The Citizen - March 10, 2022

4 10 13 15

The

THIS WEEK • Editorials • Sports • Agriculture • Obituaries

Citizen

Huron County’s most trusted independent news source Volume 38 No. 10

Thursday, March 10, 2022

$1.50 GST included

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0

Budget approved in M-T

By Denny Scott The Citizen

Going the distance The Blyth Brussels U9 Rep Crusaders welcomed the Mitchell Meteors to the Blyth and District Community Centre on Saturday morning for a late-season game, but unfortunately the locals would end the overtime

period on the wrong end of a 4-3 score. The local hockey season is now in wind-down mode, with playoffs underway and local arenas soon removing the ice from their arenas.

(John Stephenson photo)

Huron East strikes advisory committee

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Huron East Council has established its new Council Public Advisory Committee to review the composition of and compensation for council, with five members of the public approved as members at council’s March 1 meeting.

Clerk Jessica Rudy presented her report at the meeting, which was held virtually via Zoom. When she prepared her report, four members of the public had applied for five positions. However, between the preparation of the meeting agenda and the March 1 meeting, a fifth person had applied, giving the municipality a full slate of members, allowing the committee to go ahead.

At the meeting, Huron East Council appointed Les Falconer, Daniel Fritz, Christie Little and Kathy Sebastian to the Council Review Public Advisory Committee, with the fifth applicant, Reegan Price, being added at the

meeting after Rudy prepared her report.

The committee will: • Review the current composition of councillors and make recommendations if changes are advised • Solicit and obtain public comment and opinion on council compensation and composition • Review the current composition for the 2026-2030 term of council and make recommendations for potential change • Review of municipalities of similar size and population outside of Huron County • Review of municipalities of similar size and population within Huron County • Present a final report, with recommendations, to Huron East Council.

In her report, Rudy noted that the five members of the committee were required to be a Canadian citizen, 18 years of age or older, the owner or renter of property in Huron East or the spouse or partner

of someone who owns or rents property in Huron East.

“As an engaged and life-long resident of this community, I would like to volunteer my time and skills to assist in the review of council structure for the 2026 term,” Little wrote in her application, which was included in the March 1 meeting agenda. “I have followed the conversation around the current structure of council and recent recommendations for change. And while I do not have an opinion or bias on the matter, I do have the desire for knowledge and contribution. I currently sit on the Huron East/Seaforth Community Development Trust, so [I] have committee experience, which has influenced my abilities with discretionary matters.”

In his application, Falconer noted his years as a Huron East councillor and as an engaged community member and resident of Tuckersmith Township when amalgamation discussions were taking place in 1999.

Fritz and Sebastian also noted their keen interest in the future of the municipality, saying that the public should have a say.

Deputy-Mayor Bob Fisher made it clear that this committee’s recommendations would be nonbinding, in that council is not Continued on page 2

Morris-Turnberry Council has approved the final draft of its budget, asking staff to bring the document back to its next meeting for adoption by bylaw.

The first draft of the budget started with a potential taxation increase of approximately $524,000 according to Director of Finance Sean Brophy, and he and other staff were able to drop that by nearly $85,000 before the document was presented to council on March 1. Later in the meeting, council would decide to give North Huron approximately $115,000 to offset the usage of North Huron recreation facilities instead of the requested $242,000, further reducing the budget. After that, Brophy told council the increase to taxpayers, when including the county and education tax increases, would be around 4.9 per cent.

At the March 1 meeting, Brophy highlighted a number of changes to the document that staff had made to reduce the overall tax levy.

Staff reduced the drainage budget by approximately $10,000, Brophy said, by reviewing benefits and expenses projections and bringing them closer to the actual amount spent in 2021 and previous years.

After finalizing the 2021 building department expenses, Brophy said the municipality was able to decrease the department budget and levy by $5,000 thanks to revenue added for septic system inspections.

“Normally [the inspections] would’ve started in 2021, but it was delayed due to COVID-19,” Brophy explained. “As a result we’ve included an estimated revenue of $5,000 and taken $5,000 from the tax levy as a result.”

The Morris-Turnberry roads Continued on page 3

Remember Clocks go ahead 1 hour

Sunday, March 13th

PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022.

M-T grants $115,000 to NH for recreation expenses

By Denny Scott The Citizen

After receiving a request for $242,000 for recreation expenses, and justification for said request, from North Huron Township, Morris-Turnberry Council decided to give $115,000 to its neighbouring municipality.

Morris-Turnberry Council members arrived at the $115,000 figure after deciding the municipality should only support specific portions of North Huron’s recreation budget. At the suggestion of Director of Finance Sean Brophy, council voted to not support any administration costs, costs associated with the gym at the North Huron Wescast Complex or costs associated with the upper hall at the Blyth and District Community Centre.

Brophy said the decision came

down to what council wants to support, specifically talking about aspects of the recreation budget.

“To give the North Huron request fair consideration, staff are recommending dividing it into the indicated components, and [giving] each component a unique discussion,” he said. “After discussing it, council can decide what it wants to support.”

While council did discuss the issue at length, one of the concerns brought forward that didn’t find resolution was Deputy-Mayor Sharen Zinn’s question of how North Huron determined MorrisTurnberry’s share of the recreation costs is $242,000. While Brophy was able to clear up some of Zinn’s confusion, explaining that number was determined by looking at where each program user or member of the North Huron Wescast Complex lived, he did say that, without

information regarding associated groups like Wingham Minor Hockey, the number might not be accurate.

“I’m not sure how they’re getting the 22 per cent without minor sports registration information,” he said.

Brophy started the discussion about the individual aspects of the recreation administration budget from North Huron by reviewing its administration budget. North Huron spent $444,828 on administration in 2021, 22 per cent of which is $97,862, Brophy said.

“Historically, we haven’t paid this directly,” he said. “We have provided funding for the [Wingham and Blyth centres].”

In Brophy’s report, he recommends declining to pay those administration costs.

Council agreed unanimously with the recommendation.

North Huron stated the total costs

for the Blyth and District Community Centre for 2021 were $220,044, split between the arena ($160,173) and the upper hall ($59,871) at the facility. Twentytwo per cent of those costs are $35,238 and $13,172, respectively, Brophy stated, for a total of $48,410.

Council decided against supporting the upstairs hall at the Blyth centre, agreeing to pay $35,238 for the arena, with Zinn saying North Huron could decide to use those funds for the hall if they saw fit.

As far as the North Huron Wescast Community Complex, council decided it would contribute to the arena ($45,583) and the pool ($34,102), but not the fitness centre ($12,558) as there are private organizations that can provide that kind of business.

While council unanimously agreed on support for the arena, there were dissenting opinions on supporting the pool.

Zinn said that, even if previous funding hadn’t specifically been earmarked for the pool, she wholeheartedly supported MorrisTurnberry contributing to the running of the aquatic centre.

“I totally agree that the pool has a lot of people using it,” she said, referencing swimming lessons, physiotherapy and just general swimming.

Councillor Jamie McCallum, however, felt that $34,102 was too much to be putting towards the pool. Zinn said the funding made sense, as indoor pools always run with a deficit and that was likely the case when the pool was built.

“Even with our support, the pool will still run in a deficit,” she said.

“I don’t think we should have to pay for past deficits, but I do agree with paying going forward.”

As part of council’s discussion regarding supporting the Wingham

arena, council members said they preferred supporting specific parts of a neighbour’s recreation budget, where they had some kind of facts to base the amount on, even if they questioned where those numbers came from. Council members compared it favourably to having an outstanding contract for other community centres.

Thanks to funds put in reserves for recreation costs last year, as well as funds budgeted this year, the entirety of the $115,000 grant won’t be from taxation. Brophy said the decision to support North Huron will only result in $85,000 coming from the tax levy.

Councillor Jim Nelemans asked if council could use the COVID-19 funding the municipality received from the province to offset even more of the grant.

While some council members were in favour, others felt such a move could leave the municipality underprepared in the event of another wave of COVID-19. Mayor Jamie Heffer went on to say that there may be extra costs from the municipality’s agreement with Huron East to cover costs of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre directly tied to “COVID police” at the door of the facilities.

Brophy said North Huron would have to provide a report indicating how the municipality had “unexpected costs” as a result of COVID-19 at the facility He then suggested holding back $10,000 of the grant contingent upon North Huron providing that kind of information.

Heffer said he would prefer to keep the issue “simple” and that Nelemans’ suggestion would further complicate the issue.

Council directed staff to include a $115,000 grant in the 2022 MorrisTurnberry budget, with $30,000 offset by reserves and the rest coming from general taxation.

Your Local News Just the way you like it!

Digging out front The Huron Heat took on the St. Marys Rock in Blyth over the weekend. The teams played to a 2-2 tie in the late-season contest at the Blyth and District Community Centre. (John Stephenson photo)

Committee direction not binding Continued from page 1 required to make any of the changes recommended by the committee, which Chief Administrative Officer Brad McRoberts confirmed.

Furthermore, he said, the 20222026 term of council could choose to reverse any changes made by the current term of council or make changes the current council chose not to make.

Councillor Ray Chartrand said he was happy to see five applicants for the committee, but was a little concerned that there wasn’t representation from all five of the wards. With two from Seaforth, two from Brussels and one from Tuckersmith, he said, he wondered about the thoughts of Grey and

McKillop residents being represented.

Councillor Alvin McLellan, however, said that Fritz is from the Grey ward, though commonly associated with Brussels due to his extensive volunteerism in the village, so McLellan actually felt the municipality was well represented by the five individuals who put their names forward.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what they come up with,” McLellan said.

Rudy also mentioned that, once the committee is established and begins its work, there will be significant outreach throughout the entire municipality, so any area underrepresented on the committee

should be reached through that process as well for input and further commentary.

In her report, Rudy added that both she and McRoberts will be made available to assist the committee and attend its meetings, which will be held as needed, based on member availability.

The committee’s final findings and recommendations will be due by way of a report to council in June of 2022.

Council approved the composition of the new committee.

Follow The Citizen on Facebook, Twitter or at huroncitizen.ca

Your Community…

Your Family…

Your Interests…

Your Home…

Your World…

It’s All a Part of Your Local Newspaper!

One year subscription to

The Citizen

only

Add the E-edition for only

$

$

4500

1000 more

Enclosed is $45.00 for a 1-year subscription Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Postal Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Email address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Start your subscription today by phoning 519-523-4792 or online at huroncitizen.ca or mail cheque made payable to

NORTH HURON PUBLISHING INC. to: P.O. Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022. PAGE 3.

Association prepares for Ukrainian refugees

By Denny Scott The Citizen

Here to help Multicultural Association of Perth-Huron President Geza Wordofa, at a special event in Blyth last week, announced that 48 refugees would be coming to Huron County from Ukraine. Above, Wordofa recognizes association board members Asil Hamid and Stephen Landers for their efforts preparing for the refugees during the announcement.

(Denny Scott photo)

M-T grants money to centres Continued from page 1 expenses for 2021 came in higher than anticipated, Brophy said, and, as a result, he recommended removing $13,000 that was earmarked for reserves to compensate for the extra bills. He also told council that the municipality’s new roller, which was expected to cost $20,000, actually cost $10,000, so he was able to remove $10,000 from the 2022 tax levy.

As far as general government expenses, Brophy was happy to report that administration for the municipality came in lower than anticipated, meaning council could put more funds away for the Bluevale road correction project.

Originally, staff suggested putting away $60,000 for the project, which will fix a historical land-use issue with Highway 86, but with the surplus, Brophy instead suggested putting away $100,000, which would allow staff to save an additional $40,000.

Brophy also said the municipality’s general government expenses ended up coming in under budget for 2021, so he was able to recommend putting $25,000 in the general working reserve, reducing the amount put away in 2022 by $25,000, and thus reducing the tax levy.

Brophy told council that prices for fire coverage came in higher than anticipated, but that could be absorbed, and he also adjusted the budget for the Brussels Fire Hall renovation project. Originally, the project was going to be drawn from reserves in 2022, however he was able to spread funding for the project over two years, with 25 per cent coming from reserves in 2022 with the remainder to be paid in 2023.

As far as recreation costs, council decided to fund two local community centres outside of North Huron from COVID-19 funds after

receiving information on the hardships faced by the Belmore and Bluevale Community Centres over 2021. The centres will receive $10,000 and $5,000 respectively, which will be drawn from the municipality’s emergency COVID19 fund provided by the provincial government.

Brophy explained that the Bluevale Hall volunteer committee had run a deficit of $620 over 2022, and suggested council use $650 of the COVID-19 fund, which was at $79,500.

Councillor Jim Nelemans, however, felt council should make use of the COVID-19 fund and give the committee $3,000, saying the committee should be able to continue to put away funds for projects.

Brophy said he wasn’t aware of any kind of deadline by which the municipality needed to use the money, and that council had, in the past, taken a more measured approach to dispersing the funds to make sure the reserve wasn’t drained prematurely.

“If we want to be more aggressive, we could give them more, but the question is will we have enough left [for another COVID-19 wave]?” Brophy said.

“I’d hate to give it all away, and then we go into another lockdown and not have any left.”

Nelemans said he would hate to return the money if that was necessary.

Zinn was in favour of the move, saying the municipality had already made the necessary changes for COVID-19, including enabling staff to work from home and setting up safety measures in the municipal office.

Brophy said, if council wished, the municipality could give the committee $3,500, which was approximately what had been generated through rentals in previous years.

Nelemans said he wanted to give the committee for the Bluevale Hall $5,000 and the Belmore Community Centre board $10,000.

Council passed the motion for the $5,000 donation immediately, and did approve the $10,000 one as well, but not before staff recommended they wait until Howick Council, where the centre is located, decided what funding it was going to make available.

Chief Administrative Officer Trevor Hallam said the funding likely wouldn’t be tied to a timeframe, saying that those kinds of funds are prefaced with strict reporting requirements, which didn’t apply to the COVID-19 funding.

Council went against staff’s recommendation and approved the funding for the two groups.

Council also decided, after a lengthy debate, to provide North Huron with $115,000 instead of the $245,000 that was requested from North Huron, based on the percentage of users of recreation memberships and recreation program usage.

As a result of the discussions, council approved a budget requiring a tax levy of approximately $4,467,000, an increase of $363,972, or a 4.9 per cent increase in taxes. The final numbers, which will be dependent on changes made by Huron County Council to its budget, will be presented at a future council meeting.

Got a great nature shot? Pet shot?

Sports shot?

Share your photos with The Citizen by e-mailing them to reporter@northhuron.on.ca

The Multicultural Association of Perth-Huron will be welcoming as many as 60 refugees from Ukraine in the coming weeks, according to association president Geza Wordofa.

On March 3, Wordofa made the announcement in Blyth, stating that, in as soon as two weeks, the refugees would start arriving. He said the association has jobs lined up, but is looking for help, specifically with housing.

The refugees are coming to Canada, and other countries around the world, to flee the invading Russian army and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military action.

While the organization can always use funds to help with its endeavours, Wordofa said the housing crisis in Huron County is making it especially difficult to find places to house the 48 refugees set to come to Huron, with the remainder of the 60 set for the Stratford area.

He said any space could suit, and that the numerous association volunteers would be happy to clean and prepare any space for the incoming refugees.

Wordofa said Huron County residents have done so much to help other refugees, as well as other immigrants like himself, and he

hopes they can help with the housing problem, saying anything from hotels to garages could work.

He said the refugees would likely be happy to be in a bus terminal or train station in Canada since it would get them away from the war, but he hopes Huron County can meet the need.

Wordofa has worked in both Russia and Ukraine and said he is excited to be able to help the people who were so welcoming to him.

He also said that many of the Ukrainian refugees may be connected or have direct backgrounds in farming, so they should fit right in in Huron County.

Aside from preparing for the refugees, Wordofa and members of the association have also been collecting goods to send to Ukraine, having a number of blankets ready to be delivered to Goderich Memorial Arena last week to be sent to the war-torn country.

The association recently had its charity status confirmed, Wordofa said, so those who make financial contributions can receive a charity receipt.

Wordofa said there would be local fundraisers to help the refugees, including Krispy Kreme doughnut sales in Goderich, Wingham and Blyth in the coming weeks.

For more information, visit maph.ca.

He will sustain you!

(J.R. Miller) “Cast your burden upon the LORD — and He will sustain you.” Psalm 55:22 The promise is not that the Lord will remove the load we cast upon Him, nor that He will carry it for us — but that He will sustain us so that we may carry it.

He does not free us from the duty — but He strengthens us for it.

He does not deliver us from the conflict — but He enables us to overcome.

He does not withhold or withdraw the trial from us — but He helps us in trial to be submissive and victorious, and makes it a blessing to us.

He does not mitigate the hardness or severity of our circumstances, taking away the difficult elements, removing the thorns, making life easy for us — but He puts Divine grace into our hearts, so that we can live sweetly in all the hard, adverse circumstances.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” Philippians 4:13 A Grace Gem Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church, Listowel, ON 519-492-1359

A Tribute to Neil Diamond and Dolly Parton

Starring Will Chalmers & Laurie Lynn Danks

Performed by Laurie Lynn Danks and Will Chalmers with Aaron Solomon and the Solitary Man Band.

Saturday, June 18th at the Wingham Columbus Centre.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. roast Beef buffet at 6:00 p.m., show at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets available - Columbus Centre or call 519-357-1270.

Tickets $50.00, includes roast beef buffet and show.

Tables of 6 can be reserved. Only 140 tickets available.

Makes a GREAT Father’s Day Gift!

PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022.

Editorials & Opinions

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

Advertising Deadlines: Mon. 4 p.m.

PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON N0G 1H0 email: info@northhuron.on.ca

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

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.

Member of the Ontario Press Council We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright

Taking the loss Ontarians are scheduled to receive a refund on the last two years of their licence plate stickers, as well as anything they have prepaid. Premier Doug Ford’s government announced it was scrapping the annual fee for sticker renewal, retroactive to March 2020 when vehicle owners could defer the renewal during the pandemic. Ford says that the fee ($120 annually in southern Ontario and $60 in the north), is too much of a burden for families and small businesses. By eliminating it, he says, we will stimulate the economy enough that the revenue won’t be missed.

Sure, this will keep $120 in the pocket of every vehicle owner every year, plus a little windfall cheque arriving conveniently during the campaign of the spring election. No one wants to be cynical about paying fewer taxes, but the licence sticker program was intended to be a user-pay system where the cost of building and maintaining roads and other necessary infrastructure was borne by drivers. Eliminating renewal fees is estimated to cost just over $1 billion a year with no clear plan articulated on how the revenue would be replaced.

As Ontario begins the slow process to recover from the pandemic, is removing (and refunding) a fee that amounts to $10 or $20 per month for most families really an economically viable budget strategy or a preelection ploy to gain popularity with suburban voters? – DS

The age of the bully Last week, famed Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak took to Twitter to provide a thoughtful, compassionate and poignant defence of his contestants, urging the amorphous blob that is social media to “have a little heart” in the wake of what was being called “the dumbest two minutes in Wheel of Fortune history”, as it swept across the world.

“Another feather in your cap” was the answer the three contestants were looking for, but they took the scenic route, littered with wrong answers, wrong letter selections and bankrupt and miss-a-turn spins.

Sitting at home, it was no doubt frustrating to watch the contestants flounder. “It always pains me when nice people come on our show to play a game and win some money and maybe fulfill a lifelong dream, and are then subject to online ridicule when they make a mistake or something goes awry,” Sajak said in one of several Tweets, pointing to the pressure of being on national television, among other factors.

He said that “good-natured laughter” is fine, but that mocking and name-calling was too far. Such is the state of the internet and social media, however, that the reaction was far from a surprise.

Coincidentally, that same night U.S. President Joe Biden delivered his State of the Union address and was subject to that same kind of dark-hearted and cruel ridicule, only this time it was live and in person.

As he mentioned fallen American soldiers, alluding to his own late son Beau, controversial Republican Representatives Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene heckled Biden in a widely-condemned display.

These are, unfortunately, the times in which we live; a place where comments sections are removed and to send anything into the world is to invite ridicule, nastiness and hate. Try to have a little heart, despite our differences, it’s an admirable feather in your cap. – SL

The outlet that cried wolf While readers may not always agree with what they see in their local newspapers, most of them endeavour to keep a semblance of balance in their reporting and The Citizen is no different. Yes, editorial departments may take a side in an issue, but typically they make every effort to guarantee that stance isn’t reflected in the actual reporting on the issue.

For example, The Citizen has taken the stance that vaccination is both important and mostly safe, however that doesn’t mean reporting favours that position. Reporting is based on what is said by the experts and professionals in charge of decision-making, and nothing else.

Despite those efforts, many still find it difficult to trust the media, especially in the last few years and most of the damage is coming from larger broadcasters and media brands and not from your friendly neighbourhood newspapers. While people on the left blame organizations like Fox News for having an axe to grind against liberal ideologies and people on the right cling to the “fake news” narrative, the fact is there is blame on both sides. You could throw a dart at Fox News’ website or television schedule and find bias, but anyone following CNN recently, for example, may have seen ever-growing superlatives used in coverage of the committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 riots.

While the coverage is important, the fact that every new revelation is being identified as “the most damning” or “definitive” cheapens the coverage on the whole. Part of that is due to the 24-hour news cycle and the need to generate clicks, but part is also because CNN has, almost unabashedly, taken a side in political debates over the past several years.

Sensationalism, however, is feeding into the notion that media can’t be trusted and every organization, from community newspapers to major broadcasters, needs to remember that. – JDS

Looking Back Through the Years March 11, 1965 The Brussels PeeWee hockey team won its local championship for the third straight year, beating their neighbours from Newry in two straight games to claim the title.

This came after the locals made short work of Monkton in the semifinal round, beating them in two games straight behind scores of 6-0 and 7-1.

The Brussels Bantam hockey team, however, wasn’t as lucky, as they fell to Paisley in the Western Ontario Athletic Association (WOAA) finals.

St. John’s Anglican Church in Brussels was one of many local churches that held World Day of Prayer services. The local service was led by Mrs. George Davis, Mrs. James Mair and Mrs. C. Watson.

The offering was $25.15, which was forwarded to the Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada.

March 12, 1975 Two burglaries in three days at the Bainton Limited wool and leather factory resulted in estimated losses of $30,000. Items taken by the thieves included sheepskin rugs and leather and suede garments.

The Huron County Federation of Agriculture called a special meeting to address the plight of beef farmers in the county.

President Adrian Vos of Blyth said the meeting was called when the federation began receiving inquiries from beef farmers asking what was being done to help the industry and he didn’t have any answers at a time when local beef producers were losing tens of thousands of dollars per year.

The Blyth Atom hockey team won the Western Ontario Athletic Association (WOAA) title with a victory over Drayton. The win

earned the team a place in the association’s year-end tournament to determine a grand champion.

March 12, 1997 Two Huron County councillors, including Hullett Township Reeve Tom Cunningham, called out the county for being dishonest with its ratepayers when it came to funding for the new homes for the aged.

Cunningham felt the county should be clear with residents that money raised for capital at the homes was now being used for operating expenses. He said council raised the mill rate to build the homes and later much of the money (in excess of $1.2 million per year) was being transferred to a fund to develop a county landfill site, a project that had since been abandoned.

“If we didn’t have that $1.25 million, we would be raising our mill rate to cover increased costs,” he said. Though county employees said the funds would still be used for capital costs, including county roads.

Brussels Village Council heard some good news at its March 10 meeting, finding out that the village ended 1996 in a surplus position of nearly $110,000. The village’s accountant, Robert Loree of Ward and Uptigrove, said the surplus provided a “picture of the municipality’s health.”

The Blyth Atom hockey team won the Western Ontario Athletic Association (WOAA) title with a series victory over Stephen Township in the tournament final.

Meanwhile, the Blyth Bantam hockey team beat out its opponents from Lion’s Head to advance to the semi-finals of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) yearend tournament against Bothwell.

March 8, 2012 A who’s who of the Brussels community was invited to an event at Cinnamon Jim’s to meet with Dr. Robert Shipley’s University of Waterloo students, 20 of whom had spent some time in the village for a new research project.

Five of the university students were assigned to create a new walking trail in the village, while the other 15 were each assigned a property and directed to dig into the history of each property and assess each property’s “heritage value” to the community.

Among the locals who met with the students to provide history and stories from the community were Paul and Kathy Nichol, Don McNeil, Ralph Watson, Jim Armstrong and Huron East Councillor David Blaney.

Two locals, Ami Schimanski of Brussels and Ben Procter of Belgrave, won medals at the Ontario University Athletics Track and Field Championships, held in Toronto. Schimanski won bronze in the women’s 20-pound weight throw, while Procter won gold as a member of the men’s 4x800-metre relay race, running the second leg.

With Morris-Turnberry moving to create its own fire department after a breakdown in negotiations with neighbouring municipalities, North Huron Council hoped to mend fences with its neighbour.

Under the headline “North Huron hopes to work things out with Morris-Turnberry”, Councillor Ray Hallahan made a motion to set up a meeting with MorrisTurnberry Council to further discuss fire, recreation, cemeteries and economic services. North Huron Council unanimously supported the motion.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022. PAGE 5.

Other Views

Memories of the bad old days

A

s the world focuses on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the news holds a special place for Canadians. Not only does Canada have a higher population of people of Ukrainian descent than just Ukraine itself, and Russia, but there are other similarities between our two countries.

Canada and Ukraine occupy the same latitudes – although Canada is a much larger territory stretching over far more of the earth’s surface. As well, our populations are similar – 44 million for Ukraine as of 2020 and 38 million for Canada.

We each live besides one of the largest nations in the world – the U.S. at 329 million and Russia at 144 million for Ukraine.

Living beside the U.S. has sometimes been dangerous for Canada. The U.S. invaded during the war of 1812-1814 but was driven back. It was the threat of the Fenian invaders who had been trained in warfare during the U.S. Civil War that prompted Canadian provinces to unite in Confederation in 1867.

But Canada’s generally peaceful existence with our dominant neighbour is in sharp contrast to Ukraine’s rocky relationship to Russia. Globe and Mail columnist Marcus Gee pointed out on the weekend that huge numbers of Ukrainian settlers were attracted by the promise of free land on the Canadian prairies between 1891 and 1914. Another 70,000 settled in Canada in the years between the two World Wars as their nation was overtaken by the Soviet Union and Russian leader Joseph Stalin carried out purges on the country.

World War II saw Ukraine overrun by the German Nazi armies, then “liberated” again by the Soviets. More Ukrainians came to Canada from refugee camps following that war.

Keith Roulston From the cluttered desk A fourth wave came in post-Soviet times. In the 15 years after 2001, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia, this country took in 40,000 permanent residents from Ukraine.

Now our government has opened the door to an unlimited number of Ukrainian refugees, whether for the short-term or for permanent residency.

There has been a constant stream of Canadians moving to the U.S., following the failure of the 1837 Rebellion. We’ve lost many artists to the most dominant entertainment provider in the history of the world. Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds and his American actresswife Blake Lively have recently pledged to match donations and encouraged their followers to pitch in and help Ukrainians displaced by the ongoing conflict.

Yet many American intellectuals also sided with the Soviet Union back in the days when they saw Communism as the bright future of the world. Normally intelligent men and women managed to ignore the evil that people like Stalin did in crushing opposition, real or imagined, especially in Ukraine. Many of these American artists would pay a heavy price, in turn, when anti-Soviet paranoia seized the U.S. government under Joseph McCarthy.

But following the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian leadership found few friends in the western world. Former Soviet leaders, like

Putin, had shown they didn’t really care about their Communist principles as they used their connections to take over former government businesses and create personal fortunes, proving they had little loyalty to their former beliefs. Estimates of Putin’s personal wealth range from $70 billion to $200 billion.

But in his old age, Putin has dedicated himself to restoring Russia to its “proper” place, and establishing himself as a modern Tsar. He has claimed that when many countries voted for independence from Russia in 1991, following the fall of the Soviet Union, this was a mistake. He has re-established subservient governments in countries like Belarus, which was the base for part of the most recent Ukrainian invasion. In 2016 he also invaded Ukraine, annexing Crimea and setting up puppet governments in areas he established in mainly Russian-speaking eastern regions which he recognized as legitimate governments before the most recent invasion of Ukraine.

Many observers feel that if he’s successful in annexing Ukraine, many other areas that left the former Soviet Union to form democracies, will be Putin’s next targets.

Fear of just how nutsy Putin is has been his greatest weapon. It has kept Western nations from coming to the full-fledged assistance of Ukraine, which might in turn have been sufficient to defeat Russia, but also be enough for Putin to decide to employ nuclear weapons which could lead to the deaths of many, many millions around the world.

Pardon my age, again, but the result brings back memories of the 1950s when schoolkids were still trained to hide under desks and avoid looking at windows if an atomic bombs were dropped. Maybe this makes Putin feel manly.

‘Swan Lake’ and other signs of distress

L

ong-time readers of The Citizen, and specifically my columns, may remember this tale, but it’s becoming more and more important to me as it becomes increasingly difficult to do my job: When I was in Grade 12, in one of my history classes, I saw a movie called The Killing Fields and it was what inspired me to pursue journalism.

The film, which was released in 1984, looked at the Cambodian civil war through the eyes of New York Times reporter Sydney Schanberg, played by (a very young-looking) Sam Waterston. While many of my peers had made up their mind about what they wanted to do with their lives long before then, I was still looking for that guiding light to help me figure out what to do. It came in the form of the film, when I was just about to start filing applications for post-secondary education.

The film covers Schanberg being stuck behind enemy lines as the Khmer Rouge regime came into power and leader Pol Pot committed genocide. While others fled, Schanberg stayed behind to report on what was happening.

As I sat there, in a darkened classroom, I suddenly saw a purpose for some of my innate abilities (like talking - talking is a very important part of being a journalist, and I can talk according to every report card I ever had).

It was then and there that I decided that I’d become a journalist and, hopefully, someday be a foreign correspondent covering an incident like this.

Things didn’t turn out that way as I fell in love with community newspaper reporting shortly after graduation and I wouldn’t trade what I do now for all the world, but I still remember the feeling that movie gave me about journalists being defenders of truth in a world where truth was dangerous.

That hasn’t changed, as much as some people may claim it has. Sure, the truths I cover range from municipal spending to

Denny Scott Denny’s Den communities supporting each other, but they are important and the stories do need to be told.

But when faced with (misspelled) banners claiming that journalism and media are a disease, attacks on my character and my property and the general disdain that some people have for journalism in general, it makes it tough to love what I do. Fortunately, for me, I’ve never been one of those softer people - I’ll stick it out until it doesn’t make sense to stick it out, and likely long after that. Nobody is going to make me change what I love.

However, in recent years, I’ve understood why other people are leaving the field - it’s a thankless job a lot of the time, and that’s only gotten worse in the last five or six years.

However one only needs to look to Russia to be reminded of why people like me need to follow our dreams of being journalists.

Otherwise, no one holds leaders accountable.

From the reports of Russian POWs saying they didn’t even know they were in a war to the reports coming from Russia that the last independent (not state-run) television station has been forced off the air by President-turneddictator Vladimir Putin’s government, it’s become apparent that, in a country with little to no unbiased media, dangerous leaders can get away with anything.

I’m not saying that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau or Premier Doug Ford, or even our southern neighbour’s leaders are ready to become dictators and attack other countries simply for having other ideologies. I am

saying, however, that without the checks and balances provided by independent journalism, decisions are made without review or representation and that can, after a number of years, lead to dangerous situations.

While I may not stand at the forefront of the war against disinformation, I do my part and will continue to do so as long as I’m able, taking inspiration from those independent journalists who bid farewell to Russia, at least temporarily, with Swan Lake.

Swan Lake, the classic Pyotr Tchaikovsky ballet, has become synonymous with times of upheaval in Russia and is often played on state-run television. Usually, it’s during a time of political change, forced or otherwise. TV Rain, that last independent television station mentioned above, perhaps in a tongue-incheek manner, played a bit of the ballet before it went off the air, with reports indicating its reporters have fled the country.

Those reporters faced persecution, threats and worse every day and continued to do their job until it was literally a life-or-death decision for them as to whether they should leave.

I’m not comparing what I go through to their experiences. What I’m saying is, if they can have the passion to put their life on the line to do what’s right in this industry, the least I can do is not bow to the pressure of some backward folks who think they can bully local journalists.

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

Shawn Loughlin Shawn’s Sense

The interview

I

t’s taken me a long time to get to where I am in regards to my interviewing “skills” and I put that in quotations just to make it clear that I’m certainly not saying I’m any kind of expert. I just know that I’ve evolved and improved over the past 20 years.

In journalism school at Humber College, we learned bits and pieces about interviewing.

(My friend Brett Walther and I always felt there should have been an entire class on interviewing, given its vital nature to the craft, and we sometimes brainstormed creating it and teaching it at night school.)

One of these tips I know I’ve mentioned before is connected to the beverage order at a sit-down interview. When you interview someone, if they offer you a drink, you’re to always accept the offer. However, upon receiving your drink, you should never finish it. Once your drink is finished, a natural end to the interview has been provided. (I may have mentioned too that I’ve applied the inversion of this principle before to end interviews that have dragged on. That almost leads to a second tip, which is to interrupt people; not in an aggressive way of course, but to keep the talk pithy and focused and to avoid rambling.)

The third tip I’ve always remembered is, and this is going to sound very strange, to listen to what the person you’re interviewing is saying.

It sounds strange because, of course, you’re listening, but, as you take notes or record the interview, you’re focusing on taking accurate notes or tidbits that jump out at you for one reason or another. It can often be a far cry from how you listen to (or are supposed to) friends or family during a conversation.

The idea behind this tip is that you allow the conversation to dictate its direction, to an extent, rather than asking a handful of singular, unrelated questions in a clunky manner.

When I was a young journalism student, I would do just that. I would prepare my notes with questions, allowing a block of white space under each one for my notes, always tape recording (that’s right - tape) the chat as a back-up to my notes, as I learned that skill.

The results were lacklustre to say the least.

Looking back (and at the time) I could see folks who were used to being interviewed a lot squirm a bit at my inexperience, but because I was a student, they were always very kind and helpful, even when I would ask a stupid question (they do exist, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise) or miss the point.

Some of my journalism school interviews were like that: George Stroumboulopoulos, The Weakerthans and a U2 historian were all early interviews for either Humber College or my internship at Chart Magazine, Canada’s now-defunct answer to Rolling Stone, that were, frankly, embarrassing when I look back.

I once interviewed a Toronto musician for Chart and it was my first on a digital recorder.

I lost the whole interview and called the guy, hat in hand, and told him what happened and he was kind enough to do the whole thing again. (Clearly I should have stayed with tape, though I eventually did find the original - that was when I learned about different “folders” on a digital voice recorder.)

For a college assignment, I once interviewed long-time Toronto Star reporter and columnist Jim Coyle and I was more focused on the tape recording than I was on him, and I think he noticed. He was kind and helpful and gave me some interview tips, along with a tour of the old Star offices at 1 Yonge Street.

Long story short (as to avoid rambling), it’s not easy interviewing people. There’s an art to it and it takes a lifetime to get just right.

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

Brussels World Day of Prayer event set for Friday A NOTE FROM BETTY

By Betty Graber Watson Call 887-9231

I bet you know that World Day of Prayer is coming on Friday at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Brussels. Oops, I didn’t read the dates as I did last week’s paper, and ducked back to habits of the past, when World Day of Prayer was traditionally celebrated on the first Friday of March. There I’ve confessed and you can still attend.

International Women’s Day is this

week. A time to celebrate the work of women. I won’t give the speech about wages, expectations and attitudes but will direct you to the people who are front and centre in the news most days. Countries led by women, heroes interviewed, negotiations managed and deals made, health policy enacted and hockey games won. It’s time for equality in race, colour, creed and

gender. It really is time for the “old boy” attitude to be eliminated.

Big talk about a new movie ready for release by Pixar even had me excited. Red tells about life from a young lady’s view. Listening to the makers of the film, it is probably more truthful about the life of an early teen Canadian female than many wish to acknowledge. So for once in a long time, I can say I’ll be waiting to see this movie, and, it’s ready for the week of International Women’s Day. The Paralympics have had a very good start. Twenty medals for Canada as of today. These games step up the determination and endurance that the athletes show the world. Living with unique bodies, they cope, grow and celebrate their varying abilities. Wow and wow again. Again, women represent but 24 per cent of the athletes. Oh well, I think, we’re trying to fix the gender bias, but some days you have to wonder.

As we gently get back to a social life, anticipation is a big part of getting ready. As meetings resume and agenda viewed, it is so good to see faces, well at least parts of faces, of people we like to see.

Several times in the past weeks, I’ve been thankful for the level of

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS health care we have available.

Friends and family have recovered in hospital or at home knowing the care they received kept them from death and complications. Think back a very few years and remember the results of issues that we now see as normal. Stop and be thankful.

Be kind. Be safe. Wash your hands Bye now, Betty G.W.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Brussels Legion

Close one Just one hour earlier at the Blyth and District Community Centre, the Blyth Brussels U9 Rep Crusaders lost a 4-3 decision against the Mitchell Meteors in overtime and that back overtime luck must have hung around for the U11 Rep Crusaders that afternoon, as they fell by a score of 2-1 to the Goderich Sailors, also in overtime. (John Stephenson photo)

Friday, March 18th with the Catch the Ace Draw, wings and music!

Draw at 7:15 pm, wings from 6-9 pm and music by Jelly Bean Blue from 8-10:30 pm

At the Branch

Tribute band plays at Legion

By Jo-Ann McDonald The lifting of capacity restrictions is great news for all the venues and the Legion is no exception. The normal set-up for tables downstairs is back and upstairs will be the same. The original COVID-19 screening questions are back and if you are not feeling well, please do not attend events. Masks are still required to enter and when you are not seated. Welcome back all!

The Brussels Legion Branch hosted the first public event on Saturday evening with the Rhinestones and Diamonds Tribute band, featuring the music of Dolly Parton and Neil Diamond. It was a great evening attended by a crowd of over 100 who appreciated the

great and popular hits of Parton and Diamond.

Thanks to the entertainment committee and their helpers for set-up, greeters, odd jobs and clean-up the next day.

Good job all. Hopefully the Branch can find and host more special musical guests.

The Branch will have the first Catch the Ace draw on March 18 and the tickets are now out in the stores. We appreciate the Brussels Variety, Brussels Pharmacy and McDonald Lumber for being ticket outlets. The Branch also has tickets and is open Tuesday to Thursday 4-6 p.m. and Friday until 7 p.m.

The Brussels Cadet Corp is pleased to be able to gather again and will start meetings on Tuesday evenings at 6:45 p.m. They will

welcome any new members between the ages of 12 and 18, wanting to learn about the cadet program, to drop in and speak with the leaders.

Brussels Legion 218 Catch the Ace Draw begins March 18th at 7:15 pm Tickets available at Brussels Legion, Brussels Pharmacy, Brussels Variety and McDonald Home Hardware Building Centre.

Must be 19 to participate

Neews depends endss on facts. ts. Where Whe 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.

Winner The Wingham Hospital Auxiliary recently awarded the winner of its Valentine’s Day basket and when that name was drawn, it was Laurie Bendo and her husband Bruce of Wingham. (Photo submitted)

newsmediacanada.ca

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022. PAGE 7.

North Huron approves hiring of Ec. Dev. officer

By Denny Scott The Citizen

North Huron Township Council voted, with the slimmest of margins, to implement an economic development officer (EDO) position and associated projects for the municipality at a cost of $140,000 per year.

During the Feb. 22 regular meeting of council, the vote to approve the creation of the position passed four votes to three with Reeve Bernie Bailey casting the tiebreaking vote after calling the position his “baby” to direct staff to create the position. Bailey, DeputyReeve Trevor Seip and Councillors Anita van Hittersum and Kevin Falconer voted to approve the position while Councillors Chris Palmer, Ric McBurney and Paul Heffer voted against the move.

When the issue was first brought up, Heffer was the first to speak against the plan to create the position, which included $115,000 for salary and benefits of the EDO

and $25,000 for economic development projects and expenses.

Heffer’s first concern was the financial impact, saying he didn’t feel taxpayers could shoulder that burden, but then said he didn’t feel the two-year plan presented by Chief Administrative Officer Dwayne Evans showed a need for the new position.

Heffer said, of the 18 tasks included on the plan, many had already been completed or could be handled by the municipality’s recently-established community engagement co-ordinator position.

He pointed to specific portions of the two-year plan, including a business directory and the creation of a webpage within the municipality’s existing website, as goals that he felt had already been accomplished.

He said council should see if Community Development Coordinator Denise Lockie could handle the outstanding tasks over the course of a year before approving a $140,000 position. He

also said he felt Huron County’s economic development department was already helping North Huron significantly, and that should be considered as well.

Finally, Heffer said he couldn’t support the idea of paying someone to advertise open spaces on the main streets of the municipality.

“I feel the person that owns the store [is responsible] to make sure the building is full,” he said. “We shouldn’t be taking tax dollars to find people to use the store. The onus should be on the owners.”

Palmer next addressed the issue, saying he didn’t feel that any economic development officer could generate enough development in North Huron to “pay for themselves”.

“Not all jobs require that way of thinking, but this one does,” he said. “This person has to bring in business and pay for themselves or why bother having it?”

He said he feels the township has managed fine without an EDO and that Lockie could do more

So close The Huron Heat U11 C team welcomed St. Marys to the Blyth and District Community Centre over the weekend. While both teams fought hard, neither could get ahead, resulting in a 2-2 tie when the final buzzer sounded. (John Stephenson photo)

UK women provide service materials From Marilyn’s Desk

By Marilyn Craig Call 523-9318

Happy birthday to Nellie Mason and Lillian Appleby, who both celebrate March 10; Mary Lou Stewart, March 11; Diane Howson, March 13; Ken Siertsema, March 15 and Steven Sparling and Braden MacDonald, March 16. Hope everyone has a good day to celebrate.

Happy anniversary to Hubert and Edlegard Hoba, who will celebrate March 15.

Friday, March 11 is World Day of Prayer. St. Ambrose Catholic

Church in Brussels will celebrate World Day of Prayer at 1 p.m. This will be a lay-led service with materials provided by Christian women in Wales, Northern Ireland and England.

On Monday, the weather people didn’t know what to forecast. When you looked outside, it looked like it was trying hard to rain, and then the next minute it was snowing.

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

Follow The Citizen on Facebook, Twitter or through our website at huroncitizen.ca

than she has already been assigned.

Palmer went on to say Lockie’s position is a “whole lot cheaper” and he would rather “let her grow… and do more” than look at implementing a new position.

Furthermore, Palmer felt there would be jealousy between the EDO and other managers, saying he wanted to hear from them.

“Some have 10 [employees], some have 40 or more,” he said.

“How do they feel [about] a new position with one person under them [when the pay grade] is going to be similar? How would you feel if you’re one of them? I think it will cause disgruntled employees.”

Evans said council could assign more responsibilities to Lockie, but would need to monitor how much work the position is given.

“The community engagement coordinator’s position is busy as it is, but if it’s council’s wishes for this person to [handle more responsibility], we will have to manage that workload,” he said.

He went on to say that the EDO would be more of a “high-level” employee, dealing with a “larger umbrella” of responsibilities than just dealing with individual businesses.

He also pointed to an earlier report on the county’s business retention and expansion (BR&E) program presented by Huron County Director of Economic Development Vicki Lass, in which Lass highlighted several undertakings that would represent work between North Huron and Huron County.

“My vision would be [that] the EDO would work in partnership with the county and organizations like [Community Futures Huron] to implement [the recommendations from] the BR&E program,” Evans said.

Councillor van Hittersum was the first to speak in defence of the EDO position, saying that looking at how much this position would cost wasn’t the right way of looking at the situation. She said taxes will increase regardless of the decision because, if there is no growth, each taxpayer will have to pay more going forward.

She said expansion plans in Hutton Heights requires the kind

of planning an EDO would offer.

The municipality’s economic development committee, of which van Hittersum is the chair, is a great idea, she said, but most members are volunteers who don’t have the time or knowledge to go out and attract new businesses.

“We need a person that has the education, knowledge and will to make our township grow and get the businesses we need,” she said.

As far as complaints about the work plan, she said the document is a living one and can be changed.

Seip agreed with van Hittersum, saying the committee can put forward a lot of ideas, but an EDO would be the “boots on the ground” to make them work.

Bailey, the last to speak to the issue before the vote, said the project was his “baby”, and that an EDO would remedy the fact that North Huron “has a store full of goods but no one at the till.”

Council approved the creation of a full-time EDO position and directed Evans to start the hiring process to recruit someone to fill the role.

NEWS FROM BLYTH Laundromat Blyth Laundromat 191 Westmoreland St., Blyth 519-523-9687

Youth Winter Sports Pages Coaches and parents ~ we need your team’s picture and players’ names 1. Please submit team photo A.S.A.P. 2. Please include players’ and coaches’ names for under the photo.

Deadline April 1

Please help us get ALL the Winter Sports teams published.

The Citizen

405 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4792 541 Turnberry St., Brussels 519-887-9114 info@northhuron.on.ca

PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022.

Big Brothers Big Sisters seek mentors for schools

By Denny Scott The Citizen

Kincardine’s Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization is

expanding its reach into northern Huron County to offer mentorship programs at local schools.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kincardine and District Executive

Director and former North Huron Councillor Yolanda Ritsema recently told The Citizen that the organization, thanks to funding received from the United Way

He shoots...

A Blyth Brussels U9 Rep Crusader is shown celebrating after a goal against the Mitchell Meteors over the weekend. The Crusaders hosted the Meteors in Blyth, however the home ice advantage wasn’t enough as the Meteors were able to edge out the Crusaders 4-3 in overtime. The match was the last game scheduled for the U9 Rep Crusaders. (John

Perth-Huron, is extending its reach into the area, stretching as far south as Goderich, and including Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, Huron East, Morris-Turnberry and North Huron.

The first project to be funded, she said, is a mentoring initiative that is already active in southern Bruce County, which provides traditional 1:1 Mentoring, Group Mentoring and In-School Mentoring (ISM) programs, she said.

Currently, the focus is on bringing mentors to students at Maitland River Elementary School in Wingham and Brookside Public School near Dungannon.

Part of making the project work, however, is finding mentors to help the students who need more support, she said, and the group is currently searching for local Mentors.

“We have 11 young people currently waiting for a mentor in our ISM program, and we have identified another 25 who would benefit from the program,” she said.

The ISM is a program that runs from September to June for one hour per week, either at the school or virtually, with a young person between Grades 2 and 8, Ritsema said.

The program can be a schoolcareer long endeavour, Ritsema

said, starting at Grade 1 and running up to 12 years. She added that many pairs form life-long friendships as a result.

Those involved in the program are diverse, she said, coming from all walks of life and all family backgrounds, while mentors really only need to be a handful of things.

“A mentor is a caring friend and support, a positive role model, a good listener, someone who expresses care, expands possibilities, challenges growth, provides support and shares power,” she said.

She said mentees face challenges every day, with the majority dealing with bullies, mental illness exposure or facing some form of mental illness themselves.

Throughout the pandemic, the Mentors have helped their mentees even more, with participants showing less worry and anxiety as a result of mentor sessions.

Mentor volunteers need to be 18, Ritsema said, and can apply to help through the Big Brothers Big Sisters website at kincardine.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca or call 519-396-3565 extension 201.

For more information about the program or the group, visit the website above.

Belgrave Minor Ball Registration

Stephenson photo)

Scanlon to speak at service PEOPLE AROUND BELGRAVE

By Linda Campbell Call 357-2188

The guest speaker at Belgrave Knox United Church on March 6 was Jim Hess. The scripture lesson was taken from Psalm 5 and Romans 10: 8-13. Mr. Hess’s reflection was entitled “Slave or Free”.

On March 13, the guest speaker will be Murray Scanlon. Everyone is welcome. Physical distancing and masks are required.

Daylight Saving Time begins March 13. Don’t forget to turn your

clocks ahead one hour before going to bed Saturday night.

The beginning of the provincial reopening has started raising capacity limits. Masks are still required and physical distancing is still in effect. Proof of vaccination may be required at some places. We all need to do our part to reduce the spread of the virus. Together we can make a difference. Follow the guidelines and stay safe.

Our winter weather hasn’t been too bad. We may have had a few stormy days when the schools had to be cancelled. It won’t be long until we get spring. We will notice a difference with longer daylight hours.

Some of the robins are back. I haven’t seen any, but I’ve heard them.

March 12 and 19 at the Belgrave Community Centre from 10 am - noon For more information please contact Bruce 519-357-5109

The Citizen

519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114

Advertise your business here!

One of the most read areas of the paper

SUDOKU Fun By The Numbers Like puzzles?

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

Cool shot Local photographer Liz Allan of the Maitland Valley Camera Club caught this uniquely-formed ice recently and shared it with The Citizen. You can do the same by sending your photos to reporter@northhuron.on.ca (Photo courtesy of Liz Allan of the Maitland Valley Camera Club)

NEWS FROM BELGRAVE

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, MARCH 10, 2022. PAGE 9.

C. Huron to seek input on proposed pool project

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Central Huron Council is going to gauge the interest of ratepayers before proceeding with a new pool in Clinton.

Facilities Manager Steve Duizer discussed the issue with council at its Feb. 22 meeting, saying that a 2021 inspection of the pool made it clear that it wouldn’t be allowed to open the following year.

“During the 2021 inspection by Huron Perth Public Health, the inspector noted that without substantial repairs to the pool and cement deck, it would not pass future inspections for opening,” Duizer said in his report to council.

“The entire cement deck requires replacement due to heaving from the historic leak, as well as repairs

required at various locations in the large pool walls. The small pool also requires a second main drain added to meet code before it would be permitted to reopen.”

Duizer also noted that the issues were not unknown to the municipality, as discussions with various cement contractors had taken place in 2019 and 2020 due to concerns with the cement deck. At the time, Duizer said, most of the contractors recommended not replacing the pool pad without also upgrading the in-ground pool plumbing.

“In addition, throughout the 2019 and 2021 seasons, numerous components of the pool mechanical system began failing,” Duizer said in his report. “Two pumps required replacement to get through 2019, the solar heating system requires

both a pump and roof panel replacements, and the main pool sand filter is well past its expected life cycle and an attempt to get some replacement parts in 2021 were unsuccessful, due to its age.

During the 2021 season, there was evidence of a new leak in the underground plumbing, based on water consumption.”

He added that the pool’s current turnover rate of four (the number of times the water exchanges through the filter system every 24 hours) would no longer be acceptable by Huron Perth Public Health.

The plumbing and pump system would have to be upgraded to filter six times per 24 hours, he said, adding that the current rate was “grandfathered” due to the age of the pool.

In addition, Duizer said the pool

Sailors take warning?

Local photographer Liz Allan captured this early morning light show recently and shared it with The Citizen. You can do the same by e-mailing your photos to reporter@northhuron.on.ca. By doing so, you may see them in print in a future issue of The Citizen. (Photo courtesy of Liz Allan of the Maitland Valley Camera Club)

guard house and change rooms will need substantial renovations in order to meet accessibility standards by 2025, with the entire change room area needing to be redesigned and rebuilt in order to meet the incoming regulations.

Duizer then presented council with four options, ranging in cost from $200,000 up to $1.66 million.

The first option recommended a complete rebuild of the pools and renovation of the pool house, requiring the demolition of the pool pad and the excavation and replacement of all plumbing with upgraded sizing, replacement of the large pool pump and sand filter for both pools and construction of a more accessible pool house area.

He noted that while the existing pool shells have been determined to be in good shape, considering their age, and could be used in the redesign, he was still recommending full replacement.

That option could cost an estimated $660,000 without pool shell replacement or $1.66 million with pool shell replacement.

In the second option, Duizer recommended excavating the entire area and replacing it with one smaller pool at an estimated cost of between $600,000 and $1 million.

The third option would see the area excavated and the pools filled in to be replaced with a fenced, multi-purpose sports pad for activities like tennis, pickleball and basketball. The building, Duizer said, could be renovated for storage, which would compensate for the lost storage as a result of the potential Clinton Raceway grandstand rebuild.

A variation of the third option would be to excavate the pools and return the space to grass while

renovating the building for storage.

The sports pad option would cost $435,000, while the naturalization option would cost $200,000.

The fourth option, at a cost of $375,000, would be to replace the pad and filters and upgrade the chlorination system to be safer.

Duizer said the option would include identifying and repairing the existing plumbing and repouring the cement pad.

He noted, however, that the proposed work could exceed the estimate, due to the unknown nature of the buried plumbing infrastructure.

The option would also include replacing the large pool filter and pump and installing all required drain covers and adding a second drain to the small pool and renovating the pool house to meet incoming accessibility standards.

Duizer also brought forward some further points for consideration. He noted that the municipality has been having an increasingly difficult time attracting lifeguard staff, an impact that is also being felt by neighbouring municipalities. He also added that most commercial pool companies, as of last year, were booking projects up to two years in advance, meaning that if any work is to be done at the pools, a realistic timeline dictates that it would be unlikely to be completed before 2024 at the earliest.

Council discussed the issue briefly, recommending that council put the issue to the public for input.

Members didn’t determine a specific method of outreach, but suggested potentially setting up a display at the Mayor’s Mingle this summer. A date has yet to be determined for the event.

HE moves ahead with development

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Huron East Council is moving forward with a new subdivision in Brussels, based on a recommendation from the municipality’s administration committee.

Council discussed the matter at its March 1 meeting, which was held virtually via Zoom. The committee recommended that council tender the installation and construction of roads and services for the new Brussels subdivision, in the southeast corner of the village near the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. Furthermore, the committee recommended severing blocks 34 and 35 of the property as follows: Lots 1 to 10 on Bryans Drive and Lots 19 to 25 on Anderson Drive into low-density, single-family home lots for sale, and Lots 11 to 14 and Lots 15 through 18 to allow for mediumand high-density residential development for four- and eightplex townhomes.

Chief Administrative Officer Brad McRoberts, however, noted during the discussion that he felt the addition of fourplexes would be ideal for the subdivision.

The committee also recommended directing municipal staff to procure a qualified real estate advisor, procure legal counsel and prepare a delegation of authority bylaw for the purchase and sale agreements, while also determining an appropriate time

frame to have as a condition of the sale of the lots to ensure that the homes are built in a reasonable time frame. McRoberts suggested that period be two years to eliminate the potential for speculation buying and people “sitting on properties” for years.

He said the two-year time frame would be included in the sale documents and if a lot were to be sold a second time, the clock would not reset, allowing properties to languish for years.

McRoberts told council that this was really the first step of the process and that council consulting with a real estate advisor and a lawyer would be the second part, bringing the subdivision closer to reality.

He told council that the discussion at the administration committee settled on this recommendation, thinking it was the best solution for the municipality overall, allowing local individuals or land development companies that couldn’t necessarily afford to buy the entire property and develop it, a fair shot at being involved in the project.

Councillor Larry McGrath was one of the few councillors who weighed in, referring back to comments he’d made at earlier meetings when the subdivision was being discussed, saying he didn’t feel as though the municipality should be in the development business. He said the municipality has developers and contractors and he didn’t feel that the municipality

should be using tax dollars to wade into that business.

Council approved the recommendation and the municipality is now moving on to the second phase of the project, which will return at a future meeting.

g n i Com ! n o o S

The Citizen’s

Salute To Agriculture Special Call today to advertise 519-887-9114 or 519-523-4792 Deadline: March 11

PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022.

Sports Ironmen post back-to-back wins to end season

Big wins The Wingham Ironmen finished fifth in the Provincial Junior Hockey League’s North Pollock Division after back-to-back wins over the weekend. The Ironmen downed the last-place Goderich Flyers 5-2 on Friday then shut out the second-place Mitchell Hawks by a score of 2-0 on March 6. Ironmen team representatives recently told North Huron Council they are confident the team can make it to the second, or even penultimate round of the North Pollock Division playoffs, set to take place over the next month. (John Stephenson photo)

By Denny Scott The Citizen

With no further games scheduled, the Wingham Ironmen sit in fifth place after posting two wins over the weekend, toppling last-place Goderich and blanking secondplace Mitchell.

The Ironmen, who sat in third place until a league decision regarding a COVID-19 noncompliance issue several weeks ago, ended the regular season in fifth place with 34 points, one point behind the fourth-place Kincardine Bulldogs, who had 35 points.

Mount Forest is in third with 39, while Mitchell and Hanover had a large lead over the rest of the North Pollock Division with 51 and 53 points, respectively.

WINGHAM 2 MITCHELL 0 On Sunday, March 6, the Ironmen hosted the Mitchell Hawks in both teams’ last scheduled game of the regular season. The Ironmen were able to both shut-out and upset the Hawks by a score of 2-0, despite Mitchell outshooting Wingham 3126.

Evan Visser scored Wingham’s first goal, which was a powerplay effort, assisted by Josh Lorenz and Nate Bloemberg. The second goal of the game, an empty-net opportunity scored in the last minute of the contest, was netted by Austin McKeachnie, assisted by Josh Pham and Wingham goaltender Garrett Golley.

Golley earned the win for the Ironmen and a shut-out, stopping 31 shots while Tyler Parr of Mitchell stopped 24 of 25 shots on him.

The match proved to be a heavilypenalized game for the Hawks, who posted 38 penalty minutes on 11 infractions, while the Ironmen posted 16 on eight infractions.

Wingham’s Visser had the first penalty of the game when he was assessed a two-minute tripping penalty.

Mitchell’s Tyson Hall then served a two-minute too-many-men penalty, followed by teammate

Caleb Musselman serving a twominute roughing penalty.

Wingham’s Brandon Stewart was assessed a two-minute roughing penalty before an altercation just past the 15-minute mark of the first period resulted in three penalties.

Mitchell’s Carter Lewis was assessed two head contact penalties - two-minute and 10minute penalties - while Wingham’s Payten Wheeler was assessed a two-minute cross-checking penalty.

The third period saw Patrick Holloway assessed a two-minute holding penalty, followed by Wingham’s Lorenz serving a twominute interference penalty.

Mitchell’s Mark Cassidy was assessed a four-minute tripping major before Wingam’s Kyle Smeltzer was assessed a twominute goalie interference penalty.

The last penalty of the third went to Mitchell’s Nolan Gagnier, who was assessed a two-minute holding penalty.

The third period started with another three-penalty incident as Mitchell’s Ryan Murphy was assessed both a two-minute and a 10-minute checking-from-behind penalty, while Wingham’s McKeachnie was assessed a twominute roughing penalty.

Wingham’s Dana Smith served a two-minute high sticking penalty, after which Charlie Rankin of Mitchell served a two-minute slashing penalty.

The final penalty of the game went to Wingham’s Jacob Rauser, who served a two-minute tripping penalty.

WINGHAM 5 GODERICH 2 The Wingham Ironmen dominated the Goderich Flyers 5-2 on March 4 by posting a 5-2 win over the last-place team. The Ironmen more than doubled the visiting Flyers in both score and shots, with the Ironmen outshooting the Flyers 55-27.

Goderich’s Colton Quipp struck early for the Flyers, earning a goal just over a minute into the first period. The marker was assisted by Ethan Hill and Kyler Patterson.

Wingham’s Tanner Reid responded with an unassisted marker.

Wingham’s Dawson Fahrer Farm ty Safe

Deadline March 11

In tough While not the most successful goaltender on the ice on March 6 when the Wingham Ironmen took on the Mitchel Hawks, Mitchell goaltender Tyler Parr did stop 24 of 25 shots on him. Thanks to an empty-net goal, however, the Ironmen posted a 2-0 win. (John Stephenson photo)

scored the only goal of the second period, a powerplay marker assisted

by Matt Tolton and Jonah Burley.

Goderich’s Keegan Greer responded early in the third with a powerplay marker of his own, assisted by Peter Gibbings, however Wingham would respond with three unanswered goals to secure the win.

Burley scored first for the Ironmen, assisted by Fahrer, before Chris Adlys scored an unassisted goal. Josh Pham then earned an empty-net goal, assisted by Stewart and Smeltzer.

Wingham’s Devon Carson got the win for the Ironmen, but shared netminding duties with Golley.

Carson played the majority of the game and stopped 24 of 26 shots, while Golley stopped one of one, playing for several minutes in the third period. Goderich’s Ryan Murray stopped 50 of 54 shots on him.

The Goderich Flyers served 17 penalty minutes on seven infractions, while the Ironmen served 18 minutes on five infractions.

The first penalty of the game, and the only penalty of the first period, was called against Tikai Baldwin of Goderich, who was assessed a fiveminute tripping penalty.

Goderich’s Ethan Hill was assessed the second penalty of the game, the first in the second period, with a four-minute tripping call.

Wingham’s Ben Wyatt was then assessed two-minute and 10-minute penalties for head contact.

Goderich’s Hill then served a two-minute slashing call, followed by teammate Quipp, who was given two minutes for hooking.

Wingham’s Trevor Klee served a two-minute hooking penalty early in the first. He was followed by four two-minute tripping penalties to end the game. First, Goderich’s Quipp served a two-minute tripping penalty, followed by Wingham’s Smith and Adlys and Goderich’s Connor Hill.

WHO’S LOOKING AT YOU?

m Far ue Iss

Deadline March 11

Put your business in front of the RIGHT eyes!

The Citizen has special interest issues coming up. cer Canreness a w A

Deadline April 1

Call or email our marketing specialists today!

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

ter Win rts Spo

Deadline April 1

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022. PAGE 11.

Sports Team, Barbour win silver at national championship

National silver Tavistock Team Unity, including Brussels’ Allyson Barbour, fifth from left in the back row, claimed silver at the Skate Canada National Synchronized Skating Championship in Calgary late last month. Back row, from left: Sariah Mehta, Kathryn Giles, Callie Brenneman, Lilly Bender, Barbour, Jorja Koot, Alyssa Podann, Clara Roth and Shelby Vanderhyden. Front row: Annabelle Hendry, Ella Naughton, Alaina Hartman, Reegan Zeigler, Larissa Brenneman, Melanie Giles and Samantha Lawrence. (Danielle Earl photo)

By Denny Scott The Citizen After winning bronze at the Skate Ontario Regional Synchronized Skating Championship early in February, Allyson Barbour of Brussels and her synchronized skating team captured silver at the national level late last month.

Barbour, who skates for Tavistock Team Unity, which trains out of the

Tavistock and District Recreation Centre and the Stratford Rotary Complex, captured gold at the intermediate level at the Skate Canada National Synchronized Skating Championship at Winsport, an athletic facility in Calgary, Alberta.

Barbour and her team competed against 10 teams from across Canada. After taking second place with its first skate, the team scored

65.45 in its second skate, for a total of 96.88 points and the silver medal. The Nexxice team from Burlington won first with a score of 101.53 while Meraki from the Leaside Skating Club in Toronto took bronze with a score of 90.15.

In an interview with The Citizen, Barbour said her team is happy with the results of the tournament, especially after having made it to

the national championship two years prior, but finishing sixth.

Barbour’s mother, Tricia, said the team celebrated the win in Banff and skated at Lake Louise before heading home. The younger Barbour said it was an experience of a lifetime that she won’t forget.

“The win felt good,” she said.

“We’ve been working hard for a long time to get here and it finally paid off.”

The team started practising together when the COVID-19 pandemic had just started, meaning members spent almost two years preparing for the competition, she said.

The intermediate division doesn’t have an international competition, Barbour explained, but next year she and her teammates could move up to the junior division, which does have international honours up for grabs.

“That’s a possibility for next year,” she said. “I hope to do that, but it depends on whether skaters stay on and other issues.”

Barbour first started skating with her team eight years ago after meeting a team member through the Mitchell Skating Club. At the time she was a member of both the Mitchell and Brussels Skating Clubs, but then moved on to the Tavistock program as she enjoyed skating as a team over solo performances.

“As a single skater you do jumps and spins and free skates, but in synchro, you’re doing elements with a group,” she said.

ALLYSON BARBOUR Barbour hopes to be studying kinesiology at university next year while remaining with the team. She said that much of her team has been together since she started skating eight years ago.

“We have become a lot closer since we started working and practising as a team” she said.

“Probably three-quarters of the team has stayed since I started eight years ago, with some people coming and going.”

As for other synchronized skating hopefuls, Barbour said that clubs typically have a skills section at the start of each season and encourages anyone interested to find a local club and try it out.

“Come out and give it a try to see if you would like performing in a group, or prefer continuing with solo,” she said.

Staehli to represent Canada at world championship

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

International athlete After representing Canada in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Julie-Anne Staehli is set to once again represent Canada, this time at the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championship. She will compete in the 3,000metre race at the event, which will be held in Serbia next weekend. (File photo)

Lucknow native Julie-Anne Staehli will represent Canada at the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championship, set to be held in Belgrade, Serbia next weekend. She will compete in the 3,000-metre race.

In an Instagram post, Staehli said that qualifying for the team had been one of her goals for a number of years. She did say, however, that the events taking place in the rest of the world have weighed heavily on her as she awaited an announcement on team selection.

“Over the last couple of weeks, I have been quietly waiting for this announcement while watching the tragedy unfold overseas. This championship feels insignificant with what has been happening in the world, but I was reminded that sport has the power to bring people together,” she said. “The Olympic rings represent the five continents of the world. On March 18, I not only want to represent the maple leaf, but all those fighting for peace and solidarity.”

This will be the first time the championship has been held in four years. The bi-annual event was last held in 2018 after the 2020 iteration was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Staehli is among 18 athletes who are classified as confirmed selections, 11 of whom are from Ontario. A number of competitors have also been provisionally selected. The team is headlined by

Canadian record holders Damian Warner and Gabriela DeBuesStafford.

At the 2018 event, the Canadian team won just one medal, so participants will be looking to improve upon that total this year, as the event is set for March 18-20.

The women’s 3,000-metre race is set to be held on the first day of the championships, with the heats going ahead at 1:30 p.m. local time on March 18, 7:30 a.m. in Huron

County. The finals are set for later that day at 8:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. in Huron County.

Staehli specializes in the 5,000metre race and represented Canada in the event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (which were eventually held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). She finished the race in 17th place with a time of 15:33.39.

She was ranked 20th in the world heading into the Olympics, so her finish improved upon that ranking.

The Citizen’s

Farm Safety Awareness Promotion Advertising Deadline March 11th Call 519-887-9114 or 519-523-4792

PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022.

Ironmen may need new home for deep playoff run

Aiming high The Wingham Ironmen’s executive feels the team will make it to the second, or possibly third round of playoffs based on the team’s performance this year, which means the team will need to find a way to play after the ice traditionally comes out of the North Huron Wescast Complex in Wingham. The team was on track to finish in third place until a league decision last month stripped them of three wins due to a COVID-19 protocol issue. The team finished the season strong with two wins over the weekend, including shutting out the second-place Mitchell Hawks, above. (John Stephenson photo)

By Denny Scott The Citizen

If the team has a successful postseason, the Wingham Ironmen will either need to find some way to pay for nearly four times the ice time it normally uses or find some

place other than Wingham to play.

North Huron Township Council decided, on Monday evening, that the Ironmen would either need to find some way to rent and pay for 15 hours of ice time a week, up from their regular four hours that includes a practice and a game,

according to Director of Recreation and Community Vicky Luttenberger, or chance having to host playoff games somewhere other than Wingham.

The Provincial Junior Hockey League’s Pollock Division postseason quarter-finals were

COVID-19 cases, fatalities up

By Denny Scott The Citizen

COVID-19 case counts continue to climb in Huron County despite restrictive testing rules, says Huron Perth Medical Officer of Health Dr. Miriam Klassen, with the 88 new cases confirmed in the past week likely only the tip of the iceberg.

During a teleconference last week, Klassen said that, due to testing only happening in high-risk settings, there are likely far more COVID-19 cases in the general population than those being reported through clinical testing.

Over the past week, Huron and Perth Counties climbed to 5,734 cumulative cases of COVID-19, according to Huron Perth Public Health, with one new outbreak reported at Wildwood Care Centre in St. Marys. The outbreak was declared on March 4 due to one resident and one staff member testing positive for COVID-19.

One COVID-19-linked fatality was reported over the past week, bringing the cumulative total for the two counties to 94, while hospitalizations have increased from 184 since the pandemic began to 186, with one of those two cases remaining active.

HPPH is reporting that the majority of fatalities have occured in those over the age of 60, with

two COVID-19-linked fatalities having been reported in the 0-39 age group, seven in the 40-59 age group, 36 in the 60-89 age group and 49 in the 80+ age group.

The majority of fatalities have happened in clinical or high-risk settings, with 34 fatalities among long-term care centre residents, 21 among retirement home residents and three among hospital patients.

The remaining 36 are classified as community fatalities.

Vaccination efforts continue across the two counties, though gains are slowing, according to the

statistics presented by Huron Perth Public Health. Over the past month, each week has seen more than 100 residents roll up their sleeves for their first shot. Over the past week, however, only 43 individuals did, bringing the total number of people with at least one vaccination to 117,216 or 84.2 per cent of the eligible population.

The number of people with two vaccination shots increased to 112,603 or 81 per cent. Fifty-two per cent of eligible recipients have three doses, or 72,306, while 1.6 per cent have four doses, or 2,183.

scheduled to start March 7 and run to March 20, with the semi-finals running March 21 to April 3. Round three, or the division finals, are scheduled April 4 to April 24 while the North Division Championships would run April 25 to May 9. Rob Harrison of the Wingham Ironmen executive said the organization feels it is guaranteed to get into the second round with a “solid possibility” of getting to the division finals.

North Huron’s arena policy, however, states the ice comes out March 31, meaning if the Ironmen did make it to the semi-finals, the team would either need to play a potential seven games in 13 days or chance ending the series in another arena.

If the team makes it to the third round, the entirety of the series would have to be played at another centre.

As a result, the Ironmen requested the ice be left in until April 24, and further that the team would approach council if they made it to the finals.

Most of council, however, didn’t see the value in leaving the ice in.

Reeve Bernie Bailey immediately said he was concerned about the cost of leaving the ice in for “a small group” while Councillor Chris Palmer said council needed to consider supporting the team, the fans and the sponsors, which are all local businesses.

Luttenberger said council’s policy states that the ice comes out at the end of March, saying if the municipality kept it in until the end of April it would cost an additional $20,000.

“It costs roughly between $4,000 and $5,000 a week,” she said.

Luttenberger had worked with the Ironmen to try and find other groups to rent ice to make keeping the ice in place more affordable, however there wasn’t any interest.

She said that, to make leaving the ice in place feasible, there would need to be 35 hours of rentals a week.

COVID-19 vaccination numbers continue to increase in Huron and Perth Counties. (Citizen image)

Have an opinion on something in The Citizen? Send a letter to the editor to info@northhuron.on.ca.

Good Employees are hard to find

Big Jobs Little Jobs Odd Jobs Even Dirty Jobs Jab stats

Councillor Kevin Falconer asked if there were any minor sports teams in playoffs, to which Luttenberger said the provincial associations said it would be done by the end of March.

Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip suggested allowing the ice to stay in if the Ironmen could rent 15 hours of ice per week after it would normally be removed. Seip said it doesn’t have to be the Ironmen renting or using the ice, but someone needs to pay for 15 hours of ice time.

Luttenberger said that would only cover a portion of the extra costs.

Councillor Anita van Hittersum asked if there were any other venues that were remaining open, and Luttenberger noted that many local centres are keeping ice in beyond the end of March, including Howick (open through April 30), Harriston (April 9), Huron-Kinloss (April 10), Seaforth (April 10) and North Perth (April 30), prompting van Hittersum to ask if any users from those facilities that closed earlier would come to Wingham for extra ice. Luttenberger said she didn’t believe so.

Falconer asked if the Blyth arena could be used as a cost-saving measure and, while Luttenberger said it does cost less to operate, she said the Ironmen have refused to use that ice surface as it is smaller than the ice in Wingham.

While Palmer pushed to leave the ice in without additional costs until April 3 (the end of the second round of playoffs), council decided to go with Seip’s original motion, stating the Ironmen would need to pay for 15 hours of ice time per week that the ice stays in after March 31.

Let us help you find the ideal person!

Place an ad in our classified section in

The Citizen

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022. PAGE 13.

519-523-4311

www.ruralvoice.ca

Agriculture

BLYTH 519-523-4244

www.hurontractor.com

Brussels Livestock report

Veal, sheep, goats all sell steadily at weekly sale Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending March 4 were 1,415 cattle and 624 lambs and goats.

On Tuesday, fed steers and heifers sold actively at steady prices. Holstein steers and heifers sold on a higher market. Choice steers and heifers sold $168 to $175. Second-cut cattle sold $160 to $167. Aged and medium-fed steers and heifers sold $140 to $160. Holstein steers and heifers sold $94 to $161. Bulls sold $95.50 to $129. Cows sold steady.

On Thursday, veal sold steady.

Lambs sold slightly lower. Sheep and goats sold steady.

On Friday, calves sold steady.

Yearlings sold $3 to $5 higher.

K/C McAlpine of Ailsa Craig, consigned eight head. One limousin heifer weighed 1,485 lbs. and sold for a price of $175.

There were 200 cows on offer.

Beef sold $85 to $110; good holstein cows, $82 to $100; medium holstein cows, $70 to $80.

There were 130 head of veal on offer. Good holsteins sold $150 to $168; SL heavy holsteins, $113 to $147; heavy holsteins, $105 to

$134; medium holsteins, $125 to $149; plain holsteins, $113 to $125.

James Vanderheide of Mitchell, consigned nine head. One holstein steer weighed 665 lbs. and sold for a price of $168.

Danny A. Miller of Lucknow, consigned two head. One holstein steer weighed 705 lbs. and sold for a price of $168.

Lambs 50 - 64 lbs. sold $458 to $505; 65 - 79 lbs., $439 to $457.50; 80 - 94 lbs., $373 to $397.50; 95 109 lbs., $369 to $382; 110 lbs. and over, $317 to $365.

Sheep sold $100 to $275.

Goats: billies sold $150 to $400; nannies, $100 to $275; kids: dairy, $250 to $460; meat, $430 to $500.

Anthony Derijk of Clinton, consigned 32 head. Two lambs averaged 55 lbs. and sold for an average price of $505.

Top quality stocker steers under 400 lbs. sold $235 to $255; 400 499 lbs., $237 to $255; 500 - 599 lbs., $222 to $268; 600 - 699 lbs., $220 to $230.25; 700 - 799 lbs., $198.75 to $227; 800 - 899 lbs., $195.50 to $202; 900 - 999 lbs., $188 to $200.75; 1,000 lbs. and over, $177 to $191.25.

Prioritize your mental wellness: OFA

By Crispin Colvin, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture The days are becoming longer, brighter and as the snow melts a busy planting season looms ahead for Ontario’s farming community.

Many of us have waited in anticipation for the warmer temperatures and spent the winter months planning our crops, ordering inputs and ensuring our equipment is ready for when spring’s favourable weather gives us the green light.

However, as we prepare our business to perform to the best of its ability, we often forget that the farm’s most valuable asset is its people.

As farmers, we automatically assess our livestock and evaluate if they have overwintered well or need additional support. It is second nature to regularly monitor them for physical or mental changes, and to check for equipment that requires maintenance, but the people involved in the farm can benefit from maintenance and check-ins, too.

The full-steam-ahead pace of planting is stressful, sometimes allconsuming as your year’s success and livelihood is completely dependent on a short window of time to get crops in the ground. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) understands the unique stressors of farming and wants to remind its farming families of the mental health resources, training and supports readily available. We encourage everyone to incorporate mental health and wellness into their spring planting preparations by reaching out and accessing these resources, having conversations with friends and family or selfmonitoring your level of energy and fatigue.

It is important to take the time to do a self-assessment of how you are both physically, mentally and look out for your community. Asking yourself a few simple questions can help you better understand your current state of mind. For example, how have you and your loved ones fared this winter? Are you optimistic for the future or running low on hope, optimism and energy?

Are you looking forward to planting season or feeling overwhelmed with the unpredictability of weather,

increasing costs and potential market volatility?

The OFA has long advocated for mental health programs, tools, resources and supports that primarily focus on the unique stressors and needs of farmers.

Recently, we have seen our efforts come to fruition with the development and launch of the “In the Know” program and the “Farmer Wellness Initiative.”

Farmers are resilient, but it is important to recognize when you or someone you know needs help. In the Know training can help in identifying stress, depression, anxiety, substance misuse and empower you to start conversations around mental well-being. The training was developed in partnership with stakeholder groups that included the OFA, government representatives, social work, psychology, epidemiology and education.

In the Know is a mental health literacy program developed at the Ontario Veterinary College, created specifically to educate the agricultural community.

The facilitators provide a four-hour mental health literacy workshop tailored to farmers and producers.

With support from the OFA, the Canadian Mental Health Association – Ontario (CMHAOntario) branches offer this training across the province in rural and agricultural communities.

Who should take this course? In the Know training is meant for all farmers, producers and persons who often interact with the agriculture sector. Family members, peers, veterinarians, breeders, farm input providers, financial advisors, accountants and community members are all encouraged to complete the course.

In August of 2021, the Middlesex Federation of Agriculture (MFA) hosted In the Know training for local directors and members.

Participant Lucia Minten-Lilbourne commented that, “Mental health and wellness is an area that has always been of concern, however, has more recently come to the forefront. The opportunity to be part of a discussion has provided me with confidence to open a conversation, and an understanding of how to recognize someone who may be struggling.”

Minten-Lilbourne encounters many farmers in her multiple roles in the agricultural community, including serving as the staff coordinator for the MFA. She says, “Now I feel more aware and have the resources and contacts I need to direct others to a professional.”

As an organization, we have had 10 staff representatives complete a session of facilitator training, alongside CMHA-Ontario mental health trainers, which has been invaluable to their role assisting members with on-farm issues. We continue to support In the Know by providing agricultural context to these workshops and promoting upcoming sessions to our membership. Several county and regional federations have already collaborated with CMHA-Ontario to organize workshops in their areas. Many of these workshops are scheduled to take place in March and April. Check our calendar of events online to find out if In the Know is coming to your community.

For more individual support, the Farmer Wellness Initiative offers farmers across Ontario and members of their households access to up to four free counselling sessions with a mental health professional. These mental health professionals have received

training to understand the unique needs of Ontario farmers. This service is available 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. This project is provided with funding by the governments of Canada and Ontario, including support from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a fiveyear federal-provincial-territorial initiative.

To enquire about sessions in a community near you, or to set up a session for your club or organization, visit ontario.cmha.ca/ intheknow/ We encourage all members of the farming community to add these mental wellness tools to the toolbox as they plan and prepare for the busy season ahead.

Top quality stocker heifers 400 499 lbs. sold $179.50 to $190; 500 - 599 lbs., $189.75 to $217; 600 699 lbs., $189.75 to $217; 600 - 699 lbs., $191.50 to $203; 700 - 799 lbs., $181.50 to $195; 800 - 899 lbs., $170 to $188; 900 lbs. and over, $174 to $190.75.

Spike Bakker of Lucknow, consigned 13 head. Five charolais heifers averaged 704 lbs. and sold for an average price of $195.

Joseph Sherk of Wellesley, consigned 22 head. Seven charolais heifers averaged 890 lbs. and sold for an average price of $186.75.

Elam W. Bowman of Lucknow, consigned 14 head. Eight gold steers averaged 946 lbs. and sold for an average price of $200.75.

BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd.

UPCOMING SALES TUESDAYS 10:00 a.m.

Fed Cattle, Bulls & Cows

THURSDAYS

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

FRIDAYS

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

Call us 519-887-6461

Keep up with the latest agri-businesses and the best of rural living! $25 for 12 issues

Celebrating A Special Occasion?

$45 for 24 issues Please make cheques payable to North Huron Publishing Inc.

Advertise it in

The Citizen Call or email to book your ad today! **Buck & Doe **Anniversary **Wedding **New Baby **Graduation **Birthday

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

The magazine of Agricultural Life

Subscribe Today

www.ruralvoice.ca The Rural Voice 405 Queen St., P.O. Box 429 Blyth, ON N0M 1H0

PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022.

Classified Advertisements – RATES – 20 words or less only $7.00 + HST. Additional words 20¢ each + HST.

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

Articles for sale 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.

Coming events WORLD DAY OF PRAYER SERVICE will be held Friday, March 11, St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Brussels, 1 p.m. Please join in this annual ecumenical service.

09-2

Help wanted

Help wanted Help wanted In memoriam In memoriam KSE INC. Kurtis Smith Excavating Inc.

is currently looking to fill positions for

Crew Foremen Pipe Layers & Labourers for sewer and watermain installations.

Experience in pipe work & road reconstruction is an asset.

Also Equipment Operators Excavator, Dozer, Compact Track Loader, Dump Trucks and Mini Excavator

Experience preferred but will train the right person.

AZ licence an asset but not required.

Must have own transportation to our shop in Brussels. Students welcome to apply.

Looking for the perfect job?

Early Spring start

WE OFFER COMPETITIVE WAGES, BENEFITS AND GROUP RRSP PLAN. PLEASE SUBMIT RÉSUMÉ by fax 519-887-8856 or email to ksexc@hotmail.com or call the office 519-887-8855 and ask for Kurtis.

Check out the classified section of

The Citizen

The Corporation of the County of Huron’s Cultural Services Museum Department Is currently accepting applications for the following position:

PART-TIME EDUCATION AND PROGRAMMING ASSISTANT See www.huroncounty.ca for more information regarding qualifications and the application process. Please forward letter of application and resume in one PDF document by 4:30 p.m., April 19, 2022.

The County of Huron is an equal opportunity employer. Accessibility accommodations are available for all parts of the recruitment process.

Applicants need to make their needs known in advance. Only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted. Information is collected solely for the purpose of job selection under the provisions of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

The Corporation of the County of Huron’s Public Works Department Is currently accepting applications for the following position:

FULL-TIME BRIDGE WORKERS – WROXETER LOCATION

JOSLING. In loving memory of Paul, my husband and best friend, who passed away March 11, 2017.

I sat with you today you know, I sat right in your chair, I know I could not see you, But I knew that you were there.

I couldn’t hear your voice at all, But I heard every word that was spoken, I sat with you today you know, Calm, but yet so heart broken.

I know you follow me around, I have known it from the start, But sometimes I am afraid to look, So heavy is my heart.

I often feel you touch my face, Or think I feel you near, But when I try to see you, It’s like you just simply disappear.

I love you more and more each day; And beg for you to know, I find it harder every day, Just to let you go.

I’ll sit with you tomorrow, If that’s okay with you, Sometimes it feels the only thing, I still know what to do.

– I love you and miss you so much, Tiny.

10-1p -------------------------------------------JOSLING, Paul. In loving memory of our father and grandpa who passed away March 11, 2017.

He never looked for praises, He was never one to boast, He just went on quietly working, For the ones he loved the most.

His dreams were seldom spoken, His wants were very few, And most of the time his worries, Went unspoken too.

He was there… a firm foundation, Through all our storms of life, A sturdy hand to hold on to, In times of stress and strife.

A true friend we could turn to, When times were good or bad, One of our greatest blessings, The man that we called Dad. – Forever loved and missed so much, Jeff and Kelsy, Joanne and Mike, and grandchildren Kyle, Jacob, Emily, Keegan and Jett.

10-1p --------------------------------------------

JOSLING. In memory of our good friend Paul Josling who passed away March 11, 2017.

One thing we’ll always cherish, No matter what life sends, A memory of the happiness, Of us just being friends.

The world may never notice, If a snowdrop doesn’t bloom, Or even pause to wonder, If the petals fall too soon.

But every life, that ever forms, Or ever comes to be, Touches the world in some small way, For all eternity.

– Always remembered and missed

by Joan and Stephen.

10-1p -------------------------------------------TAYLOR. Harold Boyd Taylor, May 10, 1933 to March 10, 2009.

Your life was a blessing, Your memory a treasure, You were loved beyond measure.

Your presence we miss, Your memory we treasure, Loving you always, forgetting you never.

– Much love, Muriel.

10-1

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

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

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

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

Let us help you turn that junk into $$ See www.huroncounty.ca for more information regarding qualifications and the application process. Please forward letter of application and résumé in one PDF document by 4:30 p.m., March 11, 2022.

The County of Huron is an equal opportunity employer. Accessibility accommodations are available for all parts of the recruitment process.

Applicants need to make their needs known in advance. Only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted. Information is collected solely for the purpose of job selection under the provisions of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

• 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 - red Chieftain potatoes, $5 for 25 lbs. Call 519887-9456.

10-3 -----------------------------------------FREE - loveseat, 64"x34"x24", pattern ranging pale to dark gray with a full-sized brown loveseat cover, first come, first serve. No delivery. Call 519-955-2682.10-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE - ground mounted 30" circular saw, belt driven, $150 or best offer. 519-441-1517.

09-3 ------------------------------------------

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

www.huroncitizen.ca

FOR SALE - W/M BERKO electric shop heater, 220 volt 4800 watt with fan, blows hot air, $60.

New Fordyce. 519-357-2957.09-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE - 2 used snow tires on 150 Ford rims, very low mileage, size: 245/70R17. Asking $300.

519-523-9330.

09-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE - beautiful oak 8-piece dining room suite, like new, $600.

Call 519-482-8591.

09-3 ------------------------------------------

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022. PAGE 15.

School bullying a concern

Celebration It was time for celebration and jubilation on Saturday, as the U11 C Huron Heat took to the Blyth and District Community Centre ice for a game against the St. Marys Rock. While the locals didn’t notch a loss, they came up just short of the win as well, tying the visitors at two.

(John Stephenson photo)

Well, we are now at week five since Wiarton Willie forecasted an early spring. Seems like the other prognosticators had it right.

Although we experienced rain on the weekend, snow and cold temperatures are in the forecast for next week, which will bring us to the six-week mark. I expect the maple syrup makers are unsure of their season so far; it's been rather up and down.

We drove to Stratford on Sunday and remarked at how much water was lying in the fields. I can only assume the ground is still frozen in spite of what was really only a scant snow cover this season.

Mother Teresa said: “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” This quote is a lead into the rest of this space this week.

Rev. Jan Aylward led the service at Londesborough United on Sunday, March 6, the first Sunday of Lent. Jan reminded everyone of the tradition of “giving up something for the weeks of Lent”.

Rather, she challenged those

Obituaries for their loving care and affection.

Arrangements were entrusted to Falconer Funeral Homes, Clinton Chapel.

Messages of condolence for the Cartwright family are welcomed at www.falconerfuneralhomes.com

BERVA RUTH CARTWRIGHT Berva Ruth Cartwright passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family at Clinton Public Hospital on Saturday, March 5, 2022. She was in her 80th year.

Berva was the beloved wife of Douglas Cartwright and the dearly loved mother of Brian Cartwright and Anne Bornath, King City and Dean Cartwright, Mitchell. She was the cherished grandma of Aerin, Devon and Natalie and will be fondly remembered by Noelle Newton. Berva was the sister-inlaw of Betty and Bruce Lockhart, Olive Grealis and Arnold Bruce.

She will be dearly missed by her nieces, nephews and many friends.

Berva was a tireless volunteer for her many community passions. She especially enjoyed her work in support of the Clinton Public Hospital Auxiliary.

A private family celebration of life and interment will be held later in the spring at Baird's Cemetery, Stanley Township.

As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations to the Clinton Public Hospital Foundation would be greatly appreciated.

The family wishes to extend their thanks and gratitude to the staff of Clinton Public Hospital

MILDRED EMMA LEADER Mildred Emma Leader of Wingham passed away at her home on Sunday, March 6, 2022. She was 89.

Millie was the beloved wife of the late Donald Leader who predeceased her in 2009. She was the cherished mom of Donna Thacker, London; Dianne and Wayne Johnston, Wingham; Brian and Laurrie Leader, Bowmanville and Ed and Adrianna Leader, Oshawa and the dear mother-in-law of Elizabeth Leader, Calgary.

Millie was the loving grandma of 11 grandchildren, 11 greatgrandchildren and two great-greatgrandchildren. She was the sisterin-law of George Adams, Brussels; Cherie Farrish, Listowel and Helen Farrish, Goderich. Millie will be lovingly remembered by her many nieces, nephews and friends. She was predeceased by her parents Elmer and Hilda (Whyte) Farrish, her son Rick Leader, her brothers

Alex, Jasper, Bower and Johnston Farrish, her sisters Martha Farrish and Maxine Adams, her brother-inlaw Allan Leader and his wife Barb and one granddaughter and one grandson both in infancy.

A private memorial service was held on Wednesday, March 9 at McBurney Funeral Home, Wingham. A livestream of the funeral is available on the funeral home’s website.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Wingham and District Hospital (Ladies Auxiliary) would be appreciated.

Online condolences may be left at www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com

present to give something away.

For this week she suggested we give the gift of generosity; one time or even once a day. Moreover she suggested we need not tell anyone but just do it anonymously. One generous act, no matter how insignificant, by one person to even one other person, can echo endlessly.

“To vax or not to vax, that is the question” causing endless troubles in our individual worlds at present.

It is my right/privilege to express my opinion. And it is your right/privilege to express your own opinion, or in this case to vax or not.

But it is devastating to realize that this simple act is now splitting families, breaking friendships, destroying workplaces and polarizing neighbours.

The freedom to choose does not give anyone the right to make those of a differing opinion wrong, uncomfortable or in need of “educating”. Why can it not be just a quiet decision? Does everything need to be a big deal that creates chaos in someone else’s world/life?

Does your decision need to make Facebook? Remember the golden rule?

These overtones of bullying led me right into the freedom that is being taken away from millions of Russians and Ukrainians because Vladimir Putin feels he has a right to do so. Being good to each other and offering help along the way is lost through these acts of bullying and war.

Apparently the sunflower has become the symbol of freedom for Ukrainians. Think about your own freedoms and how you want to enjoy/exercise them when you see a sunflower from now on.

Which brings me to the stories I have been hearing about the bullying that is happening in our

local elementary school. How is this different from what Putin has launched on the world other than the scale of the events?

No matter how parents and educators struggle to impart good living virtues to our youth, some are missing the message. Schools reward the catchphrases of the week, like generosity, sharing, helping, listening, caring, etc. when a child is found to exhibit these values.

But can we point a finger at our young people when they fail to be kind when they can look around and see the adults in their lives, communities or around the world flaunting those values? We need to examine our own actions and how our lives are seen by others and especially the impressionable. Be the right example.

Well, off my soapbox now.

No matter how you answered that original question, stay masked, stay apart and stay well. Be generous this week.

NEWS FROM LONDESBORO Remembering your loved one

Honour your loved one by placing their obituary in

The Citizen.

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

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

PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022.

Ambitious crews tapping trees PEOPLE AROUND WALTON

By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570

A tough loss The Blyth Brussels U9 Rep Crusaders were in action on Saturday morning at the Blyth and District Community Centre, but suffered an overtime loss to the Mitchell Meteors. The home team battled valiantly, but in the end the Blyth Brussels crew came up on the wrong end of a 4-3 score in overtime. (John Stephenson photo)

The ride goes on with the weather! Temperatures are up and down with snow and wind and then we had a weekend of wind warnings, bit of rain and high temperatures that had people out with sweaters and light coats and even shorts. Of course, with the mild temperatures causing melting snow, that means mud. Cooler weather arrived and firmed the roads and ground up again.

The really warm weather had not hit yet when driving the mail route last week, when I witnessed an ambitious crew tapping trees. They have tapped many, many trees on Cardiff Road and some on Brandon Road along the roadside. Most of the trees have two pails on them with taps or spigots with hose running to the pails attached.

It is also really nice to head out in the morning to see that it is not dark. No more flashlight required to check out the bus because it is light out. The time changes to Daylight Saving Time on March 13 and then we will be back to darkness but thankfully, that will not last long.

It seems to be in the spring when we see a lot of trucks parked along the sides of the road, down the sideroads, and driving all around them. Most of them have cages in the back. Yes, they are the coyote hunters. Every day on my travels, I see them somewhere. The other

Rediscover Ontario this summer.

There’s so much to do and see here. From wine tasting to scenic trails, nights at a family resort and everything in between.

Get up to 20% back on your Ontario staycation.

Find out more and plan your next overnight getaway at DestinationOntario.com

day, we saw the dogs running across the field across the road from our place. We didn’t see a coyote, but we did see one three days later in the field.

The melting snow means the return of bicycles to the streets.

Watch out for the kids who are eager to ride and may forget to look.

Celebrating birthdays this past week were VeraLyn Smith, Slaone McCallum, Sandra Watson Webb, Brooklyn Murray, Elaina Jarosz, Debra Fraser, Melissa Glanville Brand, Dean Hackwell, Ruthann Hoegy, Andy Pethick, Nicole Stevenson (the big 50), Brian Wilbee, Kaleigh McCallum, Neil McDonald, William Ringgenberg, Jerry Zwep, Allison Braecker, Eric Ross, Fred McClure and Bridget McCallum. Happy birthday to all.

NEWS FROM WALTON

Gravel increase minimal

By Denny Scott The Citizen

After a significant increase in gravel tender prices in 2021, Morris-Turnberry Council found out this year’s increase would be a matter of cents on the tonne, which is what staff expected.

“Last year we saw a 27 per cent increase over the two years before,” Director of Public Works Mike Alcock said. “This year, it’s going to be very close. We were at $10.80 per tonne delivered, and we’ll be increasing to $11 or $11.25 per tonne, delivered, depending on where it’s going to go.”

Alcock said the 2022 price would be 26 per cent higher than the 2020 price, but a minimal increase over

the 2021 price point. In total, the tendered amount was $400,425.

Alcock said that, while three tender packages were taken, only Joe Kerr Ltd. provided a bid on the project.

The tender included gravel for the entire municipality, and Alcock was glad to have the submission from Joe Kerr Ltd. as the company had provided gravel to the municipality for years.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022. PAGE 17.

From the Minister’s Study

Lent is a fitting season for our times: Jebson

By Student Minister Alex Jebson Blyth, Brussels United Churches Friends, we have arrived at the season of Lent. Forty days (not counting Sundays) up until Easter, this Lent might feel like it hit us with the grace and style of a boulder plopping into a pond. But in many ways, this season of Lent is extremely fitting for our times.

The term Lent has its origins in a few different places – the first, from the Old English “lencten”, which refers to the lengthening days of spring, which makes sense with the burst of spring temperatures and weather we’re having this weekend.

Yet more importantly, it also derives from the French term, “lente”, meaning “slowly”. In this season when we are called to focus on our part in our relationship with God and all that God loves, we ought to take a slower and more intentional approach. And given the state of the world and the strain that two years of the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked on our communities, we’re probably going a bit slower and feeling quite weighed down anyways. I certainly feel that way at this time – almost like walking around with a backpack filled with stones.

In this season of facing the hard truths and unloading the stones that weigh us down, we are presented with the narrative of the Temptation of Jesus (Luke 4:1-13). It comes every year in the church lectionary, seemingly carved into stone. And for good reason! We are constantly weighed down by temptations and actions that go against the ways of our loving and gracious God; some are obvious to us, the parts of ourselves that are stony and cold.

Meanwhile, others are so ingrained in our societies and economies, we have no idea we partake in them, or just how much they weigh us down.

To reflect on this faith narrative at the start of Lent helps us to faithfully name these heavy temptations, and just how tempting they are. I don’t know of many preachers who would quote the Queen of Bawdiness herself, Mae West, but she got it right when she said, “I generally avoid temptation unless I can’t resist it,”,as well as “between two evils, I always pick the one I haven’t tried before.”

But we can be assured of our faithful reflection of these temptations with God, because in Christ, the Holy One faced the same temptations that taunt us to this very day. Real heavy ones, too.

Jesus wasn’t just trying to find a way to work a SlimFast diet into

His ministry. The temptations we find in this faith narrative rock the very core of our relationship with God. The first temptation sees the Tempter try to taunt Jesus into turning the rock He had been using as a pillow in this wilderness cavern into bread – no word on the type of bread, but I bet a nice brioche would have hit the spot. But this temptation of Jesus isn’t (just) trying to warn us off carbs. What the Tempter tried to encourage in Jesus, and in all of us, is to think of ourselves as fully beyond the need for God, to be self-sufficient and self-serving.

This isn’t the reality of our relationship with God or with one another, but time and time again we are tempted to think as such. This was true way back when, for a people who had been freed from slavery and fed manna in the wilderness, they risked thinking themselves alone, and failed to offer bread to others in need.

Today, we are often weighed down by this ourselves. In a society that prizes going at it alone and getting ahead of the pack, we fail to recognize our need for God and one another.

While tempting to think that we can rely on only ourselves, when that delusion finally comes crashing down, the weight can feel all the more unbearable, because we have cut off or abused our ties with those who could help support us, and struggle to understand how to reach out to God. The second temptation is all the power and wealth and dominions of the world, if only Jesus would

worship the Tempter. This one would certainly appeal to those to whom Jesus ministered – having been a pebble in the midst of mountainous empires for centuries, the people of Israel would have loved to return to grandeur once again. In fact, that is what many people expected Jesus to be as Messiah, a great conqueror. They wanted to take things into their own hands, rather than rely on the God who is the true sustainer.

Few of us would turn down the tempting, yet ill-gotten chance to have a bit of power, or to have what our well-off neighbours and strangers possess. It would seem like such a boon would have us riding high, but in reality, it weighs us down further and strains our relationship with God. The weariness of constant comparison with one another and the urge for uniformity. As well, with the temptation comes the risk of abusing power and privilege, weighing others down more so you feel more secure. There’s plenty of that in our lives and in the world.

The third and final temptation has the Tempter try to get Jesus to jump off the highest tower in the Temple in Jerusalem, since God would surely break his fall. There is assurance in the sustaining care that God provides – such a steadfast love, that even the Tempter speaks of it in their attempt to sway Jesus.

But to trust and to test are two different things. As Old Testament Scholar James D. Newsome puts it, “God’s all-encompassing care is not a commodity to be gained by human beings through wheedling; it is, instead, a promise that no one

Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Join Us In Person Sundays at 10:00 am Masks required

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

MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Indoor Worship 11:00 am every Sunday As per HPPH Unit requirements, masks are mandatory to be worn during worship services and social distancing practiced. In addition, all other meetings held in Melville require proof of double vaccination.

Evangelical Missionary Church

Sunday March 13, 10:30 a.m.

2nd Sunday in Lent Pastor Ernest Dow, “The High Calling of Being a Royal Priesthood” (1Peter 2:1-10)

519-357-5273

Blyth United Church Global Covid Vaccine Project continues Send/give donations to Church treasurer

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

weighed down by them. The God who faced such temptations in Christ is the God who offers us a sheltering wing and transformative grace to counter these temptations, and an unbelievable amount of compassion and forgiveness when we do stumble in the stones.

In Jesus’ temptation narrative, the thing that keeps Jesus on the right path and opposing the ways of nonloving kindness is an assurance of relationship with God and with others. If we take the time to consider slowly and deeply just how interrelated and beloved each and every one of us is, the more we can see the flashy temptations for Continued on page 19

The Regional Ministry of Hope Churches are now open 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 WELCOME to Worship March 13 2nd Sunday of Lent, at 9:30 am Masks are required, social distancing encouraged

Also on YouTube Sunday afternoon Lent Devotional Service Fridays at 10:30 am Contact Alex for Zoom link Global Covid Vaccine project continues Send or give donation to Church Treasurer

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

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

Join us for worship in person at 11 am or online later

Sunday School during Worship

ventures outside the realm of God’s care.”

If we are tempted to be flippant with the love and care of God, we won’t truly appreciate it. We also run the risk of devaluing the love and care that God calls us to offer to one another. I think it’s safe to say in the past two years, we have seen plenty of people tempted to test God’s care and forsaking common sense and our responsibility to the most vulnerable in our world.

It must seem like at times we can’t do anything right, that the temptations of selfishness and insecurity sit like a boulder on our chests. How marvelous, then, that we are not doomed to be forever

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10) 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, MARCH 10, 2022.

Letters TO THE

Editor Canada in need of climate action Fossil fuels are heating up the planet. People across Canada and around the world are already facing serious consequences, like wildfires, heatwaves and floods. In the last year alone, we saw the town of Lytton, British Columbia, burn to the ground from extreme wildfires and the town of Mission devastated after unprecedented flooding.

If we stay on our current path, things will get much worse. It’s no exaggeration to say that we are in a climate emergency.

Luckily, we know the solution.

The world needs to transition to 100 per cent renewable energy as quickly as possible and, crucially, we must do it in a way that leaves no one behind. In other words, we need the Just Transition Act that

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised back in 2019.

Ending the era of fossil fuels isn’t just about swapping oil and gas out for renewables. Experts agree that we need to make sweeping changes to everything from transportation to agriculture to manufacturing and even our own homes. It also means ending our dependence on profit-driven corporations that don’t care about workers of the planet.

Rising to this challenge is going to take a ton of work, which means we have an opportunity to generate millions of decent jobs. Unlike our current fossil fuel dependent economy, we can build a green economy that genuinely values workers, offers them much needed protections, and helps our communities thrive.

All this is possible with a Just Transition Act that takes care of workers, communities and the climate. Now that Parliament is back in session, it’s about time that our MPs get to work and pass Canada’s Just Transition Act. Sincerely, Sandford Anderson.

Good people on both sides While reading The Citizen recently what leapt out was the “convoy” farmers and truckers, etc. didn’t represent them nor the various spokespeople they referenced to provide excuse for the editorial rants. Okay. Fair enough.

Especially if it is a peaceful process which this one was in spite of the hysterics.

We all have a say, only it turns out we don’t all have a say or are able to present two sides. Some people need to get off their high horse, pun intended, and actually listen to both sides of this debate before lining up on party lines. Because there are two sides, both of which carry some weight in my opinion. And we all live side by side even in our local communities visibly demonstrated by the local flag-bearing convoys we see in various nearby roadways and towns. I won't get into it here but do your own research before demonizing anyone.

The closing of the border crossings did slow trade flow.

However, I understand it was already slowed by lack of critical components in the process of putting cars together. That shortage was created in part by the shutdown. A bit of irony there.

One would wish a calmer voice from the political side might have used a voice of reason to allow some movement.

The column seems to imply if not actually state that the whole thing was fueled by mainly disruptive farright U.S. dollars and protest groups which is demonstrably false.

While there was some money donated by people from the U.S., to my knowledge that was after the fact and never made it to the participants as numerous hands reached out to grab it. This was a grassroots demonstration that caught fire and mushroomed in a remarkable way literally across the world.

The media made great efforts to focus on anyone who could be condemned for “hateful” views. In the column, the leadership of the convoy was immediately dismissed as people with “hateful views”. I am not disputing that here. It is a

rabbit hole down which all rational thought seems to vapourize. But I do I say again here. There are two sides to this. Try to understand both sides.

The article then devolves into sidebars of trying to compare leaders to right wing supporters in the U.S. I have seen the videos of U.S. protestors who were “mostly peaceful” as stores and police cars burned and looting was rampant.

Those were not even faintly right wing protestors. Ottawa saw no burning storefronts nor was rock throwing in sight. Same at the border crossings to my knowledge.

It is notable now that we saw people beaten, run over by police on horses and seriously injured by those same police, but no violence from the protesters. Bouncy castles and hot tubs though. That was an artistic touch. The world has turned again with wars and rumours of wars, but the problems at home remain the same.

Try to hear both sides of this.

Understand what is being said. Not the spin that various mouth pieces try to throw on it. Listen. Please.

Bob Hulley.

Business Directory Bernard Enterprises Authorized dealer for

COME IN AND VISIT YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD PHARMASAVE

BROWN’S PHARMASAVE

Central Boiler 37452 Glen’s Hill Road R.R. #2, Auburn, Ont. N0M 1E0

198 Josephine St., Wingham, Ont. 519-357-1629

Ph: 519-529-7212 Fax: 519-529-3277

Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9 - 6 Sat. 9 - 4 Rear Parking Available

Snowblowers, Land Rollers, Stone Windrowers, Sweepers, Crimper Rollers, Quick Attach Buckets & Woodsplitters.

Full Machine Shop & Repair Services

Easy Prescription Transfer

PAUL COOK ELECTRIC Home, Farm & Commercial Wiring BELGRAVE

519-357-1537

Free delivery in Wingham & surrounding area

Email: info@smythwelding.com

www.smythwelding.com

Introduce Yourself to Hundreds of Local Customers

Here’s my

CARD Call Brenda at 519-887-9114 to reserve this spot today!

LOCAL CLEANING services

Residential, staging, moving and decluttering

519 743 3249 Affordable CAR AND TRUCK RENTALS

Large & Small Trucks fridge carts - piano dollysmoving blankets

NEW CONSTRUCTION AGRICULTURAL RENOVATIONS RESIDENTIAL

Call

- COMPLETE MECHANICAL SERVICE COMPUTERIZED TUNE-UPS - TIRES - BRAKES MUFFLERS - VEHICLE INSPECTION STATION

DAN'S AUTO REPAIR Owned and Operated by Dan & Heather Snell

RR 3, Blyth, Ont. N0M 1H0 (on the Westfield Rd.)

DAN SNELL,

519-523-4356 Warm Warm Up Up Your Your Winter Winter Sales!

Sales!

Advertise Advertise today today in in

4:30 pm to 6:30 pm

226-532-9500 Easy prescription transfers Monday to Friday 10 am - 6 pm

519-524-9381 1-800-338-1134

Hidden Gems of Huron County 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114

Lakeside

SHELVING & RACKING

Large instock selection of pallet racking, store shelving, display cases and more for Industrial, Residential, Farm & Retail

Talk to us instead.

TO L L - F R E E

1-877-513-5333

Blyth Walk-In Clinic ONTARIO MEDICAL DRIVERS NO APPOINTMENT REQUIRED. $150 Open Monday

BLYTH PHARMACY

344 Huron Rd. GODERICH

For All Your Concrete Needs!

Automotive Technician

Our rates qualify for insurance replacement

GODERICH TOYOTA

COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL • Foundations • Floor Finishing • Circular Tanks • Sandwich Walls FREE ESTIMATES RR#3 Blyth ~ Fax 519-523-9604 519-523-9971

RR #4 Brussels centralboiler.com

Complete Selection of Cars

full size or mini

CONCRETE FORMING

519-887-6405

519-524-0253

Passenger Vans

Dave Franken

Classic Outdoor Wood Furnaces, Edge Outdoor Wood Furnaces & Maxim Wood Pellet and Corn Burners Gasification units available Inquire about our new edges Carman Bernard

www.lakesideshelving.com lakesidemarket@gmail.com 33842 Market Rd., North of Goderich, off Hwy. 21

519-524-1740

Call 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 to book your spot today!

Free Delivery Ph: 226-256-8383 Fax: 226-256-8503

442 Queen St., Blyth, ON

Take time to check out our great selection of books.

Perfect for all ages and all occasions.

The Citizen 405 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4792

541 Turnberry St., Brussels 519-887-9114

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022. PAGE 19.

Entertainment & Leisure

Festival to raise funds for Ukraine with show crushing to see what is happening in Eastern Europe and we knew as an organization we needed to do something tangible. The play Ms. Makuch and Pyretic have created is extraordinary.

They built the script through grassroots, immersive story building, traveling to Ukraine over and over for years, gathering interviews and insights. These artists have tried to hold the heart of Ukraine in their hands and share it.

We are all richer for it,” Garratt said.

During the pre-recorded event, links to donate to the Red Cross and

the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation groups will be featured and easily found both on Blyth Festival social media channels and the Blyth Festival website at blythfestival.com. The Blyth Festival urges audiences to donate generously.

The recording will be available on the Blyth Festival YouTube channel for the next month.

For more information regarding this event, contact Garratt at ggarratt@blythfestival.com or Blyth Festival General Manager Rachael King at rking@blythfestival.com.

Happy 90th Birthday!

An amazing milestone birthday for Pete Van Veen who was born on March 16th 90 years ago!

For a great cause The Blyth Festival is working with Pyretic Productions to present an online reading of Barnivok, an award-winning play written by Edmonton-based playwright Lianna Makuch, on March 10 to raise humanitarian funds for Ukraine. The above image was captured during the play’s Toronto run at the Tarragon Theatre. Back row, from left: Tanya Pacholok, Maxwell Lebeuf, Larissa Pohoreski, Oscar Derkx and Lisa Norton.

Lianna Makuch is in front. (Photo courtesy of Dahlia Katz) Blyth Festival Artistic Director Gil Garratt has announced that on Thursday, March 10, the Blyth Festival, in partnership with Pyretic Productions, will be presenting an online reading of Barvinok by Edmonton-based playwright Lianna Makuch to raise humanitarian funds for Ukraine.

Originally produced by Pyretic Productions in association with

Punctuate! Theatre in Edmonton in 2018, the production garnered four Sterling Award nominations and in March of 2019 went on to be produced at Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre; plans for a national tour were scuttled by the COVID-19 pandemic. Barvinok is a two-act play directed by Patrick Lundeen, and starring Lianna Makuch, Mariya Khomutova, Andrew

Kushnir, Maxwell Lebeuf, Tanya Pacholok and Christina Nguyen.

Lianna Makuch is a second generation Ukrainian-Canadian theatre artist. She is the playwright and principal performer in Barvinok, which has garnered her awards and recognition from across the country and internationally.

“This is a moment in history our generation has not seen before. It is

Don’t bear burdens alone: Jebson Continued from page 18 the weights and sins that they truly are. We also recognize that God finds us worthy of care and compassion – in not being alone or on top of the food chain, we are assured that we are not rejected.

Instead, we are tempted by an irresistible grace, offered by a mothering and nurturing God beyond compare; a care and love that sustains us in the wildest wilderness and our weakest moments and times of hurt, that wanders with us amongst the stones and situations that most need God in our lives.

Our slow Lenten journey is with God. This is the reality of our lives and our lesson for today. It’s one we theoretically know by heart: we pray every time, “… and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” But sometimes we need a reminder when the world and our lives come a-tumblin’ down.

This assurance of God’s care and help in warding off temptation isn’t some magic spell or ticket for an easy ride. Indeed, it was the Holy Spirit that drove Jesus to the wilderness in the first place. And, spoiler alert, this Lenten journey is going to get heavier as we get closer to Holy Week. What it does mean is that we can have full trust in God in the rocky places, as well as the times of flying high. And it

means that we have a faithful call in the One who opposed these temptations to help lighten the loads of others, to extend our hands and hearts in loving care with the strength and grace of eagle’s wings.

So, on this Lenten journey, it’s okay to take it slow. It’ll give you a chance to reflect and honestly name what stones weigh us down, what things strain our relationship with God and one another. Like countless generations past and present, draw from our faith narrative for reminders of God’s compassion and care for us, and how God wants us to relate to God and one another. See where others have been weighed down, and how God helped them unload and take

Sudoku Solution

We are so blessed to be able to celebrate your special day with you!

Lots of love, your wife Margaret, your children and their spouses, all of your many grandchildren & great-grandchildren!

Happy 65th George!

March 13

flight in faith. In our rock-solid God, and in the sharing and caring in community, we don’t bear the burdens alone. We see a way of living and loving that is far greater than any bread, kingdom or trust fall can offer. Thanks be to God. Amen.

From Dan, Heather and family

Brighten Their Day with our Celebration Special During this time of social distancing don’t forget your loved one’s special day with our limited time special price for celebration ads (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.)

2" wide x 3" high 4" wide x 3" high

$30 + tax

includes colour

The Citizen

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

$60 + tax

includes colour

PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022.

HE to support new G2G trailhead area

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Huron East Council has agreed to support the development of a new kiosk and rest area along the Goderich-to-Guelph (G2G) Rail Trail between Walton and Monkton.

Council decided to support the project at its March 1 meeting, which was held virtually via Zoom.

This came after Chris Lee of G2G Trail Inc. spoke to council at its Feb. 15 meeting, requesting financial aid and in-kind services to assist in the creation of a parking lot, kiosk, portable bathroom and trail head on McNaught Line at the former McNaught Rail Station.

“The G2G Trail Group is requesting up to $6,500 to purchase an accessible washroom and up to $1,500 to supply gravel to establish a parking lot on the former McNaught station property and inkind support from the municipality in the form of equipment and personnel to assist with grading the area and placing the gravel,” Chief Administrative Officer Brad McRoberts wrote in his report, presented to council at its March 1 meeting.

McRoberts said that, if council

were to approve his recommendation, the required $8,000 could be withdrawn from the municipality’s parkland reserve which, as of Jan. 31, held an available balance of just under $80,000.

Deputy-Mayor Bob Fisher said he was in favour of granting the request, but felt the municipality should use the opportunity to erect a wayfinding board, directing trail users to amenities and attractions in nearby Huron East communities like Brussels and Seaforth.

McRoberts said that concept was part of Lee’s original pitch, that a trail map could be featured on one side of the board, with local businesses and attractions on the other.

Fisher, however, thought Huron East should consider erecting its own board, in the event of a change of ownership of the trail or any further changes to the kiosk, to ensure that the municipality would always be represented and marketed in that spot.

No action was taken as a result of Fisher’s suggestion. Council did, however, approve McRoberts’ recommendation to assist in the creation of a new trailhead and rest area at the McNaught trailhead.

When in need...

After making an announcement regarding welcoming Ukrainian refugees to Huron and Perth Counties, members of the Multicultural Association of Perth-Huron began collecting items like blankets for those in need as a result of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. (Denny Scott photo)

Check out these great books!

Young Canada Week returns to Goderich

By Denny Scott The Citizen The Goderich Lions Young Canada Week is returning to Goderich after a two-year hiatus and welcoming more teams than ever.

Past Goderich Lions President Mike Alcock told The Citizen that the event is returning after the hiatus with some changes, including welcoming three age groups instead of the traditional one: PeeWee (U13), Bantam (U15) and Midget (U18).

Alcock, alongside Goderich Minor Hockey volunteers led by President Mike McBride, have worked hard to get the expanded tournament operational.

According to information provided by Alcock, all three age groups are filled and the tournament is set to go forward with 40 teams, including some on a waiting list. The event, which will mark the 71st iteration of the tournament, will run from March 11 to March 19, with games running from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day.

The U13 teams will play March 11-13, the U16 on March 14-16 and the U18 on March 17-19.

Alcock said he’s happy to be a part of keeping the decades-old tournament going and that the tournament has attracted teams from near and far.

For more information, visit goderichminorhockey.ca.

OHL’s Knights may return to Clinton

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen The London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League may be returning to Huron County later this year to play another exhibition game in Clinton at the Central Huron Community Complex.

Central Huron Councillor Dan Colquhoun raised the issue on Monday night at council’s first regular meeting of the month, saying someone had reached out and told him that the organization would be interested in returning to the area if Clinton would be a willing host.

The Knights have been in Huron County before, playing exhibition games in Clinton and hosting an open practice in Blyth.

Colquhoun said the organization

expressed interest in playing a game in Clinton in either late August or early September.

Facilities Manager Steve Duizer said from an ice quality perspective, September would be preferable to August, speculating that the centre would not be able to provide ice of a high enough quality to host the game in late August, noting that previous Knights engagements in Clinton had been hosted on Sept. 8 and Sept. 14, respectively, in previous years.

Mayor Jim Ginn didn’t take an official vote, but gauged the interest of council and told Colquhoun and Duizer that council was “good with it” and that hosting a hockey game of that calibre again would be a real positive for the community.

Duizer said he would follow up with the organization to begin the planning process.

A DOG TO GIVE BUILD YOUR AWAY SPACE Dr. Dave has become Are you looking for acquainted with many ways to create animals throughout wheelchair the years, but not one accessible has had as much accommodations?

Author, Julie impact on his practice, Sawchuk guides and his life, as Lug, you through the the stray he invited to process of stay. This book will planning an accessible space, from a warm the hearts of anyone who has ever single bathroom to a whole home. $20.00 loved a dog. $12.95

WOODPECKERS OF NORTH AMERICA Woodpeckers are fascinating birds, using their beaks to find food and communicate. See beautiful colour photos and learn about 28 North American species, their feeding habits and their benefit to the environment. $24.95

HOMEMADE TREATS FOR HAPPY, HEALTHY DOGS Treat your dog to the tastiest and healthiest biscuits.

Offering 47 recipes for the canine connoisseur of fine foods. If dogs could read this would be their favourite cookbook. $5.95

WORKSHOPS YOU CAN BUILD Whether you want a little carpentry workshop, a gardening workshop or a pottery or artist’s studio, this book provides plans and instructions. There are even plans for compact workshops you can build into a closet. $24.95

Prices subject to change with increases in wholesale prices, postage, taxes, etc. Please refer to current issue for correct figures.

Incorrect payment will delay delivery.

The Citizen

Total

Qty.

A DOG TO GIVE AWAY BUILD YOUR SPACE HOMEMADE TREATS FOR HAPPY, HEALTHY DOGS WOODPECKERS OF NORTH AMERICA WORKSHOPS YOU CAN BUILD HATESHIP, FRIENDSHIP, COURTSHIP, LOVESHIP, MARRIAGE

HATESHIP, FRIENDSHIP, COURTSHIP, LOVESHIP, MARRIAGE A stunning collection of nine short stories that deal with the substance of adult life by Nobel prize winner Alice Munro. $21.00

$12.95 $20.00 $5.95 $24.95 $24.95 $21.00

Total for Books Shipping & Handling $9.00 Add 5% GST on subtotal Order Total

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

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

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

New titles being added as we build the site.

Mail order or curbside pick up available.