The Citizen - May 5, 2023

4 • Editorials 8 • Sports 10 • Comm. Living 12 • Mental Health

The

THIS WEEK

Citizen

Huron County’s most trusted independent news source Volume 39 No. 18

Friday, May 5, 2023

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Housing project to move forward

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

Back in action Seven teams from across Southwestern Ontario participated in the 15th annual Matthew Dinning Memorial Tournament at F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham on April 26. A player from Stratford’s St. Michael Catholic Secondary School is shown in the

above photo narrowly avoiding a tackle from a player from crosstown rival Stratford District Secondary School in the consolation final. The day would eventually belong to Kincardine, who beat F.E. Madill in the championship game.

(Scott Stephenson photo)

Huron County Council has reaffirmed its support for the Gibbons Street supportive house project in Goderich after passing a motion on Wednesday morning to stay the course on the $20.5 million build.

This comes after council had requested further information about the project late last month and made inquiries as to any legally-binding agreements in place for the project.

Treasurer Michael Blumhagen, Director of Social and Property Services Barbara Hall, Director of Public Works Steve Lund and Clerk Susan Cronin presented council with a joint report at council’s April 26 meeting as a follow-up to a discussion from early last month.

The report extensively outlines past and future schedules for three projects: the installation of traffic lights at the intersection of London and Blyth Roads in Blyth, the installation of a roundabout at the intersection of County Road 83 and Airport Line near Exeter and the construction of a 39-unit supportive Continued on page 11

Huron East approves budget with 13% levy increase

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Huron East Council has passed its 2023 budget, which includes a 13.33 per cent increase to the tax levy for municipal purposes.

Factoring in Huron County and education taxation, the tax rate increase will range throughout the municipality from a 4.8 per cent decrease to a 13.1 per cent increase across the wards.

After two lengthy long-term financial planning budget sessions, council took less than an hour to plot out the financial year ahead in Huron East, approving the budget recommended by Chief Administrative Officer Brad McRoberts and Director of Finance Stacy Grenier at council’s April 25 meeting. Council then officially passed the budget at its May 2 meeting by way of a bylaw with little discussion.

To offer a full picture of the tax rate impact in the municipality, McRoberts and Grenier presented properties in each of the five wards assessed at around $250,000 as a means of comparison. The two

urban wards - Brussels and Seaforth - will see a decrease in their taxes.

A home valued at $254,000 in Seaforth will see a tax rate decrease of 4.8 per cent in 2023, equating at a reduction of $169.80 on the aforementioned assessment.

Similarly in Brussels, taxes will be reduced by 4.4 per cent for a drop of $154.04 on a $250,000 home.

The three rural wards Tuckersmith, Grey and McKillop will see increases. A $250,000 home in Tuckersmith will see an increase of 10.5 per cent, equal to $316.01, while a $250,000 home in Grey will see a 10.7 per cent increase ($322.38) and a $252,000 home in McKillop will see an increase of 13.1 per cent, or $387.42.

“It should be clearly noted that urban area taxes are reduced, as they have had a reduced level of service on waste collection and less weighting of police servicing costs,” McRoberts stated in his budget report to council.

“Historically, police servicing cost was area-rated, based upon the number of households for each area or district. The decision at the time

was to apply the same billing approach that is used by the OPP, which is based upon households.

Considering recent discussions, council has considered assessing police service through the general tax levy. Fundamentally, municipal taxes are applied based upon assessed value, rather than per household on the core principle that those that can afford to pay, pay more, much like our federal and provincial income tax. In the municipal environment, this is applied using assessed value. Using a per-household assessment for police service would weigh heavily on concentrated urban areas and negatively impact low-income households,” McRoberts and Grenier said in their report. “It should be recognized that policing service delivery is fairly evenly distributed through Huron East based upon previous annual incident mapping.”

McRoberts noted that, based on his projections for the coming years, which were part of a longterm financial planning process carried out in the earlier budget meetings, tax rate increases are

likely to remain at 10 per cent or over for the next three years (10 per cent in 2024 and 2025 and 11 per cent in 2026) before dropping to six per cent in 2027. He did note, however, that the projections do not account for any increase in assessment due to growth in the municipality or any negative impacts from economic turmoil or unplanned expenditures.

The final draft of the budget came after a number of recommendations from council at the April 13 budget meeting, including using the gas tax portion of the roads and bridges reserves to fund the storm sewer capital projects in 2024 and 2025 and deferring storm sewer reserve contributions until 2025; financing Huron East’s portion of the selfcontained breathing apparatus (SCBA) equipment purchase in 2023 over 10 years and deferring fire reserve contributions until 2024; deferring the start of Huron East’s portion of the deficit reduction for the Seaforth and District and Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centres until 2024; transferring the $60,000 proposed for an optimization study

for town hall to a fire service review to be completed in 2023, and to continue to implement the succession plan later this year.

The proposed budget also included a number of tax-based reserve contributions for a total of $837,500: $225,000 for the municipal drain reserve; $45,000 for the municipal parking lot reserve; $250,000 for the public works fleet reserve; $25,000 for the parks reserve; $200,000 for the recreation reserve; $40,000 for the municipal building reserve; $40,000 for the economic development reserve and $12,500 for the information technology reserve.

McRoberts and Grenier also detailed the year’s proposed capital contributions.

Roads: Hensall Road from Highway 4 to Chiselhurst Road (four kilometres), $607,840 and Beechwood Road from Bridge Road to Highway 8 (four kilometres), $607,840, which are funded from the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund ($915,025) and the municipality’s Continued on page 18

PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023.

Chartrand breached code of conduct, no punishment imposed

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Huron East Councillor Ray Chartrand breached the municipality’s code of conduct during last fall’s election, the municipality’s integrity commissioner has found, but he will face no corrective actions or remedial measures.

The issue was up for discussion at council’s Tuesday night meeting, which included a full report and presentation from Meghan Cowan of Aird and Berlis LLP, who laid out the events that led to the complaint being filed and the firm’s eventual findings.

The complainant, who the firm and council have kept anonymous down to using “they/them” pronouns to protect the person’s identity, filed their first complaint on Nov. 27, 2022. The complaint alleged that Chartrand engaged in inappropriate behaviour and made inappropriate comments during the municipal election, citing over a dozen contraventions of the code.

The complainant filed further submissions and screenshots in early January, alleging that Chartrand had created a secondary Facebook account for a fictitious individual. After a third batch of submissions, the firm reached out to the complainant on Jan. 16 and asked for all relevant information in regards to the claim by Jan. 19.

Cowan said that the firm then reviewed the submissions and issued a “Notice of Partial Summary Dismissal” on Feb. 6, finding that Chartrand had not contravened the bulk of the sections of the code being alleged. As a result, Cowan said the firm informed the complainant that it would not be conducting a formal investigation into those allegations.

However, the firm proceeded with an investigation on the one remaining allegation, which was that Chartrand had created a secondary Facebook account.

“Of importance to our findings... our Notice of Partial Summary Dismissal examined the four screenshot images submitted in relation to the councillor’s use of Facebook. We examined the content of the images and determined that the content did not contravene the code, as we found that none of the comments rose to a level of abuse, bullying, intimidation, nor did they use abusive words,” Cowan noted. “In particular, we noted that the councillor was a certified candidate in the 2022 municipal election. In our view, as a candidate for local elected office, the councillor was entitled to participate in the election and could choose to run a campaign, for example, which supported a particular issue or candidate that was in line with his own vision and purpose.”

As a result, the code provisions at issue were that, “In all respects, a member shall: (4.1c) seek to advance public interest with honesty and (4.1f) refrain from making statements known to be false or with the intent to mislead council or the public.”

In her report, Cowan said Chartrand received notice of the complaint on Feb. 6 and responded to the firm on Feb. 10. “In the

Responding Submissions, the councillor stressed he was concerned about misinformation being circulated in the 2022 mayoral election and that he had created the secondary Facebook account to address this concern,” Cowan noted in her report.

Cowan then included an excerpt of written correspondence from Chartrand, responding to the allegations, saying he had made a “huge, honest mistake” in creating a secondary account, thinking they were his as a resident, not as a councillor, as he had never created a “councillor” Facebook profile for himself. “I didn’t know or realize at that time I was doing something inappropriate by creating this second Facebook account or I would of never did it, [and] for that I am truly sorry.”

Chartrand then referenced his age Continued on page 3

One last time A number of special guests were on hand in Brussels on Sunday as St. John’s Anglican Church held its deconsecration service, the last ever church service that will be held at the church. (John Stephenson photo)

Emergency Preparedness Week May 7-13, 2023

Be Prepared

72-Hour Household Emergency Kit

Climate change research has shown that Huron County is expected to have more severe weather, extreme temperatures, and higher SUHFLSLWDWLRQ DQG ƮRRGLQJ by 2050. This can result in damage to property and risks to human health.

Build a kit that can hold supplies to support your household for at least 72-hours:

Huron residents can be prepared in 3 simple steps: 1. Know the Risks 2. Make a Plan 3. Build a Kit

F Non-perishable food items (canned and packaged food such as soups, stews, baked EHDQV SDVWD PHDW ƬVK IUXLW FUDFNHUV biscuits, honey, peanut butter, jam, etc.).

F Manual can opener.

F Bottled water, 4 litres per person per day (2 for drinking and 2 for hygiene and washing).

F Crank or battery operated radio.

F Flashlight with batteries.

F Candles and matches (lighter).

F First Aid kit.

F Personal hygiene items (toilet paper, feminine products, hand sanitizer, etc.)

F Pocket knife or multi-tool.

F Whistle.

F Cash money (small bills and change).

F Special needs items for babies, pets, elderly (as required).

F Garbage bags and zip-lock bags.

F Duct tape.

F Copies of important papers (insurance, medications, personal contacts, etc.).

F Emergency document holder.

F Spare chargers for important electronics.

Note: Replace water and food annually.

$VKƬHOG &ROERUQH :DZDQRVK | Bluewater | Central Huron | Howick Huron County | Huron East | Morris-Turnberry | North Huron | South Huron www.HuronCounty.ca/emergency-services

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023. PAGE 3.

County seeks EMS epaulette policy

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

On the run The Blyth Kids Club opened for another season and hit the ground running with a soccer night on Monday at the Blyth and District Community Centre. The club plans to run four nights a week through the summer at the arena, along with a monthly dance to keep the building busy all year round. (John Stephenson photo)

Chartrand sorry for breach Continued from page 2 and relative lack of familiarity with social media and said he likely should have sought further advice before creating a secondary account.

“I had absolutely no intent to be dishonest or mislead the public in any way, I was just trying to get the facts out there so people could make a well-informed decision to vote for mayor,” Chartrand wrote.

“In closing, I have learned a very valuable lesson, I apologize and take full responsibility for my actions. I can assure you this will never happen again and I have deleted that Facebook account....”

After Chartrand responded, the firm reached out to the complainant on Feb. 13 on a “strictly confidential basis” and provided them with a copy of the councillor’s responding submissions. Cowan said the complainant then responded with further documents said to be further submissions and evidence. “In addition, the complainant leveled a number of bald insinuations about the councillor’s conduct and character without any documentation to support or substantiate...,” the report stated.

Cowan said that, while the firm was not obligated to review the new submissions, they were considered, “despite the fact that they essentially attempted to reintroduce allegations and proffer submissions in support of those allegations that were raised in the original complaint, which we had already dismissed in our Notice of Partial Summary Dismissal.”

Chartrand then later contacted the firm on March 27, notifying investigators that on March 23 he had completed a media training course and found it to be “very helpful in understanding communication via social media.”

The firm then completed its final report and submitted a draft to both Chartrand and the complainant on March 30. Chartrand wrote to the firm on April 11, saying he had no further comments and did not note

any factual inaccuracies within the report.

The report noted that the complainant responded on April 6, raising additional materials that had already been submitted to the firm and reviewed. Furthermore, the complainant alleged another breach, saying that, by deleting the account, Chartrand was “deleting evidence”, further contravention of the code of conduct.

The firm considered the accusation, but concluded that Chartrand did not contravene the code, as it was a remedial action undertaken to comply with the code of conduct.

In the firm’s findings, Cowan stated that Chartrand did not deny creating the secondary Facebook account and that, when taken in context, did breach Sections 4.1c and 4.1f of the code.

“Section 4.1f of the code provides that members of council will seek to advance the public interest with honesty. While the councillor’s stated intention in creating the secondary Facebook account was to counter his perception of the spread of misinformation, the manner by which he chose to do so contravened Section 4.1c of the code by his use of a fictitious Facebook account,” the report reads.

The firm also found that Chartrand fell short of Section 4.1f due to the creation of a secondary Facebook account.

“Section 4.1f of the code provides that a member shall refrain from making comments known to be false or with the intent to mislead.

In our opinion, as a candidate in the municipal election, the councillor was entitled to participate in the election and could choose to run a campaign, for example, in support of a particular issue or candidate.

Candidates in elections have significant leeway in terms of freedom of expression in the context of this democratic process,” the report stated. “While the councillor’s Facebook communications may have contained some political

embellishment, the comments were not knowingly false or made with an intention to mislead members of the public. The manner in which they were conveyed, however, by virtue of being shared or amplified by the secondary Facebook account, was misleading.”

Cowan then stated in her report that Chartrand took immediate action to delete the account and further educated himself on the use of social media. She said Chartrand’s communication was found by the firm to be “sincere and forthright”.

As a result, the firm was not recommending any remedial measures or corrective actions for Chartrand. However, Cowan also noted in her report that an integrity commissioner’s job is to act in an investigative capacity, reviewing and assessing formal complaints, making findings and providing recommendations. The integrity commissioner has no authority to impose penalties or sanctions, nor to order the rectification of wrongdoing, if any is found.

At the meeting, Mayor Bernie MacLellan noted that Chartrand was allowed to speak to council on the matter and advocate for himself after the report had been presented, if he chose to do so.

Chartrand addressed council, thanking the integrity commissioner and acknowledged his relief of being cleared of 11 of the 13 allegations made, saying his only mistake was creating the secondary account.

“I apologize to staff and council for that error and for any distraction this may have caused,” he added that any further training courses for councillors should include the “dos and don’ts of social media” in this day and age.

Councillor Bob Fisher commended Chartrand on his actions, given the circumstances, and supported a motion to impose no further penalty upon the councillor.

Council then passed a motion to take no further action as a result of the report.

Huron County Council is asking staff to develop a policy regarding additional decals, stickers and epaulettes in an attempt to “get back to basics” and prohibit any additions to the approved uniform.

This direction comes after council received a request from some of the county’s paramedics to fashion their uniforms with Pridethemed epaulettes. Chief of Emergency Services Jeff Horseman noted that blue and pink epaulettes had been approved in 2012 for women’s cancer in October and men’s cancer in November, respectively, adding that, at the time, those were the only alternative epaulettes in circulation in Ontario. This decision was confirmed once again by council in 2019, which decided to continue the allowance.

In the decade since, however, a number of epaulette requests have been made to support mental health initiatives, truth and reconciliation, Pride and more. Furthermore, Horseman noted that, in discussing the request with the local union chapter, that some paramedics are in favour of the requested Pride epaulettes, while others are not.

“The leadership team has also discussed with CUPE that one option available to solve the issue of additional requests for special interest epaulettes coming forward is to remove the pink and blue epaulettes and only allow for the approved uniform black epaulettes to be worn,” Horseman told council in his report. “The option to increase the available epaulette campaigns that Huron County

wishes to endorse is also a viable option. In this situation, it would be advisable to develop and implement a policy on how to decide which campaigns to support and implement. Each campaign that is supported or endorsed will require budgeting for the financial purchase of the epaulettes, as well as the time spent in managing the proper use of the epaulettes and the timing of the campaign.”

Horseman noted that, if the county wanted to move forward with Pride-themed epaulettes, the approximate cost to the county would be $4,000, based on two sets for each paramedic (one on duty shirt and one on jacket) at a cost of $20 per pair.

Several councillors spoke to the need for a policy to “get back to basics” in regards to the uniforms, with a feeling that uniforms should be universal and basic and sought a staff report and policy to that effect.

South Huron Mayor George Finch, a retired Ontario Provincial Police officer himself, spoke to the need for uniformity when it comes to uniforms, and felt council should seek a return to that concept.

Council voted in favour of a motion asking for a staff report on a potential policy regarding uniform epaulettes, which will be presented to council at a future meeting.

Celebrating A Special Occasion?

Advertise it in

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

He has a perfect knowledge of all His subjects!

(William Dyer, “Christ’s Famous Titles”) “Oh, brethren, earthly kings and princes do not know all their subjects; nay, they know very few. Alas! they do not know a quarter of them! They are not acquainted with all the troubles, and needs, and miseries that their poor subjects lie under.

The Lord Jesus infinitely excels all other kings—in that He has a perfect knowledge of all His subjects! He knows them all by name. He knows... all their thoughts, all their needs, all their ways, all their conditions.

So say I to you, brethren, Your King knows... all your necessities, all your sufferings, all your troubles, all your fears!

Yes, and “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus!” Philippians 4:19. Oh, this is a sweet Scripture!

Oh, poor souls, Christ knows everything about you! This is our great happiness, that we have a King who knows us so well. Oh, here is the excellency of our King!

(Charles Spurgeon) The Lord thinks as much of one of His people — as is if there were nobody else for Him to think upon!

Poor needy one, the Lord thinks upon you as intensely as if you were the only being now existing!

The Lord has such an infinite capacity, that each one of us may be the centre of God’s thoughts — and yet He will not be forgetting any other beloved one!

The Lord’s tenderness and His care for His people, baffle all our thoughts and expectations!

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you!” 1 Peter 5:7 A Grace Gem Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church, Listowel, ON 519-492-1359

PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023.

Editorials & Opinions

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

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Build a better community While Zorra Township may have a few hurdles to overcome before it gets a new school, Mayor Marcus Ryan is ensuring that all the levels of government are committed to working together by passing a resolution that the school board, county, library board and township will work in partnership to investigate several multi-service joint projects.

He recognized that by combining and sharing resources, there is an opportunity to co-build major assets that would save the taxpayers money and maximize the use of these large, expensive buildings.

Projects like a combined school and community centre would allow the school board and the municipality to offer more services by sharing things like gyms and ice surfaces. Primary users of the school board’s resources are typically there during weekdays and the bulk of community centre use is on evenings and weekends, which could result in a single complex that is full all week and year-round.

While each level of government and other taxpayer-funded agencies like libraries and schools need to ensure that their constituents’ needs are being met, everyone has to remember that there is only one pool of taxpayers paying for it all. Creative synergies like co-built complexes are the kind of ideas that municipalities need to carry the ever-increasing load of services that they are asked to provide for the complex communities that are developing around us. – DS

The tip of the iceberg Mass shootings, homelessness spiralling out of control, drugs, Pride flags causing fights at school board meetings, the slow and steady erosion of human rights for anyone who isn’t a rich, white, American man - it can all be a bit much. Thankfully, we have Newfoundland.

Known for its funny and suggestive community names - Dildo chief among them - our care-free and fun-loving cousin out east may have just peaked, as Ken Pretty of the aforementioned Dildo photographed a very penis-like iceberg floating in the province’s Conception Bay. If anywhere could give us such a heaping handful of penis jokes, it was almost certain to be Newfoundland - a place full of people with a refreshing reputation of not taking themselves too seriously.

At a time of political unrest here in Canada, when party leaders like Pierre Poilievre and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will never miss an opportunity to challenge each other to an iceberg-measuring contest in the House of Commons, it’s nice to just sit back and have a chuckle.

Furthermore, it’s a reminder to us all - who maybe take life a bit too seriously, at times - to embrace our inner Newfoundlander. Not unlike Krystle Collier, the Ports aux Basques woman who lost her home in post-tropical storm Fiona late last year, but was photographed happier than a clam when she found her fridge with a few White Claws intact, we all should remember to look on the bright side of life, even when it’s hard. It’s alright to have a laugh at a picture of a phallic iceberg.

There is so much out there to depress us and, with social media being what it is, you don’t have to look very hard. So, when something like a penis-shaped iceberg floats into your life, embrace it. – SL

Working, laughing together On April 29, the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner took place in Washington D.C., a tradition dating back to 1921, masterfully hosted by comedian Roy Wood Jr., famous for his correspondent appearances on American news-satire program The Daily Show.

Wood Jr.’s hilarious routine fired upon multiple targets, including President Joe Biden, the media establishment in Washington, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and “King of Scandals” Donald Trump.

Some of the humour was dark and provocative, some light-hearted, but all very, very funny. During his performance, Wood Jr. also took a moment to remind local journalists of the importance of their work. He stressed that a decrease in the number of local reporters leads to blind spots that hinder the nation’s collective ability to solve its problems.

The Correspondents’ Dinner also featured a special surprise reunion between former action hero and ex-Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger and his Twins, Junior, and Last Action Hero co-star Danny DeVito. The duo kicked off the event with a pre-recorded introduction video, which also included Schwarzenegger’s pony Lulu and donkey Whisky. DeVito was shown feeding the animals crackers, while Schwarzenegger praised the press for their role in informing the public and shining a light on the truth. President Biden also took the stage, making light of his age and mocking Fox News over its legal woes. Biden’s decision to participate in the event contrasts with that of his predecessor, who refused to attend the event while in office.

There are many problems within American democracy. The political divide in that country is troublesome and the result is a system stymied by dysfunction. The White House Correspondents’ Dinner serves as a reminder that the ability to speak truth directly to power is a fundamental necessity of democracy. Losing that would be no laughing matter. – SBS

Looking Back Through the Years May 5, 1966 A wind and ice storm caused disruptions to hydro service in the area and beyond. Many residents were left without heat and light, and were forced to retire early in search of warmth. Despite the challenging conditions, Reeve Cal. Krauter, David Hastings and their team worked throughout the night to maintain emergency equipment and ensure a continued water supply. In addition, some individuals who had baby chicks were forced to bring them indoors to keep them warm.

Larry Kellington narrowly escaped serious injury or even death in Brussels. While driving home, he collided with a hydro pole near John Bryans’ house, causing it to snap off. The car careened across the curb, through a hedge, and crashed into Doug Smith’s parked car in his driveway, which then hit the front corner of Smith’s house.

Kellington was taken to Wingham and District Hospital for observation, but was later released after being treated for cuts, bruises and shock. Both vehicles sustained extensive damage from the accident.

The Brussels Fire Department had a busy stretch, responding to two fire alarms in one day. In the morning, they were summoned to the Bauers’ house, where firefighters efficiently brought a chimney fire under control, preventing any significant damage from occurring. Later in the afternoon, they were called to the village dump, where a fire had broken out and was being fueled by strong winds. Thanks to the quick response and efforts of the fire brigade, the spread of the fire was contained and prevented from causing any further damage.

May 5, 1976 A new bylaw was implemented to extend the restricted load limit on Ball’s Bridge for another three to five years. According to Joe Kerr, chairman of the county road department, the current bylaw protecting the bridge from overload was set to expire in November. The new bylaw was designed to discourage residents from abusing the bridge, as noted by County Engineer Jim Britnell. Britnell mentioned that many people in the area were opposed to replacing the old bridge with a new one, as the steel framework overhead is considered a picturesque and vanishing element within the county. He hoped that, with careful usage, the bridge could last for a while longer. In response to this, Colborne Township Reeve Doug McNail humorously remarked that enough people are leaning over the bridge for fishing that it slows down traffic.

The Blyth Leo Club Recognition Banquet was held with 165 guests in attendance. The United Church Women prepared a hot beef dinner.

Guests sang “O’ Canada” and the Lions’ Grace with Cheryl Cronin as the pianist. Lion President Doug Howson presented the club’s charter to Leo President Judy Ives and Bill Moody presented the gavel and gong to the club. Guest speaker A-9 District Governor Grant Chisholm was introduced by Mr. Moody and entertainment was provided. A raffle was held after the banquet, and a dance with music by Brian Elmsly followed.

May 6, 1998 Marilyn Warner, youth and education chair for the Clinton Royal Canadian Legion, presented Shawn Clark of Blyth with a

certificate for achieving second place in the Remembrance Day essay contest at the district level.

Over 30 diners attended the Dining Out program organized by Town and Country in Brussels.

After saying Grace, the guests enjoyed Millie’s famous meatloaf, and sang “Happy Birthday” to Nora Kelly, who celebrated her birthday on April 11. Co-ordinator Leah Vollrath welcomed everyone and conducted the contests. Mary Bryans won the door prize, donated by guest speaker Joan Jacobs.

Marguerite Thomas, a public health nurse, was tapped to be the next guest on May 14 to speak on cancer prevention and sun safety.

May 2, 2013 Margaret Trudeau spoke at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre, sharing her story of life as the Prime Minister’s wife and her ongoing struggles with mental illness. The event provided an opportunity for Trudeau to raise awareness and promote understanding of mental health issues.

She discussed her own experiences and provided insights into the challenges faced by those dealing with mental illness. The event was well-attended and provided an informative and thought-provoking evening for all those in attendance.

A fundraising concert was held at Blyth United Church to support the Mustangs Making a Difference, a group of F.E. Madill Secondary School students. The concert included performances by various artists, including Sadie Chalmers from Blyth. The funds raised from the concert were going to support the group’s mission trip to Nicaragua.

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023. PAGE 5.

Other Views Valuable lessons from a war ended

M

ay 8 marks the official end of the Second World War in Europe, back in 1945, longer ago than anyone less than 78 years old was born, and therefore the reality of that war needs to be restated for the generations of Canadians today.

I grew up the son of a veteran who fought in Italy, Holland and elsewhere in Europe, but, like many veterans, he seldom spoke about it at all. My wife Jill’s father served in the Royal Canadian Air Force and used special government loans to veterans to buy a lot and build a house in Scarborough. My father used his government aid, and stretched his resources, to buy a farm near Lucknow, but he always struggled to make it pay and moved into town less than 20 years later.

On our farm, we greeted the first of a wave of immigrants from Holland in the early 1950s, first working on a neighbour’s dairy farm and later through some people who bought a farm near us, with five children who I went to school with. It was the first of a flood of Dutch farmers, perhaps attracted to Canada through warm feelings for the Canadian soldiers who liberated Holland.

Recently, Jill suggested I read The Hiding Place, by Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch woman who died in 1983 but who, with her sister Betsie and father Casper, hid Dutch Jews from the German army occupying Holland, beginning in 1940. The Hiding Place could be a companion piece to The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, a Jewish teenager who lived hidden from the German occupiers, in an attic above her father’s Amsterdam business until they were captured in August of 1944 by the Germans and Anne and her sister Margot died while in the Bergen-Belsen extermination camp.

Corrie ten Boom, a devout Christian, was

Keith Roulston From the cluttered desk already middle-aged when she and her older sister and father began hiding refugees.

Eventually the secret room off Corrie’s bedroom where refugees hid in emergency, proved its worth when the refugees were safe there as the father and his daughters were captured for helping Jews and taken off to prison in February 1944.

At first, Corrie was kept in solitary confinement in a brutish prison in Holland. She was helped by a few, but treated horribly by many. Her father, already an old man, died within days of his capture.

Corrie persuaded a helpful nurse to give her a Bible, which she hid down her back when surrounded by German guards.

After the Allies invaded Europe on June 6, 1944, the two sisters were sent on a long, brutal trip, crowded into a rail car, to Ravensbruck prison camp in eastern Germany.

There, she worked in a Phillips electronics plant, persuaded by a sympathetic guard to sabotage the radios they built for German war planes.

Persuaded by Betsie, the sisters provided secret Bible-reading classes for interested prisoners, using Corrie’s hidden Bible.

Betsie, who wasn’t as strong as her sister, got sick and died in December. Corrie was released from prison, apparently by some bureaucratic error, and returned to Holland for the grim winter of 1944-1945 when the starving Dutch

people ate anything, including tulip bulbs, to stay alive. When the Canadian troops liberated Holland after May 8, they brought truckloads of food.

In post-war Holland, Corrie was helped by a woman who owned Bloemendaal, a 56-room mansion, to provide accommodation for people returning from prison camps. After hundreds of these survivors had been given a chance to recuperate, she welcomed Dutch prisoners of war from the Pacific War who had been treated grimly by Japanese captors. Meanwhile, her own home welcomed Dutch citizens who had collaborated with the Germans and were abused, as traitors, following the war.

We must remember just how horribly the Germans and Japanese were in those days. We also need to remember that today these are two of the most generous peoples in the world, in part because of the wisdom of post-war leaders in the U.S., Britain and Canada.

But we can’t forget that gruesome past.

There are people in all countries who can’t accept that six million people were murdered by the Nazis.

Meanwhile, the lessons of that time are lost on many. In the U.S., democracy is undervalued for millions who want their party in power. Meanwhile, Russia is trying to rebuild its post-war glory, when it ruled half of Europe. Other countries, too, forget the value of democracy.

The lesson of World War II is that peace is so valuable we can’t risk losing it. *** Many thanks to all those who offered their congratulations recently by telephone, in person, over the internet or on Facebook after I was named to the Ontario Community Newspaper Hall of Fame. Your best wishes are heartily appreciated.

‘The Chafe’ is a terrible waste of your time

A

s David Bowie once sang, “Ch-ch-chch-The Chaff. Time may Chaff me.

But I can’t Chaff time.” Welcome back to The Chaff for another full, never half, double serving of The Chaff (suggested single serving size of The Chaff is actually half a The Chaff, so one full The Chaff is technically a double serving. Tolerance may vary. Check with your doctor before using The Chaff.)

This week The Chaff is frothing at the mouth like a rabid animal combined with a zombie that just had dental surgery and we’re going after our number-one biggest rival, competing column, The Chafe. It's hard to know where to begin with this sorry excuse for a publication, but we don’t have any time to dilly-dally, we must get right down to business, immediately, post-haste. There’s no time to waste. Let’s get right into this as fast as we can. Start your engines. Get ready to rumble… 3… 2… 1….

Prepare to blast off! Get ready to sink your teeth deep into the meat of the matter. All of your teeth. Your incisors. Your canines. Your premolars. Even your molars, people. Alright.

This is it. Turn the lights up, or off, or whatever suits your personal situation at this moment. This fleeting, ephemeral moment.

Carpe diem!

Let's start with the name. The Chafe?

Really? It sounds like something you would find in a magazine about jock itch, like Jock Itch Weekly or Jock Itch Illustrated; or in books about jock itch like Jock Itch in Japan: An Emerging Giant and The Guinness Book of World Jock Itch; or CD-Roms like Encarta 95: The Jock Itch Edition. Get serious, The Chafe, your column’s name is lame.

Don't even get me started on the content.

Have you ever read it? It's like someone took all the most boring topics imaginable and

Scott Stephenson The Chaff mashed them together into one tedious mess. I mean, who wants to read about the latest advances in something stupid? Or the benefits of using something dumb? Snooze-fest much?

What’s worse is they don’t even bother to have high quality, in-depth coverage of Snooze Fest, Southwestern Ontario’s number one slumber and arts festival. The workshop on siestas is life-changing and the Slumberjack™ competition is what dreams are made of, but you wouldn’t know that if you’re only reading The Chafe. (Credit where credit is due - The Chafe did a decent job covering the return of Yawn Fest after Yawn Fest organizers were forced to postpone Yawn Fest 2020, Yawn Fest 2021, and Yawn Fest 2022 due to the COVID19 pandemic.)

And what about the grammar? If I had a nickel for every misplaced, comma, in, The Chafe I would have so many nickels that I would open up a nickel store and sell nickels in bulk quantities at discount prices. At my store, you could have five nickels for two dimes! I would also commission the creation of a new sculpture of the world’s biggest nickel that would be 10 times the size of Sudbury’s pathetic and relatively tiny “Big Nickel”. The result would bring enormous shame to all Sudburians. Riots would break out in Northern Ontario and Sudbury’s existing, puny “Big Nickel” would be knocked down by an unruly mob, then dragged away from town and tossed

into Georgian Bay. Gordon Lightfoot would have written a song about it called, “Wreck of the Tiny, Bad Nickel”. Terrible grammar! RIP Gordon.

But you know what's even worse than the content? The arrogance. The Chafe thinks it's so clever and sophisticated, but it's just a bunch of pretentious hot air. The Chafe seems to believe that by using unnecessarily complex language and throwing in a few obscure references, they can convince readers of their superior intellect and erudition. However, in reality, it only serves to alienate and frustrate their audience. Despite The Chafe’s uncompromising mediocrity, they seem to believe that they are somehow above us. It's as if they believe they are the gatekeepers of intellectualism, and anyone who doesn't subscribe to their narrow worldview is beneath them. But they are… stupid. And… bad. Very, very, very… stupid and bad.

The Chafe is an insult to our civilized society and needs to be stopped at all costs.

Absolutely no costs are too high to confront the escalating Chafe challenge we all face together, today, right now. All costs, no matter their height, must not be considered at all. Cast away ye thoughts of any cost limitations.

Banish all thoughts of costs to outer space where nobody can hear thoughts of costs because no costs are too high for this important and most pressing issue that currently is pressing its face against humanity.

So here's my advice: if you ever see a copy of The Chafe lying around, just use it to line your birdcage or wrap your sopping and sloppy fried fish. You'll get more entertainment out of watching your pets or eating a hot, wet sandwich than you ever would from that sorry excuse for a column.

Shawn Loughlin Shawn’s Sense

They’re coming for us

J

ess will be quite chuffed (not to be confused with being chaffed, chiffed or chorfed - that’s Scott’s department) that she’s given me fodder for two columns in a row. However, this one comes from another article she sent me, not her two actual suggestions, which were: how about you write one about your daughter or write a funny one (again, that, it appears, is Scott’s department).

This one is again from the New York Times.

It’s a profile on Geoffrey Hinton, who is often referred to as The Godfather of Artificial Intelligence. The Godfather, who has some Canadian roots as a professor at the University of Toronto, has quit Google and he’s now warning about the precarious (and, indeed, dangerous, as cited by the article) future ahead in terms of the rise of artificial intelligence.

I suppose we should have known that evil was lurking around the corner with artificial intelligence. Twitter man-baby Elon Musk is involved, which is an instant indicator that we should have a certain level of concern, but we also have decades of films, television and books warning us of the rise of the machines.

When I was young, we had plenty. Cyborg, Universal Soldier, the Terminator movies; we must have had a real robot obsession back then. And most of those movies followed the very American method of keeping each other safe. You know, the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun? Those movies showed us that the only way to stop a bad robot was with a good robot. Sure, those movies told us that, but the subtext of that sentiment is that humans are forgotten. We don’t stand a chance, that much is clear.

However, long before SkyNet went live in 1984 in The Terminator, we had HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Stanley Kubrick released the movie in 1968, but its story comes from an Arthur C. Clarke short story from 1951.

Clarke knew. After we got rid of Hitler, a new evil lurked about and it was robots.

So, one might say my generation has been conditioned to fear our new robot overlords.

And then HBO made Westworld. The doomed series (it was cancelled before what was to be its fifth and final season) told of a future in which rich folks could live out their deepest and darkest fantasies in a number of themed settings without consequences. The humans would interact - sexually, violently or otherwise - with robots so real it was impossible to tell them from the humans. Sure, the creators tried to trick us by having Evan Rachel Wood, Thandiwe Newton, James Marsden, Angela Sarafyan, Talulah Riley some of the world’s most attractive people playing said robots, but they were all evil. So, despite the best efforts of Hollywood, most of us have sussed out that robots, artificial intelligence and the like are evil, right?

Back to Hinton and his warning, I feel like we all should have known this from the start.

Sure, there are the “robots will replace us and do all of our jobs” concern, but I think we should also have the “robots will gain sentience and do away with us all in short order”. Perhaps this was foretold in the Bible.

The robot revolution is probably in the same chapter as the one that tells us not to fly Pride flags and the one with all the guns in it (your right to own an assault rifle, after all, is very often referred to as being God-given, so it must be in there somewhere).

I’d be happy to work with the robots when they take over, doing the bidding of their king Elon Musk, but there might not be room for me on the org. chart. After all, I think a robot is capable of e-mailing 💩 to reporters.

PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023.

At the Branch

St. John’s history on display after deconsecration

BY JO-ANN MCDONALD The general meeting for the Branch was held on Tuesday evening. The April meeting always includes the elections for the upcoming year of executive for the Legion. The special guest to run the elections was Zone Commander Jon Corbett from Exeter.

The nominating committee put forward names for consideration for positions and Comrade Sargeant-atArms Lisa Glanville recorded the nominated names for consideration.

Three calls for nominations are made before closing nominations.

We are pleased to have a full slate of officers for the coming 2023/24 year, including President Jamie Mitchell, Past-President Jo-Ann McDonald, First Vice-President Eric Ross, Second Vice-President Debbie Trollope Ross, Treasurer Nancy Bridge, Secretary Sandra

Brown, Executive members Kathy Burkholder, Judy Lee, Andy Overholt and Nancy Ducharme and Sergeant-at-Arms Lisa Glanville.

The Branch is very proud of the dedicated core group of members who continue to serve the Branch.

We will be pleased when some of our many new members come out to the meetings, learn about the operations of the Branch and step up and serve on the executive in coming years.

Zone Commander Jon Corbett did the honours of conducting installation for the new executive.

We were pleased to have a new member attend the meeting and we also did initiation for her. We are pleased to have Comrade Jodi Houston as a full member of Branch 218. Zone Commander Jon, President Jamie and First Vice-

President Eric all assisted in the initiation.

The Branch has many committees and President Jamie will be asking and appointing committee chairs over the next few weeks before the year ends at the end of May. New members were asked what they would be interested in with the Branch. Those who expressed an interest in an area will hopefully go on the committee to learn about it as a member with the guidance of the chairperson.

Reports from committee chairs included accepting membership applications from four new members and we are pleased to have them.

The Branch received recognition at District Convention for achieving 100 per cent membership renewal for 2023. The District track and field competition will be held on

163 years of history St. John’s Anglican Church in Brussels held its last-ever service on Sunday, marking its official deconsecration. Following the service, a small group convened at the Brussels Legion for snacks, fellowship and a taste of history from the church’s 163-year story in the community. Ralph Watson, right, was among those who took it in.

June 17 in Kincardine and help is needed. The information will be posted on the North Woods Elementary School site for students and parents to see. The Branch has a hope for a kitchen renovation and information is being gathered for plans for 2024.

The lift service renewal is completed and maintenance done.

The final euchre was held and the dates are set for next year starting in October. The committee is looking for some entertainment for the patio during the summer and have a duo booked for July.

The patio will be going up in May as all permits have been approved.

The Catch the Ace draw will start with the first draw on May 26.

Tickets will be in stores by today!

There are a dozen fish fry dinners booked so far for the summer.

The news from convention was that many of the Branches have retained insurance from the CoOperators because of the withdrawal of services by PIB Insurance. A reminder: those with Smart Serve have to renew their status within the next year.

Cemetery Decoration is June 25, with Comrade Sandra Cable attending. There have been 26 submissions to the Military Service Recognition Book to date. Anyone wanting to have their loved ones who served recognized in this book need to contact the Branch or JoAnn soon.

The lawn has been swept courtesy of Don Jacklin and lawn cutting will be at the same price as last year

by Jim and Sandra Brown. June is Seniors Month and we hope to plan an afternoon for seniors to attend.

The Thursday night darts had 13 darters attending. The first-place team was Sheron Stadelmann and Chris Brown. Second place was Barbara Cadotte and Paul Willie.

The high shots of the night were by

Paul Willie 140 and Steve Hall 138.

It was karaoke and wing night at the Branch on Friday night. It was a smaller crowd to enjoy the wings and only a dozen or so for karaoke.

Pub grub tonight will be beef on a bun.

The Branch was the host for the many members, past and present of St. John’s Anglican Church final gathering as a church family. The deconsecration service for the Church was held on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. It was attended by over 100 and a social time followed at the Legion. The many members enjoyed a lunch prepared by the Branch catering, as well as great visits with many old friends.

There was a wonderful display of history books and pictures of the history of the church, prepared by Michelle Blake, Anne Cooper and a few other helpers. Branch helpers for the lunch included Judy Lee, Mabel Glanville, Lisa Glanville, Joan Smith, Linda Bird, Jo-Ann McDonald and Jodi Houston.

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS

(John Stephenson photo)

Are you tired of getting a second-hand newspaper?

A busy weekend in Brussels A NOTE FROM BETTY

By Betty Graber Watson Call 887-9231 Another good one is gone.

Gordon Lightfoot died on Monday.

He was a Canadian hero who wrote and sang ballads with sensitivity and soul. My favourite of his, at this moment is “If you could read my mind”, that appreciation has changed over the years.

He had many hits over several decades and was appreciated for his role as a Canadian talent and entertainer. He lived life fully all 84 years and we have good songs to recall his role in our lives.

It felt like a funeral lunch. St. John’s Anglican Church here, held its decommissioning in the church’s sanctuary, followed by a public reception on Sunday at the Legion.

It was a time to celebrate the good times of the building and congregation and a time to ponder the future for the remaining members.

Well-presented memorabilia, in pictures and items,

kept stories and conversations going.

Before the Legion offered lunch, Anne Cooper and Bill Clark were recognized for their specific roles with St. John’s by Warden Michelle Blake and Doug Dale. It was a nice afternoon; a time to let the Anglican folks know we will miss their congregation, but be assured they will always be part of the Brussels church community.

True North Aid, a registered Canadian charity, was the Sunday morning focus for the United folks of Blyth and Brussels. Katy Koopman, one of six staff with this charity, educated us about Indigenous history and how and when things turned bad for the first peoples of Canada. A request for baby items had been received months ago and our people generously offered baby clothes, bottles, formula, toys, diapers and books, filling a play pen, which also was sent north. This charity is only six years old and is doing a fine job of getting specific requests to the northern community when asked.

Our last mission project with True North Aid was for school supplies and hockey equipment, which was quite fun and appreciated. This time: baby items.

A northern community is hoping to set up a birthing centre, so specific

baby items were requested and our communities reacted with love and generosity.

Beth Earl organized a great lunch, giving those in attendance a feeling of wellbeing just by being part of something this good. Ms. Koopman left Brussels with her truck filled and she was impressed with the willingness to learn about reconciliation and the gifts she took with her back to Kingston, perhaps ending up in a birthing centre.

The afternoon of music at the Presbyterian Church, also on Sunday, was beyond our expectations. Wonderful music organized by Mary Douma, Marg McInroy and Alex Jebson was great, and choirs, solos, duets and trios had everyone appreciating the talents in our midst. An introduction to Darryn De Souza, a new arrival to the community, showed his vocal and keyboard talents as the closing act to a great afternoon. There was lots of visiting and positive comments were shared as the United Church crew offered lunch. Donations were shared by the two churches for ongoing community work.

Lots of folks were relaxing on Monday after all the organization required last week. Thanks. Now onto May. Bye now. Betty GW

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023. PAGE 7.

Harman, Caesar win Blyth euchre From Marilyn’s Desk

By Marilyn Craig Call 523-9318

High and outside The Blyth Kids Club got started for another season on Monday night with indoor soccer at the Blyth and District Community Centre. The club aims to have four days a week of programming at the centre throughout the summer. (John Stephenson photo)

NH to retain flag policy

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

North Huron Council voted 5-1 to keep its current flag policy after receiving a letter from four constituents requesting that the policy be changed to ban all nongovernment flags from municipal property.

During the public comment portion of Monday night’s meeting, three citizens voiced their concerns about the letter’s content which also included a request to ban the Pride Flag from flying in June. The first two speakers, Elyse Ireland and Rowan Gaspirc, worked in tandem, trading off lines in a short, polished speech. They are both Grade 8 students at F.E. Madill Secondary School. Gaspirc is no stranger to council, having advocated in 2022 for the flying of the very flag that was being disputed that night. The two students spoke to their own real life experiences.

Ireland explained that “to be young and queer is to be hated,” and Gaspirc added that LGBTQ2S+ students are “respected less as a human being.”

They went on to address the letter, offering the opinion that only some people are represented by municipal flags, as there are still some remaining residents that refuse to recognize the rights of LGBTQ2S+ citizens. The two also expressed deep concern about the rise of anti-queer and anti-trans lawmaking in the United States, and the possibility of it spreading northward.

Ireland then addressed council directly, explaining to members that, “instead of supporting bigotry and being that sort of politician, we think that you should start focusing on the problems within the school system, and the discrimination that happens inside of it, which might be helped by flying the Pride flag.”

Gaspirc finished the sentiment, telling council that, “your support will hopefully help show people that hate is not welcome in this community, and that everybody is

appreciated.” The two speakers returned to their seats in the midst of applause from the audience.

The third speaker was Rachael King from the Blyth Centre for the Arts. She spoke on behalf of “all of the artists, technicians, volunteers and staff,” and requested that council uphold North Huron Bylaw No. 100-2021, which states that “The Corporation of the Township of North Huron recognizes the symbolism of displaying flags as a visual statement that speaks to the solidarity that is shared by all citizens.”

King also expressed gratitude to council for having been open to change in general and the Pride flag specifically over the past two years, saying that, “this act of solidarity and respect represented the best of what we can be as a community - a place of acceptance where we love our neighbours, welcome strangers, and treat each other as we would be treated.”

King also ensured that council was aware of potential legal consequences for another Southern Ontario township in regards to its recent decision to limit the types of flags flown outside their municipal buildings.

The letter in question was written jointly by Jason Dickert, Julie Dickert, Jake Kikkert, and Annie Kikkert. It first requested that North Huron alter its flag policy to ban all non-government flags, including the Pride flag, from municipal properties citing that they believe “that to open the door to flying flags that represent any particular group, organization or ideology will only divide rather than unite.” The letter went on to call for council to vote down a motion to acknowledge June as Pride Month in the municipality, carried on with the statement that the foursome’s requests were “not perpetuating or endorsing homophobia,” and concluded with the comment that “there are far, far more people on this side than the other.”

Councillor Mitch Wright spoke in

favour of keeping the current flag policy. “I see flying the Pride flag as similar to the Indigenous land statements… there have been past wrongs, and they’re not righted yet,” he explained. “Flying the flags we have also represents the bullies and the bigots, and the Pride flag doesn’t.”

Councillor Chris Palmer voiced skepticism as to the value of using flags to show support, asking if flying the Pride flag for only a single month would be enough to deter bullies. “It’s a nice gesture, but it doesn’t go far enough… it does not close the mouths of the bigots out there,” he said. This is a much softened stance from Palmer’s “no to everything” approach to the Pride flag last year, though he still advocated for a simpler, three-flag system, which would mean changing the flag bylaw instated in 2021.

Palmer then broke protocol by addressing Ireland and Gaspirc directly, advising the two activists that “of all the countries that are in the world, you’re living in a good one.” A point of order was called by Deputy-Reeve Kevin Falconer, who quickly motioned for the flag policy to remain unchanged. The motion was seconded by Councillor Ric McBurney, and passed with Palmer isolated as the lone holdout.

Celebrating A Special Occasion?

Happy birthday to Joe Fraser, who will celebrate his birthday on May 10, and to Gwen Papple, who will celebrate her birthday on May 11. Hope you both have a good day.

Here are the May 1 euchre results at Blyth Legion from last week: first-place prize winners were Susan Harman with a score of 84, including four lone hands, and David Caesar with a score of 88. He also had four lone hands. Secondprize winners were Evelyn Blake with 79 and Brent Brooks with 81 and he had six lone hands. Pat Jenkins was one of the winners of the lone hands prize with two and Mac Brooks was the other winner with four lone hands. Jane Glousher and Steve Hasyj were the winners of the share the wealth prize.

Come out to Monday Morning

Smile Coffee at Blyth Trinity Anglican Church from 10-11:30 a.m. On Monday, May 15, bring along a picture of your mom to celebrate Mother’s Day. Tuesday was another gloomy day.

It was trying very hard to rain or it could even snow as the temperature is only just above zero. Spring will come, as it always does.

NEWS FROM BLYTH

BLYTH UNITED CHURCH’S

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Cold Salad Plate Cold Plate of ham, slaads, homemade bun and dessert Tickets: $20.00 ~ Take out ONLY In Town Delivery Available Come in from Dinsley St. exit via Mill St. Pre-order your meals by calling Joann at 519-523-9274 Sponsored by Blyth United Church Women

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PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023.

Sports

Dinning rugby tournament makes its return Canadian forces in Kandahar.

Before he was a soldier, Matthew Dinning was a boy, and when he was a boy, he loved to play rugby at F.E. Madill, his alma mater.

A banner was raised at the tournament as a reminder of Corporal Dinning, a soldier who died serving his country. The players on the field served as a reminder of the boy he was before the war began. Matthew’s parents, Laurie and Lincoln, were both present at the tournament.

“Matthew used to run up and down these fields,” Lincoln remembered.

“We‘d like to see the rugby continue, and thanks to LeeAnn for keeping it going - it’s the 15th year, and it keeps Matthew’s memory alive.”

Lincoln also didn’t think the day’s low temperature was anything unusual for the rugby players.

“They’ve played in snow before,” he exclaimed.

Kincardine emerged victorious for the second consecutive year, defeating F.E. Madill in a competitive final match.

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

Wednesday, April 26 marked the 15th annual Matthew Dinning Memorial Rugby Tournament at Wingham’s F.E. Madill Secondary School.

Seven teams participated in this year’s competition, travelling from all over Southwestern Ontario. The tournament has been held every year since 2007, excepting two years of COVID-19 cancellations.

This year’s event was the second in a row to be organized by F.E. Madill teacher LeeAnn McDonald Ellis, who doubles as the Junior Boys’ rugby team coach. The COVID-19 years may mean that this year’s players have had less time to learn the sport than previous teams, but one wouldn’t know it from the level of enthusiasm found both on and off the field.

The games were played on a frigid April day, but if the cold temperature was bothering anybody, they didn’t let it show.

The crowd dressed for the weather and the players on the field kept the action moving at a brisk pace.

A bundled-up Robyn Burke and her scrum-half son Charlie made their way from Waterloo Region for the tournament. Robyn was as excited that she remembered the name of her son’s position as she was to watch the matches. Fifteenyear-old Charlie is in his second year of rugby, loves teamwork, tackling, and has only experienced one cracked sternum in his career so far.

F.E. Madill made a strong showing, earning wins against the teams from Stratford, Saugeen, and Waterloo-Oxford before moving on to the finals against Kincardine.

Once more unto the breach Wingham's F.E. Madill Secondary School hosted the 15th edition of the Matthew Dinning Memorial Rugby Tournament featuring seven teams from across Southwestern Ontario. The tournament has been held annually since 2007, except for two COVID-19 years. The F.E. Madill Mustang, below, welcomed the crowd with a wave. (Scott Stephenson photos) More than just a chance to compete in a medieval-era sport, the annual event is a chance to honour one of Wingham’s own. The tournament is named in honour of Matthew Dinning, a young soldier from Wingham who was killed by a roadside bomb in Kandahar, Afghanistan in April of 2006. The spring of 2006 was a time that marked the beginning of what is now considered the most perilous era of the war for

To the victors...

Above - Some members of the team from Kincardine celebrate their victory over host F.E. Madill.

Below - The day was packed full of intense and very physical competition. (Scott Stephenson photos)

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023. PAGE 9.

Hullett Central PS hosts hoedown in Blyth

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

Hullett Central Public School’s annual Spring Carnival and Auction exploded back onto the scene this year, netting an eye-popping $18,000 in just three hours of hoedown-themed mayhem. All the money raised is going to much needed improvements to the school’s library.

Of course, those three hours were just the tip of the effort iceberg.

Dozens of teachers, parents, students, volunteers, local businesses and community members all spent many hours preparing for the Hullett Hoedown, and their hard work showed in every element of the onslaught of good cheer.

Throughout the planning process, many parents and teachers were concerned that the pandemic years could lead to a decrease in student involvement - many Hullett students had never experienced the event, traditionally a fundraising juggernaut for the school. Coupling that lack of experience with modern scourges like Minecraft and Fortnite, it was no wonder that community leaders were worrying about whether or not an old-school fun fair could compete.

Those worries were instantly trampled when the hoedown fundraiser began. It was Manifest Destiny all over again, as a stampede of cowboy-hatted youths invaded the Blyth and District Community Centre on Friday night.

The arena, normally home to the relatively calm sport of hockey, became absolutely crammed with plaid-shirted people having a great time. A lesser venue space would have burst at the seams under the extreme pressure of enthusiasm alone.

Grillmasters Matt Shortreed and Kelly Boven, drenched by April showers, prepared fresh hotdogs and hamburgers under the supervision of Harvey Hoggart from the Huron County Beef Producers. The burgers and dogs were ferried in from the outdoor barbeque through the Zamboni doors in heaps to feed the hungry crowd. Parent volunteers doled out the meat and directed cowpokes to the condiment table. Pizza Pizza also contributed pizza to the cause.

The bake sale table, manned by Linda Wagner, Tina Taylor, and Jill

Home on the range Above - From left to right, Linda Wagner, Tina Taylor, and Jill Bell looking after the bake sale table. Lower right - Lawrence Bergsma proudly shows off his artwork.

(Scott Stephenson photos)

Bell, was well placed next to the ticket line - everybody waiting to enter was welcome to take a good, long look at the cupcakes, squares and tarts on offer, and it was not long after that the reasonablypriced confection table was utterly decimated. Wagner made sure to spread the credit around. “All the parents worked so hard on this event, and everything on the bake

sale table was made, or made to happen, by Hullett staff,” she said between brownie sales.

Once one ambled out onto the arena floor, cowboy-hatted kids were welcomed to try classic fun fair activities, strewn as far as the eye could see. There was a bean bag toss, face-painting, arts and crafts, balloon animals and a penny sale, just to name a few. Children

Cowboy hats and glitter and glue Above - Left - Grade 5 student Aubrie Kerr and Jade Laxton enjoy the festivities.

Below - Myla and Kyle Pollard working on crafts. (Scott Stephenson photos)

watched the bean bag toss from the sidelines, a dozen across, waiting their turn, not a cellphone in sight.

Activity passports were offered to industrious youngsters that like a little meritocracy with their melee, and each stamp on the passport could earn kids tickets to the penny

sale, creating a rare micro-economy where an excellently-coloured-in picture of a horse could result in you winning a tiny, remotecontrolled robot.

For the adults, the silent auction stole the show, with local businesses and students going above and beyond to create an eclectic mix of donations, ranging from Excalibur Insurance’s donation of four tickets to the Blue Jays game in Toronto, to a stunning horse-themed quilt made by Linda Neeb, the grandmother of students Ali and Brooklyn Lammerant.

Bidders also went above and beyond, showing support for the school unaffected by a few years at home.

There was even an unknown, forest-foraged item wrapped in terrycloth on the auction table, discovered, lovingly restored and donated by one of the school’s first graders. The item, obscured from view, received a number of bids and a whole lot of buzz - bidding on the item closed at close to $50. The brisk bidding on this bonafide unknown object just goes to show that, in an age of infinite access to all information, some people are still just looking for a little mystery in their lives, just like some kids still like to put on cowboy hats and play pretend with their friends. Some things never change.

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PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023.

Celebrating Community Living Month in May

Increasing opportunities for inclusivity Above, Wingham and District Community Living Executive Director Debbie Hopper, left, and Board President Brenda Schedler, right, are dedicated to helping their clients live life to the fullest extent. Below, Charles Buck visits Niagara Falls. Buck is widely-known in Wingham for his strong work ethic and signature captain’s hat.

(Above - Scott Stephenson photo, Below - submitted photo)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

May is Community Living Month in Ontario - the province’s annual awareness campaign designed to bring attention to one of the most crucial and undervalued parts of our housing ecosystem. There are many

people living in Canada who yearn to live independently, and just need a little bit of help to achieve that goal.

Community Living spaces exist to offer an environment of inclusion and independence to individuals who have intellectual disabilities, as well as their families. The overall

mission is to assist each individual with an intellectual challenge to achieve their unique dreams and wishes by providing encouragement while fostering communications between individuals, families, friends and the community.

Community Living Ontario (CLO) is an organization that has worked in housing advocacy for over 70 years, and is currently working with over 100,000 people and their families, funding and supporting numerous community homes across the province. The organization’s goal is a society where all people belong and have equal rights, and where those who have an intellectual disability are respected, accepted and have opportunities for growth and a sense of self-worth. Too often in the past our nation has allowed intellectually-disabled people to become marginalized, due to ignorance or indifference.

When one approaches the Wingham & District Community Living Association (WDCLA), it can be hard to imagine that past reality. The current location is just steps from the Wingham Community Trail running along the beautiful Maitland River. The pastoral scenery and local wildlife make for a stunning front yard that anyone from Wingham would be happy to have.

Governed by a board of steadfast volunteers, and managed by dedicated employees, the WDCLA has been helping residents realize

their value as community partners since 1958.

Board President Brenda Schedler and Executive Director Debbie Hopper are just two of the many cogs in this essential social machine. Schedler spent 38 years as a teacher before dedicating her life’s second act to assisting those who are too often be left behind, and Debbie Hopper studied Social Service Work at Seneca College before returning to Huron County.

Schedler is now in her seventh year with the association, having risen to the position of president.

She attributes the success of their collective to “an amazing staff that works with the clients and respects the clients.” The COVID-19 years were hard on their activity roster, but hopes are high that they will be able to reinstate favoured community events like their prepandemic cooking classes. Another crowd favourite that both Schedler and Hopper are hoping to see return - the annual trip to Toronto to see the Blue Jays play baseball.

Many clients of the WDCLA have jobs, and residents are encouraged to decorate their homes - a far cry from the sterile institutions of yesteryear. The people who live there are active members of their communities participating in local events, paying rent and connecting with their neighbours.

One of the WDCLA’s long-term residents, Charlie, has worked for many years folding church bulletins for local congregations. For years, Charlie has been part of the makeup of Wingham’s downtown core, and could often be found scootering down Josephine Street in the summer sun, eyes shielded only by his trademark captain’s hat. Charlie has lived, loved and laughed at the WDCLA for many years, and now that he is in his late 80s, Charlie has decided to retire from the publishing world in order to enjoy his golden years to the fullest. He has a retirement party coming up soon - just don’t ask him to retire from brightening the day of everybody that he meets on the street - that part of his day comes too naturally to ever give up.

While much joy is generated in

Wingham’s Community Living home, the organization also faces many challenges. Schedler and Hopper are both acutely aware that the current system cannot accommodate demand, leaving a long list of people still waiting for support. Many people need a transition home between living with their families, or living independently, before moving into long-term care. Also critical - a perennial lack of funding. The women advocate for other concerned citizens hoping to make a difference to contact their local and provincial government officials, with the goal of drawing more attention to the lack of funds being directed towards such an essential service.

Beyond Wingham proper, the WDCLA manages homes in Lucknow and Teeswater, both of which are staffed by skilled workers. All of their facilities routinely excel in their annual compliance audit, always earning a rating of at least 97 per cent. The team attributes this elite rating to members’ openness with the public, always keeping the lines of communication open with stakeholders and parents.

Schedler and Hopper expressed pride in both the accomplishments of their clients and the welcoming spirit of neighbours. The success of each one of their clients offers both women an enormous sense of satisfaction, and community support is the glue holding it all together. It can be easy to take these essential services for granted when such excellent, dedicated volunteers have been working so hard for so long.

At this time, many staff members are reaching retirement age, and new dedicated workers, volunteers and board members are needed. It takes the efforts of an entire community to lift itself up, and become the best that it can be.

There are paid and volunteer positions currently available.

To continue the celebration of Community Living all month long, you can check the Wingham and District Community Living Association Facebook page for fun activities.

Blyth Annual Used Book Sale Trinity Anglican Church 166 Dinsley St., Blyth

June 2 & 3 Friday, June 2 ~ 4 pm to 8 pm (no early bird sales) Saturday, June 3 ~ 9 am to 6 pm

Book Intake May 31 & June 1 from 9 am to 5 pm Donate your clean, gently used books and help us preserve the past.

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023. PAGE 11.

County stays status quo on Gibbons Street project Continued from page 1 housing structure on Gibbons Street in Goderich.

On April 6, council approved a motion asking staff to return with information about bringing all three projects to a shovel-ready state, followed by further exploration of public/private partnerships and upper-tier government funding.

The report presented on April 26 also included several points for

council to consider if the will of council was to rescind or amend something that has already been approved. This included advice from the county’s solicitor, stating that if a passed motion has resulted in a legally-binding commitment, it would be out of order for council to rescind such a motion.

Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan made the original motion, asking for more

information on the projects, and, at the April 26 meeting, made a handful of subsequent motions.

First, he approved the report, followed by a motion to approve the two intersection improvement projects, as they are included in the county’s 2023 budget. His third motion, however, asked that council seek a legal opinion on the Gibbons Street project, asking if the county has entered into any legally-binding agreements that would preclude the county from getting the project to a

shovel-ready state and then pressing pause on the multimillion-dollar project.

Council approved the motion.

In the foursome’s report, the estimated cost for the Gibbons Street project is $20.5 million for design and construction, though bringing it to a shovel-ready state is estimated to cost between $300,000 and $400,000.

Staff then reported back on May 3 after receiving a legal opinion that the county had not made a legally-

binding agreement on the project.

After a lengthy closed-to-thepublic session, council voted to reaffirm its support for the project and move ahead with the land purchase from the Town of Goderich, as had been laid out in previous passed motions.

Council voted 9-6 in favour of the project, while some councillors remained staunchly against funding the project with property tax dollars from ratepayers.

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Going, going, gone Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb was the guest auctioneer at the recent Souper Saturday event to benefit the Seaforth and District Food Bank. Lobb’s department was the dessert auction, which brought in additional funds for the group. (John Stephenson photo)

Lockie updates BIA on Jones’ art piece

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen The Blyth Business Improvement Area (BIA) met for its first regular meeting since the coronation of new chair, Angela Cullen. Cullen wasted no time getting down to the pressing business at hand, quickly defining her new regime as one that strives for strictness with regards to efficiency.

First order of business pleasantly welcoming North Huron’s Community Engagement Co-ordinator Denise Lockie, there to update the BIA on progress toward rectifying the contentious placement and content of a sign with artwork by local artist Randy Jones.

Lockie said that consultations with Jones have been productive since the original artistic mural was installed and removed from the parking area near the Goderich-toGuelph Rail Trail access point in Blyth last year. Lockie cited unspecified community comments, existing municipal policies and the matter of property ownership as reasons for the sign’s deinstallation, but assured the group that the intention is “to get it back up because it is a great piece of art….

There are just some additions that need to be made and changed to follow some of the rules for North Huron and also for our lease because we don’t own that land, we lease that land from the Ontario government.”

According to Lockie, the process has been slowed down for a number

of reasons. She explained the project required new designs for kiosks to house the updated artwork and obtaining engineered drawings took more than three and a half months. In October 2022, supplies had arrived and plans to restore the Jones artwork were nearing fruition, but Lockie said winter safety considerations prevented further work from being completed at that time.

Lockie says progress is now being stalled by the need for utility line locates to take place on the site, which she believes should happen within one to two months. Lockie explained that the validity of utility line locates expire 30 days after they are performed, so she expects the work to be completed within that time frame.

Lockie is in the process of creating a forum for public comments to be reviewed before the final version of the artwork is approved. She asked for three BIA volunteers to assist in the review process, garnering support from Cullen, Cat O’Donnell and Colleen Jordan.

A revised quote for the additions to the artwork is expected from Jones in the near future. Lockie asked for financial support from the BIA to complete the project, estimating approximately $1,000 will be necessary. Lockie said she intends to return to the BIA at a later date once a clearer picture of the final cost becomes available.

Treasurer David Sparling indicated there may be available funds in the BIA’s budget for signage.

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PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023.

Holmes shines spotlight on mental health issues

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen Motivational speaker and comedian Jessica Holmes is coming to Wingham on May 6 to perform in the show “A Healthy Dose of Humour!”, hosted by Mental Health Matters Wingham. The show will arrive just in time for the Canadian Mental Health Association's (CMHA) Mental Health Week, bringing some much-needed extra attention to the various mental health issues, both personal and systemic, that have an impact on so many Canadians in one way or another.

The connections between comedy and mental health struggles are manifold. Humour is used by some to mask mental issues, while others depend on humour to heal. The dimly-lit venues that play host to stand-up

comedy shows can easily become a makeshift therapist’s office for performers, and a good night of laughter between strangers can be one of our society’s truly cathartic experiences.

Holmes, an alumni of the Royal Canadian Air Farce, has long been an advocate for mental health, and hopes that her current show will help people struggling in pockets across Canada. She was kind enough to share her thoughts with The Citizen on the relationships humans have with comedy a few days before her show.

To Holmes, the connection between mental health struggles and comedy is an obvious one.

“Watching comedy is a mood booster…. Laughter is a physical and mental release of pent-up stress. Comedy lets us know we aren’t alone in our problems.”

As strong as the connections formed by joke-tellery can be, Holmes also understands the importance of tact and empathy when touching on complex human situations. “I don’t necessarily tell jokes about anyone else’s struggle, and I don’t make fun of depression itself. It’s healing to find the humour in my journey; so I’ll make fun of the unhelpful advice I received.” Holmes did admit that her husband was able to successfully lure her to therapy with the promise of a Tim Hortons situated close to the therapist’s office.

For this show and in general, Holmes strives only to share her personal experiences using humour - it’s a bonus that people seem to find relief and validation through hearing about her issues from a relatively safe distance.

“It’s important to me that people

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of favour almost as frequently as they fall back into favour.

Holmes had a surprisingly positive take on this muchmaligned field. “I actually feel like the comedy industry is a forgiving place,” she said magnanimously. “People expect you to air out your struggles in public… we say tragedy, plus time, equals comedy. It’s how we make sense of our journey. I think it would be a lot harder to combat stigma in any other industry.”

When she was first diagnosed with depression, Holmes was sure that she would have to quit the industry, “because the highs and lows can be triggering.”

Through work with a trained therapist, she realized her two journeys didn’t have to conflict.

“If I could make the rest of my Continued on page 13

Don’t struggle alone. We are in this together!

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know that they are not alone and hear about what worked for one person, in a lighthearted way that’s not triggering,” she explained, touching again on the delicate balance that must be achieved between performer and audience. The material changes and grows as she experiences different moments in life, but her goal is always the same - to “always be sure what I’m sharing on stage is helpful.

When you see the show, you’ll realize it’s not a lecture about depression, it’s more like a friend chatting with you over coffee about the hurdles of being human so that we can have a laugh about it together. It’s relatable.”

The toxic underbelly of the comedy industry is a common trope in both fiction and the newspaper headlines, with disgraced funny men falling out

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023. PAGE 13.

Comedian bringing hopeful message to Wingham Continued from page 12 life more stable, the highs and lows wouldn’t affect me as much. And that approach has worked really well. I’ve traded in my insecurities for healthy boundaries, nature, self-care and community. I’m basically living the dream life of an 85-year-old. And career is just a piece of that puzzle now, not the whole shebang. I’m also good at really long answers, apparently.”

Holmes hopes that, if anyone in the audience is facing something difficult, watching her show, and being brought into her confidence, will help them to realize they aren’t alone, and that one never knows if tomorrow is the day that things will turn around.

“We’re stronger than we think,” is a sentiment Holmes wants audiences to carry home with them.

Is Jessica Holmes excited to perform in Wingham this week?

She’s not sure if she's ever performed in Wingham before, and thinks it’s possible she may have done a show there back in her Second City days. “My expectation every time I get on stage is that I’m gonna open my heart, have fun, and connect with people. I am really grateful to have been invited!”

Whether she’s ever been to Wingham or not, Jessica Holmes will be there on Saturday, May 6 at the Wingham Knights of Columbus Centre.

The healing power of laughter Jessica Holmes, left, is a motivational speaker and comedian, who will perform "A Healthy Dose of Humour!" in Huron County at the Wingham Knights of Columbus Centre on May 6. The event is being hosted

by Mental Health Matters Wingham during CMHA’s Mental Health Week. Holmes aims to share her personal experiences with humour in a way that is helpful and not triggering, and hopes to convey the message that people are not alone in their struggles.

(Courtesy photo)

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PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023.

County moving ahead with Exeter roundabout

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Huron County Council is moving ahead with the construction of a roundabout just west of Exeter at the intersection of County Road 83 and Airport Line. This was one of two troublesome intersections recently identified by the county; the other was the intersection of London and Blyth Roads.

Public Works Manager Imran Khalid and Roads Project Manager

Amanda Brown presented a report on the tendering process, awarding the project tender to Lavis Contracting Co. Ltd. in the amount of $4,507,617.58, which includes provisional items, a contingency allowance and applicable taxes.

The project is divided into three parts. Part one is work on County Road 83 from 275 metres west of Airport Line to the eastern limits of Dashwood, followed by the second part, which is work on the west limits of Dashwood to Gore Road

and part three, which is the paved shoulder from Exeter’s easterly limits heading east for 2.75 kilometres on both the north and south shoulders of the road.

Fifteen companies registered as “plan takers” for the project and four submitted tender forms that were found to be appropriate. The Lavis bid was the lowest at just over $4.5 million, with GIP Paving Inc. submitting a price of $4,661,104, Dufferin Construction coming in at $5,942,623.65 and

Cox Construction with the highest bid of $6,181,953.50.

The bid came in nearly $250,000 under budget and the project will be funded in part from gas tax funding ($1,897,532 for part one) and Ontario Community Infrastructure

Fund (OCIF) money ($1,905,275 for part two and $397,381 for part three).

Council voted to move ahead with the project, which included a minimal amount of the total cost in the 2023 budget.

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Brussels Livestock report

Over 2,500 animals on offer at weekly sale

Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending April 28 were 1,700 cattle and 865 lambs and goats.

On Tuesday, fed steers and heifers sold steady with quality considered. Choice steers and heifers sold $220 to $230; secondcut cattle, $200 to $219; holstein steers and heifers, $185 to $206; holstein steers and heifers, $140 to $205. Cows sold steady.

On Thursday, veal sold at easier

prices. Light lambs sold slightly lower. Lambs sold barely steady and goats and sheep sold steady.

On Friday, calves sold steady.

Yearlings sold actively at prices $5 to $10 higher.

K/C McAlpine Farms of Ailsa Craig, consigned eight head. Two charolais steers averaged 1,568 lbs. and sold for an average price of $224.50.

Art Bos of Blyth, consigned two head. Two pied steers weighed

1,398 lbs. and sold for an average price of $226.

There were 200 cows on offer.

Beef sold $111 to $146; good holstein cows, $110 to $142; medium holstein cows, $100 to $112; bulls, $130 to $175.

There were 165 head of veal on offer. Beef veal sold $190 to $241; good holsteins, $185 to $220; SL heavy holsteins, $170 to $205; heavy holsteins, $150 to $199; medium holsteins, $170 to $182;

Looking for change While the Conservative Party is firmly in charge of Queen’s Park these days, the Liberal Party is working its way back in Ontario and the first step is choosing a new leader. Four of the candidates were at the Wingham Golf and Curling Club on Saturday to meet with supporters and state their case. From left: Kingston and the Islands MPP Ted Tsu, Don Valley East MPP Adil Shamji, Don Valley West MPP Stephanie Bowman and BeachesEast York MPP Nate Erskine-Smith. (John Stephenson photo)

Safety first preaches OFA

By Paul Maurice, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture It’s springtime in Ontario and, after the long winter months, Ontarians everywhere are heading outside – for recreation, gardening, or in the case of farmers, for planting crops.

That means you’ll see more large tractors and farm equipment on the roads as farmers travel from fieldto-field and farm-to-farm to work their land and get crops in the ground. Many of those roads are also used by trucks and cars, which makes road safety for both farmers and motorists essential to help all of us prevent accidents.

I farm in Simcoe County, but, as a board member with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), I also represent farmers in York and Peel Regions. In all three of these municipalities, large urban centres are located near or next to working farms, so road safety revolving around farm equipment for farmers and motorists, from commuters to cottagers, is even more of a priority here.

Last year, the OFA launched a province-wide billboard campaign, accompanied by audio advertisements played during radio traffic updates, to draw attention to slow-moving farm vehicles and how motorists can safely share the road with large equipment. Many local federations of agriculture, including York Region, have also

provided Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) signs for farmers to properly identify their equipment and vehicles.

Farm equipment in general is much larger than it used to be, and many rural roads have narrow shoulders. This makes it difficult, if not impossible, for farmers to pull off to the side safely and let motorists pass. Space between a slow-moving vehicle and an ongoing car can close very quickly, so we urge drivers to pay attention to indicator lights - and to remember that passing cautiously is important to keep everyone safe.

This past month, the Simcoe County Federation of Agriculture hosted an agricultural road safety information day for elected officials, staff and local first responders in Innisfil Township.

The goal was to help participants gain a better understanding of the size and scope of modern farm equipment and just what it means to share roads safely with motorists.

We also engaged in good conversations around what is needed to safely accommodate farm equipment when the municipality is designing new roads and bridges.

The event was a pilot project that was very well received, and we hope to extend it to other municipalities in the future.

Spring doesn’t just mean an increased need for road safety, though. It’s also a time that farm

families need to be vigilant about safety on their own properties, especially when it comes to keeping children safe.

That’s why my local federation of agriculture in Simcoe County offers a program called Keep Kids Safe.

It’s been on hiatus for the last three years because of COVID-19, but it came back this spring with close to 70 children taking part in the event.

The event was held at Huron Tractor in Stayner.

Through six different stations, kids learned about being safe around tractors, lawn mowers and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Local paramedics and firefighters reviewed tips on what to do in case of a fire or an accident and when to call 911, and Hydro One gave demonstrations around proper electrical safety.

Although designed for children, Keep Kids Safe has become a multi-generational event over the years, as some parents who attended when they were young are now bringing their own kids out for the safety training as well.

Farm safety is important for everyone on the farm, not just children. For adults, it means being aware of how to avoid accidents and injuries - especially during a busy and stressful time like planting. This includes things like keeping equipment fixed and up to date, taking a break when you’re tired or fatigued, and not cutting corners when in a rush.

plain holsteins, $140 to $177.

Jim Maw of Forest, consigned four head. One grey heifer weighed 915 lbs. and sold for a price of $241.

Lambs under 50 lbs. sold $271.50 to $390; 50 - 64 lbs., $296.50 to $350; 65 - 79 lbs., $290 to $315; 80 - 94 lbs., $295.75 to $310; 95 to $109 lbs., $265.50 to $285; 110 lbs. and over, $204 to $270.

Goats: billies sold $150 to $375; nannies, $100 to $200; kids: meat, $400 to $500; dairy, $350 to $450.

Steve Hallam of Kincardine, consigned 10 head. Four lambs averaged 86 lbs. and sold for an average price of $310.

Curtis Howe of Walkerton, consigned 30 head. Eight lambs averaged 66 lbs. and sold for an average price of $312.50.

Bob Krauss of Norwich, consigned five head. Two kid goats averaged 53 lbs. and sold for an average price of $500.

Paul and Nancy Martin of Ayton, consigned four head. Three kid goats averaged 59 lbs. and sold for an average price of $500.

Top quality stocker steers, 400 499 lbs. sold $264 to $355; 500 599 lbs., $302 to $362; 600 - 699 lbs., $316 to $361; 700 - 799 lbs., $298.50 to $313; 800 - 899 lbs., $281 to $300; 900 - 999 lbs., $262.50 to $290; 1,000 lbs. and over, $251 to $275.25.

Top quality stocker heifers, 400 499 lbs. sold $251 to $285; 500 599 lbs., $276 to $309; 600 - 699 lbs., $252.50 to $284; 700 - 799 lbs., $259.50 to $274.50; 800 - 899 lbs., $241.50 to $263.50; 900 lbs.

and over, $226.50 to $265.

Doug Sutherland of Kemble, consigned 51 head. Twelve charolais heifers averaged 764 lbs. and sold for an average price of $274.50.

Ross Baird of Wingham, consigned 19 head. Two blue heifers averaged 945 lbs. and sold for an average price of $265.

Kevin Frey of Cobden, consigned 35 head. Nine charolais steers averaged 956 lbs. and sold for an average price of $289.25.

Mark Young of Perth Road, consigned 31 head. Eleven charolais steers averaged 830 lbs. and sold for an average price of $300.

Steve Pastoor of Kerwood consigned 37 head. Six simmental steers weighed 1,019 lbs. and sold for an average price of $275.25.

BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd.

UPCOMING SALES TUESDAYS 10:00 a.m.

Fed Cattle, Bulls & Cows

THURSDAYS

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

FRIDAYS

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

Call us 519-887-6461

Keep up with the latest agri-businesses and the best of rural living!

Rural Rural Voice Voice

The The

August 2022

THE MAGAZINE OF AGRICULTURAL LIFE ... $2.50 PM 40037593

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DINNER UNDER THE STARS RESPECT YOUR FOOD Food is meant to feed and nurture you, say owners of Silver Creek Nursery

Farm dinners with homegrown food attract attention of former Governor General

MORE TREES, LESS FUEL Big companies get serious about reducing carbon footprint with Carbon Footprint Initiative

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

The magazine of Agricultural Life

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

PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023.

Classified Advertisements – RATES – 20 words or less only $8.00 + HST Additional words 20¢ ea. + HST

DEADLINE 2 p.m. Tuesday Phone 519-523-4792 e-mail: info@northhuron.on.ca

Articles for sale RUSTIC CEDAR GAZEBOS AND pergolas; also a supplier of steel roofing, siding and trims. Webwood Truss, 382 Whitechurch St., RR 5, Lucknow. ON N0G 2H0.

15-8p -------------------------------------------GERBERS FIREWOOD SERVING you for over 15 years. Your number one source of quality slabwood and bodywood. Delivery available. No Sunday calls. 519-274-1236, 519441-2085.

01-50p -------------------------------------------REPRINTS OF PHOTOS taken by Citizen photographers are available to purchase. All are in colour. 4x6 – $5.00, 5x7 – $6.00, 8x10 – $10.00. Phone to order 519-523-4792 or email: info@northhuron.on.ca tfn -------------------------------------------THE CITIZEN IS AVAILABLE TO purchase at these locations – Auburn Co-op, Auburn Esso, Belgrave Variety, Blyth Variety, Blyth Food Market, Blyth Ultramar, Brussels Foodland, Brussels Variety, Clinton Convenience, Clinton Foodland, Fogal’s YIG in Wingham, Wingham Mini Mart, Seaforth Foodland, GT Mini Mart in Seaforth, Fincher’s in Goderich, Goderich Victoria St. Shell and The Citizen Blyth.

Card of thanks Help wanted Help wanted Notices CHESNEY. The family of Bill Chesney would like to thank you for your kind words, cards, phone calls and generous donations in Bill’s honour. – Joan and family.

-------------------------------------------SHOLDICE. I just want to say thank you to everyone who supported my wedding shower on Thursday, April 27! My fiancé Greg and I feel very fortunate to have such a supportive community! A special thanks to all the girls who made this possible. – Jordyn Sholdice.

Coming events 25TH ANNIVERSARY BARN Dance Jamboree/Campout, May 26, 27 and 28 at the Blyth Community Centre Complex and Campground, Blyth, ON. Friday Evening Dance by the Country Versatiles – 7 p.m.; Barn Dance Show - Saturday evening 7:30 p.m. and Gospel Show Sunday morning – 10:30 a.m.

Armbands available at the door.

Details on the Barn Dance website at www.thebarndance.ca or by calling 519-357-6598.

-------------------------------------------THE WINGHAM COLUMBUS Centre at 99 Kerr Drive, would like you to join us on Sunday, May 14 for our annual Mother’s Day Brunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. We have a table of seasonal salads and breads, a hot buffet with breakfast and dinner fare, and of course our famous dessert table! $25 plus tax for adults and $12.50 plus tax for kids 12 and under, pre-schoolers are free. Call 519-357-1270 to make your reservation.

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ARE YOU 65+? Book your spring COVID-19 booster now! Call Huron Perth Public Health at 1-833-7532098.

--------------------------------------------

Seaforth Optimist Club

is seeking

Seasonal Concessions & Cleaning Staff More details available at www.blythfestival.com/employment

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

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

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

Monthly Cash Draw winners MAY 2023 WINNERS Cam McLeod ..............$1,300 Kim Hoffman..................$100 Deb/Frank Vincent ......$100 APRIL 2023 WINNERS Darcy Wood ..............$2,500 Wilfred Drager ..............$100 Tim/Laura Robinson ....$100

Personals POST ABORTION HEALING. Are you suffering from the emotional aftermath of an abortion?

For support and healing please call Project Rachel at their confidential number 1-888-355-1110.

Services PRIVATE SUPPORT WORKER, with a certificate, 519-912-1102.

Call 519-523-4792 or email: info@northhuron.on.ca FOR SALE - folding bicycle, Dahon Yeah, six-speed, good condition, everything works, includes two keys and instructions, $140. Goderich 519-612-2088.18-3 ------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Rola roof rack Grand Cherokee removed from 2016.

Excellent condition, should fit 2010 - present. Includes two keys and instructions, $180, Goderich. 519612-2088.

18-3 ------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Singer Pioneer Beaded Tripod projection screen, 50”x50", $25. 519-523-9204. 18-3 ------------------------------------------WANTED - large cement box 2' x2' x4' for a retaining wall. 519-5220366.

18-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE - for wood stove, many large boxes of cut and dried kindling from various types of trees, $20 for the whole lot. Call Milly 519-482-7262.

18-3 ------------------------------------------WANTED - Doll house, preferably with some furniture and little dolls.

Wingham area. 519-357-2768.

17-3 -------------------------------------------

FOR SALE - Remington hair clipper with blades. $60. Coffee maker, 12 cup, like new. $20. 519524-4648.

17-3 ------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Right and left cab corners and rocker panels for 19992007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 extended cab. Asking $400. Call 519-887-9104 16-3 ------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Brand new siding. 4 pieces 10' long, 5" wide, 1 piece 6' long. Colour is grey. $40 for all or best offer. 519-357-4600.

16-3 ------------------------------------------FOR SALE - 50 gallon plastic barrels. $10. each. 226-880-1689.

16-3 -------------------------------------------

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

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023. PAGE 17.

Scanlon to speak at Knox PEOPLE AROUND BELGRAVE

By Linda Campbell Call 357-2188

Belated birthday greetings are extended to Doreen Marks whose birthday was on May 1 and to Karen McCallum, whose birthday is on May 13.

Susan Barnett, Licensed Lay Worship Leader was the guest speaker on Sunday, April 30 at Knox United Church, Belgrave.

After Susan welcomed the congregation, the call to worship was read responsively and the Christ candle was lit. “For the Fruit of All Creations” was the first hymn that was sung. The scripture lessons were taken from Acts 2: 4247, Psalm 23 was read responsively and John 10: 1-10.

The closing hymn was “He Leadeth Me”.

On Sunday, May 7, Murray Scanlon is the guest speaker.

Everyone is welcome.

Our spring weather is not like

Braving the rain

spring at all. It has been dull, cool and wet and at times flurrieshave come down. The spring flowers are in bloom, the leaves are out on the trees and the grass is growing and so are the pesky weeds. Now we just need it to warm up and see sunshine.

On days like this some of us have started our spring cleaning, quilting, sewing and going through the closets to get rid of clothing we want to donate.

NEWS FROM BELGRAVE

As Hullett Central Public School held its annual carnival for the first time since 2019, courtesy of the Student Advisory Council, and it was a joyous occasion for the many who made their way to the Blyth and District Community Centre to take it all in. Providing food for everyone were the Huron County Beef Producers. Members Kelly Boven, left, and Matt Shortreed, right, braved the rain outside to barbecue. (Scott Stephenson photo)

Obituaries

DONALD SMITH Beloved husband, father and grandfather Don Smith passed away on April 21, 2023, aged 79.

Born in South Porcupine, Ontario (Timmins) on July 12, 1943, Don was the beloved son of the late Douglas and Adah (Grasby) Smith.

He was the second-eldest of seven.

Don and Mary (Cheesebrough) married in 1969. Mary passed away in 1990 after a battle with cancer.

Don moved to Ottawa in 1999 and was with Aline Akenson until her passing of Alzheimer’s Disease in July of 2013.

Don is survived by his loving family. Left to carry his memory are his brothers Rae and Douglas and sister-in-law Colleen, his sons Karl and wife Sylvia and Kenneth and wife Evelyn, and grandchildren Tanya, Adam and Erika. He will also be missed by his nieces and nephews, John, Jimmy, Leif, Kassandra, Jessica, Matthew, Andrew, Shirin, and Anisa. Don was predeceased by his sister Joan and brothers Larry, Robert and Jim. In lieu of flowers and sympathies, please send donations to the

Canadian Cancer Society or the Alzheimer’s Society.

Don Smith’s dear friend Aurore Trahan invites you to join in the celebration of life, which will be held on Saturday, May 6 at 10 a.m. on the 10th Floor Des Jardins Coop at 100 Empress Ave, Ottawa. w w w. a r b o r m e m o r i a l . c a / e n / kelly-somerset JUNE BEAVEN June Beaven, after living a life full of fun and adventure, passed away peacefully on April 20, 2023, in her 87th year at the Huron Residential Hospice.

June was born in Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom on Aug. 1, 1935. Serving in the Royal Air Force in the Women’s Auxiliary (WAAF), June worked as a Telegraph Operator. It was as a WAAF Officer that she met her lifetime love, Cecil Beaven. Shortly after meeting, they were wed on Jan. 5, 1957, and the two of them settled down in the Cottswolds in England.

After having three children, Rebecca, Richard and Mark, the family immigrated to Canada in April of 1971, settling down in Mitchell, Ontario. June worked in a few positions before she attended Conestoga College where she studied accounting. After earning her diploma, she held positions with WoolCo and Sealed Power, both in Stratford.

After taking early retirement, June focused her efforts on serving in the community both near and far.

Volunteering with the AvonMaitland School Board in Seaforth Public School, “Mrs. Beaven” helped many young children improve their language and math skills both in school and tutoring after school. June also volunteered

her time with the Weimaraner Club of America, travelling each year to Ardmore, Oklahoma to serve as the National Field Trial Secretary.

The last years of her life were spent loving her grandchildren and spending every available minute with them. “Granny Beaven” was well known both in Canada and the U.S. from her spending many, many hours cheering on her grandchildren and their teammates in their athletics, especially hockey.

Best described as a social butterfly, Granny loved talking and laughing with the kids, and their parents.

Even as she lost most of her eyesight, she truly loved spending time at the rink.

Finally moving to Blyth in the summer of 2021, June was able to spend her last months enjoying precious time with her family. She was predeceased by her loving husband Cec in December of 2021 whom she missed each and every day.

She will be remembered by many, but especially by her children Rebecca, Richard and Mark and his wife Janice, her grandchildren Julia, Colton, Travis and Kane and her great-grandchildren Chevy and Layla, along with stepgrandchildren Ben, Jared (and Jennifer) and Denise.

While her one long-time wish to see her beloved Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup was not realized, one can be assured she is cheering from above. In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that donations be made to the Alvernia Women’s Hockey team online at auwolves.com, Blyth-Brussels Minor Hockey online at blythbrusselsminorhockey.ca or the sports team of your choice. Go Leafs go!

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.

OverSTUFFed? Clear the clutter and cash in at the same time in Swap Shop Free ad up to 25 words, person to person only (no businesses), items valued at $1,000 or less.

Your ad will run three times unless it sells faster!

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

The Citizen PO Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 405 Queen Street, Blyth 519-523-4792 info@northhuron.on.ca

PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023.

Lake Huron Coastal Centre to host ‘Is the Coast Clear?’

Souper!

Late last month, the Seaforth and District Food Bank held its Souper Saturday soup competition and dessert auction fundraiser for the first time since 2019. It is the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year and a great opportunity to sample offerings from some of the community’s most promising young chefs. (John Stephenson photo)

For 25 years, the Lake Huron Coastal Centre (LHCC) has hosted a biennial “Is the Coast Clear?” conference to bring environmental professionals, indigenous communities, government officials and members of the public from both Canada and the United States together to learn about Lake Huron’s coastal sustainability challenges and solutions.

This year, the theme is “Opposite Shores…

Shared Values: International Perspectives on Lake Huron”, and the event will be held on Friday, May 5 at the Oakwood Resort in Grand Bend from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The program will include a keynote speaker, a panel of experts to discuss coastal resilience and climate change, concurrent session speakers from along the shoreline,

and a series of educational exhibits.

This conference is the LHCC’s largest fundraising event. It helps it deliver programs like its Coastal Conservation Youth Corps student education program, Coast Watchers community science data collection program, and Green Ribbon Champion sand dune restoration program.

To register for the event visit www.lakehuron.ca/tickets and for more information, visit www.lakehuron.ca/conference.

The Lake Huron Coastal Centre is a non-government charity dedicated to supporting a healthy ecosystem through education, restoration and research. To learn more, visit www.lakehuron.ca, or follow @coastalcentre on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Urban settings to see tax rate decrease in HE Continued from page 1 bridge and road reserve ($300,655).

Seaforth sanitary: The Seaforth lagoon sludge removal is anticipated to cost $600,000, which will be fully funded from the Seaforth sanitary reserve.

Water and wastewater: The truck replacement for the water and sewer department for $60,000, which will be proportionately funded by various water and wastewater reserves.

Bridges: The replacement of a large culvert on Rodgerville Road, $372,000, which will be funded by gas tax revenue, aggregate resource revenues and 50 per cent by South Huron; a culvert replacement on Front Road for $135,000 and a culvert replacement on Canada Company Road for $30,000, both of which will be funded by gas tax revenue and aggregate resource revenue. The surplus gas tax revenue and aggregate resource revenue of $59,000 will be added to the municipality’s roads and bridges reserve.

Municipal drains: 14th Concession, municipal portion $117,730; Baker, municipal portion $73,680; Charters, municipal portion $20,570; McKenzie, municipal portion $2,000, in addition to a $2,040 cost for software within the department. All of the costs will be funded through the year’s contribution to the municipal drain reserve.

Parking lots: $25,000 for the Richmond Square lot and $20,000 for the Brussels Town lot, both of which will be paid for through the year’s parking lot reserve contribution.

Public works buildings: $25,600 for various projects to replace eavestrough and doors, which will be funded by the year’s municipal building reserve contribution.

Public works fleet: Replace the 2004 tandem truck with a used model, $150,000; replace the 2010 tractor with a new front-end loader, $240,000 and replace the 2003 trackless with a new trackless, $150,000. The total of $540,000 will be funded from the public works fleet reserve ($350,000) and short-term financing of $170,000 for between one and two years.

Parks: Replacement of Victoria

Park playground equipment, $50,000; replacement of portion of Optimist Park playground equipment, $10,000; new outdoor fitness equipment at Quebec Park, $100,000 (if the municipality’s grant application is successful) and the replacement of a lawn mower for the department at a cost of $7,000. The projects will be funded by a grant ($85,000, if successful), $25,000 in community group fundraising and $57,000 from the municipality’s parkland reserve.

Recreation: Seaforth and District Community Centre roof replacement, $1 million; Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre oil separators and hot water heater, $52,000 and Vanastra Recreation Centre additional kitchen costs, booth extension and sanitary drain repair, $55,000. The costs will be funded by remaining recreation reserves ($227,864), former restricted ward reserves ($199,012), West Perth contribution for the Seaforth and District Community Centre ($87,000), Vibrancy Fund ($338,030), the year’s recreation reserve contribution ($200,000) and shortterm financing of $55,094.

Municipal buildings: Office renovations and furniture at a cost of $40,000 and an optimization study that will only go ahead if a grant is procured. The office costs will be funded through the year’s municipal building reserve contribution.

Economic development: Seasonal decorations for Brussels at a cost of $30,000 to be paid for through the 2023 economic development reserve contribution.

Information technology: Computer replacements, $10,000, which will be funded by the 2023 information technology reserve contribution.

Fire (non-fleet): SCBA replacement at all stations, $675,000; select bunker gear replacement, $40,000; decontamination equipment, $25,000; HVAC replacement in Seaforth, $30,000; technology upgrades and the fire service review. Of the total of $875,000, $122,250 will be funded by MorrisTurnberry, $60,000 will be funded from the levy and $688,466 will be

financed over the next 10 years.

Mayor Bernie MacLellan said that while he was in favour of the budget being presented for this year, he had some concerns about future projected budgets and what those tax rate increases would mean for the residents of Huron East.

Looking at McRoberts’ projections, MacLellan said, taxes will be going up substantially between 2023 and 2027 and he felt it was time to reach out to HuronBruce MPP Lisa Thompson to discuss the plight of small municipalities in these times, especially given the province’s unexpectedly positive financial position, he said.

MacLellan said that if the provincial government is predicting the early elimination of the provincial debt, while at the same time municipalities are struggling to maintain basic service levels, it was time to talk to Thompson and her government about a potential way forward.

Councillor Bob Fisher said he had asked that the tax rate increase be brought down to 10 per cent, so he was disappointed to see it remaining above 13 per cent.

Furthermore, he said he and Councillor Ray Chartrand had discussed a few options, including an alternate funding model for the new front-end loader. However, that idea didn’t gain much traction.

Deputy-Mayor Alvin McLellan said he felt council should pass the budget as had been presented and the mayor agreed, saying that not in his time as a council member had members of the public really rose up and told council they’re doing a bad job. If and when that happens, council would need to look at its service levels and what is missing for residents, but he said he felt the municipality needed to pay the cost presented in order to maintain the service levels residents have come to expect.

Aside from those few comments, there was very little discussion on

the budget as presented and council voted to pass it.

The budget was then approved at council’s May 2 meeting and made official by way of a bylaw.

Celebrating A Special Occasion?

Advertise it in

The Citizen Call or email to book your ad today!

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MAITLAND VALLEY CAMERA CLUB

Photography by Shawna Salzman

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023. PAGE 19.

From the Minister’s Study

What do we consider to be of crowning importance?

By Ernest Dow, executive pastor at Huron Chapel Evangelical Missionary Church in Auburn What holds the most value in our life? What do we consider to be of crowning importance? And what are we prepared to do to protect that?

This Saturday (May 6) marks what, for some, could be a once-ina-lifetime event: the coronation of a sovereign. (The crowning of our previous monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, occurred three years before I was born.)

King Charles III is to be anointed and crowned at Westminster Abbey in London, England. There will be much pomp and pageantry; royalwatchers will be thrilled. The occasion is to be heralded by a 21gun salute all over Britain and by Royal Navy ships at sea all over the world. But at the heart of the event is a service of Christian worship that, by word and symbol, puts a significant spin on what good leadership should be all about.

Politicians are notorious for bending their policies to suit what they estimate will bring them the most popularity. Some are very gifted in the art of “doublespeak”, to the point that after you’ve heard their response, you wonder if they ever actually addressed the question that was posed. Many countries flounder and languish because their governments are riddled with corruption, from the top down.

It wasn’t much different back in the First Century, A.D. Jesus observed to His followers, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.”

(Mark 10:42) In other words, throw their weight around, take advantage of others, milk the masses. Jews in Palestine at that time resented their Roman overlords who taxed them heavily and sometimes crushed uprisings with brutality.

King Charles’ coronation service aims to cast a different slant on what good leadership is all about. It begins with a greeting and response: “Your Majesty, as children of the Kingdom of God, we welcome you in the name of the King of Kings.” To this the king responds: “In his name, and after his example, I come not to be served, but to serve.”

This reflects Jesus’ admonition to His followers regarding leadership.

Whatever their position, they are not to go about “lording it over” others and exploiting them. Instead,

“whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mk.10:43ff) It is encouraging to see that those responsible for planning the coronation service were intentional about emphasizing this theme. The accompanying commentary, prepared by the Church of England, notes, “His Majesty’s reply echoes the truth of Jesus Christ who came, not to wield power by force, but to show the power of love (Matthew 20.28). This new inclusion marks

you ever mindful of the law and the Gospel of God as the Rule for the whole life and government of Christian Princes, receive this Book, the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is Wisdom; This is the royal Law; These are the lively Oracles of God.” The Bible is a “lively” book, God’s words are living and active, piercing to our core (see Hebrews 4:12). Scripture is “most valuable”, reminding those in government

MEL LV VILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Sunday, May 7

217 Minnie Street, Wingham Sunday Morniing Worship at 9:30 am Sunday School S at 10:30 am Service live-streamed a at 9:30 am and recorded on YouT o ube Rev. Colin S. Snyder rev.colinssnyder@gmail.com Wheelchair Wh l h i accessible ibl 519-357-2961 and parking

9:30-10:30 a.m.

We extend a loving welcome to all to join us as Doug Sargent leaads us in worship, praise and prayer to God. A time of fellowship to follow.

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

winghamunited@hurontel.on.ca winghamunited@hurontel on ca winghamuc.web bs.com

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

The Regional Ministry of Hope www.regionalministryofhope.com 519-357-7781 email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca

Trinity

BLYTH 9:00 AM St. Paul’s Trinity

WINGHAM 10:30 AM

Come Worship with Us!

Sunday, May 7 at 10 a.m.

BMG Community Centre (upstairs room) 800 Sports Drive, Brussels **Please note our new location** Childcare provided for children aged 0 to 4 during the sermon

BRUSSELS S

U United Chu ur urch Sunday, May 7 Start your week by coming to an n uplifting service of worship.

All are welcome.

No worship Service on Sunday May 21.

2 We encourage you to support Camp Menesetung's M ndraiser Use the sign-up sheet in the Ch hurch.

Open House and Breakfast Fun If you need a ride or are able to provide transportation.

Check out http ps://www.campmenesetung.ca/

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

Contact Alex at ministter.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.co y @g om Website: brusselsandblythuc.ca b P.O. Box 359, Brussels ~ 519-887-6259 P.

Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Current Sermon Series...

THE FUN OF UNPACKING...

Come Worship With Us

NORTHERN HURON-PERTH CATHOLIC FAMILY OF PARISHES

Sundays at 10:00 am

All are welcome to visit or join with us, and to become

All Are Welcome

disciples of Jesus, sharing in Christ’s mission.

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

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

17 Flora Street

Blyth United Church Sunday, May 7 at 9:30 a.m.

Nursery & Sunday School during worship

On-site and online live.huronchapel.com Sat. May 6, 7:30 a.m. MEN’S BREAKFAST

119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131

Worship and Prayer Time Loving Fellowship Expository Preaching

For additional details please visit: brusselscommunitybiblechapel.com

Sunday, May 7, 10:30 am Pastor Mike Stanley “The Promise of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4ff, Matt 3:1ff,11f)

what makes for lasting justice, righteous rule, and peace. And in our personal lives, too.

The epistle reading for the coronation service is another reminder that earthly kings are not ultimately sovereign. “For by him [Christ] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things Continued on page 21

BRUSSELS

DISCOVERING THE OLD TESTAMENT Evangelical Missionary Church

the tone of the service from its beginning. The magnificence and beauty of the processions and costumes is a great celebration of tradition and joy. But, behind the pageantry, lies another message which the words and ceremonies to come will demonstrate - our King commits himself, through prayers and oaths, to follow the Lord he serves in a life of loving service in his role as Monarch.”

The presentation of a Bible reminds the new sovereign that they themselves are accountable to a Higher Power to whom they must one day give account at judgment.

The presenter states, “Sir: to keep

Wingham: Sacred Heart Sunday ~ 9:00 a.m.

220 Carling Terrace

"If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Colossians 3:1

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

1025 Wallace Avenue N.

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Contact Alex at: minister.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches blythunited@tcc.on.ca ~ 519-523-4224

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PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023.

HASAR grant turned down

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

Goooooaaaaal The Blyth Kids Club kicked off with its first official soccer night on Monday at the Blyth and District Community Centre, with nearly 50 children in attendance. Organizer “Irish” Joe Gahan is seen above high-fiving a young goal scorer. (John Stephenson photo)

Huron County Council has turned down a request from Huron and Area Search and Rescue (HASAR) for between $5,000 and $9,000 in grant funding.

Council discussed the issue at its April 26 meeting, which followed a presentation to council from HASAR co-founder Patrick Armstrong citing the work the organization does and the request for funding.

During his presentation, Armstrong noted the rescue of an infant in the Seaforth area over the Christmas holidays, when the area was battered by a days-long snowstorm that closed roads for days and immobilized most Ontarians. The organization was able to transport the young patient, a parent and a nurse to Exeter, where they were taken by ambulance to London for

emergency surgery to save the young person’s life.

South Huron Mayor George Finch cited this incident in making his case for the donation. He said that, while the county has had a grant moratorium in place for over five years, he didn’t see this as a grant, but rather as an investment in a service that can do things the county cannot. Clearly, he said, HASAR demonstrated this over the Christmas holidays when volunteers saved the child’s life when no traditional county vehicles could transport the group out of the county.

Central Huron Mayor Jim Ginn didn’t dispute the impact of the organization or the importance of the services provided, but said he could remember back to a time years ago when the county was virtually inundated with big-dollar grant requests. The problem was, he said, that they all came from good causes, and it’s impossible to

differentiate one from another and county council will again find itself handing out hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants every year.

Morris-Turnberry Mayor Jamie Heffer agreed with Ginn, saying it would be easy to let emotions dictate the decision-making process, but, from a practical standpoint, he felt the grant should be turned down and the moratorium should remain in place.

Finch then called for a recorded vote on the issue. All councillors voted in favour of Treasurer Michael Blumhagen’s recommendation to turn down the request with the exception of Finch and Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Deputy-Mayor Bill Vanstone, while Goderich Mayor Myles Murdock and Deputy-Mayor Trevor Bazinet were both absent for the vote.

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023. PAGE 21.

Hullett Hoedown a huge hit with crowd

One of the notable news items recently was the report that Galen Weston, president of Loblaw, the country’s biggest food chain, is retiring. The announcement of his retirement is close on the heels of the report that the company had just given him an $11.8 million raise.

Yes, folks, that is a nearly $12 million raise. Makes one wonder what sort of severance package he will be expecting/getting.

This while one in six households across Canada struggles with food insecurity (about 6.5 per cent of the population). Food insecurity is deemed a sign of deprivation in other areas of life with poverty being the root cause. Another sad statistic is that only one in five food-insecure households use food banks, etc., preferring to get help from family and friends or skipping bill payments.

Food rescue organizations have become inventive in saving food from rotting in landfills, but estimate that nearly 60 per cent of the food produced in Canada is wasted for a variety of reasons, from poor growing conditions to labour shortages, transportation, etc. Another sad statistic: it is estimated that every Canadian throws away 79 kilograms of food each year. Each ton of rotting food produces nearly four tons of greenhouse gases.

Food rescue and food charities are just filling a widening gap that needs to be addressed by other means. Food banks have been around for 40 years and food insecurity remains a growing problem.

Getting back to Galen Weston, tongue in cheek here. Perhaps he intends to donate his raise to food banks across the country or to programs that will eliminate food waste.

LONDESBOROUGH UNITED CHURCH Rev. Jan Aylward led the morning worship at Londesborough United on Sunday, April 30. The scripture passage John 10:1-10, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, was the basis for her reflection. This passage needs a careful study, Jan noted, as it contains many metaphors which always need a closer look. Entering the gate of Christ’s sheepfold offers the gift of abundant life. Jan

remarked that abundant life is a life of quality.

HULLETT CARNIVAL NIGHT After a hiatus of three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hullett Central Public School School Advisory Council (SAC) held a fun and successful Hullett Hoedown last Friday evening, April 28, at the Blyth and District Community Centre. Attendees were right in the midst of the fun and action from the moment they entered the arena doors. The attractive lobby display of all things farm/western set the tone for the carnival.

There was something for family members of all ages to participate in and enjoy. Lots of games enticed the youngest to the more sophisticated: a corn [think sand] box, a ring toss, Tic-tac-toe, pedal tractor races, bean bag contest to mention a few. A photo booth always had a line-up for kids and families to record the evening.

There was a tattoo site and a facepainting table, which was very popular. Another table made balloon shapes with the youngsters.

As in the past and as is their habit, the community showed its support by being present for a fun event and donating on many levels. I spoke with Amanda Anderson, chair of the SAC, and learned that the community centre, the food, the games and the scores of items for the silent auction were all donated.

The Huron County Beef Producers cooked the hot dogs and hamburgers.

Other parent volunteers also offered pizza, popcorn, candy floss and ice cream.

The SAC was excited about the fact that volunteers were not difficult to find. Older Hullett Central students were in evidence supervising the games, serving food, etc. I learned that, prior to the night, several senior Hullett students held a “learning to face paint” session in order to be involved. Some high school students were there getting volunteer hours as well.

There were lots of smiling faces on the people leaving the event with the items they had successfully won through the silent auction. While the adults watched their bids on the tables of items, the children participated in a penny sale. Each of the classrooms at Hullett were responsible for a “basket” of items for the silent auction - a day at the beach basket, a movie night basket, a games box, etc. Businesses and individuals were generous in their support. There was something for everyone to consider taking home.

Monies realized from the night are slated for a revamping of the

Pop! Pop! Above - Tyler Boven keeps the popcorn flowing at the Hullett Hoedown.

Below - Bids rolling in for items that are up for auction. (Scott Stephenson photos)

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NEWS FROM LONDESBORO school’s library. The SAC must be pleased that all of its organizing and work resulted in an entertaining and successful evening.

Traditions of the Crown Continued from 19 were created by him, and for him.”

(Colossians 1:16) Yes, including even thrones.

Later in the service, an adaptation of Psalm 71 (sung in Greek, acknowledging Charles’ father’s roots) recalls that a monarch’s role is to exercise power for the benefit of one’s fellow citizens. “Give the king your judgments, O God, and your righteousness to the son of a king. Then shall he judge your people righteously and your poor with justice…. May he defend the poor among the people, deliver the children of the needy and crush the oppressor,” rather than the poor being forgotten and

subjected to milking by the wealthy.

The most sacred part of the ceremony, screened off from public view, is the anointing of the king’s head, chest and hands. Interestingly, the oil used comes directly from trees on the Mount of Olives at Jerusalem (pressed outside Bethlehem). This is a tangible connection with Jesus’ incarnation and birth in solidarity with humanity, and His agonizing prayer and struggle prior to His crucifixion for the forgiveness of our sins.

Anointing is connected symbolically with the Holy Spirit, whose guidance and empowerment are needed for ruling wisely and

with mercy, love and justice. Other Christian symbolism - a cross atop the regalia items (crown and sceptre and golden orb), a dove atop the “Rod of Equity and Mercy”, all point to the new king’s need for help to govern in a way that may at the end please God and, as for others who have crowned Jesus as their personal Lord, merit divine commendation - “well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21,23) Serving, it seems, suits even a sovereign! Are we ready to crown Jesus as our King, and serve Him who submitted for our sakes to giving His life in love as a ransom for us?

Please join us as we celebrate this milestone anniversary Friday, May 26, 2023 2:00pm - 6:00 pm 40592 Amberley Rd., Wingham ON Short Program at 3:00pm BBQ Beef on a Bun - 3:30pm - 5:30 pm

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PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023.

Wawanosh 4-H Club continues growing project

By Clara DeBoer The third meeting of the Wawanosh 4-H Club’s Let’s Get Growing Club was held on April 25 at 7 p.m. at the Auburn Hall.

We opened with the 4-H pledge.

President Hailey Hanna led roll call with the question, “Have your space tomatoes started to grow and which of your plants have sprouted?”

Most members said their cucumbers, carrots, lettuce, onions and regular tomatoes had sprouted, but only two members’ space tomatoes had sprouted.

Nora Gulutzen then read the minutes from the second meeting.

We then split into two groups and made granola with different kinds of seeds. After the granola was in

the oven, we went for a walk around Auburn. The mission was to find different plants or items, on the list given, during the walk.

When we returned, we split into three groups and the task was to check the best-before dates on different items. We looked at popcorn, yogurt, soup and so on.

We had a conversation about what some of the dates were.

We then judged garden footwear, which were sandals, rubber boots, rubber hiking boots and a slip-on gardening shoe.

Hailey closed the meeting with the 4-H motto “learn to do by doing” and everyone went home with a tasty bag of granola.

Back at it The Wawanosh 4-H Let’s Get Growing Club recently held its third meeting in Auburn and took the time to see how members’ plants were coming along. (Courtesy photo)

McDonald mourns church PEOPLE AROUND WALTON

By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570

The days are filled with so many things and yet I find my mind is blank on Sunday evenings. I can report that the children are anxiously waiting the return of that warm weather and I am sure many parents have a fight on their hands every morning for children to wear a coat because it is cold outside.

Then they get on the bus in the afternoon and they have no coat or even sweater and maybe even have shorts on. It is a good guess by all what they may be wearing when they get home.

There are only 36 school days left before summer holidays begin. Add the weekends and there are about 55 days to go. Get those summer plans made for holidays and for child care.

“Hooray! Hooray! It is the first of May! Outdoor fun starts today!”

That was my good friend Betty McDonald’s favorite saying every May 1. We would gather and toast the start of good weather with her friends, the Proctors. We enjoyed many a nice day and if it wasn’t nice, oh well, we had a nice time together. We can’t say May 1 was really nice, but it was not really bad either. Cool, but the warm weather is coming!

A great sadness for members of St. John’s Anglican Church as they closed their doors for the final time last Sunday. They held the final service with many past and present members attending. A few tears were shed by members who had spent their entire lives attending and supporting the church. Through good times and bad, the recession, the rebellious 1970s, and the many ups and downs of changing ministers, changing service times, and a dropping membership. Many good times were remembered, like the pork chop barbecue, family weddings, the annual bazaar and

the famous Shrove Tuesday pancake supper. A piece of Brussels history now, but many memories for the members and the village of Brussels remain.

We had a very unusual visitor at our house this weekend. Rick spotted a large bird just outside on the ground pecking in the dirt. The bird was a good size with brown, freckled feathers, a bright red triangle on the back of his neck, a black triangle on the chest and yellow under feathers. Out came the encyclopedia to see if we could find out the name of this bird. Then Google was searched.

Alas, we found it was a Northern Flicker. This bird visits Ontario, usually in April, and he is a member of the Ontario woodpecker family.

They forage in the grass for ants, bugs and beetles and larvae, which is exactly what our visitor was doing. He used his long, pointed beak to dig into the ground and he successfully found some kind of bug and then some larvae. We watched him for about 10 minutes before he flew away. He was back the next day in the backyard. We hope we will see him again and again.

Our sympathies are extended to the Smith families on the passing of Marion Smith. She will be missed by her children Ron, Brenda, Donna and Lorrie and their families. She lost her husband Harvey in June of 2022

after 72 years of marriage to one another.

The couple lived in Cranbrook for many years of their life and had retired to a home in Listowel several years ago. Marion loved to come to see me to have her hair done and have a great visit about what she and Harvey were up to.

They had a cottage at Point Clark for 50 years and they enjoyed having family and friends drop by.

Marion loved to cook, sew, crochet, knit, fish, snowmobile and play cards. She always had the time to play a game of cards. Her failing eyesight over the years was a concern, but she coped very well, always with a smile and giggle.

What a lovely lady. Our condolences to the Smith family.

Celebrating birthdays this last week includes the last of the April birthdays: Jessica Fraser, Kelly Marks, Jenna Regele, Kelsey Eckert, Marcy McCall MacBain, Pat Parr, Donald Dalton, Landon Gemmel, John Huether, Dave Lewington, Joe Steffler and Bob Smith. May starts with Chris Holmes, Hayden Kelso, Chad McCallum, Judy Valley, Mitchell Godkin, Lori Nolan, Annalies Ringgenberg, Kendra Fischer Cardiff, Justin Bernard, Andrea Humphries, Eaden Linton, Joe Ryan and Wes McDonald. Happy birthday to all!

On the run At the Matthew Dinning Memorial Tournament at F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham on April 26, Stratford’s St. Michael Catholic Secondary School took on crosstown rival Stratford District Secondary School in the consolation final. The day would eventually belong to Kincardine, who beat F.E. Madill in the championship game. (Scott Stephenson photo)

NOTICE

BLYTH UNION CEMETERY AND WINGHAM CEMETERY The Township of North Huron has submitted a revised by-law to the Registrar of the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2022. Any interested parties may contact the Township of North Huron Public Works Department at (519) 357-3550 ext. 128 for further information, visit the Township Municipal Office to receive a hard copy or access online copies on the Township Website. By-Laws or amendments may be reviewed or copied at the Municipal Office.

This By-Law is subject to the approval of the Registrar, Funeral, Burial, and Cremation Services Act. 2002.

NEWS FROM WALTON

Telephone: Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO): 647-483-2645 or 1-844-493-6356.

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023. PAGE 23.

America’s ‘Grass Whisperer’ visits Brussels

Preaching the ways Troy Bishopp, left, who is also known as “The Grass Whisperer” to some, was the guest of honour as Brussels Agri Services held one of its lauded pasture days recently in Brussels. The business’s co-owner, Tim Prior, can be seen listening intently to the musings of Bishopp. (Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot photo)

By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot The Rural Voice A sixth-generation beef farmer with a love of grass and a swath of advice told hundreds at a spring grazing meeting in Brussels to look in the mirror and be “linger grazers” if they want to raise healthy cows and have a great life.

Affectionately known as “The Grass Whisperer”, Troy Bishopp has been a grass farmer for 36 years at Bishopp Family Farm in Deansboro, New York. A grasslands advocate and conservation professional at Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District, Bishopp raises dairy heifers, grass-finished beef and backgrounds feeder cattle on 180 acres of owned and leased cool-season pastures.

Brussels Agri Services Ltd. owners Tim and Donna Prior and their team brought Bishopp in from New York to give lessons on life, with a few tidbits on how to grow grass and raise cattle.

Like any good conversationalist, Bishopp started off his presentation by talking about the weather. “I have no snow, you got snow, nobody has

snow,” he said. “A lot of us don’t know what is going on with the weather and that is one of the many problems we have to face.”

However, the biggest problem most farmers have is the person they meet in the mirror.

Showing pictures of his farm with lush, green pastures compared to other pastures eaten to the ground and exhibiting signs of erosion, Bishopp said the biggest difference is not fertilizer or weather, it is mindset. “It’s not the cow, it’s the how,” said Bishopp. “We are the problem.”

Whether from a lack of goals or disinterest in learning new methods of grazing, it’s the farmers themselves that need to change. That change begins with creating a context for your farm and your life.

A context is what moves people in the direction they want to go and it starts with setting long-term goals.

“Without goals and context you cannot be where you need to be.”

Bishopp shared his goal statement, which merged farm and family life and revolves around creating space for the next generation. The best way to do that is with permanent

sod, he believes. It reads: “We want a stress-free life, with our topsoil covered with diverse pastures, harvested by animals, whereby recycling solar energy and activating the biological life to produce a sustainable profit for us while regenerating our community with local food and creating a savanna for wildlife and a place for the next generation to thrive.”

Bishopp said his most important tool is the next generation, which is what drives his position. He said most farmers look at tomorrow and profits, but families and farms would be healthier if they looked 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 years down the road. Yet, he also believes farmers should have a toolbox of strategies to be able to deal with all the vagaries of farming.

Charting is a critical one.

Bishopp charts data from his pastures, including growth rates, to determine when cattle should be moved from one pasture to another.

It used to be that pastures on his farm would recover after 15 days in the spring. With drought becoming a yearly issue, these same pastures are now taking up to 38 days to fully recover. “We have to be proactive.”

These annual charts then become planning tools, allowing farmers to project cattle movements up to three months in advance. The best part about this is that they are “true”.

Many farmers look across their field and use their eyes to believe the grass is growing an inch a day, said Bishopp. You won’t know if that is accurate until you actually measure and chart it.

He said farmers need to have

Coronation

sacrifice pastures and barnyards for rain events to keep cattle off the fields, and “always, always, always” Continued on page 24

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PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023.

Bishopp offers farming, life advice in Brussels

Thinking outside the box New York grass farmer Troy Bishopp held a captive audience recently in Brussels as Tim and Donna Prior, owners of Brussels Agri Services, held one of their wildly successful pasture days in the village, with Bishopp as the guest of honour. (Courtesy photo) Continued from page 23 have hay in the barn to supplement when faced with drought or severe weather events.

Pastures need to be managed.

Bishopp said there are farmers running low on hay now who have already let their cattle into pastures that were eaten too short last fall. He said those farmers have lost before they even began because grass cannot recover if not given a chance to grow.

He understands that finances drive most decisions which is why he has opted to farm and have two other jobs. Custom grazing beef cattle provided a steady income on his 100 acres and he chose that “steadiness” to reduce stress and make sure there was work and money for his employees.

On the Bishopp farm, it’s all about grass and rotating cattle before grass is eaten too short to recuperate. He has many strategies along the line of regeneration agriculture and mob grazing (short duration, high density grazing with a longer than usual grass recovery period) to make sure each pasture has lush regrowth. That includes winter pastures, which are left to go to seed before the cattle enter. The cows eat and stamp seeds into the ground. This pasture is left to reseed naturally creating some excellent late summer pastures, explained Bishopp.

His thick pastures also provide ecosystem services because the healthy soil underneath the grass can absorb heavy rains. If there are washouts, the water doesn’t take soil with it because all the soil is covered. Three watercourses on the farm sequester water. “We should start charging the town for our ecosystem services instead of beef,” said Bishopp.

However, he was quick to point out that what works on his farm may not work on all farms. He encouraged the hundreds of farmers in attendance to develop a full toolbox of strategies. Use your mind to think about your financial resources, land capacity, infrastructure, soil fertility, biological life, plants, animals, time management, equipment and mentors, he advised.

Moreover, invest in yourself, urged Bishopp. “Here’s a tidbit for you… get a mentor. Read books.

Watch YouTube. Learn your craft as grazers.” Bishopp said he considers

himself a craftsman and takes his skill at growing grass as seriously as a woodworker does making a cabinet. Mentors are a key part of that. They let you rant and they have wisdom. “They are in book form, except they breathe,” said Bishopp.

Swinging back to life advice (which, in Bishopp’s world, is also farming advice) he recommended more farmers adopt “linger grazing”.

Bishopp defines that as observing the little things and thinking about how they affect the big things. “We need to observe when we walk the land, because it’s the little things that affect big things… like our happiness.”

One of the joys on his farm is that planting trees and creating healthy pastures welcomes nature back in.

Leaving a field to seed has so many benefits, including reseeding the pasture and providing habitat for birds.

Other advice Bishopp offered during the spring grazing session included: • Invest in quality: Bishopp said, on their farm, his father was frugal and often bought cheap gates to move cattle. “It took years of getting crushed by cows and gates to say, ‘maybe we should get a better system.’” They built a corral with quality materials and said it was one of the best investments they ever made.

• Think smart about fertilizer: The Bishopp farm has many hills on their property and the poorest soil is at the top of the hills, which are too steep for a tractor and manure spreader to travel, so Bishopp lets his cows do the work. “We bring the hay up there and let the cows do their business,” he said.

• Invest in perennial grasses: The longevity of the grasses and their long roots are an excellent prevention against drought, which is common in New York.

• Take the lead in cow education: “In New York, cows are bad. They are targets. But most of the people who talk about cows do not have any. I think farmers should be the leaders in this discussion. Somehow we are getting beat, but, with education and vigour, we can turn the tide.” Cattle may burp and fart, he said, but their system turns grass (which humans cannot digest) into food that humans can digest, all the while fertilizing the fields with manure.

• Don’t buy more cows: Bishopp says he sees it over and over again… as soon as there is a good growth year, farmers add another 10 cattle.

“We always add more cows,” said Bishopp. The problem is, the farmers don’t think what will happen 30 days from then when drought hits or even just how it fits into their overall grazing plan. Generally, farmers have too many cows and too little land, which results in overgrazing on fields that never get time to recover. Bishopp likes to have more grazing days than more animals. “We went from 180 grazing days to 240 and found there is more money in that for us than to have 10 extra cows.”

• Make time for camping: Having a plan and pasture with lots of feed means there are more free days for fun stuff like camping.

Bishopp’s plan predicts the day when cows need to be moved to the next pasture, which gives him space to camp in between. “We had 39 camping days last year,” he said. “To me, that is the most important - more important than money.”

• Be resilient: The world is changing and there will be more

food disruptions, climate issues, and laws about fuel and fertilizer.

Farmers need to think about resiliency and that starts with grass.

Bishopp joked a lot during his presentation, but he was dead serious when he advised people to enjoy being farmers by rolling in the grass, because it’s a building block of life.

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BOOK

ALFALFABET A TO Z Help a youngster learn the alphabet and learn about food and agriculture at the same time with this colourfully illustrated picture book. As well as learning the ABCs youngsters will learn of everything from farm animals to fruits and the bees that pollinate them. (softcover) $12.95

BACKROADS OF SOUTHERN GEORGIAN BAY This book features the best daylong excursions in the Southern Georgian Bay area. Eleven of the best day trips off the beaten path. This book is full of fascinating historical facts, beautifully drawn maps and so much more. $19.95

HORSE GAMES & PUZZLES For the young person who loves all things horses, this book has 102 brain teasers, word games, jokes and riddles, picture puzzles, matches and logic tests in 130 pages of fun. $14.95

BREAD MAKING Essential Guide For Beginners ~ SelfSufficiency This is an invaluable guide for anyone who’s always wanted to make warm, delicious bread while becoming less reliant on processed, pre-packaged food. $11.99

405 Queen St., Blyth

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH Dr. Dave Perrin produces his fifth book of adventures as a veterinarian dealing with difficult patients from a mare that’s stumbling drunk, to a cockatoo that crunches his finger like a hazelnut, to a skunk in a church. $23.95

THE FRESH EGG COOKBOOK Farm-fresh chicken eggs are nutritious and delicious and versatile in so many dishes. This cookbook provides recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner and desserts to top off the meals. Lots of information about eggs. $19.95

BIRDHOUSES BOXES & FEEDERS Whether you are a woodworker who loves birds - or a birdwatcher who wants to create a wildlife-friendly habitat-this book will show you environmentally sound ways to enhance any garden by attracting birds. $24.99

ADMIRAL HENRY WOLSEY BAYFIELD David Yates brings to life the powerful personality and extraordinary career of Henry Bayfield, taking us on travels through the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River and Atlantic coast in small boats on rough waters. This is a story that deserves to be remembered. $20.00

The Citizen

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