The Citizen - March 7, 2019

INSIDE THIS WEEK:

FARM SAFETY - Pg. 10

RESCUE - Pg. 12

FORUM - Pg. 13

Local farmer shares his story of injury, survival

Blyth neighbours band together to rescue horse

Local farmers consult with Thompson, Lobb

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Volume 35 No. 10

Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County

Thursday, March 7, 2019

Cottrills head to nationals

By Denny Scott The Citizen

Tough contest The Blyth Brussels Novice Rep Crusaders are up to their eyeballs in playoff contests these days after winning the Silver Stick tournament late last year, but they found

themselves on the losing end of a 5-3 score on Saturday in Blyth.

The Crusaders had beaten the West Grey Warriors on March 1 in Normanby 4-2, but then lost on home ice. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

Shawn and Katie Cottrill of Belgrave will be competing in their fourth national mixed doubles championship later this month; their first time representing their home province of Ontario.

In the past several years, the Cottrills have managed a berth in the championship based on season points alone, but, after a big win in Brampton over the weekend, the duo will be representing the province in the national competition in Fredericton, New Brunswick, beginning March 19.

Teams can compete in the tournament either through points or through winning provincial championships, earning the right to represent their home province as the Cottrills now have, realizing a major achievement for the couple.

“This has been one of our numberone goals since we started competing in mixed doubles six years ago,” Shawn said in an interview with The Citizen. “We lost in the final in 2015, lost in the semis in 2016 and haven’t been back to the playoffs since. It was pretty Continued on page 2

Local teams keep alive as playoffs continue

By Denny Scott The Citizen Local teams continued with their playoff drives over the past week, with Blyth Brussels Crusaders and Huron Heat squads fighting to stay in the postseason.

BLYTH BRUSSELS CRUSADERS The Novice Rep Crusaders posted a win and a loss against the West Grey Warriors over the past week, beating the Warriors 4-2 in Normanby on March 1, but then losing a home game against the team 5-3 in Blyth on March 2.

The squad also faced off against the Arthur Vipers this week in backto-back game days, starting in Arthur on March 5 and back in Brussels on March 6. No score was available at press time for either game.

The Atom Local League Black Crusaders posted a 5-1 win over the Huron-Bruce Blizzard on March 2 in Brussels and will next face off against the Zurich Thunder in Zurich on March 8.

The Atom Local League Burgundy Crusaders fell to the Mitchell Meteors on March 2 in Brussels and were bested 5-0 by the BCH Ice

Dogs 2 on Feb. 27 in Hensall. The squad also faced off against the BCH Ice Dogs 1 on March 4, but a score was unavailable at press time. The team next takes on the Mitchell Meteors in Elma Logan on March 9 at 4 p.m.

The Atom Rep Crusaders extended their post-season winning streak to four with a win over the Central Perth Predators in Blyth on March 1.

The squad took on the Predators again on March 4, but a score was unavailable at press time.

The PeeWee Local League Crusaders were bested by the Goderich Sailors 2 squad 5-4 on March 3 and faced off against the Mitchell Meteors on March 5 and the Minto Mad Dogs on March 6, but scores were unavailable at press time.

The PeeWee Rep squad continued a disappointing postseason, being handed their seventh and eighth straight postseason losses against the Huron Bruce Blizzard on Feb. 27 and Kincardine Kinucks, respectively. The squad had a chance for redemption on March 6 with a game scheduled against the Blizzard in Blyth. A score was unavailable at press time.

The Bantam Local League team faced off against the Central Perth Predators twice this week, visiting Milverton on March 4 and hosting the Predators on March 6, but scores were unavailable at press time.

The team next takes on the Wingham Ironmen in Wingham on March 7 at 8:30 p.m.

The Bantam Rep Crusaders earned a 2-0 win against the TCDMHA Rebels in Brussels on Feb. 27, then tied the Minto Mad Dogs 2-2 on March 3. The squad faced off against the Saugeen Shores Storm on March 4 in Blyth, however a score was unavailable at press time.

The Midget Local League team earned a mark in every column over the past week, besting the Central Perth Predators on Feb. 28 on the road, drawing with the Huron-Bruce Blizzard 4-4 in Brussels on March 2 and losing 5-1 against Blizzard in Lucknow on March 3. The squad faced off against the Predators on March 4 and the Listowel Cyclones on March 6, but scores were unavailable as of press time.

The Midget AE Crusaders fell to the Mitchell Meteors AE squad in Blyth on March 3. The team next takes on the Walkerton Capitals AE

squad on March 8 at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre at 8 p.m. before travelling to Mitchell for a rematch against the Meteors on March 10.

Finally, the Midget Rep Crusaders posted a 4-3 win over the Kincardine Kinucks on Feb. 27. The squad also faced off against the BCH Ice Dogs on March 2, but a score was unavailable at press time.

For more information, visit blythbrusselsminorhockey.ca.

HURON HEAT The Novice B Heat continued its

Lower Lakes Female Hockey League (LLFHL) playoff run, triumphing 3-2 over the South Huron Sabres in the squad’s third match against the Sabres. The win gave the team a 2-1 series victory over the Sabres.

The Atom A squad had a rough week, losing 1-0 to the Stratford Aces and 5-2 against the Saugeen Maitland Lightning in Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) action on March 2 and 3 respectively. The team next Continued on page 2

Clocks go ahead one hour March 10 beginning at 2 a.m.

PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019.

Cottrills mark long-term goal with provincial win

Big win Shawn and Katie Cottrill of Belgrave won the Ontario Provincial Championship Mixed Doubles over the weekend, earning the Belgrave couple a berth in the national championships later this month. (Jason Chang photo)

Continued from page 1 awesome to finally put on those Ontario jackets.”

Having qualified from the ‘A’ side of the provincial qualifiers, the team earned a bye in the tournament where they posted convincing wins over the the Konings/Wasylkiw rink (8-1) in the semi-finals and the Ryan/Sutherland rink (9-1) in the finals.

The win marks the start of some intense training for the couple, who have two weeks to prepare for the national competition, but it’s preferable to past experiences, Shawn said.

“Getting in on points is kind of a last-minute thing,” he said. “The nationals always have a conflict with the Women’s World Championship, so whatever team wins the Scotties Tournament of Hearts may back out, and you may not know who will be competing until a few days before the event.”

This year, however, Shawn was confident he and his wife Katie would be competing, saying they were ranked 10th in the country.

“Now, because of the win, we’ve got two weeks with lots of practice ahead of us, and we’re playing in the

four-person mixed provincial qualifier over the weekend.”

And practice the team will, Shawn said, keeping one eye on the prize of representing Canada at the 2019 Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in Stavanger, Norway, set to start April 20.

“We play in leagues two nights a week and practise at least one night a week, sometimes two, and, if we’re not in a spiel or competition, we practise on the weekend,” Shawn said. “We’re usually on the ice six days a week, but a minimum of five.”

Team Cottrill, as the couple is known, is representing the Wingham Golf and Curling Club this year and, with the win, brought the club its first banner in its 130-year history.

The club will be holding a social night on March 15, two days before the Cottrills fly out, to recognize the event. The event will start at 7:30 p.m. For more information, contact Mike Cottrill at the club at 519-3572179.

Playing for the Wingham club for the first time is important for Cottrill because he grew up playing there and the club has since undergone a renaissance

thanks to substantial effort in recent years.

“We’ve always represented Listowel, but, this year, we decided to represent Wingham,” he said.

“Wingham was where I started curling.”

Cottrill’s father Mike is the manager of the club and, after facing some tough financial situations in the past, the club’s administration and volunteers have really turned it around in the past couple years.

“The volunteers are making great strides,” he said. “I’m glad to be representing the club at the national championship and bringing some publicity to it.”

He said the club is in much better shape than it was two years ago and the curling surface has improved exponentially.

“They are doing a lot of great things in Wingham,” he said. “We’re excited to represent them this year.”

Shawn, who works at Howick Mutual Insurance, said that the team is indebted to its supporters that include, locally, his employer as well as Blyth’s Orr Insurance and Investment office, which has been supporting the team for five years.

Heat continue playoff runs in WOGHL, LLFHL by the Kent County Fillies C on Feb. 28. The team played against the Lucknow/Wingham 86ers on March 4 and the South Huron Sabres on March 5, but scores were unavailable at press time. The squad next faces off against the St. Thomas Panthers C squad in the WOGHL playoff round-robin on March 8.

The Senior Heat lost to the St. Mary’s Rock on the road on Feb. 28 by a score of 3-0, but rebounded with a 7-1 win over Parkhill on March 2. The team faced off against Exeter on March 3, but a score was unvailable at press time.

For more information, visit huronheat.com.

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Pep talk Erin Nesbit, right, and Nathan Shannon, coaches of the Novice Rep Crusaders, gave a pep talk to goaltender Everett Cherrey during a playoff game against West Grey Warriors on March 2. The Crusaders lost the game 5-3. (Shawn Loughlin photo) Continued from page 1 continues its LLFHL drive with a three-game series against the Woodstock Wildcats, starting March 19 in Woodstock.

The Atom C squad continued its OWHA playoff run with losses against the Stratford Aces (3-1 on March 2) and the Upper Maitland Mustangs (2-0 on March 3), but also faced off against the South Huron Sabres on March 5. A score was unavailable at press time for that match.

In the team’s Western Ontario Girl’s Hockey League playoff round-robin, the Atom C squad fell to the Waterloo Ravens 1-0 on Feb. 28 and faced off against the West Oxford Inferno on March 6. A score for the latter game was unavailable at press time.

The Atom C Heat are next on the ice on March 16, taking on the

Mitchell Meteors in a big game.

The Atom HL squad posted a 2-2 tie against the Lucan Irish HL on Feb. 26 in the WOGHL playoff round-robin. The squad will have a rematch against the Irish on March 9 in Lucan.

The PeeWee BB Heat rebounded from a game one loss in a best-ofthree series against the Bluewater Hawks, posting victories on the road (4-0) and at home in Central Huron (2-0) on March 2 and 3, respectively.

The squad now looks to the third round of the LLFHL playoffs.

The PeeWee C Heat continued their OWHA playdowns with a 3-2 win over the South Huron Sabres on Feb. 27. The team started its run in the WOGHL playoff round-robin on March 5 with a game against the South Huron Sabres C squad in Zurich. A score was unavailable at press time. The team next takes on

the North Middlesex Jr. Stars in Seaforth on March 9 at 2 p.m.

The Bantam BB Heat sought to settle a best-of-three series tied at one each with the Stratford Aces on March 3 in Central Huron. A score was unavailable at press time.

The Bantam C Heat continued its OWHA winning streak, posting a 32 win over the South Huron Sabres in Brussels on March 1 and a 4-0 win over the Central Perth Predators in Milverton on March 3. The squad’s next scheduled game is a WOGHL playoff round-robin match against the Kent County Fillies in Ridgetown on March 17.

The Midget BB Heat squad broke a two-game stalemate with the Wallaceburg Lakers with a 2-0 win on March 2. Previously, the teams had tied 1-1 on Feb. 25 and 2-2 on March 1 in LLFHL action.

The Midget C squad was bested

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019. PAGE 3.

Sawchuk pens story to be featured in collection The Citizen Local accessibility advocate and former teacher Julie Sawchuk can now list published author to her list of accolades.

Sawchuk is one of the contributing writers to Shine 3: Inspirational Stories of Choosing Success Over Adversity, published by Suzanne Doyle-Ingram and Prominence Publishing. The book is now the top seller on Amazon.ca in two categories for its Kindle edition. Its print version will be available soon.

The book is the third installment in the inspirational book series, produced by Doyle-Ingram, CEO of Prominence Publishing.

Since she was struck while riding her bike on Blyth Road several years ago, sustaining a spinal cord injury that paralyzed her from the chest down, Sawchuk hasn’t been shy about sharing her story. Through interviews, her personal blog and a regular column in The Citizen, Sawchuk has been writing about her journey, both physical and emotional, but being part of a book was another step for her; one that she embraced right away.

Through a friend, Sawchuk was put in touch with Doyle-Ingram, who was searching for inspirational authors for the third installment in her Shine series. Sawchuk met with Doyle-Ingram and says the two instantly hit it off and wanted to

Greener thinking Walton’s Chris Lee, right, and his wife Judy, not shown, held an open house on the weekend for their recently completed passive house. The home uses advanced building techniques to create a greener home. Lee is seen here in the house’s utility room. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

work together on the book project.

Because she had been sharing her story of recovery on a regular basis, Sawchuk said she was “all in with both feet” right off the bat and was eager to write. She worked with Doyle-Ingram, the book’s editor, to craft her chapter, noting that DoyleIngram gave Sawchuk the freedom to write about whatever aspect of her journey she wanted.

The title of Sawchuk’s chapter is “From Two Wheels to Four: Flipping and Forgiving” and in it she details the incident that led to her injury, her recovery and the path to forgiving the driver who hit her that day. She also talks about “flipping” her attitude in the wake of dark days and doing her best to turn a bad day into a good one or a bad situation into a good one.

After sustaining her injury and making several recovery breakthroughs, Sawchuk says that a regular refrain from people is, “I don’t know how you do it. I don’t know how you keep going.”

Sawchuk says the answer is easy for her, because she doesn’t have a choice. She has to keep going.

However, making those decisions every day is the hard part, she said, and it takes “flipping” situations from bad to good, which is something she still does on a daily basis.

Though no stranger to writing, Sawchuk says she’s very happy with how the piece turned out and she anticipates feeling the true impact of being a published author when she reads the book in print form.

Working with Doyle-Ingram, Sawchuk said, was a great exercise and she was really able to tell her story in an effective way with a great flow. In fact, Sawchuk is already working on two new book projects,

Lees host passive house opening PEOPLE AROUND WALTON

By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570

Welcome to March. Do you remember if it came in like a lamb or a lion? It was definitely a lamb.

It was a beautiful day on Friday with lots of sun to enjoy and melt some of the snow again.

Unfortunately, that could mean out like a lion. We might not see an early spring after all, according to groundhog, Wiarton Willie.

We will just have to wait and see, deal with what we get and just know that good weather will arrive, sooner or later.

The poor snowmobilers had another day or two of riding and then the mild temperatures arrived again. From our front window, we have seen trailer after trailer heading north with machines to enjoy the winter sport.

Our sympathies are extended to Kim and Kelly (Stephenson) and families, on the passing of Bill Stephenson. Bill was a soft-spoken fellow; a main street businessman with Stephenson grocery store, an LCBO employee for many years and just a very nice man. I enjoyed my many visits with him and hearing of his times overseas. Our condolences to all.

Welcome home to Ruth Lowe, who has retuned from a vacation in

Florida. She was down visiting with her sister Kathryn and her husband Keith for a week. She had been under the weather before leaving and the hot sun has made her feel much better. We hope she continues to feel better and be soon back at work at the variety store.

We have had good news about Gord Pryce. Gord was badly injured in a motor vehicle accident a couple of weeks ago and has been in hospital in London. He has now been transferred to Stratford and hopefully in the near future, he will be transferred to Seaforth Hospital.

He will be quite awhile recovering and having rehab and will enjoy visitors to help pass the days. Our thoughts of a good recovery go out to Gord.

We would like to share an update on Ray Hallahan. Ray underwent open-heart surgery two weeks ago and is doing very well. He had the surgery at St. Mary’s Hospital in Kitchener and hopefully will be transferred to a hospital closer to home within a week or so. He will be glad of visits with his Thresher friends while going through rehab.

The Cranbrook Dart Club only had 15 players out on Wednesday evening, again with the weather playing a part. The threat of freezing rain, then snow, kept a few away.

Team four managed to take the lead with five games to their credit. They were Ern Lewington and Steve Bowers. Gayle Speiran was the high lady with 102 and George Zwep the high man with 120.

Chris and Judy Lee held an open house for their passive home on the weekend. They had over 100 come

and see how compact, warm and energy efficient their home is. There is no furnace and carbon footprint on the environment, and yet it is very warm and comfortable. Great job and a lovely home. The many folks attending had many questions for the Lees and Chris attempted to answer them all.

Celebrating birthdays this past week include finishing February with Drew Wilts, Ava Robinson, Nathan Bachert, Ryan Baan and Pam McLellan. Celebrating in March are Pearl Lee, Stacey Linton Courtney, Emmett Houston, Jeffrey Huether, Holly Ryan, Crystal Whyte, Adam Ryan, Owen Ryan, Megan Den Dekker, Kathy Ryan, VeraLynn Smith, Sloane McCallum and Sandra Watson Butler. Happy birthday to all.

one of which is with Doyle-Ingram.

Sawchuk is already hard at work on a project with Spinal Cord Injury Ontario, a non-profit organization, on a handbook for people who experience a spinal cord injury. It will lay out what they can expect, information they need to know and answer questions they have.

When Sawchuk first sustained her injury, she was surprised at the lack of resources available. She and her husband Theo were left to their own devices in many ways to learn about their new reality, so Sawchuk is hoping that by penning the handbook, she can help others who experience a spinal cord injury and better prepare them for what to expect in the coming months and years.

The second project is a resource for people wanting to build an accessible home. Again, Sawchuk was surprised at the lack of

resources and endeavoured to change that through her experiences.

The Sawchuk family just recently moved into a new, accessible home on their Blyth Road property thanks to local contractor Casey Bovan.

She is working on this project with the help of Doyle-Ingram and the two are hoping to fill the gap for those looking to build with accessibility in mind.

As for her piece in Shine 3, Sawchuk is hoping it will connect with readers who know her and those who don’t.

“I hope people will see that they’re not alone and that it gets better,” Sawchuk said, adding that it’s still something she tells herself all the time.

For more information on Shine 3: Inspirational Stories of Choosing Success Over Adversity, find the book online at Amazon.ca or at prominencepublishing.com.

Threading the needle A member of the St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School girls hockey found her way around a defender from St. Michael Catholic Secondary School on Feb. 27 at the Huron-Perth Athletic Association varsity hockey tournament. St. Anne’s beat St. Michael 3-0, claiming the gold medal for the tournament. (Denny Scott photo)

My last words shall be (William Grimshaw) “Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You!” Psalm 73:25 When I come to die, I shall have my greatest grief and my greatest joy.

My greatest grief--that I have done so little for Jesus.

My greatest joy--that Jesus has done so much for me!

My last words shall be: “Here goes an unprofitable servant!”

A Grace Gem Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church, Listowel, ON 519-291-1956

Promoting our Community INSIDE THIS WEEK:

FUNDING - Pg. 2

RESPONSE - Pg. 3

CONCERT - Pg. 6

Education Minister in Blyth to hand out grants

Morris-Turnberry Mayor calls for autonomy

Brussels Ministerial comes together for show

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Citizen

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Thursday, December 13, 2018

4-H Clubs awarded

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Top Gate Sign Award for the Continued on page 12

Seaforth’s Fisher elected Huron East Deputy-Mayor

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

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

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

It was Fisher who nominated Chartrand for the position.

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

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

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

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

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

of all of Huron East’s five wards.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NEWS FROM WALTON

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

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

PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019.

Editorials & Opinions

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

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.northhuron.on.ca

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It’s worth the extra cost Blyth taxpayers are going to pay a price for having vociferously rejected two less expensive locations for a new fire hall and public works building, but in the long run the extra cost is probably worth it.

North Huron Council had originally proposed building the new facility on properties the municipality already owned. First it was a site near the sewage treatment plant on North Street. When that was rejected by neighbours, council proposed building on part of the Radford Memorial Baseball Diamond at the Blyth Campground. That proposal generated even more noisy opposition.

The new location on Queen Street at the northern end of the village will cost $130,000 more, having been purchased from private landowners. With direct access to County Road 4 and with fewer neighbours who will be adversely affected, the extra expense seems worth it.

Sometimes, when councillors are willing to listen, as they did in this case, these controversies can work out for the best. – KR

Politics defined by geography In Canada, how you feel about any particular controversy is probably partially shaped by where you come from.

For those outside of Quebec, for instance, there is little sympathy for engineering giant SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. These Canadians totally agree with former Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould that this multinational company should be punished harshly through criminal charges for fraud and corruption in connection with nearly $48 million in payments made to Libyan officials between 2001 and 2011.

Those from within Quebec, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and others of the 11 people Wilson-Raybould claimed put undue pressure on her to use an equally-legal deferred prosecution agreement, feel the company should be punished but not so severely that workers might be laid off.

Meanwhile in already-aggrieved Alberta, some people complained that the government seemed to care a lot more about possible job losses in Quebec than real jobs lost in Alberta’s oil industry. Almost since Alberta was created in 1905, Albertans have felt abused by the eastern forces. Early on complaints centred on what they felt were exorbitant freight rates by eastern-based railways. A common complaint was that Albertans got 10 per cent less for anything they sold and paid 10 per cent more for anything they bought.

Alberta’s fortunes changed with the discovery of oil at Leduc in 1947 but Albertans’ sense of grievance reached a peak in 1980 when Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau introduced the National Energy Program.

Canadians east of Alberta had been suffering gasoline shortages and high prices because of boycotts by Middle Eastern oil producers. The government and eastern residents saw Alberta’s vast oil supplies as a national resource and felt it should to sold to other Canadians at less than the world price. Albertans, led by Premier Peter Lougheed, felt violently differently. This was Alberta’s oil!

Today there is so much oil being produced in Alberta’s oil sands that there isn’t enough pipeline capacity to get it to export markets. Ironically, one of Albertans’ grievances now is that the Energy East pipeline was abandoned after eastern protesters, particularly in Quebec, convinced the pipeline company the project wasn’t worth the fight.

Albertans staged a protest in Ottawa two weeks ago, blaming Ottawa for not doing enough to get oil to market. Protesters seldom mentioned that the current Canadian government spent more than $4 billion of taxpayers’ money to buy the Trans Mountain Pipeline so they could make sure it got built.

Meanwhile for many British Columbians, their province’s spectacular western coastline is the symbol of their lifestyle. The fear of oil spills from tankers loading at terminals supplied by pipelines full of Albertan oil has driven them to protest any pipeline proposal and challenge it in the courts.

When the Alberta government retaliated, however, with a threat of legislation to stop shipping oil to B.C. for the province’s own use, an indignant government of British Columbia went to court claiming Alberta was violating the constitution.

Canadians see issues as black and white but whether they see white or they see black often depends on where they come from. – KR

Too ironic for words Lawyers don’t make moral judgements about their clients, but surely the Canadian legal team must have shaken their heads a bit when they filed suit on behalf of Meng Wanzhou, Chief Financial Officer of Chinese tech company Huawei, claiming her rights were violated when she was arrested by Canadian officials.

Surely the lawyers must have seen the irony that they claim the rights of Meng, who is living under house arrest in her $7 million Vancouver home, were violated while two Canadians who were arrested in China and have been held since December, have no rights at all. – KR

Looking Back Through the Years March 7, 1968 In the Brussels bowling league, it was Dave’s Devils who were leading the team standings with a season score of 162, which was head and shoulders above Ned’s Stedies in second with 154 points.

Marlene Rutledge led in both the women’s high single and high triple categories with 269 and 676 points, respectively. Bill Stephenson joined Rutledge as a dual-division leader, atop the men’s high singles with 259 points and the men’s high triple with 619 points.

March 7, 1973 Rehearsals for Mystery at Green Fingers at the Blyth Little Theatre began at Blyth Public School on March 5. While many of the parts were cast on the spot that night, in the coming weeks, the theatre staff would be looking for people to help with backstage work as well.

While three major party candidates debated the issues as the Huron County Federation of Agriculture hosted an all-candidates meeting ahead of the coming byelection for the Huron riding, a fourth candidate soon threw his hat into the ring as well.

Joining Liberal Jack Riddell, Progressive Conservative Don Southcott and New Democrat Paul Carroll was 44-year-old Ed Bain, a Goderich man who identified as a Socialist.

Bain had also run in the provincial election the previous year before announcing his federal candidacy in 1972. The Blyth Standard reported that Bain had decided to run as an independent socialist after losing the chance to represent the New Democrats to Carroll. He was then subsequently kicked out of the party due to his “extreme views”.

March 8, 1995 An 11-year-old Monkton boy was able to escape serious injuries following a snowmobile collision in Grey Township on March 5.

The Wingham OPP said that while the boy was out on the public trail he approached the County Road 16 junction, at which point he lost control of his machine and slid onto the roadway, hitting two cars, sending one into a nearby ditch.

The OPP said the boy sustained only minor injuries as a result of the crash.

While the final budget wouldn’t be passed until the end of the month, Huron County taxpayers were told they needn’t fear a tax increase, as Huron County Council voted to hold the mill rate. The news came from Warden Bruce Machan at council’s March 2 meeting.

A meeting was scheduled for April 19 to begin planning for Brussels’ 125th anniversary, which would be marked in 1997.

Bailie Parrott celebrated his 100th birthday at Huronview Home for the Aged on March 5. Parrott was joined by friends and family to help him mark the occasion. Parrott had served as the reeve of Morris Township from 1954 to 1961.

The Brussels Junior C Bulls suffered a 7-2 loss at the hands of Mount Forest, going down two games in the teams’ first-round playoff series.

The Brussels Curling Club held its annual year-end bonspiel and welcomed over 70 curlers to the village for the event.

March 12, 2009 Thirteen-year-old Jacob McGavin was presented with his Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award, alongside his family, at a special ceremony at Queen’s Park.

McGavin, in an interview with The Citizen, said that winning the award was definitely a once-in-alifetime experience.

Annelies Ringgenberg from the Dairy Farmers of Ontario spent the day at East Wawanosh Public School, speaking to students about milk processing, dairy industry careers, a cow’s growth, the food chain and early settlers, among other topics related to dairy farming in Ontario.

With the annual World Day of Prayer on the horizon, it was the women of Papua New Guinea who prepared the 2009 service. Each year, the World Day of Prayer service is prepared by the women of a different country.

Huron East Council passed a motion stating that the municipality would ready its community centres for needed improvements. Council was responding to a letter from Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb who had corresponded with all lower-tier councils within his riding regarding funding through the Canada Action Plan, which brought along with it $500 million in funding for recreational facilities across Canada.

Council’s motion stated that the municipality would proceed to complete an engineering report for the expansion of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre and the Seaforth and District Community Centre for the addition of new dressing rooms as well as other improvements.

On March 27, Blyth would play host to its own local Me to We event at Memorial Hall.

The event would raise funds for Free the Children and feature a number of guest speakers and various musical and dance performances.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019. PAGE 5.

Other Views

I have no taste in movies, apparently

W

ell, the Academy Awards have come and gone for another year and once again I’ve been reminded that I have no artistic taste.

Every year before and after the Oscars are handed out, the critics and talking heads on television (probably on social media too, but I’m anti-social) speculate as to whether the awards are still relevant, pointing to declining numbers of people watching the awards extravaganza on TV. For the movie critics, the problem is that the pictures they regard as the very best aren’t rewarded when the prizes are handed out. I suspect regular people are simply worn out by being endlessly told that the movies they really like aren’t worthy of consideration.

The movies that keep the movie studios humming and the movie theatres in business are spectacular portrayals of comic-book superheroes that attract primarily young men.

This is not the sort of audience that serious critics and movie afficionados deem worthy of consideration. They want audience members who are discerning about the sort of motion picture that would bore these young people to death and have them stay home watching Netflix.

Many producers who have created movies they think have a shot at winning an Oscar choose to debut their picture at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September. Quite a number of movies that have won the Audience Award for the movie best-liked by the Toronto audience have gone on to win the Academy Award for best picture.

So last September, when Green Book was picked as the audience favourite at TIFF, it automatically became the favourite to win the Oscar.

Green Book takes place in 1962 and is

Keith Roulston From the cluttered desk based on a true story. Black pianist Dr. Don Shirley is booked by his recording company on an extended tour of towns and cities across the southern U.S. at a time when there were regular attacks by local bigots on both blacks and whites who were campaigning for civil rights for blacks. To protect Dr. Shirley, a driver is hired, a former nightclub bouncer named Tony “Lip” Vallelonga. The “Green Book” of the title is a listing of accommodations and restaurants across the south that black travellers could use.

The movie is an odd-couple road story, based on a book Vallelonga wrote years later.

Dr. Shirley is a cultivated man, although a bit of a stuffed shirt at times. Tony is racist, crude and rude, always filling his face with junk food. Dr. Shirley tries to refine Tony. Tony tries to get Dr. Shirley to loosen up.

Because blacks and whites must stay separated, often Tony would drop his boss off at an inferior hotel, then travel to a much better “white” hotel where he stayed the night.

That’s the minor racism involved. Elsewhere Dr. Shirley is greeted with delight by the whites who booked him to perform, but as a black man is not allowed to eat at the same venue.

On one occasion the two men are arrested and thrown in a southern jail. Dr. Shirley demands his right to make a phone call and one somewhat decent cop among those

present allows him to make it. Rather than call a lawyer, he calls Robert F. Kennedy who he knows personally and who was U.S. Attorney General at the time. One of the highlights of the movie is when the local sheriff gets a phone call from the state governor, (whom Kennedy has called), telling him to release the prisoners.

By the time the trip is over, Tony and Dr. Shirley become life-long friends.

Movies today are not just entertainment. In the age of “Oscars So White” and the “Me Too” movement, each movie carries a political burden too. So when some expert writing in the New York Times late last year questioned Green Book’s worthiness and wondered if the world really needed another movie where a white person learned tolerance from a black person, other critics jumped on board. Soon Green Book had gone from being the expected best picture winner, to having an outside chance.

So when the Academy Awards were actually handed out last week and Green Book took the prize for best picture, all those critics who thought they had shamed people into voting for more worthy movies were appalled.

There were several more days of abuse being heaped on the movie and all the morallydeficient Academy members who had voted for it.

So I admit to being morally-deficient, too, because of the nominated pictures I’ve seen, Green Book is my favourite. Some of the other more artistically superior movies seemed to challenge you to be able to sit through them until the end to prove your worthiness. I just wasn’t up to it.

Does the world really need one more movie of a white man learning racial tolerance? Hey, it seems to me that in this age of Donald Trump we can use all the tolerance we can get.

Not doing the constituents any favours

C

urrently, Shawn and I are just coming to the end of our preparation for this year’s annual Salute to Agriculture special issue and it will be short one story regarding recent court findings and research papers have pointed to the problems with the Ontario Society for the Protection of Animals (OSPCA) needing transparency and oversight.

The story first came up when I saw, within a day or two of each other, stories about the OSPCA’s police powers being deemed unconstitutional and a report from animal rights groups echoing that sentiment. It fits a narrative I’ve been told several times over the years covering agricultural events for The Citizen: the OSPCA has absolute power and, as the old saying goes, that it’s absolutely corrupted the organization.

I’m on the fence about the corruption part, but having any kind of organization with police powers that isn’t transparent and doesn’t answer to the powers-that-be is a dangerous combination, at best.

I figured it would be a good idea to reach out to two of the most prominent producer groups in our area (Ontario Pork and the Beef Producers of Ontario) to find out their executives’ stances on the issue. To that end, I reached out to the upper echelons of the agricultural producer groups to set up interviews about it.

Unfortunately for me (and anyone who would be interested in the story that might have resulted from it) the latter just plain and simple never got back to me which is frustrating.

What’s more frustrating, however, is that the former’s chair directed my request to a communications manager who explained that the chair was busy and provided me with a boilerplate response touting the organization’s “long-standing and positive

Denny Scott Denny’s Den working agreement with the OSPCA.” That response frustrated me because it doesn’t really answer the questions I have. It also frustrated me because it wasn’t the first time in recent memory that I’ve been given the old “here’s a response you can print” schtick.

A few weeks back I covered a protest in front of Huron-Bruce MPP and Minister of Education Lisa Thompson’s Blyth constituency office. Local support staff were protesting possible changes to the education funding formula which they felt was a dangerous proposal.

When I reached out to Thompson’s office, I was told to get in touch with a representative of Thompson at the Ministry of Education who told me Thompson didn’t have time to chat (three days after I had sent the initial email) and provided me with a comment I was allowed to “attribute” to Thompson.

I don’t do second-hand quotes. I’ll put that out there right now. If I don’t hear it from the person I need to hear it from, it won’t go in the story. Sometimes, that means the story won’t go. It’s a matter of doing the job correctly.

In this day and age, being a real journalist means doing your damndest to try and capture both sides of a story. There are countless people out there claiming to be journalists who are happy boosting up opinions that align with their own or striking down those who speak against, but they aren’t real journalists.

These people who slander politicians for

personal gain, run biased content or align themselves with particular ideologies stain the news media which then all gets painted with the same brush and make it all the easier for other politicians to use terms like “Fake News”.

It’s because of those people that I put such an effort into trying to present both sides of a story: it sets what we do here at The Citizen apart from gossip and fear mongering and elevates what we do to a community service.

That’s why you won’t see the story about the OSPCA in this year’s edition of our Salute to Agriculture because, while I’m sure I could find a great number of local people who have had negative interactions with the organization (because they have told me about them before), I don’t have someone in a position of power able to discuss the issue with. All I have are these boilerplate responses which say nothing, answer no questions and leave everyone wanting more.

It would be irresponsible of me to run a story without as balanced a view of the issue as possible and, when people decide they would rather send some kind of ridiculous statement generated as much by a thesaurus and a marketing manager as their own thoughts, the story suffers.

As angry as I am with the people who provide these boilerplate responses, if I was presenting this as a balanced and fair story, I would also have to point out that those aforementioned unscrupulous, so-called journalists are also to blame, as are the people who support them by reading their stories and generating advertising revenue for them.

I’m not saying only read The Citizen, but remember, every time you give the time of day to these pseudo-journalists, you make it harder for the real ones to do their jobs.

Answer the questions, verify your news sources and keep real journalism alive.

Shawn Loughlin Shawn’s Sense

Pretty in pink

A

nti-Bullying Day, also known as Pink Shirt Day, was never going to be a good day for Huron-Bruce MPP and Minister of Education Lisa Thompson. That’s not to say that she directly condones bullying, but her party, which she doggedly supports, failed to set her up for success on Feb. 28.

Wearing a pink blouse, Thompson made a statement condemning bullying in all its forms last week at Queen’s Park, much to the delirious delight of her party. She told the story of the creation of Pink Shirt Day in Nova Scotia, its impact across the country and the message that bullying, whether it be at school, work or on the street, is always unacceptable.

In the months since Premier Doug Ford took office, it has been clear that bullying people into submission will be a tactic of the party.

Ford and his cronies have demonstrated this through their combative relationship with the media; refusing to make MPPs available, MPPs refusing to answer questions once made available, refusing media access to events, referring to the media as the “Official Opposition” and even launching the statesponsored “media outlet” Ontario News Now. And now, with the dismissal of OPP DeputyCommissioner and Ford critic Brad Blair, Ford’s made it clear that if you raise your voice against him, you will be cut down.

But it was Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Lisa MacLeod who really put a spanner in Thompson’s works with her shameless bullying. And, thanks to the party’s unwavering support of MacLeod, what she’s done has painted them as schoolyard bullies.

For those who don’t know, MacLeod, in her quest to revamp autism care in Ontario, told the Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis that it would be “four long years” for the organization if it failed to publicly support the government’s autism reforms. Since then, MacLeod has not denied making the statement (though she has not owned up to it either) and she has not apologized (though she did apologize if her comments “made anyone feel threatened or uncomfortable”).

I’m pretty sure what MacLeod did falls under the Merriam-Webster definition of using political power and influence to intimidate and, yes, bully someone into getting your way.

There is also a new story coming out of MacLeod’s camp that she misrepresented Sherri Taylor, a mother of five from Windsor, as being supportive of the government’s autism changes, putting a positive spin on a quote from her and including a suggestion that the Ford government is “on the right track”, something Taylor never said. Taylor has since claimed MacLeod misrepresented her, saying she “has not owned up to the deception” involved in significantly altering her quote.

Altering a quote is a big no-no; take it from a reporter, or, rather, the “Official Opposition”.

And while MacLeod has thumbed her nose at Pink Shirt Day, Thompson has her own issues. As Ford and Thompson turned their backs on the LGBTQ community with the archaic rollback of the sexual education curriculum, they will make life harder for some of Ontario’s most vulnerable students.

Worldwide and local statistics show that bullying and suicide are far more prevalent in the lives of those in the LGBTQ community.

And by failing to educate students about their LGBTQ classmates, the government is putting LGBTQ students in danger, whether it be through bullying or a lack of preparedness for a world that is evolving, despite the efforts of Ford, Thompson and MacLeod to pull it back.

Nice shirt though.

PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019.

At the Branch

Legion seeks members as enrolment dips under 100

By Jo-Ann McDonald The general meeting of the Branch was held last Tuesday evening. The normal business was discussed, bills were paid and other issues were explored.

Membership and the declining numbers are a concern. The Branch has less than 100 members at this time and we are hoping there are folks out there who would like to join the Branch. You do not have to

have any relationship to a veteran, just be a Canadian citizen and have a zest for community involvement.

The Legion must support its own building, but also tries very hard to support local groups and events. It

Just around the corner The Brussels Leo Club held a flower bulb sale in front of the Brussels Library on Saturday.

Mary Stretton, left, inspects the offerings of Leo members Justin and Amanda Morrison. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

March Break activities available A NOTE FROM BETTY

By Betty Graber Watson Call 887-9231 Lent has arrived; that time to ponder the life of Christ and how it affects our life.

For the church crowd, there are all sorts of traditions and rituals, habits and history that are part of the six weeks before Easter Sunday. Then, the celebration of Easter weekend is embraced by everyone; it has to do with the chocolate I think. In the meantime, fat and pancakes, ashes and prayers, are the focus as we move through the Lenten days of March and into April in preparation for Good Friday and the reason for the season, Easter Sunday.

The Leo Club did a fine job on Saturday of inviting spring to our community. The sale of pots of pink, yellow and purple just made you smile, knowing that spring really will come.

March Break is in conversation in many places this week as programs are discussed, holidays planned, days selected for grandma time and school trip details nailed. We are so lucky to have so many choices of things to do and places to go, all in our area. Be sure to take advantage of all the free programs in the library and recreation centres in our midst.

Son Chris Graber returned to Listowel on Sunday from a week in El Salvador spent with a group coordinated by The Great Commission Foundation. Going with a work

friend, he knew what was expected, but reality hits.

Housing is the mission, but not our expectation of housing. Water and sewage are not inside issues and the houses are prefabricated, galvanized steel on a steel frame. Two crews of volunteers along with native homeowners and others were able to build 16 homes in their time.

For the Ontario folks it was

building in very hot weather, up to 45°C that took the biggest toll.

Shade and water were carefully monitored with no casualties.

Processing the poverty, the natural beauty and the country itself will take a few weeks, but a very worthwhile experience.

Take care of yourself.

Bye now, Betty G.W.

supports four local hospitals yearly, the Brussels Army Cadet Corps all year, as well as minor hockey and other groups. Being a member of the Brussels Legion does require helping at events and assisting at fundraising functions, but in the end, that is what helps the community.

Please consider joining the Brussels Legion. Drop in and pick up an application form and talk to Sandra Josling or Greg Wilson about joining.

The Thursday night darts had 15 players aiming at the boards. The first place team was Linda Bird and Roger McHardy; second, Krysta Bujold, John Stadelmann and Marlene Rutledge; high, Sandra Brown, 180 and reports it has been 22 years since the last time she hit the milestone.

The Friday night Catch the Ace draw had a good crowd on hand to witness the draw. The winning ticket belonged to Pam McLean winning the weekly prize of $524. She had chosen envelope number 15 and found the seven of clubs, so the jackpot will continue to grow for another week. The estimated jackpot will be $11,000 for the March 8 draw.

The Saturday afternoon euchre had a good crowd of eight-and-ahalf tables of players attending for the new format of progressive euchre. The first prize went to Betty Thompson with 88 points; second, Lorna Ellis, 83; third, Janet Davies, 81; lone hands, Bob T., four. Euchre is every two weeks at 1 p.m. and you do not need a partner. Come enjoy an afternoon of play for just $5.

The Sunday night dance had a nice crowd of nearly 65 to enjoy the

music of the Tri Country Band. We had the pleasure of three couples attending who have had professional lessons and they graced the dance floor beautifully. Made many folks (myself included) jealous of how graceful and smooth they made dancing look! Many come dancing for the love of music and the social time together, and for fun and even exercise, but an enjoyable evening for all.

The entertainment committee reported that it is planning a Saturday night dance in April. They will be featuring a great band called Mostly Sideways. They play country and classic rock and are quite good.

We hope that the folks around the area will come out and support the dance and be surprised at who plays in the band.

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS

Brussels Leos will doing a

Toiletries Drive

March 13th (east side of Turnberry) March 14th (west side of Turnberry) from 3-6 pm Proceeds to go to the Huron County Food Bank Distribution Centre

Are you tired of getting a second-hand newspaper?

Brussels Legion 218 Catch the Ace Weekly Winner Winning Ticket: Pam McLean, $524.

Envelope #15 found the 7 of Clubs Estimated Jackpot for March 8 is $11,000

2019 Tree Planting Program The Municipality of Morris-Turnberry has ordered trees from Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, for the 2019 spring season.

The Municipality is supplying the trees at no charge, however, the property owner must pick up, plant and maintain the tree on private property. The trees cannot be planted on the road allowance.

Trees are limited to (2) trees per property owner.

Types of trees available are: • Red Oak — 6 to 7 ft. bare root • Sugar Maple — 6 to 7 ft. bare root • Hackberry — 6 to 7 ft. bare root • Colorado Blue Spruce — 2 ft. bagged and burlapped

Anyone who has never received a tree through this program, will be first to receive a tree in 2019.

If you wish to order a tree, please call the Municipal office 519-8876137 Ext. 24 or email mail@morristurnberry.ca, ASAP, as the trees are available on a first come, first served basis.

Last date to order a tree is April 5, 2019 (The trees will be available for pick up approximately the third week of April, 2019)

Be first in line and get your own subscription!

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Phone or mail cheque made payable to North Huron Publishing to: P.O. Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019. PAGE 7.

Parks wins shoot From Marilyn’s Desk

Sunday evening of each month. Next service is Sunday, March 10 at 7 p.m. at Blyth Trinity Anglican Church.

By Marilyn Craig Call 523-9318

Class of 2018 Dalton Richmond was one of four firefighter recruits officially welcomed to the Fire Department of North Huron during its swearing-in ceremony last week. Richmond, right, alongside Amanda Bekkers, Brad Robinson and Jeff Hodgkinson were sworn in. The event also saw seasoned firefighters climb the rank and Fire Department of North Huron Chief Marty Bedard, who was named to the position last year, sworn in. Deputy-Chief Matt Townsend, left, did the honours. (Denny Scott photo)

Jesus like Superman: Lannin Greeting worshippers at Blyth United Church on Sunday March 3, was Lavern Clark. Ushering were Emily Phillips and Lavern Clark.

Marilyn Scott was organist and Katie Dockstader, choir director.

Angie Lannin, guest speaker, welcomed everyone to church. She drew everyone’s attention to the announcements printed in the bulletin. April will be the last of the making of meat pies until the fall.

They are making turkey pies on April 3 and beef pies on April 17.

Get your order into Donna Moore at 519-523-9855 and avoid being disappointed.

Angie lit the Christ candle on the altar table. She invited everyone to greet one another with the peace of Christ. The first hymn, “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”, was sung. The call to worship was repeated in unison followed by the opening prayer said responsively.

Angie had a picture of Superman and asked if anyone recognized it.

Superman was Clark Kent and he was a reporter for a newspaper.

When someone needed help he would go into a phone booth and change into Superman. He didn’t want his identity known.

Jesus was kind of like Superman.

He took Peter, James and John up the mountain with Him to talk to God. They saw Him change and heard God tell them, “this is My beloved Son, listen to him”. We can change when we spend time with God. The children’s hymn, “Take Time to be Holy”, was sung. The scripture readings were from Exodus 34:2935, the story of Moses receiving the tablets with the ten commandments written on them. The choir sang the anthem, “O Lord, My God, How Great Thou Art”. Growing up in the United Church, you were expected to sit in church and be quiet. Today this has changed. In other churches, it was different, many did their own thing. Angie told the story of a girl who she thought had seen God. The girl had been crying all during the service and at the end she was unable to speak, but she

had a very calming look to her.

In the story of Moses going up the mountain and receiving the tablets with the ten commandments printed on them, Moses had seen God. Jesus took Peter, James and John up the mountain with Him and they saw the transformation of Jesus.

Often when we add light to a painting, it changes it. Jesus brings light into our lives. Some of us notice the change in our lives when God is in our lives. When we spend time with God in our lives we pick up some of His traits and we change.

The next hymn, “O Splendour of

God’s Glory Bright”, was sung. The offering was received followed by the singing of the offertory response “Spirit, Open My Heart” and the offertory prayer, the singing of the response “Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying” leading into the prayers for the people, silent prayers and the singing of the Lord’s Prayer.

The last hymn, “Be Thou My Vision”, was followed by the commissioning and the benediction and the singing of “Thank you Lord for This Day”. Everyone was invited for coffee and fellowship.

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

BLYTH PRINTING INC. BLYTH 523-9211

Sorry to hear that Hubert Hoba is in Clinton Hospital. We hope he is feeling better soon. Ray Hallahan is also in hospital, we wish him a speedy recovery.

Happy birthday Grace McNichol who celebrates March 9; Nellie Mason and Lillian Appleby, March 10 and Diane Howson, March 13.

Happy birthday everyone.

Shoot winners for Feb. 26 are: first, Peggy Parks; second, Theresa Machan; most shoots, June Thomas and Mae Ritchie; share the wealth, Ethel Walker, Sharon Freeman, Dorothy Carter, Mary Bell and Marie Millian. The next shoot party is Tuesday, March 12 at Blyth United Church. Doors open at 12:30 with cards beginning at 1 p.m.

Come out and hear “Songs and Stillness,” a peace-filled, contemporary service of candlelight, music and prayer on the second

NEWS FROM BLYTH Wash & Fold Services Blyth Laundromat 191 Westmoreland St., Blyth 519-523-9687

NOTICE TO DOG OWNERS in the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry 2019 Dog Tags and Licences are now available: (Monday to Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Fridays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry Municipal Office 41342 Morris Rd., PO Box 310, Brussels, ON N0G 1H0

*** Tags can be picked up in person or ordered by telephone *** All dogs must be licensed in compliance with By-law No. 80-2013.

A copy of the complete By-law is available for review at the Municipal Office.

All dogs must be identified by means of a tag and licence, issued for a (1) one year period by: Friday, April 26, 2019 The fee schedule shall be as follows: 1. All Dogs (except those listed in #2) - male, females and spayed females FIRST DOG ALL OTHERS

$20.00 per dog $30.00 per dog

2. Pit bulls, Pit bull crosses, Staffordshire terriers FIRST DOG $100.00 per dog ALL OTHERS $110.00 per dog 3. Kennel Licence Fee $125.00 (for a kennel of dogs that are registered or eligible for registration under the Animal Pedigree Act) 4. Late Payment Charge $20.00 per dog (Shall be assessed in addition to the licence fee, if the licence and/or tag is not purchased by April 26th)

Excrement: The By-law requires dog owners to forthwith remove excrement left by a dog, from property other than the premises of the owner of the dog.

Any person contravening this provision is subject to a $125 fee.

For further information contact: The Municipality of Morris-Turnberry Telephone: 519-887-6137 Ext. 24 Fax: 519-887-6424 E-mail: mail@morristurnberry.ca

PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019.

Obituaries

JAMES SCHNEIDER James Schneider passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Feb. 23, 2019. He was in his 77th year.

Jim was the loving husband and best friend of Dorothy (Hallam) Schneider for almost 54 years and the cherished and devoted father of Dennis (Lorelee) Schneider, Angela (Tony) Lawrence, Michael (Leanne) Schneider and Pamela (Jeremiah) Sommer. He was the loving grandfather to Amanda, Jason, Katherine, Heather, Logan, Joshua, Isaiah, Kathryn, Alexandra, Ethan and Paige.

Jim was predeceased by his parents George and Marion Schneider. He will be fondly remembered by many siblings, nieces, nephews and friends.

Jim was a charter member of the Auburn Lions Club, the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association and was an active member in the community of Auburn. He was known for his love of collecting and preserving antiques.

A service of remembrance will be held on Friday, March 8 at the Auburn Memorial Hall (44 Hardwood Line, Auburn) starting at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations made to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Auburn Lions Club would be appreciated by the family.

You are invited to sign Jim’s online book of condolences at www.mccallumpalla.ca

HELEN LEE Helen Lee passed away peacefully at Clinton Public Hospital on Monday Feb. 25, 2019 in her 95th year, after a long and productive life.

Helen was the beloved wife of the late Jack Lee (2013). The only daughter of the late Hugh and Alice Radford, Helen was also predeceased by her 10 brothers Hugh, Ed, George, Carl, Nelson, Bill, Len, Gordon, Douglas, and Benson, in infancy.

Helen was the loving mother of Beverley Lee and husband Bill

McGrath, Midland; Dave and Rosemarie Lee, Blyth and Barbara and Stewart Mustard, Stratford. She was the loving grandmother of Jason (Tracey), Chris (Becky), Ryan, Megan (Joe), Sheldon (Sophia), Aaron (Jacalyn), Jaclyn (Erik) and the great-grandmother of Abby (Jesse), Courtney (Chris), Brianna (Jared), Aidan, Madison, Dylan, Carson, Emma, Jack, Maria, John, Brooklyn, James and Jack and the great-great-grandmother of Jasmine and Delaney.

Helen lived her entire life in the community of Londesborough, working and raising her family.

Many activities enriched her life, including her love of quilting that started as a young girl and continued to her final days.

A celebration of her life committed to family, friends and community will take place on Saturday, March 9 at 2 p.m. at the Londesborough United Church with visitation one hour before the service. Help us celebrate Helen's life by bringing along an item she gifted to you over the years.

Memorial donations to Clinton Public Hospital Foundation or the Londesborough United Church would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.

Cremation has taken place. A private family service for interment of ashes will be at Hope Chapel Cemetery in the spring.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Falconer Funeral Homes, Clinton Chapel.

Condolences may be placed at www.falconerfuneralhomes.com

GLEN VAN CAMP Glen Van Camp of Brussels, passed away at Victoria Hospital, London on Friday, March 1, 2019.

He was 90.

Glen was the beloved husband of the late Verlaine (Stewart) Van Camp, who predeceased him in 2009, and special friend of Edna

Pletch. He was the loving father of Dianne and Len Zevenbergen and the late Gary Van Camp (2010) and father-in-law of Jane Van Camp and Jim Scott. Glen was the dear grandfather of Shane, Glen, Dan, Gavin, Becky, Colleen and Grayson and special great-grandfather of 10.

Glen was the brother of Kay Harris and brother-in-law of Lois Robertson.

Glen will be lovingly remembered by many nieces, nephews and extended family.

Glen was predeceased by his parents Bill and Hazel (Taylor) Van Camp, sisters Donna Johnston and Norma Davidson, brothers Clare and John Van Camp and brothers-in-law Eldon Stewart and Marvin Robertson.

Visitation was held at McBurney Funeral Home, Wingham on Monday. The funeral service was held on Tuesday. Pastor Brian Hymers officiated. Interment will

take place in the spring in Brandon Cemetery, Belgrave.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Clinton Public Hospital Foundation or a charity of choice would be appreciated.

Online condolences may be left at www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com

BOX 158 WINGHAM ONT NOG 2W0

A cemetery is a history of people, a perpetual record of yesterday and a sanctuary of peace and quiet today. A cemetery exists because every life is worth loving and remembering - always Distinctive Memorials of Lasting Satisfaction

North St. West, Wingham Mac & Donna Anderson

519-357-1910

MUNICIPALITY OF MORRIS-TURNBERRY CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE BLIND LINE BRIDGE ON ABRAHAM LINE

38%/,& 0((7,1* 127,&( THE PROJECT: The Municipality of Morris-Turnberry initiated a Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) process in February 2018 to consider options associated with the Blind Line Bridge (M230) which spans the Little Maitland River along Abraham Line (as shown on the accompanying key plan). Recent inspections of the structure have identified deterioration with several bridge components that need to be addressed to maintain the safety of the crossing. Since initiating the Class EA, the Municipality has considered a range of alternatives to address the deterioration including: i) Replacement of the existing bridge with a single lane bridge in the same or a new alignment, ii) Repair or rehabilitation of the existing steel truss bridge, iii) Closure and removal of the bridge and construction of a new road access to properties located on the north side of the crossing. Pending additional input received during the Public Meeting, the Municipality of MorrisTurnberry has indicated that repair or rehabilitation of the existing steel truss bridge is the preliminary preferred alternative for implementation.

CLASS EA PROCESS:

FREDERICK WILLIAM ‘BILL’ STEPHENSON Frederick William Stephenson passed away peacefully in his sleep at Huronlea Home for the Aged, Brussels on Feb. 26, 2019. He was in his 79th year.

Bill was the beloved husband of the late Joan (2018) for 54 years and the loving father of Kim (Bob) Planques and Kellie (Reinhardt) Pirch. He was the adoring grandpa of Alex and Natalie Pirch.

Bill is survived by sisters-in-law Bonnie (Rick) Sallows, Donna Mitchell and brother-in-law Lloyd (Marion) Knoblauch.

He will be missed by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Bill was predeceased by brother Robert (1986).

Donations to the Royal Canadian Legion Brussels Branch #218 would be appreciated. In lieu of flowers and as expressions of sympathy, donations and cards may be sent to Box 340, Brussels, N0G 1H0.

Cremation has taken place. A celebration of Bill’s life will take place in the spring.

Condolences may be left at riversidefuneralhome.ca

The planning for this project is following the planning process established for Schedule µB¶ activities under the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) document. Schedule µB¶ projects are approved subject to the completion of a screening process. The purpose of the screening process is to identify potential environmental impacts associated with the proposal and to plan for appropriate mitigation of any impacts. The process includes consultation with the public, First Nation and Métis communities, stakeholders and review agencies. This notice is being issued to advise residents of a Public Information Meeting to provide an update to residents on the status of study investigations.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT: Public consultation is a key component of this study. A Public Information Centre has therefore been scheduled to update residents and project stakeholders on the status of study investigations and to receive input from interested parties on the Preliminary Preferred Alternative selected to address deterioration present at the Blind Line Bridge. Details of the Public Information Centre are as follows:

Date: Time: Location:

Monday March 18, 2019 7:00 pm ± 9:00 pm Bluevale Community Hall, 32 Clyde Street, Bluevale, ON

Following the meeting, input into the Class EA will be accepted until April 19, 2019. Comments collected in FRQMXQFWLRQ ZLWK WKLV &ODVV ($ 6FKHGXOH µB¶ SURFHVV ZLOO EH PDLQWDLQHG RQ ILOH IRU XVH GXULQg the project and may be included in project documentation. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record. For further information on this project, or to review the MEA Class EA process, please contact the project engineers: B.M. Ross and Associates: 62 North Street, Goderich, Ontario, N7A 2T4.

Telephone (Toll Free): (888) 524-2641. Fax: (519) 524-4403. Kelly Vader, Environmental Planner (e-mail: kvader@bmross.net).

Mike Alcock, Director of Public Works Municipality of Morris-Turnberry

This Notice issued March 6, 2019.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019. PAGE 9.

Welcome to my new classroom

By Julie Sawchuk

Learning at home Julie Sawchuk, right, has used her newly-constructed, fully-accessible kitchen, built with Universal Design principles in mind, as an example of how to address accessibility for both a local family and Blyth Cowbell Brewing Company. (Photo submitted) My favourite thing to do as a science teacher was to take students out of the classroom. “Field trip!” I would announce and usually the response was positive – especially when it meant a whole day away from school. We visited farms, beaches, recycling plants and trails.

We planted trees, went fishing and searched for snakes, mussels and turtles.

Sometimes we just went behind the school to the small ravine and looked at the grass and trees. Nature is everywhere. I really miss those days.

But now, it seems the field trip is coming to me. Just this past week I have had the company of both the local booming business and a family with a growing young man. Blyth Cowbell Brewing Company is making plans for renovating the former Emergency Services Training Centre and a part of that plan is to make the workspaces accessible for

all employees, especially the lunch room.

In conversation with Steven and Laurie Sparling one afternoon, we started talking about kitchens. I was having difficulty explaining how our new kitchen is laid out and so suggested that they come to our house so they can experience how it all works together. Field trip!

The trick is to apply the principles of Universal Design (UD) coined by Ronald Mace: “The concept of designing all products and the built environment to be aesthetic and usable to the greatest extent possible by everyone, regardless of their age, ability, or status in life.”

Universal Design means that when it works for one, it works for everyone. We have four different countertop work heights in the kitchen. Low for me, and anyone else who sits with me, and taller for the rest of the family. I can roll under the sink and cooktop and reach the

microwave. The wall oven opens to the side and the door swings over the top of my legs reducing how far I reach.

Making a kitchen/lunch area for the new Cowbell workspace means having enough turning radius (1,500 millimetres), counters, coffee mugs and maker, sinks and roll-under seating all within 730 to 860 millimetres from the floor. When we designed our home, we designed it for me. When you create an inclusive workplace you make it for everyone.

After their visit Steven, Laurie and their contractor Chris all had a new perspective, I could see their wheels turning. As Steven said: “[It] made it far easier to relate to the design rationale than by viewing a web page.” My favourite reaction came from Chris when he said that he never would have known the house was designed for someone who uses a wheelchair.

The other “learning lab” we have on the property is the 110-year-old farmhouse. It is one of those “addition, on addition, on addition, on addition” kind of homes and each one was on a slightly different level.

When you go there now it’s a bit of an empty shell, but when you visit, you see the renovations that

made it work in the short-term.

This new house we have, has it all.

I’m almost embarrassed by it. I know the first thing that people think when they arrive and come inside is “It’s beautiful – this place must have cost a fortune”. Well, it did, but the only reason we were able to afford it was because of the insurance settlement from my accident. There is no way we would have ever been able to build a house like this without that money.

So now I want to give back. To everyone who has paid auto insurance and will (hopefully) never have to see a dime of it. We open up our living lab of accessibility and Universal Design so you can see what’s it’s like to see out the windows from a seated position; experience cooking where you can’t quite see to the bottom of the pot, and try out the different workspace heights.

In the spring or early summer (once the mud has dried up) we hope to have an open house. I’ll be sure to let Citizen readers know more details as we make plans so you can come and see my new classroom.

Just when it seems there is nothing left to share, someone asks me a question. Keep them coming! E-mail me at julie@juliesawchuk.ca

350 Josephine St., Wingham ON N0G 2W0 519-357-1383 Email: info@glassierphysio.com Website: glassierphysio.com

Introducing two New Members of our Team Laura Snoek PT, CAT(C) We are very pleased to welcome Laura to our Clinic as our new Physiotherapist. She is a Certified Athletic Therapist and recent Master of Science in Physical Therapy graduate from the University of Toronto. Laura brings an impressive background working with sport injuries and

associations. She has recently completed courses in Acupunture, Red Cord Neuromuscular Activation, Soft Tissue Release and Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation. She is the perfect complement to our Clinic Services.

Laura grew up in St. Marys, Ontario and now lives outside of Teeswater.

Gavin Roberts CAT(C) We have been very fortunate to have Gavin with us for the last several months. He has been an amazing asset to our clinic - working both in administration and assisting with patient care. Gavin is a Certified

Athletic Therapist. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Western Ontario, before completing his degree in Athletic Therapy at Sheridan College. Gavin lives in Wingham.

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.

World Day of Prayer The annual World Day of Prayer service in Brussels was held this year at Melville Presbyterian Church. The service celebrated the women of Slovenia and the culture of their country. Services were held across the community, including in Belgrave at Knox United Church. In Brussels, Rev. Charmila Ireland, left, was one of the speakers, alongside service leader Elaine Armstrong, centre, and pianist Mary Douma, right. Wendy Martin was the guest speaker, addressing her time in Laos. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

Please help us get ALL the Winter Sports teams published.

The Citizen

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

PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019. PAGE 11.

Local farmer encourages safety after losing leg Dave Franken

Jacquie Gowing Accounting

Don't wear loose clothing around equipment or work areas.

Accounting, Income Tax & Business Management Personal, Farm, Business & Corporate

office@mcgavinfe.ca www.mcgavinequip.com

Brian E. Wightman Certified General Accountant • Personal & Corporate Tax • Accounting & Bookkeeping • Agricultural Services

Brussels Agromart Ltd.

Royal Canadian Legion Brussels Branch 218 Farm Safety is everyone’s responsibility

519-887-9248 Todd Wheeler Insurance Inc. AGENT: TODD WHEELER 75 Sports Dr., Brussels, ON N0G 1H0

• Crop Inputs • Crop Consulting • Crop Protection Products • Seed • Custom Application

www.brusselsagromart.ca

Seaforth ~ 519-527-1331 Email: wightman@bellnet.ca

• Monthly Bookkeeping Services • Electronic Tax Filing jgowing623@gmail.com

Brussels

519-887-6273

twheeler@mckillopmutual.com OFFICE: 519-357-0155 • FAX: 226-889-8944

The Citizen Take your time doing farming chores, wear proper footwear, watch for hazards, keep pathways clear, use handrails, and stay alert.

413 Queen St., Blyth

541 Turnberry St., Brussels

519-523-4792

519-887-9114

Take extra care when handling livestock.

Play it Safe!

• Order Buyers • • Slaughter/Feeder Cattle • • Western/Eastern/Local Cattle • • Cattle Appraisals ~ Processing Available • Ross McCall • Matt McCall

Office Fax

519-887-9571 519-887-9171

By Denny Scott – The Citizen When it comes to telling people about farm safety, there are few stories as enlightening as those from people who survived dangerous farm incidents, like East Wawanosh farmer Chris Palmer.

In May, 2008, a fraction of a second changed Palmer’s life dramatically.

“Eleven years ago I was in a farm accident that mutilated my body,” Palmer said in an email to The Citizen. “It took my off-farm job, my farming career and, what seemed at the time, our future.”

At the time of the incident, Palmer had a job in Guelph, requiring him to be up at 5 a.m. to feed livestock, then be on the road by 7 a.m. He would return home around 6:30 p.m., then, after dinner, go out and do more farm work so it wouldn’t pile up for the weekend.

That all changed one fateful May evening.

Palmer was washing his sprayer and, as a result of taking some short cuts, he ended up losing his leg, suffering other severe injuries, and starting a years-long rehabilitation that would see him undergo multiple medical procedures.

Palmer wanted to wash out the sprayer on the farm to prepare for future work. Normally, someone in Palmer’s position would be in the cab, using switches to clean out the sprayer, however to save time, he was pressing solenoids, putting him dangerously close to the power take-off shaft.

Palmer had 34 years of farming experience at the time and knew the dangers involved with it as well as the safety measures to take.

“Whether we want to face it or not, all of us who live and work on the farm are a heartbeat away from becoming disabled or dying,” he said. “Why? Because we take chances. We take shortcuts and we work excessive hours.”

Palmer was doing his third rinse of the sprayer when he felt a tug on his pant leg, akin to a pet rubbing up against him. In an instant, however, it became apparent that wasn’t the case.

“You know the saying ‘life is held on by a thread’?” Palmer asked in his e-mail. “Well a couple of threads from my worn-out coveralls almost took my life.”

He remembers a “whoosh”, and the next thing he remembers is sitting on the ground, propped up against his tractor opposite the PTO shaft from where he was standing without his clothes.

He had done a half-revolution around the PTO shaft, a miracle in itself as those who get pulled for a full revolution don’t often live to tell the tale. Palmer said the incident occurred so quickly, if he had been killed, he likely wouldn’t have felt anything.

Palmer began taking stock of his situation, realizing that his left leg had been torn from his body and was still spinning on the PTO shaft.

Despite that, he recalls being able to evaluate his situation, realizing his right leg was broken (later to be determined to be broken in two spots) but also verifying his head and torso were still whole.

His right arm couldn’t move, and he had broken vertebrae in his back. He was also losing blood at an alarming rate, and would lose eighty per cent of it before transfusions would begin restoring his blood levels.

Palmer knew if he stayed where he was, he would have likely passed away as a result of the blood loss and injuries and started to move away from the tractor so his father, Len, would be able to see him and render aid.

Palmer prayed for strength, and, with one hand, pulled himself away from the tractor, keeping the stump that used to be his leg up and out of the dirt to prevent infection.

Once he moved as far as he could from the tractor, he started calling for help, eventually having to stop due to a lack of energy.

At that point, Palmer says he was at peace, knowing that if he did pass, he had done everything possible to try and save his life.

That wasn’t his fate, however, as his 79-yearold (at the time) father found him. Despite suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, Len made for the house, telling Palmer’s wife Donna that emergency assistance was needed. He then called 911 as she came out to check on him, then returned to the house. As a trained nurse, she knew she had to stop the bleeding and keep him warm.

At that point, the shock of the injury was wearing off Palmer said, and he was in incredible pain. Soon he was in an ambulance, with every bump of the road causing fresh pain on his way to Wingham hospital. From there, an air ambulance took him to London.

After multiple medical procedures, including numerous CT scans and the resetting of his broken bones, including ribs, wrist, back, femur and vertebrae in his back, it was time to start rehabilitation.

“It was a miracle that I survived,” he said.

After four months in the hospital, Palmer was on his way to recovery thanks to his friends and family.

“Returning home after four months in the hospital was a shock,” he said. “When you’re in the hospital, surrounded by other patients and amputees, you don’t feel you’re different, but upon returning home, it hit me. I am different.

Set apart, so to speak.”

Palmer said his reality hit home when he was taking off his shoes after arriving home

For All Your Concrete Needs!

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

519-523-9971

HURON FEEDING SYSTEMS Come in and discover our new product lines

Be safe. Stay alert.

JOE SEILI

Brussels 519-887-6289

Gas Station and Express Mart Open 6 am to 10 pm

39977 Blyth Rd., Blyth

519-523-9090

Chris Palmer, showing the prosthetic leg that he has had for a decade after a farming accident, urges farmers to employ safe farm practices. and remembered that his foot was carbon fibre and rubber. The realization brought on a wave of sorrow.

“The only recourse, however, was to either roll over and die or put my slipper on and enter the next phase of my life,” he said.

Rehabilitation is, according to Palmer, “a battle between the ears.”

“The key to rehab is support and the love of family, friends and neighbours,” he said.

“Meeting your goals means becoming normal one step at a time.”

He said his experience was that the key to persistence is to celebrate small goals, realize

519-523-4966

37452 Glen’s Hill Road, RR 2, Auburn, Ont. N0M 1E0

Tel. 519-529-7212 Fax. 519-529-3277

Snowblowers, Quick-attach Buckets, Sweepers, Woodsplitters, Land Rollers, Stone Windrowers, etc.

Website: smythwelding.com Email: info@smythwelding.com

• FARM • HOME • AUTO • BUSINESS • COTTAGE • COMMERCIAL • RECREATION • MARINE

Remember to put safety first!

1-877-839-3742 www.mcconvilleomni.ca

• Farm • Residential • Commercial • Automobile Be cautious when working around farm equipment and livestock. Farm Safety is everyone’s responsibility!

Brussels 519-887-8253 Office brettandlaura@plantpioneer.com Farm Safety is everyone’s responsibility

Municipality of Morris-Turnberry

www.howickmutual.com

1-800-265-3033

519-887-6137

The Municipality of Central Huron 519-482-3997 www.centralhuron.com

519-887-9661 3878 WELLINGTON ST., 20 KING ST., MITCHELL and CLINTON

519-348-8485

519-482-3445

Locations ~ Blyth and Walton

Safe, Dependable Trucking Service • Livestock • Bulk Brussels, Ontario 519-887-6122 1-800-667-8399

Your full-service John Deere Source for Parts, Sales & Service

Farm Safety = #1 Priority Seed Crop Protection Fertilizer Grain Elevators Custom Spraying Contact us at 519-523-9624 • 1-800-663-3653

• Agricultural Equipment • Utility Vehicles • Skid Steers • Sprayers • Pressure Washers • Lawn & Garden Equipment • Exeter 519-235-1115 • Blyth 519-523-4244 • Mitchell 519-347-2251 www.hurontractor.com

G. L. HUBBARD LIMITED

AUTO PARTS

235 TURNBERRY ST., BRUSSELS

Blyth 519-523-4241

Brett & Laura Fischer

RADAR “You will find it at CARQUEST”

Flour Mill

Continued on page 12

D. C. Craig Excavating • Excavating • Bulldozing • Septic Systems • Drainage • Snowplowing

Howson & Howson Ltd.

Growers And Packers Of Quality Rutabagas

STAY SAFE! Experience the DELTA Difference

www.deltapower.ca

FEED STORES DUNGANNON 519-529-7951 1-800-665-5675

Farm Safety is everyone’s responsibility

Blyth 519-523-4554

PO Box 429 Blyth, ON N0M 1H0

519-523-4311

PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019. PAGE 11.

Local farmer encourages safety after losing leg Dave Franken

Jacquie Gowing Accounting

Don't wear loose clothing around equipment or work areas.

Accounting, Income Tax & Business Management Personal, Farm, Business & Corporate

office@mcgavinfe.ca www.mcgavinequip.com

Brian E. Wightman Certified General Accountant • Personal & Corporate Tax • Accounting & Bookkeeping • Agricultural Services

Brussels Agromart Ltd.

Royal Canadian Legion Brussels Branch 218 Farm Safety is everyone’s responsibility

519-887-9248 Todd Wheeler Insurance Inc. AGENT: TODD WHEELER 75 Sports Dr., Brussels, ON N0G 1H0

• Crop Inputs • Crop Consulting • Crop Protection Products • Seed • Custom Application

www.brusselsagromart.ca

Seaforth ~ 519-527-1331 Email: wightman@bellnet.ca

• Monthly Bookkeeping Services • Electronic Tax Filing jgowing623@gmail.com

Brussels

519-887-6273

twheeler@mckillopmutual.com OFFICE: 519-357-0155 • FAX: 226-889-8944

The Citizen Take your time doing farming chores, wear proper footwear, watch for hazards, keep pathways clear, use handrails, and stay alert.

413 Queen St., Blyth

541 Turnberry St., Brussels

519-523-4792

519-887-9114

Take extra care when handling livestock.

Play it Safe!

• Order Buyers • • Slaughter/Feeder Cattle • • Western/Eastern/Local Cattle • • Cattle Appraisals ~ Processing Available • Ross McCall • Matt McCall

Office Fax

519-887-9571 519-887-9171

By Denny Scott – The Citizen When it comes to telling people about farm safety, there are few stories as enlightening as those from people who survived dangerous farm incidents, like East Wawanosh farmer Chris Palmer.

In May, 2008, a fraction of a second changed Palmer’s life dramatically.

“Eleven years ago I was in a farm accident that mutilated my body,” Palmer said in an email to The Citizen. “It took my off-farm job, my farming career and, what seemed at the time, our future.”

At the time of the incident, Palmer had a job in Guelph, requiring him to be up at 5 a.m. to feed livestock, then be on the road by 7 a.m. He would return home around 6:30 p.m., then, after dinner, go out and do more farm work so it wouldn’t pile up for the weekend.

That all changed one fateful May evening.

Palmer was washing his sprayer and, as a result of taking some short cuts, he ended up losing his leg, suffering other severe injuries, and starting a years-long rehabilitation that would see him undergo multiple medical procedures.

Palmer wanted to wash out the sprayer on the farm to prepare for future work. Normally, someone in Palmer’s position would be in the cab, using switches to clean out the sprayer, however to save time, he was pressing solenoids, putting him dangerously close to the power take-off shaft.

Palmer had 34 years of farming experience at the time and knew the dangers involved with it as well as the safety measures to take.

“Whether we want to face it or not, all of us who live and work on the farm are a heartbeat away from becoming disabled or dying,” he said. “Why? Because we take chances. We take shortcuts and we work excessive hours.”

Palmer was doing his third rinse of the sprayer when he felt a tug on his pant leg, akin to a pet rubbing up against him. In an instant, however, it became apparent that wasn’t the case.

“You know the saying ‘life is held on by a thread’?” Palmer asked in his e-mail. “Well a couple of threads from my worn-out coveralls almost took my life.”

He remembers a “whoosh”, and the next thing he remembers is sitting on the ground, propped up against his tractor opposite the PTO shaft from where he was standing without his clothes.

He had done a half-revolution around the PTO shaft, a miracle in itself as those who get pulled for a full revolution don’t often live to tell the tale. Palmer said the incident occurred so quickly, if he had been killed, he likely wouldn’t have felt anything.

Palmer began taking stock of his situation, realizing that his left leg had been torn from his body and was still spinning on the PTO shaft.

Despite that, he recalls being able to evaluate his situation, realizing his right leg was broken (later to be determined to be broken in two spots) but also verifying his head and torso were still whole.

His right arm couldn’t move, and he had broken vertebrae in his back. He was also losing blood at an alarming rate, and would lose eighty per cent of it before transfusions would begin restoring his blood levels.

Palmer knew if he stayed where he was, he would have likely passed away as a result of the blood loss and injuries and started to move away from the tractor so his father, Len, would be able to see him and render aid.

Palmer prayed for strength, and, with one hand, pulled himself away from the tractor, keeping the stump that used to be his leg up and out of the dirt to prevent infection.

Once he moved as far as he could from the tractor, he started calling for help, eventually having to stop due to a lack of energy.

At that point, Palmer says he was at peace, knowing that if he did pass, he had done everything possible to try and save his life.

That wasn’t his fate, however, as his 79-yearold (at the time) father found him. Despite suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, Len made for the house, telling Palmer’s wife Donna that emergency assistance was needed. He then called 911 as she came out to check on him, then returned to the house. As a trained nurse, she knew she had to stop the bleeding and keep him warm.

At that point, the shock of the injury was wearing off Palmer said, and he was in incredible pain. Soon he was in an ambulance, with every bump of the road causing fresh pain on his way to Wingham hospital. From there, an air ambulance took him to London.

After multiple medical procedures, including numerous CT scans and the resetting of his broken bones, including ribs, wrist, back, femur and vertebrae in his back, it was time to start rehabilitation.

“It was a miracle that I survived,” he said.

After four months in the hospital, Palmer was on his way to recovery thanks to his friends and family.

“Returning home after four months in the hospital was a shock,” he said. “When you’re in the hospital, surrounded by other patients and amputees, you don’t feel you’re different, but upon returning home, it hit me. I am different.

Set apart, so to speak.”

Palmer said his reality hit home when he was taking off his shoes after arriving home

For All Your Concrete Needs!

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

519-523-9971

HURON FEEDING SYSTEMS Come in and discover our new product lines

Be safe. Stay alert.

JOE SEILI

Brussels 519-887-6289

Gas Station and Express Mart Open 6 am to 10 pm

39977 Blyth Rd., Blyth

519-523-9090

Chris Palmer, showing the prosthetic leg that he has had for a decade after a farming accident, urges farmers to employ safe farm practices. and remembered that his foot was carbon fibre and rubber. The realization brought on a wave of sorrow.

“The only recourse, however, was to either roll over and die or put my slipper on and enter the next phase of my life,” he said.

Rehabilitation is, according to Palmer, “a battle between the ears.”

“The key to rehab is support and the love of family, friends and neighbours,” he said.

“Meeting your goals means becoming normal one step at a time.”

He said his experience was that the key to persistence is to celebrate small goals, realize

519-523-4966

37452 Glen’s Hill Road, RR 2, Auburn, Ont. N0M 1E0

Tel. 519-529-7212 Fax. 519-529-3277

Snowblowers, Quick-attach Buckets, Sweepers, Woodsplitters, Land Rollers, Stone Windrowers, etc.

Website: smythwelding.com Email: info@smythwelding.com

• FARM • HOME • AUTO • BUSINESS • COTTAGE • COMMERCIAL • RECREATION • MARINE

Remember to put safety first!

1-877-839-3742 www.mcconvilleomni.ca

• Farm • Residential • Commercial • Automobile Be cautious when working around farm equipment and livestock. Farm Safety is everyone’s responsibility!

Brussels 519-887-8253 Office brettandlaura@plantpioneer.com Farm Safety is everyone’s responsibility

Municipality of Morris-Turnberry

www.howickmutual.com

1-800-265-3033

519-887-6137

The Municipality of Central Huron 519-482-3997 www.centralhuron.com

519-887-9661 3878 WELLINGTON ST., 20 KING ST., MITCHELL and CLINTON

519-348-8485

519-482-3445

Locations ~ Blyth and Walton

Safe, Dependable Trucking Service • Livestock • Bulk Brussels, Ontario 519-887-6122 1-800-667-8399

Your full-service John Deere Source for Parts, Sales & Service

Farm Safety = #1 Priority Seed Crop Protection Fertilizer Grain Elevators Custom Spraying Contact us at 519-523-9624 • 1-800-663-3653

• Agricultural Equipment • Utility Vehicles • Skid Steers • Sprayers • Pressure Washers • Lawn & Garden Equipment • Exeter 519-235-1115 • Blyth 519-523-4244 • Mitchell 519-347-2251 www.hurontractor.com

G. L. HUBBARD LIMITED

AUTO PARTS

235 TURNBERRY ST., BRUSSELS

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Brett & Laura Fischer

RADAR “You will find it at CARQUEST”

Flour Mill

Continued on page 12

D. C. Craig Excavating • Excavating • Bulldozing • Septic Systems • Drainage • Snowplowing

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PO Box 429 Blyth, ON N0M 1H0

519-523-4311

PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019.

Neighbours, community band together to save horse

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

A happy ending Blyth farmer Graham Jackson stands with his horse Red who, thanks to quick thinking and neighbourly assistance, is alive and well after falling into an ice-cold pond on Feb. 22. (Shawn

A group of Blyth neighbours came together last week and pulled off a daring rescue of a horse that, if they hadn’t acted as quickly as they did, could have not had a happy ending.

Graham Jackson, who owns a small agricultural property at the east end of Blyth, was out running errands late last month, picking up a load of firewood for a friend. They returned mid-afternoon on Feb. 22 to Jackson’s King Street home and went into the field only to see one of Jackson’s horses had fallen in the pond on his property. Most of the horse’s body was submerged with only its head and some of its neck above water.

Jackson was immediately concerned. Aside from the clear trauma his horse, Red, found herself in, he knew there is quicksand at the bottom of the pond (for years, builders took clay from the pond to make bricks for homes in the village) and that he wouldn’t have much time to rescue her.

Jackson and his friends, Roy Beuermann and Lorne Reis, tried to lift the horse out of the pond on their own, but were unsuccessful. Jackson then made his way down King Street looking for help from his neighbours.

A few houses down from his, Colleen Carter was home and came to his aid. She provided a fourwheeler to help the rescue effort, but

she and Jackson recruited fellow King Street resident Nathan Shannon to help drive it.

The group placed ropes on the horse and then attempted to pull her out of the pond with the fourwheeler, but she was so heavy that the four-wheeler couldn’t gain sufficient traction.

With the help of Steve Switzer and some others, they were able to anchor the four-wheeler and eventually pull Red out of the pond.

Once out of the pond, they immediately began treating Red with warm buckets of water to bring up her body temperature. They then covered her in horse blankets to keep her warm.

Luckily, Jackson had called local veterinarian, Dr. Lee Siertsema for another horse, so when he attended with local co-op student Emily Croft, the two were immediately put to work.

They helped in the horse’s recovery, administering a shot to help the horse calm down.

In the days since the incident, Red has fully recovered, with no injuries to show for her time in the cold water. Jackson said that all of those who were involved in the rescue have followed up in the days since.

He said it really is amazing to live in a community like Blyth and especially a street like King Street, knowing that any neighbour who was home would be willing to help him and his horses in an emergency.

Loughlin photo)

OAAS to host local farm tour

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen District 8 of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS) will be highlighting Blyth and Brussels farms for the third year of its wildlypopular Father’s Day farm tour event.

Set for Sunday, June 16, there will be two three-stop tour routes, one in the Blyth area, beginning with registration at Nature’s Nest in Londesborough, and the second beginning at the Four Winds Barn in Brussels. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. and each route will have three stops between 12-4 p.m.

The hope of organizers is that those attending will leave themselves enough time to do all six stops on both routes.

The six stops are a closelyguarded secret, says Brian

Schlosser, secretary/treasurer of the Brussels Agricultural Society, but all will be revealed that day when those who take the tour are given their guide pamphlet.

Schlosser says that in the first two years of the tour, they have proven to be extremely popular, with people coming from Toronto to attend them.

The first year, the tour was held in the Seaforth and Bayfield areas, followed by Listowel, Monkton and Milverton in the second year.

Schlosser said that the organization is preparing for approximately 700 people for the tour, which is no small feat.

District 8 of the OAAS is comprised of Huron and Perth Counties, featuring nine fall fairs in Huron County and four in Perth.

Past tours have really featured every sector imaginable, Schlosser said, and have tried to provide a full

spectrum of farms along the way.

The cost for the tour is $5 for each adult and children under the age of 14 are free. There is no preregistration for the event. If you’re interested in attending, simply show up at either Nature’s Nest in Londesborough or the Brussels Four Winds Barn on Sunday, June 16 after 11:30 a.m. and get your pamphlet.

Schlosser said he’s excited for the communities of Blyth and Brussels to be featured on the tour. The communities have so much to offer, he said, it will be great to show it off.

The top comment those who attend the tour have responded with, Schlosser said, is that they had no idea what was in their own backyard. Schlosser hopes this year will also deliver that level of wonderment to those who attend.

Animal in distress Red, a horse owned by Blyth farmer Graham Jackson, had a brush with disaster late last month when he fell into a pond on Jackson’s property. Thanks to some aid provided

by Jackson’s neighbours and a local veterinarian and her assistant, disaster was averted. (Photo submitted)

Palmer preaches safety to avoid becoming a statistic Continued from page 11 disappointment will set you back, and having goals like being able to dance, bike, walk and paddle a canoe, all of which Palmer has, in the past decade, surpassed.

That wasn’t the end of the suffering caused by the incident, however, as shortly after, Palmer needed his hip replaced after it failed as a result of what had happened.

He also found himself in a difficult position as his off-farm job came to an end.

He points out that, while he went through dark times during his recovery, it’s important to realize that he wasn’t the only victim in the situation.

“In fact, I left a wave of collateral

damage in my wake,” he said. “My spouse went through hell, not to mention the rest of my family and friends.”

Palmer said that Donna, his wife, is the strongest person he knows, having been his rock, while his father was also a powerful presence through his recovery.

Family and neighbours also stepped up when Palmer was injured and in the hospital, planting and spraying corn and soybeans that year.

“There’s nothing like great neighbours,” he said. “When I left the hospital, it was time to harvest our soybeans. I could barely walk, but I told Donna if I can get into the combine, we’re going.”

Thanks to a step ladder, and

Donna and a neighbour’s help, Palmer was able to completely harvest his fields the same year he was in the hospital.

The incident and all the aftermath left Palmer wanting to make sure that no one else runs into the same situation.

His amputation and medical procedures were over a decade ago and, since then, Palmer has made it his mission to make sure his mistake of taking shortcuts isn’t repeated. He has spoken to farming groups, youth groups and at his own church about his experience.

Aside from wearing clothing that got caught in the PTO shaft, he also warns about the hours farmers seem to need to work to make things work.

He said that working a second job and running the farm left him exhausted, which undoubtedly played a part in what happened.

“The excuse of needing to pull an all-nighter because it might rain the next day isn’t worth it,” he said.

“Fatigue kills. You will only get away with it so long.”

He goes on to say that being fatigued is similar to intoxication, noting that senses become dulled and accidents become far more prevalent.

He also says that having a plan is important on farms, not just for emergencies, but for what will happen if a partner is disabled or killed and how the farm business will keep operating.

While Palmer doesn’t do as much

public speaking as he did in the years immediately following the incident, he still feels that there is a message to share from his experience.

Others talk about farm accidents, but Palmer says that incidents like his are preventable, so calling them an accident is a bit of a misnomer.

“We often categorize life, but, honestly, there are only three options: we become old men and women; we become disabled old men and women or we are a premature memory,” he said. “I don’t want you to become an accident statistic like me. Accidents are preventable. Think safety and then you will live to see another day.”

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019. PAGE 13.

Ph. 519-335-6813 Fax 519-335-4352 Jeff’s Cell 519-291-7777 Receiving Elevator for 43269 Amberley Rd. RR #2 Wroxeter

Agriculture

BLYTH 519-523-4244 www.hurontractor.com

Brussels Livestock report

Small run of fed cattle on offer at sale Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending March 1 were 1,745 cattle and 376 lambs and goats. On Tuesday due to the extreme weather, there was only a small run of fed cattle with no choice cattle on offer. Second cut cattle sold steady. Second cut steers and heifers sold $135 to $147. Cows sold on a strong active market. On Thursday veal sold steady. Lambs sold higher. Sheep and goats sold steady. On Friday calves and yearlings sold on a strong active trade at steady prices.

Lyle Kinsman of Kippen, consigned five heifers that averaged 1,417 lbs. and sold for an average price of $141.95. One gold heifer

weighed 1,385 lbs. and sold for $143. Reval and Sharon Dettman of Clifford, consigned three heifers that averaged 1,345 lbs. sold for an average of $129.74. One blue heifer weighed 1,250 lbs., sold for $134.

There were 225 cows on offer.

Beef sold $70 to $80 with a high of $82.50; D1 and D2, $59 to $65 with a high of $66.50; D3, $55 to $58; D4, $45 to $55. Scottslea Farms Ltd. of Blyth, consigned one rwf cow that weighed 1,815 lbs., sold for $82.50.

There were 14 bulls selling $78 to $116. Alton Century Farms Ltd. of Lucknow, consigned one charolais bull at 2,035 lbs. sold for $116.

There were 225 head of veal on offer. Beef sold $140 to $155; good

holsteins, $106 to $111 with sales to $115; Sl heavy holsteins, $80 to $90; heavy holsteins, $70 to $90; medium holsteins, $80 to $100.

Paul M. Martin of Lucknow, consigned eight head that averaged 832 lbs. and sold for an average price of $138.40. One limousin heifer weighed 835 lbs. and sold for $150. Lamar Frey of Listowel, consigned six head. One blonde steer weighed 840 lbs. and sold for $155. Stewart Martin of Mount Forest, consigned two head. One holstein heifer at 230 lbs. sold for $115.

Lambs 50 - 64 lbs. sold $342 to $375; 65 - 79 lbs., $336 to $350; 80 - 94 lbs., $253 to $274; 95 - 109 lbs.,

$238 to $254; 110 lbs. and over, $186 to $229. Sheep sold $128 to $160. Goats: billies sold $150 to $300; nannies, $100 to $160; kids: meat, $320 to $440 / lb.; dairy, $250 to $395/lb.

VanderNeut Farms Ltd. of Mount Forest, consigned five lambs that averaged 61 lbs. and sold for an average price of $375. Pete Lise of Teeswater, consigned six lambs that averaged 82 lbs. and sold for an average price of $296. Three lambs averaged 74 lbs. and sold for an average price of $350.

Top quality stocker steers under 400 lbs. sold $182 to $215; 400 499 lbs., $184 to $252; 500 - 599 lbs., $191 to $239; 600 - 699 lbs.,

$182 to $216.50; 700 - 799 lbs., $182 to $195.50; 800 - 899 lbs., $180 to $185; 900 - 999 lbs., $175 to $186; 1,000 lbs. and over, $157 to $175.50.

Top quality stocker heifers, 300 399 lbs. sold $165 to $205; 400 499 lbs., $144 to $192; 500 - 599 lbs., $173 to $200; 600 - 699 lbs., $152 to $180; 700 - 799 lbs., $140 to $164; 800 - 899 lbs., $149 to $168; 900 lbs. and over, $159 to $176.

Bob Phibbs of Jarvis, consigned 16 cattle. Three red steers averaged 915 lbs. and sold for $178.50. Joe Sherk of Wellesley, consigned 21 charolais heifers. Eleven heifers averaged 1,007 lbs. and sold for an average price of $169.50.

Lobb, Thompson hear farmers’ concerns at forum

A time to listen Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb, left, and Huron-Bruce MPP and Ontario Minister of Education Lisa Thompson, centre, were both in Clinton on Friday for the Huron County Federation of Agriculture’s annual local politician forum. Federation President Ethan Wallace, right, played host for the day, held at the Clinton Legion. (Lisa B. Pot photo)

By Lisa B. Pot The Rural Voice The economy is doing very well in rural Ontario says Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb and labour issues shouldn’t detract from that. Lobb was speaking to farmers and agricultural leaders at the Huron County Federation of Agriculture’s (HCFA) Local Politician Forum, held Friday at the Clinton Legion.

Held annually as a way for the agricultural industry to inform and connect with local politicians. Lobb said he’d been attending the event for 11 years. Both he and HuronBruce MPP and provincial Minister of Education Lisa Thompson were praised for their commitment to agriculture.

Finding qualified labour and being able to pay for it was a concern across sectors represented at the forum. Among the other concerns addressed at the event were trade, a lack of processing plants, new transportation guidelines, taxes on farmland and risk management programs.

Meanwhile, both Lobb and Thompson reminded the group the province is in debt and encouraged

farmers to search out and develop new markets for their products.

“There are opportunities out there to market but no possibility for it if we don’t have the processing facilities to get it there,” acknowledged Lobb, referencing the 300 million Christians in India looking to enjoy pork in a country where there isn’t enough supply. “If we can fix our trade and processing issues there is tremendous opportunity for beef and pork products to go elsewhere,” he said.

The whole issue of food infrastructure was addressed and it began with Harvey Hoggart, speaking on behalf of the Huron County Beef Producers.

He said Ontario produces more cattle than there is capacity to process them. With the United States reducing how many Canadian cattle cross the border, cattle processing has backed up in Ontario. “We need more competition in the market but the only ones who can compete with Cargill Proteins are Tyson Food and JBS Food Company (both American companies) and I can’t see them wanting to come to Ontario,” said Hoggart.

“Labour and process capacity are

in my notes,” said Lobb, responding to the comments. “A lot of Canadians would be shocked to know that over 50 per cent of our beef is not grown in Canada. That is a significant issue and governments of all shapes and sizes want automotive plants in their province, very seldom do you hear that they want a processing plant, but we need to do just that. Just as you said, there is no competition and when there is no competition, you do not get fair prices. We need to look at food infrastructure... it’s a worthwhile discussion to have at this time.”

Thompson agreed. It really struck her that American processing companies won’t come to Ontario because of the price and availability of labour. She encouraged beef leaders to communicate with Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Todd Smith.

“He will be focusing on automotive and agriculture because he knows both sectors provide great jobs,” said Thompson. “We need to create a climate where businesses think Ontario is a great place to set up. We need to make Ontario a place that is back open for business.”

Other concerns for the beef

industry are new amendments released by the Canadian government to the Health of Animals regulations concerning transportation. The new regulations will reduce the period of time that cattle can be moved in transport trucks.

“Minimizing stress and preventing injury of animals during transport is always our goal,” said Hoggart.

“However, when you reduce the transport time, that means you have more unloading times and that is where most injuries to cattle occur,” he added. Also, it would require more feeding stations, more pen capacity and increased biosecurity.

Lobb agreed with Hoggart.

“People and livestock producers are trying to negotiate nicely behind the scenes and I don’t think the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) used all the data to make a determination, which is unfortunate,” said Lobb. “There is nothing we can do about it at this time, but it would be good to have a review and talk to livestock groups to see what the impacts are.”

After Hoggart spoke, each commodity had a chance to report on their industry. Here are the highlights: Egg Farmers “Our story is a positive one,” said egg farmers Brent Grainger and Stephen Beeler.

With consumption continuing to rise six per cent year after year in Canada, egg farmers are building new barns and enjoying success.

However, they want this to continue by reducing imports of eggs from the United States.

Thompson advised egg farmers to make these concerns known to Smith as he meets with U.S. senators to discuss trade issues.

Beeler educated the crowd about the future of layer barns, saying all new barns are required to be built with enrichment systems, allowing the chicken to “express their natural behaviour. It is very important to consumers that the bird can be herself and do what she pleases.”

Lobb used the opportunity to say if he was ever reincarnated, he’d like to come back as a chicken and do what he wants. On a more serious note, he said he is aligned with chicken and dairy farmers that the United States/Mexico/Canada trade deal is not a good deal. “It’s like the trades

the Ottawa Senators make – they give up a lot and don’t get much in return.”

Pork Producers Labour is a huge issue in the pork industry, said pork representatives Geert Geene and Bill Dowson.

Long-term solutions are needed while the Temporary Foreign Worker Program is critical to getting workers when local workers don’t want to work in pig barns.

Lobb agreed, revealing that Sofina Foods in Burlington has never laid anyone off in the history of the company. They need more shifts and more capacity and can’t find the workers to meet that demand. The labour shortage is real and companies hang onto the workers they have.

Geene and Dowson also wanted to alert the crowd of how fearful the industry is of African Swine Fever ever getting into Canada. The disease has decimated the sow herd in China and will have unheard-of ramifications if it gets into the United States or Canada.

“Prices will plummet and we will have nowhere to bring pigs. Even if we stopped breeding today, it takes 10 months to stop the flow of pigs,” said Geene.

To prevent African Swine Fever from getting into the country, pork producers are asking for specially trained detective dogs to be used at airports. These dogs can sniff out meat, which is how the viral disease would likely enter the country.

However, each one of these dogs Continued on page 20

BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd.

UPCOMING SALES TUESDAYS 9:00 a.m.

Fed Cattle, Bulls & Cows

THURSDAYS 8:00 a.m. Drop Calves 10:00 a.m.Veal 11:30 a.m. Lambs, Goats & Sheep

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

Call us 519-887-6461

PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019.

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

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

Accomm for rent ROOMS FOR RENT. $600 PER month. 519-440-3706.

09-4p

Articles for sale REPRINTS OF PHOTOS taken by Citizen photographers are available to purchase. All are in colour. 4x6 – $4.00, 5x7 – $5.00, 8x10 – $8.00. Phone to order 519523-4792 or 519-887-9114. tfn -------------------------------------------THE CITIZEN IS AVAILABLE TO purchase at these locations – Auburn Co-op, Belgrave Variety, Blyth Corner Café, Blyth Variety, Blyth Food Market, Blyth Ultramar, Brussels Bulk & Bargains, Brussels Foodland, Brussels Variety, JR’s, Clinton Convenience, Clinton Foodland, Walton Inn, Dean’s ValuMart in Wingham, Wingham Mini Mart, Brown’s Pharmasave, Wingham. Seaforth Foodland, GT Mini Mart in Seaforth, Fincher’s in Goderich, The Citizen Blyth, and Brussels. tfn

Auction sale

Articles for sale Coming events Help wanted 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

Card of thanks CANADIAN FOODGRAINS BANK. Thank you to the generous people who attended and contributed to the 5th Canadian FoodGrains dinner.

Thanks for this delicious meal go to Beth Earl and her helpers. Special thanks for the amazing support and generosity of St. Ambrose Church, which was also the venue. This church and community support greatly helps to fight world hunger.

Join us again in 2020 for a great fundraising meal and social event.

10-1p -------------------------------------------HOONAARD. We would like to say thank you to our neighbours and friends for the beautiful flowers sent to us. Thank you for your thoughtfulness in reaching out to us with your care. – The Hoonaards.

10-1p -------------------------------------------JACKSON. Thank you to everyone who helped rescue my horse Red after the fall into the pond last week.

Thanks so much to Colleen Carter, Nathan Shannon, Nellie Verschaeve, Steve Switzer, Roy Beuermann, Lorne Reis, Dr. Lee Siertsema and Emily Croft. Your help was very much appreciated. – Graham. 10-1

Auction sale

OLD TYME JAMBOREE, ROYAL Canadian Legion Br. 180, Victoria St., Wingham, ON., March 10, 2019 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission - $5.

Dinner - $12. Dinner Served - 4:30 p.m. See you at the Legion! 10-1 -------------------------------------------AUBURN & DISTRICT LIONS Club breakfast, Sunday, March 10, 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. Auburn Community Hall Adults $8. Maple syrup supplied by Robinson’s Maple Products. Proceeds for Huron Residential Hospice.

10-1

MIKE, JOHN, LES & CAM SHACKELTON – AUCTIONEERS

Shackelton Auctions Inc (519) 765-4450 www.shackeltonauctions.com

Please submit résumé in person or by email to: Steve Caldwell Branch Manager email: hbcaldwell@wightman.ca

SPRING VENDOR MARKET

Truck Driver Wanted

SATURDAY, MARCH 30 LUNCH AVAILABLE Local Vendors • Raffle Draw Cash Prizes • Bake Table

We are a leading local ready mix concrete producer and are currently seeking customer oriented people for a variety of duties including concrete and aggregate delivery.

AZ or DZ Licence required.

11 AM - 3 PM ST. AMBROSE PARISH HALL BRUSSELS

Full time and seasonal work is available.

(Teeswater/Clinton/Tiverton)

Help wanted

An attractive employee benefit package, excellent remuneration, and job satisfaction are just some of the benefits available to qualified candidates.

Home evenings and weekends.

FALLS RESERVE

Conservation Area

Please stop in at one of our plants or send a résumé by e-mail: corey@teeswaterconcrete.com or fax 519-392-6998.

Maitland Conservation is accepting applications for seasonal positions at Falls Reserve Conservation Area, Benmiller. Positions include:

Visit www.mvca.on.ca for application details and job descriptions. The deadline for applications is 4:00 pm on Wed. March 13, 2019.

***** TUESDAY MARCH 26TH, 11:00AM *****

AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE FARM LAND. PROPERTY BEING SOLD SUBJECT TO VERY MINIMAL RESERVE TO SETTLE THE ESTATE.

Huron Bay Co-op (Auburn and Belgrave Branches) is seeking AZ truck drivers and general help. This is a perfect opportunity for an individual interested in agriculture, retail and a fast-paced environment. Training provided. Retail knowledge an asset.

We appreciated all applications, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

n Gate Attendants

LEGAL DESCRIPTION: #83697 Marnoch Line, Blyth, Ontario N0M 1H0. Conc 3 PT Lot 32 in the Township of North Huron. Tax roll number 40.50.580.003.01200.0000.

ACREAGE: Consisting of 175 total acres +/- with 103 acres +/- being workable. Approximately 60 acres +/- being systematically tiled. The balance of 65 acres +/- being mixed bush, yard, buildings and pond.

Bush was logged approx. 5-6 years ago. Currently 40 acres is Alfalfa.

HOME: 4 bedroom, 2-storey farm home with newer propane furnace and outdoor wood furnace.

OUTBUILDINGS: 2 Pole barns 88'x64' & 50'x104'; 28'x32' workshop; 52'x60' livestock barn; 28'x60', 36'x64' & 56'x42' outbuildings.

2018 TAXES: $4,496.79 total EASEMENT: Please see link below for Ontario Hydro easement.

VIEWING: Please feel free to walk the farm anytime. To view inside building or questions on the property please contact Les 519-525-9322 OR Jack 519-526-7263 TERMS: Down payment of $100,000 day of auction, balance due on closing in 30 days.

AZ TRUCK DRIVERS/GENERAL HELP

ST. AMBROSE PARISH PRESENTS

n Operations and Security

Selling for DON SCHULTZ – #83697 Marnoch Line Blyth, Ontario Canada N0M 1H0 – located 5.5 kms west of Blyth on Blyth Rd (Huron #25) then north 3.5 kms on Marnoch Line OR 9 kms south of Wingham on HWY #4/London Rd then west on 5.5 kms on Belgrave Road then south on Marnoch Line.

HELP WANTED

Résumés will be accepted until March 16, 2019

n Maintenance

175 ACRE FARM AUCTION

Help wanted

KSE INC. Kurtis Smith Excavating Inc.

is currently looking to fill positions for

The Corporation of the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry

Administrative Assistant The Municipality of Morris Turnberry is a rural municipality in the northeast corner of the County of Huron, with a population of approximately 3,500 residents. Featuring rich farmland and commercial and industrial developments, the municipality prides itself on being a great place to live, play and work. To learn more visit: www.morristurnberry.ca The Municipality of Morris-Turnberry and the Township of North Huron are in a shared service agreement for the building department and drainage department, which has been operating successfully for over two years. The two rural municipalities include the Town of Wingham, Villages of Bluevale and Blyth and the Hamlets of Belgrave, Belmore and Walton.

The Municipality of Morris-Turnberry has an opening and will be accepting applications for a permanent part-time position of ‘Administrative Assistant to primarily report to the Chief Building Official/Drainage Superintendent’.

Duties will include but are not limited to:

Crew Foremen Pipe Layers & Labourers

- Performing clerical and secretarial duties for the Building and Drainage Departments.

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

The qualifications and job description for the position are available for review on the Morris-Turnberry website: www.morristurnberry.ca Morris-Turnberry offers a competitive remuneration package.

Should you be interested in this position, please submit your résumé and cover letter in confidence by 4 pm Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 in person or via e-mail or regular mail to: Nancy Michie Administrator Clerk-Treasurer 41342 Morris Road PO Box 310, BRUSSELS, ON NOG 1H0 Telephone 519-887-6137 Ext 21 Email: nmichie@morristurnberry.ca

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.

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.

This advertisement will be an internal/external posting.

We thank all applicants for their interest in this position; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

In accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection Act, personal information is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act and will be used only for the purpose of candidate selection.

See more Help Wanted ads on Page 15

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

www.northhuron.on.ca

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019. PAGE 15.

Classified Advertisements Help wanted

Help wanted

Seasonal Full-Time Fencing Installation Position Brussels Agri Services Ltd. has an opportunity to join our amazing fence installation service team. We have been busy with two crews in response to demand for our services. Agriculture experience is an asset, but not required. This is physical outdoor work that requires heavy lifting.

Requirements: • Valid “G” drivers licence • Motivated to ensure customer satisfaction • Positive attitude with problem-solving skills • Fun and work with a kick-ass team • Outstanding hard worker If this sounds like you - We want you!

To apply please e-mail résumé to: tim@brusselsagri.com

Find a job or advertise a job on the Citizen Careers section of our website www.northhuron.on.ca

The Municipality of Central Huron is now accepting applications for the following position:

Deputy Clerk The Municipality of Central Huron is a friendly, vibrant community of over 7,100 with a unique mix of urban, agriculture and lakeshore. We offer diverse opportunities to live, work and play. As a result of succession planning and re-organizing, we are currently seeking a positive, self-motivated, team-oriented individual to fill the position of Deputy Clerk.

Reporting to the Clerk, the position will provide support and administrative assistance to the Clerk, CAO and Council in the performance of all statutory duties in accordance with the Municipal Act and other applicable legislation. The primary role of the Deputy Clerk includes but is not limited to Agenda and minute preparation, also, administration in the areas of MFIPPA, Accessibility, records management, lottery licensing, marriage licensing and commissioning, vital statistics, drainage, bylaw enforcement, land use planning and cemeteries. A job description for the position and information about the Municipality of Central Huron is available at www.centralhuron.com The ideal candidate will have: • Progressive experience in municipal government; • Knowledge of the Municipal Act, Vital Statistics Act, Marriage Act, Drainage Act, Municipal Elections Act, Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, Planning Act, Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy, Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and other relevant legislation; • Demonstrated knowledge and skills and ability to maintain discretion in a confidential environment; • Diploma/Degree in public administration, law, business administration or related field; • AMCTO Municipal Administration Program completion considered an asset.

This is a full time, 35 hour week position with evening meetings.

Competitive salary with benefit package to commensurate with experience. We invite interested applicants to forward a covering letter and résumé by noon (12:00 p.m.) Monday, March 11, 2019 in confidence, to: Human Resources, Box 400, 23 Albert Street, Clinton, Ontario N0M 1L0 or by email: humanresources@centralhuron.com This is a non-union position in a union environment. Terms and Conditions of employment as per all Human Resources policies and procedures of the Municipality of Central Huron.

The Municipality of Central 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. We thank all applicants and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

In memoriam

Services

Wanted

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

A part of me, he took with him, But his love, he left me to keep, So we will never really be parted, The bond between us, is far too deep.

– Love and miss you so much, Tiny.

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

We lost a Dad/Grandpa With a heart of gold, How much we miss him, Can never be told.

He shared our troubles, And helped us along, If we follow his footsteps, We will never go wrong.

– Jeff, Kyle, Jacob and Emily; Joanne, Mike and Keegan.

10-1p -------------------------------------------JOSLING. In memory of a dear friend, Paul Josling who passed away two years ago, March 11, 2017.

Memories are precious possessions, That time can never destroy, For it is in happy remembrance, That the heart finds its greatest joy.

– Missing you always, Joan and Stephen.

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

Though your smile is gone forever, And your hand we cannot touch, We still have so many memories, Of the one we loved so much.

God has you in His keeping, We have you in our hearts.

– Love Muriel and family.

10-1p

CUSTOM CLOVER SEEDING with GPS $2.50/acre or $3 for pasture. Seed available at $1.75/lb.

D.C. Call Kurt Beuerman, 519-5250538 or 519-523-9234 (home).

10-4b -------------------------------------------INCOME TAX PREPARATION – farm, business, personal. Stephen Thompson, 519-482-3244.

10-8 -------------------------------------------FAXING SERVICE We can send or receive faxes for you for only $1.00 per page. The Citizen, 413 Queen St., Blyth. Phone 519523-4792. Fax 519-523-9140. tfn

VENDORS WANTED FOR A vendor market to be held Saturday, March 30 at St. Ambrose Church, Brussels, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Please contact Cindy van Nes at 519-887-9411.

09-2 -------------------------------------------I AM INTERESTED IN Purchasing breeding pet rabbit stock, for the spring, that are various colours and breeds. I am also interested in hobby chickens and possibly other fowl. Please call Gisele Ireland 519-392-6461.

07-4

Sniff Out a Great Deal in the Classifieds.

Shoppers with a nose for bargains head straight for the Classifieds.

In the Classifieds, you can track down deals on everything from cars to canine companions. It’s easy to place an ad or find the items you want, and it’s used by hundreds of shoppers every day.

Go with your instincts and use the Classifieds today.

The Citizen Classifieds 523-4792 • 887-9114

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

Let us help you turn that junk into $$ ➨ Free ad up to 25 words, person to person only (no businesses), items valued at $1,000 or less. 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 – Lighted curio cabinet, a decorative piece perfect to display collectibles, it has a mirrored back to reflect your treasures. It is a brown natural wood grain variation wall hugging half moon shape 68" high 27" wide and 14" deep. 519-357-2807. 10-3 ------------------------------------------FOR SALE – 45 vintage 78 records. Price negotiable. Phone 519-376-9628.

09-3 ------------------------------------------FOR SALE – Ice melt salt, 40 kg. bags, free while supplies last. 519887-9270.

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

FOR SALE – Wood’s custom chest freezer for sale for $100.

Model C12WCB in great working condition. Comes with two wire baskets, 50" wide by 24" deep by 35" tall when closed, 54" tall when open. Pick up in Blyth. Call 519-955-2682.

07-3 ------------------------------------------FOR SALE – Solid big oak desk with 10 drawers below and 10 bookshelves above. Kept in great shape, asking $450 or best offer. 519-291-9486.

06-3 -------------------------------------------

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

www.northhuron.on.ca

FOR SALE – Ariens snowblower 24 inch, kept in super condition and works great, $500 or best offer.

519-291-9486.

06-3 ------------------------------------------FOR SALE – Couch hide-a-bed perfect for extra company. Not pet worn. Kept in good shape, $100 or best offer. 519-291-9486. 06-3 ------------------------------------------FOR SALE – Ladder rack for work van, like brand new and adjusts to fit any size van. Holds two to three ladders, $475 or best offer. 519440-1289.

06-3 -------------------------------------------

PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019.

Hullett school public speaking impresses Radford PEOPLE AROUND LONDESBORO

By BRENDA RADFORD Call 523-4296

Even though there have been a number of snow days since

Christmas, a lot of activities are still happening at Hullett Central Public School.

The Senior volleyball teams took part in a regional tournament last week. Coached by Mr. Caldwell, the boys team finished second. The girls, coached by Mrs. Gilroy, placed third. Thanks for representing our school!

Because next week, March 11 to 15, is March Break, the school will be on holidays for St. Patrick’s Day. The school will celebrate early with

a ‘spirit day’ on Friday, encouraging the pupils to wear green and be Irish for a day.

On Thursday, Hullett held its inschool public speaking contest. I managed to hear about 50 per cent of the speakers and was impressed at how comfortable they were, orating in front of the student body and a few parents, etc. And I always enjoyed the variety of topics chosen by the young people. Judges for the event were Marie Webster, Barb Bosman and Sandra Billson.

A long-awaited celebration Hullett Central Public School students marked their 100th day in class on March 1. The event was later than normal thanks to numerous snow days. Activities included a 100-space snakes and ladders game being played by Clay Hoggart, left, and Jordan Shannon. (Denny Scott photo)

Chosen by the judges in the Primary division, Grades 1-3, were Hailynn Greidanus (The 1990s), Rodney Ansley (Silver Stick) and Holly Gross (Corn). Junior division, Grades 4-6, Mikayla Ansley (Kindness), Ruby Taylor (My Fears) and Brett Caldwell (My Dogs) were chosen from 10 speakers. The three winners in the intermediate division Grades 7 and 8 were Shea Cox (Television), Ian Driscoll

(Homework) and Jillian Shortreed (World Hunger).

Every speaker that day was a winner in my opinion for facing their fear and speaking in front of everyone.

Congratulations to all of you!

Good luck to the first-place speakers, who will now move on to the next level of competition at Kincardine on March 9. I’m sure they will all do a great job.

Event marks spring A sign of spring in our area are the bright posters announcing this year’s “Breath of Spring” at the Seaforth Agriplex. This event always sells out so hurry and get a ticket if you want to be part of the crowd on Wednesday, April 17. Steve Hildebrand will emcee the evening and speakers include Maria Lagasca Colendes, Doug Brown and Nancy Anstett. Check the posters for ticket locations. Proceeds will benefit the Seaforth Agricultural Society and the Tanner Steffler Foundation.

We learned this week of the passing of John Taras at age 73.

Long-time area residents will recall the Taras family lived in Londesborough for a time on the property where Bob and Edna Reid now have their log home. Others in the family included Frank, also deceased, Marilyn and Barbara.

John was living in Stratford prior to his death.

Londesborough United Church will be the location for a celebration of life for Helen Lee on Saturday,

Mar. 9 at 2 p.m. The family asks that you bring along something Helen gifted you over the years she lived in the village.

NEWS FROM LONDESBORO

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019. PAGE 17.

From the Minister’s Study

The importance of the transfiguration of Jesus

By Charmila Ireland Melville Presbyterian Church, Brussels Have you ever thought of how cool it would be to have a normal person compete in the Olympics, alongside all of the athletes at the peak of their performance? To give you a scale so that you can see just how amazing these athletes are?

Sometimes you watch them, and there’s this voice in the back of your head that says, “ya, I could totally do that. How hard can jumping in a bobsled be?” But in reality… no.

You can’t.

What we see at the Olympics is years, sometimes decades, of training; people at the absolute pinnacle of their sport. It takes thousands of hours of practice, more time on the slopes, or the ice than you can imagine. So if they put some “Average Joe” in each sport, someone who knows the basics, it would really highlight just how amazing the professionals are.

In Mark 9:2-9, we get something a little bit like that. Jesus takes Peter, James and John with him up a high mountain. And then Jesus is transfigured, his clothes become dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.

There, standing with Jesus, was Moses and Elijah.

Moses and Elijah: if ever there were two giants of the Jewish faith, it is these two. Moses stood up to Pharoah and said, “let my people go.” He led the people out of slavery in Egypt, parted the sea and helped them escape and brought the Israelites through the desert to the promised land. Moses, who taught them what it meant to worship God and brought them the commandments they were to follow.

And Elijah, who stood up to an evil king, Ahab, and told him that God was going to punish him. He went toe to toe with the followers of Baal and prevailed, proving that God was greater. He taunted them to their face! Elijah, who also parts the water and walks through on dry land, then hands his ministry over to Elisha before being spirited away on a flaming chariot into the sky.

These are giants of the faith! They had the stamp of approval, the calling, of God. They did great things. And yet, when Jesus stood with them, he was the one who shone brighter than bright. He one who made Elijah and Moses look like amateurs.

Elijah and Moses were acting as a measuring stick for Jesus, and Jesus was greater.

What a powerful statement that must have been for Peter, James and John. These were men of the Jewish faith; men who memorized and celebrated the life and works of Elijah and Moses. They recounted their deeds all through their younger years. Their very faith hung on people like Elijah and Moses. Now their teacher stood with those two men. Their humble teacher, who dressed and lived simply, was still the greater.

Despite their deeds, Elijah and Moses were still men. They were human, and it was in this moment of transfiguration that Jesus’ holiness shone through his humanness: when the very divinity of Christ was on display. It was made abundantly clear that Jesus was no ordinary teacher. Nor was he an extraordinary man. Jesus is God; fully human and fully divine. Here, in the transfiguration story, we see his humanity and divinity on full display.

Can you picture the display? Pan out in your mind’s eye and see Jesus, standing there shining so brightly.

See the disciples trembling in awe and fear. The beauty of a mountain top, the crystal clearness of the air.

Then the cloud appearing. Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus. Can you see it?

We live in a visual culture. We love Marvel movies, with their big explosions and special effects. Or Lord of the Rings movies, with their stunning landscapes. We love the Olympic opening ceremonies, with all of their pageantry and spectacle.

Those are feasts for the eyes.

God said from the cloud, “This is my son, whom I love. Listen to him!” In the midst of this entire spectacle, this divine light show, the bright shining clothing and the appearance of Elijah and Moses, God does not say, “Look at him!”

No. He says, “Listen to him!”

I can’t help but think that this is a word for us. This word for the disciples, “Listen!” is also a word for us today.

There’s a moment when you first go into a store and start to look around, and an employee or sales person approaches you and says, “Can I help you find something today?” If you’re like most people, you reply something like: “No, I’m just… looking.” It means nothing. It means, please don’t bother me. It says, I haven’t decided if I even want anything, so please don’t give me the sales pitch or hover around me. Let me look. I haven’t decided yet.

Is this how we treat the Gospel? Is this how we treat the words of Jesus?

How often do we read the Bible or hear the Word of God and, in our minds, do the equivalent of saying, “I’m just looking”? We say, I’m not sure this is for me. I’m not sure I’m buying it. I’m not sure I want this to

You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship 10:00 am 7:30 pm

BRUSSELS

United Church Worship and Sunday School Sunday, March 10 at 9:30 am Worship leader, Sandra Cable Mary Ross will be with the children!

All are Welcome

BRUSSELS

BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH

SUNDAY, MARCH 10 We invite you to join our church family in:

Worship & Sunday School - 9:30 am (*New time)

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

Coffee & Snacks following the service

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

what about you? Who do you say that I am?” And Peter says, “You are the Christ.”

That’s right! Peter has it! The disciples have been listening.

They’ve figured it out. Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah.

We keep reading the very next passage. Alas! We were too optimistic. They’re not really ready to listen yet. Not about what it means to be the Messiah. That’s too Continued on page 18

MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

SUNDAYS Morning Service Evening Service

change my life. I don’t need this. I already have this. Not right now.

Maybe I’ll come back next week.

I’m just looking.

God is calling us to listen to the words of Jesus. It’s hard. The disciples show us that very clearly.

Just before this passage, Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” and they reply, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” Jesus asks them, “But

Trinity

St. John’s

BLYTH

BRUSSELS

9:15 am

11:15 am

St. Paul’s Trinity

WINGHAM

11:15 am

COME WORSHIP WITH US!

Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm ~ Soup & More 2 - a free community meal held in Melville’s basement, and made possible by the Brussels churches working together.

Nursery care available 519-887-6687

Blyth United Church Sunday, March 10 Worship Service at 11:00 am

Special Speaker: Sandra Cable

Sunday, March 10 You re Invited to come worship with us

at 10:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.

650 Alexander St. (former Brussels Public School) Sunday School for children 4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m.

Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers during the sermon.

Coffee & cookies after the morning service.

Wednesday Night Kids’ Club 6:45 pm - 8:15 pm (ages 5-12)

For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173

Sunday March 10 9:30 a.m. Sunday School, 10:30 a.m. Worship

Pastor Phil Delsaut “Is It Politics or the Tongue?”

(James 3) Wednesdays (EXCEPT MARCH 13 – MARCH BREAK) 6:30-8:00 p.m. HEIRBORN (JK-Gr. 6); 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jr. & Sr. YOUTH (Gr. 7-12) Thurs. March 7, 6-8 p.m. Seniors’ 55+ Potluck - E. Russell Slides of Israel huronchapel.com huronchapelkids.com huronchapelyouth.com 519-526-1131 ~ 119 John’s Ave., Auburn

Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday ~ 9:30 am - 2:00 pm blythunited@tcc.on.ca Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches Accessible

OFFICE: 519-523-4224

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

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

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

1025 Wallace Avenue N.

PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019.

Following Jesus will be difficult, but worth it Continued from page 17 hard to hear and too hard to understand. In the very next section, Jesus predicts his death the first time. He tells them he must suffer and be rejected and killed, then in three days he will rise again, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

I can only imagine what that rebuke might have sounded like.

“No Jesus! That’s ridiculous! You’re not going to die! Didn’t we just confirm that you are the Messiah?

You’re going to save all of Israel.

You’re going to restore our fortunes, drive out the oppressing Romans!

Suffer? Die? Don’t be ridiculous!

You’re the Messiah, not some average chump who can be held down by the government and religious people! You’re not like the rest of us.”

Jesus looks to Peter, who only a few verses earlier had correctly identified Jesus as the Christ, and says, “Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men!”

Peter wasn’t ready to listen to Jesus; to really listen and to hear what it meant to be the Messiah. He was happy to listen to Jesus when Jesus was saying what he wanted to hear. It was when Jesus said things he didn’t like that his ears stopped working.

So Jesus speaks up even louder.

Now he raises his voice to the whole crowd, as well as the disciples. He tells them that any who follow him must deny themselves, take up the cross, and follow him. Whoever

wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for him and the gospel will save it.

Make no mistake, Jesus is not just speaking to the disciples. When he raised his voice to the crowd, he raised it so loud that we can still hear it today. He says to us, here today: follow me. It will not be easy, but it is worth it. Pick up your cross and follow me.

To those of us who are trying to say, “I’m just looking,” Jesus turns and says, “Enough looking. It’s time to listen. Time to follow.”

Lent starts next week. We are going to journey with Jesus to the cross. We are going to listen to what Jesus is telling us, what He’s saying about what it means to be powerful, what it means to save and what it means to be healed.

We are going to listen, and not just look. We are going to see Jesus on the cross, pierced with nails, crowned with thorns, His back torn open, His muscles too weak to lift himself up to breathe. We are going to see the ultimate picture of defeat, and instead of letting the horror of what we are seeing cloud our minds, we are going to keep listening. That way, we will hear Him say with his final breath, “It is accomplished.”

Then we will know what Jesus was saying to us all along. Following him doesn’t mean high positions of glory and honour. It doesn’t mean flaunting wealth or righteousness.

It doesn’t mean beating up our oppressors or putting other people down. Following Jesus means

walking the lonely road with Him, walking the road of suffering and scorn that leads us to the cross. And if we really listen, we will also hear the end of Jesus’ declaration, that He would suffer many things, be

rejected and killed. After three days, He will rise again.

See the pain and see the glory. The glory of Jesus on the mountain, transfigured. The holiness that shines through His humanness, and

then listen. Listen to the words that Jesus is saying to us still today.

Push aside the desire to protect ourselves, the desire to brush Jesus off and say, “I’m just looking,” and listen.

14/19 to transition to CCRC Blyth’s five-year Campaign 14/19 initiative was created in 2014 as a volunteer-driven force with three stated objectives: fully renovate and update Blyth Memorial Community Hall; define the case for the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity and create a fund or community trust to support operations in challenging circumstances.

Ambitious exciting and successful, the 14/19 campaign will be winding down this year.

“The remarkable restoration and renovation of Memorial Hall is complete. This $4.2-million partnership was through a collaboration with the Blyth Centre for the Arts, the Province of Ontario, North Huron Council and the individual efforts of hundreds of volunteers. This noble building is continuing to provide new life and energy to the community with its improved amenities, state-of-the-art connectivity and comfortable spaces. Every one of us should feel proud about the exceptional progress we have achieve, together,” says Steven Sparling, Chair, Campaign 14/19.

The current 14/19 leadership team includes David Armstrong, Elli

Cohen, Rick Elliott, Karen Stewart and Steven Sparling.

The final tasks for this group will be to prepare for the transition from the 14/19 campaign to the new entity that will manage the next leg of the journey: the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity, of which Peter Smith is project/creative director.

“Blyth is a remarkable community. Resilient, smart and courageous. Creative new ideas are being hatched here, in this place of 1,005 citizens, that are unthinkable in almost any other small, rural community. Opportunities are being created and through these developments Blyth is proving its capacity to punch above its weight in charting new paths at a time when “rural” is being challenged like never before. We have been host to two highly-acclaimed Rural Talks to Rural (R2R) Conferences, which demonstrated the appetite of rural leaders from across North America and Europe to collaborate, discover, create and in time, to help influence what 21st century rural may look like. We know that urbanization and the clout of urban communities is unprecedented and in this environment rural and small towns

everywhere must find new and compelling ways to remain viable, relevant and innovative; to prove their value and importance to all society,” says Smith. “As someone with one foot in Toronto and the other in Blyth, I see this place as privileged to be in position to help lead the way for rural and small town thinking and revitalization.

This is no longer talking about survival, this is about planning for success. Stay tuned.”

Drop by our office in Blyth or Brussels and check out our wonderful selection of books. We have books for all ages.

413 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4792 541 Turnberry St., Brussels 519-887-9114

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

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Our FAX number is also your number so if you want to be reached instantly — we will receive your messages as well.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019. PAGE 19.

Entertainment & Leisure

Ag. panels to accompany ‘The Team on the Hill’ As part of the newly-created Deeper Roots series, the Blyth Festival will be opening the floor to some serious discussions about agriculture connecting with the world premiere of The Team on the Hill this year.

The Team on the Hill is a play focused on the Ransier farm, a cattle operation on the north side of the fictional town of Drumlin. Patriarch Austin watches as his son and grandson argue over the best way to farm, which is only further complicated when a developer with plans for a golf course arrives.

The show is penned by Dan Needles, who is famous for his Wingfield series which has been performed across the country

including the CBC and in Blyth.

This year, the Festival sought to create the Deeper Roots Series, which gathers and codifies many of the events the Festival has previously run, including talk back sessions after plays.

“People love the Blyth Festival shows and, at the end of the show, we can always see the audience talking, arguing and continuing the conversation that takes place on the stage,” Artistic Director Gil Garratt explained to The Citizen. “They are engaged and excited and we want to make sure that we capitalize on that with events like this.”

He said that, through 29 special events across the 2019 Festival season, he hopes the audience will

immerse itself in the plays on stage and continue a conversation related to what they have witnessed.

“With The Team on the Hill, we have a family farm at the crossroads,” Garratt said.

“Grandpa’s farm versus grandson’s farm proves for a lot of conflict and excitement and a lot of chances for discussions.”

Three special panels are being scheduled around the themes discussed in The Team on the Hill, Garratt said. The first will be moderated by University of Guelph professor and local agriculture expert Wayne Caldwell.

“He will facilitate a panel of agriculture students,” Garratt said.

“Hopefully we will have grads and

undergrads, and they can talk about the future of farming.”

The second panel will focus on women in farming, and while it will be tied to The Team on the Hill, Garratt said the discussion definitely had roots in the 2018 premiere of Judith: Memories of a Lady Pig Farmer.

“There was a panel in Goderich after that play that featured local farmers like Amy Cronin and Tony McQuail,” he said. “This is very much based in that.”

Garratt explained the panel will focus on the fact that though women have been one of the major supports for farming over the centuries, their roles just weren’t recognized because what they did was classified as “women’s work” years ago.“They’ve never been fully appreciated,” he said.

While the panel for that discussion hasn’t been set, Garratt said the Festival is looking for combinations of women in farm families, like mother-daughter or aunt-niece duos who will discuss the evolving nature of women on the farm and women farmers.

The final panel will revolve around the question of when it’s time for a farmer to hang up his overalls and leave the farm.

“It’s focused on succession and wonders when it’s time for a farmer to move on,” he said. “It’s a tough decision because farmers are often considering ensuring their legacy of labour while at the same time being able to afford to leave farming and offer opportunities for the next generation.”

Garratt said that the Morrison family, of Lucknow’s Morrison Berry Farm, has been contacted for that panel as has Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

representative Vicki Lass and her daughter.

“These panels will be a great opportunity for the audience to connect not just with the themes of the play, but also to become part of the ongoing discussions around these issues,” Garratt said.

For more information visit blythfestival.com.

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Happy 92nd Birthday Bob Raymond March 13th, 2019 With love from your family

Art with an expiration date While the students at North Woods Elementary School used the school’s environmental learning grounds to its full advantage last week, one of these days, spring will come and the snow will melt and their paintings will be a thing of the past. For the time being, however, Bridget McCallum, left, and Adel Fischer made the most of a sunny winter day, getting in touch with their artistic sides. (Photo submitted)

Deeper Roots series coming Canadian author Lawrence Hill will highlight a unique series of events at Blyth Festival to celebrate 45 seasons of developing and producing plays that give a rich voice to both rural southwestern Ontario and the entire country.

The award-winning author of The Book of Negroes and The Illegal will speak from the theatre’s main stage about his passionate views on elder care and assisted dying in Canada, providing his perspective on the journey to death for his extraordinary mother, Donna Mae Hill. At 90 years old, after a remarkable life, much of it spent fighting for civil rights in Canada, Donna Mae Hill travelled to Switzerland for an assisted death because Canada’s laws prohibited it.

Lawrence Hill and his niece were present at her end of life.

“We are profoundly moved by Lawrence Hill’s decision to share the inspiring legacy of his tireless

mother with our audience. This past summer, I read his Act of Love: The Life and Death of Donna Mae Hill in the Globe and Mail online, and I was utterly blown away. His passion, his eloquence, his care, and his ferocious opinion, caught me immediately, so I wrote to him and

asked him to please come and share his story. We really look forward to helping him amplify his message,” said Gil Garratt, artistic director of Blyth Festival.

In its 2019 season, the Festival will premiere In the Wake of Continued on page 20

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PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019.

Border needs to be better regulated says McNeil Continued from page 13 costs about $10,000 so cost is an issue, recognized Geene.

Property and Land Use Committee Fear over how the Huron Natural Heritage Plan could impact land use on farms was the main concern for this committee.

“There is a lot of confusion that we hope to get cleared up at the county level,” said Rob Vanden Hengel.

Central Huron Mayor and Huron County Warden Jim Ginn said the plan will use new aerial photos to create new maps of Huron County farms. However, changes will not “kick in” until each municipality updates its official plan. When that happens, the municipality will let each farmer know if there was a change to their property.

Howick Reeve Doug Harding said when they passed their official plan it was “not easy” and that every landowner received a letter.

“My concern is that people did not open their letters and were unaware... please open them. We have to be aware of changes from natural heritage and the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation

(MPAC). We have to keep communicating,” he said.

Harding added that every landowner that approached Howick council about land changes had the changes reviewed.

Farm Finance Committee “A major concern of [the Farm Finance Committee] is the increasing property tax burden on farmland,” said Adam Garniss. He said in five years, bare Huron County farmland has more than doubled in assessment value. This directly affects tax rates.

The committee’s other concern is the “long tail” DON levels in the 2018 corn crop will have on farmers.

Stating farmers are thankful for existing government support on the issue, Garniss wanted to make sure Thompson and Lobb were aware farmers need better systems of prediction, prevention and testing so that “DON doesn’t catch us so illequipped in the future.”

Dairy Farmers Last year reminded dairy farmers that supply management is a privilege and not a right, said dairy farmer Glen McNeil, representing the Huron County Dairy Producers.

The leaky border and decreased

Deeper Roots to add context says Garratt Continued from page 19 Wettlaufer, written by Kelly McIntosh and Garratt, a hard-hitting but compassionate play based on interviews with families of victims of nurse Elizabeth Wettlaufer, convicted of murdering eight residents in nursing homes. The playwrights also attended the public inquiry led by Justice Gillese and continue to interview personal support workers and nurses working in elder care in Ontario.

The play follows a group of fictional siblings who are in the process of moving their elderly father into long-term care. The family grapples with many of the struggles families in this circumstance endure: unresolved rivalries, differences of opinion in the level of care, siblings spread across the country, arm wrestles over power-of-attorney, and their own conflicting memories of their lives with their father. The siblings then learn, as dozens of Ontario families were confronted with in 2016, that in the same facility, Wettlaufer has committed multiple murders. After that, the siblings closely follow the conviction, sentencing, and subsequent public inquiry.

Hill’s talk will be one of three complementary events engaging with themes and ideas emerging from the Wettlaufer play, the others being about “The Healing Power of Art” in palliative medicine, and “What is a Good Death?” The three events will be part of a new series

called Deeper Roots, which will enrich the Festival’s 45th season with 28 additional events to complement the five main stage plays. The events include artist talkbacks, live interviews with circus performers, panel discussions on contemporary agricultural practices, cake-baking master-classes and much more.

Hill was recipient of the 2017 Canada Council for the Arts Molson Prize for outstanding contributions to the arts. He is also the winner of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, and is the only two-time winner of CBC Radio’s Canada Reads. He cowrote the adaptation for the six-part television miniseries The Book of Negroes, which attracted millions of viewers in the United States and Canada and won 11 Canadian Screen Awards in 2016. Hill is also a Member of the Order of Canada.

Hill will speak on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. Tickets, $10, are available at the Blyth Festival box office by calling 877-862-5984 or by visiting online at www.blythfestival.com.

More information about Deeper Roots is available online at www.blythfestival.com Deeper Roots is sponsored by Nuclear Waste Management Organization and the Township of North Huron, in partnership with the Huron County Economic Development Department. The media sponsor is The Rural Voice.

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support for supply management and it’s impact on Ontario dairy farmers need to be examined, he said.

“We need to educate people to the benefits and advantages of supply management,” said McNeil. “[Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau indicated he understood and respected us and assured us we would be supported in trade negotiations. This was the standard statement until the 11th hour when it was agreed that dairy farmers would give up 3.9 per cent access to American milk.”

The U.S. dairy industry pressured U.S. President Donald Trump into believing more access would save their industry. It will not, said McNeil.

“They over-produce and dairy farmers there are going broke and exiting the business at an unprecedented rate,” said McNeil.

Regulating milk supply to demand is what the supply management system does in Ontario and it needs to be protected.

The leaky border needs to be better regulated as well, added McNeil. Increased border control would help.

“The border is a significant issue and has been for many years” agreed Lobb. “It used to be pizza kits... U.S. processors are always trying to find ways around the rules to get entry into our markets.”

Lobb then said that drugs and

illegal guns are also getting across the border.

“I think it is time the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) really takes a look at what comes across our border and keeping illicit items out. There needs to be more money invested in CBSA,” he said.

On a positive note, McNeil said dairy farmers in Huron have really enjoyed handing out over 7,500 chocolate milk cartons at county Santa Claus parades as well as supporting county food banks.

Chicken Farmers The chicken industry is strong and vibrant and continues to grow with 1,300 family farms in the province and 178 in Huron County said chicken farmer Ralph DeWeerd.

Huron and Bruce Counties produce $170 million worth of chicken and represent 16.7 per cent of Ontario’s chicken production.

The industry supports 22,000 jobs and contributes over $3.7 million to the Ontario economy.

“We echo our concerns over supply management and we share the same trade concerns with dairy,” said DeWeerd.

Fire Chiefs New to the table at the forum was Shawn Edward, Howick fire chief.

Representing the Rural/Suburban Advisory Committee, Edward wanted to encourage farmers to invest in barn fire protection.

Installing fire extinguishers and following a maintenence schedule that includes checking wiring, clearing dust and cobwebs and looking for signs of corrosion can go a long way to fire prevention, said Edwards.

From 2013 to 2017, there were over 750 barn fires in the province with 39 reported injuries to humans and almost $180 million in losses.

He encouraged both Lobb and Thompson to look at the National Farm Building Code, which regulates the Ontario Building Code.

The national code has not been updated since 1995, said Edwards.

“Modern farm operations have become increasingly large-scale with huge building and mechanization and large livestock numbers. We are concerned the codes do not reflect this,” said Edwards.

Thompson congratulated the federation on inviting Edwards to speak on such an important topic, while Lobb promised to start “a dialogue on a potential review of the national code.”

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