The Citizen - Jan. 2, 2020

INSIDE THIS WEEK:

SCHOLARSHIP - Pg. 3

LOOKING BACK - Pg. 9

FESTIVAL - Pg. 19

Blyth man’s legacy lives on through new scholarship

‘The Citizen’ looks back at a very eventful 2019

‘Christmas Carol’ sells over 4,000 tickets

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Volume 36 No. 1

Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Sale nets Festival $2,000

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

A statement win After surrendering first place in the North Pollock Division to the Mount Forest Patriots, the Wingham Ironmen came roaring back on Friday night, beating the Patriots handily by a score of 5-2 at home. The Patriots remain ahead of the

Ironmen in the standings, but with the win the Ironmen have made it clear they want their first-place position back. The Ironmen now sit three points behind Mount Forest with a record of 22-7-1-1 behind the Patriots’ record of 24-5-1. (Darlene McCowan photo)

The Blyth Festival Art Gallery’s first-ever Holiday Show and Sale made $6,300 through November and December thoroughly surpassing organizers’ expectations.

Local artist Kelly Stevenson, whose own work has adorned the walls of the Festival Art Gallery in past years and as part of the show and sale, organized the show and was very pleased with what she saw.

Of the $6,300 raised, $2,000 will go to benefit the Blyth Festival, while the rest has gone towards the local artists who contributed to the show.

Stevenson said that, in the planning stages of the show, she received applications from 25 artists, but went ahead with art from 13. It was such a success, she said, that if the Festival goes ahead with another holiday production in 2020, it would make sense for the Art Gallery to host another show, but no official decisions have been made.

While the results exceeded her expectations, that’s not to say there wasn’t plenty of work involved for Stevenson. She had to ensure there was a system in place for the Blyth Festival box office to direct sale proceeds to the appropriate artist and the commission to the Blyth Festival. She also visited Memorial Hall several times a week to check inventory and ensure everything was where it needed to be.

Stevenson said that while the sales were impressive, what really made her proud was the quality of the art shown in the Bainton Gallery through the Holiday Show and Sale.

Huron, Perth Health Unit merger now finalized The Perth District Health Unit and the Huron County Health Unit merged into a single entity effective Jan. 1, called Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH). The goal of the merger is to improve the delivery of public health programs and services across Huron and Perth Counties.

“Our staff will continue working with our communities, partners and stakeholders with the goal of protecting and promoting health and preventing disease in Huron and Perth,” says Dr. Miriam Klassen, who will become the Medical Officer of Health for HPPH. The new HPPH Board of Health will meet for the first time on Jan. 2.

Representation on the board is based on population and is comprised of nine municipal representatives (four from the County of Huron, two from Perth County, two from Stratford,

one from St. Marys) and four provincial appointees.

“Over the past year, we have been examining our organizational structure and our programs and services to see how we can best merge and enhance them to improve what we provide to our communities,” says Dr. Klassen.

“Our combined staff of more than 150 public health professionals will continue delivering the same great local services and programs and working closely with our partners and stakeholders to keep our residents healthy.”

A new organizational structure has been created and public health staff are in the process of program planning with their new teams for 2020. However, most public health programs and services will continue as they are for the time being, so

residents can access their local public health programs as before.

One change residents of Huron will see is that their local municipality is now responsible for plumbing and sewage inspections.

This program was previously delivered for the County of Huron by the Huron County Health Unit.

Contact details for the new Huron Perth Public Health, which took effect Jan. 1, 2020: • Office locations: The main office locations will remain the same (Stratford and Clinton) with satellite offices in Wingham, Listowel and downtown Stratford as before.

Clinics and services will continue to operate from these locations.

• Phone: HPPH will have one intake number 1-888-221-2133.

• Website and social media: The new HPPH website will be at

www.hpph.ca and will be accessible to all and contain important public health information, details about programs, services and clinics, and sections for partners and stakeholders. The health units will be merging their social media accounts over the next few months.

A public communications and marketing plan will take place over

the next few months to ensure residents know how to contact HPPH and access the programs and services. Public health units across Ontario are currently in consultations with the Ministry of Health regarding the government’s announcement in spring 2019 to reduce the number of health units in the province.

M-T bylaws deferred

By Denny Scott The Citizen After receiving feedback about a proposed update to the municipality’s property standards bylaw and the creation of a new clean yards bylaw, MorrisTurnberry Council has deferred

the issue until later this January.

Councillor Jim Nelemans said he needed more time to discuss the draft property standards bylaw that was presented at council’s Dec. 17 meeting. He then called for the deferral.

“We’re not in a real panic to get it Continued on page 3

PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020.

Flyers, Ironmen post wins in last 2019 games

The Wingham Ironmen downed the North Pollock Division-leading Mount Forest Patriots 5-2 over the weekend, moving to within three points of taking over first place. (Darlene McCowan photo)

By Denny Scott The Citizen The Goderich Flyers are having a mid-season surge, earning three wins over their last four games.

On Saturday, Dec. 28, the Flyers posted a convincing 6-3 win over the Walkerton Hawks at the Goderich Maitland Recreation Complex.

While Goderich only outshot the Hawks by three, with 40 attempts to Walkerton’s 37, the Flyers were more successful finding the back of the net.

In the first, Goderich’s Jeff Fritzley opened scoring with assists

by Trent Michie and Matt Bean.

Walkerton’s Evan Visser responded with a marker, assisted by Jordan Borth.

Goderich’s Cody Treble put the Flyers ahead with a goal assisted by Ethan Hewitt. Fritzley started the second with a power-play marker, assisted by Bean and Mitch Fisher.

Caden Beattie continued Goderich’s scoring streak with a marker assisted by Ethan Long and Mitchie.

Flyer Kaden Hoggarth then earned a short-handed goal, assisted by Fritzley before Walkerton’s Nathan Thibodeau responded with a marker assisted by Visser.

Fritzley then scored again for the Flyers in the third, assisted by Bean and Jack Stecho.

The last goal of the game was scored by Walkerton’s Thibodeau, assisted by Visser.

Walkerton was assessed 10 penalty minutes on five infractions while Goderich served four penalties totalling eight minutes.

Logan Vermunt got the win for the Flyers while Josh Silverman was in net for the Hawks.

On Dec. 27, the Flyers posted a 42 road win over the Hanover Barons.

Goderich’s Chad Treble started scoring in the first with a power-play marker assisted by Hoggarth and Long.

Birkett scored next, assisted by Butchart and Michael Stefanelli.

Cribbin then earned a marker assisted by Coulter and Troy Weber.

Blair Jenkins earned the last goal of the period assisted by Troy Weber.

Bean put the Flyers on the board with a power-play goal in the second period, assisted by Fritzley and Fisher, however Mount Forest Coulter responded with a marker by Butchart.

Bean then earned a second powerplay marker, assisted by Fischer and Fritzley, before Mount Forest scored five more unanswered goals to finish out the second.

Patriot Michael Anselmini scored first assisted by Matthew Weiler and Parker Miller. Cribbin scored next assisted by Butchart and Riley Torrie, before Birkett earned a power-play marker assisted by Butchart and Cribbin.

Anselmini earned his second of the game, assisted by Weiler and Torrie before Stefanelli got on the score sheet with a marker assisted by Cribbin and Chet Philips.

Fritzley opened scoring in the third with a goal for the Flyers assisted by Michie and Bean. Patriot Blair Jenkins responded with a goal

Hoggarth then earned a goal in the second, assisted by Kyle Langlois, putting Goderich up 2-0.

Hanover started the third with back-to-back goals scored by Luke Hoelscher. He first found the back of the net on the power-play, assisted

by Ryan Goetz and Derek Cornfield, then scored an even-strength goal assisted by Zack Cameron.

Michie put the Flyers back on top with a power-play marker assisted

by Fisher and Hoggarth before Hoggarth got the second of the game assisted by Griffin MacDonald and Mitch Fisher.

Goderich served three penalties totalling six minutes while Hanover was assessed 22 minutes on seven infractions. Brendon Landry was in goal for the Barons while Vermunt got the win for the Flyers.

The Flyers found themselves on the wrong side of a 12-4 game against the Mount Forest Patriots on Dec. 22 in Goderich.

Mount Forest came out strong, scoring four unanswered goals, the only scoring action in the first period.

Blair Butchart opened the contest with a marker assisted by Ryley Cribbin and Hayden Coulter. Jack

Serving the area since 1999

Babies of the Year

Drawing back

assisted by Weber before Fritzley earned his second of the game for the Flyers, assisted by Michie and Stecho.

Mount Forest’s Coulter got the last word with a goal assisted by Butchart and Anselmini.

Mount Forest served 20 penalty minutes on six infractions while Goderich was assessed 26 minutes on five calls.

Aidan Quish earned the win in net for the Patriots while Vermunt and Lazarevich were in net for the Flyers.

Goderich edged out the Mitchell Hawks 6-5 in overtime on Dec. 19 in Mitchell.

Mitchell put up some impressive numbers in the first, earning three goals and leaving the period with a two-goal lead.

Spencer Dowd struck first for the Hawks assisted by Josh Gottfried and Zach Dow. Mitchell’s Riley Keupfer scored next, assisted by Dowd and Dow. Goderich’s Fisher responded with a marker assisted by Gagnier and Dimitri Carvalho before Mitchell’s Carter Lewis earned a power-play marker to finish out the period assisted by Ryan Murray and Brett Denny.

Treble earned a power-play marker for the Flyers early in the second assisted by Bean and Fisher before Carvalho scored an unassisted goal, tying the game.

Before the end of the second, however, Mitchell’s Jake Finlayson put the Hawks back on top with a goal assisted by Tanner Hertel and Charlie Rankin.

Michie tied the game back up with an unassisted short-handed goal in

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the third period. Gagnier then put the Flyers ahead with a goal assisted by Kaden Hoggarth.

Utilizing the extra attacker with less than two minutes in the game, Denny scored for the Hawks, assisted by Braeden Burdett, forcing the overtime period.

Half way through overtime, Michie ended the game with a goal assisted by Stecho.

Goderich served 20 minutes on six infractions while the Hawks, on just one more call, were assessed 38 penalty minutes thanks to three 10minute misconduct penalties.

Vermunt earned the win for the Flyers while the Hawks turned to both Ryan Govier and Seth Monkhouse for goaltending responsibilities.

The Flyers will face off against the Kincardine Bulldogs in Kincardine on Jan. 4 then travel to the Lucknow and District Sports Complex for a special engagement against the Walkerton Hawks on Jan. 5. *** The Wingham Ironmen sit three points behind the Pollock Divisionleading Mount Forest Patriots after the Ironmen earned three-straight wins recently including a 5-2 win over the Patriots. On Dec. 27, the Ironmen hosted Mount Forest, earning the convincing win.

Mount Forest’s Weber earned the first goal of the game with a marker assisted by William Black and Philips.

Wingham’s Brady Becker responded with an unassisted goal.

The Ironmen took control of the game in the second with Justin Donnelly scoring just over two Continued on page 8

Wishing everyone all the best for the new year!

We look forward to helping you with all your real estate needs.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020. PAGE 3.

Waterloo student to receive first Peach scholarship

Scholarship recipient Charlotte Hings, left, a Master’s Candidate from the University of Waterloo’s School for Environment, Resources and Sustainability, was recently named the first recipient of the newly-established Geoff Peach Scholarship. The memorial scholarship recognizes Peach’s efforts in life as an environmental advocate. Hings is shown above with Peach’s widow Cheryl. (Photo submitted) Late last year, Charlotte Hings, a Master’s Candidate from University of Waterloo, School for Environment, Resources and

Sustainability, presented her Master’s thesis findings to the Coastal Center Board of Directors.

Her research focused on:

• Gaining a better understanding of ecosystem services, how they are changing and how this is impacting the social well-being of property owners and beach visitors of the southeastern shoreline of Lake Huron (Sarnia to Tobermory).

• Demonstrating how potential decisions affect social well-being by altering or restoring ecosystems • The potential emergence of more effective protection and conservation methods for the beach-dune ecosystems of Lake Huron.

Charlotte’s research aligned well with the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation’s mission to provide leadership and expertise, in collaboration with partners, to achieve a healthy Lake Huron coastal ecosystem. Charlotte is the first recipient of the Geoff Peach Scholarship Fund.

Geoff Peach was an environmental advocate from Blyth whose actions and influence spanned three decades along the Lake Huron coast. His expertise in coastal management, especially in the field of beach and dune ecosystems, meant his work was known and respected from all over the Great Lakes to Australia and California.

The Geoff Peach Scholarship Fund was created to continue his work and that of the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation. It is available to

Harrison now in Hall of Fame

Friendships and honours Al Harrison, who may be best known locally as a former principal of the Blyth Public School, was inducted into the Ontario Softball Hall of Fame recently. While the honour and the gold bat are an honour, Harrison said the real prize from his three decades of volunteer is the friendships he has made. That was evident when some long-time friends posed with him after being inducted. From left: Gene Rouselle of St. Catherines, Mike Goodridge of Port Dover, Harrison and Hub Fearman of Caledonia. (Photo submitted)

By Denny Scott The Citizen Former Blyth Public School Principal Al Harrison has been recognized for his three decades of commitment to the sport of softball.

On Nov. 23 in Oakville, Harrison was among several inductees to the Ontario Softball Hall of Fame. He was recognized for his work not just with that organization, but also time spent with Softball Canada and other softball organizations, leading teams and winning awards himself.

In an interview with The Citizen,

Harrison said that he first volunteered with organized softball in 1983 when he joined the Ontario Amateur Softball Association (OASA).

Having appreciated the sport since his youth, the decision to become a dedicated volunteer in softball followed shortly after he was involved with a team from Whitechurch which won the AllOntario Championships.

“I was always interested in the sport,” he said. “It wasn’t long before I went to my first annual meeting in Sudbury.”

In that first meeting, Harrison was elected to the group’s board of directors.

Harrison has been the chair of Softball Ontario, a member of the International Softball Congress Board of Directors, and was previously the Advisory Council Chairman as well as the Rule Book Chairman for the OASA. He was behind some successful Canadian championships as the Canadian Softball Championship Supervisor for Softball Canada between 1993 and 2016, and also managed Team Ontario at the Canada Summer Games in 1993. He would lead that team to gold medals in the 1997 and 2001 games. He was named “Mr. Softball” as part of an award he received from Softball Ontario which included a lifetime membership to the organization.

Harrison also received the 2002 Coaching Award from the Western Ontario Athletic Association alongside many other awards.

He is currently an executive member of the OASA. While he has a long list of accolades, Harrison says the most rewarding thing about being involved in the organizations has been the friendships made along the way.

“I have friends all across Canada thanks to my work in softball,” he said. “I have visited every province and almost every territory. I meet people and get to know them. The camaraderie and friends I have are fantastic.”

He said he has similar fond memories from working with children through the organization.

“I can’t imagine what my life would be like without that community involvement,” he said.

“It’s a great experience for kids and adults to enjoy and one I’m glad I’m a part of.”

Harrison also said he’s been proud to see a number of players come from Huron County and the surrounding areas to play for Team Canada.

university graduate students (Masters and PhD) with conservation and environmental research interests along Lake Huron about: biodiversity, coastal processes, dune conservation, water quality, plastics pollution.

Students from all disciplines are welcome to apply. For more information about our work, visit: h t t p s : / / w w w. l a k e h u r o n . c a / scholarship.

The application deadline for 2020 is Jan. 30. The successful candidate will be chosen by late February.

Bylaw heavy: Heffer Continued from page 1 done before the end of the year,” he said. “I would like a little more discussion on it.”

Mayor Jamie Heffer and Councillor Jamie McCallum both agreed with Nelemans.

“It’s a heavy, cumbersome read,” Heffer said. “I would encourage councillors to be sure they read it through and are familiar with it.”

Heffer went on to say that he would prefer any discussion on the draft bylaw be directed to staff, though, and not discussed in open session.

“It’s only fair we give our comments to staff and give direction as to where we would like to see it go,” he said. “We have three weeks before our next meeting. That’s lots of time to give comments to staff... at which point we can give direction. We need answers

for ourselves... and from the public.”

Most councillors said they had heard from the public on the document and weren’t ready to proceed with it.

Deputy-Reeve Sharen Zinn said the bylaw being replaced by the updated draft was put in place in 2014 and she hopes the same ideals recognized then would be enshrined in the new bylaw.

“We worked to make sure the bylaw wouldn’t infringe on property owners’ rights... only make sure they keep their properties clean,” she said.

Council deferred the property standards bylaw.

Nelemans and Heffer both stated that the property standards and clean yard bylaws should be dealt with in tandem, so deferring the clean yards bylaw just made sense. Council agreed.

Commercial Façade Improvement Grant Program — 2020 Intake The Township of North Huron is receiving applications for the Commercial Façade Improvement Grant Program for the 2020 intake period under the North Huron Community Improvement Plan.

The Commercial Façade Improvement Program offers grants to eligible building owners and tenants for front and exterior side façades, within the designated Community Improvement Project Areas. The acceptance period for applications is open until February 28th, 2020 at 4:30 p.m.

The Commercial Façade Improvement Grant Program application form can be found on the Township website or at Town Hall. For inquiries and details, please contact the undersigned.

Please send completed applications to: Township of North Huron Attention: Carson Lamb, Clerk P.O. Box 90, 274 Josephine Street Wingham, ON N0G 2W0 Email: clamb@northhuron.ca Phone: 519-357-3550

His master-purpose!

(Charles Spurgeon, “Christ’s Incarnation, the Foundation of Christianity) Let us gather with grateful boldness around the infant in the manger, and behold our God! “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins!”

Matthew 1:21 The great object of our Lord’s coming here was not to live, but to die.

He appeared, not so much to subdue sin by His teaching, or to manifest goodness, or to perfect an example for us to imitate—but “to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”

The modern teachers of error would thrust the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus into the background—but our Lord placed it in the forefront. He came to take away our sins.

Do not think of Jesus without remembering the design of His coming.

We preach Christ—so do a great many more. But, “we preach Christ crucified!”

1 Corinthians 1:23. We preach, concerning our Lord—His cross, His blood, His death!

Upon the blood of His cross we lay great stress, extolling much “the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” by putting away their sin “by the sacrifice of Himself.”

We will not deny, or conceal, or depreciate His master-purpose—lest we be found guilty of trampling upon His blood, and treating it as an unholy thing.

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance; Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst!” 1 Timothy 1:15 A Grace Gem Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church, Listowel, ON 519-291-1956

PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020.

Editorials & Opinions

President: Keith Roulston • Publisher: Deb Sholdice Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny Scott Advertising Sales: Brenda Nyveld • Heather Fraser

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The outrage of it all A seven-second scene from a children’s 1992 holiday movie, deleted in 2014 to make room for commercials, has become one of the biggest stories over the holiday season. Wow – for the time being let’s set aside the absurdity of Home Alone 2 becoming a polarizing political statement nearly 20 years after Kevin McAllister outwitted slow-witted burglars for his second travel-impaired adventure. The CBC had the audacity to edit eight minutes out when they first acquired the film, including the nowcontroversial cameo by Donald Trump in The Plaza Hotel.

The White House and its supporters have become so sensitive that this perceived slight became fodder for the national news. And should we find it worrisome that the leader of the free world has publicly accused the Prime Minister of masterminding the edits as an intentional retaliation for NATO and trade imbalances? I can’t imagine a scenario where any world leader would suggest this as a viable negotiating tool.

Perhaps the most troubling is the thousands of social media exchanges spurred by this single scene edit. We are witnessing a time where outrage is often the default emotion and people seem to thrive when they are most offended. The public, including Donald Trump Jr., tweeted up a storm without checking the facts or stopping to consider the absurd nature of the accusation. They wanted to get angry and find subterfuge in a silly kids’ movie, so they did, and we got to watch political pundits on Fox News debate this as “censorship” and “anti-Trump derangement”. Here’s hoping that online outrage has hit its low and we can all move back to the inanity of grumpy cats. — DS

On the way home When the Blyth Festival announced it would be producing How I Met My Husband later this year, it was another victory for anyone who appreciates the art of Canadian storytelling. Unfortunately, too few fall in that camp, failing to recognize the rich tales right at our fingertips.

How I Met My Husband is the only play ever written by local author and Nobel Laureate Alice Munro. Many have written plays based on Munro’s work, but this is the only play she’s penned herself. It premiered in the second-ever season of the Festival, never to be heard from again.

For Canadian theatre-goers and Munro fans the world over, this is fantastic news. However, for others this news may sink like a stone.

When the Alice Munro Festival of the Short Story launched, literary enthusiasts from all over the world descended on Blyth and Wingham.

Indeed, The Citizen wrote a story on a Munro-lover from France who made the trip. Great news, of course, but where were all the locals? Sure, there were some, but it wasn’t the “must-attend” event Munro fans from elsewhere might have thought it would be for those living in Munroland.

I can’t believe how many Blyth residents I’ve met over the years who have never seen a Festival production or read one of Munro’s books.

That’s less a commentary on Munro or the Festival than it is about the power of Canadian storytelling. We have our own way of telling stories beyond simply cutting Donald Trump out of movies – though there is merit to that style – and while Canadians won’t bat an eye at paying for Netflix or Disney Plus, they often shun their own stories and creators.

Canadian writers, artists, musicians and chefs are celebrating not only their creative vision but the landscape around them and we need to be better at celebrating our own and supporting these visionaries. – SL

The true spirit of the holidays Before the staff here at The Citizen took its annual Christmas vacation, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Ramin Ghiasi, an Iranian-born pharmacist who opened the Blyth Pharmacy over the past year, about his holiday traditions. Every family holiday story we print holds a special place in our hearts, but the ones that truly stick with us are the ones that are different and, having been raised Muslim, Ghiasi’s was different. He spoke of recognizing the sacrifice Jesus made and how we all need to make sacrifices to feel good during the holidays.

That message was just put into practice by the people of Deer Lake, Newfoundland. In a turn of events that may seem all too familiar for the province, which had its hospitality highlighted in 2001 when it welcomed planes displaced by the 9/11 attacks, the small community found itself hosting Christmas for a plane-full of displaced passengers.

A WestJet flight from Toronto to St. John’s wasn’t able to complete its journey and ended up landing in the community which, during the winter, doesn’t have a WestJet presence, limiting how the company could help. Where the company couldn’t, however, the community did. Brian Snow, a Salvation Army employee, with the help of the community, saw to it that stranded travellers had a Christmas meal to remember. From sandwiches to leftover turkey, there was a feast waiting for everyone.

Snow says it’s going to be his best Christmas ever which, if you follow what Ghiasi said, makes sense. We all feel better when we’re helping those who need it. Take that lesson into the new year. — JDS

Looking Back Through the Years Jan. 3, 1963 The Brussels Post brought its publication in-house, resulting in a paper of smaller dimensions, but increasing the amount of local news covered.

James S. Armstrong resigned from the Wingham District High School Board after representing the Township of Grey for 14 years.

A holiday decorating competition run by the Brussels Horticultural Society honoured Mrs. F. Michel for her home and Max Oldfield for his business.

Jan. 6, 1971 The Blyth Snow Travellers Club held its first meeting, with the first order of business being to decide on a name. Jim Howson and Lyle Youngblut approved the club’s name. Aside from setting club rules, additions were made to the group’s executive, including John Elliott being named vice-president and Doug Scrimgeour, Mac Brooks and Harve McCallum named directors.

Over 100 years of Auburn Presbyterianism came to an end Dec. 27, 1970 when Knox Presbyterian Church was closed Dec. 27, 1970. The final service was presided over by Mr. John Turner of Clinton with Mrs. Donald Haines serving as organist.

Oct. 2, 1991 Blyth Village Council voted to seek amalgamation with its neighbours to the north after deciding not to join with its neighbours to the south.

In a close vote that required a vote

by Reeve Mason Bailey to break a tie, Blyth Village Council voted to seek an amalgamation with East Wawanosh, the Town of Wingham and any other municipality that wished to join.

Bailey also had to break a tie vote

in which it was suggested Blyth seek to join with Hullett Township, Goderich Township and the Town of Clinton. That vote was supported by Councillors Rob Lawrie and Murray Nesbitt, but opposed by Councillors Jeff Howson and Doug Scrimgeour.

The votes were spurred on by a letter from East Wawanosh Council stating it was considering amalgamation with Morris and Turnberry Townships.

Troy William Peters, son of Tracey and Bill Peters of Goderich, was the first baby of the new year in the county, born at Alexandra and Marine General Hospital at 2:20 p.m. on Jan. 1. Troy weighed 2.8 pounds and was welcomed by his six-year-old sister Kaity.

Edna Martin, the daughter of Elam and Barbara Martin of RR1 Wingham, was the first baby born in Wingham. Edna was born at 2:15 p.m. on Jan. 3 The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were seeking help in locating a cellular phone that was stolen from a car in Brussels on New Year’s Eve. The device, a Motorola Model 650, was stolen from a vehicle parked in a Church Street Driveway between 4 and 10 p.m.

Shannon McGavin opened The Sunshine Club, a pre-school program for children aged two-and-a-half to five, in her RR2 Brussels home.

Tim and Donna Prior earned honourable mention at the Ontario Pasture Competition.

Jan. 7, 2010 For the first time since it launched 25 years earlier, The Citizen had two locals shortlisted for the Junior Citizen of the Year Awards offered through the Ontario Community Newspaper Association.

East Wawanosh Public School student Teaghan Coultes was

nominated as was Brianne Wheeler from Brussels.

The Blyth Festival received $32,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation while the Heritage Culture Partnership received $30,000 from the foundation. The funding made available to the Festival was used to renovate Blyth Memorial Hall.

The grant enabled the Festival to replace windows, repair masonry and install power door openers throughout the building, improving accessibility and energy efficiency.

The Heritage Cultural Partnership’s fund was earmarked to hire a cultural advisor to produce a website and magazine for the area.

Hullett Central Public School in Londesborough welcomed a new principal in Shawn Allen. He took over early in the new year, bringing with him two decades of experience, a significant portion of which was in rural schools.

Blyth’s Janice Henry received the Meritorious Service Award from the Blyth Legion Ladies Auxiliary.

Henry was surprised with the award at a special ceremony.

Henry was the third woman in her family to receive the award, which is the highest honour the organization can bestow. Before her, Henry’s mother and sister received the award.

The Blyth Festival ended the 2009 season with a $69,000 surplus.

General Manager Deb Sholdice said the accomplishment was significant, crediting production staff for their resourcefulness in helping to make the surplus a reality.

The surplus came a year after the 2008 season, a runaway success, eliminated an accumulated deficit the Festival had accrued in recent years.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020. PAGE 5.

Other Views

Oh how times have changed

L

ooking for something to read recently, I pulled an old paperback novel I’d studied in university off the shelf.

I was stunned at the price printed on the book’s back, and it started me thinking of the uneven way inflation has affected different prices.

To be sure, it was a slim book, but still the 40-cent price was shockingly small compared to the price of books today. While the price of everything has gone up, I’m sure the increase in book prices has outpaced many other items.

It’s the uneven increase in the cost of things that often has young people complaining they can’t make ends meet. It starts as soon as they leave home with the cost of a post-secondary education. Tuition fees were remarkably inexpensive when I went to university. If they hadn’t been, then I wouldn’t have gone, even with the new student loan and grant programs that had just been introduced to help students who weren’t born into higher-income families to make a leap forward. It worked.

When I graduated 50 years ago this past spring, I was pleased to get a job in Toronto for $6,000 a year. I’m sure I was probably earning more, straight out of university, than my father was after years working at his factory job. We just expected that back then.

Ontario’s first minimum wage was introduced in 1963, initially only as an experiment in the area around Toronto. Under it, women were to be paid a minimum of 75 cents an hour, most men would be paid a minimum of $1 an hour and the minimum for construction workers would be $1.25.

As usual, there were complaints from both sides. Labour organizations argued the rate was too low. Employers said it would drive them from business. According to an article on the

Keith Roulston From the cluttered desk TVO website, restaurant owners screamed the loudest, but then it was exploitive wages paid by restaurants that had led to the drive for the minimum wage. The previous year, the Toronto Star had investigated the hospitality industry and found restaurants were paying employees, many of them new immigrants, 55 to 73 cents an hour. One Hungarian kitchen worker was working 91 hours a week for $35.

Restaurant owners warned that the higher wages would lead to the demise of the 10-cent cup of coffee, and within two months, half of restaurants were charging 15 cents. Some had to back off, however, when patrons refused to pay that outrageous price.

When Jill and I got married, shortly before I graduated, we moved into a nice clean apartment that cost $150 a month. An internet search put the average monthly rent of a onebedroom apartment in Toronto these days at $2,260. It’s this kind of inflation that makes it hard for young people to get a start. I remember developers were advertising rowhouses in a new development at that time for $19,000. My father-in-law bought a large two-storey, nearly-new suburban house shortly thereafter for $44,000. Many young couples today have given up on the hope of ever owning a home in cities like Toronto and Vancouver, and the inflated prices are

spreading across the country.

One of the things that people most like to complain about these days is the “high” cost of food. Back in 1969 the Blyth Butcher Shop advertised in the Blyth Standard that it was offering ground beef at 69 cents a pound. A recent Zehrs flyer was selling a pound of ground beef for $3.99. That’s an increase of 5.7 times when the minimum wage has increased 14 times over the years. Cook’s Superior grocery in Blyth was selling hamburger or hot dog buns at two packages for 49 cents. That Zehrs flyer had a special of $3 for a package of eight, showing considerably more inflation than meat – a surprise to many, I suspect.

I bought our first new car late in 1969, a tiny Toyota, for $1,600. Toyota was still new to Canada at the time so offered bargain prices to overcome buyers’ skepticism, but I seem to recall you could get a full-sized North American car starting at around $3,000.

Of course, there’s also been inflation of our expectations. Few people today would buy that little Toyota. They expect something better.

Part of the astronomical increase in the price of houses is because they just don’t build 1,200or 1,500-square-foot houses as they did in the 1950s and early 1960s. I chuckle when I look at the homes built in that era by well-to-do residents of local towns, and then compare them to the much larger houses built by their children and grandchildren.

As for the price of food, many people don’t think of the simple ingredients for homemade meals when they complain about the cost of food. With their busy lifestyle they expect ready-made dishes. And they think food should be cheaper so they have money left over for new “necessities” like cell phones for every member of the family.

A revolution for dinner discussions

A

s I sat around the dinner table over the weekend, I came to the realization that dinner table discussions, at least in our house, are a lot different than I remember them growing up.

Discussions then were about what was learned at school that day or the plans people had for the night ahead.

Even up to my 20s, when I sat down for dinner with Ashleigh, discussions would be about (depending on where we were at in life) how the day had been, what had happened at work and plans we had after dinner. However, as with everything touched by technology, the dinner discussions have turned to bigger issues and future concerns.

It’s not as if the two of us aren’t talking about what we did at work or what our immediate plans are, it’s just that, thanks to text messages and the internet, we have those discussions throughout the day instead of at the dinner table.

I guess part of it is that, with our schedules, we can go three or four days in a row with the only meal together being breakfast, but I think the bigger part is the six-by-three-inch piece of technology in my pocket.

When either one of us has an issue that needs discussing, or has something come up that is interesting, we only need to wait until our next break, fire off a quick text (or succession of texts) and the other party is brought up to speed fairly quickly.

Say I need to cover an event some night this week; I don’t wait until we’re home having spaghetti and meatballs. I’ll text Ashleigh right away and, odds are, by the time her next break ends, she will have reached out to one of my parents to spend some time with our daughter Mary Jane so I can work.

Or say I find out some great news at work; I don’t have to wait until we’re noshing on some rice and fried veggies. I can fire off a

Denny Scott Denny’s Den Facebook message and Ashleigh knows about it before she picks up Mary Jane from daycare.

Heck, even Mary Jane’s exploits are known to us before she can share thanks to an app on our phones that shows photos and videos of her playing and learning.

I’m sure that will continue because my friends who do have school-age children tell me there’s a lot more communication between teachers and parents through e-mail and other digital solutions than there was when I was a kid.

There is no, “how was work?” or “what happened to you today?” because we already know the answers to those questions. We don’t ask Mary Jane what she did at daycare because, if we didn’t find out thanks to the app, she will have regaled whichever parent picked her up in the 20-minute drive home with tales of swimming, playing with her friends and discovering new things.

I’m not really complaining here. Sure, there is a bit of a frustration in a quiet dinner table because we’ve already unloaded all of our stories throughout the day, but what I’m really saying is that communication has evolved and has given us more time to discuss bigger issues.

For a family like mine, that’s probably a good thing. Like I said, with our schedules, Ashleigh and I often eat at different times because we don’t want Mary Jane eating too close to bed time. If we waited until we were at the dining room table enjoying chicken

fajitas, we may never get to eat because of all the news we would have to share with one another.

What I have noticed, however, is that when we do sit down and talk, we look to bigger issues and less pressing concerns thanks to the small talk and the immediate planning being done in advance.

What does that mean? Well it means there is a lot of dreaming out loud that goes on around my dining room table.

We talk about how much we would love to live in Scotland (depending on how this Brexit thing pans out) and what kind of horse we should be looking at if Mary Jane decides to be as excited about equestrian activities as her mother. We talk about which sports she might like to play and what we will need to do to make that happen.

We discuss the highs and lows of the political news cycle of the day, what cell phones we might get next and, with our two hours of quiet time after Mary Jane goes to bed, what chores we have left around the house and television shows we might like to watch that night.

Okay, so maybe chores and television are among the few dinner table topics that have stood the test of time.

In the end, I guess my point is that, for the first time ever, I feel like technology has given me more time to live my life and enjoy time with my loved ones and it’s actually a pretty decent feeling.

Final Thought Whatever you want in life, other people are going to want it too. Believe in yourself enough to accept the idea that you have an equal right to it.

– Diane Sawyer

Shawn Loughlin Shawn’s Sense

Fancy seeing you here

O

ver the years, I feel like I’ve had something of a travel confirmation bias. I know that isn’t exactly the right term for this; it’s the closest I could come up with for what I’ve experienced on the road.

Last summer, when Jess and I went to Newfoundland, I’ll admit to not knowing much about it. What I had learned came from an episode of Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown and chef Jeremy Charles’ fantastic cookbook, Wildness, and it was enough to make me want to experience it for myself.

Other than Charles, who I had met at a book signing event in Toronto, I didn’t know anyone in Newfoundland. The only people I equated with the island were the members of Great Big Sea, one of Canada’s biggest bands, and the only member I would know was singer and Member of the Order of Canada Alan Doyle.

So, perhaps it was fitting that as Jess and I prepared to leave Bonavista, a town of just 3,400 people, for St. John’s, that we ran into Doyle – the only person I knew of in the whole province. We stopped for a coffee at The Quintal Café before our four-hour drive and opted instead to have a sit-down breakfast. Just after getting our food, Doyle walked in for a coffee before he too hit the road.

I didn’t say anything – for all I knew, every man in Newfoundland looks exactly like Doyle – but sure enough after he left, an older woman popped out of the kitchen to confer with the young girl in the front of the house, saying, in perfect Newfoundlander, “that was [expletive deleted] Alan Doyle!”

I felt better both knowing that my sighting had been confirmed and that it was a big deal even for Newfoundlanders. But to me, this felt like the equivalent of running into the most famous person in a city in that exact city. You know, like saying, “say hi to Donald Trump for me” to a friend heading to Washington, D.C. and that friend actually running into Trump.

So, back to the idea of confirmation bias. It really denotes a situation in which you’re looking for a specific answer, so then you tend to find it because that’s all you’re looking for.

So, I knew of one person in Newfoundland and didn’t I happen to see him while there?

Funny enough, this had happened before on my only other trip to the east coast on a golf trip to Nova Scotia several years ago.

The only person I’d ever known to be from the Maritimes was my Grade 9 English teacher at St. Mary’s in Pickering: Mr. McLean. He was from New Brunswick, but he was the long and short of what I knew about that part of the world before actually travelling there.

As one of the younger teachers at the school, many students related to him and felt they could be honest with him about this or that. So, that’s how it came to pass that he helped me out in what I thought was a tragedy in the making in high school. Back in the days before e-transfers and tapping debit cards, he gave me five dollars to spend on a ticket to the school’s upcoming dance after I’d spent my only five dollars on... a ticket for the dance for a girl I liked. Sure it was a self-defeating move, but somehow it made gentlemanly sense to me.

We both ended up at the dance, thanks to McLean, but it didn’t work out between me and the aforementioned girl. (She was a twin, so I resisted the urge to take rejection in stride and literally move on to the next sibling.)

However, can you believe I ran into McLean at the Halifax airport as we waited to return to Ontario? Again, the only person I knew with a connection to a place and there he stood.

Sometimes if you’re looking for something somewhere, you’re just meant to find it there.

PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020.

Ryan remembered fondly by many locals A NOTE FROM BETTY

By Betty Graber Watson Call 887-9231

Honouring the fallen Late last year students at North Woods Elementary School were recognized for their efforts in the annual Royal Canadian Legion’s Remembrance Day poster and essay contests. Winners at North Woods Elementary School included, from left: Lisa Wiebe, Vaughan Bachert, Justine Wiebe, Rylea McDonald-Inglis, Rowan Gaspric, Kayde Smith, Emerson Smith and Brussels Legion representative Nanci Ducharme. (Photo submitted)

At the Branch

A successful 2019 for the Branch

By Jo-Ann McDonald The last week of the year at Brussels Legion Branch had four functions to report. The Thursday night darts had 14 darters out for the night. Winners were: first, Lynda Davis and Joan Smith; second, Louise Poirier and Sandra Brown; third, tied, Roger McHardy and Rhonda Davis and Ken VanBeek and Evelyn Hillier and high shot, Roger, 114. The night continued with the Christmas dart games including Rock around the Clock, Jingle Bells and HoHoHo Oh No. Plenty of great snacks were brought in for the evening and darts will resume on Jan. 2. Everyone is welcome to join in the fun at 7:30 p.m.

Friday night had the Catch the Ace draw and Martin Thomet was the winner of $214. He chose envelope number 26 and found the two of clubs. The draw goes on! Following the ace draw was karaoke with a good crowd enjoying the music of Stubby D. Many exercised their voices and even their dance moves!

Saturday was the final euchre of 2019. There were five tables of players with Deb Cann and Mabel Glanville looking after it. Winners were: high, Mae Ritchie and Harry Smith; second, Dorothy Carter and Murray Forbes; low, Anne Laidlaw and lone hand, Nancy Good. Darts are done now for the winter. Watch for details in the spring when they may restart.

The year 2019 was a year of improvements at the Branch. The Catch the Ace monies have allowed the Branch to replace the roof and to pave the side parking lot. It also allowed us to make 11 donations to various Brussels community groups for their use. Monies were given to Brussels Cadets, Brussels Minor Hockey, soccer, ball, figure skating, Brussels Agricultural Society, Horticultural Society, Santa Claus Parade Committee, Brussels Pool, Brussels Leos and Brussels Girl Guides. A later donation to the Brussels Trust for the new sign at the health centre was also approved.

The Legion appreciated all the support for the draw and wanted to share the wealth with the community. Thanks to everyone for their support.

The Branch members were also saddened with the passing of Branch Comrades Cecil Moore, Greg Wilson and Gord Jacklin.

The Branch welcomed six new members this past year and would

love to have more come join the biggest service organization in Canada. A willingness to support the goals of the Legion in remembering our veterans of yesterday, today and tomorrow is appreciated.

The Legion also takes pride in supporting our own community with donations.

The Branch has kept its members busy with many functions over the year. The first annual Spring O’Lympix was held with a small crowd but big voices and lots of energy for the games. A dance featuring the band Mostly Sideways was held with a very small crowd but really great music. The annual Brussels Cemetery decoration service was held with a good crowd attending to honour their loved ones who have passed. A wonderful service that is open to all.

Canada Day is celebrated with a fish fry at the Branch, which is one of the 21 the Branch catered to during the year. Travelling the radius around Brussels from Hensall to Bayfield to Goderich to Ripley to Wroxeter to Listowel to Atwood to Mitchell and many spots in between, we fed as little as 100 at our own Branch to 560 in the village of Londesborough. Almost 4,000 people enjoyed our fish dinner and next year is already getting booked.

The Branch hosted a drop-by for the Huron Perth Abate chapter for a visit and made a donation to them. Our Branch participated in the fundraiser by the Clinton Raceway for Legions and enjoyed a great day. A successful “Ring of Fire: A Johnny Cash Experience” had a great crowd attend. Karaoke is held monthly on Friday evenings at the Branch and good crowds attend. Catering is always busy during the year with birthday parties, anniversaries, farm meetings, Christmas gatherings, funeral luncheons, and other events.

The Branch catered approximately 30 events this past year keeping the committee and workers busy.

Remembrance Day is very important and we are so pleased and proud of our community in the support we receive during the Poppy Canvass and the attendance at the Remembrance Day service. Even the bad weather couldn’t keep folks away and we thank all for attending.

We have some changes happening in 2020. Our bi-weekly euchres are being cancelled for the winter due to poor attendance and with winter driving it would probably only get

worse. Changes in the event are being considered when it returns.

The dances have also been cut down to monthly dances again due to poor attendance. Not as many folks are dancing it seems. A lost art for the younger generation. They will be held monthly, the last Sunday of the month from 7-11 p.m. The first dance will be Jan. 26.

This is just a short review of what has happened over the past year and we look forward to 2020 with our community’s support to carry on.

Happy new year to all.

A new sign for our home this year tells the story, “The best Christmas gifts are memories”. If you think about it, we all take a different view of life and the happenings of each day. So in this season of hope, joy, peace and love, it really is your thoughts and actions that make the memories. This season, beginning with the concerts and parties of Advent and moving into the story of the Bethlehem birth with carols and the Nativity, memories are made each year. With pure joy, generosity, love and mystery at this time, it is a wonderful time of the year. Good memories were made, I hope.

Using all the 12 days of the Christmas song, celebrations of family and friends are ongoing. Big gatherings or small, each is just right for the folks involved. We want to be in touch with all those who make our life good. FaceTime and Skype make the distant folks closer and just letting them know they are loved is the important thing.

Saying goodbye to Jim Ryan this month will leave many with good memories to share. For Betty, Greg and Maddy, they said goodbye to a good husband and dad who worked hard and did things well. Ryan

Brussels Legion 218 Catch the Ace Weekly Winner Winning Ticket: Martin Thomet $214 Envelope #26 found the 2 of Clubs The draw goes on!

Construction was Jim’s life and so his ride to the cemetery in the company dump truck made his farewell special. Bye, Jim. As we start into 2020, may you find peace of mind, friendship and love in each day.

Happy New Year!

Betty G.W.

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS Visit The Citizen’s website at huroncitizen.ca or follow us on Facebook and Twitter

COMING EVENTS at the BRUSSELS LEGION for January TUESDAY NIGHTS at 6:30 p.m. Brussels Cadet Corp meets.

Ages 12-19 are welcome.

————————

THURSDAY NIGHTS

Good Employees are hard to find

Blind Mixed Darts at 7:30 p.m. Everyone welcome.

Teams are random draw.

————————

THURSDAY NIGHTS Brussels Pipe Band practice.

Come learn the pipes or drums at 7:00 p.m.

————————

FRIDAY NIGHTS Catch The Ace Draw at 7:15 p.m.

Get your ticket!

You could be the next winner.

————————

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17 Karaoke with Stubby D at 8:00 p.m. following the Ace draw. Bring your friends, family and voice - even your dancing shoes.

————————

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26

Big Jobs Let us help Little Jobs you find Odd Jobs the ideal Even Dirty Jobs person!

Place an ad in our classified section in

The Citizen

Sunday night dance from 7:00 - 11:00 p.m. $12.00 per person. Lunch.

Enjoy the music of the Tri Country Band before they retire.

————————

TUESDAY, JANUARY 28 General Meeting at 7:00 p.m.

———————— Look for this ad the first week of the month only.

Auditorium and small meeting room available to rent.

Catering available.

Info and general inquiries 519-887-6562 or 519-887-6570

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020. PAGE 7.

BIA to sponsor seminar on Gen. Z marketing

By Denny Scott The Citizen The Blyth Business Improvement Area (BIA) will be charging $20 per seat for the upcoming presentation

by Prof. Kersi Antia regarding

Generation Z shoppers, though BIA members can be reimbursed.

During a BIA meeting late last year, Chair David Sparling explained that the event, which is set for Jan. 13, 2020, is an important one because Generation Z is the largest

Annual tradition The Blyth Legion Ladies Auxiliary held its annual quilt draw at the annual meeting of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association last year. Shown drawing winner Kenneth McCrackin are Brenda Finlayson and Jane Smyth.

(Darlene McCowan photo)

cohort of shoppers in history and local businesses need to capitalize.

“It’s a different group of shoppers, bigger than any group of shoppers before,” he said. “They’re different by any other organization by miles.”

Sparling said that Millennials and those from Generation Z are unique in that they seem to prefer living in rural areas, citing affordability.

“Their jobs don’t require a Toronto address, and they can’t afford to live in [metropolitan centres],” he said.

“That means youth are coming back to rural areas.”

Antia is a well-regarded marketing expert, Sparling said, pointing out that he is a professor of marketing and a George and Mary Turnbull Fellow.

The presentation will start at 9:30 a.m. at Memorial Hall and costs $20 to attend to help cover the cost of renting the hall, Sparling said. BIA members or their employees who buy tickets and attend will be reimbursed.

The event will feature Antia’s findings into his research on Generation Z shoppers, Sparling said, including his omnidirectional marketing program which focuses on all forms of media and bricksand-mortar storefronts being needed for successful businesses looking to draw in Generation Z shoppers.

Sparling said hosting programs like Antia’s is part of a new direction

North Huron to count canines

By Denny Scott The Citizen North Huron Township Council has approved the hiring of a dog counter for information-gathering purposes beginning in 2020.

Chief Building Official Kirk Livingston, in a report to council during its Dec. 2 meeting, urged council to approve the move because the last time the municipality had a dog counter was 10 years ago, not fitting the best practice of hiring such a professional every three years.

The issue came before Livingston when the township’s bylaw

enforcement officer reported an increase in the number of dogrelated complaints in 2019, including barking problems, dogs running at large and dogs without tags.

In his report, Livingston said that the number of complaints, supported by staff and the local dog pound, indicated to him that ratepayers may not be following the rule that allows a maximum of four dogs to a residence.

“To gain compliance and potentially increase animal control revenue, it is recommended the services of a dog counter be retained to obtain the actual numbers of dogs

in the township,” Livingston said in his report. “The count will include dogs in kennels.”

According to the report, the counter will be canvassing the municipality to make sure the rules are being followed and identify any dogs that need licensing.

Livingston said the cost of the counter is estimated to be $8,000 to $10,000, which should be covered through an animal control surplus from 2018.

The counter was proposed to be the same individual being used by the Municipality of South Bruce and staff estimate the count should be completed by March 31, 2020.

for the Blyth BIA that focuses on helping its member businesses succeed. The move will see the BIA getting away from hosting events and instead focus on commercial endeavours.

He pointed to a breakfast specifically for BIA members he hopes to host with Antia before the event, giving BIA members greater access to the marketing expert.

Blyth marks 2019 with development From Marilyn’s Desk

By Marilyn Craig Call 523-9318

Happy birthday to Connie Nesbitt and Dave Webster who celebrate Jan. 1; Deb Hakkers, Mike Haggitt and Jenna deCorte, Jan. 4; Brodie Nesbitt, Jan. 5; Josie MacDonald, Jan. 7 and Jaxson Bromley, Jan. 8.

Happy birthday everyone.

It’s a new year and a new decade is starting. As we look back through the year, we just wonder where the past year disappeared to. In 2019 Blyth grew out to the north, new homes, new Fire Hall. As you drive in from the north we have to remember that the speed signs have also moved north. As we have said goodbye to family members, friends and neighbours we have also said welcome to new babies and friends.

Wishing everyone a safe and prosperous 2020.

Winners of the Dec. 6 euchre were: first, Pauline McMichael, 77 and David Caesar, 75; second, Dorothy Carter, 72 and Grant Little, 69; lone hands, Marie Millian and Glen Webster, five and share the wealth, Ken Shortreed and Bob McMichael. The next euchre is Monday, Jan. 6 at the Legion Hall.

Doors open at 12:30 p.m. with euchre beginning a 1 p.m. Come out and enjoy the fun and fellowship.

Winners of the Dec. 17 shoot party were: first, Ethel Walker; second, Edna McLellan; third, Jane Glousher; most shoots, Jewel Plunkett and share the wealth, Edna McLellan, Jewel Plunkett, Joann MacDonald and Barb Bosman.

NEWS FROM BLYTH Feeling Dirty?

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

PRINTING IS OUR BUSINESS • Colour • Business Printing Forms • Posters • Brochures • Letterheads • Flyers • Envelopes • Carbonless • Business Forms Cards • Labels WE CAN DO IT ALL!

Giving back At the annual general meeting of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association late last year, the group made a $1,000 donation to the Clinton Public Hospital Foundation. Doug McCann, outgoing president of the association, presented the funds to Foundation Coordinator Darlene McCowan who said the foundation was thankful for the ongoing support of the community. (Kalli McCowan photo)

BLYTH PRINTING INC. BLYTH 523-9211

PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020.

Sports Radars, Centenaires to face off Jan. 3 in Clinton

By Denny Scott The Citizen The Clinton Radars finished off the year with a 7-4 loss to Tillsonburg on the road over the weekend.

On Dec. 28, the Radars made the drive to take on the Thunder and, despite outshooting their opponents 50-42, the Radars just couldn’t find the back of the net.

The match began with the teams trading goals for the first period.

Steven Shipley scored first, putting the Radars up by one. Shipley was assisted by Darby Tyndall.

Braden Roberts of Tillsonburg tied the game with a goal, assisted by Ryan Stephenson before Stephenson put up his own marker, assisted by Scott Stafford and Matt Laberge.

Stephen Sanza of the Radars would tie the game at two with 19 seconds left in the first, with a goal assisted by Tyler Ryan and Shipley.

Sanza then scored again less than a minute into the second period, assisted by Sean Consitt. The Thunder responded with four unanswered goals in the second.

First, Trevor Rosborough scored, assisted by Laberge and Stafford.

Stephenson then scored back-toback goals, completing his hat trick.

The first goal was assisted by Corbin Bean and Roberts, while Stephenson scored the second with help from Andrew Tapsell and Michael Rebry.

Roberts then got his second of the game assisted by Rosborough and Rebry.

After approximately 24 minutes without a goal for either team, Brad Burton scored for the Radars, assisted by Ryan.

Scott Stafford of the Thunder would get the last word though, earning a marker assisted by Rebry and Laberge.

Neither team spent much time in the penalty box with Tillsonburg being assessed four minutes on two calls and Clinton serving only two minutes on one penalty.

Tommy Lee got the win for the Thunder in net, stopping 38 of 42 shots. Greg Dodds and Drew Reinhardt shared netminding responsibilities for the Radars.

On Dec. 27, the Radars posted a 73 win over the Milverton 4 Wheel

Drives at the Central Huron Community Complex.

Sanza scored first off for the Radars with a marker assisted by Max Campbell just after the oneminute mark in the game.

Milverton’s Dennis DeWar responded, assisted by Chris Corbett and Greg Huszarik.

Shipley broke the tie with a goal assisted by Josh Cornelissen before Jeremy Ross found the back of the net, putting the Radars up by two.

Ross was assisted by Derek Elliott and Ryan Watson.

The Radars owned the second with Nathan Ansell scoring, assisted by Garrett Russell and Consitt before Sanza earned his second of the game with an unassisted goal.

Ray Huether scored less than 30 seconds into the third for the Radars, assisted by Cornelissen.

DeWar found the net again for Milverton, assisted by Evan Buehler and Alex Uttley before Buehler scored his own, assisted by McKee. Shipley scored with 26 seconds left in the game assisted by Jamie Huber.

Clinton was assessed six penalty

minutes on three calls while Milverton had a single penalty called for two minutes.

Reinhardt earned the win for the Radars while Tim Bester was in net for Milverton.

The Radars required overtime to edge out the Seaforth Centenaires 32 on the road on Dec. 21.

Rob VanWynsberghe scored midway through the first for the Centenaires, assisted by Calvin Penney.

The Radars owned the second period with Ross finding the back of the net assisted by Huber and Ansell.

Ansell would then score his own marker, assisted by Consitt.

VanWynsberghe earned a second goal for the Centenaires in the third, tying the game and forcing overtime.

VanWynsberghe’s second marker was assisted by Brendon Merritt and Reuben Smith.

Clinton’s Cullen Mercer broke the tie with less than two minutes remaining in the overtime period.

Dodds earned the win for the Radars in net while Jesse Raymond backed the Centenaires.

On Dec. 20, the Thunder edged out the Radars 2-1 in Clinton, despite the Radars nearly doubling the Thunder in shots, 51-26.

Huber started scoring in the game with a marker assisted by Huether and Elliott, putting the Radars up by one.

Kaine Geldart tied the game with a marker assisted by Rebry and Laberge.

In the latter half of the second period, Zach Vanlouwe earned the go-ahead goal for the Thunder, assisted by Kaine Geldart.

Tillsonburg spent more time in the sin bin than Clinton, earning eight penalty minutes on four calls while Clinton had six minutes on three calls.

Lee got the win for the Thunder

while Reinhardt backed the Radars.

The Radars next face off against Seaforth on Jan. 3 at the Central Huron Community Complex, the first of a three-game home stand for Clinton. *** Aside from the squad’s close loss to the Radars, the Centenaires only had one other game in the past two weeks: a 6-3 win over the Shallow Lake Crushers.

Seaforth dominated the first period, earning four unanswered goals in the first 20 minutes of the game.

Holdyn Lansink struck first, assisted by Penney and VanWynsberghe. Brady Wiffen earned the Cents’ next goal, assisted

by Conor Carson and James Toye.

Carson then earned his own goal, assisted by Lansink and VanWynsberghe before VanWynsberghe earned a goal assisted by Lansink and Danny Bryan.

Shallow Lake’s Corey Schnurr opened scoring in the second with a marker assisted by Austin Russell.

Daniel Zweep followed pace with a goal for the Crushers, assisted by Reid Simmons.

VanWynsberghe earned his second of the game midway through the second, assisted by Lansink and Craig Dalrymple.

Zweep scored again for Shallow Lake early in the third, earning an unassisted marker.

Just over a minute later, however, Wiffen would have the last word in the game with a marker assisted by Smith and Josh Gaynor.

Seaforth was assessed 12 penalty minutes on six calls while Shallow Lake served four penalties totalling eight minutes.

Alex Hutcheson earned the win for the Cents while Jake Ireland was in net for Shallow Lake.

Wingham Ironmen down Mount Forest Continued from page 2 minutes into the period assisted by Grant Stevens and Rhys Vollmer.

Between all the local hockey associations, there was plenty of action over the weekend. Logon Tolton would score next, Above, the Blyth Brussels Atom Rep squad earned a hard-fought 6-4 win over the Seaforth giving the Ironmen an insurance goal Stars in Blyth on Saturday. Below, the Huron Heat PeeWee B squad posted a 2-0 win over the assisted by Chase Meurs and Becker.

Butchart responded for the Patriots Windsor Wildcats in Seaforth. (Darlene McCowan photo) with a power-play marker assisted by Stefanelli and Birkett.

Wingham’s Donnelly struck again before the period ended with a goal assisted by Kyle Stanbury.

The third period would have remained scoreless if it weren’t for Wingham’s Tolton scoring an unassisted empty-net goal with just under a minute in the game, sealing the Patriots’ fate.

Mount Forest served eight penalties totalling 22 minutes while the Ironmen were assessed six infractions totalling 12 minutes.

Devon Carson got the win for the Ironmen in net while Mason Kameka was in net for Mount Forest.

On Dec. 21, the Ironmen edged out the Kincardine Bulldogs 4-3 in Kincardine.

Kincardine opened scoring with Tyler Sutter finding the back of the net, assisted by Trevor Donaldson and Jerrid Fossold.

Wingham’s Dawson Fahrer

Locals hitting the ice

responded with a power-play marker, assisted by Stanbury.

Kincardine would take the lead before the end of the first, however, with a power-play goal by Jordan Caskenette, assisted by Logan Swanton.

Kincardine’s Mike Fiegehen earned the only goal of the second with a marker assisted by Swanton and Caskenette.

Wingham dominated the third to win the game with Becker scoring just over five minutes in, assisted by Carter Collinson. Stanbury then earned a power-play goal, assisted by Fahrer and Rhys Vollmer before Donnelly would earn the last goal of the game, assisted by Stanbury and Jacob Bishop.

Wingham served four penalties totalling eight minutes while Kincardine was assessed 12 minutes on seven infractions. Carson got the win for the Ironmen with Sean Andrus playing net for the Bulldogs.

The Ironmen next travel to Hanover for a game against the Hawks on Jan. 3 before travelling to Mitchell on Jan. 4. In their third game of the weekend, Wingham will face off against Hanover in Wingham with puck drop set for 3:30 p.m.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020. PAGE 9.

Ansley claims top worldwide essay prize in February Year

in Review

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20 March

What an honour Mikayla Ansley, centre, her parents Mike and Katie, left, and Blyth Lions Club representatives Mary Lou and John Stewart, right, were in Manhattan for Lions Day at the United Nations in March to mark Mikayla’s win of the Lions Clubs International worldwide Peace Essay competition. Her piece, “Kindness Matters”, was chosen as the best in the world. (File photo)

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Mikayla Ansley of Blyth was honoured for her essay entitled “Kindness Matters”, winning at the Lions Clubs International Multiple District A level, meaning her essay was the best in Ontario and Quebec.

Her win also meant her essay would be read aloud at an international Lions event in Milan, Italy later in the year.

Blyth was dealing with some commercial hardship as two of its flagship restaurants, Part II Bistro and the Blyth Corner Café, closed their doors.

A March, 2018 double homicide yielded three life sentences for Wingham’s Kevin Carter, who opted to plead guilty to two charges of first-degree murder and one charge of kidnapping connected to the incident. His sentencing was held on Jan. 8 in Goderich.

Blyth Festival Artistic Director Gil Garratt and the rest of The Pigeon King creators were busy in Holmesville recording an album of the music featured in the hit play.

They worked under the watchful eye of John Powers, who produced the album in his home studio.

This came ahead of the company’s two-week engagement for The Pigeon King at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, set for late April and early May. Blyth native Orie Falconer continued to flex his game development muscle with Mighty Fight Federation after the successful launch of Way of the Passive Fist the previous year.

The game impressed crowds at MAGFest (Music and Gaming Festival) in Maryland in early January and would soon be on its way to all major gaming platforms.

With a lack of volunteers putting their names forward, the Brussels Agricultural Society was on the hunt for a new president. Former President Jeff Cardiff asked for someone to step into the vicepresident role under President Dorothy Cummings for 2020 and then take over the presidency in

2021, but there were no takers at the time.

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Budget discussions in North Huron opened with talk of a 20 per cent increase to spending, though that would be reduced in subsequent sessions.

International Plowing Match 2017 Chair Jacquie Bishop announced that the match would be working to leave something behind for the next 20 years by way of the new legacy fund; a scholarship fund for Huron County youth using money raised through the match.

With Huron County hosting an International Plowing Match every 20 years or so, the idea behind the fund would be that it would run out of money right around the time of the next match, meaning it could be replenished for generations to come.

After a closed-to-the-public session, North Huron Council announced it was considering private property for the construction of Blyth’s new fire hall, though no specific details were made available.

This decision meant that the Blyth ball diamond and Thresher grounds property, which had been considered in late 2018, were now determined to be off the table.

Belgrave’s Grace Caldwell won the Order of the Good Samaritan Award, named for fallen OPP officer Vu Pham and handed out by the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund.

Mikayla Ansley, after receiving the news of her Multiple District A win for her essay, was informed she had won the worldwide competition, earning her $5,000 U.S. and a trip to Manhattan to speak at Lions Day at the United Nations.

Ansley’s win represented the first time that a Blyth Lions Club representative had won any competition on a worldwide level.

North Huron Council announced that Blyth’s new fire hall would be located at the north end of the village on Queen Street after numerous protestations from members of the public regarding two locations.

Huron East Council began its 2019 budget deliberations with a $1.5 million hole to fill. Due to numerous factors, including a dropping Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) allotment and increasing policing costs, council proceeded knowing there were some tough decisions in the months ahead.

Shawn and Katie Cottrill of Belgrave had qualified for their fourth national mixed doubles championship. They would be heading to New Brunswick to compete later in the month and it would be their first time representing Ontario (their previous berths had been based on points, rather than provincial representation).

A handful of Blyth residents banded together to save a horse in distress as it had fallen into a frozenover pond at the end of King Street on the property of Graham Jackson.

Several of Jackson’s neighbours helped to pull the horse out of the pond, while area veterinarian Dr. Lee Siertsema was able to calm the horse down once it was out of the water.

With the Blyth Festival production of In the Wake of Wettlaufer set to premiere in August, Susan Horvath, the daughter of one of Elizabeth Wettlaufer’s victims, was outspoken in her criticism of the play. Horvath said she was speaking for a “substantial” number of victims’ families and criticized the Festival for being sensationalist, opening up old wounds and pain and putting financial gain before the feelings of those hurt by the serial killer.

Despite a request from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and its Huron County counterpart, Huron County Council opted to keep its tax ratios consistent, rather than giving farmers a break due to rising

property values and, therefore, rising taxes.

Councillors said other tax classes, like residential, industrial or commercial, would have to pick up the slack, which wouldn’t be fair.

Walton’s Sean Mitchell, along with two fellow classmates and business partners, won the Project SOY (Soybean Opportunities for Youth) competition with their development of 5th Bean, a soybeanbased liqueur. The trio won $2,500 thanks to their innovation and creativity, planning to reinvest the money in the company and officially launch and sell the liqueur in the future.

iew

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Sheldon Kennedy, former professional hockey player and one of the first to blow the whistle on sexual assault in the world of minor hockey, spoke in Goderich at an event arranged by Rural Response for Healthy Children.

Kennedy’s lecture was the catalyst for many Huron County communities considering making themselves Safe Places-certified, ensuring that those working with children and other members of the public were vetted extensively before being placed in positions of power.

Bryn McInnes was chosen as the sixth-ever Elementary School Fair Ambassador at a special ceremony at Continued on page 10

PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020.

Huron County students protest education changes

Taking it to the streets In April, students from secondary schools all over Huron County walked out of their classes to protest proposed cuts by Premier Doug Ford, then-Minister of Education and Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson and the provincial government. Above, F.E. Madill Secondary School students in Wingham made their voices heard through the walkout. (File photo) Continued from page 9 the Belgrave Community Centre.

Students across Huron County walked out of their secondary school classes to protest cuts and changes made by Premier Doug Ford and Huron-Bruce MPP and Minister of Education Lisa Thompson.

Locally, students at F.E. Madill and Central Huron Secondary Schools cited class size increases and teacher layoffs as reasons for their displeasure. Some students even said they were considering a change in career path as a result of the changes after wanting to be teachers.

The Huron Midget BB Heat were crowned provincial champions, beating the Lakeshore Lightning to complete a five-game year-end tournament sweep on their way to the Ontario crown.

The Brussels Leo Club, an offshoot of the Brussels Lions Club for teenagers, announced its intention to refurbish and reinvigorate playgrounds throughout the village.

With the release of Premier Doug Ford’s first budget, Huron-Bruce MPP and Minister of Education Lisa Thompson said it delivered for her riding, despite it being severely scrutinized throughout much of the province due to its combination of drastic program cuts and increased spending levels.

Belgrave’s Margaret Vincent was named Zone 3 Director for the Ontario Plowmen’s Association, a post she would hold for three years.

Keith Roulston, co-founder of The Citizen and the Blyth Festival, was among those being honoured by the Huron Arts and Heritage Network for its 10th annual Cultural Awards.

The Blyth Festival itself was also among those being recognized by the organization.

To mark the anniversary, instead of asking for new nominations, the network asked voters to choose for their favourite winner from the past 10 years and the Festival and Roulston both made the top 10 list.

Adam and Carrie Durand announced the launch of Cornerfield

Wine Company just south of Bayfield. The family was working with Niagara-based winemaker Steve Byfield to produce their roster of wines.

iew

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May 20

The F.E. Madill rugby team claimed its own Dinning Cup, named for fallen soldier and former Madill rugby star Matthew Dinning, after losing it last year to a team from British Columbia.

Cuts in Premier Doug Ford’s budget continued to concern numerous sectors throughout Huron County, including its public libraries, conservation authorities and forestry professionals.

Furthermore, over 300 education professionals and parents took to

Blyth’s main street to protest education cuts in the provincial budget.

Local volunteers with Huron Area Search and Rescue (HASAR) made their way to Ottawa to help with flooding in the nation’s capital.

Among the locals who went were Jamie Mitchell of Brussels and Theo Sawchuk of Blyth.

It became official that the former CIBC location in Blyth would become the new Blyth Pharmacy with Ramin Ghiasi bringing his family to Huron County from Iran by way of Nova Scotia.

Huron County Council decided to place a new pedestrian crossing after multiple complaints of difficulty crossing Queen Street in Blyth.

Though the schedule was tentative, the Public Works Department estimated it could be placed in Blyth as early as October of that year.

politics and administration, MorrisTurnberry Administrator-ClerkTreasurer Nancy Michie retired with a special ceremony at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre.

The 45th season of the Blyth Festival opened with a production of Sean Dixon’s Jumbo, starring Artistic Director Gil Garratt as P.T. Barnum, an emergency replacement for Don Nicholson who came down ill just days before the show was set to open.

On opening night, Garratt also announced that his position as Artistic Director had been extended through 2025.

After a turbulent period, Lisa Continued on page 11

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With a multi-million-dollar building planned for Huron County administration and other departments, North Huron Reeve Bernie Bailey was working to woo the county into bringing the building to Blyth. Bailey was one of several councillors making the case for a more central location than the traditional location for county buildings in Goderich.

The Blyth Festival Art Gallery opened its 44th season with a mixed media exhibit featuring the work of the Turczyn family.

Central Huron became the first municipality in Huron County to control the location of cannabis production sites after recreational cannabis use was officially legalized. Other municipalities, including Huron East, would soon follow suit.

After 40 years in municipal

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The Citizen is now planning its 2020 Telephone Book.

Is your number correct in the recently delivered Bell Canada phone book?

Do you have a new listing since that book was compiled?

On the road The artists behind the Blyth Festival’s runaway success, The Pigeon King, celebrated that success in late April, launching the album of music they produced for the show at Memorial Hall just days before they left for Ottawa for a twoweek run for the show at the National Arts Centre. Above, Gil Garratt, left, and Greg Gale perform. (File photo)

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020. PAGE 11.

O’Reilly returns Stanley Cup to Huron County The Blyth Festival changed gears and put its next two shows on the Memorial Hall stage: The Team on the Hill and In the Wake of Wettlaufer.

Susan Horvath, the woman who promised to protest the premiere of In the Wake of Wettlaufer, a play that touched on the woman who murdered her father, made good on that promise and arrived in Blyth to protest the show.

The Walton TransCan marked another successful year, bringing thousands of riders and spectators to Huron County for the weekend.

Walton Raceway owner Brett Lee estimated there were approximately 5,000 people on site throughout the entire event.

The Huron County Plowing Match was held near Gorrie on the home farm of Ray and Anita Dykstra. It proved to be another successful installment of the event, which included the crowning of Maranda Klaver as the Queen of the Furrow

Lord Stanley

and East Wawanosh’s Grace Hallahan as the year’s Princess.

In addition, a breakfast, a new addition proposed for the match by the Dykstras, raised nearly $1,500 for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

view e R n i ar Ye 19 mber 20

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Retired police officer Brenda Orr officially took over as the president of the Run Around The Square, an annual event hosted in Goderich by the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund.

The annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association brought over 6,000 people to Blyth despite inclement weather.

The Brussels Tigers capitalized on their fantastic season by winning the Continued on page 12

Ryan O’Reilly, a native of Seaforth who played his minor league hockey throughout Huron County, brought the Stanley Cup to Seaforth and Goderich in late July thanks to the hard work of his St. Louis Blues. As the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, he also brought that prestigious trophy along as well. He is pictured above with his wife Dayna, son Jameson and grandmother Deirdre. (File photo) Continued from page 10 Thompson was ousted as the province’s Minister of Education, being replaced by Stephen Lecce.

She was one of many MPPs who were shuffled to other positions by Premier Doug Ford.

Thompson was reassigned as the Minister of Government and Consumer Services and the keeper of the Great Seal of Ontario, which is used to authenticate documents.

eview Year in R 19 July 20

After winning the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues – collecting the Conn Smythe Trophy along the

way – Seaforth native Ryan O’Reilly announced he would be bringing the Stanley Cup home for parades in Seaforth and Goderich.

Thousands came out to Seaforth and Goderich to see and touch the Stanley Cup in person. One of the most cherished trophies in professional sports was brought to the area by Seaforth native Ryan O’Reilly, who rode in Seaforth on a fire truck with his wife Dayna, young son Jameson and 99-year-old grandmother Deirdre.

The Tanner Steffler Foundation, alongside local volunteers, would be bringing the London Knights back to Clinton for a preseason game against the Erie Otters. The game, set for September, would benefit the foundation.

The Brussels Tigers claimed the A Championship in their own home

tournament, beating the Appin A’s in the final by a score of 12-5 to secure the victory.

Huron-Bruce federal Liberal candidate Allan Thompson brought federal Minister of Agriculture Marie-Claude Bibeau to Huron County for a number of speaking engagements, including one at the Four Winds Barn in Brussels.

eview Year in R 019 ust 2 Aug

Walton’s Sean Mitchell was named Brussels Fall Fair Ambassador for 2019/2020, taking over the position from Amanda Morrison.

History Walton’s Sean Mitchell became the first male Brussels Fall Fair Ambassador in history in August, taking over duties from Amanda Morrison. (File photo)

PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020.

Tigers claim fourth fastball title in five years in Sept.

Agriculture Award for her longstanding work in the field.

Walton Raceway, the home of the annual Walton TransCan, was named 2019 Rockstar Energy Triple Crown Series Track of the Year.

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Mary Douma of Brussels and Jane Smyth of Blyth were named Citizen of the Year Award winners by North Huron Publishing Inc. Smyth for her work with the Blyth Legion and Legion Ladies Auxiliary, among other organizations, and Douma for her involvement with Melville Presbyterian Church, the Brussels Agricultural Society and the Brussels Horticultural Society.

Artistic Director Gil Garratt announced the majority of the 2020 season of the Blyth Festival. Led by the story of aviation pioneer and Blyth native Lorna Bray, the season would also include premieres of Liars at a Funeral and Fair Play, as well as a one-man show about the life and times of star hockey player Theo Fleury.

A provincial nursing shortage resulted in the reduction of

Precision and patience In the end, it was Maranda Klaver from the Seaforth area who was crowned Huron County Queen of the Furrow at the Huron County Plowing Match in late August held in Howick Township, thanks in no small part to her performance in the fields. (File photo) Continued from page 11 Huron County Fastball League’s year-end tournament for the fourth time in the last five years, beating Belmore in the final game by a score of 5-4 in extra innings.

The Tigers would come up just short of a storybook ending, however, as they made it to the final of the Ontario Challenge Cup in Hickson, but fell to the Innerkip Eagles by a score of 14-9, just missing out on the prestigious title.

The Brussels Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion hosted the annual Zone C-1 fall convention, which included a parade.

Mark Crawford’s Bed and Breakfast closed the Blyth Festival season to critical acclaim, as he performed the two-man show with his real-life partner Paul Dunn.

The Elementary School Fair and Brussels Fall Fair both went off as successful events, attracting many to their respective communities.

Shawn and Katie Cottrill of Belgrave now found themselves ranked second in Canada in the mixed doubles curling rankings.

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Blyth Festival Artistic Director Gil Garratt said 2019 was another successful season for the Festival, with over 23,000 people taking in shows over the course of the season.

Students throughout Huron County elementary and secondary schools walked out of their classes as part of Greta Thunberg’s climate strike.

Paul Dawson of Blyth retired from the command of the Brussels Cadet Corps after being in the position for over eight years, making way for Patty Coulter.

The revival of the Blyth Rutabaga Festival was hailed as a success, bringing hundreds to Blyth for bed races, food, drinks and fun.

The Blyth Lions Club proposed a new sports pad for a portion of the Lions Park land that used to be owned by the Blyth Lawn Tennis

Club. That property, however, was disputed, as North Huron technically owned it and had begun investigating it as a location for potential home development.

Shawn and Katie Cottrill, who had had another successful year on the mixed doubles curling circuit, were back home at the Wingham Golf and Curling Club to present their home club with a banner celebrating their 2019 provincial championship.

The Walkerburn Club, a service club based in the Auburn area, marked its 100th anniversary with a special get-together. However, due to low membership and aging members, the club opted to disband shortly after marking its anniversary.

After a positive showing at the International Plowing Match, Blyth’s Lucas Townsend placed second in his class in the Canadian Plowing Match, held in Sunderland, Ontario.

Federal candidates Ben Lobb, Allan Thompson, Tony McQuail, Nicholas Wendler and Kevin Klerks began debating the issues facing Canada at local all-candidates meetings, including one hosted by the Huron County Federation of Agriculture in Holmesville.

Incumbent Progressive Conservative MP Ben Lobb was elected to a fourth term in HuronBruce, beating Liberal Allan Thompson by nearly 10,000 votes.

Lobb garnered 48.7 per cent of the vote in Huron County in an election with a turnout of just over 70 per cent.

Auburn’s Colton Rodger grew a pumpkin that weighed in excess of 1,250 pounds for Port Elgin Pumpkinfest, placing ninth.

A RuralTalks event, co-hosted by the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity and Sustainable Huron, explored the effects of climate change in Huron County at a special day-long seminar in Blyth. Bruce Nagy, the author of The Clean Energy Age: A Guide to Beating Climate Change, was the day’s keynote speaker.

Bluevale’s Jacquie Bishop, chair of the 2017 International Plowing Match, was awarded the Huron County Federation of Agriculture’s Outstanding Contribution to

emergency room hours at the Clinton Public Hospital from 24 hours down to 12.

North Huron Council began a process to hand the Blyth Lions Park property that had been debated recently over to the Lions Club. In the end, staff found language in the minutes from a meeting over 10 years ago stating that North Huron would hand the property over to the club when it was appropriate. While council was not legally bound to honour the promise of a previous council, council chose to follow the path of the previous council.

The Blyth Festival Art Gallery opened a Holiday Show and Sale to coincide with the production of the Festival’s A Huron County Christmas Carol from late November to late December. Both officially opened to the public on Nov. 28.

eview R n i ar e Y 2019 ember

Dec

Santa Claus parades began to hit the streets of Huron County with Clinton, Wingham, Brussels, Blyth and Seaforth, among others Continued on page 13

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020. PAGE 13.

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Agriculture

BLYTH 519-523-4244 www.hurontractor.com

Brussels Livestock report

Christmas limits market for fed cattle Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending Dec. 27 were 713 cattle.

On Tuesday due to the Christmas holiday, there was not enough activity to establish a market for the fed cattle. Cows sold on an active trade at prices $1 to $2 higher. On Thursday there was no sale due to Boxing Day. On Friday, calves and yearlings sold on an active trade at steady prices.

There were 180 cows on offer.

Beef sold $55 to $63 with sales to $66; D1 and D2, $55 to $60; D3, $50 to $55; D4, $38 to $50.

There were six bulls selling $76 to $108. Omer Godmaire of New Liskeard, consigned one charolais bull that weighed 1,625 lbs. and sold for $88.

Top quality stocker steers under 400 lbs. sold $244 to $268; 400 - 499 lbs., $248 to $257; 500 - 599 lbs., $227 to $249; 600 - 699 lbs., $207 to $218.75; 700 - 799 lbs., $184 to $194; 800 - 899 lbs., $150 to $177; 900 - 999 lbs., $180 to $186.25; 1,000 lbs. and over, $171 to $187.

Top quality stocker heifers under 300 lbs. sold $183 to $205; 300 - 399 lbs., $187 to $194; 400 - 499 lbs., $141 to $190; 500 - 599 lbs., $154 to $183; 600 - 699 lbs., $163 to $182; 700 - 799 lbs., $165 to 175; and 900

lbs. and over, $165 to $180.

Noah W. Martin of Listowel, consigned 18 steers that averaged 975 lbs. and sold for an average price of $179.88. Ten steers averaged 965 lbs. and sold for an average price of $179.88. Craig Simpson of Glencoe, consigned 15 head that averaged 982 lbs. and sold for an average price of $180.83. Ten charolais heifers averaged 968 lbs. and sold for an average price of $180.

Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending Dec. 20 were 1,684 cattle and 708 lambs and goats.

On Tuesday fed steers and heifers sold on a good demand at prices $2 to $3 higher. Choice steers and heifers sold $139 to $144 with sales to $145. Second cut steers and heifers sold $135 to $139. Cows sold on a lower market.

On Thursday veal sold on a strong active trade. Light lambs, sheep and goats sold steady while heavy lambs sold higher.

On Friday calves and yearlings sold on a strong active trade at fully steady prices.

K/C McAlpine Farms of Ailsa Craig, consigned nine head that averaged 1,559 lbs. and sold for an average price of $138.58. One r/w

steer weighed 1,550 lbs. and sold for $144. Leonard and Andrew Black of Proton Station, consigned 22 steers that averaged 1,455 lbs. and sold for an average price of $139.66. Six black steers averaged 1,496 lbs. and sold for an average price of $142.25.

George Roney of Staffa, consigned eight heifers that averaged 1,334 lbs. and sold for an average price of $132.75. Two gold heifers averaged 1,335 lbs. and sold for an average price of $142.

Southlore Farms Inc. of Palmerston, consigned 11 head that averaged 1,489 lbs. and sold for an average price of $128.57. One limousin heifer weighed 1,400 lbs. and sold for $145.

There were 325 cows on offer.

Beef sold $55 to $63 with sales to $64; D1 and D2, $53 to $58 with sales to $64; D3, $48 to $51; D4, $35 to $46.

There were 17 bulls selling $74 to $121. Paul MacIntyre of Lucknow, consigned one black limousin bull that weighed 1,570 lbs. and sold for $121.

There were 85 head of veal on offer. Beef veal sold $165 to $195 with sales to $229; good holsteins, $128 to $138 with sales to $139; Sl heavy holsteins, $120 to $126; heavy holsteins, $100 to $110; medium

holsteins, $110 to $124; plain holsteins, $65 to $96.

Premier Blues of Dublin, consigned three head that averaged 728 lbs. and sold for an average price of $188.59. One blue steer weighed 875 lbs. and sold for $229.

Lamar Frey of Listowel, consigned four head that averaged 848 lbs. and sold for an average price of $158.74. One blue steer weighed 860 lbs. and sold for $182.

Paul Pennington of Mildmay, consigned seven holstein steers that averaged 704 lbs. and sold for an average price of $131.27. One holstein steer weighed 715 lbs. and sold for $136.

Lambs under 50 lbs. sold $382 to $405; 50 to 64 lbs., $371 to $402; 65 - 79 lbs., $258 to $385; 80 - 94 lbs., $238 to $270; 95 - 109 lbs., $225 to $245; 110 lbs. and over, $208 to $222.

Sheep sold $130 to $190.

Goats: billies sold $150 to $300; nannies, $100 to $200; kids: meat, $265 to $400; dairy, $150 to $275.

Harold and Barb Zettler of Teeswater, consigned 21 lambs.

Fourteen lambs averaged 55 lbs. and sold for an average price of $400.

Heffer Farms of Wingham, consigned 25 lambs that averaged 57 lbs. and sold for an average price of

$395.56. Thirteen lambs averaged 56 lbs. and sold for an average price of $398.

Top quality stocker steers under 400 lbs. sold $251.50 to $268; 400 499 bs., $235 to $257; 500 - 599 lbs., $231 to $250; 600 - 699 lbs., $209 to $228; 700 - 799 lbs., $204 to $211.50; 800 - 899 lbs., $196 to $206.50; 900 - 999 lbs., $184 to $189; 1,000 lbs. and over, $176 to $189.

Top quality stocker heifers 300 399 lbs. sold $147 to $165; 400 - 499 lbs., $169 to $186; 500 - 599 lbs., $156 to $183; 600 - 699 lbs., $162 to $174.50; 700 - 799 bs., $153 to $170; 800 - 899 lbs., $167 to $174; 900 lbs. and over, $163 to $168.

Groenberg Farms of Lucknow, consigned 30 steers. Ten gold steers averaged 828 lbs. and sold for an average price of $206.50. Satchell Farms of Gadshill, consigned 56 steers and heifers. Seven black steers averaged 706 lbs. and sold for an average price of $210.25. Dan Coulthard of Stratford, consigned 49 steers and heifers. Ten black steers averaged 844 lbs. and sold for an average price of $195.75.

BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd.

UPCOMING SALES

OFA looks back at 2019 progress

By Mark Reusser, Vice President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture As we approach the year-end, it’s good to recap how the past 12 months have had an impact on Ontario’s agri-food sector, our farms and our families. No one can argue that it hasn’t been a tough year in the agri-food industry with market disruptions, trade issues, weather and labour disputes. And yet, we’ve seen progress on key issues that impact the sustainability and competitiveness of our farm businesses.

Here’s a recap of 2019 advocacy and government relations activities from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture’s (OFA) perspective.

One of the biggest wins for Ontario agriculture came early in the year with the provincial government’s decision to remove Schedule 10 from the proposed Bill 66, Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2018. The proposed amendment to the provincial Planning Act would have given municipalities the ability to pass bylaw changes that would have allowed the use of prime farmland for any type of development. The OFA objected to Schedule 10 and had serious concerns about the impact the proposed legislative changes would have had on Ontario’s agri-food sector.

Reducing farm property tax ratios is always on the agenda for the OFA as we continue to work alongside county and regional federations to advocate for change with local government. Through one-on-one meetings across the province, we have had 18 county and single-tier municipal governments (to date) agree to lower the farm tax ratio (below 0.25) to help offset the

impact of soaring farm property assessments.

This year, the OFA ran two road safety campaigns to increase awareness and educate urban motorists about slow moving vehicles and sharing the road with farm equipment. We understand the hazards of operating tractors and large farm equipment on roadways and will continue to engage with non-farming audiences through social media and other communication platforms in an effort to keep everyone safe on our roadways.

Reducing red tape was on the

2019 lobby agenda again for the OFA. We appreciate the provincial government’s action taken this year that saw the removal of the Line Fences Repeal Act, 2019.

We’ve also seen encouraging progress on natural gas expansion and access to reliable broadband across the province with announcements and programs to connect communities in rural and northern Ontario.

This year also marked the 10-year review of the Endangered Species Act, 2007. The OFA participated by sending a formal submission to the government to address areas of the

Cottrills in top spot in Canada as ’19 ends Continued from page 12 celebrating the holidays for residents both young and old.

Shawn and Katie Cottrill, who organized the Part II Bistro Ladies Open in Wingham, deemed the event a success. It brought together teams from all over the country, but in the end it was Team Wasylkiw from Toronto that claimed the crown.

Early December and its wintery weather proved costly for some drivers on Huron County roads as one collision in Blyth left a man in critical condition and another in the Brussels area proved fatal.

Local Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation members took to the streets of Blyth to strike against changes made by the provincial government. Hundreds were in the village to voice their

concerns during the one-day strike.

The long-awaited Huron County wind turbine study results were released to little fanfare, as too few respondents took part, resulting in a complete lack of findings.

After several weeks of waiting, the Blyth Festival announced that its fourth main stage show in 2020 will be How I Met My Husband, the only play ever written by local author and Nobel Laureate Alice Munro. The play had been produced by the Blyth Festival in 1976, its second season, and then never again.

Shawn and Katie Cottrill, local curlers from Belgrave, found themselves ranked first among mixed curling teams in Canada. The journey to the top spot in the country represented the culmination of years of hard work and competition by the team.

legislation that were subject to changes, including assessing species at risk, implementing habitat protection, issuing permits, developing exemptions and the enforcement of the act.

Land use planning policies have been, and continue to be, a core issue for the OFA and Ontario farmers. In 2019, the OFA provided a submission to the Provincial Continued on page 15

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020. PAGE 15.

Locals recognized through groups, events in 2019 PEOPLE AROUND WALTON

By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570

We are hoping everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a great new year. As we enter into 2020, we hope health, wealth and happiness is enjoyed by you and your families.

Many changes have been made or seen by our communities over the past year. There are some that everyone will remember and others have passed into our memories of personal issues that have touched our families or lives; happy times, sad times, achievements, failures, welcoming the new and saying goodbye to the old. There will always be something that has touched you to remember 2019 in a special way.

There have been many happy times to remember for our area folks. Weddings and births have added joy and love to their lives. A reminder of the many weddings, and I apologize for those I will miss, have happened around our area.

Some of them include Adam and Laura McClure, Thomas and Nicole Baker, Rob and Barb Miller, Edward and Jessica Glanville, Jeff and Abby Gordon, John and Dee Van Vliet, Dan and Rosie Gilbert, Brent and Shawna Melady, Brent and Caroline Wheeler, Carter and Krista Cloakey, Shane and Ashley Ryan, Adam and Deanna Murray, Paul and Kathy Dodds.

Another reason for happiness is the arrival of a new family member and our area has been blessed with many new arrivals. Expanding their families were Josh and Jody (McIntosh) Nurse welcoming Saylor, Bridget (Blake) and Jacob Williams welcoming Leighton, Katie (Williamson) and Darren Janmaat welcoming Leah, Brad and Becky Stephenson welcoming Sloane, Derek and Kaitlyn Bachert welcoming Desmond, Brent and Andrea (VanderVeen) Meyers welcoming Teddy, Brent and Caroline Wheeler welcoming Luke, Scott and Trisha (McClure) McLellan welcoming Sam, Rick and Alicia Pethick welcoming Ian, Curtis and Michelle (Smith) Verstoep welcoming Daxton, Erik and Etta Boettcher welcome Ronya, Mark and Kaitlin Gillis welcoming Knox, Brad and Krista Somerville welcoming Kenzie, Rob and Amanda McClure welcoming Everlee and Darrel and Lisa McClure welcoming Nora.

There are many I have missed, but all babies bring joy to the family.

Along with the many happy times in our lives, we all have to deal with

the unhappy times as well. We have offered our condolences to many families over the year and the holidays are always a difficult time the first few years. Remember the good times with those you’ve lost and recall the wonderful memories, funny stories, or crazy things they would do and hug your loved ones a little tighter. We remember Ken Anderson, Audrey McIlwain, Marg Work, Jamie Dobson, Bill Stephenson, Kay Hesselwood, Bob Smith, Alan Baker, Herbert Boettcher, Ken Wilbee, Jim Chalmers, Gwen Bernard Dougherty, Susan Cardiff, Vernice Prescott, Cecil Moore, Gord Jacklin, Brian Williamson, Wayne Williamson, Susan Haggitt, Naomi Pryce, Greg Wilson, Jim Bowman, Norma Oldridge and Jim Ryan and my mother Gerry Clarke.

We have had some remarkable people recognized for their achievements over the year and we congratulate Sean Mitchell as the 2019/20 Brussels Ambassador of the Brussels Agricultural Society. We congratulate the Walton Raceway for a successful return of the Canadian amateur racing event. The Walton facility also hosts mudbogs, had a beekeeping course and hosts Edge of Walton high ropes course and has five different children’s camps during the summer. They have even expanded into hosting day camps on some PA days.

Ryan Jacklin had a very successful year in his track and field career and is now in B.C. training under the guidance of a former Olympic athlete. Ryan was home over Christmas for a visit and we wish him well in his continuing training.

The first of the 2017 International Plowing Match scholarships were given out and three Walton-area

students were recipients: Emma Baan, Emily Mitchell and Sean Mitchell. There were three other recipients in the area, including Maggie Burgsma, Delayna Smith and Laura Higgins.

Some changes in Walton included the opening of RTM North in the former Dauphin Feed Building. The Dale Milk Company building has new owners, from Woodstock, but things continue to operate as usual.

The Walton Inn operated by Graeme and Helen Craig was sold and the new owner is Brian Scanini. Things will remain the same but with some decorating to be done. The Walton Hall and Walton Women’s Institute hosted their yearly turkey dinner fundraiser and had a successful turnout in November.

The big change would be the McGavin and Robert’s Farm Equipment merger. Things are still the same around McGavin’s but with the added availability of other equipment.

Milestones hit by Walton folks and friends of Walton of 50 years married include Don and Pat Nolan, Jack and Mary Helen McLachlan, George and Ruth Townsend. Mervyn and Ruth Bauer hit 55 years.

Reaching their 90th birthdays in style included Eleanor Stevenson, Nora Stephenson and Murray Dennis. Of course, there are many more but these are the ones I know.

A journey of memories in 2019.

Some you will remember and some you will not.

Sadness for many this past week.

We offer our condolence to the family of Jim Ryan. He will be missed by his wife Betty and Children Greg and Maddy and their families. Jim operated a well-known construction company for 60 years: Ryan Construction. He will be

Michelle McNichol, followed by Mark Gillis, Rob Dionne, Alaina Poland, Kandice Jacklin, Greg Fritz, Elise Ringgenberg, Mary Ann Thompson, Judy Emmrich, Audrey Hackwell, Aubrey McClure, Paul Flaxbard. New Year’s babies include Frank Schimanski, Dave Linton, Brent Melady, Claire Mitchell, Alexandria Shahshahani and Brayden Shortreed. Happy birthday to all!

NEWS FROM WALTON

The Citizen wants you to stay connected wherever you are in the world with an

Winning James Speer from Maitland River Elementary School took first place in the Royal Canadian Legion’s Remembrance Day Junior Essay contest at the Brussels Legion Branch.

Speer is shown above with Legion representative Nanci Ducharme. (Photo submitted)

Market hurt by industry closure Continued from page 13 Policy Statement review, outlining key recommendations on the proposed revised land use planning policies within the statement. The OFA believes the preservation of productive agricultural land to produce food, fibre and fuel is in Ontario’s long-term environmental and economic interest.

The latter half of 2019 has presented challenges for our provincial food valu-chain. The beef sector has been particularly hard-hit by the closing of Ryding-Regency Meat Packers and ongoing depressed

remembered in every coffee place near where his men were working where he would stop and get them coffee. He’d make a short visit to hear the news and then off to see how the men were doing, coffee in hand. A loving family man and a man of faith, he will be missed by many. He will be missed by his siblings Joan, Gerry, Jack and Sister Teresa and their families.

Suffering the loss of a brother-inlaw is Pearl McCallum. Russel McCallum of Mitchell will be missed by his children Ron, Lynne, Faye and Bev and their families. I can remember Mr. McCallum as a child as I walked by his business everyday going to and from school.

Our condolences to the extended McCallum families of our area.

Our sympathies to Bob and Joyce Alexander and Jim and Dona Knight on the passing of their brother-inlaw Joe Raynard. He will be remembered by his children Darlene and Dwayne and their families. He was a farmer in Grey Township, worked for the CNR and was a rural newspaper delivery man. He retired to Manitoulin Island many years ago. Our condolences to all.

Celebrating birthdays include Boxing Day babies Michelle Blake, Anne Curreri, Kerry Blake Dale and

market prices, trade and market access barriers, and a shortage of processing capacity. The OFA will continue to work with our commodity partners and support our members through this challenge.

This year has also been marked with growing threats from animal activists, trespassing on farms and a legal system reluctant to prosecute individuals involved in these activities. The OFA is encouraged by the proposed new legislation Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, 2019 that would increase the protection of our farms, families

and food supply. We also saw a significant change in our provincial animal welfare enforcement in 2019 with the withdrawal of the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the introduction of Bill 136, the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019.

It’s been a busy year for the OFA and all of our members. We’ll certainly remember 2019 as a year of extreme challenges, but also of opportunities that have brought out some of the best qualities – optimism, resilience, perseverance and ingenuity.

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PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020.

Primary grades shine in Hullett Christmas concert PEOPLE AROUND LONDESBORO

By BRENDA RADFORD Call 523-4296

The primary classes at Hullett Central Public School presented their musical Christmas concert,

titled “Christmas Is Coming, Christmas Is Here” on Wednesday, Dec 17. The children were truly enthusiastic about their parts in the pageant making it fun for the audience.

First to perform was Mrs. Haggitt’s Grade 1. The children awoke one morning and looked out the window to realize snow was falling and went out to play. They reasoned that if there was snow, winter must be here and Christmas must be coming soon. The class sang “Winter Fantasy”.

So with Christmas coming, Mrs. Taylor’s Grade 2 pupils decided it was time to decorate the Christmas tree. Groups of children, dressed up as stars, candy canes, angels and lights, danced around the tree and everyone sang,”I’m a Little Star”.

No tree trimming would be complete without some candy canes to eat and Mrs. Bell’s and Mrs.Carmichael’s Kindergarten B class sang, “Candy Canes’. I was impressed by the diction of these young children in their presentation.

Familiar songs are part of the joy

of this season and Mrs. Ireland’s Grade 2/3 room presented a “Christmas Carol Mash”. It featured some musical instruments [real and pretend] and props and the children, including a Frosty the snowman, danced around on the stage and sang snippets of Christmas favourites.

Well, now Christmas is here and the children of Mrs. Moir and Mrs. Brooks Kindergarten A room, in their elf and Santa hats, recited “Up on the Housetop” and waited on Old St. Nick to come down the chimney.

By the time Mrs. Ten Pas’s and

Mrs. Brewster’s Grade 3/4 class got to the stage, Santa had arrived and they sang about “Jingle Bells”.

Joining them to end the concert were all the primary classes to sing “Rudolph’ and to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

Students show spirit

Big win The Huron Heat Midget A squad welcomed the London Devilettes to the Central Huron Community Complex on Saturday night. The Heat posted a 1-0 win over their big-city opponents. (Darlene McCowan photo)

Obituaries JAMES “JIM” RYAN After a non-complaining, courageous fight with cancer, James “Jim” Ryan of Brussels went to be with His Lord on Thursday, Dec. 19.

He was in his 85th year.

Jim was the beloved husband of Betty for 51 years and the loving dad of Greg and Trudy Ryan and Maddy and Jeff Miller.

He was the proud papa of Jacob, Ryan, Marshall Miller and grandpa of Amber Ryan.

Jim was the brother of Joan McDonald, Gerry and Anne Ryan, Jack Ryan and Sister Teresa Ryan.

He was the brother-in-law of Anne McKinnon and Joe and Trudy McKinnon. He will be missed by several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Jim was predeceased by parents Lawrence and Marjorie Ryan, brother Bob (Barb) Ryan and Nelson Ryan, sister-in-law Marianna Ryan and brother-in-law Don McDonald, in-laws Don and Marilyn McKinnon, Madeline McKinnon, Jack McKinnon, Jim McKinnon and mother and fatherin-law John and Florence (Poechman) McKinnon.

Jim was a dedicated construction

worker for over 60 years. He was a devout catholic and an all-around community man. He loved his family dearly, always protecting with fatherly optimism. He loved his coffee and keeping up with his community. He had a true heart of gold.

Friends and family were received at St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church for visitation on Sunday, Dec. 22 and one hour prior to the funeral mass on Monday, Dec. 23.

Father K.P. Morrison officiated.

Parish prayers were held on Sunday.

In lieu of flowers and as expressions of sympathy, Jim’s family would like you to donate your time and money to being present with a friend or loved one living with cancer whether that is a dinner out or a drive around town.

Cards of sympathy may be sent to Box 166, Brussels, ON N0G 1H0.

Condolences may be left at riversidefuneralhome.ca

KATHLEEN “KAYE” WEIDNER Kathleen “Kaye” Weidner, formerly of Hanover, died peacefully without pain with her

husband Max Demaray by her side at London Health Sciences Centre in London on Christmas Day. She was 85.

Kaye was born on February 23, 1934 to the late Henry and Sophia (née Ahrens) Hossfeld in Brant Township. Kaye was a dedicated member of the Royal Canadian Legion in Hanover as an Auxiliary Member and of the Lawn Bowling League. She was a stenographer for over 46 years with Pilot Insurance.

Kaye is survived by devoted husband Maxwell “Max” Demaray of Bayfield. She was loved by her stepchildren Debbie (Joe) Seili of Brussels, Rick Demaray of Listowel, Rob (Sharon) Demaray of Alberta and David (Cathy) Demaray of Woodstock. She will be forever in the hearts of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as her fur friend Cooper.

Kaye will be fondly remembered by her sister Marie (David) Ferguson of Walkerton as well as many nieces, nephews and their families. She was predeceased by her first husband E. George Weidner (1986) and her brother John Hossfeld.

Visitation and the funeral service were held at Mighton Funeral Home, Hanover, on Monday, Dec. 30. Rev. Colin Snyder officiated.

Interment in Hanover Cemetery.

Memorial donations to the Bluewater Area Family Health Team or to Wingham United Church were appreciated as expressions of sympathy.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.mightonfuneral home.ca

wear red and green for the dance.

Carol singing was in the gym on Friday.

Find Christmas parades and concerts on our website at huroncitizen.ca

NEWS FROM LONDESBORO Promoting our Community INSIDE THIS WEEK:

FUNDING - Pg. 2

RESPONSE - Pg. 3

CONCERT - Pg. 6

Education Minister in Blyth to hand out grants

Morris-Turnberry Mayor calls for autonomy

Brussels Ministerial comes together for show

Citizen

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By Keira Hoekmeijer, Carleigh Dale and Mya Greydanus The leadership group for our school ran a Christmas spirit week and held a school dance for all classes before going on Christmas break.

The Christmas dance was on Thursday, Dec 19. The classes came to the gym at different times.

Kindergarten A and B and Grade 1 danced at 11:30. Then Grades 2, 3 and 4 danced from noon to 12:30 p.m. At 1:10 to 1:50 p.m. was Grades 5 and 6 and the last group was Grades 7 and 8 from 1:50 to 2:50 p.m. The many decorations made the day so much fun.

We also had a Christmas Spirit Week from Dec. 16 - 20. Monday was Christmas hat day; Tuesday was ugly Christmas sweater day; the uglier the sweater, the better.

Wednesday was Christmas sock day.

On Thursday students were asked to

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Volume 34 No. 49

Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County

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Thursday, December 13, 2018

4-H Clubs awarded

White Christmas The snow was falling on Friday night as Clinton held the final Santa Claus parade of the Huron County season, bringing residents and visitors out to the town to help

celebrate the holiday season. One of the main attractions of the parade every year is the Clinton Pipe Band, seen here appealing to the ears of all in attendance. (Nick Vinnicombe photo)

The Huron County 4-H Leaders’ Association Awards Program was recently held at the Seaforth Agriplex, recognizing 4-H members for their efforts throughout the year.

COUNTY AWARDS Loretta Higgins won the Murray Cardiff Award for Top All-Round Member.

The Don Pullen Award for highest overall score in the county went to Evy Verschaeve. She also won the Dedication Award for dedication to the club. The Warden’s Novice Award for first year competitive member with the highest score went to Emily Datema.

The Ben Lobb Award for the junior member with the top essay went to Kayla Drennan.

Emily Franken won the Ontario Plowmen’s Association Award for outstanding agricultural 4-H member as well as the Longstanding Graduating Member Award. She also received her graduation seal.

The Citizen-Rural Voice Awards for press reporter book competition awards went to Dugald McIntosh (first) and Mercedes Prout (second).

The Huron County 4-H Leaders’ Association Award for club secretary book competition were awarded to Emily Bieman (first) and Kayla Drennan (second).

The winning team for the county Go for the Gold Competition was the South Huron Sheep Club Team which consisted of Amanda Bos, Rachel Gras, Grace Hallahan and Evy Verschaeve.

The Top Gate Sign Award for the Continued on page 12

Seaforth’s Fisher elected Huron East Deputy-Mayor

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Seaforth Councillor Bob Fisher is Huron East’s new deputy-mayor, besting two others who put their names forward at the inaugural meeting of Huron East Council on Dec. 4.

Fisher, Tuckersmith Councillor Ray Chartrand and Grey Councillor Alvin McLellan all let their names stand for the municipality’s secondin-command position. This came

after Huron East eliminated the atlarge deputy-mayor position, reducing the size of council from 12 members to 11 just ahead of October’s election.

It was Fisher who nominated Chartrand for the position.

Chartrand then paid the favour back by nominating Fisher. Former Deputy-Mayor Joe Steffler nominated McLellan for the position.

Fisher told his fellow councillors that he has lived in the community

for over 40 years. In addition, he has been a councillor for 12 years and spent nearly 40 years in business, all experience he felt would aid in being the deputy-mayor.

Fisher also listed a number of projects he’d like to see undertaken or continued both in Huron East and in Huron County.

In Huron East, Fisher said he wanted to see the municipality’s community centres better utilized and to promote a harmonious relationship between residents

of all of Huron East’s five wards.

At the county level, Fisher said he wanted to see a greater focus on tourism, saying that Huron County could easily be the Prince Edward County of southwestern Ontario. He also said that while the county’s accessibility advisory committee has done a lot of great work, there is still more to be done.

Fisher also said that, as someone who is legally blind, he also hoped that being named deputy-mayor would inspire others with disabilities

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saying that if they “get [their] ass off the couch and do something” like he has they can accomplish anything.

McLellan said that his decades of experience as a councillor and on numerous boards and committees would make him an ideal choice for the deputy-mayor position.

He said that being self-employed would ensure that he wouldn’t miss any meetings, adding that he hates to miss any council meetings.

He said he had been asked if he Continued on page 15

Contest opens December 12 Applications will be accepted until January 25th, 2019 at 4:30 pm Forms are available online or at the Township of North Huron office at 275 Josephine Street in Wingham Email: inittowinit@northhuron.ca or call the Project Co-ordinator at 519-441-7629.

IN IT TO WIN IT: brought to you by the Libro Prosperity Fund, Wingham BIA, North Huron Economic Development Committee, Huron County Economic Development and Community Futures Huron.

Recipient will be announced in the last paper of the month.

401 Albert Street, Box 340, Brussels, ON N0G 1H0 Phone: 519-887-6336 ~ Fax: 519-887-6438 email: riversidefuneralhome@hotmail.com www.riversidefuneralhome.ca

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020. PAGE 17.

From the Minister’s Study

Lost and found: a study of Luke 2:41-52

By Rev. Charmila Ireland Melville Presbyterian Church I used to laugh at parents who bought leashes for their kids – the ones that attach to their wrist or their backpack. I thought they were ridiculous – they’re kids, not dogs!

When my niece was about three, she came with me to Costco. Now I understand. When I have kids, they’re going on leashes too!

The reality is that most kids like to roam and explore. They like to see what’s over there, under that, or up there – all at warp speed. Plus, they’re oblivious to most dangers. So while the poor parent is ripping their hair out, the child is just relaxing on the far side of the road looking at the pretty leaf.

Those moments of panic that so many parents have experienced are captured in Luke 2:41-52. Here we read a snippet from the end of Jesus’ childhood. This little vignette of parental panic fits right in with the end of the Christmas story. Luke 2 starts with Jesus being born in Bethlehem – angels singing, shepherds visiting and people prophesying. Then it ends with Jesus staying in Jerusalem to talk to the religious teachers while Mary and Joseph join the caravan to go back home.

I’m sure you can all picture it.

Mary thought Jesus was with Joseph. Joseph thought that he was with Mary. Turns out he’s not with them at all. A real Home Alone moment. So they head back to Jerusalem, filled with worry.

Jesus is gone and there is no way to contact him. Mary and Joseph don’t know where he’s sleeping at night. They don’t know how he’s finding food. In his culture, at the age of 12 he’s almost considered an adult. Yet I’m sure to Mary and Joseph, he’s still very much a child.

They don’t know where he is. He very well could have joined the next caravan back to Nazareth and be waiting for them back home. Or he could be hungry and cold somewhere in a bad part of Jerusalem. They simply don’t know.

Picture these parents searching around this big city for one small boy. Keep in mind that this is the time of Passover – when virtually every adult male Israelite would have been in Jerusalem. This city is packed full of strangers and regular residents. It would have been chaos.

You can practically taste the panic and fear that they would have felt settling down at night after the first day of fruitless searching. And after the second.

Finally, after three days, they find Jesus. He was at the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. All these teachers are amazed at his understanding and answers. I highly doubt Mary and Joseph were so amazed. I would bet their first reaction was probably anger – that sort of relief that morphs in a split second to fury, because of all of the worry they went through. The “thank God you’re safe! Don’t you ever do that again!” moment.

Young Jesus was safe at the temple all along. And he doesn’t see anything wrong with what he did – after all, he was at his Father’s house.

In this moment we see a hint of what Jesus will become.

Something’s different about him. A call to God’s house. A nonchalant way of doing his own thing and going against what is expected of him. Luke tells us that Mary and

Joseph didn’t understand what Jesus was saying, but Mary treasured all of those things in her heart. Maybe Mary knew this was a taste of what being the mother of God incarnate would be like: worrying, scary and wonderful.

This is what I want you to consider – those things Mary treasured or pondered in her heart. That exact phrase is used earlier in the Christmas story. The shepherds came to find Jesus and they said to Mary that the angels told them Jesus was the Saviour; the Messiah. She listened to the shepherds and pondered and treasured their words in her heart. This was good news – her son is the saviour of the world.

Those are indeed words and events to treasure and ponder in your heart.

But now Mary is treasuring this event; this gut-wrenching fear and worry, this proclamation by Jesus

that he was in his Father’s house that she doesn’t really understand.

She is treasuring what many would like to forget. She is treasuring the reality that her son is growing up. She doesn’t know what path he is going to walk down, but she knows he is the saviour. And she knows that he will cause the falling and the rising of many in Israel. She knows that the most respected of rabbis now respect her son, only 12 years old. So she treasures those things.

Perhaps this is where Mary teaches us something different from common wisdom. The world today is full of Instagram filters and carefully curated Facebook photo albums. We see small pieces of each other’s lives - but only the good stuff. We share and brag about these perfect moments: when a grandchild opens a Christmas

gift, when we’re sitting on the beach somewhere, when we go out for a fancy meal. We treasure those moments. We capture them and display them.

What about the rest of the moments? Do we treasure them? It’s hard to treasure the moment we get a phone call with some bad news. To treasure those uncertain moments spent at the hospital bedside of

someone with a chronic illness; to treasure the meeting with your child’s principal. There are thousands of moments we don’t treasure; moments that we try to forget. Mary is reminding us that even those hard moments - those moments of panic because your child is lost - are things to treasure.

The full breadth of human Continued on page 19

BRUSSELS

United Church Sunday, January 5 Worship Service at 11 a.m.

Worship leader, Rev. Sandra Cable All are Welcome

You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship SUNDAYS Morning Service Evening Service

10:00 am 7:30 pm

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

The Regional Ministry of Hope These Anglican Churches Welcome You Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector 519-357-7781 email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca The­Regional­Ministry­of­ Hope

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For additional details please contact Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173

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Tuesday Jan. 7, 7-9 pm Celebrate Recovery Wednesday Jan. 8, 6:30-8 pm Heirborn, 6:30-8 pm Youth Group huronchapel.com huronchapelkids.com huronchapelyouth.com 519-526-1131 ~ 119 John’s Ave., Auburn

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THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS. OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday 6:00 p.m.

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

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PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020.

Local hospitals receive $3 million for upgrades

The start of something great The Blyth Festival Art Gallery held its first-ever holiday show and sale from late November to late December, earning $6,300, $2,000 of which went to the Blyth Festival with the artists benefitting from the rest. Organizer Kelly Stevenson says that with the success of the show, it makes sense to consider hosting it again in 2020. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson has announced more than $3 million in provincial grants for area hospitals under the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund (HIRF) program.

“These investments we are making are vital to ensuring our local hospitals will be able to make upgrades and improvements to their facilities,” Thompson said, noting the funds are usually used for improvements to such things as air flow, heating/cooling, fire alarm systems and back-up generators.

Hospitals in Huron-Bruce receiving the funding include: • South Bruce Grey Health Centre Kincardine Site - $300,726 (subject to change as per hospital corporation needs) • Walkerton site - $241,389 (subject to change as per hospital corporation needs) • Alexandra Marine and General Hospital (Goderich) - $102,181

• Clinton Public Hospital $303,131 • Seaforth Community Hospital $923,388 • South Huron Hospital - $878,877 • Wingham and District Hospital $234,254.

Grey Bruce Health Services, which includes the Southampton Hospital, is also receiving $2,831,982.

The funding announcement is part of the government’s investment of $175 million this year to support hospitals across Ontario.

“As the government continues to work toward bringing Ontario’s world class health care system into the 21st century, this funding will help hospitals to address urgent issues,” Thompson said.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020. PAGE 19.

Entertainment & Leisure

Over 4,000 tickets sold for ‘Christmas Carol’ Once the script was complete and the artists were assembled, Garratt, who also directed the show, said it was a blessing to be in the rehearsal hall with that level of talent every day. Not only was the music incredible, but he said the artists were all very generous and goodhearted with their time in Blyth, making rehearsals a complete joy.

Randy Hughson, who played Ebeneezer Scrooge, was especially happy to be back in Blyth. Hughson had performed in a number of Blyth Festival productions over the years before taking on roles at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival for the last decade. Garratt and Hughson are already brainstorming ways to work together again.

Garratt also said he worked very well writing the play with Powers, a new Blyth resident, and looks

A tough sell While representatives from the Huron County Christmas Bureau in A Huron County Christmas Carol had a tough time convincing Ebeneezer Scrooge to part with his dollars, the Blyth Festival didn’t have that problem, selling over 4,000 tickets to its first-ever Christmas show. The success of the show, said Artistic Director Gil Garratt, nearly guarantees that a holiday show will grace the Memorial Hall stage in 2020. From left: Marion Day, Marek Norman, Greg Gale and Randy Hughson. (Denny Scott photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen A Huron County Christmas Carol represents what Artistic Director Gil

Garratt hopes will become an annual tradition for the Blyth Festival after it sold over 4,000 tickets during its three-week run.

Garratt said the show, which was

A play to remember Alicia Toner and Greg Gale, back, look on in A Huron County Christmas Carol as the Cratchets, watching their son Tim, played by Jonah Manley, play the piano. (Denny Scott photo)

staged 25 times during its run, was a tremendous experience for him and local musician John Powers, who wrote all of the music for the production. Not only did it represent a chance for the Festival to establish a foothold in the winter months, but the wealth of talent on stage was truly something to behold on a nightly basis, he said.

The word of mouth regarding the show, he said, was fantastic as audiences grew week by week as Christmas approached. There were also many audience members who saw the show several times, bringing new groups of friends, family and neighbours each time they attended.

The cast was amazing, Garratt said. Bringing together the musical and dramatic talent of so many esteemed artists on one stage was truly thrilling, he said, and something to remember for the Festival.

Writing the play with Powers, Garratt said, was inspirational for him. After first discussing the play, Powers wrote the bulk of the music in just a few days. Garratt said he used that music and Powers’ enthusiasm to help him write the first draft of the script, a task which took him several months through the summer.

Celebrations

forward to working with him again on future projects.

Having Jonah Manley, the visually-impaired Stratford teenager who played little Timmy, the Tiny Tim character, there every day participating in such a special project, Garratt said, was especially rewarding for all involved with the show.

And while no official discussions have taken place, Garratt said he’d be very surprised if the Festival doesn’t go ahead with another holiday production in 2020 after the success of A Huron County Christmas Carol.

Garratt said he and General Manager Rachael King have to sit down with the Festival’s Board of Directors, but he feels confident the Festival will produce a holiday show next year.

Treasure the found Continued from page 17 experience is worth considering and living.

Every life is made up of these times. Not all times can be good. Not all times are worth putting up on Facebook or telling your neighbour about. Yet every second of life is a moment with potential. Every day is filled with opportunities to join with all of creation in praising God. Filled with chances to make the world a better place; with chances to see God.

Choose to be like Mary.

Treasuring the moments, even when they’re hard. Rejoicing for the love that there is and was, and not regretting. Treasuring the lost that has been found.

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PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020.

M-T to expand landfill

By Denny Scott The Citizen Morris-Turnberry Council has approved a 1.7 per cent increase to council honorariums and rates during its Dec. 17 meeting.

Council also approved 1.7 per cent increase to the employee pay range grid.

Both issues were passed unanimously without discussion.

LANDFILL EXPANSION Morris-Turnberry Council is taking the steps necessary to expand its municipal landfill.

During Morris-Turnberry’s Dec. 17 meeting, Public Works Director Mike Alcock explained that the current cell of the landfill is nearing capacity and the next phase, opening a cell south of the operational cell, will require some work.

“There is approximately one hectare of trees that will require clearing and grubbing,” Alcock said in his report. “I will be meeting with [Huron County Forest Conservation Officer] Dave Pullen to assist in preparing a plan to have the trees cleared.”

An initial assessment of the trees shows that, at best, selling the trees for wood could generate a small amount of income, Alcock said.

“There’s not much value,” he said.

“Most of the trees measure less than eight inches [around]. We could generate a small income, break even or result in a small expense.”

Alcock said further updates will be available at Morris-Turnberry’s first meeting in January.

LANDFILL FEES Morris-Turnberry Council has approved a more logical landfill fee system.

Director of Public Works Mike Alcock explained, during council’s Dec. 17 meeting, that the previous fee system was confusing because increasing weights sometimes resulted in paying less.

He pointed to the fact that it costs less to dispose of 270 kilograms of refuse ($22.95) than it did to offload 120 kilograms ($25).

He also pointed out the landfill was charging people to drop off noncontaminated soil, which the landfill can actually use for cover.

“The new system is more fair with a graduated system,” he said.

“Everything is also an even dollar value.”

Starting at $10 for anything under 100 kilograms (220 pounds), the price increases by one dollar for each incremental increase of 10 kilograms.

Individual costs for non-freon appliances and household furniture were also removed from the landfill’s fees. Non-freon appliances currently go in scrap metal, so no charge will be made and household furniture will be charged according to its weight instead of having an additional cost.

The cost for appliances containing freon will increase from $30 to $40 as it costs the municipality $35 per item to dispose of the units.

The charge for weighing a vehicle or load for non-landfill purposes will increase from $5 to $10.