The Citizen - May 10, 2024

2 • Military 8 • Souper Saturday 11 • Home & Garden 29 • Lodge gives back

The

THIS WEEK

Citizen

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Friday, May 10, 2024

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Volume 40 No. 19

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, ON N0M 1H0

Cost for pool tops $5 mil.

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

Open season The Seaforth Lions Club held its annual trout fishing derby early Saturday morning, bringing out 88 young people to see what they could catch. They were all in search of 150 trout that had been released into Silver Creek in anticipation of the event. This event is just the

beginning for the club in what is a very important year. On June 15 the club will be hosting its annual Elimination Draw and then, on June 22, the club will mark its 100th anniversary with the public, offering up a free swim, hot dogs, face painting and presentations. (John Stephenson photo)

Central Huron Council is facing a bill in excess of $5 million if members choose to move ahead with the construction of a new pool in Clinton.

This was the news that came from a report presented by BTY Global, prepared for Architect Tillmann Ruth Robinson at council’s Monday night meeting. The report had been hotly anticipated after more than a year without a pool and councillors holding their collective breath, knowing that a big number was imminent, though some councillors commented that they weren’t expecting a number nearly that big.

The estimated cost, based on February of 2024 dollars, is $4,869,900, while the escalation to one year later of 4.17 per cent brings that cost to $5,072,800 in February of 2025 dollars.

If council were to approve the project soon, construction would begin in September of this year and finish by February of 2025.

However, council did not make a decision that night and instead asked for a fulsome staff report to be considered at a later meeting.

Special events set for RCAF 100th in Vanastra Vanastra, formerly Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Station Clinton, is celebrating the RCAF’s 100th anniversary, from 1924 to 2024. What began on April 1, with blue lights on Canadian military installations across the country, and around the world continues with the Air Force Day events on Saturday, June 8.

For one day, the RCAF Clinton mini-museum is the location for the participants and displays, in the former A.V.M. Hugh Campbell School, now Fellowship Hall, Vanastra Christian Church, at Front Road and 7th Avenue.

The 1941 construction of the only highly top secret radar and communications School, was the beginning for RAF, then RCAF, then CFB Station Clinton. The wartime training included British, Canadian and American personnel in the most timely undertaking, working to help save Britain and eventually Europe. This was considered the “university” of the latest training and equipment in flight electronics, and some of that equipment will be here for all to see. RCAF Clinton was the only base in Canada without a runway, and it became the largest base with

the population of up to 3,000 training personnel and students.

The secrets of radar museum began in the old sergeants’ mess, but moved to London 21 years ago.

Now, for one day, an RCAF veteran honourary curator and support staff will be bringing back pieces of radio and communications school history. There are so many stories to tell!

The Huron County Museum will show artifacts from its local military collections. Huron had four major military installations established through the 1900s. The Huron County Historical Society will be releasing the 2024 Historical Notes, featuring stories of RCAF Clinton gleaned from diaries and scrapbooks of an actual resident. From the words and photos of the personnel on base in the 1950s, the opening of the first school of food service in Canada will also be on display.

Local historian David Yates will have the revised edition of his book, That Freedom May Survive, available. Bonnie Sitter, the author of Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes, will be on hand to discuss the play of the same title running at the Blyth

Festival from Aug. 14 to Sept.7.

The Streamliners RCAF Swing Dance Band 1941 to 1946 play will be running at The Livery Theatre in Goderich from Oct. 16-27. This play is based on the story of two airmen from Clinton (Jake Perdue and Phil Sparling) and one from

Goderich (Billy Carter) who became the founders of the best frontline entertainment band in Europe. It is based on Andy Sparling’s book, Dance Through the Darkness.

The Vanastra Heritage Trail, as presented by Huron East Tours and

Trails, will be in guide book format, with optional means to follow the streets of the old base, now commercial and industrial park.

June 8 is also the annual village of Vanastra yard sale day, this year with a popular food truck at the ball diamond/recreation centre.

Tunnel closure set for spring

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Construction of a new tunnel to further connect the Goderich-toGuelph Rail Trail (G2G) just west of Blyth will take place over the course of 26 days across May and June, avoiding the busy summer months and the harvest-rich fall.

At a Tuesday night meeting hosted by Huron County, which was attended by far fewer people than the first meeting, held just a few weeks earlier, Director of Public Works Imran Khalid said the county had signed a contract with Lavis Contracting to close Blyth Road west of the village for a period of 26 days.

Furthermore, he said the road

would be open again by July 1.

Khalid said that Lavis would begin erecting signs for the project next week and begin shortly thereafter, keeping in mind the contracted end date of July 1.

This had been the preferred option for both the county and the representatives of the trail.

However, in the original proposal, Lavis had indicated that it planned on doing the work in the fall.

In late April, Huron County awarded the contract for the project to Lavis at a cost of just under $415,000.

The county-approved detour for vehicular and large truck traffic begins in Auburn and runs south on Base Line, east on Londesborough Road and north on London Road to

get to Blyth. However, there are several other non-county roads and dirt roads that could be utilized by locals that are much closer to the village. Khalid also noted that Cemetery Line would remain open throughout construction.

Furthermore, a representative of the trail said that the intent is to find a detour for the trail so it can remain open throughout construction, but that nothing had yet been finalized.

There were few questions, though those in attendance commended the county for taking on the project in such expedient fashion. Khalid said that projects like these are nice to do for public works departments and he wished they were able to take more of them on.

PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024.

Military reservists train for heat emergency

Exercise Trillium Venture Over 800 reserve soldiers from across Southwestern Ontario participated in a heat wave training scenario throughout Huron and Bruce Counties from May 3 to 5.

(Scott Stephenson photos)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

It was a sunny Saturday morning in North Huron for the official first full day of Exercise Trillium Venture, which saw hundreds of military reservists congregating in the area in order to train for a potential heat emergency from May 3 to 5. Reservists from locations all over Southwestern Ontario came out to do their part in ensuring the overall safety of the populace on their weekends off from 9-to-5 jobs.

Local politicians, senior municipal staff and media were briefed by military leadership overseeing the mission. “This is a big weekend for us,” said Colonel Chris Brown, Commander of 31 Canadian Brigade Group. “You may have heard the theme before,” he continued, “but it’s not a good time - in a crisis that’s not the time to make friends; that’s not the time to form

relationships; that’s not the time to build confidence with each other.

And so we want to do that now because we have a high degree of confidence that in the future we’re going to get called out to help our fellow Canadians in an emergency.”

Exercise Trillium Venture was intended not only to give reservists an opportunity to train in case of a heat emergency, but as a chance to let local people become more comfortable with the notion that sometimes, people in uniform will need to come out and assist their fellow humans in the face of issues like climate change. Any local families that were curious about the training exercise were invited to stop in at the Blyth campground on Saturday to check out their pop-up base camp, which was complete with temporary structures like medical tents and impressive tactical vehicles that would be well suited to help out in an emergency.

Many people took the military up on their offer of a guided tour of the makeshift lifesaving facilities, which meant that reservists really had a chance to talk to young folks about why they choose to do what they do. Master Corporal Anders Mona was more than happy to discuss with young tour participants like Robert and Jack Bromley, as to why he, as a student of literature, chose the military as the place he wanted to be to make a difference.

“I’m 24 years old,” he explained.

“I’m a Masters student, and before I’m a soldier, I’m a citizen.”

All the children and their parents that came out for a tour last weekend may have come to check out the cool trucks and camouflage outfits, but they walked away with a newfound ease and a sense of trust in the people that will be there for them in the moments when it feels most frightening to need a stranger’s help.

And sometimes, knowing who you can put your trust in during moments of crisis can make all the difference.

Jack Bromley

Lt. Col. Christopher van den Berg Col. Chris Brown Robert Bromley

MCpl Anders Mona

Sanctifying grace, as well as pardoning mercy! ( “Every Day!” Author unknown, 1872) “You shall call His name Jesus—for He shall save His people from their sins!” Matthew 1:21 Jesus! Precious name, how sweet it is! How well it befits Him who bears it— and how glorious is the salvation which He accomplishes!

Misery is the natural consequence of sin. Everything that God enjoins is good—and everything that He forbids is evil. Jesus saves His people from their sins—and so saves them from misery. He died to atone for transgressions. He ever lives to save His people from the power and practice of sin—yes, and eventually from the very presence of sin.

My soul, let your whole trust be in Jesus, not only for deliverance from guilt and its consequences—but from sin in its manifold workings. You are powerless against your inward corruptions—but Jesus is “mighty to save.” He can subdue your iniquities. Trust Him then, for sanctifying grace, as well as pardoning mercy!

Dwell much on all He did and suffered for you. In His agony in the garden of Gethsemane, and on the cross at Calvary—see something of the exceeding sinfulness of your sins, from which He died to save you.

“He will subdue our iniquities—and cast all our sins into the depths of the sea!” Micah 7:19 A Grace Gem Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church, Listowel, ON 519-291-3887

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024. PAGE 3.

CH Council moves ahead with new fire truck

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Central Huron Council is moving ahead with the purchase of a new pumper fire truck for the municipality’s fire department after turning down the purchase of the same truck just six months earlier.

Fire Chief Jeff Lipskie spoke to council at its Monday night meeting, presenting a report entitled “Equipment Concerns” that detailed even further disrepair on one of the department’s current pumper trucks, which had already been marked for replacement with Lipskie citing “significant safety concerns” with the vehicle.

However, when Lipskie presented an option for a new truck in November of last year, council turned it down.

Issues with the 27-year-old truck include five leaking valves, failed pump packing, the pump gear oil having not been changed, resulting in wear on the pump, and the gear oil reservoir taking on water. These were presented to council in November, however, a month ago, the baffle inside the truck’s water tank broke. “This matter represents the highest expense and is of utmost concern for firefighter safety,” Lipskie said in his report.

In his report, Lipskie detailed the work of a baffle, how it’s broken and his concerns as a result.

“A baffle is a means of preventing the surge or sloshing of water in a tank when moving. In a fire truck’s tank, a liquid surge occurs when the quick acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle causes the water to move around rapidly inside the

tank. This can lead to splashing, spilling and loss of control over the liquid being carried,” Lipskie said in his report to council. “In addition to potentially wasting precious resources, it can also cause damage to both the tank and the truck itself.

But what’s most concerning for those inside the vehicle is the risk of loss of control. When the water moves in this way, weight distribution within the fire trucks can change within a split-second.

Now factor in a sharp corner or needing to hit the brakes, and you can quickly see how liquid surge can be extremely dangerous.

“Pumper 8-2’s baffle has broken with the piece lodged inside. The piece has the potential to block the ‘tank to pump’ discharge, preventing the availability of the emergency water source. This water is crucial for the protection and safety of our firefighters in rescue situations.

“This potential occurred during our pumper operations training in March. Fortunately, this issue was identified during a low-risk training evolution versus a high-risk emergency response.”

He added that the manufacturer of the truck and the fibreglass tank are no longer in operation and, as a 27year-old vehicle, a warranty is no longer an option.

“Furthermore, the service technician stated that the pump pressures barely passed. Their expectations from experience stated that the department should expect a pump failure test next spring. If this occurs, this would result in a complete pump rebuild with an estimated cost between $20,000 and

The Citizen

$30,000,” Lipskie said in his report.

“With the identified safety concerns, staff have no other option but to limit the use of the vehicle to non-emergency response.”

He added that to replace the water tank would likely cost between $80,000 and $100,000 and take the truck out of service for between 12 and 14 weeks.

Lipskie recommended the purchase of a new truck, as he had proposed last November, noting that, with current delivery timelines, the truck could be expected in Central Huron in late 2025 or early 2026.

Councillor Michael Russo kicked off the conversation, saying that the

municipality doesn’t need a swimming pool, but it does need effective and operational fire safety equipment, referencing a presentation from earlier in the meeting stating that a new swimming pool in Clinton would cost the municipality in excess of $5 million.

While council was reluctant to spend the money, several members acknowledged the urgency of the matter and the fact that the municipality would have another year, maybe two, to save for the purchase, if the truck was not going to be delivered until 2025 or 2026.

This also came after discussion about purchasing a used truck or

repairing the current truck, neither of which was overly appealing to Lipskie, he said.

In his report, Lipskie estimated the cost to replace the truck at $750,000. Councillor Alison Lobb was concerned about costs running over budget, but Lipskie said he would do everything in his power to keep the truck under $800,000, even if he had to remove features.

Council passed a motion to buy the truck, adding a provision that will allow Lipskie to sole source the truck based on the tender accepted in November, which was from Fort Garry Fire Trucks for the cost of $733,789 plus HST.

History coming alive On Sunday, Lezley Prokop, above right, led the Seaforth Jane’s Walk for nearly 20 people, discussing the founding of Seaforth and its historic main street buildings. Later that afternoon, Pat Saundercock led another Jane’s Walk in Egmondville, beginning at the historic Van Egmond House. (John Stephenson photo)

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PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024.

Editorials & Opinions

Founding Publisher: Keith Roulston Publisher & President: Deb Sholdice Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Scott Stephenson Advertising Sales: Brenda Nyveld

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Too little, too late When purchasing a vehicle, a warranty is often the reason consumers pay tens of thousands more to buy new, rather than a cheaper used vehicle. The peace of mind that comes with a “bumper-to-bumper” new vehicle warranty eases the ever-increasing expense of owning a vehicle.

The Roth family of New Hamburg waited 18 months for their new hybrid Toyota pick-up truck that was expressly ordered for the purpose of pulling their camper, but have never been able to hook up to it.

Immediately after picking up the truck in April of 2023, the couple noticed that it had a terrible vibration and took it back to the dealership for an obvious transmission issue. The truck has been back and forth to Toyota service but, after a year, the problem remains unfixed. All during this turmoil, the couple had faith that Toyota would be able to resolve the issue and went ahead and had a hitch installed, looking forward to the day that they would pull the trailer to their favourite camping spots.

Now, Toyota claims that the aftermarket hitch (that has never pulled a thing, due to aforementioned transmission issues) renders the warranty null and void, even for a problem that was identified, with numerous attempts to repair, prior to its installation. After contacting CTV News, the Roths finally have Toyota looking into their claim, but it seems to be a case of “too little, too late”, especially for the thousands who saw the news piece and may opt for a different brand on their next car quest.

It’s always better to do the right thing even if no one is watching (or before it ends up as a 35-point headline for all to read). – DS

Higher learning Universities have long held an almost mythical status as places where young men and women drop the “young” once and for all. There they not only learn about their chosen vocation, but about life, society and the world beyond the cities and towns they used to call home. It’s there that students, often privileged to afford to study at an institute of higher learning, are given a worldview that includes the less fortunate.

It’s no surprise then that universities have been home to some of the most famous and effective protest movements. These young people learn about injustice in the world and, perhaps for the first time, stand on their own two feet and with their own voice speak truth to power.

Civil rights sit-ins, Vietnam war protests, calls for climate change action are some relatively recent examples, but the list is long. It’s in that tradition that students all over North America are camping on the lawns of their universities, calling for the schools to divest themselves from Israel, an end to the violence in Gaza and for a free Palestine.

Presence at and disruption from these protests are only growing (Columbia University has cancelled university-wide commencement after weeks of protests) and it’s clear that students don’t intend to leave until they’re satisfied. In many cases even some professors have joined the encampments or spoken in support of the students.

Despite your views, it’s clear that university protests have a high batting average in regards to affecting change. Their impact will be interesting to follow in the weeks and months ahead. – SL

Training the helpers Last weekend, Huron and Bruce Counties witnessed a significant military training exercise focused on extreme heat scenarios. Exercise Trillium Venture not only showcased the readiness of our reservists, but also provided valuable insights into emergency preparedness and community engagement. During the exercise, military representatives offered tours, answered questions and provided demonstrations for community members. Amidst the 800-plus participating reservists, a paramedic from Grey County shared vital protocols for operation of the medic tent and a 24-year-old Hamiltonian, with a degree in English Literature, displayed the weight of military gear by letting local youngsters experience it firsthand. These types of educational moments effectively bridge the gap between military life and civilian curiosity.

It’s worth noting that leading up to the exercise, online conspiracy theorists propagated unfounded claims and suggested ulterior motives.

Such baseless speculations not only undermine trust in our institutions but also contribute to a climate of unnecessary fear and mistrust.

Contrary to these notions, the military’s approach during the exercise, including briefings for government officials, emergency services leadership and local media, exemplifies a commitment to openness and community understanding. By demystifying their activities and engaging with the public, the military is actively fostering stability and safety in our region. In a world where misinformation can sow seeds of discord, it’s essential to recognize and support initiatives like this.

The real threat to stability is the unchecked spread of conspiracy theories that erode trust and unity. It’s time to prioritize facts over fear and embrace initiatives that promote understanding and co-operation.

Broadcaster Fred Rogers famously said, “Look for the helpers.” Last weekend, it wasn’t hard to find them in our communities. – SBS

Looking Back Through the Years May 14, 1969 Last Thursday evening, the Blyth Lions Club held its usual gathering at Memorial Hall. The C.W.L. members graciously provided a delectable meal, receiving heartfelt thanks from Don Young on behalf of the Lions.

During the meeting, Lion John Campbell proposed that the club send its incoming president, secretary and tail twister to their respective training schools in Mount Forest on June 15.

The fifth line of Morris saw a gathering of friends and neighbours at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Rooney for a surprise party celebrating their impending departure from the area.

The evening was filled with card games and George Michie presented Leonard and Rosella with a beautiful mirror, while Mary Lee gifted them a necklace and bracelet on behalf of all those in attendance.

The Horticultural Society gathered at Mrs. G. Kurnoth’s residence on Saturday, May 10, with a strong turnout. They scheduled an afternoon tea for Wednesday, June 4.

The village had been actively canvassed for new members, as a government grant depended on society membership.

May 11, 1977 At a special meeting of Brussels council on Wednesday night, Bill King, who had served as clerktreasurer for 17 and a half years, tendered his resignation. It was disclosed during the meeting that the council had requested his immediate resignation.

It’s believed that a vandal armed with a rock caused damage in the bottom right-hand corner of a beautiful old etched stained glass

window on Brussels Main Street.

The window, located on the second storey above The Brussels Post, was broken over the weekend.

The Huron Association of the Federation of Women Teachers of Ontario celebrated the retirement of three teachers at their annual meeting on May 3. They honoured Mrs. Eluned McNair from Grey Central School, Mrs. Margaret Tyreman from Brussels, and Mrs. Amy McCrostie from Colborne Central.

During their usual gathering on April 26 at Memorial Hall, the Blyth Swinging Seniors hosted the Auburn Silver Tops and provided entertainment.

President John Hesselwood extended a warm welcome to all attendees, followed by a delightful dessert luncheon. The meeting kicked off with a short business session, featuring the singing of “O’ Canada” and “Happy Birthday” to individuals celebrating birthdays in April. Ella Richmond graced the piano while Vera Badley led the singing.

May 10, 1989 Several municipalities in Huron County, including multiple local townships, received nearly two million dollars in funding from the provincial government.

Eleven municipalities were set to receive $1,078,800 in additional road funding, aimed at enhancing the transportation infrastructure in Huron County.

Additionally, the Program for Renewal, Improvement, Development and Economic Revitalization (PRIDE) allocated the remaining $873,000 to six municipalities.

On May 2, the North Huron 4-H Swine Club convened for its

inaugural meeting at member Dave Winkel’s residence.

President Hazel Rae commenced the meeting with the 4-H pledge, following which members assessed a class of four bred gilts.

Subsequently, they adjourned to the house for a lesson on judging, along with a general introduction to the Swine Housing and Equipment book.

May 13, 2004 The Huron County Health Unit confirmed that the first crow submitted for testing on May 5 tested negative for West Nile virus.

The dead bird reporting program in Huron County commenced on May 3. Residents were urged to report only dead crows and blue jays, as these birds are highly susceptible to West Nile virus.

For three years in a row, Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) students surpassed the provincial average in successfully completing the provincial literacy test.

At a Huron County council meeting, the issue of winter road conditions on county highways sparked discussion following complaints from truckers.

South Huron councillor Rob Morley, also a trucker himself, brought attention to the concerns raised by his fellow truckers. He noted that many of them had voiced frustrations about the road conditions within Huron County, highlighting that once they left the county’s jurisdiction, the road conditions significantly improved.

This observation underscored the need to address and improve winter road maintenance within Huron County to ensure safer and more efficient travel for all road users, including truckers.

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024. PAGE 5.

Other Views

Few of us have ever lived better

O

n reading a column from a Globe and Mail columnist, defending the sideline of tourism (he was writing while on vacation in Portugal and Spain) I got thinking it’s a sign of how well we’ve progressed in Canada (and North America) that people can afford to travel so much.

As an oldtimer, I can recall that, as a child going to school in the 1950s, most of our parents stayed home. Only a couple of families I knew about took southern vacations.

As for travel, my father had journeyed back to the land of his great-grandparents in Britain as far as his army service in World War II went, but he was happily settled on a farm home in Canada after the war ended. We had Dutch neighbours who took ships to immigrate to Canada from post-war Europe. Still, otherwise, we stayed home.

Travel was so rare that we’d have guest speakers at school who had been missionaries or people who had been abroad through serving in the army in the post-war world.

But the stories that these people told, and the stories from our parents, planted seeds in my generation that made us want to see the sights they heard about. What changed was our wealth. We complain, these days, about how hard it is to earn a living, but at the same time most of us travel more than ever before. When the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Holland took place, my mother, accompanied by my sister, travelled to Holland to understand the experiences of my father (he had died by then), and she was overwhelmed by the gratitude to Canadian soldiers.

Jill’s dad, who served with the Canadian air force in Alaska during the war, built a new house in Scarborough afterward. The family

Keith Roulston

From the cluttered desk didn’t have a lot of money, but later, with his second wife, he spent his retirement winters in Florida. Jill’s sister and her husband just returned from Florida and will travel in Canada much of the year. Lately, her brother and his current partner have been exploring California.

Tourism has become a big economic front these days since millions travel (while fewer subsist in tents here at home). A recent poll estimated travel adds $11 trillion (U.S.) to the world economy.

It overwhelms, at times. The people on the Canary Islands off Spain complain about the crowds of tourists. Venice is so popular that on busy days, a charge of five Euros is made to visitors to reduce traffic.

Nearly all these tourists use jet travel to fly to their exotic destinations, adding to the carbon emissions that are making climate change a greater global problem.

I’m not a big traveller and it’s easy for me to point an accusing finger at these travellers and their additions to carbon emissions. Then I have to take an honest look at myself.

We live in a house that is more than a century old. This house was built before electricity was added. There was a windmill in the yard that pumped water to the house and barn. By the time we moved here, an electric pump in the

basement pumped water, from a shallow well which ran dry years later (just before our first granddaughter visited), We had a deep well drilled to provide water under all conditions.

Now, water comes so easily that I often flush water down the sink to get rid of something that looks a little untidy. Sometimes, when I do this, I think about women in Africa who carry water in jugs on their heads for two miles. I’m guessing they don’t waste much water.

The house was heated by burning wood from our own bush. Cooking was powered by the same wood and made the house so hot in summer that our house had a summer kitchen for cooking, as most rural homes did then.

Just before we bought it in 1975, the previous owners installed a furnace. Later, we installed ground-source heat. It also provides air-conditioning. The old summer kitchen was later demolished and replaced with a sunlit family room.

We drive in an air-conditioned car, not the horse and buggy of the first residents of our house, or the dust-filled cars on their last legs that my parents drove in the 1950s because they couldn’t afford any better.

Yes, despite some hardships, most of us live better than anyone in the history of the world.

Ordinary Canadians, in many ways, live more comfortably than kings and queens of earlier eras - I always remember the shock of watching The Lion in Winter about Henry VIII in realizing what a primitive life he lived.

Most of us today have a good life compared to all previous humans, yet we need to be careful that, in enjoying that life, we don’t endanger it with the excesses so easily available to us. Despite the hardships for some, most Canadians have never lived better.

Loooooooooooooooooooooooosers!!!

S

ports reign supreme as the pinnacle of human existence and nothing is more sports than the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This year, unsurprisingly, the boys in blue bumbled and blew it bigly - bounced by the bad boys of Beantown, the Boston Bruins, in the b’very b’first b’round of this year’s Banley Buck Blayoffs. In this exceptionally sportsy edition of The Chaff, we crown the Toronto Maple Leafs as the “Greatest Ever Sports Franchise to Ever Sports, Sportingly!”

Some may argue that true greatness hinges on victories, yet the Leafs haven’t tasted triumph since the distant echoes of 1967.

Winning demands unwavering effort and unyielding determination. However, why should the Leafs exhaust themselves in pursuit of victory when their fanbase remains steadfastly loyal, and they continue to amass staggering wealth?

Mastery in the art of losing is a form of greatness in itself. In this aspect, the Leafs stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the tallest and tiniest titans of all-time great losers. The Chaff boldly predicts that the Leafs are destined to become the quintessential losingest team of all time - an achievement we should all rally behind.

Enduring years of continuous defeat requires immense commitment, serving as a valuable lesson for our youth. It teaches the importance of dedication, resilience and the refusal to surrender. Charlton Heston said, “I’ll give you my Leafs jersey when you pry it from my cold, dead hands,” and he was obviously not insane. This Charlton Heston is not to be confused with the famous Hollywood actor. This was a Maple Leafs fan who refused to remove his Leafs jersey while wandering in the desert outside of Las Vegas in the middle of the day. He died from hypothermia after the sun went down,

Scott Stephenson The Chaff clutching his Leafs jersey, which seemed to have been removed while he was suffering from heat stroke-related delirium. Anyway, some vultures pecked his eyes out, ate most of his entrails and repeatedly defecated on his lifeless body. Really grisly stuff. Rest in peace, sweet soldier of Leafs Nation!

Contrary to popular belief, losing is far superior in molding character than winning.

This means Toronto is a city brimming with character, overflowing to the point where there’s not enough room to house all of that character. A sleep-deprived 10-year-old whose heart shattered on a Saturday night is on the path to becoming a better person.

Someday, they’ll grow up to neglect their spouses during hockey and playoff seasons a testament to their newfound character!

Now is a perfect opportunity to officially change the name of The City of Toronto to the much more suitable - Toilet Town - Home of the Toilet Town Maple Leafs. This namechange initiative is something we can all proudly support. Toilet Town has kept its losing skid going for almost 60 years with no signs of that streak ever being clogged. Toilet Town! Toilet Town! Toilet Town! It pretty much chants itself.

Welcome to Toilet Town, the quirky and endearing home of the Toilet Town Maple Leafs! As you step into this charming, aromatic city, you’ll immediately notice the blue and white colour scheme that adorns

every corner - from street signs to public art installations, there’s no escaping the manic pride of Toilet Town Leafs fandom. Start your tour with a visit to the Forgotten Dreams Memorial, a solemn monument dedicated to the lost hopes of Leafs fans that have been flushed away over the years.

Next, take a stroll down Almost Avenue, where you’ll find quaint cafes serving up “Could’a been a contender-Lattes” and shops stocked with memorabilia celebrating the Toilet Town Leafs’ myriad near-misses. Don’t miss the Eternal Fountain of Loserdom, a delightful sculpture depicting the eternal struggle of reaching for greatness, but falling well short. For a taste of local cuisine, head to the Soggy Leaf Grill, where the menu features somewhat cooked dishes inspired by iconic moments in Leafs history. Wrap up your visit with a stop at the Destruction of Dreams Art Gallery, showcasing works of art that capture the bittersweet essence of being a Leafs fan. With its quirky charm and undeniable spirit, Toilet Town is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the unique culture of Leafs fandom in all its glory!

The perpetual cycle of disappointment surrounding the Leafs has entrenched itself in sporting legend, captivating the minds of fans with each season’s predictable letdowns.

Despite the lengthy championship drought, their consistent mediocrity has fostered a community of supporters who find solace in their reliability to underwhelm. The Maple Leafs’ journey epitomizes the essence of unfulfilled potential, embodying the spirit of consistently falling short, regardless of occasional glimpses of promise.

So, here’s to the Toilet Town Maple Leafs, our eternal anti-champions. Go (golfing), Leafs, go!

Shawn Loughlin Shawn’s Sense

Two sides to the story

I

n recent years, a light has been shed on the notion of false equivalence. This is the notion that if two ideas exist, they must be given equal merit and weight by people like, well, me, as a member of the media, and others like doctors, politicians, scientists and people in positions of power and decision-making.

A quick, very basic example of this would be two people arguing over the colour of the sky.

So, one person accurately says that the sky is blue on that day while the other person says it looks black to them. If one of those ideas is true and the other isn’t, false equivalence dictates that the statements that the sky is blue and that it isn’t be given equal weight in the public discourse. So, if a reporter is doing a story on the blue-ness of the sky (hey, we’ve all had slow news days), he or she would then have to afford an equal amount of time, effort and, most importantly, credibility to the crank who is arguing an indisputable fact.

This has become important in recent years with the rise of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Facts would state one thing, Trump another and his supporters, slack-jawed and drooling, would complain that reporters were not telling “both” sides. To quote The Wire, “A lie ain’t a side of a story. It’s just a lie.”

Growing up in the Toronto area, when I was old enough to venture into the city proper for a Blue Jays game or to do some shopping, there was always the guy with the megaphone on a milk crate telling us that the end was near.

There was always someone handing out flyers giving its readers point-by-point details about something completely insane. Back then, their audiences were limited to whoever was within earshot as they waited to cross the street or finished putting sauerkraut on their sausage.

Heading back to a friend’s house in London once, I was giving him a hard time about not approaching a young woman who seemed to be interested in talking with him. We had been having drinks at a bar and he couldn’t quite summon the courage to introduce himself.

We had a good laugh. Luckily, however, our cab driver couldn’t help but overhear. He offered up an idea as to why my friend wasn’t quite man enough, so to say, to go talk to someone he wanted to get to know better. I’m sure you took a split-second before reading on to see if you could guess who was to blame?

Who’s always to blame, of course: the Jews.

Indeed, he claimed that Jewish forces had heavily added estrogen to the water supply for years in an effort, I suppose, make men less manly. Don’t worry, he had supporting documents. We weren’t laughing any longer.

And now, through the power of the internet, social media, YouTube, forums like Reddit (and its much darker and elicit cousins) and more, all these voices can be amplified.

This became a huge talking point through the heights of the COVID-19 pandemic when some of the world’s top scientists and doctors were being dismissed so some could get public health and medical advice from people sitting in cars live streaming from their phones.

Last weekend, Huron and Bruce Counties became a hotbed for this as well, as reservists for the Canadian military were executing realworld training. Some, however, with access to WiFi and a Facebook page were telling the world about the covert operation by the federal government, at the behest of all the usual suspects (the World Economic Forum, the Great Reset, probably the Jews again, etc.)

False equivalence states that those people be given a soapbox from which to spout their nonsense, when really they just belong on the milk crate at that downtown Toronto corner.

PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024.

Mark Nurses Week A NOTE FROM BETTY

By Betty Graber Watson Call 887-9231

Judge not...

Marie McCutcheon from the Brussels Agricultural Society gave a tutorial on judging pieces for the Brussels Fall Fair at the society’s Family Fun Fair, held on Sunday at the Brussels Legion, as a bit of a precursor to this September’s fair. (John Stephenson photo)

At the Branch

BAS hosts Family Fun Fair

By Jo-Ann McDonald It was a pretty normal week around the Branch. The Cadets met on Tuesday evening and blind mixed darts were held on Thursday night. The Catch the Ace draw went ahead and then there were the extras.

The blind mixed darts had 22 darters at play on Thursday evening. After a playoff for first place, the winners were Eric Ross and Brenda DeForest. Second place then went to Roger Ericson and Sandra Brown. The high shots were

by Louise Poirier hitting 146, Sandra hitting 140 and Gary Pipe hitting 131. The last week of darts would have been on Monday night, so we will have a report next week.

The Catch the Ace draw was

conducted by the trio of Sandra, Lisa and Joan. The lucky weekly winner was Rick Demaray, who chose envelope number 29. The nine of clubs was revealed, so the jackpot grows. Rick won $156. The estimated jackpot for draw number nine should be over the $2,000 mark. Get your tickets today and the pot will grow!

On Saturday, the Branch was the venue for the celebration of life for Jean Williams. She was the mother of Mary Stretton and Edgar and Les Williams and their families. She passed away in December of 2023.

There was a full house with 32 members of her family plus over 50 of her extended family and friends.

The visitation was from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and then the lovely service began.

The Branch helpers included the Friday crew of Sandra, Jo-Ann and Judy. The Saturday morning crew of Jo-Ann, Marni Knight, Rhonda Fischer and Kathy Burkholder and the afternoon crew of Brenda Linton, Mabel Glanville, Tanya Martin, Judy, Jo-Ann and Sandra.

The old saying of many hands make light work was true that day and it made for a shorter time helping for all.

On Sunday afternoon, the Brussels Agricultural Society hosted an afternoon of learning about the Brussels Fall Fair, how to prepare an entry, what judges look for and the judging of the “Bucket of Junk”! The Branch placed second in the “Bucket of Junk” competition as part of what was a nice afternoon for all.

Ah, the sunshine. There’s something about the light and warmth of May that just makes you feel like doing something. Perhaps going for a walk, checking the growth from the ground or watching the squirrels monitoring their sites or listening to the birds sing to the world their happiness. Yes, life is good.

One of my favourite signs of spring, right after the daffodils and tulips, is the marsh marigold.

Seeing the brilliant bunches bloom from the damp roadsides, their pretty wee faces look like little suns - yes, the earth is warming and growth is happening.

Members of the United Churches in our area gathered last week in Clinton. It was a time to see how we were doing, share concerns and happenings, chat about the new regional governance - well, new in 2019 - and to talk and dream of the future. It was well attended with plans for an October gathering.

This is Nurses Week - time to think about your favourite nurse, and then about all the nurses who have helped you at various times in your life. For nurses, reunions and gatherings of past nursing classes often happen in spring, as that was the traditional graduation time.

Mine is Wednesday of this week for the graduates of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Guelph. The Sisters got

us organized years ago, so that every class comes to the one party.

Students from the classes before and behind you often had a big part to play in your student activities, so it’s good to see everyone able to attend. Linda Keiffer, Brenda Deyell and I will ride together and get started remembering, sharing and laughing before we get to Guelph to check on our old friends.

Construction is healthy in Brussels. JR’s is getting renovated and re-sided and Graham Road is a busy spot, as two new builds are happening now, trucks and various machines are hard at it, making our quiet road a bit busy, but it’s been quite interesting to watch.

The chat and laughter of the kids at practice on the sports fields behind our house are a blessing on a spring evening.

Be kind and take care of yourself.

Bye now. Betty GW

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS

Brussels Legion 218 Catch the Ace Weekly Winner Winning Ticket: Rick Demaray, $156.

Envelope #29 found the 9 of Clubs Next estimated jackpot is $2,000.

The Citizen

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SUDOKU Fun By The Numbers Like puzzles?

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

From the man himself Noted local architect John Rutledge, right, was one of three men to host the Brussels Jane’s Walk on Saturday (alongside Paul Nichol and Bill King). Rutledge was at the helm for the renovation and expansion of the Brussels Library, a historic Carnegie building, so he was the right man to discuss its historical properties. (John Stephenson photo)

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

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024. PAGE 7.

Slo-pitch league spurs fees, charges debate

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

At a regular meeting of North Huron Council on May 6, representatives from the Blyth Ladies Baseball League raised concerns regarding a relatively steep increase in rental fees for baseball diamonds in Blyth.

Amanda Anderson and Chas Bos, speaking on behalf of the league, discussed the impact of these rising costs on their operations.

Bos began the presentation by emphasizing the longstanding presence of the ladies slo-pitch league in Blyth since 1988 and outlined the league’s significant activities, including weekly games and a year-end tournament that brings economic activity to the village. Bos stated that during league games, “We bring approximately 80 people to town who also frequent the businesses and restaurants in town before the games.”

The delegation’s main concern revolved around an unexpected increase in fees, which they found to be three times higher in North

Huron compared to adjacent municipalities. Bos pointed out that despite assurances from township staff about a modest 17 per cent increase, the actual rise amounted to a staggering 61 per cent, a discrepancy that raised questions about the transparency of the fee structure.

The delegation said that they brought their concerns to North Huron staff but were received indifferently. “Why would any employee of North Huron not want to have the diamonds as full as possible all summer long?” Bos questioned, highlighting the potential impact of high fees on the utilization of the facilities.

In response to Bos’s queries about the rationale behind the increase, Kelly Steiss, the recentlyinstalled Director of Recreation and Children’s Services, explained, “When we reviewed the fees and charges for this - for the ball diamonds - what we saw was that, yes, there was an increase to both fees. For the diamonds, they went from $13 an hour in total in 2023 to $15 an hour... the lighting, though, did go up quite significantly,”

because they had not kept up with inflation, she stated.

Steiss elaborated on the challenges of maintaining the facilities, saying, “For example, what we see is just to change a lightbulb costs us about $300 to do that and over the course of a season, we’re changing at least two light bulbs… and so you can just see from that example that the costs are quite significant.”

Anderson reinforced the delegation’s stance by highlighting the ongoing maintenance costs incurred by North Huron, regardless of usage. “Would you rather they sit there empty or would you rather people use them and bring in a little bit of money because if the costs don’t go down, and we can’t wait till September or next ball season; We start next week, so, if the rates don’t come down and we go somewhere else to play then they’re going to sit there and not get used at all, but you guys still have to cut the grass there.”

Councillor Anita van Hittersum responded by acknowledging the council’s annual review of fees and charges and outlined limitations

Hitting the dirt Much to the joy of local motocross enthusiasts, the Auburn Hills motocross track held its first race of the season over the weekend, welcoming riders from all over the province to the small community for some sun-soaked, dusty action. (John Stephenson photo)

Mother’s Day’s coming

By Deb Hakkers Don’t forget Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 12 - the day we show our appreciation to our mothers for all they do for us. If you can’t do this for your mom, choose someone special in your life to appreciate.

It is so nice to have daylight when I leave for work now. Just another reminder that spring is really here.

The farmers are hard at work, planting is in full swing.

I spent last weekend at a mental health first aid course at F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham, learning all the different things that can affect our mental health and what can be done to help someone in crisis, as well as how to recognize someone who is struggling. It makes you realize just how many of our friends and neighbours could be struggling at any one time. We learned about 988, a number that anyone can call to talk to someone anytime or to find out where to go to get help.

On a more positive note, this week we wish a happy birthday to Joe Fraser on May 10, Braydon Whitfield and Rob Mason on May

13, Bernadette Andrews on May 15 and Les Caldwell and Tony DeCorte on May 16. We hope everyone enjoys their special day!

Until next week, take care of yourselves and each other and don’t forget about your mother on Mother’s Day!

NEWS FROM BLYTH

that put pressure on smaller municipalities like North Huron.

Reeve Paul Heffer clarified that the established rates apply uniformly across all of North Huron and suggested there is little flexibility when it comes to adjusting fees for specific locations without impacting others.

Despite the delegation’s plea for a reconsideration of the fees for the

current year, council ultimately decided to receive the delegation for information purposes only without taking immediate action.

Councillor Mitch Wright explained to Bos and Anderson that there have been multiple issues regarding North Huron’s fees and charges, and urged council to remember this delegation in the fall when the review takes place.

Flags will fly in perpetuity in NH

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

North Huron Council decided to amend its flag-raising policy at a regular meeting on May 6, marking a significant step in support of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Under the amended policy, previously approved flag-raising requests will now be automatically renewed by staff each year. This decision comes in response to requests from various organizations, including Huron County Pride (HCP) and Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH), to fly the rainbow Pride flag during the month of June and officially declare June as Pride Month in the municipality.

In a letter to council, HCP, represented by President Tim Damon, emphasized the importance of raising the Pride flag as a symbol of inclusivity, diversity and acceptance for all members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The organization’s letter highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by the queer community, including hate crimes and legislative issues, underscoring the need for continued support and advocacy.

Similarly, HPPH spotlighted the significance of Pride Month in recognizing and celebrating the history and courage of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The organization called on municipalities to raise Pride flags as a demonstration of inclusivity and acceptance, aligning with

core community values.

During the meeting, Blyth Festival General Manager Rachael King also voiced strong support for the Pride flag-raising initiative, emphasizing its role in creating a vibrant, welcoming community that values diversity and respects all individuals.

Following discussions, Councillor Ric McBurney motioned to approve the requests, seconded

by Deputy-Reeve Kevin Falconer.

Councillor Mitch Wright proposed an amendment to adopt the flagraising policy as a standing policy of North Huron, eliminating the need for annual approvals. Clerk Carson Lamb confirmed that such an amendment could be made, streamlining the process and ensuring ongoing support for Pride Month initiatives.

The amended motion received unanimous approval from the council members present.

Councillor Chris Palmer, who has consistently voiced opposition to Pride, was absent for the meeting.

Leadership in energy and environmental design

Devon Henry 84772 McDonald Line • Box 616 • Brussels

devonjhenry@hotmail.com 519-505-2473

MAITLAND VALLEY CAMERA CLUB

Photography by Liz Allan

PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024.

Soup’s on at Seaforth’s ‘Souper Saturday’

Souper troopers The annual Souper Saturday fundraiser was a delcious success. The event was wellattended and nobody left hungry. Proceeds raised are supporting operations at the Seaforth and District Food Bank. (Scott Stephenson, Chelsea Gamble photos)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen On April 20, Seaforth’s annual Souper Saturday fundraiser roared back into the Seaforth and District Community Centre. It was an earlyafternoon clash of the potagers, as 12 brave competitors engaged in a battle of the broths in support of the Seaforth and District Food Bank.

The chilly weather certainly helped put people in the mood for soup - the beloved local event drew in an enormous number of visitors from Seaforth and beyond. A jury of local experts judged each entry in both the “Cream” and “Clear” categories. There was also a “People’s Choice” award, for the single soup that captured the hearts of the common people, be it cream or clear. Each visitor was given a ballot and instructed to select just three of the soups on offer - one could choose between sampling just six or going for all 12.

Jr. Ambassador Clara de Boer

None of those who went for the whole shebang had any regrets each soup was a unique reflection of the individual or team that had brought it into existence for the sole purpose of being judged in the name of community betterment. For example, Dublin’s Family Restaurant stayed true to its hometown’s Irish roots with a lovely potato soup, topped off with a dual garnish of perfectly crisp bacon and fresh parsley. The Seaforth Co-operative Children’s Centre presented a kid-friendly but complex cheeseburger soup topped with crispy onions that was capable of converting even the pickiest of eaters to take a walk on the allium side.

The Seaforth Agricultural Society honoured the tomato with a glutenand dairy-free entry that allowed the regal fruit’s true flavours to ring out, and CKNX DJ Phil Main’s maple bacon sweet potato soup with fresh cream was as charming,

balanced and thoughtful as his weekly podcast. Seaforth’s own Britannia Lodge has frequently been a fierce competitor in the soup cook-off, and this year was no exception. Their Kung Fu Panda themed dumplings soup was intriguing, spicy and delicious.

There was also a very popular bake sale table that sold out early on, as did the live auction of baked goods and pickles, emceed by Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb. All the

champ, and Royal Lepage Heartland Realty’s Roasted Sweet Potato, Beer and Bacon as the Cream of the crop. The People's Choice Award went to the little cup of Heaven that was Betty Small’s Thanksgiving Dinner soup, which came garnished with a dollop of cranberry sauce and a tiny ball of stuffing.

All of the money raised at the event goes to support the Seaforth and District Food Bank.

auction items were made by local businesses and residents. Bartliff’s Bakery and Restaurant from Clinton captured the true spirit of the day with its auction item - a pop-art inspired cake that looked like a giant bowl of alphabet soup!

Any one of the wonderful soup entries was worthy of the win, but in the end, the judges of 2024’s Souper Saturday chose the Seaforth Lions “Run to the Chapel for an Italian Wedding” as the Clear

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The heart of the home Glimpses of the Past with Karen Webster

T

oday, we are going to travel back several decades to peek into a typical farmhouse where we will probably see several things that are no longer commonplace.

If the kitchen is the heart of any home, then the cook stove was what kept the heart beating. It is where the food was cooked, water was boiled, damp clothes were hung behind and under which Laddie, the dog, curled up for long winter naps.

A teakettle most likely sat near the back of the stove keeping warm until needed and then it would be moved to the front stove lid over the firebox where more heat was generated. On most wood stoves, a long cabinet with a door was mounted above the stove’s surface. This warming oven was handy to proof bread dough or to keep a meal warm for someone not present at mealtime.

There was also a small oven beside the firebox. Most experienced cooks could tell if it was ready to use by waving their hand in it briefly.

Some stoves had a small tank, or reservoir, attached to the side of the oven. Water was kept in the reservoir and that meant there was always nice warm water available for washing

hands. If bricks were placed in the oven in the evening, they could be wrapped in a towel and placed near the feet to warm up an icy bed. On Tuesdays, the day after wash day, irons were heated on the stove to press the week’s laundry.

Of course, there would have to be wood for the fire and generally it was the job of one of the youngsters to make sure the wood box, located near the stove, was full and that sufficient kindling had been cut.

Up on the wall, not too far from the stove, would be a metal box that was just the correct size to hold a box of safety matches.

The end result of burning wood is ashes. When the fire was out, a metal scoop was used to clean them out from below the grates. This was a dusty, but necessary job. The ashes were useful in the garden and, in the wintertime, could be spread on icy patches on the pathway and the lane.

Another maintenance item that was necessary was cleaning soot out of the stovepipes that directed the smoke to the chimney. Soot is highly combustible and neglecting that chore could result in a chimney fire.

It is extremely scary to hear a roar like a freight train while seeing the

stovepipes glowing red and producing copious amounts of smoke.

On a hook beside the kitchen door hung an apron. It covered clothes to keep them clean, but that was not its only function. The large pockets were handy to hold a dust rag, or gather up eggs from the henhouse or a bunch of fresh peas from the garden. It also served to wipe a tear from a child’s eye.

Next, we see a sink with a hand pump on a stand with a small curtain below it. The water would have been pumped up from the cistern that was in the basement below the kitchen.

This was a large cement room or vault that was designed to hold the rainwater collected by eavestroughs that was then directed into the cistern and stored until needed for washing clothes and bathing. There was nothing that could beat that soft water for washing one’s hair. Before the installation of hydro on area farms (which mostly occurred following World War II), water for cooking and drinking would have to come from a well that most likely was located away from the house.

Buckets of water would have to be hauled into the kitchen.

Before the terms “recycling” and “compost bin” came on the scene, every kitchen would have a slop pail that received all the peelings. When full, the pail would be taken to the henhouse or be emptied into a pig trough. Nothing went to waste.

In most houses, one small Bakelite radio would reside up on a shelf, away from children’s reach. Silence was the rule when weather reports, markets or “The Funeral Hour” were broadcast. Static often won out over sound, but when reception was good, all the local news, cooking shows and adventure dramas like The Lone Ranger provided information and entertainment. Also, the only telephone in the house would be mounted on a wall, likely in the kitchen. There was no privacy of conversations in the household, especially if the neighbours on the party line were listening in too.

Before the advent of the electric or gas clothes dryer, the housewife relied on Mother Nature to dry clothes on a line outdoors. That worked fine for about eight or nine months of the year, but in wintertime a new routine occurred. The clothes, sheets and towels would be hung outdoors where they would freeze.

The stiff laundry would then be brought indoors to be hung on lines strung in the kitchen or draped over wooden racks. It was always fun to watch a man-size frozen set of long johns turn from a rigid figure to a limp garment reclining on a drying rack.

In our house, we had a summer kitchen, located in an addition to the house. The cook stove was moved to this second kitchen so that all the heat from cooking food and preserving the bounty from the garden wouldn’t get into the main part of the house and thus made sleeping on summer nights more tolerable.

As we take one last look in that kitchen of old, we see a calendar, likely from the local general store or feed mill with its large glossy picture over top of the pages for the months that were torn off as time rolled by.

There are many other areas of the farmhouse to explore but we will leave that for another day.

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BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK REPORT For the week ending May 3, 2024 Brussels Livestock Market Report For the week ending May 3, 2024 Total Receipts: 2,145 cattle; 1,090 lambs, sheep and goats

Beef Cows: $135 – $170 Good Holstein Cows: $140 – $156 up to $166 Medium Holstein Cows: $133 – $139 Bulls: $158 – $201

Tuesday – Fed cattle sold actively at prices $3 - $5 higher. Cows sold on a strong active trade at prices $3 - $5 higher.

Barry Osterndorff of Elmwood, consigned three head. One charolais cow weighed 1,885 lbs. and sold for $169.

Thursday – Veal, drop calves, lambs, sheep, goats sold steady.

Terpstra Farms Ltd. of Brussels, consigned 13 head. One holstein cow weighed 1,665 lbs. and sold for $153.

Friday – Calves and yearlings sold fully steady.

Fed Cattle: There were 125 fed cattle on offer.

Choice Fed Cattle: $244 – $260 up to $282 Second Cut Fed Cattle: $235 – $243 Aged and Medium Fed Cattle: $210 – $234 Holstein Fed Cattle: $170 – $230 Bill Finlay of Durham, consigned 21 head. One fed steer weighed 1,695 lbs. and sold for $259.

John Richardson of Harriston, consigned eight head. Eight fats averaged 1,316 lbs. and sold for $258.00.

Cows: There were 325 cows on offer:

Jim Van Osch of Lucknow, consigned one charolais bull that weighed 2,015 lbs. and sold for $201.

Veal: There were 210 veal and 60 bob calves on offer.

Beef Veal: Too few to establish a market Good Holsteins: $220 – $228 SL Heavy Holsteins: $215 – $225 Heavy Holsteins: $180 – $223 Medium Holsteins: $210 – $219 Plain Holsteins: $190 – $209 Holstein Drop Calves: $500 – $1,250 / HEAD Brian Hess of Ayton, consigned three head. One veal weighed 780 lbs. and sold for $261.

Larry Graul of Walkerton, consigned four head. One holstein veal weighed 705 lbs. and sold for $225.

Nulandia Dairy Farms Ltd. consigned eight head. Four holstein bob calves brought $1,250 per head.

Lambs: Under 50 lbs.: $400 – $460 50-64 lbs.: $310 – $400 up to $450 65-79 lbs.: $315 – $332.50 up to $360 80-94 lbs.: $310 – $340 95-109 lbs.: $317.50 – $330 up to $350 110 lbs. and over: $200 – $240. up to $350

Sheep: $90 – $200 up to 257.50 Edwin Wouters of Harriston, consigned eight head. Four lambs averaged 51 lbs. and sold for an average price of $450.

Clare Gerber of Wingham, consigned 19 head. Seven lambs averaged 64 lbs. and sold for an average price of $380.

Goats: Meat Kids: $510 – $603 Dairy Kids: $400 – $500 Mature Bucks: $300 – $400 Mature Does: $150 – $325 Lynn Campbell of Mitchell, consigned eight head. Six kid goats averaged 54 lbs. and sold for an average price of $603.

Cleon Martin of Chesley, consigned 16 head. Thirteen kid goats averaged 66 lbs. and sold for an average price of $560.

Ervin and Amsey Martin of Lucknow, consigned 47 head. Eleven black steers averaged 1,020 lbs. and sold for an average price of $306.25.

Stockers: There were 1,425 stockers on offer.

Doug Kuik of Lucknow, consigned 34 head. Five charolais heifers averaged 649 lbs. and sold for an average price of $402.50.

Top Quality Steers: Under 400 lbs.: $360 – $512.50 400 – 499 lbs.: $410 – $475 up to $500 500 – 599 lbs.: $343 – $456 up to $472 600 – 699 lbs.: $371 – $449 700 – 799 lbs.: $340 – $403 800 – 899 lbs.: $315 – $351 up to $355 900 – 999 lbs.: $279 – $322 1,000 lbs. and over: $267 – $308 Top Quality Heifers: Under 400 lbs.: $365 – $500 400 – 499 lbs.: $300 – $416 up to $445 500 – 599 lbs.: $325 – $398 600 – 699 lbs.: $284 – $379 up to $402.50 700 – 799 lbs.: $285 – $330 800 – 899 lbs.: $282.50 – $322 900 lbs. and over: $255 – $299 up to $305.50 Scottslea Farms Ltd. of Blyth, consigned 55 head. Five charolais steers averaged 614 lbs. and sold for an average price of $441.

Doug Sutherland of Kemble, consigned 137 head. Sixteen black steers averaged 815 lbs. and sold for an average price of $351.

Justin Shortreed of Walton, consigned 45 head. Ten charolais heifers averaged 832 lbs. and sold for an average price of $322.

Samuel M. Sherk of Wroxeter, consigned 13 head. Nine charolais heifers averaged 932 lbs. and sold for an average price of $305.50.

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PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024.

Huron East hands out $25,000 in grants

Huron East Council has approved issuing $24,775.39 in grants to community groups this year. This comes as the municipality has raised its annual grant contributions to $25,000 from $20,000.

At their April 16 meeting, councillors only suggested and approved one minor change, which was to reduce the grant to the Seaforth Agricultural Society for the Seaforth Fall Fair from $2,000

to $1,000. The organization had historically asked for $1,000, but raised its request to $2,000 this year.

Councillor Ray Chartrand, however, said he felt it should remain at $1,000 to keep it in line with the $1,000 grant awarded to the Brussels Agricultural Society for the Brussels Fall Fair. He then suggested that money be reallocated to the Seaforth Lions

Club for the operation of the town’s pool. The club requested $15,000, which it received last year as a drastic increase from $10,000 in years past, but was recommended to receive $12,500 this year. The change would increase the club’s allocation in 2024 to $13,500.

That also triggered somewhat of a conversation in regards to how to deal with the Lions Club’s stewardship and management of the

Hot off the griddle The Brussels Lions Club served nearly 250 people at its breakfast at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre on Sunday, thanks in part to dedicated members like Brad Knight, right. (John Stephenson photo)

Stevenson hosts Cranbrook crew PEOPLE AROUND WALTON

By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570

There is corn in the ground! We had enough consecutive nice days to dry the ground and let some farmers hit the field for planting on Thursday. And then it rained again and everything was back on hold until Saturday and then they were in the field again. The farmers were then off the field on Sunday and then back at it again on Monday.

You never know what’s going to happen from morning to night.

Our area has been a beehive of activity for the OPP of our area.

Three different days over the past two weeks, they have converged on either Walton or Brussels.

Anywhere from four to six cruisers and officers have been in the community. Be aware, because they are driving quickly sometimes and we need to remember to look both ways before crossing the street.

We were on child care duties this past weekend. We had our three New Hamburg children on Saturday night overnight. We went to ball hockey in Stratford for the oldest to play, went to McDonald’s for supper and then home. We went to the Brussels Lion Club’s breakfast in the morning and then it was soon time for them to be picked up. It sure makes the weekend fly by.

The ladies of the Cranbrook

Church spent a delightful time at the home of Eleanor Stevenson last week. The ladies were invited to come and see the beautiful quilts she has made over the winter. She has made eight quilts, all for Camp Kintail. The ladies enjoyed the afternoon together.

Our deepest sympathies are extended to Heather McGavin Kelso and family on the sudden passing of her husband Bryan Kelso. He will be lovingly missed by his four children, Hayden, Jessica, Jared and Ella. He will also be missed by his mother Ruth, brother Brant and the Kelso families.

He will be sadly missed by the McGavin families of Neil and Marie, Brian and Shelley, Cathy and Pat Melady and Jeff and Shannon and their families.

Bryan was a wonderful man who loved to spend time with his family enjoying outdoor adventures, fishing and camping and holidays.

He was actively involved with his children in the robotics field at home and at the University of Nipissing and the FIRST Robotics Team 1305, where he inspired many generations of the robotics community. He was an engineering consultant for the mining industry and travelled the world for his job, but the job he loved most was being with his family. He was always a gentleman and easy to visit with at any function. He will be missed by many. Our condolences to all.

The Brussels Lions Club held another successful breakfast at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre on Sunday with a great crowd attending.

From when you receive the paper,

there will be seven weeks of school left - minus a P.D. Day, Victoria Day and school trips.

Throwing a Mexican-themed birthday party was Kendra Fischer for, who else? Herself! Hitting the milestone of 60 is hard to believe for my friend, but the 20 or so family members and friends ushered her into the next decade in style! Congratulations to Kendra!

Celebrating birthdays this past week were Eaden Linton, Joe Ryan, Wes McDonald, Kendra Fischer Cardiff, Veronica Grobbink, Emma Robinson, Pat Melady, Armand Roth, Gerry Sullivan, Brian Workman, Scott McNaughton, Adam Jarosz, Scott Baan, Brandon Blake, Colin Humphries, Kyle Stevenson, Brandon Dalton, Jim Shortreed, Maddy Bernard, Anne Cooper, and Ryker and Maverick Verstoep. Happy birthday to all.

pool moving forward. Chartrand and Councillor Bob Fisher both thought council had had a conversation after last year’s budget deliberations about removing the item from the grant list and making it a proper line item on the budget that the municipality funds year after year without the club having to make a grant application. Chartrand said the pool is a municipal asset and the club manages it, just like the relationship between the Brussels Lions Club and the pool there, so he felt they should be handled the same way (the Brussels pool is part of the Brussels recreation budget).

That issue was not resolved, however, staff will return with a report for further discussion at a later date.

The grants approved for 2024 are: Brussels Agricultural Society (Brussels Fall Fair), $1,000; Brussels Horticultural Society, $550; Brussels Santa Claus parade, $1,000; Ethel Minor Ball, $500; Huron Plowmen’s Association, $250; Seaforth Lions Club (Santa Claus parade), $1,000; Seaforth Lions Club (Seaforth pool), $13,500; Maitland Bank Cemetery, $400; Royal Canadian Legion Branch 468, $55; Royal Canadian Legion (Remembrance Day), $105; St. Columban Soccer, $2,290.39; Seaforth Agricultural Society (Seaforth Fall Fair), $1,000; Seaforth Food Bank (hall rental), $375; Seaforth Horticultural Society, $750; Van Egmond Foundation, $1,000; Walton Area Sports Club, $500 and Winthrop Ball Park and Community Centre, $500. *** Council has opted to follow the recommendation of Director of Public Works Barry Mills and not pave Halliday Street in Brussels, despite a delegation from its residents asking that the street be improved and paved.

Mills provided a priority chart of roads to be paved in Huron East, citing that it would not, as far as the asset management plan, be the next road to be paved. Council could decide to pave it, of course, he said, but that would result in having to find money in the budget for it and potential liability surrounding

leaving other, more pressing projects behind.

Mary Street in Brussels is the first-ranked street in regards to capital improvement in the municipality, followed by four streets in Egmondville before getting to Halliday Street at number six on the current list. Halliday Street has three home entrances and spans 180 metres.

“The municipality would need to conduct detailed engineering studies and cost assessments before embarking on any of the above road paving projects (a list of 13 roads in Brussels, Egmondville, Ethel, Seaforth and Vanastra). However, due to financial limitations and the presence of other pressing needs outlined in the municipality’s asset management plan, the allocation of funds for maintaining the existing infrastructure in the 2024 budget requires a reassessment of priorities in long-term planning and budget allocation,” Mills said in his report to council. “As a result, the paving of Halliday Street has not been designated as a funded project at this time.”

Deputy-Mayor Alvin McLellan asked about alternative methods to improve the road, such as tar and chip. Mills said it could be done, but that all of the aforementioned groundwork would have to be done for tar and chip as well, so there wouldn’t be much of a difference.

He then asked Mills if some more routine maintenance could be done on the road to prevent the large potholes residents had complained about. Mills said that was a fair question and admitted that the department could pay more attention to it going forward. *** Paul Blayney spoke to council as a delegation, representing the residents of Heritage Estates, asking that the speed limit on Hensall Road between Front and Tile Roads be reduced to 60 kilometres per hour.

He said that the residents of the community are older and their main forms of exercise are cycling and walking, but to walk on that stretch of Hensall Road is to take your life in your hands.

Council directed staff to prepare a report on the request.

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024. PAGE 11.

Home and Garden 2024

The Citizen

PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024.

Home & Garden 2024 County’s roadside naturalization showing promise high hopes for the future as planting will be taking place very soon.

(Two planting events, in conjunction with local community groups - a church in Gorrie and the Brussels Lions Club near Brussels were unfortunately cancelled, but originally scheduled for May 4. She said the Brussels club has expressed an interest in the project, so she brought members into the project with the hopes of teaching them more about it. Wallis also felt that it was a good outreach program to help teach people about naturalization so close to Earth Day.) Another benefit of the process is

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Last spring, Huron County took a bold step to implement its Rural Roadside Pilot Project, which was one of the pillars of the county’s Corporate Climate Change Adaptation Plan.

Huron County Climate Change and Energy Specialist Derry Wallis took the time to speak to The Citizen about the first year of the project, what the future holds and the potential expansion of the project if it’s successful.

“The pilot will be used to inform the creation of a long-term Enriching the Rural Roadside Strategy,” Wallis said at the time, June of 2023, “which will support beneficial roadside management practices, such as the inclusion of naturalization projects and reducing maintenance requirements on county properties to adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change.”

The seed money for the program last year came in the form of $20,000 from the county’s forestry reserve, complemented by $8,700 from the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF).

The project, which has gone ahead at the Brussels-area Stevenson Tract and the Gorrie-area Adams Tract, aimed to reduce maintenance time for Huron County staff, accustomed to mowing that grass several times per year. As a result, it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the county, but the planting of native wildflowers will also sequester carbon and increase stormwater management capacity, a step on the journey to the county adapting to handle more frequent extreme weather events.

The planting will also increase pollinator environments, which Wallis says everyone should be striving for. The project will ensure reproduction of flowering plants, sustain native plants and habitats on which humans depend, while increasing carbon sequestration and soil stabilization at the chosen sites.

Wallis, in speaking with The Citizen, said that the strategy and, in turn, the roadside project, was informed by University of Guelph students a number of years ago.

Furthermore, as the county assigned more time and resources to adapting for climate change, Wallis said, people within her department began looking to other Ontario municipalities that were taking on exciting and innovative projects to reduce their carbon footprint and improve their relationship to the environment.

One of those areas was Lanark County in eastern Ontario, which was replanting native shrubs and plants for environmental reasons.

So, Wallis and her team got to work. She said that it’s important to note that native plant seeds are in short supply right now, which, in addition to making them hard to get your hands on, also makes them a bit more expensive than you might anticipate. She also points out that it may be a process, in that it may take several years for the plants to fully bloom. As a result, in just the second year, she has not yet seen much in the way of output, but has

that it will help shield the county against invasive species, which is an ongoing battle with any area that includes natural areas. The main species of concern in those areas are buckthorn, common periwinkle, wild chervil and phragmites.

The planting would also aid in the reduction of soil erosion, Wallis said, which is always a concern in Huron County, which is home to some of the most productive farmland in the province, as well as the country.

Last fall, the work on the two acres of property began with removal of existing grass and pulling of invasive species before

tilling the soil and seeding the soil before the temperatures dropped too far.

Before planting, however, Wallis and the team needed to concoct the perfect mixture of plants they wanted to create in the Stevenson and Adams Tracts, so they reached out to the CWF to find out which mix of native plants would best work in the Huron County area.

(For those wanting to explore this idea for themselves, the CWF has something on its website to help people identify native plants and grasses for their area that is open to everyone. Check it out if this is of interest to you.)

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In the end, they came up with 22 varieties of plants for the project, which are: common milkweed, green coneflower, arrow aster, butterflyweed, heath aster, upland white goldenrod, wild bergamot, evening primerose, showy ticktrefoil, bushclover, hairy pink beardtongue, wild columbine, brown-eyed Susan, Virginia mountain mist, big blue stem, Canada rye, little blue stem, Savannah grass, slender wheat, switch grass and Virginia rye.

Furthermore, in addition to providing guidance on just the right mix to make their naturalization Continued on page 13

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024. PAGE 13.

Home & Garden 2024 Project begins with Stevenson, Adams Tracts Derry Wallis

Continued from page 12 dreams come true, Wallis said the CWF was also very generous with its staff time and resources, providing knowledge and guidance every step of the way.

Another factor in finding the right mix, she said, was taking into account not just the region itself, but the attributes of each specific site. To be specific, different species of plants were chosen for each site because one is more wet and the other is more dry, so seeds were chosen for each of the two sites based on their ability to thrive in either wet or dry conditions.

As for the planting itself, Wallis said this will be a big year for the two sites, to see how they take to the natural seeds and what grows and what doesn’t. This spring, summer and fall will do a lot of heavy lifting in regards to educating Wallis and her team to see what works and what doesn’t ahead of planting again in the fall and another warm-weather season in 2025. This year will further inform them for the years to come.

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PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024.

Home & Garden 2024 Gahans turn pandemic lemons into lemonade design, though now she works as a project manager. However, she was able to put that education and passion to work for her own family’s home. Those early plans, however, were for a very traditional, stick-built home with which everyone in Huron County should be familiar.

The plans were ready and where there was a will there was a way... in March of 2020. It wasn’t long before everything changed. The issuing of building permits ground to a halt and many construction materials, most notably lumber, saw their prices skyrocket as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and related supply chain issues.

They finally received their permits that following September and quickly found that, to build the house of their dreams, it was going to cost three or four times what it

would have before the onset of the pandemic.

They soldiered on with some of the preliminary work and when they went to order the concrete needed for the foundation, they found that the price of concrete had not moved

like its fellow building materials.

As Megan and Joe began to reimagine the house, incorporating more and more concrete to achieve cost efficiency, it soon became the basis for the house. They were Continued on page 15

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A new way of thinking Joe Gahan and Megan Lee-Gahan had to change course on the construction of their dream home in Blyth due to rising material costs, but the result was something even better. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen One of Blyth’s most hotlyanticipated and obsessivelywatched construction projects is now a beautiful, yet unorthodox home for the Gahan family, finished just in time for Christmas of 2021.

Joe Gahan, Megan Lee-Gahan and their children plotted their return to Blyth in the early part of the decade, with Megan returning to the village in which she was raised after meeting her husband and starting a family in Toronto. The plan was to renovate the house she’d grown up in on Drummond Street with a backyard that slopes down dramatically towards what is now the Goderich-to-Guelph Rail Trail (G2G).

Plans, however, would change several times between then and where the family ended up in that holiday season of 2022, which, by the way, fulfilled a promise Megan made to doubters. She insisted they would be in the house by Christmas and, sure enough, they were granted occupancy on Dec. 22 of 2021, just a few days before her self-imposed deadline.

Once the couple decided to build a new house on the property, there were a few guidelines they had to adhere to, including building the new house in the exact footprint of the old one. This also enabled the family to hook into geothermal heating, which now heats the concrete floors throughout the home.

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024. PAGE 15.

Home & Garden 2024 Gahan house stirred interest within Blyth

Continued from page 14 going to build a concrete house, accented with wood and shiplap and large windows.

Houses like the ones the Gahans eventually ended up building are commonplace in Ireland, Joe’s homeland, but are relatively unique in North America, Megan said. And while the house isn’t quite a recognized Passive House with all of the standards and rules involved,

it follows many of the same principles. There is no forced-air heating and much of the heating and cooling is done from the sun, the windows, the orientation of the house and concrete’s ability to retain temperature.

Megan said all of the large windows were designed specifically to catch as much wind as possible and bring it into the house. So, on summer nights, for

example, they will open the windows through the night to bring in the cool air and then close them in the morning, trapping all of that residual cool air in the house to make life inside comfortable throughout the day.

Construction on the house began in November of 2020. Because of the nature of the home, using large concrete slabs, it had to be completed one floor at a time.

It began to get too cold and the family had to use insulating tarp to cover up the concrete work that had been done in the home. From there, they spent the winter in Megan’s parents’ basement next door or in their bunky, a small, 10-by-10-foot cabin near the bottom of their backyard hill and adjacent to the G2G. Living in there with their children and pets was hard, she admits, but it only made her appreciate the house of their dreams that much more.

As construction dragged on, the house took on almost mythical status within the community, as daily walkers and drivers-by would keep tabs on the progression of the unorthodox build. People were always keen to ask questions about the nature of the house, so, when it was completed, Megan and Joe guided more than a few tours for curious community members and even one of their regular couriers.

He had delivered so many building materials to the address, he said, that, once it was completed, he had to see inside.

Work resumed on April 11 of 2021 and they were granted occupancy on Dec. 22. The numbers 11 and 21 have significance in the Gahan family, so Megan thought it was rather important that those numbers appeared in the timeline of such an

important shift for their family.

They completed much of the house quickly, she said, with the help of Amish work crews and groups of friends. However, the last items to arrive were the windows and, because of the design, they were no small element. For a time they covered the openings with tarp to keep the elements out, but, when the material finally did arrive, Megan, Joe and their team worked what felt like around the clock to get them in and avoid another winter out in the bunky.

Sure enough, they were in just before Christmas, just like Megan said they would be, which was a relief to the whole family.

Now, Megan says she can’t imagine living anywhere else and looks back on the initial design and thinks of how different life might have been had it not been for the pandemic. There will always be “forever projects” in the house that need to be completed, tweaked or changed, but, as things stand now, the family is happy in their home.

And, this is a long-term proposal, as they designed the main floor to be entirely accessible and easily adapted to include amenities for older patrons (seemingly Joe and Megan in several decades) so they will be able to live in the home for the rest of their lives.

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PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024.

Home & Garden 2024 Wild turkey embraces a domestic lifestyle would certainly have been cock of the walk if not for Jeb. Even when French Fry fully fluffs up all his feathers, he’s still just a tiny titan in comparison to the goliath before him. The family’s cat, Hazard, is happy to chase barn swallows to and fro, but tends not to mess with Jeb. A similar policy has been adopted by Duke the dog, one of Hazard’s longtime allies.

“This is just our little funny farm,”

Cullen said of her menagerie.

You wouldn’t know it from looking at the truly striking tom he is today, but when he arrived on the family’s property, Jeb had fallen on hard times. “He was really beat up,” Cullen recalled of that first encounter. While her heart went out to the poor creature, the family understood that they had to approach the wild animal in their midst with caution, both for his

safety and theirs. She noted that he was both small and still beardless.

A turkey’s beard, which sprouts from the chest and looks like a miniature horse’s tail, normally starts coming in at around the fivemonth mark, which meant that Jebediah was still just a young poult. Any attempt to tame the young bird could have jeopardized any efforts he might have made to Continued on page 17

Waddle me this!

Angela Cullen, of Londesborough, and her family have welcomed an unusual visitor into their midst. Jebediah, a wild turkey, appeared on Father’s Day in 2021 and doesn’t seem interested in leaving. (Scott Stephenson photo)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen When Angela Cullen and her family moved to their new home in Londesborough in 2016, they had a lot of exciting plans for the backyard. They constructed an impressive treehouse in a giant willow tree, planted flower beds that overflowed with beautiful blooms every spring and populated a coop with some productive chickens. One thing the family didn’t plan on, however, was sharing their outdoor living space with a bird of a different feather - a wild turkey!

It all started when Cullen awoke one morning to the distinctive sound of gobbling. At first, she thought that the motley jumble of syllables was a relic of slumberland.“I thought I was dreaming of turkeys,” she recalled fondly. “But then, we looked outside and there he was!” Standing out in their yard was the bird that her son would soon name

Jebediah, or Jeb, for short.

In the three years since Jeb first announced his arrival, he’s made an impression on most everybody who has encountered him at the Cullen homestead. All visitors are met with gobbles of greeting, and, while he may not directly approach most people, his interest in new experiences is obvious, and his enthusiastic explorations of his surroundings never cease to entertain. He has learned to fit through the diminutive door of the chicken coop, and has excavated a fair number of the flower beds.

Cullen only occasionally laments the loss of those lovely flowers.

“You can’t really get mad at Jeb,” she said. “It’s impossible to be in a bad mood around him.”

When he’s not following the chickens around, the chickens are following him. Little brown hens like Henrietta and Shakira run at top speed to keep up with their much larger comrade. Things are perhaps a little more complicated for French Fry the rooster, who

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024. PAGE 17.

Home & Garden 2024 ‘Jebediah’ welcomes all visitors to the farm

Continued from page 16 reconvene with other wild turkeys once he regained his strength. Even now, years into Jeb’s co-habitation with the chickens with no sign that he plans to fly the coop, Cullen

respects her caruncled guest’s personal freedom. “I never want to push him,” she explained. “I always want him to be able to go if he wants to go.”

Her feathered familiar has also given Cullen a real appreciation for how beautiful wild turkeys are.

Jeb’s iridescent feathers are reminiscent of his fancier relatives in the Phasianidae family, which includes other heavy ground living game birds like partridges, pheasants and peafowl. He’s also got a great wattle, and, although his snood may be a little smaller than average, it’s still nothing at which to sneeze.

As the situation currently stands, Jebediah seems set on sticking around the Cullen property. It’s not exactly commonplace for a wild turkey to join a flock of chickens, but it’s also not unheard of. In fact, Jeb’s choice to stick close to some human companions offers a fascinating window to the distant past. Modern domestic turkeys are the direct descendants of wild turkeys, which were domesticated by early Indigenous farmers, around 2,500 BCE. The Aztec people, who lived in what is now Mexico, were some of the earliest turkey poulterers on record, and their society had a special place for this regal bird. While Aztec turkeys were eaten for their meat, their feathers were used for ceremonial

garb, and they were also featured in art and burial rituals. There is even an Aztec god, Tezcatlipoca, who takes on a turkey form, known as Chalchiuhtotolin, that is capable of helping humans to overcome their fates.

Respecting Jeb’s essential wildness also means that he is always at risk of becoming a casualty of circumstance - wild turkeys are frequently targeted by predatory animals like coyotes, and licensed humans in Ontario hunt them for their meat and plumage in the spring and fall. Cullen knows that none of the turkey hunters she counts amongst her friends and family would ever knowingly turn Jeb into deep-fried morsels and a mounted fan, but she still worries that a hunter passing through the area might mistake him for one of the thousands of turkeys that haven’t roosted in the hearts of

Huron County citizens and chickens. But he is still a wild animal, and his fate is not hers to decide.

The Cullens have simply made space in their lives for the presence of this bird, and in that space, something both magnificent and

silly has developed. It is a relationship that defies categorization, and ascends to the untranslatable. Having Jeb in their lives has shown them that the noble spirit of a humble turkey can embiggen even the smallest moments.

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PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024.

Home & Garden 2024 Gibson cultivating fantasy garden in Whitechurch by to experience a little extension of her own unique creative spirit, with a hearty dash of horticultural happenstance thrown in to keep things interesting.

Yes, Gibson’s garden is absolutely bursting with obviously beautiful plants, but it’s also equally full of fascinating little stories that grow curiouser and curiouser as they grow smaller and smaller. Whether you’re motoring down Highway 86 or lingering for a long look on a sunny afternoon, Gibson’s well-manicured garden always has something else delightful going on that’s just waiting for you to take notice. And once you take notice of that thing, that’s when your eye spies another tiny tableau. And then another. And then another!

An old-fashioned directional sign

in the middle of the yard may point people to all the well-trod fantasy lands from the edge of Wonderland to the heart of Neverland, but don’t

let the sign fool you - Gibson’s garden is full of hidden destinations that one can only reach by taking Continued on page 19

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Take me to church Whitechurch homeowner Nancy Gibson enjoys spending time outside in her garden, adding plants and creating interesting tableaus for passerbys to enjoy.

(Scott Stephenson photos)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen If you’ve passed through Whitechurch at all over the past four years, you’ve probably noticed Nancy Gibson’s charming

churchyard garden and its eclectic collection of infectiously whimsical statuary. Gibson’s garden is more than just a perfectly balanced assemblage of plants growing harmoniously together - it’s an invitation for visitors and passers-

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024. PAGE 19.

Home & Garden 2024 Decorations accentuate plants and shrubs Continued from page 18 the metaphorical road less traveled.

As a gardener, Gibson is never as concerned about the end result as she is engaged in the day-to-day joy of joining forces with nature to create something wonderful that the whole community can enjoy. “It’s just nice to be outside,” she explained simply. “People always want to stop and talk!”

In terms of her yard’s greenery, Gibson allows the universe to do a lot of the specific plant selection she’s open to whatever strays may

come her way, whether it be a neighbour’s excess hostas or that last bedraggled annual waiting, forgotten at the back of a supermarket sale shelf in September. Gibson is never ready to give up on flora that still has the spark of life.

While she sees the beauty in all things lush and verdant, she has a special place in her heart (and her yard) for hardy, low-maintenance plants that reproduce prolifically. In the early days of the Gibson garden Continued on page 20

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PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024.

Home & Garden 2024 Gardener to try hand at espalier tecnique born out of the chaos of discarded things. Even if you think you’ve

seen all there is to see at Whitechurch’s most whimsical

garden, look closer - there’s almost certainly something you’ve missed.

Nancy Gibson

Continued from page 19 many of her plants were sourced from friends and family members who found themselves with an overabundance of one eager species or another. Now those same plants have put down roots in her garden, and have begun providing her with a seemingly limitless supply of new growth. Gibson’s current favourite plant is none other than the humble hosta, which embodies so many of the traits she values most when it comes to greenery. “Hostas are beautiful,” she explained. “And they grow so fast and transplant so easily!”

Gibson also puts in a concerted effort each year to increase the dexterity of her already limber green thumb. This year, she’s setting her sights on the ancient art of espalier, starting with a recently purchased cherry tree. Espalier is a

horticultural technique in which trees are trained to grow flat against a support like a wall or a trellis, typically in a specific pattern to create an almost two-dimensional decorative form that also saves on space. It’s a technique that requires patience, pruning and long-term dedication to the art of the edible.

Citrus trees are a popular espalier choice, as are figs, pears and apples. “They say it’s harder to do with a cherry tree,” she said. “We’ll just have to see how it goes!”

Even though her garden’s greenery is undeniably excellent, all those plants are only part of what makes Gibson’s garden so great. A whole lot of her yard’s unique playfulness comes from Gibson’s great eye for statuary.

Statues in a garden always hold a sort of counter-power to the everchanging greenscape. Some of the most elegant pieces of art in Gibson’s garden are the things she’s made herself, from orphaned tea cups and extra bits of old wooden pallets. She also has quite a few thrifted beauties that enrich the yard with the unspoken secrets of their past lives without making the space feel cluttered or thrown together - it is a glorious, growing cohesion

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024. PAGE 21.

Home & Garden 2024 White discusses the basics of backyard biology

Planeteer Huron County Biologist Rachel White and an endangered Queensnake enjoy each other’s company in the above photo. (Courtesy photo)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen As Huron County’s go-to biologist, Rachel White spends a lot of her time looking at the big picture when it comes to the stewardship of our natural environment as a whole. It’s part of White’s job to consider the infinite, intricate and untold connections between each and every thing that lives, has lived, or will live in the county.

White’s work is part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary effort with other scientists who share the goal of increasing the resiliency of the natural environment in a way that will allow future generations to thrive.

Simultaneously, White aims to inspire more local citizens to develop the sort of multigenerational, forwardthinking environmental mindset that is essential to ensuring a healthy future for Huron County farms, food and families, starting

with the stewardship of their own backyards.

White understands that considering the grand interconnectedness of all living things can feel like a whole lot to deal with when you’re not a biologist, so she puts things simply.

“For me, what stewardship actually looks like is connecting people with their environment. That means being in the environment, and witnessing the interesting things that are happening in the natural world around us... people feel good when they are outside in natural areas, and I think that’s indicative of something that’s inside all of us the potential to connect with nature.”

Once one has forged that first connection with nature, it can open up a sort of ongoing conversational channel with the living planet. For some people, that conversation evolves into a lifelong passion.

“There’s a lot that the environment can tell us,” White explained. “As a biologist, the quest is always ‘How

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do we collect information in a way that captures the diversity and complicated dynamics that are happening in the environment?’ I find that being outside and having that quest for knowledge is a really rewarding part of my job... if you saw my garden though, you might not believe I’m a biologist! I enjoy gardening, because I like to get my hands dirty and I really like learning about gardening, but I’m certainly a novice. I guess I’ll always be learning, because there’s a lot to know about gardening!”

For centuries, people have been gradually learning to forget to include themselves when thinking about the abstract concept of “nature”. Developments like the wheel and TikTok can often cause us to forget that human beings are as much a part of the natural environment as morels and mosquitos. Without the healthy

discourse that fosters the cross pollination of thoughts, communal concepts like stewardship and resiliency would become purely academic concepts, instead of the lifeblood of a thriving community.

“I think that we’re very lucky to have really interesting natural environments right in our backyards,” White pointed out. “We have habitats and species that are unique within the province, and, equally as important to me, we have a really welcoming community of people in Huron County. People are dialed-in, want to know their neighbour and also want to be active people, in terms of being outside and connecting with other people.”

White also has a bit of sciencebacked, common sense advice to make your yard into a more effective, active greenspace. “We should support native plants in our

gardens as best we can. There are many benefits to doing that. Native plants, and native species in general, are adapted to local climates, so they need less watering and fertilizing than non-native species.” More native plants means more food and habitats for the native animals that depend on them.

Individual stewardship, in White’s eyes, is about striving to improve the natural environment while mitigating the outsized impact of our species on the planet with the goal of leaving a habitable future for incumbent generations.

“You might think it's just a drop in the bucket to support native species, but I think a cumulative effort among many people who are creating diverse native gardens can result in a much greater impact.”

White also advocated for recent Continued on page 22

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PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024.

Home & Garden 2024 Creative family puts down roots in Lucknow of four-year-old Basia Grainger.

Basia’s house looks almost like it came out of a fairy tale - its stately walls were erected in the late 1800s out of stones pulled from local fields, the natural beauty of the home was augmented later with a striking front porch constructed out of smooth river rocks. Her parents, Eva and Sebastien, have been quietly adding little personal touches to the already stunning space since they arrived in town from Los

Angeles, California in 2020 with plans to create a space where they could grow as a family and as artists.

The whole clan was happy to agree to show off their creative living space to The Citizen on the eve of the family’s weekly pizza party.

It felt like this was going to be a fairly straightforward story - Seb, Eva and Basia would make some pizza together in the modern, airy kitchen they had conceptualized together, followed by a guided tour

and a photoshoot of their charming young family eating dinner together - super simple! But then Basia found a toad in the garden, and the whole plan unraveled immediately. We no longer had a tiny tour guide - Basia had transformed into a full-time toad enthusiast.

To be more accurate, Basia didn’t find the toad that evening - Seb had found it hours earlier, nestled right near the spot in their backyard where Continued on page 23

You see our signs everywhere TIME TO FIND OUT WHY!

Grainger station Basia Grainger and her parents Sebastien and Eva enjoying peak cherry blossoms season at their home in Lucknow. (Scott Stephenson photo)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen When The Citizen set out in search of stories for the 2024 edition of its annual Home and Garden section, the first idea that came to mind was this extremely cool fieldstone house

on the outskirts of Lucknow. This glorious local gem has everything one could possibly want for a story about eye-catching homes: great bones, interesting additions, curb appeal and, somewhere inside, a lovely young family that comes with its very own tour guide in the form

Non-native plants can jeopardize the health of ecosystems Continued from page 21 initiatives like ‘No Mow May’ which has been educating and informing the public about the value of beneficial backyard insects since 2019 by suggesting a very small change in your lawn maintenance routine.

Backyard resiliency isn’t just about planting the right plants, it's about not planting the wrong ones.

White brought up a popular shade garden ground cover as an example.

“Periwinkle is a non-native groundcover that is very easy to grow, but if it escapes into woodlands, it becomes very difficult to control. It takes over the understory.

“By choosing differently, we can prevent further introductions into our natural spaces. It’s just another one of the benefits of trying our best to support our native species. We can have a better balance between resource intensive lawns and more natural habitats... lawns are not very diverse in terms of what they can offer to native insects and birds lawns should be area rugs, not wallto-wall carpet.”

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024. PAGE 23.

Home & Garden 2024 Kitchen designed with yard vantage in mind Continued from page 22 they’re planning to build a greenhouse someday. When he mentioned his chance encounter with the little amphibian to his daughter, she asked if they could go look to see if it was still there. It was. “In my defence,” he explained much, much, later, “I didn’t really think that it would actually still be there.” When Seb began the pizzamaking process, he found that he no longer had his normally enthusiastic junior pizzaiolo to

guide him in the pie-making endeavour - Basia was still out in the yard, too busy with the construction of a temporary terrarium for the toad to help with dinner. It was easy enough for her parents to keep an eye on their progeny from the kitchen - when they were planning the room’s much-needed renovations, they made sure that the central island lined up with their windows to Continued on page 24

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PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024.

Home & Garden 2024 Stephenson and Gamble grow garlic at home

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen When my wife Chelsea and I first embarked on our journalistic journey of chaos gardening, it was way back in the olden days, when all the hope and excitement that would accompany our decision to move to a place we’d never heard of before was but a gleam in our big ‘ole west end Toronto eyes. As people who were renting a tiny apartment that we would never

have a chance to own, we still wanted to do our best to grow edible things, because growing your own edible things is best. We started the same way that most urban apartment dwellers do - on a tiny, basically unsafe, third floor patio the size of a postage stamp with a tiny little tomato plant in a plastic pot that produced weird little fruit, of which we were tremendously proud.

We may not have known what we were doing back then, but that little tomato plant instilled in us a shared, just-married passion for all things deep-rooted and delicious. As much as we yearned to commune with nature, when we did decide to strike out in search of a place that was a little less Toronto, we were almost exclusively thinking about getting away from the hustle and bustle of

Unexpected guest joins ‘Pizza Night’

city life and the attic apartment head bumping that comes along with it.

We wanted to find a place that would facilitate a simpler kind of existence where we could stretch out our cramped city legs and learn to be just a touch more self-reliant.

When we did find this quaint little town nestled in the heart of one of Ontario’s most fertile agricultural regions, never in our wildest dreams did we consider the

possibility of growing our very own garlic, which feels absolutely wild now, since this place is such a perfect place to turn our allium dreams into a reality. We even first learned that Lucknow, Ontario was a real place from the label on a box of fresh garlic that we acquired from a pricey little 100-kilometre grocery store on Roncesvalles in the west end. Even still, it felt like garlic was the kind of food stuff that only other people could grow -

you know, like real farmers.

We turned out to be double lucky when it came to the art of living in a rural community where we knew next to nobody. Not only were we able to settle into our unusual new home, but we soon became acquainted with a real-life farmer located in the nearby town of Belgrave - Robert Foreman, of 100 Mile Produce, who has no time to waste when it comes to getting Continued on page 25

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Continued from page 23 facilitate an unobstructed view of Basia’s primary play space. The open concept of their manywindowed main floor means that, no matter what part of the yard their daughter may be showing off to her new toad friend, there’s always a way for Seb or Eva to check that she’s safe without having to hover over her every move.

One of the other benefits of having so many windows is a preponderance of natural light.

When the sun sets and night falls, filmmaker Eva’s tasteful lighting choices bring out the home’s interior warmth, giving their living space some serious Renaissance Era painting vibes. “The best part of being here in our house, and here in the county, is that my ideas can expand - I love to write here, and Seb can make noise here as a drummer,” she explained.

When dinner was served, Basia was still not ready to part ways with her bumpy companion. She made several unsuccessful attempts to convince her parents that her toad would be happier spending suppertime somewhere in the house, perhaps in her bedroom, or in Seb’s subterranean studio, before she came up with the winning pitch - the toad, safely ensconced in its makeshift habitat, of course, would feel right at home in the mud room.

“Toads live in the mud,” she argued persuasively. “And the mud room is hardly even inside.” After a brief

huddle, both of Basia’s parents had to admit that she was making some pretty salient points, and so the toad stayed in the picture, for just a little while longer.

And even though he was forced to go it alone this time, Seb’s pizza was still absolutely delicious.

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024. PAGE 25.

Home & Garden 2024

Garlic takes time but is very easy to grow Continued from page 24 down and dirty in the fields. We’ve received a front-row view of his legendary local produce business that involves selling some of Huron County’s best vegetables at farmers markets across Southwestern Ontario. Seasonally, Foreman offers everything from green onions to cabbages, but one of his absolute best sellers is - you guessed it garlic!

For years, we enjoyed fresh, flavourful Ontario garlic directly off of farmers’ market tables, by the quart and by the pound, but it never felt like something that we could grow ourselves, right up until the moment that we realized that we could totally grow it ourselves. And by realized, I mean that people kept telling us how easy it was. Foreman was kind enough to set us on the path to garlicky success with a big mesh bag of loose, homegrown cloves that he assured us needed only to be stuck into the ground as autumn drew to a close in order to produce our very own culinary flavour bombs. Receiving that literal seed fund was the first step on the path to what has become our current state of maximum garlic overdrive.

The second first step was a somewhat laborious process that involved working tirelessly under the hot November sun with the unflagging fervor and unwavering

determination of two people who pretty much have no idea what they’re doing.

Next came the planting phase!

Using a pointy little stick known as a dibber, we created rows upon rows of holes in which we carefully nestled the individual garlic cloves that would hopefully multiply in the womb of the earth. Once each clove was planted, we allowed the seasons to change from fall to winter, and eventually spring. When all the snow finally melted away, it gave way to emergent shoots of tender green leaves - a sign, we’d been told, that our garlic was taking root and beginning to thrive. With each passing day, the plants grew taller and stronger.

Suddenly, the summer season arrived again, all ablaze with warmth and sunshine. We tended that first crop with care, snipping off scapes and keeping a watchful eye out for any signs of pests or disease.

As the days grew shorter and the air turned crisp, the time finally came to harvest our garlic. With bated, ungarlicky breath and eager anticipation, we began pulling up a few test bulbs. Our hearts soared with joy at the sight of plump heads of fragrant garlic coming out of the earth of our very own yard.

That harvest turned out to be plentiful, exceeding our wildest expectations. Basket after basket

was filled with little bundles of stinky joy. We then became garlic preservers, learning how to dry, pickle, ferment and confit it in order to ensure that we’d never run out of the wonderful stuff. Of course, we also set aside many of our prime cloves to plant in the fall.

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W ingham United Church loc cated in Wingham, Ontario is currently se eeking to fill the part-time vacancy of:

Office Administrator Are you a stay-at-hom me mom looking to get out of the house while your “littles” are at scchool?

Do you want to pick u up some extra part-time work?

Are you friendly and e enjoy meeting people while creating a warm and welcoming enviro onment?

D you h Do have bookkee b kk eping i and d offf ffice fi administration d i i t ti experience? i ?

Check out o the job posting for full details at: https://indeed.com.

Please send a cover letter and résumé outlining your interest and qualifications to: wing ghamunited@hurontel.on.ca clearly indicating the position applied fo or in the subject line.

Bill Brown and his family y would like to thank everyone who helped celebrate his 94th birthday

Wiingham United Church iss an equal opportunity employer.

W r. W Wiingham United Church will provide reasonable accom mmodation in compliance with AODA when notified by a candidate that accommoda ation due to a disability is required for the interview process.

Citizen-To-Citizen o “SWAP SHOP” ad C 519-523-4792 Call or email: info o@northhuron.on.ca • Free ad a up to 25 words, person to person only (no businesses), items valued at a $1,000 or less. Price must be includ ded in your ad.Y Yo our ad will run three tim mes unless it sells faster!

• The Citizen reserves the right to limit the num mber of items or ads p per person.

FOR SALE - Four Dynamo winter tires, 225/65 R17 on steel rims. Used 20,000 km., near 50% tread left.

Slight checking. Rims showing some rust. Asking $100. including rims.

519-523-4711..

19-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - 26” girls blue touring bike. White walls, larger bicycle seat, kick stand and front basket included. $125. Judy 519-357-8182.

19-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Quantity of oak hardwood 2”x3” and 1”x6” cut to 12”-14” long, stored inside, clean.

Ideal for woodstove or fire pit. Price depends on quanitity. Londesborough 519-501-3289.

19-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Pine corner cabinet, orginally used for guns. About 6’ high, $300; gun cabinet 4’x6’ approx. guns on top, shelves below, $200.

Prices negotiable; leather La-Z-Boy from Middleton’s. Good conditon, blue, $200. 519-357-3117 18-3 --------------------------------------------Approximately FOR SALE - A i t l 20 pieces of Prayer & Promises collectible figurines. $100. or best offffer for the set. 519-524-8302. 18-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Flagstone 1”-1 1/2”.

Two difffferent lots. 519-524-3944.

Tw 18-3 --------------------------------------------WANTED - A large used freezer.

WA 519-395-4211 18-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Limited editon 8 Field Puppies plate collection with frames and cert certificates tificates. $25. $25 ea; apartment size pianno $300. 519-887-6583 18-3 ---------------------------------------------FOR SA ALE - Set of four truck tire (not onn rims), Goodyear Eagle P275/55R20. $100 for the set. 51917-3 357-27668.

---------------------------------------------FOR SA ALE - foosball table, $50; pocket door d hardware - studs and 2 tracks, $50; $ storm door fits 36x80, 2” thick, white, w $100. Call 519-3574040.

17-3

Hess to speak at Knox PEOPLE AROUND BELGRAVE

By Linda Campbell Call 357-2188

Licensed Lay Worship Leader Gloria Wilbee was the guest speaker at Knox United Church Belgrave on Sunday, May 5.

On Sunday, May 12, Jim Hess is the guest speaker. Everyone is welcome.

The Coffee Break is on Tuesday, May 14 from 9:30-11 a.m. at the Community Centre. You are welcome to come and enjoy coffee, snacks and fellowship.

Cards will be played on Friday, May 10 at 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

Birthday greetings are extended to Karen McCallum on May 13 and we send out anniversary greetings to Matt and Ashley Bromley on May 14. Enjoy your day.

We attended the Almost Famous Players performance on Sunday afternoon at the Wingham Town Hall Theatre. We thoroughly enjoyed it with almost a capacity crowd. This year they were celebrating 20 years of entertaining you. The theme was “Something Old, Something New.” Happy Mother’s Day. Have an enjoyable day no matter what you do.

The flowering trees are in bloom now and so are the beautiful spring flowers. Take a walk or drive around to see what Mother Nature had displayed.

Services PA P AL Class for firearm ms training.

Ongoing courses availabble. Certified instructors. Call Greg 519-2910507.

NEWS FROM BELGRAVE

Good G d Em Employme l ent is har rd to find!!

Le Let et us help Check out our classified section today

The Citizen All word ads in The Citizen classifieds are put on our webpage at www.huroncitizzen.ca

Celebrating A Special Occasion?

Advertise it in

The Citizen Call or email to book your ad today!

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

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024. PAGE 27.

Obituaries

BRYAN KELSO It is with a heavy heart that the family announces the unexpected passing of Bryan Kelso at his home on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at the age of 52.

Bryan was the beloved husband of Heather (née McGavin) Kelso and the loving father to Hayden, Jessica, Jared and Ella. He will be lovingly remembered by his mom Ruth Kelso (late dad Bruce Kelso), his brother Brant Kelso (Natasha), in-laws Neil and Marie McGavin, brother-in-law Brian McGavin (Shelley), sister-in-law Cathy Melady (Pat), brother-in-law Jeff McGavin (Shannon), and many nieces and nephews who loved their Uncle Bryan very much. He will also be remembered by his close friends and colleagues.

Bryan leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness and great outdoor adventures that will be cherished by his family and all who knew him.

No camping trip, fishing day, or adventure on the lake will ever be

the same without him. Bryan’s commitment to FIRST Robotics and Team 1305 was a gift that has inspired many generations of the robotics community. The joy he brought to mentoring will be everlasting.

A celebration of Bryan’s life was held on Saturday, May 4 at Nipissing University Student Union.

In place of flowers, donations can be made to the educational trust for Bryan’s kids at https://gofund.me/38f80fdd, or to FIRST Team 1305 at w w w. c a n a d a h e l p s . o r g / e n / charities/north-bay-districtstudent-robotics/ would be gratefully acknowledged by the Kelso family.

Online condolences can be made at mcguintyfuneralhome.com.

ANNE MARIE CHRISTENSEN Anne Marie Christensen passed away in the wee

hours of Sunday, April 28, 2024.

Born in Hamilton to Teresa Chisholm and Fred Crawford, she grew up in Goderich, where she married Don Hamilton (1933-2007) and they raised four children. Life for Anne included marriage to David Gornall (1989), and then Erik Christensen (2014) both of Clinton. Each time her family grew and her greatest joy was the grandchildren to cuddle.

Anne will be remembered in her community with her work at the Bluewater Psychiatric Centre in the upholstery department, later in Clinton at the stroke centre; and with her fun times with the Bluewater Creative Needle group, and through her travels with the local RV club: the Nomads.

She is survived by her children Rhea and Klaus Seeger, Christine and Randy (deceased) Charge, Richard Hamilton and Shirley Patterson, and Randy and Suzanne Hamilton and her grandchildren, Peter and Marilou Seeger, Sarah Seeger and Chris Clarke, Avril Anne and Andrew Hulbert, Dexter Hamilton, David Dawson, Michelle Hamilton, Dale Hamilton and Jesse Hamilton.

The Gornall family included Jan (deceased), Ted, Paul, Wayne and Pam and their families.

The Christensen family included Bjarne (deceased) and Camille Christensen, Ove and Carol Christensen, Keld (deceased) and Karen Christensen, Henry Christensen (deceased), and Jane and Wayne Lyon, as well as grandchildren Allan Christensen

Lunch to benefit Habitat for Humanity

Well, I had the noisemakers out on Saturday evening in anticipation of a Toronto Maple Leafs’ win against the Boston Bruins to clinch the series and move on in the quest for the Stanley Cup. I planned to step out on the porch and join the rest of the celebrants in making noise. Alas, I have put them back in the closet until next spring. To their credit, the Maple Leafs did rally to tie the series and played a great game on Saturday evening.

Actually, Toronto teams had a bad 24 hours on the weekend. The hockey team lost in overtime, the Blue Jays squandered a 6-1 lead and their lacrosse team, the Toronto Rock, lost their chance to advance.

Be sure to check out the “treasures” to be found this Saturday as Londesborough holds a village-wide yard sale.

This week at Londesborough United Church, a men’s choir arranged by organist Barb Bosman will pay tribute to Mother’s Day. The following Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, Rev. Bill McAuslan will be the guest minister and will offer Communion.

Barb and Allan Bosman are again offering to help you support Huron County Habitat for Humanity this spring. They will deliver your lunch to the church parking lot on

Thursday, May 16. This $15 lunch includes beef on a bun, baked beans, coleslaw, a cookie and an apple. All lunch items are sourced in Huron County.

Your lunch helps families in Huron County build better futures through affordable home ownership. Sounds like a win-win for everyone. Give Al a call at 519523-4286 to order lunch.

The Londesborough United Church Women (UCW) members are reminded to bring along an unlabelled picture of their mother from an earlier time to their meeting on Monday, May 20.

I decided to conclude this week with this poem I found in an old Ideals magazine written by Nadine Brothers Lybarger. It is called “A Thought for Mother’s Day”.

“We all remember Mother on her special day.

NEWS FROM LONDESBORO

We send her gifts and flowers and lovely cards that say How much we thank her for the things that mothers do, The sacrifices that they make.

But when this day is through We’re prone to take for granted her precious love and care, The fact that when we need her, Mother’s always there.

She will never mention it, nor ask for any praise.

The joy of doing things for us is her reward always.

But just the same, it would be nice, if we’d find time to say Just one small word of heartfelt thanks to Mother - every day!”

and Paul Christensen, Justin and Kim Lyon, Brittany and Ryan McGarvey, Rory Christensen, and Kristine Christensen.

Anne will be missed by all her family, including her numerous great-grandchildren.

There will be a celebration of life on Anne’s birthday, June 14, 2024, when she would have been 90 years old. Friends and family are invited to attend at Falconer Funeral Homes, Bluewater Chapel, Goderich, from 12-1 p.m. The memorial service will follow at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel.

Donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Society or the family would simply encourage you to plant a native plant in her memory.

Messages of condolence for the Christensen family are welcome at falconerfuneralhomes.com.

MR. JAN “BEN” Bernard ANTOON NYMAN Jan Bernard Antoon (Ben) Nyman passed into the arms of his loving Saviour on Sunday, May 5, 2024, in his 84th year, after a brief illness.

Ben was born on Aug. 18, 1940, the ninth of 10 children born to Hendrik Jan Nyman and Lina Johanna Nyman (née Ebbers). Ben

married the love of his life, Annie Sornsen, on July 10, 1964, in Aalten.

They started their life on the Nyman family farm near Lintelo until opportunity called from Canada in 1968, where they spent their years living and raising their five children: Hank, Diane, Leona, Fred and Anthony.

Dad had a special brand of good humour and was a skilled storyteller. He was a beloved presence in Huron County, always ready with a joke and a handshake.

He was a man of strong faith, involved in the Clinton Christian Reformed Church and walking a daily path of Christian service.

Ben was predeceased by his parents Hendrik and Lina, his brothers Jan, Wim (Dien), Henk, Johan, Arie and his sisters Grada, Lientje. Ben is survived by sisters Dien and Riek (Wim) and sisters-in-law Annie, Gerda and Ada. Ben also leaves behind with love, his family: wife of 60 years Ann, children Hank (Joan) Logan, Bethany, Diane (Bill) John, Derek, Devon, Leona (John) Matthew, Sarah, Fred (Jennifer) Zoe, Anneliese and Anthony (Angela) Jeff, Nick, Connor, Katherine, Alanna and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation was held at Clinton Christian Reformed Church on Thursday, May 9 with funeral service at 11 a.m.

Donations to the charity of your choice would be appreciated.

Arrangements entrusted to Falconer Funeral Homes, Clinton.

Messages of condolence for the Nyman family are welcome at falconerfuneralhomes.com

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

The Citizen.

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

Cards of thanks can be placed in our classified section, starting at just $8.00.

PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024.

From the Minister’s Study

Our parents leave us legacies that impact our lives

By Pastor Ernest Dow, Executive Pastor, Huron Chapel, Auburn Three ladies were bragging about their grown sons. The first said, “You should have seen what my boy did for me on my birthday! He threw a big party at a fancy restaurant - he even hired a big band to come and play.” The second lady said, “That’s nice, but listen to what my son did. Last winter he gave me an all-expenses-paid cruise to the Greek islands - all first class.” The third lady said, “That’s nothing! For the last three years my son has been paying a psychiatrist $150 an hour two times a week and the whole time he talks about nothing but me!”

Our parents leave us legacies. I don’t mean monetary inheritances, but real lasting impact on our lives; hopefully more positive than such effects that require counselling. But our mothers do matter, they can have a profound effect on us.

A London editor submitted to Winston Churchill for his approval a list of all those who had been Churchill’s teachers. Churchill returned the list with this comment: “You have omitted the greatest of my teachers: my mother.”

As Mother’s Day approaches, we can learn from the faithful, persistent example of a mother whom Jesus met when travelling far from home (see Matthew 15:2128). Despite difficult circumstances and testing, her faith and feistiness prevailed.

Jesus had left Galilee and gone further north near the coast of the Mediterranean. A Canaanite woman came and cried out to Him, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!

My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” We’re not told the exact manifestations; perhaps there were seizures, nightmares, overwhelming depression, multiple personalities or self-destructiveness. Some young people today are tormented by negative habits, such as cutting, eating disorders, drugs or other addictions. If a parent does try to intervene, sometimes they’re simply rebuffed and can only stand by and watch as their own child gets dragged down a destructive path.

But the woman in our story doesn’t just appeal for help for her daughter. She appeals, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! ...Lord, help me!” Her daughter’s condition is affecting her greatly; it’s probably taking a toll on the whole family.

But parents may identify with and be affected severely by their

Evangelical Missionary Church

MOTHER’S DAY Sunday May 12, 10:30 a.m.

Guest Speaker Doug Allen preaching on 1 John 1:8f, "God is Faithful, Even When We Fail" Nursery & Sunday School during worship

On-site and online - live.huronchapel.com Sat. May 11, 7:30 a.m. MEN'S BREAKFAST Register for Vacation Bible Camp July 8-12! tinyurl.com/hcvbc2024

119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131

children’s problems. Perhaps the mother’s not getting much sleep at night because she hears her daughter crying out in nightmares.

Perhaps she’s driven to her wits’ end because the girl simply won’t eat and is withering away to skin and bones. Maybe she herself is battling depression because she knows the personalities being expressed in her daughter’s frame aren’t the person the girl used to be.

She too is tormented.

Being a mom or dad, our kids affect us. We’re often “tuned in” in a special way to their condition.

Caring parents identify with their kids and are impacted by what they’re going through.

The Canaanite woman doesn’t just ask once and leave it at that.

She’s persistent. The disciples came to Jesus and urged Him to send her away “for she keeps crying out after us.” Mothering takes persistence.

There’s a special endurance moms must have to keep making meals, washing dishes, doing the laundry, tidying the house, day after day after day (in addition to whatever they may be involved with outside the home). It can become very wearing.

In one story by Stuart McLean, Dave’s wife Morley describes to him what her life as a mother is like. “My life is a train... I’m a train dragging everybody from one place to another, to school and to dance class, and to ‘now it’s time to get up’ and ‘now it’s time to go to bed’.

I’m a train full of people who complain when you try to get them into a bed and fight you when you try to get them out of one. That’s my job. And I’m not only the train, I’m the porter and the conductor and the cook and the engineer and the maintenance man. And I print the tickets and I stack the luggage and I clean the dishes, and if they still had cabooses, I’d be the caboose.... The train starts at a town called ‘first day of school’... and it goes to a village called ‘Halloween’ and then through the township of ‘class project’ and down the spur line called ‘your sister is visiting’.

And do you know what’s at the end of the track? Do you know where my train is heading?... To the last stop on the line, Christmas dinner....

And when we finally get through that week between Christmas and New Year, do you know what they do with the train? They back it up

The Regional Ministry of Hope Come Worship with Us! Trinity Anglican BLYTH 9:00 AM

St. Paul’s-Trinity Anglican WINGHAM 11:00 AM

519-357-7781 • email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca www.regionalministryofhope.com Weekly service live-streamed at 11:00 a.m. on our Facebook page or on youtube @St. Paul’s-Trinity Anglican Church Wingham.

BRUSSELS S

U United Chu ur urch All are welcome, come be paart of this special dayy.

“Springing into Action” Community Concert May 26, 2 p.m. – freewill mone etary donation for North Huron Food Share Contact Alex at ministter.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.co y @g om brusselsandblythuc ca brusselsandblythuc.ca Website: b P.O. Box 359, Brussels ~ 519-887-6259 P.

at 10 a.m.

BMG Community Centre (upstairs room) 800 Sports Drive, Brussels Childcare and Sunday School provided for children 0 to 8 during the sermon

full range of intelligence and submission by using His own wordpicture to nudge the limits of His immediate mission. She says, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Her faith in God’s overflowing loving kindness and deep mercy depicts a “grace mentality”: there’s more than enough for every need; God’s plentiful riches are available to everyone, He will bless all those who by faith in Jesus are willing to receive. She’s trusting, as Jesus did, that “all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27).

Hearing this, Jesus holds back no longer. Even though this woman isn’t Jewish, she has a firm grasp of God’s Kingdom plan; as promised to Abraham, “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

(Genesis 12:3) Jesus is satisfied she grasps God’s goodness through trusting. He answers, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.

Brussels Mennonite Fellowship You are invited to worship with us at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship 10:00 am Worship Service 11:00 am Co ee Time 11:15 am Sunday School for all ages Interim Pastor Elwin Garland 250 Princess St., Brussels • 519 887 6388

Londesborough United Church 338 King’s Rd., Londesborough 519-523-4225 Worship Time & Sunday School 10:30 a.m.

Sundayy,, May 12 Sunday, 12, 2, 9:30 a.m.

Mother’ss Day Hymn Mother’ n Sing Service Ser vice

Sunday, May 12

during the night when I’m asleep so they can run it through all the stations again!”

Mothering requires persistence; keeping that locomotive moving.

The Canaanite woman showed such persistence in appealing to the Lord. At first, Jesus does not respond to this non-Israelite.

Finally, she comes and kneels right in front of Him, calling out, “Lord, help me!” Kneeling shows how desperate she is, but also that she’s honouring Him while humbling herself.

Jesus responds, but doesn’t grant the request right away. He says, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”

Conscious of being sent primarily to minister among the Jews, Jesus is testing her: first by not answering a word to her, now by this expression.

Some people might have gotten offended, thrown up their hands and gone off in a huff upon hearing Jesus say this. But this mother’s “dogged” persistence won’t be shaken off. She demonstrates her

Worship and Prayer Time Loving Fellowship Expository Preaching

May 12 - Mother's Day - Men's Choir May 19 - Rev. McAuslan - Pentecost Communion May 26 - Baptism

Everyone Welcome

Services are live-streamed and can be found by searching n “Blyth Christian Reformed Church”

Coming Soon! Vacation Bible School, July 8 - 12th, Ages 5-12 For additional details please visit: brusselscommunitybiblechapel.ca

Blyth United Churrch Sunday Service at 11:00 am “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherrdd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 The outreach project for May is Northern Huron Connection n Centre Contact Alex at: minister.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churche es blythunited@tcc.on.ca ~ 519-523-4224

MEL LV VILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS

Sunday, May 12, 2024 11:00 am - 12 noon We extend a loving welcome to all to join us as Doug Sargent leads us in worship, prayer, and praise to Godd.

Coffee, snacks, and a time for visiting will follow the servicee.

Soup & More 2 Join us every Friday from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. for lunch. This free meal is made possible by the Brussels churches and many volunteers working together to serve our community. c All are welcome!

For pastoral care concerns please call 519-524-7512 2

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024. PAGE 29.

Britannia Lodge disperses $250,000 in funds

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen On Saturday, April 20 one of Seaforth’s oldest institutions gathered at the historic Van Egmond House Museum to complete the process of formally winding down operations after almost 160 active years engaging in community betterment. As their final act of generosity, The Masons of Britannia Lodge #170 chose to commemorate this historic

conclusion by apportioning their remaining reserve funds, around $250,000, and awarding it to a number of local organizations that members felt were meritorious.

Seaforth’s long Masonic history began in Dec, 1864 with just a handful of local members. Five more men joined in 1865, three more shortly after that, and soon, the Grand Lodge of Canada officially issued a warrant for Britannia Lodge #170. Its first lodge master was Alexander Slemmon, a 35-year-old Scottish immigrant. In March of 1874, almost 10 years after the members first came together as a society, Britannia Lodge moved from its first gathering space to a beautifully

appointed new location on Main Street, where they would remain for well over a century.

During the club’s lengthy tenure, Britannia Lodge counted many notable people among its numbers, including many mayors, countless reeves, and two members of Parliament. But Britannia Masons didn’t necessarily need to wield any political power to have a meaningful impact on their community - for many decades, the

Masons spearheaded important fundraising campaigns for projects like Seaforth’s hospital and its arena.

One could look at the cessation of such a long-standing cultural association as a sad occasion, but Britannia’s final Lodge Master, Bruce Whitmore, doesn’t see it like that. “We are looking on it as a celebration, because we had 158 good years with the Lodge in Seaforth. We produced a lot of community leaders. We’re going out with our heads held high.”

Putting the club’s money back into other worthy organizations isn’t just a kind gesture - they’re betting on each recipient’s continued stewardship of the

community. “We know we’re going to see the results of it being put to use for years! Some of it, like the bursary to the high school in Clinton, will go on for 50 years.

The Lions Club is going to leave their facility at the park in better shape, the Optimists Club is going to have brand new, energy-efficient lights for baseball, there’s new hospital beds, three camps for kids are improving their buildings. We think we’ve left a good legacy.”

Whitmore reflects on Lodge No. 170 going dark

Incredible legacy Left to right, lodge members Jim Butson, Bruce Whitmore and John Gibson. (Scott Stephenson photos)

By Bruce Whitmore Britannia Lodge No. 170 On going dark.

A Mayor of Seaforth, numerous farmers and merchants, carpenters, a Canadian Senator, store clerks, an X-ray technician, teachers, clergymen, farm machinery dealers, bus-line operators, tree planters, mechanics, accountants, contractors, plant managers and insurance men, all sat in Britannia Lodge as Brethren. If any of these brethren had been in Capital cites over the years they could have sat in Lodge with Prime Ministers, Presidents and even Royalty.

When Masons meet on the level, all of these men regardless of station in life, are all on the same level and call each other Brother. The Masonic Fraternity is the largest and oldest fraternity of men in the world. In some corners of the world Lodges are in decline, in other countries, Lodges are booming.

After 158 years on the Seaforth Main Street, Britannia Lodge is not alone but was forced into darkness due to a lack of new members. On the other hand, Lodges in Cuba are flying high. Thus, it was an act of brotherhood to donate the Britannia regalia to the Grand Lodge of Cuba where there is plenty of need for our assistance. Some of our equipment went to a new Lodge formed in Stratford, ON. Some of our furniture found a new home at Ashler Lodge

No. 610 in Byron, ON and some other fancy officer chairs could appear on the stages of both the Stratford and Blyth Festivals.

The official date for darkness was Oct 21, 2023 with a six month period to allow members to affiliate with a Lodge of their choice and for the Committee to disperse the assets accumulated over 158 years.

Britannia Lodge No. 170 closed in style with its head held high, staging a formal closing ceremony directed

by R.W. Bro. Jamie Ireland, the Deputy Grand Master of Ontario, a celebration dinner at The Gibson Tremendous Tree Farm and finally a dispersal of our considerable assets after our building was sold.

Thus, on April 20, 2024, some of the Britannia Lodge members were on hand at The Van Egmond House for a photo-op, when cheques were presented to worthy community organizations to continue their work in Seaforth and the wider community. Organizations were invited to apply for funds with a very detailed account of their history, accompanied by a detailed plan for use of the funds. Invited organizations included Blyth Festival, Camps Bimini, Kintail and Menesetung, Central Huron Secondary School Commencement and Huron Hospice. Seaforth applicants were, the Optimists, the Lions, the Agricultural Society, the Curling Club, the Hospital, the

Seaforth Day Care Centre and the Seaforth Legion Branch 156.

Special mention needs to be made of the Van Egmond Foundation which has accepted 158 years of framed pictures of Past Masters and have graciously agreed to allow us to plant 3 Cucumber Magnolia trees on their historic site in Egmondville, to honour Britannia Lodge. The Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in Montreal is also a large benefactor, since many local brethren are also active Shriner’s, an extension of the Masonic Fraternity. (As an aside, it must be noted that Masons and Shriners donate $3 million per day to the community good.)

The applications submitted outlined proposed projects including hospital beds and specialized equipment, accessibly improvements, bursaries, renovations and additions to buildings, as well as safe playground equipment. Thus, the legacy of Britannia Lodge will endure for the benefit of Seaforth and surrounding areas for another generation.

The Masonic Fraternity experienced buoyant time periods during the thirties and forties when young men often dropped out of high school and found that the work of the Lodge enabled them to continue their education by learning ritual to participate in the Degree work, as they developed speaking and leadership skills, which could be applied beyond the walls of the Lodge Room. When veterans returned from the Front after WWII, they joined the Lodge to continue the feeling of Brotherhood that military service had provided.

Lodge participation was so rewarding that there was an OPP Degree Team, an RCMP Degree team, a Past District Deputy Degree team, a RCAF Degree team and even a local teacher who lead a degree team composed of a group of his former students. These teams found a ready welcome performing degrees all across the Province.

Many Brethren became “Movers and Shakers” in the community offering leadership to Service Clubs, the building of an Arena, helping to save a hospital, acquiring the

Education Board Office, then orchestrating an addition on a church.

The mission of the Fraternity is “to make good men better”, which is evidenced by Masons giving of themselves to benefit others. The tenets of Masonry are “Brotherly love, relief and truth.” When 2 Masons meet their conversation starts at a “6” because they know they share the same value system.

When non-Masons meet as strangers, it can be more tentative at a “3” with the weather and your place of residence being the safe starting place for conversation.

It is unfortunate that Churches, Service Clubs and the Fraternities are all experiencing a shortage of new younger members, at exactly the same time that our values and skills are so badly needed in a hurting world, that seems to be “on fire”. Humans are social beings who need interaction with other people.

The advent of the addictive handheld devices, compounded by Covid has isolated many people, so that the art of conversation is being lost and the prevalence of mental illness is

tizen The Ci 2024 E PHON BOOK

- Photo

by Cla

ra Bla

ke

N CLINTO GHAM ELS • • WIN RUSS TH •B • SEAFORTH • BLY N IE R R R U • GO • AUB ERICH • GOD

alarming. It’s a paradox. Never have we been so connected to one another, while at the same time we are so unconnected and alone.

Masonry is not a religion. It is not a cult. It is a Brotherhood of men who aim to become better men through learning, service and skill development. An applicant must believe in a Supreme Being. The three degrees are about our life cycle featuring youth, working and family life, then on to old age with preparation for the Grand Lodge Above. The lessons are presented with metaphors, symbolism, and allusions to architecture, which convey the values in a clear and meaningful portrayal of erecting a building and improving a good man.

Joni Mitchell may have captured the irony of our times in the lyrics of The Big Yellow Taxi song. “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.” Unfortunately, it may take a whole generation before folks realize what has been lost, when service clubs cease to serve and churches see empty pews and Lodges go dark.

Get one while they last!

The Citizen’s 2024 Phone Book has arrived.

Pick up your free copy today before they are gone!

405 Queen Street, Blyth

PAGE 30. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024.

ers t t e L THE TO

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TO EDI

League irked with NH diamond fee increases: Anderson THE EDITOR, It’s unfortunate that we have to write this letter, but we feel North Huron Council and its recreation director need to be held accountable.

We have been a Blyth Ladies Baseball team dating back to approximately 1988. This year has

been the most difficult dealing with council and the recreation department. We just attended a council meeting (May 6) to discuss our concerns and left even more frustrated than we were before we arrived, but also very worried and concerned for the village of Blyth and its facilities.

We rent both Blyth ball diamonds every Tuesday for our league and we also use the Londesborough and Holmesville diamonds, both in Central Huron. That’s two diamonds in each municipality, which you would think would be comparable in cost. Nope - not even close!

Our two diamonds in North Huron are almost three times more money than our two in Central Huron. The cost for the diamonds in North Huron has gone up 61 per cent from last year. When we questioned North Huron staff, they said council approved an increase of 17 per cent. We had to point out

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again that it’s actually 61 per cent and North Huron’s new Recreation Director Kelly Steiss’ reasoning was that the majority of the increase was for the lights because hydro costs have gone up and she says they need to change at least 2 light bulbs each summer and it cost approximately $300 to change each bulb.

Councillor Anita van Hittersum said they would review the bylaws in August/September, which we pointed out is way too late, as the season starts in one week. We mentioned that North Huron has to maintain the diamonds whether we use them or not. The grass still needs cut, so why not bring the rates down to be comparable so they are used? It’s way better than the diamonds sitting empty. Van Hittersum then stated that “the facilities are used by many people out of the area.” This statement is completely fabricated. The ball diamonds are not used regularly by out-of-towners and everyone in Blyth knows that.

She also mentioned that North Huron is a very small municipality, so their costs are higher. If they are such a small municipality why do they need so many staff?

Councillor Ric McBurney did ask once about the rates, but that was it.

Deputy-Reeve Kevin Falconer sat in silence the whole delegation and didn’t stand up for the Blyth facilities and its users! Falconer did second a motion made by Councillor Mitch Wright to keep our concerns for information purposes in the future. Completely appalled would be an understatement.

Blyth has two members of council and neither one voiced concerns and demanded change so our facilities get used. The recreation director doesn’t care if they sit empty either. Why is North Huron paying someone to run facilities that are sitting empty a majority of the time and clearly they would rather them sit empty than use common sense and set reasonable rates?

We are a team of all local players who grew up in Blyth or just outside of the village and have used these facilities for years, in some cases, decades and now we have no choice but to find diamonds in another municipality.

Blyth currently has one men’s slo-pitch team and three youth teams (up from one the past two seasons) which is only approximately 24 games all summer between those four teams.

Council needs to be focusing on people using their facilities and bringing people into the village.

Four teams using two diamonds for their home games is not enough usage. By letting our league go, you are letting go of 42 hours of rental time over the summer, along with players using local businesses while in town. We were also going to host our league year-end tournament in Blyth, which would draw a couple hundred people to Blyth over a weekend, but now that won’t happen either.

Why are the recreation director and council not working with users to make sure the facilities are used?

Isn’t that their job? Not one of them cared when we said that we would find diamonds somewhere else.

Their job is to create traffic, not detour it! So now, every Tuesday night in Blyth there will be no users on the diamonds which means there will be no lights on to contribute to blown bulbs, right Recreation Director Steiss?

Thank you, Blyth Ladies Baseball Team: Chas Bos, Sandra Bos, Jennifer Colquhoun, Amanda Anderson, Myea Fleet, Marley Fleet, Michelle McNichol, Lauren St. Onge, Ashley Bromley, Jenna Taylor, Pam Campbell, Diane Howson, Morgan Howson.

Theatre suffering from own success says Magee THE EDITOR, Regarding your recent article “[North Huron] staff proposes curtailing Wingham Town Hall Theatre use”.

When we renovated the theatre, we joked that it might become too successful. That seems to now be the case.

If this theatre was in Blyth, Clinton or Goderich, the jewels of Huron County, this success would be heralded - but it is here in Wingham. The revitalization of the theatre and the benefits that it brings to Wingham should not be underestimated. It is the task of the elected officials, bureaucrats and employees of North Huron to maximize these benefits, not to curtail them.

Sincerely, Dr. David Magee Wingham, Ontario.

Busin ness Dire ector ry Dave Frranken F ra k

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024. PAGE 31.

Entertainment & Leisure

County Museum to host Stevenson’s ‘Beyond ana’

Beyond Striving to put faces to the names of those who find themselves suffering from eating disorders, artist Kelly Stevenson is telling the story of her late cousin through “Beyond ana”. Above is a piece entitled “February 1986”. (Art courtesy of Kelly Stevenson)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Blyth-based artist Kelly Stevenson’s latest exhibition has found a home after over 10 years of work. “Beyond ana: Honouring a voice lost to anorexia” will be presented at the Huron County Museum in Goderich from Sept. 21 to Nov. 24.

Stevenson, who is fresh off of “How Far I’ve Fallen” at the Blyth Festival Art Gallery last summer and curating this year’s “Anything But Hysterical” collective show, also at the gallery, began working on what was simply called “ana” when she was a student at the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD).

The inspiration behind “ana” is Stevenson’s cousin Sarah, who, in 1997, died as a result of anorexia.

Sarah was 18 at the time and Stevenson was just six. The loss and the circumstances around it have weighed heavily on Stevenson for years.

As a university student, Stevenson said she worked on “ana” day in and day out, to the point that much of the very serious subject material became commonplace to her. Returning to the project in 2022, Stevenson found it harder to face some of the aspects of the work now that all that time has passed.

Stevenson received an Ontario Arts Council grant in early 2022 to complete the project that had consumed her in those university years. Initially, the work was to be exhibited within the subsequent two years, but Stevenson received a small extension to finalize the contract with the museum. This comes after protracted discussions with Gallery Stratford eventually fell through in the early days of that two-year period.

Following the dissolution of plans in Stratford, Stevenson says she approached between five and 10 galleries in Toronto, Hamilton and beyond, but ultimately came up

empty.

The process was complicated, she said. Because of the size of the pieces, not every gallery is large enough to house the show.

Originally, Stevenson produced 19 six-foot-by-four-foot drawings for the show with the intention being that it would be more of an art installation, rather than a straightforward exhibition. She began searching for another solution, thinking outside of the box in an effort to tell the story in a different way.

At the time, Stevenson had recently begun working with fabric and embroidery with her art. In an effort to tell the story she wanted to tell, she had high-quality photographs taken of the pieces, which were then printed on large pieces of translucent fabric. Those will now hang from the ceiling of the gallery space.

Between 2022 and now, Stevenson had been toying with different hanging mechanisms and has enlisted the expertise and experience of Jennifer TriemstraJohnston, long-time theatre costume designer and owner of Pick-A-Posie in Blyth, for a new hanging method that will be employed this fall at the museum.

She also said it’s important for the art to be presented properly on the fabric, which is why some of the edges will be rough and frayed and there is a certain “messiness” to them, even in their final form.

When Stevenson first came up with the concept, she said she couldn’t really remember seeing anything like it before, but that artists are now increasingly working with fabric as a medium.

As for the process, Stevenson said in 2022 that it had been difficult, so much so that she would step away from it at times. For reference photographs, she would comb through old family photo albums, newspaper articles and other materials and that process could take its toll on her.

Furthermore, the creations include faceless body images of those coping with eating disorders, and “going down that rabbit hole”, Stevenson said, was another difficult aspect of the process.

With the show, Stevenson hopes to reframe some conversations about eating disorders and those who struggle with them, something she feels is often misunderstood in the media these days. She says the focus on eating disorders is often the physical ramifications, but that

Happy 60th Wedding Anniversary Carl and Lena Nesbitt May 9, 1964

Sarah Stevenson what’s missed is that it’s very much about control; someone controlling one thing they can control when other aspects of their life are beyond the person’s ability to control.

Another aspect of focusing on the physical toll of eating disorders, Stevenson said, is almost a form of dehumanization, with people forgetting that behind every body is a person and she hopes her work will help give those people a voice.

To that end, a very personal aspect of the exhibit will be a table, located in a central location in the gallery space featuring photography, news articles and items that belonged to Sarah to reiterate the human element of the art and the subject matter in an effort to “give Sarah her voice back.”

“This installation, consisting of 19 large-scale drawings and a box filled with family photos, objects, articles and drawings, strives to put the humanity back into the portrayal of eating disorder sufferers,” Stevenson said in describing “ana” on her website.

“Taking references from photos accompanying articles, medical textbooks and from anorexia- and bulimia-based online communities, and juxtaposing them with family photos, the work pushes the viewer to see the person behind the emaciated body they inhabit. The image of the healthy, very much alive person is seen through the keyhole, like shells of bodies that

have been pushed to the edge.”

With the show set to open in September, Stevenson has the opportunity to tinker with it and add some further work to it. There are some display cases in the gallery space, for example, that she hopes to fill, because they cannot be moved. She is also planning to include some deeply personal material, including further letters and drawings.

It’s her understanding that the show will feature a trigger warning to ensure all who come to see the show understand the difficult subject matter she’s tackling with an unflinching eye.

Bringing the show to fruition, finally, after all of these years, she says, will bring with it a certain degree of closure and yet, for her, it’s an issue that will never be resolved. Eating disorders, who they affect and the stigma around them, she says, are not being approached with the severity and understanding they warrant, so, until that is resolved, the issue will always remain an open wound for her to some degree. Stimulating conversations about it, however, is an important aspect of the show and she hopes people will consider giving themselves over to having those conversations through the deeply personal work she’s created.

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PAGE 32. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024.

Keeley leads Huron-Bruce NDP riding association decision on the part of Waterloo Region to potentially expropriate many valuable acres of prime farmland - it’s a move that has farmers all over Ontario struggling to understand how something like this could be allowed to happen.

“That’s a huge buy-up of land,” she explained, “and they are trying to strong arm a lot of the farmers, so I’m trying to be quite involved with that.”

In recent years, a number of members of the Huron-Bruce’s NDP Riding Association have retired, including long-term President Wilhelmina Laurie and Federal Treasurer Fran McQuail.

That meant somebody had to step in to fill those positions. “We’re moving towards a much younger executive - several of us are under 40, and that [is an age demographic that has] really been lacking in politics in this area. We’ve had a lot of success, just in terms of visibility. We went out to Pride parades, we went out to union marches, and just made sure we were visible in the community.”

A riding association is the most local level of organization within a

political party.

The riding association’s executive tasks itself with all things related to community engagement, from selecting local candidates, supporting their campaigns, fundraising, election preparations, and identifying and discussing policies and initiatives deemed important to constituents.

Keeley is also the group’s LGTBQ+ committee representative, which is quite an impressive pair of roles to take on, if you consider that she had no real plans to get involved with politics until she started getting involved with politics. “I really wanted to be the president for a second term. The first term, I was kind of getting my feet under me, and figuring stuff out... I didn’t really have much of a concept of how government actually works, or what it meant to be a riding association president.”

Keeley handled the steep learning curve of executive leadership with a lot of welcome assistance from other dedicated riding association members. “I really relied heavily on my executive, especially Nick McGregor, who has been the

president before, and then was the vice-president. Last year we had to do a kind of switcheroo because we needed a federal treasurer, and you can’t be president and treasurer. So he’s the [vice-president] and the treasurer, and I’m the president.”

For this second time around, Keeley finally has a chance to focus on the issues she feels are important to the people of Huron-Bruce.

“This year, I’m really looking at agriculture. I want to make sure our agricultural lands are protected... we’re in a rural area with some of the richest agricultural lands. We want to make sure families can afford to feed themselves, which means looking at the rising cost of groceries, at the minimum wage, guaranteed basic income - things that will support this community specifically, but also benefit all of Canada…. Most of Canada is rural, most of Canada is isolated, we can’t just say ‘well, these cities deserve funding.’ We have to look at northern communities, rural communities, farming communities - they deserve the same attention and financial accountability as any other area.”

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New. Democratic. Party.

Seaforth-resident Angela Keeley has begun a second term as Riding Association President for the HuronBruce New Democratic Party. In her first term, Keeley focused on increasing local visibility and building relationships. (Scott Stephenson photo)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

Maintaining a healthy political landscape requires an influx of younger individuals, regardless of whether that interest is left, right, centre, other or to be determined. In the spirit of springtime’s air of rejuvenation, The Citizen sat down for a chat with Seaforth’s Angela Keeley, who is just starting her second term as Riding Association President of the Huron-Bruce New Democratic Party (NDP).

Keeley explains the thought process that got her into local politics as fairly simple. “It comes down to a sense of, ‘if I don’t care, who will?.... It comes down to the fact that I care very deeply about Huron-Bruce. This is where I was raised, and I want to make sure that we are representing the people here as best as possible. That includes unions, and that includes our

farmers. That includes looking at healthcare, in a very broad spectrum. Our youth, our seniors how are they being treated? What are the options for healthcare? Are we retaining any healthcare specialists?” Especially of concern to Keeley is the current state of rural emergency rooms. “Unless you’re Goderich, or Stratford, pretty much everywhere has shutdowns, or limited hours, which is insane.”

As a born and raised citizen of the farming community of Kingsbridge, Keeley’s thoughts never stray far from her roots.

“What is the future going to look like in terms of agriculture? I don’t know if people are really up to date on what’s happening with the expropriation of land in Wilmot Township, but it’s something that is scary to me.” Keeley is not alone in her fear of the implications of the unprecedented and unexpected

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