The Citizen - January 6, 2022

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The

THIS WEEK

Citizen

Huron County’s most trusted independent news source

Thursday, January 6, 2022

Volume 38 No. 1

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COVID-19 surging locally

By Denny Scott The Citizen

Battling While local hockey associations took a holiday break, cancelling games from late December to early January in an effort to slow the potential for spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Blyth Brussels Minor Hockey Association returned from its hiatus on Jan. 2 with a

pair of games at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. While the break served the U15 Local League Crusaders well, as they posted an 11-1 win over Mount Forest that day, the U11 Rep team, above, wasn’t so lucky, suffering a 2-1 loss to the Drayton Defenders. (John Stephenson photo)

Huron East composition to stay status quo

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen The composition of Huron East Council will remain status quo through the 2022 municipal election after a conversation on the topic ended before it began at council’s Dec. 21 meeting, its last of the year.

Chief Administrative Officer Brad McRoberts raised the issue with council, presenting a report at council’s Dec. 21 meeting, which was held virtually via Zoom. As one of the items listed in a report he presented at council’s previous meeting, which some councillors interpreted as a long-term strategic planning document, McRoberts presented council with six options for its composition moving forward. They ranged from the status quo to a seven-member council with no ward system, all

with any move’s associated costs.

However, due to its inclusion in McRoberts’ Dec. 7 report, some councillors didn’t think they’d be discussing this issue before the election. However, if changes were made before the end of 2021, they could take effect for the 2022 municipal election. This fact, however, led some councillors to accuse Mayor Bernie MacLellan - a long-time proponent of a smaller council - of pushing something through at the 11th hour, leaving councillors little time to think about the issue or consult with their constituents.

The options presented by McRoberts were: 1. The status quo, including a mayor elected at-large and two councillors per ward with a deputymayor appointed by councillors at a cost of $178,000 per year.

2. The mayor and deputy-mayor

both being elected at-large and two councillors per ward for a total of 12 representatives at an annual cost of $194,000.

3. The mayor and deputy-mayor elected at large and one councillor elected from each ward for a total of seven council members. This option would cost $113,000 per year.

4. The mayor, deputy-mayor and five councillors all elected at-large, eliminating the ward system for an annual cost of $113,000.

5. The mayor, deputy-mayor and seven councillors all elected atlarge, which would also eliminate the ward system, for a total annual cost of $146,000.

6. The mayor, deputy-mayor and nine councillors all elected at-large for a total of 11 members of council for a cost of $178,000 per year.

MacLellan spoke to the issue first saying that, by trimming council, it

could save the ratepayers of Huron East $65,000 per year, adding that it has been no secret over the years that he has advocated for a smaller council. While Huron East Council is the largest council in the county, as Councillor Larry McGrath pointed out later in the meeting, it is also one of the most costeffective, despite its size.

Councillor Ray Chartrand, however, said he was surprised to see the item on the agenda and felt it was inappropriate for MacLellan to try and rush through a potential change to the composition of council or the ward system at the final meeting of the year.

Councillors would have no opportunity to speak to their constituents or do any of their own research, as a result, Chartrand said. He then made a motion to retain the status quo before any Continued on page 2

Huron and Perth Counties had the highest number of COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic of the Christmas break, with more than 500 active cases as of New Year’s Eve, with case numbers not updated to reflect the first few days of the year by press time.

According to Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH), there were nearly 600 new cases of COVID-19 in Huron County between Dec. 20 and Dec. 31, jumping from 2,821 cumulative cases since the pandemic began to 3,402. While the number of individuals hospitalized climbed to six from three (five of which were active cases), four new COVID-19 deaths were reported, bringing the cumulative total to 74.

There are currently two outbreaks in the area: an unidentified congregate living outbreak and an outbreak at Wildwood Care Centre in St. Marys, which was first reported on Dec. 27, involving two staff members.

As far as local numbers go, every municipality saw an increase over the aforementioned 10-day period, with some increasing substantially.

In Huron County, HPPH reports 97 new cases in Huron East as of Dec. 31, bringing the municipality’s cumulative total to 295. Bluewater has 117 cumulative cases, an increase of 37, South Huron climbed 36 to 233. AshfieldColborne-Wawanosh (ACW) has 26 new cases (70 cumulative), Goderich has 25 (76), Central Huron has 22 (151), North Huron has 13 (112), Morris-Turnberry has eight (98) and Howick has five (90).

In Perth County, HPPH reported 149 new cases in Stratford between Dec. 20 and Dec. 31, bringing the city’s cumulative total to 741 cases.

North Perth has 50 new cases (682 cumulative), West Perth has 32 (141), St. Marys has 32 (115), Perth East has 28 (370) and Perth South has 13 (89).

As of Dec. 31, there were 521 active cases in the area: • Stratford: 123 • Huron East: 89 • North Perth: 48 • South Huron: 35 • Bluewater: 34 • West Perth: 31 • Perth East: 27 • St. Marys 27 • Central Huron: 23 • Goderich: 20 • ACW: 15 • North Huron: 10 • Perth South: 9 • Morris-Turnberry: 6 Continued on page 7

PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022.

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Hello 2022!

The Fire Department of North Huron rang in the new year with a fire call on New Year’s Day. Firefighters responded to calls of a small fire near Auburn, which was quickly kept under control. (Denny Scott photo)

Protect yourself against COVID-19.

It’s up to alll of us us.

Motion ruffles feathers in HE Continued from page 1 other councillors spoke to the issue, saying council has had three years to contemplate any of these changes, but failed to act.

He also said he felt McRoberts’ report left out some crucial details, such as the geographical size of Huron East as easily the largest municipality in the county with a dispersed population, adding that over 50 per cent of the residents live in two of the municipality’s five wards (Tuckersmith and Seaforth).

When this issue had been raised before, Chartrand said, it had been done after extensive consultation with the chief administrative officer at the time, the municipality’s administration committee and ratepayers, saying none of that had taken place this time around.

MacLellan admitted that he did say he felt the issue should be discussed next year with any changes to take effect for the 2026 municipal election, but then added that there was some confusion about the cycle that allowed for change. He said there was some thinking that any changes needed to be made a year before the municipal election, when in fact they needed to be made before the calendar year turned. In regards to Chartrand saying he was surprised to see the issue on the agenda, MacLellan said he shouldn’t have been, saying that the issue has been discussed at least once every term he has been on council.

Deputy-Mayor Bob Fisher seconded the motion and agreed with Chartrand, saying he too was surprised to see the issue up for discussion at the final meeting of the year.

McGrath reiterated that, despite its size, Huron East Council remains one of the most costefficient councils in the county. If members were reduced to save money, he said, inevitably each member would incur rising costs as the job gets more demanding, so he felt the savings just wouldn’t be there.

Councillor Alvin McLellan agreed, saying the savings to be realized by the municipality as a result of this move were, in his opinion, only on paper. As the responsibilities shared by two ward councillors were consolidated into one position, surely it would become more taxing and more compensation would follow.

Furthermore, he said, that shift would likely make the job less desirable to many people who simply couldn’t handle that workload.

Outgoing Councillor John Lowe agreed with McLellan. In what was his final meeting as a Huron East councillor, Lowe cited his own experience, saying he is burnt out and stretched too thin, which is why he chose to resign earlier this year.

If the job was even more onerous, surely it would tax people and bring them to their limit.

Chartrand’s motion asked that council retain the status quo, leaving it up to the newly-elected council in the fall of 2022 to discuss any potential changes if they so wished.

MacLellan, however, was concerned with that timeline. In his experience, he said, new councillors will be elected and then profess their inexperience and say they don’t want to tackle such a loaded issue in their first years as a councillor. As a result, he said, council can find itself in a neverending loop with no changes ever being made.

Fisher said he didn’t feel that was the case, but instead remembered that, in his time on council, any changes being roundly rejected time after time, saying there simply doesn’t seem to be the appetite for it.

Council carried Chartrand’s motion to retain the status quo and let the new council make whatever changes it sees fit to composition or the ward system. Only Mayor MacLellan and Councillor Joe Steffler voted against the motion, which passed with nine votes for it and just two against.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022. PAGE 3.

Let’s drink to the salt of the earth Glimpses of the Past with Karen Webster As warm tropical seas evaporated over 400 million years ago, salt deposits were laid down and then buried under layers of rock. Ancient peoples found that salt helped preserve food and that discovery enabled the advancement of civilization. No longer were people forced to gather food day by day because they could store it for future use, such as on a sea voyage.

Salt comes from either salt water as in the oceans or from underground deposits. Locally, salt was first found in the flats of the Maitland River near Goderich.

Samuel Platt was drilling for oil in 1866 and stumbled on one of the largest and purest deposits in the world, the Michigan Salt Basin. At one time, there were over 17 active salt operations near Goderich producing thousands of barrels of salt a day. The largest and most important salt works was operated

by Peter MacEwan.

The extraction of salt was accomplished by forcing hot water down into the deposit, thus dissolving the salt into a brine which was then piped to the surface

to be evaporated in large pans.

Goderich was not the only area to produce salt. Among other places, deposits were also found in Seaforth, Clinton, Brussels, Blyth and Wingham.

On Jan. 1, 1870, drilling for salt began in Seaforth. The Coleman family company found a bed of salt, seven to eight feet deep, at a depth of 1,020 feet. They used two pans to evaporate the brine and were able to produce about 200 barrels of salt a day from the brine that was 98 per cent pure. The salt works were located south of the railway track, east of Main Street. Other salt companies were Salt Works, the Eclipse Salt Works (run by the company of Gray, Young and Sparling) and the Merchant Salt Company.

In Clinton, Richard Ransford, the son of English landowner Henry, drilled a well on his father’s farm, Stapleton, located just east of the village. Solid rock salt was found at 1,172 feet, and, at its peak, Stapleton Salt Works produced 300 barrels a day. A second salt operation was that of John

McGarva, which was located west of Clinton near the railway line.

Enterprise Salt Works, run by the Coleman family, was located in Brussels. The company produced salt for households, dairy, cheese and meat-packing purposes. The Brussels Post of Sept. 10, 1897 reported that Enterprise had shipped five (rail) cars of salt that week.

The village of Blyth offered a bonus to the company of Gray, Young and Sparling of Seaforth to establish a salt works. Drilling commenced on three acres of the James Logan farm on the eastern limit of Blyth on Dinsley Street, near the Goderich Trunk Railway station. Later, another five acres was added to the works and a second well was drilled. In one winter alone, area farmers brought in 6,000 bush cords of wood to fire the evaporating pans. In 1881, a saw mill and a stave factory, employing five coopers, were built to provide the barrels needed for shipments. The salt works employed about 20 men at a rate of 90 cents a day and their foreman

New trial for Panovski

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen The Ontario Court of Appeal has overturned the 2018 murder conviction of Boris Panovski, ordering a new trial for the 77-yearold.

Jane Sims of The London Free Press has reported that the court, the highest in the province, issued a decision that was critical of Superior Court Justice Joseph Donohue’s “inadequate and unbalanced, therefore unfair” charge to the jury at the end of the case.

The court said that while there was a “strong circumstantial case” against Panovski, it was not enough to dismiss the appeal.

Panovski was found guilty of the Sept. 13, 2014 first-degree murder of Don Frigo, a Caledon construction executive. He was also convicted of aggravated assault for shooting Eva Willer Frigo, Don’s wife, in the same incident. The incident took place at a field dog trial event held at the Hullett

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Sims reported that during the trial, which was conducted in Goderich, Crown lawyers Teresa Donnelly and Michael Murdock presented evidence stating that Panovski’s girlfriend said Panovski said he was going hunting on the day of the incident. The Crowns also stated that Panovski changed his licence plates and tinted the windows of his vehicle ahead of the shooting, with cell phone records placing Panovski in the Clinton area at the time of the incident.

Shortly after the shooting, Sims reported, Panovski also cancelled his life insurance and gym membership and signed over his vehicles before returning to Macedonia after 30 years. He

voluntarily returned to Canada a few months after the incident and was arrested.

However, Sims reported that Willer Frigo said she couldn’t identify the shooter, despite knowing Panovski. Sims added that the composite drawing of the suspect, based on Willer Frigo’s recollection, did not resemble Panovski, nor did the description of the vehicle leaving the scene.

A date for a new trial has not yet been set.

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A New Year’s Resolution (Matthew Henry) “My times are in Your hand!” Psalm 31:15 Firmly believing that my times are in God’s hand, I here submit myself and all my affairs for the ensuing year, to the wise and gracious disposal of God’s divine providence. Whether God appoints for me.... health or sickness, peace or trouble, comforts or crosses, life or death — may His holy will be done!

All my time, strength, and service, I devote to the honour of the Lord Jesus — and even my common actions. It is my earnest expectation, hope, and desire, my constant aim and endeavor — that Jesus Christ may be magnified in me.

In everything I have to do — my entire dependence is upon Jesus Christ for strength.

And whatever I do in word or deed, I desire to do all in His name, to make Him my Alpha and Omega. I have all from Him — and I would use all for Him. If this should prove a year of affliction, a sorrowful year to me — I will fetch all my supports and comforts from the Lord Jesus and stay myself upon Him, His everlasting consolations, and the good hope I have in Him through grace.

And if it should be my dying year — then my times are in the hand of the Lord Jesus.

And with a humble reliance upon His mediation, I would venture into the eternal world looking for the blessed hope. Dying as well as living — Jesus Christ will, I trust, be gain and advantage to me.

received $1.10. Production there ceased sometime in the 1890s.

The salt well near Wingham was drilled on Lot 41, Concession 13 of East Wawanosh Township in 1887.

This well was 1,200 feet deep and had 25 feet of salt rock below.

Later, an additional well was sunk next door on Lot 42. Four-inch pipes laid over ground carried the brine to the salt works located on Victoria Street West in Wingham, at the terminus of the Canadian Pacific rail line. Storage and the office were on the north side of the street and the salt pans raised up on stilts were located on the river side of the street. A 144' x 24' evaporating pan that was between eight and 12 inches deep was kept boiling 24 hours a day. Some 15 people were employed manufacturing both coarse and medium grades of salt. The last owner there was a meat-packing company that sought to use the salt for curing meat. When this was found not to be feasible, the operations were shut down in 1925.

The production of salt was a great boon to the economy of this area.

Labour was needed to drill and maintain the brine operation, as well as firing the evaporator pans and then packaging and transporting the salt products.

Local farmers received $2 per bush cord for the copious amounts of

wood needed. Once the supply of wood dwindled, diesel engines were needed. Salt was mostly shipped in wooden barrels containing 300 pounds. Most of these salt companies entered their product in expositions, winning many awards for the fine quality salt they produced.

In 1890, the provincial government conducted a Royal Commission on the Mineral Resources of Ontario. Interviews with stakeholders in the salt industry described the then-current conditions of the industry. There was concern about competition from duty-free importation of salt from England causing profits from local salt to be impacted. Once most area farms had been cleared for cultivation, supplies of cheap cord wood were diminishing, and shipping costs were increasing.

The real boom of brine salt production lasted for about 20 years in central Huron County ending around the turn of the 20th century.

In 2022, the production of salt in Huron County continues as Compass Minerals produces both rock salt and salt from brine in Goderich. This company operates the largest underground salt mine in the world 1,800 feet under Lake Huron and has recently announced the drilling of two new brine wells.

PUBLIC MEETING CONCERNING A PROPOSED HOUSEKEEPING ZONING BY-LAW AMENDMENT (FILE Z09-21) AFFECTING THE TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HURON TAKE NOTICE that Council of the Township of North Huron will hold a public meeting on January 17, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. in the Wingham Town Hall Theatre, 274 Josephine St., Wingham, Township of North Huron to consider a proposed Zoning By-law Amendment under Section 34 of the Planning Act, R.O.S. 1990, as amended. The amendment affects the Township of North Huron Zoning By-law.

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the proposed housekeeping zoning by-law amendment is to establish provisions within the North Huron Zoning By-law to regulate the use of cannabis production facilities within appropriate zones subject to provisions that protect neighbouring sensitive uses through the use of setbacks. This amendment applies to the general provisions ot the North Huron Zoning By-law and therefore across the entirety of the Township. There are no proposed changes to any property specific zoning type.

ANY PERSON may attend the public meeting and/or make written or verbal representation either in support or in opposition to the proposed zoning by-law amendment.

IF a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the Township of North Huron before the by-law is passed, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision of the Township of North Huron to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

IF a person or public body does not make an oral submission at a public meeting or make written submissions to the Township of North Huron before the by-law is passed, the person or public body may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Land Tribunal unless, in the opinion of the Tribunal, there are reasonable grounds to add the person or public body.

IF you wish to be notified of the decision of North Huron Township on the proposed zoning by-law amendment, you must make a written request to the Township of North Huron, 274 Josephine Street, Wingham, ON N0G 2W0.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION relating to the proposed zoning by-law amendment is available for inspection during regular office hours at the Township of North Huron, Municipal Office (519) 357-3550 and the Huron County Planning and Development Department (519) 524-8394 ext 3. The County Planner assigned to this file, Hanna Holman, may also be contacted at hholman@huroncounty.ca Dated at the Township of North Huron this 17th day of December, 2021.

Oh, that the grace of God may be sufficient for me, to keep me always a humble sense of my own unworthiness, weakness, folly, and infirmity — together with a humble dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ for both righteousness and strength.

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

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

PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022.

Editorials & Opinions

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

Advertising Deadlines: Mon. 2 p.m. - Brussels; Mon. 4 p.m. - Blyth.

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

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At your own risk Two years into a pandemic and there is still a failure to adapt. Over the holidays there were numerous news stories about travellers being unable to get refunds when cancelling reservations due to fears about the Omicron variant of COVID-19 or being stranded at the border waiting on PCR tests from overwhelmed labs.

Travelling at any time comes with risk, but over the past two years the overriding theme has been that all plans are firm until they’re not. It’s understandable, especially at this time of the year, that Canadians are anxious to get home for the holidays or to escape the dreary winter weather. If you have accepted the risks to travel while COVID-19 is still considered a pandemic, then it’s hard for those who hunkered down at home (or close to it) to feel sorry for anyone stuck in limbo at the border for a couple of extra days. The rules didn’t change suddenly like they did in early 2020. There was a reasonable expectation that the coronavirus could still impact travel and now it has. Cross-border travel plans should account for contingencies such as test delays, positive results and flight cancellations. – DS

‘That’ kind of literacy As a New Year’s gift to the sane-thinking people of the world, Twitter permanently suspended the account of Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia representative, for repeatedly spreading misinformation.

It’s easy to say that either Greene or the fact that we have to deplatform elected officials is the problem, but the real problem is the lack of media literacy that has allowed people like Greene to flourish.

(She had over 465,000 followers at the time of her suspension.) As the internet and social media have turned anyone with internet access into a doctor, scientist, journalist or infectious diseases expert in their own mind, millions of people have been eager to seek out convenient “truths” to align with their opinions whenever the need arises. This has led to an increased push for media literacy to be taught in schools as information is more available and more compromised than ever.

In Hong Kong, the Chinese government is cracking down on media outlets that don’t toe the party line - an affront to media freedom in that country and around the world. Media literacy helps people know when they’re being lied to and where to turn for accurate, unbiased information. Even in The Citizen it’s important to understand what’s being reported, who is saying what, and why. In a story late last year, for example, this newspaper quoted someone from a council meeting calling those who rent property, rather than owning it, “crazier people”.

This, of course, is not the view of the newspaper, or the story’s author, but of the person who said it. Don’t kill the messenger, as they say.

Accurate, clear and unbiased journalism is only of value to those who can discern between the true and untrue. And at a time when any website can publish anything, all things cannot be true. – SL

Step by step While Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s announcement earlier this week undoubtedly had an impact on parents, businesses and everyone else connected to students, it was just the latest in a sequence of decisions and backtracking from the provincial government that has left many scratching their heads.

On Monday, Ford announced the province would be going back to a modified “Step 2” of the province’s Roadmap to Reopening and instituting “time-limited measures” to “blunt the impact” of the Omicron variant on the healthcare system. Part of that was to announce schools would go to remote learning as of Wednesday of this week, with students possibly returning to school as early as Jan. 17.

Before this announcement, parents were told they needed to make arrangements for students to be home for two days - Jan. 3 and 4 - which would help curb the spread of COVID-19. Many questioned what difference two days would make, especially given that traditional knowledge has patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 isolating for two weeks (meaning anyone exposed at Christmas would need to be isolated until Jan. 8 at the earliest).

This is further compounded by the provincial government’s decisions to limit testing opportunities for COVID-19 and prevent school boards from reporting outbreaks and cases, both of which could be seen as a thinly-veiled attempt to artificially lower case counts and prevent the public from knowing about dangerous situations in public institutions.

The world is coming up on two years of dealing with COVID-19 and its various variants, however, these kinds of moves make it seem like the provincial government has learned nothing at all from all the hardships of early 2020 and beyond.

While no one expects the provincial government to have a crystal ball and know about new variants and their impact, what we need is forecasting and forward thinking, not last-minute, knee-jerk reactions and flip-flopping on crucial issues. – JDS

Looking Back Through the Years January 7, 1965 The Brussels United Church Women elected their officers for the year, making Mrs. Carson Watson the president, succeeding Mrs. H. Thomas in the group’s top position.

Mrs. Carl Hemingway would be the first vice-president and Mrs. Dick Stephenson would be the second vice-president.

The Brussels Midget hockey team beat the Stone School team from Belgrave by a score of 6-2 as the two teams clashed in Belgrave.

Terry Johnston scored a hat trick to lead the team, with Larry Duncan, Neil Gowing and John Rock all contributing single goals to the team’s efforts.

The team was next in action against Ripley on Jan. 8 in Brussels in what was expected to be an exciting game after the last clash between the two teams yielded an 8-7 win for Brussels late in 1964 when the teams played in Ripley.

January 8, 1975 Main street parking problems were the main concern of Blyth Village Council at its first meeting of 1975.

At the meeting, council learned that it would be between one and two months until “No Parking” signs could be erected at the intersection of Queen and Dinsley Streets. This came after council had passed a resolution approving the signs the previous summer, but the Ministry of Transportation and Communications dragged its feet in putting them up.

At the first meeting of the Huron County Board of Education of the year, the trustees voted to confirm the election of Wilfred Shortreed of RR1, Walton as the chair for 1975.

In his inaugural address, Shortreed welcomed three new

members to the board: John Elliott, Charles Thomas and Robert Peck.

The Blyth Little Theatre was set to host a meeting in the coming days to plan for the rest of the theatre’s season, while also surveying the needs of Memorial Hall to plan for future productions.

Thirty-year-old David Teahen of Stratford was acclaimed as the chair of the Huron-Perth Roman Catholic Separate School Board at the board’s inaugural meeting held in Seaforth.

January 8, 1997 Anneke and Rymert Los of RR1, Listowel were parents of the area’s New Year’s baby. Luke was the first baby to arrive in The Citizen’s coverage area, being born at 7:55 a.m. on Jan. 3.

While Luke won the race, several other area hospitals reported babies born by the end of the day on Jan. 3.

A Huron County resolution to be presented at the next rural session of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (ROMA) would call on the provincial government to stop forcing amalgamation upon municipalities that felt there was no economic benefit to amalgamation.

The Blyth Atoms were in action on Jan. 2 at a tournament held in Mount Forest, taking on Seaforth, Kincardine and Midland, the team that would go on to win the tournament, during their time there.

In the team’s game against Seaforth, the boys from Blyth would win by a score of 1-0, with Justin Peters posting his fourth shutout of the season.

The Brussels Crusaders had a great holiday season, winning three games, losing one and tying one over the Christmas and New Year’s break. The team would next travel

to Palmerston to play, followed by a contest with Goderich.

January 5, 2012 The Brussels 140th celebration officially kicked off 2012 with a New Year’s Day Levee at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. At that event, plans for the renovation and expansion of the Brussels Library were also presented for the first time, with much of the village present to check them out.

Local architect John Rutledge had been instructed to prepare tendering documents for the project

by Huron East Council at the Dec. 20 meeting, at which Rutledge said he was happy to be in a position to present the plans to council before Christmas.

North Huron Council officially approved the creation of a Business Improvement Area in Blyth and its inaugural meeting was set to be held at the Bainton Gallery in Memorial Hall on Jan. 5.

The Central Huron Fire Department was poised to donate a soon-to-be-decommissioned pumper truck to a small, rural community in Newfoundland, though the community had yet to be identified. The plan, approved by Central Huron Council, was to ship the pumper truck to the island province free of charge.

The review of the decision to reduce the number of Huron County councillors, brought forward by the affected municipalities, was now underway.

Central Huron Mayor Jim Ginn said he hoped to discuss the issue further at an upcoming strategic planning session of Huron County Council, but said he didn’t have high hopes for a favourable outcome as a result of that meeting.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022. PAGE 5.

Other Views

Tutu was truly a man to remember

A

lmost lost in the hustle and bustle surrounding the holidays was the death of one of the 20th century’s iconic humans: retired-Bishop Desmond Tutu.

The funeral service for Bishop Tutu was held on Jan. 1 with the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner buried in a plain pine coffin, the cheapest available, at his request to avoid any ostentatious displays. He died Dec. 26 after 90 years of service to his country and the world.

“For me to praise him is like a mouse giving tribute to an elephant,” said Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the head of the worldwide Anglican church, in a video message shown at a requiem mass. “South Africa has given us extraordinary examples of towering leaders of the rainbow nation with President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Tutu... Many Nobel winners’ lights have grown dimmer over time, but Archbishop Tutu’s has grown brighter.”

I plead guilty to being among those who lived comfortable lives in Western nations, unaware of the good works of those like Mandela and Tutu. I wasn’t sure I agreed with the praise for Mandela before he was finally released after many years in prison by the white government in the late 1980s. It was only later, when he came to lead South Africa and he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 that I looked closer at his record and came to truly admire him.

And it was only through the changes brought about by Mandela that I came to admire the work of Tutu, even though he had won the Nobel Prize nearly a decade earlier.

Tutu was the first Black Bishop of Johannesburg from 1985 to 1986 and then Archbishop of Cape Town from 1986 to 1996.

He worked alongside a newly-released Mandela, leading negotiations to end apartheid

Keith Roulston From the cluttered desk in the country and to introduce a multi-racial democracy. As President of South Africa, Mandela chose Tutu to lead the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which uncovered the abuses of the apartheid system.

As Chairperson of the Commission, Tutu articulated the Black community’s outrage at the ravages of apartheid and touchingly and profoundly demonstrated the depth of meaning of “ubuntu”, reconciliation and forgiveness.

But his work began far earlier. He admitted he wasn’t originally political. Until the white government overstepped its mark in opposing protest, he was apolitical. It was this change that made him become a minister, even though he already had a wife and several children. In December of 1960, Edward Paget ordained Tutu as an Anglican priest In 1966, Tutu and his family moved to East Jerusalem, where he studied Arabic and Greek for two months at St George’s College. In January of 1970, Tutu left the seminary for a teaching post at the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland (UBLS) in Roma, Lesotho. This allowed him to live closer to his children and offered twice the salary – one of the few times earthly rewards seemed to figure in his life.

In 1975, Tutu was named the dean of St Mary’s Cathedral, Johannesburg. He used his position to speak out on social issues, publicly endorsing an international economic boycott

of South Africa over apartheid.

In 1981, while he was addressing 15,000 Black mourners at the funeral of the civil rights lawyer Griffiths Mxenge, the crowd set upon a suspected government agent and were intent on necklacing him (putting a burning tire around his neck). Tutu ran to the victim, threw himself across the prostrate man, and demanded the crowd cease their violence. As the crowd calmed, Tutu led the man to his own car.

He was Bishop of Johannesburg from 1985 to 1986 and then Archbishop of Cape Town from 1986 to 1996, in both cases being the first Black African to hold the position. He emphasized a consensus-building model of leadership and oversaw the introduction of female priests.

Tutu never stopped fighting for his vision of a “Rainbow Nation” in which all races in postapartheid South Africa could live in harmony.

As Anglican archbishop of Cape Town, Tutu turned St. George’s into what is known as a “People’s Cathedral”, a refuge for antiapartheid activists during the turbulent 1980s and 1990s when security forces brutally repressed the mass democratic movement.

When Mandela became the country’s first post-apartheid president he once called his friend: “Sometimes strident, often tender, never afraid and seldom without humour, Desmond Tutu’s voice will always be the voice of the voiceless.”

There are so many (men, mostly) who show examples of the power and authority that bad, inhumane behavior can bring. It’s good that now and then we have the lessons that good men like Bishop Tutu can teach us. Their example shouldn’t be overshadowed during a holiday that celebrates the best side of humanity.

It just makes sense - think about it

A

s I sat in my den/home office (which will also be my work office for the foreseeable future) on Jan. 2, wondering how my daughter can get up at 6 a.m. regardless of when she goes to sleep, I realized that the 2021 holiday season will likely be the one I remember as the weirdest in my lifetime.

Why? Well, leading up to and during the Christmas of 2020, we knew we shouldn’t be seeing each other. We knew that COVID-19 is bad and most of us guessed that children wouldn’t be heading back to in-school learning for quite awhile.

The Christmas of 2021, now barely in the rearview mirror, wasn’t like that. It wasn’t until a week before many families would have been celebrating that decisions had to be made to cancel to keep people safe for the holidays.

So instead of travelling all over the place this Christmas, my family went to one place: my brother’s new home, and the only reason we did that was because he had become a part of our bubble (and I know, that’s not a thing anymore) earlier in the month when numbers were lower and he needed help moving.

So while, in 2020, we were prepared for the isolated Christmas, this year people made the decision very late in the year.

That’s a long preamble to say I spent a lot of time over The Citizen’s Christmas break sitting in the living room with my daughter, and, ashamedly, I spent a lot of that time staring at my phone, resulting in me stumbling on to the only kind of “social media influencer” I want to follow: the agricultural kind.

I stumbled upon a number of people who, on social media, virtually walk people through their agricultural operations hoping to pull back the curtain, as it were, on the magic that feeds most people on a daily basis.

While the influencers who were just showing what they do were informative, I

Denny Scott Denny’s Den found the ones who were most interesting were the ones actively combatting misinformation about farming.

As it turns out, watching someone prove wrong an individual who is obviously both misinformed and trying to stir the pot is about the best kind of viewing you can find on a screen according to my tastes.

It can take many forms, including a video showing why cows prefer to be indoors (and providing the proof behind it), or how they take care of their animals, but the whole point of the videos is to show to the reasonable individuals of the world how farming works.

I “went down the rabbit hole” of that kind of content, which now means watching a number of similarly-themed videos back-to-back, whenever my daughter decided it was time to stop playing board games or Barbie or PlayDoh and move on to watching Disney’s Encanto for the second or third time that day.

Back in my den/office, however, I realized that as much as I love those kinds of videos,

Final Thought We do not need magic to transform our world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already. We have the power to imagine better.

– J. K. Rowling

the fact that they exist shows a big problem with the world: they wouldn’t exist without a need, and that need was facilitated by a slew of misinformed people trying to lead others astray through the internet.

I know that not every farm treats animals with respect or puts animal welfare first. We get reports, on very rare occasions, of those farms that don’t follow the rules. However, the guiding message in nearly every single one of those videos I enjoyed is that the animals that are treated better produce more milk or eggs or meat. By keeping the animals content, they provide a better product. It just makes sense, if you think about it.

That logic, however, escapes a great number of people on the internet, no matter how many times it’s repeated.

So while it’s great that there are some people generating this content, and gaining quite a following doing so, it’s unfortunate that it’s needed. It would be better if we could live in a world where we trust people to do what’s best for themselves and not try to force our own opinions on them.

Letters Policy The Citizen welcomes letters to the editor.

Letters must be signed and should include a daytime telephone number for verification only. Unsigned letters will not be printed.

Submissions may be edited for length, clarity and content, using fair comment as our guideline. The Citizen reserves the right to refuse any letter on the basis of unfair bias, prejudice or inaccurate information.

Shawn Loughlin Shawn’s Sense

Don’t stop believin’

F

ocus on the good times. Try to remember the times that were good.

Those words, spoken by A.J. Soprano in the final 75 seconds of The Sopranos, the show that changed television forever, were a direct reference to something protagonist Tony said to his family back in the first season.

“Someday soon, you’re gonna have families of your own and, if you’re lucky, you’ll remember the little moments like this, that were good,” Tony said to his wife and kids.

Without specifically thanking notorious anti-hero Tony Soprano for it (he’s far from the first person to encourage us to always look on the bright side of life), this is how I’ve been able to put my feet down onto the carpet morning after morning this last little while.

Now, that’s not meant to be as depressing as it sounds. I think it’s just reality for a lot of us these days.

In two weeks, the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has transformed our understanding of the pandemic, just as many of us thought we were beginning to learn how to live life in the midst of a pandemic. Honestly, looking back at the last issue of The Citizen, published on Dec. 23, it feels like the innocent old times when compared to what things are like in the early days of 2022.

While skeptical people in this area may have been arrogant in the last year or two, asking where all these sick people have been hiding, no doubt we all know of several friends or family members who have tested positive for the virus in the last two weeks, if not yourself.

I don’t have to rehash the whole explosion of cases for you. Surely you know what’s going on and you’ve been touched by it.

That’s where remembering the good times comes in. I’ve reached the point where I just cannot “doomscroll” through my phone any longer. I can’t talk about bad things day in and day out. It’s not good for anyone.

So, what do I think of? I think of my beautiful girls at home, my daughter and my wife. I think of the supportive and loving members of my family and friends. I think of how grateful I am to have a good job that I love and I think of how lucky we are to own a great home as so many struggle to afford one.

I laud the people who have worked hard to do the right thing when it’s so easy to focus on those who haven’t. I don’t dwell on vacations not taken, but think of the time at home with my own little family or the few small getaways we’ve been able to safely squeeze in.

With a big birthday coming up this year, I try not to focus on the fact that I’m getting older (that’s a fight no one can win), but rather on what I’ve accomplished in that time and what I hope to accomplish after that fateful day in May. It’s certainly not easy and it’s never going to be. There’s a fine line between focusing on the positives and burying your head in the sand.

But, (God help me for using this term) in these unprecedented times, I think many of us have no choice but to focus on the positives because the negatives will eat you up.

As 2022 begins, it will be a year of endless possibilities and many unknowns, just like every other year. The path I’ve chosen is to focus on what I have, not what I don’t; to celebrate what I can accomplish, not mourn what I cannot and to spend my time with those who deserve it, rather than waste it on those who don’t. Alright, I might have started the year by writing one of those live, laugh, lovestyle signs. Anyone want to paint that on a piece of wood for me? I promise to not pay for it and never put it up.

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

At the Branch

Branch still open

2022 is here The Blyth Brussels U11 Rep Crusaders took on the Drayton Defenders on Sunday, Jan. 2 at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre and, unfortunately for the home team, came away with a 2-1 loss. That loss dropped the team’s record to 5-9 on the season, though they will have a chance to get back in the win column when play resumes. (John Stephenson photo)

Columnist marks holidays A NOTE FROM BETTY

By Betty Graber Watson Call 887-9231 On this 10th, for you now, the 12th day of Christmas, I wish you a very Happy New Year. We’re in for a new beginning; a new month in a new year with lots of opportunity to try new things and meet new people. We’ve had lots of thinking time this past year and now it’s time to think anew. Each year-end is a chance to review the last year and see what went well, what needs attention and then dream a little about the possibilities. Make your list, it could be fun.

This holiday season was full of new things; chances to see how we cope with changes in our lives. As long as comparisons to other years were not part of the conversations, new ways of celebrating the Christmas story were just fine.

Families change and grow and traditions are only good if they still work. Like the rest of our days, we need to look closely at what we do and especially why. Toss in a few nasty viruses and we got really quick about how we gathered and especially with whom we chose to celebrate. I’m hoping your gatherings were great.

The celebration of Christmas started with a child and so it remains. The best celebrations are ones where small people remind us how to live in joy. Their sweet smiles, their jumps of joy, their unleashed laughter tell us to live today to the fullest. Christmas morning FaceTime with Phil, Lauren, Chris, Lara, Jordan, Robyn,

Jill, Hark and Weston in Edmonton reminded me that gifts are a temporary symbol of love and it’s the shared moments throughout a year that really are the gifts. Mind you, the wee boys were having a great time with the paper and chaos.

Later on Dec. 25 we hit Barrie to share dinner and a sleepover with Curt, Julie, Ella and Sloan. Yes, we had a fine Christmas.

Chatting with my brothers over the holidays, we decided we’re all at the same stage of life, lucky to be alive, blessed to have good kids and healthy grandchildren.

Conversation took lapses as we tried to catch up, realizing we’ve been pretty sheltered with keeping to the public health guidelines and limiting our contacts. With a little more effort than other chats, we dug a little deeper and shared things that we were still able to enjoy, such as

Celebrating A Special Occasion?

Advertise it in

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

curling, swimming, snowshoeing, reading and being thankful to be able to share our lives.

Enjoy January. Keep safe. Be kind.

Bye now, Betty G.W.

By Jo-Ann McDonald Happy New Year to all and welcome to 2022! The Brussels Legion Branch wishes everyone a great year ahead and hopefully a return to a more normal life.

Branch hours will remain Tuesday to Thursday 4-6 p.m. and Friday 47 p.m. Normal life was just cancelled due to the Premier’s announcement of closures again.

More information is still coming so read it in The Citizen or listen to the news.

There are a few things to report to finish up the year of 2021. First was the Christmas Eve draw for the Catch the Ace. The winner of week 21 was Greg Nicholls and he won $252. He chose envelope number 13 and the queen of spades was revealed. The jackpot continues to grow The final Catch the Ace draw for 2021 was on New Year’s Eve and the lucky winner of week 22 was Liz Sholdice. She chose envelope number 3 and the king of spades was revealed. The estimated jackpot grows to $7,700 for the next draw on January 7.

The general meeting for December was held on Tuesday, Dec. 28. The bar renovations have

begun with Deb Ross and Jim Brown in charge.

The entertainment committee has been making plans for the new year, including Jelly Bean Blue to play on Jan. 14. All this conditional on the government announcements to come. Hopefully there will be more clarity in next week’s article.

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS

Brussels Legion 218 Catch the Ace Weekly Winner Winning Ticket: Liz Sholdice Envelope #3 found the King of Spades Estimated jackpot is $7700 for January 7

Getting Married?

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

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022. PAGE 7.

Huron-Perth incidence rate jumps significantly Continued from page 1 • Howick: 4.

Huron and Perth Counties’ incidence rate and positivity per cent jumped significantly between Dec. 20 and Dec. 31. The incidence rate, or number of positive test results among 10,000 people, increased from 88 to 375.7. The positivity per cent, or percentage of tests producing a positive result, increased from 5.53 per cent to 13.05. Both values continue to be in the “red” zone of the province’s now-defunct colour-coded reopening plan.

December saw the single highest number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in Huron and Perth Counties with 801 in total. That is

nearly twice the number of those in January of last year, during the height of the second wave, when there were 451 confirmed cases.

While COVID-19 case numbers continue to climb, likely due to the Omicron variant according to experts, vaccination efforts also continued over the holidays. As of Dec. 23, there were 114,568 people in Huron County with at least one shot, or 82.5 per cent of the population.

Demographic statistics for those with at least one shot are as follows: • 5-11: 4,417 (37.3 per cent of eligible residents) • 12-17: 7,726 (76.9) • 18-24: 8,717 (71.9) • 25-29: 6,918 (80.9)

• 30-39: 13,425 (81.8) • 40-49: 13,250 (82.7) • 50-59: 17,060 (85.4) • 60-69: 20,481 (97.9) • 70-79: 14,504 (99.7) • 80+: 8,069 (93.6) Fully-vaccinated residents account for 77.6 per cent of all residents with 107,644 with at least two shots.

• 5-11: 249 (2.1 per cent of eligible residents) • 12-17: 7,420 (73.8) • 18-24: 8,325 (68.7) • 25-29: 6,576 (76.9) • 30-39: 12,923 (78.8) • 40-49: 12,897 (80.5) • 50-59: 16,526 (82.7) • 60-69: 20,182 (96.6) • 70-79: 14,389 (99.7)

• 80+: 8,149 (95.7) There are 29,535 fully-vaccinated individuals in the two counties who have received a third “booster” shot of the vaccine, or 21.4 per cent.

• 12-17: 44 (0.4 per cent of eligible residents) • 18-24: 566 (4.7 per cent)

Fireworks bring many to Blyth From Marilyn’s Desk

By Marilyn Craig Call 523-9318

Time for reflection Sylvia Nonkes of the Maitland Valley Camera Club recently captured this beautiful image of the nature Huron County has to offer and wanted to share it with the readers of The Citizen. If you’ve taken any gems lately and want to share them with us, e-mail them to reporter@northhuron.on.ca. (Photo courtesy of Sylvia Nonkes of the Maitland Valley Camera Club)

HASAR requests Blyth space Huron and Area Search and Rescue (HASAR) requested that North Huron Council consider allowing the old Blyth fire hall just east of Queen Street be used as a base for the organization.

HASAR Commander and CoFounder Patrick Armstrong explained the situation to the municipality in a written request, saying the group presently has a number of different vehicles and other assets.

“Currently, HASAR maintains its vehicles in an open compound with limited access to a garage bay and an office space in Huron East, all in different locations,” he said, adding the group pays $100 a month in rent. “While we are thankful and most appreciative of this arrangement, HASAR has outgrown the original agreement and requires indoor storage for its vehicles as well as all of its assets in one place. This will allow for better security of the vehicles as well as preventing maintenance issues which [HASAR is currently] experiencing due to the weather.”

He asked if the former fire hall, located at the intersection of Dinsley and Mill Streets, could be utilized for the vehicles.

“We would ensure the facility

was both clean and secure and work within the community to maintain the positive relationships we have always had,” he wrote, adding that Fire Department of North Huron Deputy-Chief Chad Kregar is supportive of the move, as HASAR

will be working with the fire department in the future.

Council directed staff to investigate the request as part of a report that council had previously tasked staff with on what to do with the surplus building.

Neews depends endss on facts. ts. Whe Where are you our facts ts coming com ng from? ro News Media Canada is a passion ssionate advocate for the news industry. We support our mem mber m publications in their pursuit of quality journalism nalism.

Wee believe that when society has factss they can W trust, better decisions will be made.

newsmediacanada.ca

• 25-29: 558 (6.5 per cent) • 30-39: 1,372 (8.4 per cent) • 40-49: 1,649 (10.3 per cent) • 50-59: 4,057 (20.3 per cent) • 60-69: 6,873 (33 per cent) • 70-79: 8,764 (62.2 per cent) • 80+: 5,652 (69.3 per cent) Visit hpph.ca to learn more.

Happy New Year everyone. It’s a new year and a time for new beginnings.

Happy birthday to David Webster, Huronlea, Brussels and Connie Nesbitt, who celebrated Jan. 1; Deb Hakkers, Mike Haggitt and Jenna DeCorte, Zurich, Jan. 4; Brodie Nesbitt, Jan. 5; Josie MacDonald will celebrate will on Jan. 7; Jaxson Bromley, Jan. 8; Hanny Meier, Jan. 9 and Lexi Daer, Barrie, Jan. 11.

Happy birthday everyone, enjoy your special day.

Congratulations Blyth Community Betterment, the organizers of the fireworks on Friday, Dec. 31. I watched the show from my front door. I didn’t see the ones that were low to the ground but what I saw was a job well done.

I hope this will become an annual event.

Euchre winners were: first, Brenda Brooks, 73 and Lou Lahey, 69; second, Jewel Plunkett, 66 and

Harold McClinchey, 63; lone hands, Pauline McMichael, three and Con van Vliet, two and share the wealth, Doris McClinchey and Edna McLellan.

Have a safe week everyone and say hello to someone you meet on the street.

NEWS FROM BLYTH Broken Dryer?

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BLYTH PRINTING INC. BLYTH 523-9211

PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022.

Obituaries

GWEN LAVIS Mrs. Gwendolyn Devona “Gwen” Lavis of Clinton, passed away peacefully at her daughter’s residence in Blyth on Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021. She was in her 96th year.

Gwen was the beloved wife of the late John Lavis (2009), and the loving mother and mother-in-law of Bryan and Carol Lavis, Paul and Joy Lavis, Gordon and Anne Lavis, Allan Lavis, and Anne Elliott and Les Cook, Blyth. She will be sadly missed by her grandchildren, John Lavis and Becky Seres, Sherri and Jeff Eby, Darrell Lavis and Jean Cook, McKenna Lavis and Stephen Mallison, Layne Lavis, Leeanne and Scott Middleton, Kathy Lavis and Jamie Hickling, Bart Lavis, Nathania Lavis and Patrick Bass, Russell Lavis, Michaela Lavis, Heather Elliott and Jeff Levine, and Jeff and Kristy Elliott.

Gwen was also loved by her great-grandchildren, Samantha Eby (Aaron), Justin Eby, Ashley Lavis (Ryan Bushfield), Meghan Lavis (Reece Potter), Jonny Lavis, Autumn Lavis, Avery Lavis, Bailee Lavis, Brodie and Jackson Seres, Noah Middleton, Ashlyn Edwards, Teaguen Edwards, Olive Lavis,

Lyric Lavis, Lennon Bass, Kaydin Bass, Ally Elliott, Ainsley Elliott and Ruby Levine. She will be forever in the hearts of her greatgreat-grandchildren, Jace and Kesler Potter. She was predeceased by her parents William and Kate Routledge.

Friends were received at the Clinton United Church on Wednesday, Dec. 29. A private family funeral service was held at Clinton United Church on Thursday, Dec. 30. Although the service was private, the family invites you to view the service by visiting Gwen’s obituary at www.falconerfuneralhomes.com and selecting the photos and videos button to access the livestream.

Interment will be held at Clinton Cemetery.

As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations to Clinton United Church, Clinton Public Hospital Foundation or a charity of one’s choice would be greatly appreciated.

Messages of condolence for the Lavis family are welcome at www.falconerfuneralhomes.com CECIL RICHARD EDWARD BEAVEN Cecil Beaven, after living a life full of happiness and joy, passed away peacefully at the Seaforth hospital with his loving wife June by his side on Dec. 23, 2021. He was in his 88th year.

“Cyril” was born in Elstead Surrey, United Kingdom on Dec. 19, 1934. After sailing the world in the Merchant Marines, he joined the Royal Air Force where he served as a Military Police Officer. It was in the Royal Air Force as a police dog handler that his love for dogs began.

Marrying June (Sheldrick) on Jan. 5, 1957, whom he met in the Royal Air Force, the two of them

settled down in the Cottswolds in England, where Cyril served in the prison service as a guard.

After having three children, Rebecca, Richard and Mark, the family immigrated to Canada in April of 1971, where “Cec” continued to serve the community as a police officer in Mitchell, Ontario and then as an inspector for the Egg Farmers of Ontario until his retirement in 2004.

Cecil was an avid outdoorsman and had a passion for bird-dogs.

Over the years he had several Weimaraners and Springer Spaniels with which he enjoyed hunting over and competing in field trials. In 1992, it was his love of bird-dogs that led him to move to his dream home just east of the Hullett Wildlife Area, so that he could be closer to the grounds on which he loved to run his dogs.

His dog training ability was proven in 1999, when his beloved dog “Buddy” won the National Amateur Field Championship in Ardmore, Oklahoma, an accomplishment of which he was very proud.

The last years of his life were spent loving his grandchildren and spending every available minute with them. Whether cheering them on in their athletics, or simply spending time with them laughing and joking, it was where “Grampy” believed he had achieved his greatest accomplishment in life.

Finally moving to Blyth in the summer of 2021, Cecil was able to spend his last days enjoying precious time with his family. He will be missed by many, but especially by his wife June, his children Rebecca, Richard and Mark, his grandchildren Julia, Colton, Travis and Kane and his great-grandchildren Chevy and Layla.

In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that donations be made to the Friends of Hullett (www.hullettmarsh.com) so that future generations can experience the same joy of hiking the trails as Cecil did.

HARVEY SMITH Harvey Smith of Listowel, passed away peacefully at Listowel Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. He was 96.

Harvey farmed near Cranbrook for 20 years, first as a dairy farmer and later raising beef cattle. He was a fix-it type person, always trying to make something work before buying a new one. Harvey enjoyed motorhome camping, fishing, snowmobiling and gardening. He cherished all the memories made with family at the cottage in Point Clark which they owned for over 50 years. Harvey was a very sociable person with a large circle of friends always known as “The Crew”.

Harvey was the beloved husband of Marion (Pake) Smith, with

whom he celebrated 72 years of marriage. He was the loving father of Ron (Susan), Brenda (Ken) Bast, Donna (Steve) Wells, and Lorrie (Keith) Traves. He was the special grandpa of Sherry (Sean), Ryan (Tracy), Angie (Cam), Mike (Colene), Matt (Morgan), Chancey, Adam (Lisa), Aleisha (Michael) and great-grandpa of Bryn, Talia, Hannah, Holden, Haelyn, Winston, Edwin, Meyer, Paige, Addison, Olivia, Ava, Maxwell, Jack and Molly.

Harvey was the dear brother and brother-in-law of Ross, Larry (Marilyn), Fred (Teuni), Carmen (Doreen), Harry Smith, Glenna Seddon, Roger (Donna) and Fran Gibbons. He will be fondly remembered by the Pake family and many nieces and nephews.

Harvey was predeceased by his parents Allan and Mabel (Cox) Smith, brothers and sisters Joe (Bev), Lloyd (Beryl), Doreen (Vern) Willoughby, Grace Smith, sister-in-law Shirley Smith, and brothers-in-law John Seddon and John Gibbons.

In keeping with Harvey’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will be held at a later date. Interment will be at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Ethel.

Arrangements were entrusted to Brenneman Funeral Home, Atwood.

For more obituaries, see page 16

FAÇADE GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED The Municipality of Central Huron is pleased to announce their annual 2022 Central Huron Façade Grant Program. The Program includes Façade improvements for properties in Central Huron that are assessed as Commercial. The Municipality has set aside funds to help assist property owners in the expansion or improvement of the building Façade or signage. The goal of the program is to enhance the appearance of commercial businesses and by doing so refresh the sense of pride within the community.

Deadline Applications must be received by the undersigned by February 22, 2022 by 4:30 p.m.

Program details and Application Forms are available at www.centralhuron.ca.

Please note that the program has made some changes to what qualifies under the Façade Grant program which is new from 2020/2021.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact Nicole Lowe at 519 482 3997 Ext. 1230.

Back in action Both the Blyth Brussels Minor Hockey Association and the Huron Heat took holiday breaks from on-ice games in an effort to reduce the potential for spread of COVID-19.

However, the Blyth Brussels Crusaders were back on the ice on Jan. 2 after that hiatus and the rest must have done some good, as the U15 Local League Crusaders, above, took on the Mount Forest Rams at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre and came away with a convincing 11-1 win. (John Stephenson photo)

“Central Huron Façade Grant Program” Attention: Nicole Lowe, Records Clerk Municipality of Central Huron 23 Albert Street Clinton, Ontario N0M 1L0 Tel: 519-482-3997 Fax: 519-482-9183 info@centralhuron.com

The Municipality reserves the right to fund projects as deemed appropriate. www.centralhuron.ca

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022. PAGE 9.

Year in Review: 2021

Huron-Perth topped 1,000 COVID-19 cases in Jan. February 2021

Blyth native Justin Peters, who had recently won a bronze medal as a member of Canada’s Olympic men’s hockey team, had taken on a new position as a goaltending coach with the Belleville Senators, the Ottawa Senators’ American Hockey League affiliate.

Play would be complicated, he said, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as the league had not yet been given the go-ahead to play by the federal government. However, one proposed model would have the league operate with a Canadian division and an American division to eliminate cross-border travel.

The Citizen was nominated for one of the Ontario Community Newspaper Association’s 2020 Better Newspapers Competition Awards in the best special section category for its work honouring the

All hands on deck

Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association.

A team comprised entirely of Auburn residents, appropriately named Team Auburn, raised nearly $3,400 for the United Way fundraiser, the Coldest Night of the Year. The Huron County-based event raised nearly $82,000 in total.

North Huron Council, despite an impassioned plea from the Green family, turned down new crossborder services for the business, citing its moratorium on such agreements until a comprehensive cross-border servicing agreement could be reached with MorrisTurnberry Council.

March 2021

The late Jack McCutcheon was named to the Hall of Fame on a famed racing website. McCutcheon Continued on page 10

A multi-vehicle collision just south of Blyth in early March called for the deployment of an Ornge air ambulance, which had to land in the middle of the road to aid the work of local firefighters, paramedics and police officers. (Denny Scott photo)

January 2021

Cases of COVID-19 surged over the holidays and, in early January, there were over 100 active cases of the virus in Huron and Perth Counties as the pandemic continued to be part of everyday life in 2021.

As the pandemic raged on, Chief Administrative Officer Brad Knight of Huron East told councillors that it was very possible that a provincial lockdown, if extended, could spell the end of the local hockey season.

The overnight closure of the emergency room at Clinton Public Hospital was set to remain in place at least through the second quarter of 2021, said Andrew Williams,

chief executive officer of the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance. The closures were caused by a lack of staffing and those pressures had not yet been alleviated.

For its first budget meeting of the year, Morris-Turnberry Council identified a number of cross-border servicing issues that would loom large in the coming months. One decision council made was to alter the grants typically handed out to North Huron for recreation.

The Huron-Perth region topped 1,000 cumulative cases of COVID19 since the pandemic was declared the previous March.

Seaforth author and playwright David Scott released a new book on the hockey heroes of Huron County, bringing all of the county’s esteemed hockey figures together in one volume.

Jolande Oudshoorn of the Auburn area was elected as the president of the Huron-Perth Junior Farmers.

She was integral in the group’s “Who Let The Hogs Out?” fundraiser, which brought in over $1,000 for local food banks in the summer of 2020.

The Huron Hygge initiative, aimed at encouraging residents to keep cozy, warm and entertained, all within the confines of their own home, got off to a successful start with its first-ever virtual concert.

Huron County native Charlie Weber was the first musician to lend his talents to the project.

The COVID-19 vaccine began to roll out in Huron and Perth Counties. Jim Armstrong, wellknown volunteer and pilot, was the first resident of Huronlea Home for the Aged to receive the shot.

Huron East, North Huron and other municipal councils made the difficult decision to pull the ice from their arenas amid the extended stay-at-home order, put in place by the provincial government.

Sponsorship packages are now available on brusselshomecoming.ca website

Light Post Banners $250+* • Family name included on a banner with the homecoming logo hanging in the downtown core from May 1st until after Homecoming • These banners hang on the light posts (much like the veteran signs that the Legion hangs every year for Remembrance Day)

• We have a limited supply, if we have more than 16 we will hold a draw to determine the families who get banners • Payment will need to be received before the printing of your banner. We are not responsible for damage or weather

Hometown Hero $200+* • Recognition as a “Hometown Hero” • Family name included in the official weekend program • Family name included as sponsor on the official Homecoming website • Family name included as a sponsor on all social media platforms • Gift pack (including Homecoming swag)

* In cash or product/service

Rude awakening Huron East firefighters had their hands full in early February with a house fire in Brussels that completely devastated the home. (John Stephenson photo)

Merchandise Orders available at www.brusselshomecoming.ca

PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022.

Year in Review: 2021

Oudshoorn, Bos, Perrie all honoured provincially

In one of the largest local funding announcements in years, the provincial and federal governments announced that they would be aiding the renovation and expansion of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre to the tune of several million dollars. The announcement was made in early June. (Denny Scott photo) Continued from page 9 was known for his prowess on the track and was honoured with a special piece written by his daughter Michelle McCutcheon Blake.

Huron East and its economic development officer Jan Hawley were honoured with the 2020 Rural Excellence Award from the Economic Developers Council of Ontario for the Downtown Seaforth Back Alley Initiative and the “Looking Out My Back Door” music video.

Blyth’s Leah Boven was able to donate over $1,300 to the Huron Women’s Shelter thanks to her maple syrup and barbecue sauce fundraiser she ran in late 2020. The money would be specifically used to aid children living in the shelter, at Boven’s request.

Joan Perrie of Brussels, a member of the Brussels Agricultural Society and the Maitland Valley Camera Club, was honoured provincially for her work, winning the People’s Choice Award for photography at the annual Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies conference.

Her picture was from 2006, capturing a Brussels Fall Fair staple: Don McNeil’s parade car.

Huron East Economic Development Officer Jan Hawley passed away suddenly on March 16 at the age of 68. She was honoured with a main street funeral that featured several speakers in Seaforth.

Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson was named the Chair of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians - Canada Region. She was the first Ontarian to ever chair the board.

Association of Ontario as the firstever shared winners of the President’s Rose Award for the most outstanding current member.

With the provincial government shifting COVID-19 vaccine supply to virus “hotspots”, the rollout in Huron-Perth was set to slow for the foreseeable future.

Huron East Chief Administrative Officer Brad Knight said he was going to retire after over 37 years in the municipal world, walking away on June 30.

After years of debate and backand-forth, North Huron Council took the first steps to decommission the Howson Dam, despite impassioned pleas from supporters of the dam.

Eric Coates, the long-time artistic director of the Blyth Festival, announced that he would be leaving Ottawa’s Great Canadian Theatre

Company for the appeal of new projects.

The Citizen won a silver medal at the provincial level for its Thresher

May 2021

Reunion special section.

The Huron County Planning and Development Department marked its 50th anniversary with a special presentation looking back at all that had been accomplished over the previous five decades.

Several events, including the Alice Munro Festival of the Short Story and the Clinton Spring Fair, announced that they would be

June 2021

Morris-Turnberry Council announced that the municipality would be terminating the building department it shared with North Huron. The agreement had been in place for the previous four years.

Huron East hired long-time municipal professional Brad

Babies of the Year

Welcome news

going virtual in the coming months, holding their events online so people could attend from the comfort of their homes.

The Blyth Festival officially moved ahead with an outdoor stage project at the Blyth campground.

Festival Artistic Director Gil Garratt said he hoped the Festival would mount outdoor productions in the summer now that North Huron Council had approved the construction of the outdoor stage.

Dave Matheson and Patrick Armstrong of the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund completed their 100K in a Day fundraiser, which saw the two men walk from London to Wingham in under 24 hours. The event had raised nearly $20,000 for the organization.

Huron County Council was moving ahead with a report aimed at finding traffic solutions for the problematic intersection of Blyth and London Roads in the south end of Blyth.

McRoberts as its new chief administrative officer, set to succeed Brad Knight, who had held the position for the previous 10 years.

Seaforth’s Charlene O’Reilly was named one of the winners of the 2021 David C. Onley Award for Leadership in Accessibility thanks to her work in making the 2017 International Plowing Match accessible for all.

The Blyth Business Improvement Area recommended to North Huron Council that it investigate its infrastructure for potentially problematic names, stemming from a discussion surrounding Gypsy Lane in Blyth.

The federal and provincial levels of government were coming together to award a $3.4 million grant to make the renovation and expansion of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre a reality. This came after years of work by several committees locally to put plans together and plan for the future of the centre.

While the COVID-19 pandemic made a large gathering impossible, those working for the Blyth Festival worked to mark the 100th anniversary of Memorial Hall in Blyth with a simple celebration, which included Artistic Director Gil Garratt playing the bagpipes on the roof of the building.

For the second year in a row, both the Elementary School Fair and the reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association Continued on page 11

2021

Don’t miss your chance for an authentic newspaper clipping for your child’s scrapbook

Join the gallery of new faces in The Citizen's baby photo display January 20, 2022 Email a jpeg of your little one born in 2021 along with a writeup which includes full name, birth date and parents' names and then call us, stop in or mail a cheque (payable to North Huron Publishing) to prepay.

ONLY $25.00 (must be prepaid)

April 2021 Please Complete Baby's Full Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Huron-Perth Medical Officer of Health Dr. Miriam Klassen marked a grim anniversary of the COVID19 pandemic, as it had been one year since the region’s first death linked to the virus.

Jolande Oudshoorn and Lauren Bos, both of the Auburn area, were honoured by the Junior Farmers

Anniversary Blyth Festival Artistic Director Gil Garratt marked the 100th anniversary of the opening of Memorial Hall in Blyth in early June with a solo bagpipe performance from the building’s roof. A large gathering to celebrate (Shawn was impossible due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Loughlin photo)

Birth Date _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Parents' Names _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

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DEADLINE - January 14 at 4:00 pm Email: info@northhuron.on.ca 519-523-4792

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022. PAGE 11.

Year in Review: 2021

Harvest Stage paves way for Blyth Festival season September 2021

A milestone The Blyth Festival officially opened its outdoor Harvest Stage in August, allowing a fiveshow season to go ahead. Blyth Festival Artistic Director Gil Garratt, right, cut the ribbon with the help of Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, left, and other local dignitaries who were there to help mark the occasion. (Denny Scott photo) Continued from page 10 were cancelled due to the COVID19 pandemic.

Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, after spending time as the Minister of Education and the Minister of Government and Consumer Services under Premier Doug Ford, was named Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs after a cabinet shuffle.

The remaining members of the Clinton Lions Club made the difficult decision to disband after 85 years. The club donated its remaining funds to the Huron Residential Hospice and the Clinton Public Hospital Foundation.

The club was later honoured by Central Huron Council for its generations of commitment and dedication to the community of Clinton and beyond.

July 2021

The Blyth Festival announced a five-show outdoor season for the summer and early fall at its new outdoor stage, which was being dubbed the Harvest Stage.

After a lengthy, at times heated discussion, North Huron Council decided to keep its ward system, with East Wawanosh and Blyth councillors saving the structure, while Wingham representatives voted to do away with it.

The Huron County Fastball League returned to action for the first time in nearly two years after missing the 2020 season entirely.

The Wingham Hitmen welcomed the Wroxeter Rippers to Wingham for one of the first games of the season, posting a 5-1 win over the visiting team.

The Brussels Leo Club was moving ahead with a new dog park in Brussels with the support of Huron East Council.

Those working to organize the Brussels Homecoming 2022 weekend to mark the village’s 150th anniversary passed an important milestone, with one year

Julie-Anne Staehli, a Lucknowarea native, returned home from the Olympics in Tokyo, Japan and received a hero’s welcome from her home community after placing 17th in her heat of the women’s 5,000metre race, improving on her world ranking in the process.

During the Olympics, many local families and businesses decorated their homes and created home-made signs to cheer Staehli on.

Janet Cardiff, world-renowned artist and Brussels-area native, was back in the community to go through some of her early archives and she returned a portrait she drew of Stewart Mann, who has since passed away, to his brother Stephen. Cardiff drew the portrait in 1973 when all three were students at F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham.

After hearing impassioned arguments on both sides of the issue, North Huron Council took no action on a request to review the

township’s infrastructure names, which would have included Blyth’s Gypsy Lane street name, which had been identified by some as being racist towards the Romani people.

The late Doug Scrimgeour, who was known in Blyth as a firefighter, councillor and community advocate, was honoured with a special memorial for him along the Blyth Greenway Trail. Doug and his wife Diane Radford had worked tirelessly years earlier to make the trail great for the residents of the village.

The Canadian Forces Communications and Electronics Association and other stakeholders unveiled a historic plaque at the former Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Clinton, honouring its history from 1941 to its closure in 1971.

The Brussels Tigers worked their way to the championship round of the Huron County Fastball League playoffs, sweeping the finals over the Belmore Stingers to win their fourth straight championship.

With its run coming to an end at the Blyth Festival Harvest Stage, Bruce Horak’s Assassinating Thomson raised over $4,500 for the Continued on page 12

remaining until the event. That meant the official countdown was on.

August 2021

The Huron County Plowing Match was moving forward as a one-day, invitation-only event on Aug. 20 after extensive consultation with Huron County Plowmen’s Association members and local public health authorities.

The Blyth Festival officially cut the ribbon on its new Harvest Stage with the help of local dignitaries and supporters. Artistic Director Gil Garratt said there had literally been people working to finish the stage on the morning of the ribboncutting ceremony.

The season began that week with a production of The Downs, a play that had had two successful runs at the Blyth Festival’s Phillips Studio in previous seasons.

Huron County Plowmen’s Association President Brian Wiersma deemed the one-day plowing match a success, with everyone working diligently to follow COVID-19 protocols and keep everyone in attendance safe.

While the Brussels Tigers lost their undefeated season with a los to the Mitchell Junior Mets, they still finished atop the Huron County Fastball League.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called a snap federal election for Monday, Sept. 20 and five locals were vying for the position of Huron-Bruce MP. Incumbent Ben Lobb of the Conservative Party had filed again in search of his fifth consecutive election victory, while James Rice was running for the Liberals, Jan Johnstone was representing the local chapter of the NDP, Jack Stecho was running for the People’s Party of Canada and Justin L. Smith was running as an independent.

All-candidates meetings and debates, held virtually, would soon follow that announcement.

Let’s make money better, together Meet Lori Lear, Community Manager at Libro Credit Union You should feel confident about your money, now and in the future. Lori and her team are committed to improving your personal financial performance through financial coaching, not selling you products you don’t need.

Interested to see how financial coaching can improve your financial health? Contact Lori. Talk about what Libro can do for you. Let’s make money better, together!

48 Ontario Street, Clinton 519-482-3466 lori.lear@libro.ca libro.ca

PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022.

Year in Review: 2021

Traffic lights finally approved for Blyth intersection Shelley Blackmore, the HuronBruce Liberal candidate in the summer 2022 election.

Premier Doug Ford was also in Huron County, stopping in to a meeting of the local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, which was held in Blyth.

A new cookbook featuring hundreds of recipes connected to Melville Presbyterian Church in

December 2021

A banner day A plaque to commemorate the history of Canadian Forces Base Clinton was officially unveiled in late September after months of delays due to COVID-19. The event featured Canadian military personnel and a special fly-over to mark the day. (Denny Scott photo) Continued from page 11 Almost Famous Players through its nightly portrait live auction at the conclusion of every show.

During a special meeting of

October 2021

Morris-Turnberry Council, Mayor Jamie Heffer expressed his council’s concerns regarding a drastic rise in costs associated with the renovation and expansion of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre.

Six students, including Blyth’s Eleanor Sawchuk, were awarded McCall Huron County Scholarships, each of which was valued at as much as $44,000 over four years to pursue their undergraduate degrees.

The Wingham Ironmen started their new hockey season off right, winning their home opener over the Kincardine Bulldogs by a 2-1 score.

Huron East Councillor, business owner and prolific volunteer Zoellyn Onn was named Citizen of the Year for Brussels and its

surrounding communities, while David Cartwright, notable Scouting leader and church volunteer, was named the winner of the award in Blyth posthumously just weeks after his passing.

North Huron Council received definitive evidence stating that its controversial non-resident user fees were negatively affecting revenue for the township.

Huron East Councillor John Lowe, serving the Brussels Ward, announced that he would be resigning his position at the end of the year, citing professional burnout and saying that “something had to give” in his life.

November 2021

After a report detailing the losses suffered by the township as a result, North Huron Council decided to scrap its non-resident user fees, which had proven controversial with facility users from neighbouring municipalities.

Despite voicing initial concerns with rising costs for the renovation

and expansion of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre, Morris-Turnberry Council voted unanimously to support the project as one of its partner municipalities.

Tributes poured in from former Blyth Festival actors and artistic directors for David Fox, who passed away at the age of 80. Fox was one of Canada’s greatest stage actors and had a history with Huron County that predated the Blyth Festival, starring in The Farm Show and others produced with Paul Thompson in the area.

Ken Hopper was named the winner of the Jim McGee Community Volunteer Award, presented by the Belgrave Community Centre Board and members of McGee’s family.

After plenty of consultation and back-and-forth among Huron County Council, the option of traffic lights was approved for the problematic intersection of Blyth and London Roads in the south end of Blyth. The lights will cost an estimated $2.2 million, compared to a roundabout, estimated to cost as much as $3.76 million.

Provincial Liberal Party leader Steven Del Duca was in Brussels for a special event supporting

Brussels, was set to be released with copies available at the Brussels Santa Claus parade.

Santa Claus parades went ahead across the county, including events in Brussels, Seaforth, Clinton, Blyth and Wingham, with the blessing of local councils and public health authorities.

The Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund announced that its successful 100K in a Day fundraiser would return in 2022, but as a relay event featuring family members of those who have been honoured by the fund over the years.

Three people - Justin Morrison,

Paul Gowing and Jason Hovius put their names forward in the hopes of filling the Huron East Council seat vacated by Councillor John Lowe. They were due to present their cases to Huron East Council in the new year.

Blyth native Grant Sparling earned a silver medal in the Precision Rifle Series North American Championship, held in Texas. He was the lone Canadian in the finals in just his first competitive season.

Blyth’s Julie Sawchuk was named the chair of the provincial government’s Standards Development Committee, which will lead a review of Ontario’s Design of Public Spaces accessibility standards.

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SUDOKU Fun By The Numbers Like puzzles?

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

Mark it on your calendar The Blyth Community Market, which ran for most of the summer and into early fall, always proved to be popular with locals, whether for the products on offer or the activities afforded to young families. (Denny Scott photo)

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

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022. PAGE 13.

519-523-4311

www.ruralvoice.ca

Agriculture

BLYTH 519-523-4244

www.hurontractor.com

Ontario farmer support telehealth line now live A telehealth line to provide mental wellness support to all Ontario farmers and farm families is now live.

Through the Farmer Wellness Initiative, the provincial and federal governments are funding access for up to four free counselling sessions with a mental health professional for all farmers across Ontario including members of their family.

The mental health professionals have received training to understand the unique needs of Ontario farmers.

This service is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, in English and French.

Farmers can call 1-866-267-6255 to speak to a counsellor. Developed and launched by the Canadian Mental Health Association – Ontario Division, in partnership with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, this service is provided

by LifeWorks.

“The Government of Ontario is

proud to fund the Farmer Wellness Initiative and to partner with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture to help deliver an important program to provincial farmers,” said Lisa Thompson, Huron-Bruce MPP and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “This initiative will expand Ontario’s mental health supports for farm families to help them cope with the stresses of their work which will allow them to do what they do best; grow and produce some of the best food in the world.”

“The mental health of our farmers is a top priority for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture,” says OFA President Peggy Brekveld.

“Getting this phone line operational is a big first step in a larger, multiyear program that will facilitate easier access to much-needed mental health services for all farmers and their families.”

The program is a comprehensive, fully-integrated mental health

support package that includes: •24/7/365 service intake handled by a designated and fully-trained team who understand a day in the life of a farmer, available in English and French, creating a true partnership and unique care model.

•Access to ongoing mental health support services and resources, available up to four sessions per issue per year, for all farming families across Ontario through multiple modalities; the telephone line will soon be followed by a website and an app containing thousands of self-guided support resources.

•Integration with provincial and local level resources to provide members with the best level of support available to them, at the first request.

The support line will enter callers into an intake process to arrange counselling sessions with a mental health professional available by phone, virtually or in-person,

subject to public health restrictions.

All information received through counselling sessions is confidential and in accordance with the Personal Health Information Protection Act (2004).

This initiative is funded by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership program in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

“Providing farm families across the province with free counselling

Growing Project marks largest-ever local contribution PEOPLE AROUND BELGRAVE

By Linda Campbell Call 357-2188

A leisurely swim Local photographer Tyler Jutzi of Brussels recently captured this image as some swans and their young enjoyed a swim on a local river. If you’d like to show off your photography skills with the readers of The Citizen, you can e-mail your pictures to Denny Scott at reporter@northhuron.on.ca. (Photo courtesy of Tyler Jutzi)

M-T building dept. now solo

By Denny Scott The Citizen

After five years of operating a shared building department with North Huron, Morris-Turnberry Council is now operating its own department, resulting in a consolidation of administration work.

During Morris-Turnberry Council’s Dec. 21 meeting, Chief Building Official Kirk Livingston broke down how the municipality got to where it is now, starting in May of last year when MorrisTurnberry announced it would no longer be offering the shared service.

“The building department, for the last five years, has operated in a shared service agreement by providing building department services… to the Township of North Huron,” Livingston said in

his report, explaining that includes building, plumbing and septic permits and inspections but also drainage superintendent activities, bylaw enforcement and property standards enforcement responsibilities. “On May 28, 2021… the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry delivered a letter to the Township of North Huron indicating that the above services through the shared service agreement will cease on Dec. 31, 2021.”

Livingston reported that, for the previous month, the building department had been working with North Huron staff to transfer documents, including building permits, records of inspections, agency approvals and drawings for all building permits for building, plumbing and on-site sewage systems back to North Huron.

He said the move included 80

permits being “closed off” and filed through the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC).

“All building department resources including Ontario Building Code binders (2), several farm code books, plumbing and venting books and several PDF documents, only to name a few… [were returned],” he said.

As of the meeting, he said all closed files, active files, records and supporting documents, both hard copy and digital copy, had been transferred to North Huron.

Livingston, in his report, said North Huron residents should no longer contact him or MorrisTurnberry for building issues, but should contact North Huron’s municipal office at 519-3573550.

Morris-Turnberry Council received Livingston’s report on the move.

services and helping connect at-risk farmers with tailored support and resources is a greatly welcomed service in rural Ontario,” said Brekveld. “Availability of mental health services has been a big roadblock standing between farmers and their mental wellness.

The telephone line is a first step in a process that will add more access points over the coming weeks and months for Ontario farmers and their families to take positive action to support their mental health.”

Mackenzie Wightman provided prelude and postlude music and accompanied all the hymns at the piano with Lila Procter with her guitar. The guest speaker Sandra Cable welcomed the congregation on Jan. 2 – Epiphany Sunday at Knox United Church.

The New Year is a time to reflect on our lives. How can we spread God’s good news? We need to reach out into a needy world. We are all the children of God. Due to new restrictions there will be no church services at Knox United Church for the month of January. The Community Coffee Break for Tuesday, Jan. 11 has also been cancelled.

Doug Ford announced different restrictions due to the virus. The students will be doing remote learning from Jan. 5 - 17. Because cases of the virus are going up, we need to all get our first, second and booster vaccines as soon as possible to end this pandemic.

Together we will get through this and be stronger than ever before.

BELGRAVE COMMUNITY GROWING PROJECT The corn harvest is complete and we are so very grateful to everyone who contributed in any way to another successful growing project.

We were able to forward a cheque to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank for $32,500 this year, which is the single largest contribution we have been able to make in the 20 years that the project has been operating.

This is definitely one of the most cost-effective outreach programs that we, as a relatively small group, can participate in. We, living in this beautiful part of Canada, are blessed with so much and this is a wonderful opportunity to reach out our hand to those in this world that have not been given many of the advantages that we take for granted.

Giving to those less fortunate is what the season of Christmas and the promise of a new year is really all about.

We certainly hope to be able to carry on with the Belgrave Community Growing Project again in 2022 and look forward to your continued support. We welcome any and all that would like to give us a helping hand with this worthwhile project. It is such an effective way that a small community such as ours can help address the issue of world hunger.

Thank you once again for all of your support.

BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd.

UPCOMING SALES TUESDAYS 10:00 a.m.

Fed Cattle, Bulls & Cows

THURSDAYS

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FRIDAYS

10:00 a.m. Stockers

NEWS FROM BELGRAVE

Visit our webpage at: www.brusselslivestock.ca email us at: info@brusselslivestock.ca

Call us 519-887-6461

PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022.

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

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

Articles for sale 50% OFF FROZEN HOME COOKED meals Jan. 5-12. Wide variety of apples! Fresh cider.

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01-1p -------------------------------------------GERBERS FIREWOOD SERVING you for over 10 years. Your number one source of quality slabwood and bodywood. Delivery available. No Sunday calls. 519-656-2057, 519441-2085.

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

Card of thanks FROM THE FAMILY OF CHRIS SMITH. To everyone who has supported us following the passing of Chris, we would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation.

Your many acts of kindness and sympathy continue to add great comfort to all of us in this time of sorrow. We also want to extend a thank you to Riverside Funeral Home for all their guidance and support during this difficult time as well as Charmila Ireland for a wonderful service. – The Smith Family.

01-1p -------------------------------------------VAN AMERSFOORT. The family of the late Femmy would like to thank all those who made phone calls, sent flowers and food to our homes. We thank Dr. Marshall and the staff at Braemar for their excellent care while mom was there. Thank you to Zoey and Thomas at Riverside Funeral Home and Pastor Gary for their kindness and caring words and guidance. Thank you again to everyone who made this difficult time a little easier. Your kindness will never be forgotten. We will miss mom (Opoe) dearly. – Helen, Herb and Hillie and families.

01-1p

Coming events BRUSSELS AGRICULTURAL Society Annual General meeting, Sunday, Jan. 16 at 4 p.m. via Zoom.

New members always welcome!

Guest speaker: Janelle Cardiff with Farm & Food Care Ontario.

Questions or to receive meeting link contact John Lowe lowe17@bell.net 519-887-9799 or Crystal McCallum brusselsagsociety@gmail.com. 01-2 -------------------------------------------SUE’S FAMOUS FISH FRY TAKE Out Style! Friday, Jan. 14, noon to 7 p.m., Wingham Columbus Centre.

Grilled or battered white fish or chicken fingers. Take-out: $17 (fish, fries or baked potato and a dinner roll), 1/2 price for kids! Add $2 for caesar or garden salad. Add $2 for a butter tart or $4 for cheesecake. HST is included in all prices. Call 519357-1270 to order your fish and to reserve a pick-up time. Pay be e-transfer, cred card, debit or cash.

01-1 --------------------------------------------

BELGRAVE COMMUNITY GROWING PROJECT We would like to thank all those who contributed in any way to the success of the 2021 Belgrave Community Growing Project. In spite of the fact that 2021 was a challenging year for everyone we have been able to send a cheque for $32,500 to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank to help those in need around the world. I would like to point out that this was our most successful year ever. In the twenty years since it began, the project has now raised over $375,000 to respond to world hunger.

Contributing to the project and deserving of great thanks are: Jeremy Anderson, Pat Barnes, Belgrave UCW, Ann Clark, Ron & Marg Cook, Dorothy Coultes, Brett & Laura Fischer & Pioneer Hi-Bred, Gord & Nancy Folkard, Adam Garniss & DeKalb Seed, Ruth Gordon, Steph Berlett & Brussels Agromart, Pat Hunking, Laird Currie & Huron Bay Co-op, Jack & Doreen Marks, John & Sheila Nixon, Northminster United Church, George & Elizabeth Procter, Kate Procter, Ken & Lila Procter, Frank & Doris Sanders, Ron Taylor, Trudy Taylor, Dean Vincent, Murray Vincent, Allan Walker, Doug & Cathy Walker, and The Citizen.

We are in the process of gathering funds so that we can continue this Project in 2022 by growing another crop to be donated for world relief. We welcome contributions in cash or in kind from anyone who would like to help in this effort to alleviate world hunger. Please clearly identify your donations as for the Belgrave Community Growing Project and send them c/o Knox United Church, Belgrave, ON N0G 1E0. Thank you once again for your generous support for this extremely worthwhile project.

Citizen-To -Citizen

Help wanted Help wanted Full-Time Farm Workers 8-month position

Brussels Livestock, Div. of Gamble & Rogers Limited has two positions available for full-time farm workers for an 8-month period.

“SWAP SHOP” ad Let us help you turn that junk into $$ “One person’s junk is another’s treasure”

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

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

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

FOR SALE - 10L air fryer, dehydrator with rotisserie, used once. Please call 519-335-3382.

01-3 ----------------------------------------FOR SALE - 40 ft. hay elevator, $150; Allis Chalmers 5-furrow semi-mount plow, $450; New Idea hay mowers, need work, $100 each; New Holland haybine, $700; have parts for New Holland 56 rake. 519-395-2225.

01-3 ----------------------------------------FOR SALE - 5000W electric heater, plugs into 220 amp., $50; used electric motors, single phase, $25 to $50; half-inch steel cable with hooks 60 feet plus, $50. 519526-1012.

51-3 ----------------------------------------FOR SALE - three-month-old camel-coloured leatherette sofa bed. New was $1,800, asking $500. 519-357-0624.

50-3 ----------------------------------------LOST - grey box with drill bits, etc. Lost east of Walton on Walton Road. If found, call 519-887-6760.

50-3 ----------------------------------------FREE - queen-size NIKKEN magnetic mattress, 196 magnets, very clean and in good condition, available for pick up in Blyth. 519242-4224.

50-3 -----------------------------------------

Job Start Date: on or about February 1, 2022 End Date: on or about September 30, 2022 Rate of Pay: $15/hour Hours: 40-80 Hours / Week. (Working hours are variable due to position being dependent upon weather conditions) Number of Vacancies: 2 Terms of Employment: 8 months, full-time Job Location: Brussels, Ontario Job • • • •

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See more “Help Wanted” on next page

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

www.huroncitizen.ca

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022. PAGE 15.

Classified Advertisements Help wanted Help wanted Tenders Full-Time Farm Workers 24-month position

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

Job Start Date: on or about February 1, 2022 End Date: on or about January 31, 2024 Rate of Pay: $15/hour Hours: 40-80 Hours / Week. (Working hours are variable due to position being dependent upon weather conditions) Number of Vacancies: 2 Terms of Employment: 24 months, full-time Job Location: Brussels, Ontario Job • • • •

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tenders The Municipality of Huron East

2022 TENDERS Sealed tenders marked as to contents, will be accepted until 12 Noon on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 for the following contracts: Supply, Crushing, Loading, Weighing, Hauling and Spreading of 5/8 inch Granular “M” Crushed Gravel in the North and South Patrol Areas; and the Supply and Application of Dust Control in Huron East.

HE-01-2022 North Patrol Area Load, Weigh, Haul and Spread from the Kelly Pit 22,000 T more or less of Granular “M” Crushed gravel.

HE-02-2022 North Patrol Area Supply, Crush, Load, Weigh, Haul and Spread 28,000 T more or less of Granular “M” Crushed gravel.

HE-03-2022 South Patrol Area Supply, Crush, Load, Weigh, Haul and Spread 20,000 T more or less of Granular “M” Crushed gravel.

HE-04-2022

Dust Control

The Municipality of Huron East reserves the right to accept any quotation, in whole or in part that it feels is most beneficial to the residents of the Municipality of Huron East. Therefore, the lowest or any quotation may not necessarily be accepted.

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

Wanted CASH CROP LAND WANTED TO rent or share crop. Contact Peter Rastorfer, 519-276-9405. Email: rastorferfarms @gmail.com 50-6p --------------------------------------------

Ironmen dormant The Wingham Ironmen had an extended break over the holidays, last taking to the ice Dec. 19 when the team posted a 6-1 victory over Goderich.

While the team was set to face off against the Mitchell Hawks on Dec. 29, the game was postponed, with reports indicating the Hawks didn’t have enough players ready to take the ice due to COVID-19 quarantine requirements.

The Ironmen are still tied in points for third place with the Mount Forest Patriots with 28 points. While both teams have played 23 games, the Ironmen have 14 wins to the Patriots’ 13, with the Patriots having a tie and an overtime loss.

There is a wide gap, however, between the Patriots and the Ironmen and the second-place Mitchell Hawks, who have 40 points, and the first-place Hanover Barons who have 42.

The Ironmen are set to take to the ice against the Walkerton Hawks on Jan. 7, the first in a three game at-home run. The Ironmen will then host the Barons on Jan. 9 and the Kincardine Bulldogs on Jan. 14.

Looking ahead to 2022 in Walton PEOPLE AROUND WALTON

By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570

The year of 2022 has began and we can only hope that it is better than 2021. We hope all had a nice Christmas and new year. We had only part of our family here and will celebrate with others at a later date. I know of other families that also had several gatherings of individual families to keep their numbers down.

The Provincial government just made the announcement that schools will go to online learning for awhile. It’s not what many parents wanted, but the number of infections are rising steadily. Better safe than having a sick child or worse.

The Omicron variant of COVID19 is running rampant and there are lots of folks around our area that have it. Thankfully, in most cases it is not as severe as the original variant and many folks have not had serious cases, but don’t be fooled, it is not to say it can’t be serious. Hospitals report capacity has reached the limit and now surgeries are having to be cancelled to make room for those who are

sick. Those who do not get vaccinated have the highest numbers of hospital admittance.

Don’t be one of them. Get your vaccination today! Wear your masks, keep socially distanced and stay home if ill and isolate. Help our health workers and hospitals by being supportive and getting vaccinated.

The Christmas season is traditionally a happy time for families, but this year it was a sad time for four area families. We send our condolences to the Steiss family on the passing of Stewart Steiss. He will be lovingly missed by wife Madelene and sons Steve and Bob and families.

Stew was quite the character for those who knew him. Always a smile on his face, he could make a new friend within minutes with a joke on the tip of his tongue and he was never in much of a hurry. He loved his family and his collection of animals including his cats and dogs, his flock of laying hens and his donkeys. He enjoyed watching his son Bob play ball, curling with his wife and both sons, playing cards with friends and neighbours and visiting with the parents who brought their children to their home for music lessons, and with all who came to the farm for fresh eggs.

Stew loved people. He canvassed for me for Heart and Stroke for 25 years, never saying no. He was an ambassador for the Brussels Curling Club for 50 years and made many friends from the surrounding

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

www.huroncitizen.ca

clubs. Stew will be missed by all the members of the Stiles and Quipp families and our sympathies to all.

It was a shock to hear of the sudden passing of Tom Williamson.

Our sympathies are extended to his wife Joyce and his children Sarah, Katie and Nicole and their families.

He will be missed by his sister Shirley and family and the many members of the Blake families.

Tom was a soft-spoken and wellliked Walton fellow. He lived all his life in Grey Township on the farm where he was born and eventually Continued on page 19

NEWS FROM WALTON

PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022.

Obituaries

DORIS BUSHELL Doris Bushell of Wingham passed away on Dec.17, 2021 at Braemar Nursing Home. She was 92.

Doris was the beloved wife of the late Morley Bushell, who predeceased her in 1977. She was the dearly loved and admired mom of Margaret Bushell, Goderich; Marilyn and Derrick Douglas, Alberta; John and Lori, Alberta; Bill and Valerie, Listowel; Barry and Ruth Anne, Wingham and Blair and Eleanor, Komoka. Doris was the loving grandma of Lee and Oz Douglas, Todd and Susan Douglas, Rob and Nikki Bushell, Brianne and Chris Coones, Adam and Jess Bushell, Allie and Matt Gabel, Jennifer and Carl Noel, Amy and Wes Stapleton, Megan and Mike Foxton, Jessica and Dave Reinink and Andrew Barr as well as 10 great-granddaughters and seven great-grandsons.

Doris was the cherished sister of Russell Barr, Bracebridge and Donald Barr, Waterloo and dear sister-in-law of Joan Barr, Kincardine and Eileen Barr, Alberta. She will fondly be remembered by many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Doris was predeceased by her parents John and Cora (Percy) Barr, twin brother Jack (2010) brother Percy (2000) and sisters-in-law Barbara Barr and Trixie Barr.

Doris (Barr) was born on March 6, 1929 in Holyrood. In 1940, her family purchased a farm near Kinlough, where she lived until she married Morley Bushell in 1951.

Together they ran a mixed farm on the 14th (Guest Ave) of Kinloss Township, and welcomed six children.

The Bushell family moved to Wingham in 1967 where Doris easily made good friends as she became involved in community groups. She was active at St. Andrew’s Church, in Goforth WMS and Three M’s club, with the Legion ladies, Women’s Institute, the hospital auxiliary, the adult day centre, Rebecca Lodge, the quilters’ guild, and more.

Doris had many talents and enjoyed baking, sewing, quilting, tatting and rug hooking, to name a few. She wrote letters and poems in rhyming verse, using this talent for many occasions. Today, a collection of hundreds of these which describe day-to-day life, honour a special anniversary, welcome a new baby, congratulate a graduate, carry a get well message, etc. make an impressive collection.

There was always a sewing project or quilt being worked on her own, or the many that she marked the design on for others.

She was happy to help anyone who asked for assistance.

Of all her many talents, applique quilting was her favourite and it was never unusual to find pins and needles embedded in the couch cushion or in the carpet. It's

unknown how many quilts she made in her lifetime. At fall fairs and quilt shows, she won many ribbons and contests. However, there was one win that brought her some fame and that was the quilt she designed and crafted for Ontario’s Bicentennial quilt contest in 1984. It earned her first place and the honour of an audience with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip during their visit to Kingston, (Amhertsview) where the quilt was presented to the royals. The family attended this memorable event, bursting with pride. Wingham Town Council also presented Doris with a citizen's citation award for her achievement.

The Huron County Museum houses one of her beautiful quilts, which was designed to represent agriculture in Huron County and once hung at the Clinton Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food office.

Doris enjoyed working as a parttime library assistant at the Wingham Library. Her friendly smile and kindness welcomed library patrons for many years. At home, there was always an interesting stack of library books she’d borrowed to fill her love of learning. At night school courses she learned how to do ceramics, upholstery and cake decorating.

Doris had a good sense of humour and was fun to be with, sometimes resulting in fits of giggles. She and Morley played many games of cards with friends and neighbours, attended local theatre and dances, went on bus trips, and enjoyed two overseas trips with the Legion for liberation anniversaries.

In her final years, Doris was a resident at care facilities in Ripley and Wingham, living at Braemar since 2014. After a life well lived she was laid to rest in Greenhill Cemetery in Lucknow, following a family funeral at McBurney Funeral Home, conducted by Rev. Carel Gundlingh on Dec. 20.

the Grey firefighters, driving a school bus for over 40 years and being the well-known eggman who delivered eggs to the surrounding area. He loved sports, either watching the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Toronto Blue Jays or playing ball or trying his hand at curling. He enjoyed fishing and spent many vacations at the cottage on the French River visiting relatives and trying to catch ‘the big one’.

Stewart adored his grandchildren and was always ready for a hug when they would climb up onto his lap. He was an insightful dad, spending time teaching his boys to be kind and to treat everyone with respect. He was a doting husband and true gentleman who kept the love of his life laughing and enjoying every minute of their time spent together. Stewart’s smile and social personality will be missed.

A private, family funeral service took place on Thursday, Dec. 30 at Knox Presbyterian Church in Cranbrook. Rev. Peter Nijp officiated.

A public, graveside service with a celebration of life gathering will take place in the spring at Knox Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Cranbrook. Donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or Knox Presbyterian Church would be appreciated.

Condolences may be left at riversidefuneralhome.ca

For more obituaries, see page 8

TOM WILLIAMSON Tom Williamson of Walton, passed away suddenly at his residence on Dec. 28, 2021. He was 67.

Tom was the loving husband of Joyce (Blake) Williamson and the loving father of Sarah and Korey Machan, Walton; Katie and Darren Janmaat, RR 4, Clinton, and Nicole

STEWART STEISS Mr. Stewart John Alexander Steiss passed away peacefully on Dec. 26, 2021 at Listowel Memorial Hospital. He was in his 80th year.

Stewart was the beloved husband of Madelene for 56 years, the proud dad of Steve Steiss and Robert ‘Bob’ Steiss (Ang Sills) and grandpa of Ashlyn and Erica Steiss.

Stewart was the brother of Eileen Mann and Jean Stiles and brotherin-law of Mervyn (Sherry) Quipp, Bill (Donna) Quipp and Sharon Wolff. He will be missed by many extended family members. Stewart was predeceased by his parents Alex and Ruby Steiss, sister Winnifred Mann and brothers-inlaw Charlie Mann, Harry Mann and Gordon Stiles.

Stewart was a well-loved community member; serving with

and Curtis Murray, Seaforth. He was the proud grandfather of Jackson, Ava, and Leah and Westin, Ellie, and Brooklyn. Tom was the dear son-in-law of Marie Blake, Brussels and the dear brother and brother-in-law of Shirley and Barry Skinner, Gerald and Bonnie Blake, Anne and Ken Williamson, Jim and Evelyn Blake, Murray and Sharon Blake, Clara Blake, Dianne Blake, Bruce and Michelle Blake, and Julie and Steve Wharton.

Tom was predeceased by his parents Roy and Kathleen Williamson, father-in-law George Blake, brothers-in-law Bob and Phil Blake, special cousin Neil Williamson, and nieces and nephews John Williamson, Bobby Williamson, Mitch Blake, and Dianne Gregory.

Tom was a well-loved friend and family man. He loved spending time with his family, much of it in the bush with his girls planting the thousands of trees that he did over the course of his life. He also enjoyed camping with friends and family.

Tom was a very proud father of his three girls and always took great interest and encouraged them throughout their lives. Tom adored his six grandchildren and they could often be found sitting with grandpa watching YouTube videos and enjoying four-wheeler tours in the bush. He always greeted his family at the door with a warm hello and happy smile.

He was a loving husband of Joyce for over 38 years and they enjoyed

many good times over the course of their marriage and, in recent years, enjoyed travelling together. Tom will be greatly missed by all his friends and family.

Visitation was held at the Haskett Funeral Home, Seaforth on Friday, Dec. 31.

Tom had a passion for the outdoors and took great pride in his property and the friends and family that gathered there with him and shared his joy for nature. Tom’s casual outdoor funeral service was held at the Williamson Farm on Friday, Dec. 31.

For those who were unable to attend, the family invites you to view the service by visiting www.facebook.com/haskettfh.

Donations to the Seaforth Community Hospital Foundation, or the Children’s Health Foundation (Pediatric Cardiology) would be appreciated by the family.

Condolences may be forwarded through www.haskettfh.com

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

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

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

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022. PAGE 17.

From the Minister’s Study

Engage the enemy, rather than running away: Dow

By Pastor Ernest Dow, Huron Chapel EMC, Auburn “What’s that noise?” I had been going about my usual morning chores in the barn, filling the outside water trough for the larger animals, when a huge commotion and thumping started coming from the chicken coop behind me. I stepped into the 10x24-foot chicken coop attached to the side of our barn expecting to see maybe two male turkeys having a tussle or some guinea hen chicks fussing. Instead, I spotted an unusual form skulking along the far wall – a gray mangy coyote about knee-high had boldly entered the coop through its onefoot-square hatch door, and was carrying one of our pair of sizeable lop-eared English rabbits in its mouth, hanging by the scruff of its neck, as the coyote headed for the exit.

Without much thought I reacted by darting across in the direction of the hatch door and landing a kick on the brazen predator. It dropped the rabbit. Before it had much chance to consider its next move I seized it by the fur on its rump with my left hand and started pummeling it with my right. [CAUTION: Do not try this at home!] After a few blows of questionable effect I changed tactics and tried to step on its head with my foot. However, it was swiveling its head wildly, trying to bite my hand. It wriggled out of my hand and headed across the coop to the wall opposite the hatch, where there was a window but no exit.

Where is a pitchfork when you most need it?!

By the time I got to where it was, it had taken another tack, and headed back toward the hatch door along the opposite wall, making a successful escape but without taking any furry- or featheredfriend casualties along with it.

The rabbits and I stood there, catching our breath, trying to process what had happened. I closed the hatch door to prevent any further escapees and managed to get the rabbits back in their cage. Both

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metal latch bolts on the cage seemed to be in the ‘closed’ position – I can only guess the coyote shook the cage hard enough to rattle its door open without moving the latches. A quick head count showed that our free-ranging birds – two turkeys, 11 ducks, and 15 guinea hens – were all present and accounted for. However, a couple of guinea hens had taken flight into some nearby trees and may require some time and coaxing to be persuaded to return to the coop.

I had been dressed in coveralls, rubber boots, and thin rubber gloves; I came through relatively unscathed except for a small nick on my right wrist where the predator’s tooth must have grazed my skin. After examination by my wise wife, I relented and went to the hospital to let a doctor decide whether a rabies vaccine was called for.

Since I am a pastor, you might suppose (rightly) that I am more comfortable working on a laptop, offering insight in a meeting, or listening sympathetically during a pastoral visit, than grappling barehanded (or bear-handed!) with a wild animal. One thinks of King David who, as a boy, started out as a shepherd in the backwoods of Judea. He certainly had his share of dangerous encounters, but these served to prepare him for later challenges. When the Israelite army was being taunted by a Philistine warrior of gigantic proportions, David explained to King Saul: “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep

from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

That kid’s got chutzpah! David was zealous for God’s honour. He had also been protective of the animals entrusted to his care as a shepherd. When a lion or bear threatened those he was responsible for, David responded bravely, even though today we would consider his equipment quite primitive. When the army of God’s chosen people, Israel’s descendants, were taunted, David felt rising up within him the passion to defend God’s honour – and before long the boasting Philistine lay dead.

When I spotted the coyote in the chicken coop, I didn’t have long to respond. But I knew I wanted to protect the animals we had acquired and I tended night and morning – including especially the rabbits my wife loves to hold and cuddle.

Adrenaline surged and moved me to engage in combative manoeuvres I had not previously contemplated at all that morning!

What are we most passionate about? Most deeply invested in?

What are we prepared to lay down our lives for without a second thought? Jesus, our Good Shepherd, described the way a hired hand responds when there is a threat,

Brussels Mennonite Fellowship We’re Back!!!

Worshipping Jesus Together All Are Welcome Sundays @ 10 am ­­ Face masks & social distancing in effect 250 Princess St., Brussels • 519­887­6388 • Pastor Ken Gazley

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

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

May the love of Christ be with you.

Evangelical Missionary Church

Sunday Jan. 9, 10:30 a.m.

Pastor Ernest Dow, “Delightful Destiny: What Are You Living For? (Eph. 1:3-14)

519-357-5273

No in-person worship until further notice.

Please join us online Stay safe and healthy

Sunday School during Worship

In-person and online! live.huronchapel.com 119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131

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

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

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

Trinity

St. John’s

BLYTH 9:00 AM

BRUSSELS 12 NOON

St. Paul’s Trinity

WINGHAM 10:30 AM

COME WORSHIP WITH US!

BRUSSELS

United Church Sunday, January 9 join us for an online Worship Service Blyth and Brussels United Churches Facebook page will have more information later this week or if you have questions email Alex or leave a message at the church office.

Contact Alex at minister.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com Website: brusselsandblythuc.ca P.O. Box 359, Brussels ~ 519-887-6259

Join us Sunday, January 9 for our 10:00 am Service with Teen Challenge 7:30 pm Service led by Pastor Gary Social distancing and masks required Services are live-streamed and can be found by searching “Blyth Christian Reformed Church”

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

THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH

OUR CHURCHES HAVE RE-OPENED. WELCOME BACK.

Brussels Soup and More 2 is cancelled until further notice.

Blyth United Church

Sun. 6:30 p.m.

Prayer Concert & Communion

roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (1Peter 5:8-10) Be ready to engage the enemy, rather than run away. Stand on scripture promises, protect your spiritual inheritance, assured that Jesus wants you to overcome your trials. He has taken the lead, crushed the serpent’s head, and destroyed the devil’s works! (1John 3:8).

contrasted to that of a true shepherd who knows and owns the sheep.

“The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.” (John 10:12) Jesus, on the other hand, would lay down His life for His sheep. He loves you and wants to protect you from evil’s harm!

Hopefully you won’t have to confront hungry wild beasts day to day. But scripture warns that evil and temptations are ever a threat, ready to allure us in directions that are ultimately destructive. The Apostle Peter warned, “Be selfcontrolled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a

"Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together.” (Isaiah 40:5) Contact Alex at: minister.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com

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

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

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

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

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

PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022.

Huron East budget approval set for Jan. 18

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Huron East Council is moving ahead with approval of the third draft of its budget, set for a public meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m.

Treasurer Paula Michiels presented her third draft of the budget to council at its Dec. 21 meeting, which was held virtually via Zoom. It included a number of changes and a shortfall of approximately $150,000, which she ultimately suggested be settled by raising taxes and council agreed.

First, Michiels made several changes suggested by council at the previous budget meeting. She removed the $250,000 transfer to reserves for the future replacement of the Seaforth fire hall and shifted funding for two electric vehicle charging stations to the municipality’s solar panel reserves, freeing up an additional $20,000.

She also deferred the elimination

of carry-forward deficits at the Brussels, Morris and Grey and Seaforth and District Community Centres until the three-year period between 2023 and 2025, though she said that decision won’t really affect the 2022 budget. She recommended settling the centres’ budgets at the end of 2022 and beginning the process of paying down those deficits in 2023, perhaps over a three-year period.

That way, Michiels said, Huron East and its partner municipalities have a year to prepare and plan for that cost.

The second draft of the budget, however, sat with an overage of over $560,000, so Michiels and her team had to make further cuts to get closer to balancing the budget. As a result, Michiels deferred the replacement of a leaf vacuum to 2023 ($82,000), reduced contracted public works winter control services ($60,000), a portion of the Brussels fire hall addition is expected to be incurred in 2023

($137,500), administration salaries have been reviewed and updated due to a retirement ($5,603) and the public works tandem replacement will be increased ($3,215).

With Michiels’ proposed changes included in the budget, there is still a shortfall of $150,086.

While she recommended raising taxes to cover the shortfall, she did present council with several other options, including simply taking on more debt or taking the amount from reserves. However, the municipality’s reserves need to be topped up, she said, in order to ensure long-term sustainability. The only reserve with a substantial amount, she said, is the bridge reserve, which is where council allocates its gas tax funding. Using that money for something other than bridge repair and replacement, she said, would go against a motion passed years ago, which is why the bridge reserve is in such good shape.

To fund the shortfall through

taxation would mean an average municipal tax levy increase of 9.49 per cent, ranging from an increase in Seaforth of 2.05 per cent to 15.4 per cent in McKillop. The increase would equate to an increase on the municipal portion of annual taxes of $5.61 in Seaforth per $100,000 of assessment, $43.19 in Brussels, $56.01 in Tuckersmith, $56.68 in McKillop and $60.66 in Grey. With the average residential assessment in Huron East sitting at $197,000, those numbers, she said, could essentially be doubled for the average homeowner to estimate their municipal tax increase for the coming year.

Michiels also reminded council that, while her budget includes municipal taxation, as well as area-

rated items, it does not yet include budgets for Huron County or the education levy, neither of which have been determined.

Councillor Ray Chartrand spoke in favour of Michiels’ changes, saying he would opt to fund the remainder of the budget from a taxation increase.

Councillor Joe Steffler, however, was against removing the transfer to reserves for a new Seaforth fire hall. He said the municipality’s fire departments have been “underfunded” for too long and it was about time council began supporting them to a higher degree.

Council moved ahead with Michiels’ third draft of the budget, which will be presented at a public meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 18.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022. PAGE 19.

BMG fundraising campaign in place

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

Back on the job A volunteer firefighter’s work is never done, so it was members of the Fire Department of North Huron’s Blyth division who were called to action on New Year’s Day for a small fire in the Auburn area that they were able to contain rather quickly. (Denny Scott photo)

Huron East Council has struck a deal with Nicole Duquette Consulting to support the implementation of a capital fundraising campaign for the renovation and expansion of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre.

Council discussed the issue at its Dec. 21 meeting, which was held virtually via Zoom. The issue dates back to a fundraising feasibility study for the project that was conducted in the summer of 2019

by Campaign Coaches. Now, as a result of rising costs, the fundraising component of the project has risen to $1.4 million that must be raised by the community.

Duquette and Campaign Coaches founder Glen Boy worked on the study together, but Duquette is now working on her own as Boy has decided to retire and Duquette has taken over the business.

“Ms. Duquette has extensive experience through Campaign Coaches, consulting done on various projects and will lean on

Mr. Boy for his wisdom, as he was a part of the project when it started and will continue to be involved,” Chief Administrative Officer Brad McRoberts said in his report to council. “Ms. Duquette is very knowledegable in fundraising efforts.”

The proposed agreement is for one year at the cost of $90,000 plus expenses. McRoberts added that the project’s fundraising committee is aware that the cost of the service is to be covered by the fundraising campaign and is not part of the overall project cost.

While some councillors suffered a bit of sticker-shock with the cost, McRoberts said that, if Duquette were to bring on additional consultants for the work, he felt the cost was easily justified.

Council approved the one-year agreement with Duquette, which officially began on Jan. 1.

Sudoku Solution

Sympathy, congratulations in Walton Continued from page 15 lived and raised his family.

He loved nature and the outdoors, his six grandchildren and he was always a pleasure. I can remember Tom helping at the Walton turkey supper, carving turkeys, hosting the Walton barbecue crew at his farm for a community fundraiser and helping at the snowmobile poker runs. Tom farmed, worked off the farm in a factory, drove a school bus and was an employee of the Avon Maitland District School Board during his working years.

Tom had suffered a serious fall a few weeks ago and was recovering and all with a smile. He will be missed by all and our condolences to the Williamson and Blake families.

Our sympathies to the Beaven family on the passing of Cecil. He will be missed by his wife June and his children Rebecca, Richard and Mark and their families. He was born in England and came to Canada in 1971 and settled in Mitchell, where I first knew him.

He was a police officer on the town force (no, he didn’t arrest me). He also worked as an inspector for the Egg Farmers of Ontario and came to our farm numerous times back in the 1990s. They lived for many years near the Hullett Wildlife area and moved to Blyth this past year.

He was a pleasant fellow who will be missed by all. Our condolences to all.

Our sympathies are extended to the Smith family on the passing of Harvey Smith, in his 96th year. He will be missed by his wife Marion and his children Ron, Brenda, Donna and Lorrie and their families. Harvey was the oldest in a family of 12 and was a farmer, carpentry worker and he worked at Campbell Soup until his retirement.

They built a home in Cranbrook in 1970 along the Maitland River and moved to Listowel about 2011. The couple had a cottage at Amberley that Harvey had built and they loved to go there and hosted many family gatherings there. Harvey always had a smile on his face and

came to Brussels for a haircut at Murray’s even after their move. He was still driving and was here about nine weeks ago for that reason. Our condolences to the Smith family, including siblings Ross, Larry, Fred, Carmen, Glenna, Roger and Fran.

Congratulations to Adam Baan and his fiancée Bailey. They are planning a summer wedding.

Parents Don and Monique Baan are excited their family is growing!

We also have good news to share this new year. We understand Betty Campbell is home and is doing well. We hope for her continued improvement in her health.

We have heard Jean Davidson suffered a more serious injury in her shoulder from her fall and was admitted to Seaforth hospital over Christmas and hope she is soon feeling better and home.

We understand Brenda Nicholls has had heart surgery and is in hospital. Greg reports she is coming along well and hopefully will soon be home.

We are glad to hear that Marlene Rutledge is home from a stay in hospital. We hope she is doing better .

My pre-Christmas news article was written in a hurry and sometimes my thoughts and my typing are not in sync. The new arrival at the Ducharme household has been named Wilson Ross. I apologize for my error and hope great-grandfather Ross Bennett is smiling from above and will forgive my mistake.

The Christmas season has been very different this year with not having as many family members around. New Year’s was always the day I would take down the Christmas decorations, but not this year. We still have presents under the tree and will for awhile yet, until work schedules co-ordinate.

During the quietness of Christmas and New Year’s and the extra days off from work I managed to do other things, filling more boxes of things for the thrift store or dump. If you haven’t used it or

worn it since last January’s house cleaning, it’s time to go! I have a bit of my mother in me (who also liked to keep lots of things) and I have to be in the right mood to get rid of things.

My sister-in-law is a minimalist.

For example, in clothing, you choose your colour scheme of clothing, buy the basics and then only a few accessories to dress up or down the basics. There is plenty of room in her closets and drawers.

Kitchen cupboards have only a few place settings. Why need more?

Use them, wash them, use them again. Company? Paper plates will do. Grocery cupboards? Only one of anything and, after it is used, replace it. None of this sounds like my house. My cupboards are full and yet I go to the grocery store all the time. Maybe that should be my New Year’s resolution. Use what’s in the cupboards (and freezers) and only buy the necessary milk and bread etc. This will mean a lot more planning on my part to get

something out of the freezer in the morning and not just a half-hour before supper.

Celebrating birthdays over the Christmas season include Ryan Bremner, Blake Dale, Reagan Blair, Michelle Blake, Michelle McNichol, Anne Curreri, Kerry Blake Dale, Alex Deitner, Mark Gillis, Rob Dionne, Alaina Poland, Greg Fritz, Elise Ringgenberg, Hope Lowe, Mary Ann Thompson, Judy Emmrich, Paul Flaxbard, Audrey Hackwell, and Aubrey McClure. New Year’s babies include Frank Schimanski, Dave Linton, Brent Melady, Claire Mitchell, Alexandria Shahshahani and Brayden Shortreed. They are followed by celebrants Michael Craig, Don Nolan, Blake Brand, Steve Henderson, Ben Hoegy, Jodi McIntosh Nurse, Marie Blake, Julia Mitchell, Caleb Ringgenberg, Teuni Smith, Logan Terpstra, Evelyn Blake, Luke Fritz, Susan McLachlan, Rob Mitchell and Lucas Jacklin.

from the Grinch (aka Wayne Willis).

He travelled from Morinville, Alberta to spend a couple weeks with his sisters and families for Christmas and celebrating his retirement birthday.

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PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022.

HE approves statement

A day to remember On Sunday, as the Blyth Brussels Minor Hockey Association returned from a holiday hiatus, the U15 Local League Crusaders had a game to remember, as they beat the Mount Forest Rams by a score of 11-1 at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. (John Stephenson photo)

Huron East Council is moving ahead with establishing an Indigenous land acknowledgment statement as part of its meetings and on its website at the recommendation of Councillor Gloria Wilbee.

Wilbee, who is also a licensed lay worship leader, raised the issue at council’s Dec. 7 meeting and it was further discussed at council’s Dec. 21 meeting, which was held virtually via Zoom. She said that, through the United Church, she had taken a course on the issue and felt Huron East needed a statement.

Her recommendation is as follows: “We would like to acknowledge that the land we stand upon today is the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Neutral peoples. We recognize the First Peoples’ continued stewardship of the land and water, and that this territory was subject to the Dish with One Spoon wampum, under which multiple nations agreed to care for the land and resources by the Great Lakes in peace.

“We would also like to acknowledge and recognize the

Familiar faces to leave Hullett PS

Londesborough United Church had a quiet, meaningful Christmas Eve service to bring 2021 to a close.

Sandra Cable began the evening service by lighting the Christ candle that celebrated the gift of Jesus to the world. Then she read a poem by Anne Weems titled “The Christmas Spirit”.

Marsha Szusz and Barb Bosman added spiritual warmth that night with their piano and organ duets of Christmas music before and after the service. The duo also accompanied the sung carols. Being able to worship as a congregation that night filled everyone’s heart with hope, joy, peace and love, despite the concerns about the pandemic.

Choir members, Mark and Laurel Mitchell, offered two beautiful numbers, “When a Child Is Born” and “There’s a New Kid in Town”.

Sandra’s message was “The Christmas Story - Plausible or Contradiction”. The question was asked – what if this is just a lovely story? Such is the mystery. The real story of Christmas is love.

Three familiar faces will not be returning to Hullett Central this semester. Mrs. Watt, Mrs. Brewster and Mr. Campbell retired in December from their years in

education. They will be missed by children and parents alike. The new faces are Mrs. Kirkconnell, Mrs. Douglas and Mrs. Choptovy. Mrs. Kirkconnell will be the experienced face in the office carrying out secretarial duties.

Mrs. Choptovy will now be tasked with preparing Hullett’s Grade 7/8 students for their move to secondary education. She replaces Mr. Bartlett in that room, who will assume the work of retiree Mr. Campbell. Mrs. Douglas, who has worked for the Avon Maitland District School Board for some time, is an Educational Assistant.

She was placed at the school once in the past, so will be somewhat familiar to the school/area.

It seemed like all of Huron County made its way to Blyth on Friday evening for the fireworks. Roads around the campground/community centre were clogged as vehicles were directed to parking sites. Many residents walked to the site. Turnout was probably high because it was such a great night weather-wise.

Much clapping and horn honking were indications of everyone's appreciation for a great show.

Happy New Year one and all!

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The Citizen

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NEWS FROM LONDESBORO

Upper Canada Treaties signed in regards to this land, which include Treaty #29 and Treaty #45 1/2, and our roles as treaty people, committed to moving forward in the spirit of reconciliation, gratitude, and respect with all First Nation, Métis and Inuit people.”

Mayor Bernie MacLellan said he was afraid that if the statement was too long or “dragged on” that it would lose meaning.

Wilbee acknowledged that the statement was a bit long, but she said that the spirit behind making the statement, is about making a difference.

Outgoing Councillor John Lowe agreed, saying that a land acknowledgment statement is becoming rather commonplace in the country. He said staff should work to revise the statement, but that the municipality should forward it along to all upper and lower tiers in the county and Wilbee agreed with him.

Council approved incorporating a land acknowledgment statement into its meetings and to post it on the municipality’s website after staff has an opportunity to revise it.

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