Sholdice also said they hope to be selling the merchandise when it comes in at local markets and within the village in the months leading up to homecoming.

She said early pre-orders for the homecoming merchandise have been very encouraging.

For more information on the Brussels 150th Homecoming, visit brusselshomecoming.ca.

Councillors question Hutton Heights financing

By Denny Scott The Citizen North Huron Council will be considering a document to dictate the price for unserviced properties to hook into services, but has expressed a desire to not force people to pay for the right until they choose to connect.

During council’s Jan. 17 meeting, Director of Finance Darcy Chapman said that the financing of Hutton Heights hadn’t yet been finalized, but that the $6.3 million estimated cost would primarily be paid for with development charges.

The project, which will see water and wastewater services run to Hutton Heights, located just south of Wingham on the west side of County Road 4, has been a longstanding goal of council to create

more developable residential property in the municipality.

Chapman said that, under current development charges, 10 per cent of the project would be paid for by existing land users in the area who will benefit from services being provided (as there currently are no municipal water or wastewater services there), 10 per cent from general taxation and 80 per cent from development charges.

He said, in his experience, the majority of the project will be financed by long-term debt, saying that $5 million, or the amount to be funded by development charges, would be financed over 25 years.

Councillor Kevin Falconer asked if the estimate was based on just servicing the municipal land that is owned in Hutton Heights, and Chapman said it wasn’t. The

Trek Earlier this month, Brussels’ Nicole Lowe took to the Hullett Marsh with her snowshoes and went on a fivekilometre trek, taking in the snow-covered landscapes and nearly-undisturbed nature at its finest. When she e-mailed this photo to The Citizen, she said it was a beautiful morning. Share your outdoor adventures with our readers by e-mailing your photos to reporter@northhuron.on.ca. (Photo submitted)

project, which is being worked on by both municipal staff and B.M. Ross, would see the entire area serviced, including privately-held lands that have development potential.

He said he anticipates 600 units will be created on both the municipal and privately-held land, and said the best course of action is for council to set a local improvement development bylaw which will see existing landowners benefitting from the project charged for the work.

He said not having such a document had caused headaches for staff in other municipalities.

After answering several questions from council about what would happen if things didn’t go as North Huron planned, Chapman said he didn’t think there would be any problems with the development going forward.

He said with the need for residential properties and the space available, he didn’t think North Huron would have trouble paying off the amount borrowed over the 25 years.

He pointed to Blyth as an example of how needed residential development is, saying that developments in the area were being bought before they were even finished.

Before council received Chapman’s report and directed him to continue working on the project, Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip asked a question that caused several councillors to rethink what was needed from Chapman.

Seip asked if existing landowners, specifically those on Crawford Street, would be forced to connect to the infrastructure.

Chapman said they wouldn’t be forced to connect but would be charged for the work because it benefits their properties in the longterm. He said that is why the local improvement bylaw was needed, as the project will see services run to the edge of the properties.

While Chapman said there would be variables to determine after the project went ahead, he anticipated each landowner would be charged $13,500 for the work.

“The bylaw won’t force them to hook into the system and pay monthly fees,” he said. “It will give them service provision, but they don’t have to pay monthly fees.”

Councillor Anita van Hittersum said she was under the impression council wasn’t going to force the existing landowners to pay for the project, before asking Chapman if the charges were a normal practice.

“It’s absolutely a normal cost,” he said, before saying council had two options: go ahead with developing a local improvement bylaw to charge the properties that will benefit from it or charge that amount to the general tax base.

“We can’t charge developers to give existing units a free pass,” he said. “We have to calculate the benefit to existing properties.”

Reeve Bernie Bailey thanked Seip for pointing out the issue because he said council had always told those existing landowners they won’t pay a penny if they have their own sewer and water, explaining that gaining approval from the landowners was a “big hurdle” for council.

Chapman said council could make a provision that those living on the already-developed lands don’t have to pay right away, but said the charge escalates every year, explaining that, in 2021, it had gone up seven per cent.

“If it’s not paid, we will have to hold that debt,” he said.

Seip said that would work, and

that leaving it up to the landowners was fine, saying the landowners are taking the chance that this $13,500 charge isn’t $35,000 in a decade.

Not everyone agreed, however, with van Hittersum saying she wasn’t comfortable “forcing” people to pay $13,500 and Bailey saying some people had recently installed septic systems, so it wouldn’t be fair to them to charge for it now.

Chapman said landowners wouldn’t necessarily have to pay $13,500 immediately, as it could be spread over 10 years with interest of 2.51 per cent.

After more debate, council decided to have staff go ahead with the bylaw and the project, and that council would decide on the future of the existing landowners when the bylaw is brought back to council.

New position approved Continued from page 8 and tender and request-for-proposal preparation documents.

“Those types of things will have to fall on someone else, or we will have to look for someone else to take those on,” she said. “That’s part of the role right now. This position is taken and put under administration or the economic development officer, [meaning the aforementioned] portions would change.”

She went on to say she didn’t refute Evans’ recommendation, but had been asked for her opinion, which she provided. ke Stro rt & eness a e H war A

Deadline January 28

Palmer said the issue was “turning into a circus” before saying he felt Bailey was out of line in his comments about Luttenberger. Palmer said Bailey had his “hand slapped” for being similarly critical of staff before, adding the situation was embarrassing for both Luttenberger and Bailey.

Despite the concerns aired by Luttenberger and council members, the motion to create the new job and promote the existing Recreation Clerical and Marketing Assistant was carried unanimously.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022. PAGE 13.

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Brussels Livestock report

Lambs, sheep, goats sell steadily at weekly sale Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending Jan. 21 were 1,545 cattle and 352 lambs and goats.

On Tuesday, fed steers and heifers sold actively on a fully steady market. Choice steers and heifers sold $165 to $175 with sales to $176.50. Second-cut cattle sold $160 to $164. Aged and mediumfed steers and heifers sold $135 to $156.50. Holstein steers and heifers sold $93 to $149. Bulls sold $85 to $108.50 with sales to $155. Cows sold on a strong active trade at higher prices.

On Thursday, veal sold on a steady market. Lambs, sheep and goats sold steady.

On Friday, calves and yearlings sold steady.

George Roney of Staffa, consigned seven head. One black heifer weighed 1,400 lbs. and sold for a price of $174.

Dwayne Dickert of Ayton, consigned five head. One black steer weighed 1,635 lbs. and sold for a price of $174.

Matthew Bros. Farms of Durham, consigned 12 head. Seven black steers averaged 1,637 lbs. and sold for an average price of $174.

There were 350 cows on offer.

Beef sold $75 to $105 with sales to $119; good holstein cows, $75 to $92; medium holstein cows, $68 to $78.

There were 100 head of veal on offer. Good holsteins sold $155 to $169; SL heavy holsteins, $150 to $160; heavy holsteins, $125 to

$140; medium holsteins, $120 to $136; plain holsteins, $94 to $110.

Paul Pennington of Mildmay, consigned nine head. One holstein steer weighed 740 lbs. and sold for a price of $165.

Bryan McQuaid of Clinton, consigned seven head. One holstein steer weighed 715 lbs. and sold for a price of $165.

John and Cheryl Bennewies of Bornholm, consigned four head.

One holstein steer weighed 725 lbs. and sold for a price of $165.

Lambs, 50 - 64 lbs. sold $442.50 to $451; 65 - 79 lbs., $415 to $444; 80 - 94 lbs., $381 to $402.50; 95 109 lbs., $357.50 to $375; 110 lbs. and over, $290 to $327.

Sheep sold $125 to $275.

Goats: billies sold $300 to $400;

nannies, $100 to $275; kids: meat, $375.50 to $475; dairy, $250 to $400.

Norman B. Martin of Clifford, consigned 33 head. Nine lambs averaged 56 lbs. and sold for an average price of $450.

Top quality stocker steers under 400 lbs. sold $153 to $247.50; 400 - 499 lbs., $220.50 to $242; 500 599 lbs., $230.75 to $257; 600 - 699 lbs., $202 to $232; 700 - 799 lbs., $203.50 to $210.75; 800 - 899 lbs., $195.75 to $201.50; 900 - 999 lbs., $199.50 to $206.75; 1,000 lbs. and over, $190 to $203.75 Top quality stocker heifers, 400 499 lbs. sold $174 to $207; 500 599 lbs., $161 to $210; 600 - 699 lbs., $164.75 to $203; 700 - 799 lbs., $178 to $180; 800 - 899 lbs.,

$196.50 to $199.75; 900 lbs. and over, $182 to $194.50.

Ian Caldwell of Belgrave, consigned 56 head. Eleven charolais heifers averaged 863 lbs. and sold for an average price of $199.75.

Melvin B. Bowman of Wallenstein, consigned 40 head.

Four black heifers averaged 989 lbs. and sold for an average price of $191.

Noah W. Martin of Listowel, consigned 27 head. Four red steers averaged 1,051 lbs. and sold for an average price of $203.75.

Levi S. Weber of Renfrew, consigned 10 head. Five charolais steers averaged 1,063 lbs. and sold for an average price of $201.75.

HC Beef Producers donate to food bank

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

Hellllloooooo What happens when an overly-chatty blue jay spend time with another that doesn’t really want to listen? Well, Liz Allan of the Maitland Valley Camera Club recently captured the scene in real time, though this eternal question may never be answered.

(Photo courtesy of Liz Allan of the Maitland Valley Camera Club)

OFA looks ahead to ROMA

By Mark Reusser, Vice President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is looking forward to the opportunity to engage with municipal leaders across the province at the 2022 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference.

Over a three-day period, organizational representatives will be involved in productive conversations with key stakeholders about issues and priorities impacting the economic growth and development of our rural communities and the agrifood sector.

The OFA recognizes that in order to keep this industry profitable and productive, we need to ensure the rural communities that support our farm businesses remain healthy and viable through necessary investments and distributed economic development.

Key priorities that we intend to bring to the table include advocating for rural infrastructure investments, healthy hubs and vibrant communities, affordable and accessible mental health services, fast, reliable broadband and working with stakeholders to navigate the Conservation Authorities (CA) regulations.

It’s widely publicized that Ontario’s agri-food sector is a major economic driver in the province, contributing more than $47 billion to Ontario's annual GDP and generating over 860,400 jobs.

Investments in agriculture and our rural areas have potential to increase economic productivity and prosperity for all Ontarians.

However, farming and rural communities continue to experience shortfalls in funding due to the disproportionately large infrastructure base in relation to population. A key component of our “Producing Prosperity” campaign

is increased funding to rural municipalities for infrastructure improvements, including natural gas, roads and bridges, drainage and broadband.

Distributed economic development has the potential to create job growth, build affordable communities and secure a sustainable food production system for all Ontarians to enjoy.

Infrastructure investments can grow existing businesses, attract new companies and boost opportunities for regional economic development. It will support economic growth for the agrifood sector and ensure we have strong and vibrant communities.

Infrastructure investments, such as fast, reliable broadband connection, are vital necessities we are advocating for in rural communities. Reliable, high-speed internet should be deemed an essential service as it is vital to the Continued on page 19

The Huron County Beef Producers held their annual general meeting on Jan. 12, virtually via Zoom for the second straight year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Kevin McArter presided over the meeting, which included addresses from both Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb and Huron-Bruce MPP and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson.

In McArter’s president’s report, he called 2021 another year of “ups and downs” due to rising feed costs and end prices not quite following suit.

He said he still hopes the organization can hold its summer steak barbecue and dance in Brussels when the time is right.

He also said he would stay on as the organization’s president for one more year, with the executive remaining the same.

The local organization welcomed several guest speakers that night from the Beef Farmers of Ontario, including Jaclyn Horenberg and, Ron Lipsett, the president of the Beef Farmers of Ontario.

Horenberg spoke on the topic of beef sustainability and the Verified Beef Production Plus program and the number of companies and organizations that are making it a priority. She said the popular restaurant chain, The Keg, is also looking to get involved, which is

great for the industry.

McArter said that, during his auctioneering days, he found that cattle in the program brought in 20 cents more per pound as a result.

In his address to the group, Lipsett said it’s important to remember that most levels of government are urban-based and that beef farmers need to speak up on behalf of their industry.

Lois Sinclair of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association also presented to the group, saying the year’s intake was coming up and that accepted projects would need to be completed by Sept. 30.

To conclude the meeting, McArter and former president Harvey Hoggart detailed the group’s donation of 500 pounds of ground beef to the Huron County Food Bank Distribution Centre.

McArter said that the meat had been picked up and delivered from Green’s Meat Market in Wingham, but the organization had yet to receive a bill.

He also said that the Beef Producers have four spots booked with Green’s for the year (March, June, September and December) and that he hoped the organization would utilize those spots to make further donations to the local food banks.

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PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022.

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Card of thanks Help wanted Help wanted Personals WILLIAMSON. The family of Tom Williamson would like to thank families, friends and neighbours for all the phone calls, food and flowers sent to our homes. A special thank you to Allyson Squire, Haskett Funeral Home, Seaforth. Your kind and thoughtful words, attention to detail and gentle guidance was greatly appreciated. Thank you to the first responders. They are a topnotch group of professional, thoughtful and caring people. Tom enjoyed all the cards, phone calls and visits since his accident. It all simply made his day! Your kindness will never be forgotten. – Joyce, Sarah, Katie, Nicole and families.

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In memoriam FRASER. In loving memory of Lorna Fraser who passed away January 28, 2020.

May the winds of Heaven blow softly, And whisper in your ear, How much we love and miss you, And wish that you were here.

– Always remembered, Randy, Joe, Kathy and families.

04-1b -------------------------------------------WILLIAMSON. In loving memory of our dear and loving parents, Roy Milligan who passed away on March 26, 1995 and Kathleen Ella who passed away February 1, 2011.

When our hearts feel sadness, We remember the love, support and happiness you brought to our family.

We miss you both dearly and you are forever in our hearts.

– Barry, Shirley and family. 04-1p

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TREE MAINTENANCE TENDERS The work includes tree removal, trimming and stump grinding.

Tender documents may be obtained from the office of the undersigned after January 25, 2022.

TM-1 (Urban) – Town of Clinton, Lakeshore Communities and Clinton Cemetery (Requires an ISA Certified Arborist) TM-2 (Rural) – Holmesville Patrol TM-3 (Rural) – Londesboro Patrol

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Roads Manager Municipality of Central Huron 23 Albert Street, PO Box 400, Clinton, Ontario N0M 1L0 519-482-3997 Ext. 1235 Email: roads@centralhuron.com

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Card of thanks BONESCHANSKER. We would like to thank everyone who offered and sent condolences on the passing of Carol. We would also like to thank the Health Care Teams at Stratford and Seaforth Hospitals, and finally the amazing team at Clinton Hospital, led by Dr. Alex Chung, nurses Sarah and Kirsten, and to Barb who seemed to be Carol’s personal PSW. Thank you for your kindness and caring manner. – John, Bill, Dorothy, Annette, Cathy, Bruce and Robert.

04-1 -------------------------------------------DAVIDSON. My sincere thank you to everyone who sent cards, made phone calls and inquiries during my hospitalization, and for all of the thoughtful gifts. It makes you realize what a loving and caring community we live in. A special thanks to niece Gayle for all of the errands she ran for me. Your thoughtfulness will never be forgotten. – Sincerely, Jean.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022. PAGE 15.

M-T Council supports MRI proposal in Wingham

By Denny Scott The Citizen

Morris-Turnberry Council has thrown its support behind a proposal to operate a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnostic suite in Wingham.

During council’s Jan. 11 meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Trevor Hallam told council that Karl Ellis, President and CEO of the Listowel Wingham Hospitals Alliance (LWHA), had requested the support of council as part of a proposal that will be submitted to Ontario Health in hopes of securing one of 15 expected approvals to place MRI diagnostic imaging in Ontario.

“There is currently only one MRI

machine in southwestern Ontario north of Highway 7 and west of Highway 400, located in Owen Sound at Grey Bruce Health Services,” Ellis wrote to council.

“The other machines serving southwestern Ontario are in Guelph, Kitchener, Cambridge, Stratford, Woodstock and London.”

While Ellis says smaller hospitals are not traditionally sites for MRI machines, the Wingham and District Hospital is “ideally located at the centre of the large geographic area within Southwestern [Ontario] that does not currently have an MRI unit.”

He said it may be an “aggressive ask”, but the LWHA plans to submit the proposal highlighting the fact that Wingham is 90 kilometres

away from any existing MRI machine, and that placing one in Wingham could serve residents in Perth, Bruce, Grey, Wellington and Huron Counties.

“Round trip travel time from the centre of this geographic area in Wingham to any of the existing MRIs begins at 140 minutes and increases to 3.5 hours of round trip travel to the closest academic health sciences centre in London,” Ellis wrote.

“These are not insignificant travel distances and times. Populations in rural and remote communities acquire out-of-pocket travel expenses for diagnostic imaging services delivered in distant locations. Additional costs are also incurred by the patient and their

caregivers through work absenteeism and other incidentals such as parking, meals, childcare and accommodations and may act as a disincentive to seeking a diagnosis.”

Ellis further explained the importance of the MRI machine being made available to local residents, then said the operating costs would be funded provincially, but the capital would need to be raised locally through donations to the hospital foundation.

“We would appreciate a letter of support from you regarding this proposal as it would benefit your constituents,” he wrote.

Hallam drafted a letter of support for council to consider, given that Ellis requested the letters be

submitted by Jan. 12 so the LWHA proposal could be considered before the Jan. 14 deadline.

Deputy-Mayor Sharen Zinn said the MRI would be a benefit to the area and is needed, but she was concerned about staffing such an endeavour.

“We have a shortage of staff to run ultrasound in the area,” she claimed. “I’m just wondering how they’re going to get staff to run an MRI. It’s a concern I have, but, other than that, it’s a fabulous idea.”

Mayor Jamie Heffer said her concern couldn’t really be answered at the council meeting, before suggesting council approve sending the letter. Council unanimously supported the motion.

Obituaries

DOUGLAS LEROY SHOBBROOK June 9, 1936 - January 17, 2022 When Doug put his mind to something, he got it done. As in life, he did so in death. After a short, but difficult illness and without fanfare, Douglas Leroy Shobbrook went quietly into that good night on Jan. 17, 2022 at Bluewater Health to be with his Lord.

Born at home in Hullett Township, Doug was predeceased by his parents Leonard and Mary Shobbrook and his brother-in-law Ted Lamont. Doug leaves behind his devoted and loving wife Paulette (Lusko), his sister Donna Lynne “DL” Lamont, his children Terri (Dave Scott), Deborah (Daryl Blanchett), and Chris (Fatima Asgar), and his stepchildren Luann Thompson (Mike) and Lisa Foster.

Forever missing their Poppa Doug and grandpa are his grandkids, whom he loved dearly: Tanner (Shelby) and Riley Ward; Meaghann, Mackenzie, and Sebastian Blanchett; and stepgrandchildren Hope Thompson, and Simon, Benjamin, Jonathan, Anna, and Christene Foster, as well as several great-grandchildren.

Doug will also be missed by his church family at Cross Current Church in Port Huron, Michigan.

Doug led a simple and quiet life.

After leaving the Royal Bank, he worked as a process operator at Dow Chemical and retired in 1993.

A skilled craftsman, Doug (the “Wood Chef”) loved working with wood. For as long as we can remember, he was always building something: furniture, kitchen cupboards, side tables, and special projects for his grandkids.

He developed a passion for building replica wooden trucks.

Each truck was carefully researched, sketched, and created to scale. He chose each piece of wood with purpose and skillfully crafted the accent pieces. His trucks are

truly works of art.

After many years of being single and devoting his life to his children, he met and fell in love with Paulette. His circle grew and he embraced his step family as his own. He loved camping and canoeing, and we have wonderful memories of Algonquin Park. Every winter when we were kids, he would build a skating rink in the backyard.

One of his greatest joys was being a “Hockey Dad”. He even bought a van (a proud car and truck owner) so that he could chauffeur Chris and his hockey teammates around. And yes, Dad was proud of his vehicles.

He kept every bill of sale and Terri remembers making sure her car was spotless (like he taught us) whenever Dad was around.

Terri, Deborah, and Chris would like to thank Paulette for her devotion to and love for Dad and for her “momma bear” advocacy during Dad’s illness. The family is grateful for the care and support of the nurses, doctors, and personal support workers during Doug’s time in hospital, especially his endof-life care.

As per Doug’s wishes, cremation has taken place and there will be no funeral. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Parkinson’s Canada. Arrangements have been entrusted to Smith Funeral Home, Sarnia. Memories and condolences may be sent online at www.smithfuneralhome.ca

Carol was the beloved wife of the late Earl (Junior) Whitehead, who predeceased her in 2021. She was the loving step-mom of Stacey Whitehead (John Gorrie) and Steven Whitehead and stepgrandmother of Theo. Carol was the dear sister of Elaine (Roy) Ceal, Mary (Jim) Sproul, Gail (Terry) Sproul, Wendy (Dan) Dillon and Glenda (Gerard) Ducharme and will be fondly remembered by her aunts June Cochrane, Joan Bateman, Doris McNeilly and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Carol was predeceased by her parents Bob and Margaret (Cathers) Bateman, her sister Colleen in infancy, and brother-in-law Reinhard Jesse.

Relatives and friends were invited to share their memories at the Brenneman Funeral Home, Atwood on Saturday, Jan. 22. A private family memorial service to celebrate Carol’s life was held on Sunday, Jan. 23. Rev. Jeff Hawkins officiated. Spring interment will be at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Ethel.

As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations to Listowel Memorial Hospital Foundation, Diabetes Canada or The Kidney Foundation would be appreciated by the family.

Condolences may be left at www.brennemanfuneralhome.ca

law of Evert (Liz) Stryker, Henrietta (Fred) VanderSterre, Carl (Wilma) Stryker, Albert (Deb) Stryker and John (Charlene) Stryker. He will also be missed by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

John was predeceased by his parents Piet and Mary and in-laws Ralph and Jantina.

John was born in Holland and immigrated to Canada with his parents and older brother in 1949, first settling in the Exeter area and then on the farm on Walton Road.

John bought the family farm in 1973 and married Jenny the following year. Together they raised their five children on the farm and eventually retired to their new home in Blyth.

John was someone who enjoyed life to the fullest. He would say, “Let’s have coffee first and then we’ll get at it, if not today, then tomorrow.” He always had a friendly, light-hearted manner about him and would soon have you laughing with him.

John loved the natural world, whether birdwatching with his binoculars, or sitting on a stone pile watching the cattle graze in the pasture field. John was a talented fine woodworker and gardener. The last few years he enjoyed riding his e-bike on the Goderich-to-Guelph Rail Trail and tending to his beehives. Even though cancer

Welcome Your New Arrival in

CAROL BATEMAN Carol Bateman of Wroxeter, formerly of Lucknow, passed away at University Hospital, London on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. She was 67.

Carol was a former employee of Spinrite Yarns for over 20 years.

She enjoyed reading, knitting and watching old classic TV shows.

Carol loved spending time with her family and friends and always made a point of visiting her sisters every week.

JOHN HOONAARD April 25, 1947-January 21, 2022 John Hoonaard went home to glory on Jan. 21 after a valiant battle with cancer. He was in his 75th year.

John was the beloved husband of Jenny for 47 years; the loving Dad of Tina (Todd) Lang, Peter (Kim) Hoonaard, Carl Hoonaard, Evan Hoonaard and Camellia Hoonaard (Brett Van Dyk) and the loving Grandpa of Taia, Nathan, Mackenzie, Meadow, Shelby, Corbin, Grant and Theodore. John was the brother of Clem (Janet) Hoonaard. John was the brother-in-

The Citizen

Call or email to book your ad today 519-523-4792 info@northhuron.on.ca

shortened his life, he was very thankful for the years the Lord gave him.

Visitation took place at the Blyth Christian Reformed Church on Monday, Jan. 24. The funeral service was held on Tuesday, Jan. 25. Pastor Gary van Leeuwen officiated.

A livestream of the service can be viewed on the Blyth Christian Reformed Church YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/channel/ UC0DTNoKAr8Y83bpNQvd4xow A memorial video for John can be viewed at www.icloud.com/ photos/#02fBk3FVpxq_L_tpjefZh1 ODA Interment will be held in the spring at Blyth Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers and as expression of sympathy, donations to the Huron Hospice or the G2G Rail Trail would be appreciated.

Cards of sympathy may be sent to Box 171, Blyth N0M 1H0.

Condolences may be left at riversidefuneralhome.ca

REPRINTS OF PHOTOS taken by Citizen photographers are available to purchase.

ALL ARE IN COLOUR 4x6 - $5.00 5x7 - $6.00 8x10 - $10.00 Phone to order ~ 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114

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

The Citizen.

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

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

PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022.

HE to consider public committee on composition

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen New Brussels Ward Councillor Justin Morrison was part of his first Huron East Council meeting on Jan. 18 and at that meeting he was handed a number of committee appointments.

During the meeting, which was held virtually via Zoom, Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan redistributed a number of committee assignments that had been the responsibility of former Councillor John Lowe, who resigned his position at the end of the year.

All but one of those assignments were transferred to Morrison, the candidate chosen by council to replace Lowe.

Morrison will now serve on the Brussels, Morris and Grey Management Committee, the Brussels Cemetery Board, the Personnel Committee, the Brussels Trust, the Brussels Medical Dental

Board Committee and the Brussels and Area Fire Committee.

Councillor Gloria Wilbee will represent council on the Coalition for Huron Injury Prevention (CHIP) and Councillor Zoellyn Onn has been removed from the Brussels Medical Dental Board Committee and appointed to the Water and Sewer Management Committee. *** Councillor Alvin McLellan, at Huron East Council’s Jan. 18 meeting, put forward a motion to establish an arm’s-length public advisory committee to review council composition and compensation for the 2026-2030 term of council.

This comes in the wake of another attempt to reconsider council composition, which was put forward at council’s final meeting of 2021, but defeated by council, which opted to remain status quo.

McLellan’s motion, which will be considered at council’s first meeting of February, also denotes

that the committee should consist of five members of the public.

Included in the committee’s consideration would be a public opinion survey, a review of Huron County municipalities, a review of municipalities of similar size and population outside of Huron County and a revised municipal committee structure for the 2022-2026 term as approved by council.

Recommendations of the committee would be due to council

by June 21, 2022.

Councillor Ray Chartrand said he agreed with the idea for the committee and bringing members of the public into the decisionmaking process for the size and compensation levels for Huron East Council. However, he was concerned that the current council had already made up its mind in regards to the issue.

Citing the Dec. 21 vote, Chartrand said council stated that the issue was not to be discussed again by the current term of

council, instead leaving any potential changes up to the next term of council after this fall’s municipal election.

So, Chartrand felt that, while it’s a great idea, it should be clear that any recommendations made by the committee would be considered by the next term’s council. He said he felt the deadline in McLellan’s motion should be changed to 2023, rather than later this year.

The mayor then reminded Chartrand that, while council has made that decision, council could also vote to revisit the topic if council wishes.

While McLellan could have put the motion on the floor at the Jan. 18 meeting, he instead opted to give councillors some time to think about it, deciding to bring it forward at council’s first meeting in February.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022. PAGE 17.

From the Minister’s Study

Work to be a gift to everyone you meet: Jebson

By Student Minister Alex Jebson Blyth, Brussels United Churches Jean-Luc and I are at that age now where all of our friends (in nonCOVID times) would be getting engaged and married. We were a little bit ahead of the curve when we got married over two years ago, and thank goodness we did.

Otherwise, we would have been dealing with the restrictions and stresses that so many couples have been through for a while now. God bless all of you who have wed during the pandemic; your perseverance and love are an example to us all.

I’m not sure if our wedding was quite the rager as the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11), but we did have some of the bells and whistles.

However, one thing we did skip on was the gift registry. There was just too much stress and hullaballoo about it. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but there would be a lot of work trying to figure out what gifts we would really need or could use in a small Toronto apartment.

And for the gift-givers, there’s the ever-present worry about getting the same thing as somebody else.

Without diversity and planning, the couple could wind up with enough toasters to open their own bed and breakfast.

The spiritual gifts that the Spirit outpours likewise can cause a lot of commotion or concern. For us today, in the bleak midwinter of restrictions and isolation, the biggest concern is that there simply aren’t any gifts of the Spirit displayed on the table in the corner of the reception room. We hear just a partial list of the gifts the Spirit inspires in Paul’s first letter to the congregation at Corinth (1 Cor 12:1-11).

In this bustling metropolitan church, Paul sees the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, healing, speaking, interpretation, prophecy, great faith, discernment, and a whole host of other gifts that would swamp the gift table. But that doesn’t seem to be the case for us these days. Like at Cana, we worry that the last of the wine has been poured; all that is left are empty jugs, bare tables and sullen hearts.

That’s a worry that we might carry with us through this entire time of Epiphany. This season, we celebrate God’s presence with us; but we don’t see the miracles of overflowing wine jugs like it is explained in the Gospel. We look at Paul complaining about people valuing one gift of the Spirit over another, and think how nice it

would be to have even one of God’s gifts of the Spirit show up in these winter days tucked away in social distancing.

Yet we do see the signs of God’s presence in our midst every day, the gifts of the Spirit working wonders big and small in the midst of difficulty or emptiness. While it might be hard to come up with some big miraculous gifts of God at this moment, there are several small ways in which the gifts are made known. Sometimes we don’t even know that it is God at work in our lives.

Consider the guests at the Cana wedding – none of them knew specifically of God’s intervention through Christ to provide the wine, and yet they were joyful in receiving it. Knowing we don’t always recognize the gifts of the Spirit, and the promise and potential of God’s presence in times of emptiness, we can have our senses more in tune to the Spirit.

So we know that the gift table of God isn’t going to be empty any time soon. But our next worry is about what gift we can offer to others. It turns out we didn’t leave the worrying about presents back in Christmastime with the shepherd boy and the wise men. We feel unworthy to slap a bow on ourselves and go out into God’s party.

Part of our feeling of inadequacy and doubt about God’s presence and gift within us is that our individualistic and competitive society equates gift with gifted. We think that only the select few, the best of the best, the flashiest and newest and grandest, are the ones

who are able to be a gift to the world. Of course, there are those with immense talents who do put work into honing their skills. We don’t begrudge them of that. But the fixation on the crème de la crème, those who succeed from their skills, makes our gift feel less significant.

But this is not the way of the gift of God’s presence and Spirit. The generosity that flowed through Jesus’ life and ministry showed that all had the potential to have the gift of Living Water outpoured through them; the gifts of the Spirit were offered to each and every congregant in as big and wild a congregation as Corinth. And there is a gift within you as well.

You may not be whipping up a fish course for 5,000, but the gift of knowledge and healing knows that a good casserole for a hurting neighbour is a spiritual medicine.

You might not be writing dozens of chapters of prophecies, but with the gift of faith and wisdom, you can sense where God wants the community to step into in the weeks and months to come. You might not be speaking in tongues like the master linguists of Corinth, but you can heed the words of those with whom God stands in solidarity, and allow the Spirit to move your words in support or still your mouth in the seeking of wisdom.

These might seem like small gifts, but they are as generous and overflowing as the wine at Cana in the Spirit. We must be assured that if we offer these gifts in faith and generosity, we live into God’s ways.

We do not serve the false idols

Brussels Mennonite Fellowship

Sunday Jan. 30, 10:30 a.m.

Global Outreach Team: Q&A with Local ‘Missionary Kids’ (Isaiah 6:1-10)

The Regional Ministry of Hope Churches currently closed for in-person worship.

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

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

Trinity

St. John’s

BLYTH 9:00 AM

BRUSSELS 12 NOON

St. Paul’s Trinity

WINGHAM 10:30 AM

COME WORSHIP WITH US!

BRUSSELS

United Church Sunday, January 30 Worship via YouTube Zoom Devotion & Fellowship Wednesdays at 10:30-11:30 Get link by email or phone office Global Covid Vaccine Project Help for countries unable to vaccinate their people Send/give donations to Church treasurer Contact Alex at minister.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com Website: brusselsandblythuc.ca P.O. Box 359, Brussels ~ 519-887-6259

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

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

MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS There will be no in-person worship for January.

Search “Rev. Ireland” or “St. Andrew’s and Melville Sermon” on Youtube.com for a virtual service.

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

THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH

OUR CHURCHES HAVE RE-OPENED. WELCOME BACK.

Brussels Soup and More 2 is cancelled until further notice.

519-357-5273

Blyth United Church No in-person worship until further notice.

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Sunday School during Worship

"Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together.” (Isaiah 40:5)

In-person and online! live.huronchapel.com

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119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131

Like Paul, we need to stress that there are a variety of gifts in the Spirit. We don’t just need the toaster, but we also need the blender and tea set. Paul was very encouraging in having the variety of gifts coming from within and serving within and beyond the community, along with celebrating all different types of gifts.

Like Mary, Mother of Jesus, we sometimes need to be that discerning urge for someone to let the Spirit work in them. If it wasn’t for Mary’s insistence and encouragment, the wine may have never poured forth at Cana. Leave it to mom to encourage and prod, but each of us can be that little pastoral Continued on page 19

Join us for our 10:00 am and 7:30 pm services

In­person services closed until further notice

May the love of Christ be with you.

Evangelical Missionary Church

that deny God’s generosity and love, but we serve in the Spirit of the One whose grace transforms us into those desiring to share God’s gift with one another.

We have our own gift to place on the table at the reception of faith.

But we might then see someone standing outside the venue, someone who also feels as though they have nothing to offer, that the Spirit has skipped them on the refills. To them, we must be the helpful nudge, the extra bode of faithful confidence that God’s outpouring of gifts is diverse and multiplied.

Part of what the Spirit does in us is help to show others the ways of our generous and grace-giving God.

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

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

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

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

1025 Wallace Avenue N. Facebook: Search for St. Joseph/Sacred Heart/St. Ambrose Live Sunday Mass, Sundays at 10:00 a.m.

PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022.

In September of 1947 bread prices in Blyth were due to jump 1¢ in price to 13¢ a loaf Read more in the Blyth Repository of History.

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

#ThrowbackThursday

Leadership in energy and environmental design

Devon Henry 84772 McDonald Line • Box 616 • Brussels

devonjhenry@hotmail.com 519-505-2473

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022. PAGE 19.

Entertainment & Leisure

Future uncertain for Barn Dance camp-out jamboree

Winter driving in Huron Members of the Fire Department of North Huron’s Blyth division were called to a collision on London Road, just south of Blyth Road, on Jan. 20 after a van and truck collided.

Luckily, there were no major injuries reported as a result of the incident. (Denny Scott photo)

OFA brings message forward Continued from page 13 continued growth and development of rural Ontario.

Reliable internet supports our farmers and rural communities.

Without it, rural businesses, residents and schools are at a competitive disadvantage. Our farmers run modern businesses that require innovative technology, high-speed internet access and reliable cellular coverage.

Healthy hubs and vibrant communities are necessary, but unfortunately lacking in many rural areas across Ontario. At times, farmers sacrifice proximity to health care systems, schools and childcare due to the remote nature of their work.

Over the years, we have seen many school closures which directly impact farm families.

When a rural school is permanently closed, municipalities fail to realize the potential impact on cost and education accessibility for families in rural areas. Longer commutes to the classroom can directly impact student performance, concentration and participation in extracurricular activities. These closures also impact the community – removing

children present to spend money or be available for after school employment.

Rural towns also experience decreased access to healthcare facilities such as doctors’ offices, specialists and hospitals. The OFA believes farmers and rural residents must have equal access to affordable, high-quality healthcare services, facilities and practitioners that urban Ontarians currently have.

Access to local family physicians is a necessary support that should be accessible to the farming community to ensure quality of life and health.

Along with accessible healthcare facilities, mental health also remains a key priority and advocating point for the OFA. The challenges associated with farming can significantly affect mental health and wellbeing. It is vital to recognize the unique needs of a farmer dealing with a mental health crisis. Persons living within rural communities have limited access to mental health services and resources, creating a deficit in support available to farmers and rural communities. Without a longterm plan for stronger mental health

God guides through good and bad times Continued from page 17 voice to encourage others.

Obviously, this isn’t the time for big banquets and receptions. But if anything, this time is reflective of the entire ministry of Christ and the way in which the Spirit has been made known in the past – often mysterious, rarely expected, but full of gifts and blessings outpoured and solidarity between God and humanity. In this time where there may not be as much happening, it might be the perfect time to take stock in what gifts and wisdom God has nursed within you.

If you need a bit of insight, talk to a friend or congregant, and take to

heart how they see God at work in your life and discipleship. And when we are able to gather again, perhaps you will be more assured and outpouring with the Spirit’s work within you for new and renewed ways of being Church and being a local community.

Let us celebrate in the joy and purpose that is God’s presence.

May we be gifts to one another and to all we meet, living out the love of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. Give in, or gift in, to outpouring and gracious God that guides us through times of party and times of hardiness. Thanks be to God. Amen.

resources, this matter could become a significant detriment to Ontario’s agriculture industry.

As conservation authorities are completing their watershed-based resource management strategies and reviewing their funding agreements with participating municipalities for non mandatory programs and services, we encourage all parties to consider maintaining existing programs such as total phosphorous management programs.

We are pleased to have agricultural representation on the Conservation Authorities Board and are looking forward to the opportunity to collaborate with stakeholders and representatives on Canadian regulations that impact farm businesses.

The OFA is dedicated to driving positive change for farmers, businesses and rural residents, ensuring they have equal access to the infrastructure, services and support they need.

While there is a chance that the Barn Dance Historical Society could put on a show this year in place of the annual camp-out jamboree, the group isn’t planning for another jamboree.

Treasurer Gord Baxter told The Citizen the group couldn’t start planning for the annual camp-out jamboree this year, which has now been cancelled for three consecutive years due to COVID19. The board of directors for the group issued a letter explaining that there are no plans for a camp-out weekend going forward.

He said the uncertainty associated with the pandemic had led members of the group to debate whether they could go ahead with any kind of event.

“The board didn’t know what to do for 2023 [after deciding to cancel this year’s event],” he said.

“It’s quite a piece out and, with members that attend getting older, many have sold their [camping] units, so we don’t know if it's feasible.”

He said the group may try to put on a show instead of the camp-out jamboree, but that will be limited by whatever restrictions are still in place due to the pandemic.

“We can’t plan for a year out, given the circumstances,” he said, “however, we might try to put on a show this year, but it depends on the restrictions in place.”

He said the board is disappointed that the pandemic has gone on as long as it has, leading to them considering a one-off show.

Previously the group had said it wanted to host one final weekend as a send-off for the event, and that is still the desire, however it may be limited, Baxter said, to a performance in a theatre in Blyth or Wingham as he doesn’t foresee being able to have 500 audience members in the Blyth and District Community Centre soon. Even if they could, he said, people may not

be comfortable coming to it.

“There are a lot of seniors that are reluctant to go to events because they don’t want to take that chance,” he said. “We may try, if restrictions loosen up, to put on a show in a theatre.”

He said if the group can utilize the theatre at Blyth Memorial Hall, individual campers could decide if they want to stay at the Blyth campground for the event.

For more information, visit thebarndance.ca.

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PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022.

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