The Citizen - November 15, 2024

Four Blyth teams make finals at broomball tourney

Putting it all on the line

Blyth Junior Broomball had a big weekend, hosting its annual tournament at both the Blyth and District and Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centres with games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And while four local teams made it to the finals, unfortunately none of

them were able to capture gold on home ice. Above, on Saturday morning at the Blyth arena, the U12 Blyth Bullets beat the Mildmay Moose by a score of 2-1, doing their part to establish Blyth dominance in tournament play. (John Stephenson photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

It was another successful Blyth Junior Broomball Tournament over the weekend, played in both Blyth and Brussels. And while none of the Blyth teams were able to bring home the gold, four of them did make it to the championship game.

Over three days, 54 broomball games were played at the Blyth and District and Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centres, making for another landmark weekend for local broomball.

In the U9 bracket, it was the Mildmay Farmers who claimed victory, defeating the Blyth Bullets in the finals by a score of 3-1. The Bullets also made it to the finals in the U16 Girls division, but they fell to Palmerston in the finals by a score of 2-1.

In U12 competition, Keady beat the Blyth Silver team in the finals by a score of 2-0, while the U14 Girls Blyth Bullets fell in the finals to Mildmay by a score of 1-0. The U14 Boys from Mildmay beat the Seaforth Hurricanes in the finals by a score of 3-1, while the U20 Girls division was won by the Palmerston Terminators over the Kilsyth Young Guns by a score of 1-0, while the Kilsyth Flyers lost to the Mildmay Moose in the U20 Boys finals, also by a score of 1-0.

The tournament began in Blyth on Friday night. The U12 Blyth Silver team beat Palmerston by a

Continued on page 12

ACW considers new parks, renos to existing ones

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

On Nov 5, Ashfield-ColborneWawanosh (ACW) Council received conceptual design work for three potential new parks in the municipality, as well as proposals for improvements and updates for five of ACW’s existing parks. Council commissioned the design work last year, in alignment with the goals and objectives set out in the township’s 10-year Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan. The five existing parks under consideration for a glow-up are Ashfield Park, Benmiller Community Hall and Baseball Diamonds, Dungannon

Park, St. Helens Hall and Playground, and Petrie Park. The three proposed parks are Century Heights Park and Maitland View Estates Park in Saltford, and the Dungannon Well Reservoir Site.

Although the design concepts contained many ideas for park improvements across the township, a number of ACW citizens attended the meeting to express support for one particular element of the park plan - a proposed playground upgrade adjacent to the dual baseball diamonds of Benmiller.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Mackenzie Deuschle of the Benmiller Community Hall Committee

(BCHC) spoke in favour of the potential playground update. “We feel that we can enhance the enjoyment of all who use the Benmiller Hall and Baseball Diamonds with the addition of a playground. Currently, there is nothing more than a small, dated swing set and a newly-added memorial sandbox. This is just not enough to fill the needs for the number of children using our grounds. According to the Parks and Recreation Plan from 2023, Benmiller was deemed a high-needs priority area for recreational playground equipment, and there are a number of local children who would greatly

benefit from a playground.”

Deuschle reminded council that the next nearest parks are at least 10 kilometres away, and that multiple baseball leagues and teams have been using the Benmiller diamond, from tee-ball to softball. “The TriCounty Youth League consisted of eight centres, with travelling U7, U9, U11, and U13 teams... each team had approximately 14 kids per team - that totals about 462 kids travelling to Benmiller for multiple games throughout the season,” she pointed out. “This number does not include any siblings coming to the games. As you can see, our grounds are literally full of kids. Adding a playground in Benmiller would

A Warm Welcome to

offer a much needed, safe and fun space for our kids to play.”

Deuschle hadn’t come to the meeting empty-handed - she’d brought along the collection of playground designs and quotes that the BCHC had assembled as part of its own independent efforts to create a plan to improve the playground. She also wanted council to know that the project could be more affordable than perhaps councillors might think. “All quotes are considerably lower than the $150,000 quote that is within the conceptual plans for the park being presented today,” she said. “We believe it could be much

Continued on page 21

NH volunteer meeting met with confusion, frustration

The changing landscape

Over 30 volunteers from throughout North Huron attended a Tuesday afternoon meeting about the changing legal landscape regarding municipalities, liability and volunteerism. North Huron Chief Administrative Officer Dwayne Evans, seen above speaking, fielded questions about a yet-to-be-written volunteer policy for the township and the letter he wrote that rubbed some volunteers the wrong way. (Shawn

By Shawn Loughlin

Over 30 local volunteers took in an information session on Tuesday afternoon in North Huron that left many wondering if the municipality seeking improved communication from its service groups couldn’t have improved its own communication.

The process that led to Tuesday’s meeting began with letters dated Nov. 4 and signed by North Huron Chief Administrative Officer Dwayne Evans that invited as many volunteers within North Huron as possible to attend the session, held at the Hot Stove Lounge within the North Huron Wescast Community Complex. While the letter thanked

volunteers for their invaluable commitment to the community and their enthusiasm for their work, it also seemingly asked them to stop any volunteer work until it could be cleared with the township. Certainly that was how it was interpreted by many who were in attendance, who were frustrated, confused and looking for answers.

“While we appreciate the

goodwill behind these efforts, it is important for the safety of everyone involved that all volunteer activities are organized and properly sanctioned by the township. This ensures that proper supervision, safety protocols and insurance coverage are in place to protect both volunteers and the community,” Evans wrote in his letter, which was sent to all volunteer organizations in North Huron.

“We kindly request that you discontinue any unorganized volunteer activities until we can come together and find the best solution. We look forward to working with you as we navigate and develop a solution to provide orientation and scheduling for future volunteering opportunities that are approved and supported by the township.”

The session, as written in Evans’ letter, was billed as an “Introductory Session to the Legal Municipal Landscape” and would cover such issues as: when is an individual a volunteer; employeremployee relationship; negligence; township’s duty to volunteers; vicarious liability; risk management and an overview of the township’s health and safety policies and procedures.

However, there was no formal presentation aspect to the session, but it did begin with Evans addressing some concerns he had heard from residents in advance of the meeting and further explaining the reasoning behind it and the importance of it.

He said that staff is planning on developing a new volunteer policy for the municipality, which is quite common now and helps set municipalities up for success in

terms of having the government and staff on the same page as volunteers within the municipality, making sure things are being done properly and safely. This, he said, is essential to shielding the municipality from liability in the event of an injury or any other type of tragedy in which the municipality could be implicated legally.

He said the hope is for staff to present a draft volunteer policy to North Huron Council early next year, followed by further information sessions with volunteers to ensure understanding of the policy.

Evans was complemented by a lawyer, an insurance broker and council members Paul Heffer, Kevin Falconer and Anita van Hittersum for the presentation. Adam Stephens, the lawyer volunteering his time to offer up advice, spoke to those in attendance about the changing landscape of legal liability, especially when it comes to municipalities, which are disproportionately exposed.

The first people to speak after Evans were representatives of the Wingham Lions Club, who were confused as to why they were included in the meeting if they have their own insurance and already coordinate volunteer efforts with the municipality. Evans said the club was doing the right things and that nothing would change for them. However, there was confusion about who was a volunteer within the municipality and to what extent having an event on municipal land or using municipal assets opened groups or volunteers up to liability.

Evans said the important thing is that no volunteer is doing anything for which they are unqualified

Continued on page 3

Loughlin photo)

The Citizen

Brazilian student returns to Walton after 10 years

Reunited

Ten years ago, below, Nick Vinnicombe, right, and Vandeilson Silva met through an exchange program. They have remained in touch and Silva remains a member of the family. He returned last month for a visit, bringing his fiance Alan, above left, as well. (Shawn Loughlin, submitted photos)

A reunion 10 years in the making played out near Walton late last month as a local family welcomed back an exchange student from Brazil who first entered their lives a decade earlier and never really left.

Vandeilson Silva, who goes by Van, first came to Huron County 10 years ago as part of a high school exchange. Silva earned the right to come to Canada by excelling in his studies and spent almost an entire semester at Central Huron Secondary School (CHSS) in Clinton, all while living with

and Reg

and their son Nick on their farm near Walton.

He so firmly connected with his host family that when the time came to say goodbye, both parties found it hard to bid farewell. So, they kept in touch all these years, with Silva keeping up a monthly phone call with the family and, this fall, Silva was finally able to come back and see his beloved Canadian friends.

Brenda, Reg and Nick all agree that Silva became a member of the family all those years ago and it was thrilling to have him back in the area. This time, however, now 10 years older than he was in his high school days, Silva is a member of the work force and could only visit for about a week-and-a-half, but that was enough to reconnect with the people he so loved from his first visit to Canada.

Silva isn’t the only student that the Walton family has hosted over the years, but he’s certainly the one who made the biggest impact on them.

Back in 2014, Silva didn’t speak much English, so admittedly, it took a while for him to connect with his host family and his fellow CHSS  students. That meant that Silva initially spent the bulk of his time at school with other Brazilian exchange students. However, he began gravitating towards Nick and

Policy expected next year

Continued from page 2 putting the municipality at risk. He used the example of someone in a horticultural society wanting to cut down some trees using a chainsaw. In order for the municipality to cover itself in terms of legal liability, the municipality needs to know if the person operating the chainsaw has been trained to do so, and, if not, then the municipality can seek to provide that training or offer up an employee who has been trained to do the work. Later, he used another example of someone doing electrical work on a municipal site and the need to keep that person safe and ensure they aren’t electrocuted.

The Lions Club representatives were concerned about the aspect of the letter that asked them to discontinue volunteer activities with the club just weeks away from its annual Santa Claus parade. Evans said that event is alright to go ahead, as the club has worked with staff, but members of the club said

they felt that is not how the letter is worded. Furthermore, they suggested perhaps a follow-up letter to clear things up because, as it stands now, the last correspondence received from the township asked that clubs discontinue their work, so they need to be advised otherwise. Stephens agreed, saying that the township needs to be able to defend itself in the case of a legal challenge and show that it did everything it could to mitigate liability and make things safe for all involved. If the defence, he said, from a club is that they’ve done something for 50 years and there’s no reason that should change, that won’t hold up in court, which is why a policy and work from the township is necessary to reduce its legal liability. That’s why, he said, it’s important for the municipality to know its volunteers, know what they’re doing and know if they’re qualified to be doing what it is that they’re doing.

learning more English and soon they were inseparable, with Silva even tagging along on field trips that Nick’s class would take.

He considered himself very lucky, however, because it’s quite expensive for a student from Brazil to travel to Canada for five months, so, to be given that opportunity, he said, he has always been grateful.

Silva said he found the culture very different in Canada, even down to the schools and how they operated. Another big difference, of course, was the weather. With Silva being in Canada over the winter semester and spending holidays like Halloween and Christmas in Huron County, it was certainly a bit different than the weather and temperatures with which he’d been accustomed in Brazil.

However, he soon came to love what he was experiencing in Canada and found it hard to leave when the time came, but he vowed to come back when he could.

Nick says he continued to keep in touch through Facebook as the

years went on. The boys are both young men now. Nick has started his own videography and video recovery business and Silva is now a flight attendant after a brief stint in teaching English, picking up so much of it during his first visit. During his most recent visit, Silva travelled to Niagara Falls, Toronto and around Huron County to see some of the sights and reconnect with some familiar faces from a decade earlier. This time, he brought along his fiancé Alan who was able to take in everything alongside Silva and the family. Nick unfortunately had to work a lot, but he spent as much time with the couple as he could, so they were able to make it work. During the interview, he said he’d love to head to Brazil for a visit one day, but factors like budget and schedule would have to align for that to happen. Silva even has some landmarks already chosen that he hopes to show off, like Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls, the Amazon and more.

living personal Jesus! (Archibald Brown)

"Christ is all!" Colossians 3:11

Christianity is all centered in a person! Conversion is not a mere change of human opinion it is the devotion of the heart to a person. A converted man is not a man who just changes his views concerning certain facts, or theories, or doctrines but he is a man whose heart has become devoted to a living Christ. All your religion, if it is worth anything - will be centered in a living personal Jesus. Your doctrines will all come from Him your motives will be found in Him your joys will be found in Him your acceptance will be found in Him: your completeness will be found in Him!

"You are complete in Him!" Colossians 2:10

A Grace Gem

Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church Listowel, ON 519-291-3887

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Representatives of several groups said they had memorandums of understanding with the township and asked what, if any, jurisdiction they had in terms of what was being discussed at the meeting. Evans said that the township found those agreements to be vague, which is why a policy is being developed. Now, however, the municipality has to walk a fine line and improve the lines of communication with its service clubs and volunteers to reduce legal liability in the interim until the policy can be developed, adopted and understood by those volunteering throughout the community.

Evans said he would consider a follow-up meeting, perhaps at night to accommodate those who work during the day, as well as a followup letter that could be clearer on the municipality’s position. In the meantime, staff will review other policies in place in the region and develop its own before presenting it to council next year.

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Brenda Nyveld

Vinnicombe

By Shawn Loughlin

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Founding Publisher: Keith Roulston

Publisher & President: Deb Sholdice • Editor: Shawn Loughlin

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1H0 email: info@northhuron.on.ca

Late last week, Bruce Power announced that it will be working together with the provincial government to begin processing medical isotopes nearby in Bruce County. Currently, the isotopes are produced here and shipped to Germany for processing. By building a facility to do its own processing, Bruce Power will be saving time and money.

When economic development can save lives and reduce the cost of health care, that is a win-win scenario for Ontario. Bruce Power CEO Eric Chassard predicts that with a local processing facility, they will be able to bring the cost of a single dose of isotope lutetium-177, used primarily to detect and kill prostate cancer cells, from $60,000 to just a couple thousand dollars. Canada has gone from importing most of its medical isotopes in 2022 to now producing most of what it needs.

Nuclear energy tends to get more negative press than positive, especially in recent years as the area decides on how to manage the waste from the process. In addition to the power that is required for our modern society, the medical byproducts remind us of how reliant we have become on the elephant in the area. – DS

Why bother asking?

Under Chief Administrative Officer Brad McRoberts, Huron East has seemingly ushered in a new era of public outreach and input. Be it the Huron East Asks Residents (HEAR) platform or regular public surveys, it seems like the municipality is asking more questions than it ever has before. And yet, upon receiving those opinions, Huron East Council has made a regular practice of not listening to them.

The municipality, through marketing firm Cinnamon Toast, engaged residents in its rebranding work, asking residents what they thought was important, which of the three potential new logos they preferred and more. As noted by Councillor Justin Morrison, 50 per cent of those asked voted for Option C, while 47 per cent voted for Option A, so it only made sense to put forward Option C. Not to Huron East Council. Several councillors voiced their personal admiration for Option A, so, Option A it was. Now, there’s something to be said about the fallible nature of standard, garden-variety democracy (any first-world nations elect any fascists recently?) but, in this case, the people have spoken.

Of course, an elected body of councillors is always going to have the last word when it comes to spending taxpayers’ money, however, if the plan was always to move ahead with whatever council preferred, engaging soliciting meaningful public input feels like an illusion. It’s reasonable to look at the process and think that professional time and resources were wasted and that people’s time was wasted.

This has happened before in Huron East, with public input and even an ad hoc committee recommending changes to council’s composition, only for council to then ignore that feedback and go its own way. If this continues, the municipality runs the risk of becoming The Boy Who Cried Wolf and the next time council wants input from its residents, those same residents might wonder why they should even bother. – SL

It is happening again

Much ink has been spilled on the re-election of Donald Trump last week, the apparent return of fascism and American voters looking past numerous transgressions (felony convictions, sexual abuse liability, two impeachments, inciting an insurrection, efforts to undermine democracy and the list goes on and on and on) to elect their next leader. And while Americans have seemingly made their bed and now they’re readying to lie in it, because the United States of America has firmly established itself as the world’s police force, worldwide reverberations abound.

Aside from the irreparable damage that’s sure to be done to the United States of America and the rights and freedoms of its residents, what does it mean to live in world in which Trump is fairly elected a second time? And what does it mean for Canada, which has been a bee in Trump’s bonnet since his first time? Canada may face its own changing of the guard soon enough. Does that mean that a change at the top will improve Canada’s relationship with the United States? Or, with someone more conservative and, frankly, “Trumpy” in office, will Canada be even more vulnerable as the conservative besties make googly eyes at one another and pass heart-stickered notes that read “You + Me = Fascism?”

Only time will tell, but the Canadian/American relationship is one of the most important and civil in the world and, with erratic, unpredictable change in the air, that could all be quite easily disrupted. The people of the United States have spoken loudly and clearly that they want Trump to lead them for the next four years (at least). How that decision will affect the rest of the world will be profound regardless of how it plays out. The United States has made it its business to inject itself into the affairs of others, stomping around the world’s lunch room, batting other countries’ books onto the ground and stealing others’ lunch money. Is Canada destined to be a friend in the schoolyard, or will our heads be on their way to the toilet bowl with Trump holding us by our ankles? – SL

Looking Back Through the Years

November 19, 1969

Last Thursday evening, the Blyth Lions Club held its regular meeting, celebrating Ladies’ Night by inviting members’ wives and girlfriends to join in the festivities. The meal was catered by the Starlight Unit, whose members were thanked on behalf of the club and guests by Lion Mac Brooks.

Tail Twister Glen Gibson was a whirlwind of activity throughout the meeting, collecting a good amount in fines. Secretary Bill Riehl presented this sum to Lions Doug and Bill Howson to start a bank account for their recent family additions.

The Blyth Horticultural Society gathered at Mrs. J. Phelan’s home on Nov. 12.

The president, Mrs. A. Sundercock, began the meeting by sharing two poems, titled “The Missing of Friends” and “Count Your Years”. Mrs. C. Falconer read several engaging newsletters, including one about the Royal Winter Fair running from the 14th to the 22nd.

The group decided to once again sponsor the Home Decoration Contest.

The Community Fellowship Club held its first social afternoon on Nov. 12 at the United Church.

Everyone enjoyed a game of shuffleboard, followed by a slide presentation by Mr. and Mrs. Keith Webster, featuring scenes from Western Canada and Northern Ontario. Miss Hazel Potts and Mrs. Webster served lunch. The group planned to meet again on Nov. 26.

November 16, 1977

A construction project launched this fall by Maitland Teleservices was nearing completion.

The work included the installation of buried cable and service wires along Concessions 9 and 10, as well as 15 and 16 in Grey Township, Concessions 3 and 4 in Morris Township and in the Ethel area.

The Telephone Cable and Wire Company installed about 35 miles of cable and approximately 12 miles of service wire. The cable installation, costing around $250,000, was accompanied by the need for additional switching equipment, estimated to cost an extra $50,000.

The Brussels Business Association gave its initial approval to the idea of establishing a federal penitentiary in the village.

At its meeting on Nov. 2, the association requested member Herb Stretton send a letter to MP Robert McKinley, expressing support for the council’s decision to apply for the penitentiary.

It was a muddy day just south of Brussels last Thursday during a machinery demonstration hosted by McGavin Farm Equipment Ltd. Leyland Zetor and Steyr tractors powered through mud and water up to two feet deep.

November 15, 1989

Despite objections from a neighbouring farmer, the Blyth Village Council voted unanimously on Wednesday night to recommend a zoning change for two lots at the north end of the village to allow for a subdivision.

The lots, located on the east side of Highway 4, just south of the Blyth Distributors plant, are currently zoned for highway commercial use. However, owner John Van den Assem had requested a change to residential zoning so he could incorporate them into his

proposed 31-lot subdivision planned for the area east of these lots.

Vandals caused nearly $3,000 in damage to Canadian Agra Elevators on Highway 4 in East Wawanosh Township over the weekend, according to a report from the Wingham OPP.

Katherine Kaszas announced she would step down as artistic director of the Blyth Festival following the 1990 season.

November 18, 2004

The Brussels Legion hosted another of its popular fish fry dinners on Saturday night.

Despite outstanding goaltending by Trystan Weber, who, by all accounts, “stood on his head” to make saves, the Blyth Novices experienced their first loss of the season on November 11. The Novice Dogs hosted Drayton, the winners of this 3-1 match.

It was the annual Home Sweet Home craft sale and tea hosted by the Belgrave Guiding groups on Saturday morning. Shoppers flocked to the event, eager to find unique gifts to assist with their Christmas lists. Attendees enjoyed browsing the various stalls, sipping tea and indulging in delicious treats.

North Huron council received some disappointing news at the Monday night meeting when they learned they would need to make a retroactive insurance payment of just over $10,000.

The retro assessment for reciprocal insurance dated back to 1998, 1999 and 2000. In June, the ROMA Insurance Board approved retro assessment billings for all current and former members of the ROMA Reciprocal Insurance Program.

Other Views

Do you care about community?

Deb and Shawn recently attended the meeting of the independent owners of Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA). Deb reported that there were fewer newspapers than in the past.

It’s a sad commentary on the situation of newspapers in Ontario. Last year I went with Deb to the meeting near Orangeville because, as a long-term publisher, I was being honoured by inclusion in the OCNA Hall of Fame. Even then I saw a huge change.

I once sat on the OCNA board of directors. In those days there were two conventions a year: one in the spring for all of the newspapers, including members of chains, and a fall gettogether for independents. I remember sitting at the awards dinner in which the chains brought in editorial staff members who had been nominated for awards. There were hundreds there.

Most of the chain newspapers no longer belong to OCNA. They have few staff anymore anyway. Look at the former Signal-Star chain in our area where there are fewer reporters among a half-dozen papers than we have at The Citizen. I remember when we hired Denny Scott, who was the most junior reporter at the Goderich Signal-Star, and they were cutting back to three staffers. Today, the largest town in Huron County has no reporters.

Seeing the changes in the community newspaper business makes me feel even older than my age. I have lived through such changes.

While a journalism student at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in the summer of 1967, I was employed by A. Y. McLean at the Huron Expositor in Seaforth. That summer, Canada’s Centennial, I got to see the last days of an era when newspapers were owned by the local

Keith Roulston From the cluttered desk

printing plant. We printed The Expositor two pages at a time on a flat-bed press. It took from Monday to Thursday.

One of my jobs was to drive photographs taken and developed by a local professional photographer to the Clinton News-Record where they had a machine that scanned them onto plastic plates that could then be printed on the press in Seaforth.

In 1970, after graduation, I was hired to be editor of the News-Record after it had been purchased by Bob Shrier and Howard Aitken of the Signal-Star in Goderich, part of an empire that eventually stretched from Georgian Bay to Grand Bend. They eventually sold to a bigger chain, which sold to an even bigger chain. We went from a whole bunch of small independent publishers, each understanding their importance to their community, to an immense chain that only cared about profit.

When I sat on the OCNA board, that chain still belonged to the organization. In later years, they stopped joining, saving the expense of all those small papers paying memberships. Of course all the changes weren’t just in newspaper ownership. When I became a publisher in 1971, people still bought their groceries, hardware and clothing in local shops, and merchants still advertised in local newspapers. Since then, larger chains have

moved into places like Goderich and Listowel and they seldom advertise in local newspapers. Still, people drive from smaller towns to the chains in larger towns to shop. The magical revolving chain was broken where stores supported newspapers which, in turn, kept the community active by reporting on local activities of the Legion and Lions Clubs. Our communities have broken down as people depend on the internet for their news.

I suppose that’s where my age comes in. I’m just not into it. The money that used to go into supporting the salaries of local reporters and advertising sales representatives is now going to internet billionaires in California or even China - people (usually men) who have never even heard of Brussels or Blyth, Ontario.

That doesn’t seem to bother younger people who are happy that we have reporters who go to local events that they read about on the internet, but may not subscribe, or read the paper if they do.

The Citizen is a rare gem, supported by community owners, who haven’t even been rewarded by financial returns in recent years as Deb has scraped and scrounged to keep the newspaper going under today’s conditions. She’s done such a good job that we have picked up subscribers from nearby communities, making The Citizen not just a Brussels and Blyth newspaper, but a northern Huron paper. Her challenge is to survive day by day and hope younger residents wake up and realize that a newspaper is part of a natural local community that cares what happens locally, and that the alternatives, the internet providers, don’t give a damn about the future of those local communities.

You have a chance to matter in a community that matters to you. Do you care?

We are ‘beaving it’ easy on Beaver Street

Fancifully foraging through the forest of fully-formed formlessness, we find ourselves at the incredible crossroads of transformation and moonlit mayhem. Welcome to this week’s edition of Beaver Chaff! As fate would have it, the Beaver moon, that luminous sentinel of autumn, has cast its silvery glow on our humble publication, causing a most curious metamorphosis. Once Werewolf Chaff - an entity steeped in the rich lore of the supernatural - we now teeter on the precipice of a new aspect of our identity, bewilderingly embodying the spirit of the industrious beaver.

Ah, the beaver, a creature both pragmatic and ingenious. Just as the werewolf howls, seeking connection to the untamed wilderness, the beaver tirelessly gnaws at nasty logs, crafting its dream dam, nestled within the drainage infrastructure of Morris-Turnberry, with purpose and precision. In this supernatural season of metamorphosis, we embrace the duality of these creatures, each a symbol of resilience and adaptability.

Our journey from trustworthy column to werewolf to beaver is akin to Shakespeare’s whimsical musings in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, where the lines between reality and illusion blur, and characters frolic in a delightful dance of enchantment and confusion.

Picture the moonlight reflecting off a beaver dam, where woodland creatures gather for an odd soirée. They sip on acorn tea, nibbling on stick biscuits, engaged in profound discussions about the nature of reality itself. “To gnaw or not to gnaw,” they ponder, echoing the great Bard as they grapple with their own transformations. In this historic gathering, a contemplative raccoon recites poetry while an enthusiastic squirrel performs a sexuallycharged dance, channeling the essence of

Scott Stephenson Beaver Chaff

nature itself. The absurdity swirls around us like the autumn leaves, and we are left to question: what do we truly desire - the instinctual freedom of the wolf or the pragmatic industriousness of the beaver? Each character, a reflection of our own inner conflicts, brings to light the tensions we all experience in our search for the most meaningful meaning.

As such, we remain perched precariously on the brink of utter chaos; an intoxicating blend of beaver-tail practicality and werewolf whimsy. As our identities twist and turn like the currents of the river, we recognize that there is profound wisdom in both natures. The beaver teaches us the value of hard work and community, of crafting something lasting amidst the ever-changing landscape, while the werewolf reminds us of the wild spirit within us, howling in celebration of our primal instincts. Who among us has not felt the tug of duality - the longing for freedom against the demands of responsibility? Perhaps we’ll uncover truths amid the raucousness, revealing the hidden connections between these two creatures of the night and day. In a world that often demands we choose one path, we celebrate our ability to embrace both - the werewolf’s instinct and the beaver’s determination - each a vital part of Beaver Chaff’s identity. Here, at the intersection of our disparate selves, we find a rich tapestry woven with the

Let’s find you a hobby

Every once in a while, for a different reason each time, I take the five minutes to do the math and find out which column in the lineage of my columns you’re about to read. This is the 741st column that I’ve written for The Citizen over the course of my career, which now exceeds 18 years.

Very early on in my career here, when I was not yet the editor and Bonnie Gropp was, I  wrote a pair of columns that were stand-alone installments from me, meant to work alongside certain stories that I wrote - kind of a storyand-column package deal. Then, when I became the acting editor, I began writing weekly in this space, which continued when the “acting” in acting editor was dropped and I simply became your editor, dear readers.

My column tends to be about 600 words per week, according to the space. Coming into this column, if you’ve been with me since the beginning, you will have now read 444,000 of the words I’ve written in this space (that, of course, doesn’t include the stories I’ve written on a weekly basis over the course of those 18 years and change).

threads of each individual’s experience. So, grab your favourite trowels, pickaxes, scoops, shovels and buckets and let’s dig into the compacted soil of Beaver Chaff. As we each, individually, enjoy this tapestry of existence, let us take cues from our furry friends. Like the beaver, we’ll build our dreams with whatever materials we find at hand, and, like the werewolf, we’ll howl into the void, reveling in the sheer thrill of being alive.

As we wolf whistle and beaver tail along the fine line between nonsense and meaning, let us remember that life is, in its very essence, a disorienting dance of riddle-filled confusion. Beaver Chaff is a celebration of our ability to find joy amidst the chaos, where werewolves and beavers co-exist. Each howl and slap of the tail reminds us that we are part of a larger, mysterious narrative that boggles the mind and begs the imagination to contort into positions previously thought to be impossible.

So join us in this merry masquerade for, in the enchanting glow of the Beaver moon, we have the opportunity to dance, to dream and to be delightfully, bewilderingly, human or werewolf or beaver or some unabashed and ungodly combination of the abovementioned. As we embrace this transformation, we come to understand that our identities are not fixed but fluid, capable of bending and shifting like the flowing waters of the river. In this exploration of self, we discover the beauty of our multiplicity, relishing the fact that sometimes, it’s not about choosing between the wolf and the beaver, but rather embracing the harmonious cacophony they represent.

Stay tuned next week as Beaver Chaff gnaws into a long-overdue review of the television show Leave It To Beaver.

The quick math breaks down like this. You have 740 columns, each with 600 words, which comes to a total of 444,000 words. You then bring that number into a words-into-time converter and you will know that it would take the average person (reading at a rate of 130 words per minute) 3,415.4 minutes to have read all of those words. Simply divide 3,145.4 by 60 to break it down into hours and you’ll be appalled and disappointed to learn that a person who has read all of those columns has spent just a hair under 57 hours of their life doing just that. In fact, if you factor in this column’s 600 words, it’s even cleaner. It gets us to 3,420 words, which is an even 57 hoursright on the nose.

(Now is the time for the quick disclaimer that I always have to include when I write a column like this, which brings us back to the great column mix-up of 2016. On May 19, 2016 - my birthday, randomly - I wrote a column. Big news, right? Well, on May 26, 2016, we ran that column again by mistake. So, all of this 740 columns business is a bit of a fraud in which a mere 739 of those columns contained original material. Shameful.)

Fifty-seven hours is much more than your average work week. It’s more than two full days. And, apparently, it’s the name of a successful adventure tour company. The name alludes to the stretch of time from 3 p.m. on a Friday to midnight on a Sunday - ostensibly the time you have to enjoy yourself on an average weekend before pulling things together, getting some sleep and returning to work, ready to go, on Monday morning.

Think of the possibilities and the potential for greatness in a stretch of time like that. And yet, meanwhile, you dedicated readers have chosen to spend that time, sectioned out over the course of 18 years, with me - reading the ideas, opinions and tales that I have come up with in this space - all while you could have been hiking in Patagonia (one of 57 Hours’ signature adventure experiences).

When I put it like that - especially when I  use Patagonia, one of the most beautiful places on earth, as an example - it feels like I have nothing left to do but to thank you. Thank you for welcoming me into this community and reading what I have to write and engaging with what I’ve had to say - from frivolous nonsense to regrettable hot takes to my journey now as a family man. I’ll resist the urge to scold you and implore you to do something more productive with your time.

Parading in the colours

As is tradition, weather-permitting, the Brussels Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion held its annual Remembrance Day ceremony on the front lawn of the branch, welcoming members of the public to behold the village’s magnificent outdoor cenotaph. This comes at a time when the Brussels Branch has taken on more responsibility after the closure of the Howick Branch of the Legion, meaning members conducted services in Howick and Fordwich, as well as in its home community of Brussels. (John Stephenson photo)

HE approves batting cages in Brussels

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

Huron East has entered into an agreement with the Brussels Minor Baseball Association to move ahead with new batting cages at the northeast corner of the Brussels Optimist Park - at the corners of Sports Drive and Market Street.

Council made the decision at its Nov. 5 meeting after Director of Community Services Lissa Berard presented a report on the fundraising efforts of baseballminded members of the community, with the help of the Brussels Optimists and others and what the finished product would look like.

She noted that the committee worked closely with her to ensure that all of the necessary requirements were met and that everything was in order.

“To ensure the success of the batting cage project, the committee has decided to donate all necessary funds for its implementation to the municipality. The committee will also oversee the construction and organization of the facility on municipal property. They will collaborate with the Director of Community Services to ensure construction compliance with safety regulations, insurance requirements and local laws,” Berard said in her report.

Berard said that the cages will become a municipal asset and, as such, all financial transactions will be processed through the

By Jo-Ann McDonald

The Brussels Legion Branch 218 was given the opportunity to serve the communities within Howick with the closing of the Howick Legion this past summer.

The poppy campaign was conducted by our Branch Poppy Chairman Kathy Burkholder with assistance from members of the former Howick Branch. The Remembrance Day service was conducted by President Jamie Mitchell and Padre Alex Jebson with Comrade Jeff Hawkins assisting. Fourteen members of Brussels Branch attended at the Fordwich cenotaph on Sunday at 2 p.m to conduct the Remembrance Day service on Nov. 10. There were about 50 people in attendance to observe and remember.

Following the Fordwich service, the Branch members went to the Howick Cemetery to conduct the Remembrance Day service at 3:15 p.m. at the cenotaph. There were about 30 people in attendance. A cool, damp day, but everything went well as we remembered the fallen and those who served.

The Remembrance Day service was held at the Brussels Branch and cenotaph on Monday, Nov. 11. There was a great crowd of nearly 150 folks on hand to observe the service. The Branch was very pleased to have the students from Grades 1-6 from North Woods

Public School attend the service as well. President Jamie Mitchell welcomed everyone and was assisted in the service by Padre Alex Jebson. We were pleased to have 43 wreaths laid by government, businesses, organizations and families. We were also pleased to have seven Cadets present, assisting in laying the wreaths.

Twenty-seven Comrades attended the service and helped to organize, look after the lunch, carry flags and clean-up. The group paraded to the Brussels United Church for the church service, led by the fourmember Brussels Legion Pipe Band before making their way back to the Branch following the service. A cool day, but a very good day to observe and remember our fallen and our servicemen who returned to show our respect for their service to our country. Thank you to all who attended.

The Thursday night blind mixed darts began last week and they had a great turnout. There were 22 folks there to play darts at 7:30 p.m. The first-place team was Tanya Martin, Eric Ross and Sandra Brown followed by the team of Georgina Salter, Jeremy Glousher and John Stadelmann in second place, and Rhonda Davis and Chris Brown in third.

The high shots were by Paul Willie (156), Jim Brown (127) and

Darlene Gibson (122). There were two teams that made the skunk board and they were the team of Pauleen Pennington, Steve Hall and Tim Nyholt and the team of Brenda DeForest, Roger Ericson and Paul Willie.

All are welcome to come out and play. Remember the 7:30 p.m. start time and it costs a whole toonie to play.

The Catch the Ace has found a winner. On Friday evening the draw was conducted by team Sandra, Joan and Lisa. The weekly winner’s name that was drawn was Rick Kelly. He had chosen envelope number 17 and when it was opened... the ace of spades was revealed! His weekly prize money was $362 and the jackpot monies were $10,224! The total prize awarded to Rick Kelly was $10,586! Congratulations to Rick.

On Saturday, the Branch was busy with the funeral luncheon for the late Leo Deitner. Our condolences to the Deitner family. Over 150 enjoyed their lunch following the funeral service. Comrades helping at the Branch included Jo-Ann, Judy Lee, Deb Ross and Jacqui Waetcher on Friday evening. Saturday help included Linda Bird, Rhonda Fischer, Judy Lee, John Lowe, Tanya Martin, Julie Pearce and JoAnn. A busy day and a good job by all.

municipality. “This initiative reflects the community’s commitment to enhancing recreational opportunities and fostering a healthy, active environment,” Berard said in her report.

The agreement then outlines the joint ownership structure, community usage guidelines and then the benefits to the community, which include promoting health and wellness, skill development and community cohesion.

Council approved a motion to enter into the agreement, clearing the batting cage project to go ahead.

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Fun By The Numbers

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A time to gather

Members of the Blyth Legion came together with local dignitaries and members of the public on Monday to mark Remembrance Day at Memorial Hall, one of the most stunning cenotaphs in Huron County. Blyth Festival Artistic Director Gil Garratt piped the group in, while Ric McBurney of the Legion and former pastor Les Cook conducted the service indoors. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

NH denies Blyth BIA request

By Scott Stephenson

At North Huron’s Oct. 21 meeting, council voted against a written request from the Blyth Business Improvement Area (BIA) to move the location of their monthly meetings from the Blyth Arena and Community Centre at 377 Gypsy Lane to The Blyth Inn, at 422 Queen Street. The request states that The Blyth Inn would be a more welcoming environment for the small group, as the centre's winter heater fan is very loud in the winter, and the acoustics of the large space makes it hard to hear each other. It also explains that, overall, BIA members would be more comfortable meeting at a location closer to their businesses, and that they had found nothing in their constitution that forbids having their meetings in a privately-owned space. The request for a change of venue was penned by Blyth BIA Chair Angela Cullen, who is also the general manager of The Blyth Inn.

During council’s discussion of the request, Reeve Paul Heffer enquired as to whether or not a closed meeting could be held at an establishment like The Blyth Inn, which is often populated with other people. Deputy-Reeve Kevin Falconer, who is also the Blyth BIA’s Council Representative, had concerns about the request. “The request is quite easily filled in the current situation - the head of Blyth BIA is in control of the management of the room that they’re using... I don’t know how

council could sustain that, if that person was no longer the head, or too busy to be on the BIA. To make a motion to move it from a public space would only be temporary... this motion would be a very shortterm thing. Is the next president of the BIA going to be able to facilitate another private option for the meetings to take place? Where this, being the township-owned premises, it’s always going to be open for the BIA’s use. I just don’t see how moving it to a private location, and then having it open to the public, that’s my only concern.”

He added that he had abstained from being involved with the wording and content of the request, as it would be coming before council.

Clerk Carson Lamb pointed out that, although BIAs can technically meet in closed session under the Municipal Act, there is rarely a need. “Any location would need to be able to accommodate a closedsession meeting. As far as publicversus-private space, from an accountability and a transparency perspective, a public space is always going to be the preferred option. That being said, staff definitely do acknowledge the acoustic issues up in the second floor.” Lamb then asked if the smaller meeting room on the first floor of the Blyth Arena, which can accommodate as many as 20 people, would provide sufficient space for the BIA meetings.

Falconer told council he would suggest the space to the Blyth BIA. “I don’t know whether they’ve ever considered that as an option, or if

Euchre returns to Blyth Legion on Monday afternoon

By Deb Hakkers

I’ve got everything put away for winter in the shed, now I just need to get the tarps up around the gazebo and we will be ready for winter.

I am looking forward to getting my Christmas urns ready this weekend to add some colour to the front of our house. Soon the hustle and bustle of Christmas will be upon us, remember to take time to enjoy the season and to also reach out to those who struggle with the season, both financially and emotionally. Reach out to someone, even if it is just a call to say, “I am thinking about you!”

Mom continues to rehab at Huronlea. She continues to build strength standing and is still working slowly toward her goal of walking. Her next task is to be able to shift weight from one foot to the other.

This week, we wish a happy birthday to Braidon Abell-Rinn on Nov. 15, Ron Abell-Rinn on Nov. 18, Ollie Craig on Nov. 19, Kathy Abell-Rinn on Nov. 20 and Kayla Dale and Ashley Walden on Nov. 21. We hope everyone enjoys their special day!

The next euchre at the Legion is set for Nov. 18. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. and the game starts at 1 p.m. The cost $5 per person and that includes a light lunch. To sign up or to cancel, please call or text

Kathryn Aires at 519-895-6764. Save the date for Blyth’s Santa Claus parade on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 11 a.m.

If there is anything special you would like to see mentioned in this column, please e-mail me at mcraig1@tcc.on.ca or call me at 519-525-8640.

Until next week, take care of yourselves and each other. Remember we have much to be thankful for! We have not seen snow yet, but all too soon, winter will be here!

FIREARMS WANTED FOR OUR 202 AUCTION PROGRAM

that’s ever been afforded to them.... There’s audio visual available there - it might be more favourable for the meetings.”

A motion was put forth to deny the request to move the meetings to The Blyth Inn, and to move them instead to the smaller meeting room on the first floor, which passed.

CONTACT: SWITZER’S AUCTION

MAITLAND VALLEY CAMERA CLUB

Photography by Liz Allan

The Citizen

Sports

Top three pulling away in North Pollock Division

The widening gap

While the Wingham Ironmen are holding their own in the North Pollock Division of the Provincial Junior Hockey League in fourth place, the top three teams in the division continue to pull away, leaving a gulf of 10 points between the third-place Mount Forest Patriots and the fourth-place Ironmen, seen here playing the Hanover Barons earlier this month. (John Stephenson photos)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

While the Wingham Ironmen have moved into fourth place after splitting their games over the weekend, the gulf between the top

three teams in the North Pollock Division of the Provincial Junior Hockey League and the rest remains severe.

The first-place Hanover Barons and second-place Fergus Whalers are tied atop the league on points

of 8-8 and 16 points in fourth place.

The Kincardine Bulldogs follow in fifth place with a record of six wins, 10 losses, one overtime loss and two shootout wins. The Mitchell Hawks are in sixth place with five wins, eight losses, two overtime losses, one shootout win and one shootout loss. Both teams sit at 13 points each.

The Goderich Flyers are in seventh place with 11 points and a record of four wins, 10 losses and three shootout losses, followed by the last-place Walkerton Capitals, who have 10 points and a record of five wins, 14 losses and one shootout win.

The weekend began on a positive note for the Ironmen when they hosted the Goderich Flyers and beat them by a score of 5-1 on Friday night.

Jesse Coombs opened the scoring for the home team, scoring his third and fourth goals of the season in the first period. He first found the back of the net at 12:21 of the period, assisted by Tanner Dietz, followed by a goal at 16:14, assisted by Tate Berfelz.

Wade Robinson kept the team’s first period momentum up with his first goal of the season, scored at 17:03 of the period, assisted by Tayt Bramhill and Adam MacRobbie.

The Ironmen then scored the only goal of the second period when Austin Becker scored at 14:05 of the period, assisted by Micah Kraayenbrink and Carter Coates, followed by an unassisted Adam MacRobbie goal at 4:37 of the third period.

The next night, also in Wingham, didn’t go nearly as well for the Ironmen, as they fell by a score of 3-1 to the Mount Forest Patriots.

Mount Forest scored the first two goals of the game, giving the team all it would need to bring home a win. Austin Cook scored his second goal of the season at 5:59 of the first, assisted by Reid Caswell and Hartley McKenzie, followed by Luke Eurig extending his leagueleading goal tally, scoring his 24th goal of the season at 13:05 of the first, assisted by Matt McLellan and Aidan Doig.

Wingham would cut Mount Forest’s lead in half in the second period with Tanner Dietz scoring his 12th goal of the season at 15:32, assisted by Micah Kraayenbrink. However, Luke Eurig would continue to pad his statistics, scoring his league-leading 25th goal of the season, an unassisted effort, at 18:52 of the third period.

James Hopper was in the Wingham net for the loss, stopping 28 of 31 shots, while Marshall Nicholls stopped 34 of 35 shots in a victorious effort for the Patriots. Each team was called for four penalties, but the Patriots served eight minutes in the box, while the Ironmen were in for double the time.

Looking ahead, the Ironmen will be busy this weekend, with three games on the schedule - none of them due to be played at their home North Huron Wescast Community Complex.

with 29 each. The Barons have 14 wins, one loss and one shootout loss, while the Whalers have 14 wins, three losses and one shootout loss.

In third place, three points off the pace with 26, the Mount Forest Patriots have a record of 12 wins, three losses, two overtime losses and two shootout wins. Then, 10 points short of the Patriots, the Ironmen can be found with a record

Kingston Powell would score the Flyers’ only goal of the game at 8:53 of the third, his ninth goal of the season, assisted by Ryan McGee and Austin Waite, but it was too little, too late and the Ironmen would cruise to victory.

Logan Bromley played the entirety of the game for the Flyers, stopping 36 of 41 shots in a losing effort, while Noah Ricci won the game for the Ironmen, stopping 22 of the 23 shots he faced that night.

In what was a very clean game, the Ironmen were only whistled once for a two-minute penalty, while the Flyers were called four times for eight minutes in the box.

Weekend play begins tonight with a game against the league-leading Hanover Barons on the road, followed by a Saturday night home game at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre, which will be celebrating its grand opening that night. The Ironmen will be welcoming the Fergus Whalers to Brussels that night. Then, on Sunday, the Ironmen will be in Fergus to play the Whalers again - this time in a 3 p.m. matinee.

Next weekend, the Ironmen will host the Kincardine Bulldogs on Friday night, followed by another home game on Saturday nightthis one against the Hanover Barons.

U18 Rep Crusaders win first Silver Stick game

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

The U18 Rep Blyth Brussels Crusaders began their Wingham Regional Silver Stick tournament journey on a positive note, registering a 5-2 win over the Shelburne Wolves in their first game of the tournament last Sunday.

The team then continued its tournament play on Tuesday night with a game against the Walkerton Capitals, but a score for that game was unavailable at press time. Looking ahead, the Crusaders will play the Tavistock Junior Braves tonight, Nov. 15, in Wingham.

Also this weekend, the U13 Rep Crusaders will head northwest to take part in the Lucknow Legion Tournament.

In regular season play this weekend, the U11 LL and U9 MD Crusaders will both host MidHuron Huskies teams in Brussels tonight, Nov. 15, while the U18 LL  team will be in Ripley to play the Huron-Bruce Blizzard Grey team and the U13 LL team will be in Howick to play the Hornets.

On Saturday, Nov. 16, 10 Crusaders teams will play exhibition games in Brussels as part of the grand opening of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre following its extensive renovation and expansion project. The U6, U7 Burgundy and

Curling Club sets 12-game

By Jo-Ann McDonald

The Brussels Curling Club held its executive meeting at the home of Brent Alexander last Thursday evening with eight members present.

A financial statement was presented for the members to approve. A preliminary number of curlers this year was just over 30. The members are hoping that, as a result of the closure of the Wingham Curling Club, the Brussels club will have some members interested in joining. We invite anyone interested in joining the club to call the numbers listed in last week’s issue of The Citizen or myself at 519-525-6570.

The executive decided to hold a 12-game season with two six-game draws. Curling will begin on Nov. 18 and go until the end of February with a break over Christmas and Family Day. Curling starts at 7 p.m on Monday evenings with curlers on the ice and ready to curl. No equipment is necessary except for clean shoes. A social time is enjoyed following the game. We have lots of fun and a real variety of age groups enjoying the game. We have some very good curlers willing to help new curlers learn the game so come out and join us!

White teams and the U8 Burgundy team will play Wingham Ironmen teams, while the U8 White team will play the Mid-Huron Huskies.

The U9 MD Crusaders will play the Mitchell Meteors, while the U9 LL, U11 Rep, U13 LL and U15 Rep teams will play their Wingham Ironmen equivalents.

On Sunday, the U9 MD team will play again, welcoming the HuronBruce Blizzard to Blyth for a regular season contest. Also that day, the U21 team will play Shelburne on the road.

Then, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, the U9 LL team will play the Meteors in Mitchell and the U18 LL  Crusaders will welcome the HuronBruce Blizzard White team to Blyth.

Looking back, on Sunday, Nov. 10 the U8 White team played the

Goderich Sailors and the U9 LL team played the Drayton Defenders, both on the road, but scores were not kept for those games. On Nov. 9, nine Crusaders teams were in Wingham for Wingham Minor Hockey Day to play exhibition games, though scores were not kept for those games. As part of Wingham Minor Hockey Day, the U18 LL Crusaders beat the Wingham Ironmen in a regular season contest by a score of 4-3 and, on the road, the U7 Burgundy team played the Wallace Sabres and the U7 White team played South Bruce, but scores were not kept for those games.

On Friday, the U11 Rep team lost to the South Bruce Blades by a score of 7-1 and the U13 LL team played to a 2-2 tie with the Kincardine Kinucks, both at the

Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre.

Also over the weekend, the U21 Crusaders took part in the annual Greg Dietz Memorial Tournament.

The locals opened with a 4-2 loss to Mitchell on Friday night, followed by a 6-0 shutout loss at the hands of Walkerton on Saturday, meaning they failed to reach play on Sunday.

On Nov. 6, the U11 LL team lost to the Huron-Bruce Blizzard Grey team in Lucknow by a score of 142. One night earlier, the U15 Rep team beat the Huron-Bruce Blizzard in Brussels by a score of 2-1, while, on Nov. 4, the U11 Rep team lost to the AEMHA Ice Dogs in Paisley by a score of 9-2, the U15 LL Crusaders beat the Kincardine Kinucks in Blyth by a score of 5-4 and the U18 LL team lost to the

Mid-Huron Huskies by a score of 21 in Seaforth.

On Nov. 12, the U9 LL team was on the road to play the Goderich Sailors White team, the U11 Rep team was in Listowel to play the Cyclones and the U15 Rep team welcomed the Drayton Defenders to Brussels, but scores for those games were unavailable at press time.

The U11 LL, U15 Rep and U9 MD teams were all on the road on Wednesday, Nov. 13 to play the Listowel Cyclones, Mount Forest Rams and Mid-Huron Huskies, respectively, while the U18 LL  team was home in Blyth to play the Wingham Ironmen. Then, on Nov. 14, the U15 LL team was on the road to play the Central Perth Predators, but scores for all of those games were unavailable at press time.

Thank You

The 4-H Members of the Brussels Show and Sale wish to thank all the many buyers and supporters

Grand Champion Calf MADISON HAMMELL BuyerBrindley Auctions

Grand Champion Lamb AYDEN HALLAHAN BuyerWill Fleming

Reserve Champion Calf TORI CUTTING BuyerLoucks & Loucks

Reserve Champion Lamb GABBY JOHNSTON BuyerPaul Johnston Farms

EMILY BIEMAN (with calf) BuyerMGM Townsend Tire

TRACE BOVEN BuyerFlynn Farms

TYLER BOVEN BuyerTerry Greidanus

KORTNEY BUTTAR BuyerJacob Auctions & Nathan Otto

DAKOTA COULTES BuyerEdgar Feed & Seed

ANNIE DAVIDSON BuyerBrindley Auctions

GEORGE DAVIDSON BuyerLloyd Hutton Transport

LUKAS GREIDANUS BuyerHill Valley Equipment

WARREN GREIDANUS BuyerLouis Greidanus

AYDEN HALLAHAN BuyerTeeswater Concrete

COLYN HALLAHAN BuyerRedline Truck Inc.

BENNET JERVIS BuyerFoxton Fuels

MADDEX JERVIS BuyerHensall Cattle Co.

GABBY JOHNSTON BuyerBrussels Agromart

MAX JOHNSTON BuyerBrussels Agromart

KALEB LYONS BuyerFoxton Fuels

SEAN MOFFAT BuyerMcCall Livestock

ANDREW METSKE BuyerWanda Snobelen Photo not available

SCHNEIDER BuyerRolling Acres REID SCHNEIDER BuyerHensall Co-op

MEGAN METSKE BuyerGreen’s Meat Maret

NOLAN NEITZEL BuyerGres & Sharon Greidanus

HAYLEY DAVIDSON BuyerCooper Acres Photo not available

TORI CUTTING BuyerEdgar Feed & Seed & Pioneer Seeds

JARRETT FLEET BuyerFoxton Fuels

JOEL FLEET BuyerTerry Greidanus

BRODY GULUTZEN BuyerClinton Chiropractor

COLYN HALLAHAN BuyerNicholson Builders HAILEY HAMMELL Buyer

CASEY NEUTEL BuyerMulder Farms & Nieuland Feeds

LAUREN RIEGLING BuyerFoxton Fuels

JEREMY VOGELS BuyerMillgrove Meat Packers

JUSTIN FLEET

Sports

Over 50 tournament games played over weekend

Finding success

Blyth Junior Broomball held its annual tournament over the weekend at arenas in Blyth and Brussels with over 50 games being played by the time it was all over. Above, the U9 Blyth Bullets beat the Seaforth Blasters at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre on Sunday by a score of 4-2 while below, the U12 Blyth Silver team beat the Mildmay Hawks on Saturday in Blyth by a score of 2-1. (John Stephenson photos)

Continued from page 1 score of 2-1, followed by a 5-1 win for the Mildmay Hawks over the Mildmay Falcons, a 1-0 win for Keady over the Mildmay Moose, a 3-2 victory for the U12 Blyth Bullets over the Seaforth Cyclones and a 1-0 shutout for the U14 Boys Blyth Bullets over Mildmay.

Also that night, the U20 Girls Kilsyth Young Guns beat the Palmerston Terminators by a score of 2-0, the U20 Girls Blyth Typhoon beat the Mildmay Twisted Sisters by a score of 1-0, the U20 Boys Mildmay Moose beat the Seaforth Hitmen by a score of 4-0 and the U20 Boys Blyth Renegades lost by a score of 1-0 to the Kilsyth Flyers.

Action on Saturday began with a 1-0 win for the U14 Girls Blyth Bullets over Mildmay, followed by the U14 Boys Seaforth Hurricanes beating Palmerston by a score of 50 and the U9 Keady Crocs beating

Palmerston by a score of 2-0.

Play continued in the U12 division with the Blyth Silver team beating the Mildmay Hawks by a score of 2-1, the Mildmay Moose falling to the Blyth Bullets by a score of 2-1, Keady beating the Seaforth Cyclones by a score of 5-1 and Palmerston and the Mildmay Falcons seeing their game end in a scoreless tie.

The U9 Keady Crocs beat the Mildmay Farmers by a score of 8-0 and the U14 Girls from Mildmay beat Palmerston by a score of 1-0.

In U12 play, the Mildmay Hawks beat Palmerston by a score of 3-0 and Keady beat the Blyth Bullets by a score of 4-2 while the game between the Blyth Silver team and the Mildmay Falcons ended in a scoreless tie.

The U16 Boys Seaforth Tsunami beat the Blyth Bullets by a score of 4-0, while the U14 Girls Blyth Bullets and Palmerston ended their

the U14 Boys Blyth Bullets played the first game, beating Palmerston by a score of 1-0 before Mildmay beat the Seaforth Hurricanes by a score of 3-0 in U14 Boys play.

The U9 Seaforth Blasters beat the Mildmay Roosters by a score of 31, followed by a 1-0 win for the U20 Boys Mildmay Moose over the Kilsyth Flyers.

The Blyth Bullets then fell to the Seaforth Hurricanes by a score of 10 in U14 Boys action, while Mildmay beat Palmerston by a score of 1-0, also in U14 Boys play.

The U16 Boys Seaforth Tsunami beat the Blyth Bullets by a score of 3-2, while the Mildmay Moose beat the Blyth Renegades by a score of 1-0 and the Kilsyth Flyers beat the Seaforth Hitmen by a score of 3-1,

both in the U20 Boys division. On Sunday, ahead of the championship games, there was still some round-robin action to finish, with the U16 Boys Seaforth Tsunami beating the Blyth Bullets in Brussels by a score of 1-0, the U16 Girls from Kilsyth beating the Seaforth Tornadoes in Blyth by a score of 1-0 and the U9 Blyth Bullets beating the Seaforth Blasters in Brussels by a score of 42. The U9 team from Palmerston also beat the Mildmay Roosters that morning in Brussels by a score of 10, the U20 Boys Blyth Renegades beat the Seaforth Hitmen in Brussels by a score of 1-0 and the U9 Mildmay Farmers beat the Blyth Bullets in Blyth by a score of 3-1.

The Ladies Night Committee of the Brussels Ag Society hosted their 5th Annual Ladies Harvest Social at the BMG Arena on October 21st. This event was to help raise funds for the Brussels Fall Fair and we plan to donate a portion of the proceeds to North Woods Elementary School for new playground equipment. We would like to thank the entire sold out crowd who attended our special night. Through your participation and support the event was a great success yet again and we appreciate your help in making the evening such a fantastic one! We would also like to thank the Brussels Optimist Club for braving the weather and cooking the meat and potatoes for our meal that night.

Thank you as well to Jeff and Cathy Cardiff for your guidance and ordering supplies for the rest of the meal that was spear headed by Ladies Night Committee member MaryAnn Thompson and carried out by members of the Ag Society and a few members of the community! Thank you to everyone that donated squares and tarts and apple sauce! Thank you also to Terri Gray, Mishca and the dishwasher crew for all your help in the kitchen!

Also, thank you to all the people and businesses who made a donation to our silent auction and door prizes. Your generosity contributed to the success of this night and we very much appreciate it!

Thank you to Troy Boy Entertainment for supplying us with lots of laughs throughout the night. Your bingo games were unlike any other most of us have ever played!

Thank you Abi Corbett for helping with set up and getting us everything we needed throughout the night and answering all of our many questions throughout the planning process.

Thank you to Dan Fritz and counsellors Alvin McLellan and Jeff Newell for donating your time to bar tend that evening. We appreciate your generosity.

Thank you Ag Society President Reg Vinnicombe, Justin Morrison and Andrew Baker for keeping the late night snack supply stocked and serving the guests.

game in a scoreless tie.

The U16 Girls Blyth Bullets beat the Seaforth Tornadoes by a score of 2-0, the U16 Girls from Palmerston beat Kilsyth by a score of 1-0 and the U20 Girls Kilsyth Young Guns beat the Mildmay Twisted Sisters by a score of 1-0.

Still in Blyth, the U12 Mildmay Moose beat the Seaforth Cyclones by a score of 2-0, the U20 Girls Palmerston Terminators beat the Blyth Typhoon by a score of 3-0 and the U14 Girls from Mildmay beat Palmerston by a score of 1-0.

The U16 Girls Blyth Bullets beat Kilsyth by a score of 4-0, the U16 Girls from Palmerston beat the Seaforth Tornadoes by a score of 20 and the Palmerston Terminators beat the Mildmay Twisted Sisters by a score of 2-0 and the Kilsyth Young Guns beat the Blyth Typhoon by a score of 1-0, both in U20 Girls action.

On Saturday night in Brussels,

We also want to thank the Brussels Fire Department who lent us four of their fireman to help serve the ladies beverages throughout the night! Your presence and service added a special touch to our event again this year! The guests sure were thirsty that night so I imagine you were all pretty tired by the end of the night!

We also want to thank Glenda Morrison for all of her help with the silent auction and getting us everything we needed!

Lastly, I would like to thank the members and friends of the Ag society who helped decorate, and set up/clean up. Many hands make light work.

Special thanks to Mary Ann, Kate, Peggy, Gail, Dorothy, Rhonda and Pam for all of your help in the planning process. What a fabulous team to work with!

Thank you again to these people and businesses that donated auction and door prize items: McDonald Home Hardware; Murray and Marlene Fischer; Blake Farms; Laura Fischer – Pioneer; Kristen Fischer – Mary Kay; Brussels Transport – Jim and Lynn Jutzi; Jessica Deitner – Norwex; Donna Bauer – Alloette; Coral Gingrich, RMT; Patricia Beuermann, RMT; Amanda White – Buds N’ Blossoms; Anonymous Donor; Huron Odd Jobs; Brussels Lions Club; Joan Bernard; Heather Logan – Hcreates; JC Welding; Touchtone Therapies; The Purple Bike Cafe; Orr Insurance; Blake Apple Orchard; Pam McLellan; Annette Stephenson; Two Step Wingham; Cowboy Loft; Leslie Motors; The Citizen; Roberts Farm Equipment; Barmy Tech; Skips Tire Craft; It’s a Shear Thing – Rhonda McArter; Turning Heads and Making Waves – Janice Machan; Wright Blooms – Amy Wright; Pauline Kerkof – Epicure; Riverside Funeral Home; Lavender Works; Hometown Pizza; Brussels Foodland.

Sports

Heat teams head for Stratford, Barrie tournaments

On the road

This weekend, seven Huron Heat teams will leave Huron County for tournaments. The U18 BB Heat are heading to Barrie for Sharkfest, while the U13 B, U13 C, U15 A, U15 B, U18 C and U9 B teams are all making their way to Stratford for the Stratford Festival Cup. The U11 HL Heat, seen above in Blyth earlier this month, will play tonight (Nov. 15) in Blyth, welcoming the St. Thomas Panthers to the village. (John Stephenson photo)

By Shawn Loughlin

The Citizen

This weekend, the U18 BB Huron Heat will head to Barrie for its annual Sharkfest tournament, while the U13 B, U13 C, U15 A, U15 B, U18 C and U9 B teams will all be heading east to take part in the Stratford Festival Cup.

To begin on Friday morning, Nov. 15, the U13 C Heat will play the London Devilettes, followed by a contest with the Mooretown Lady Flags later that afternoon. Also that day, the U13 B Heat will play the Ayr Rockets and the Central Perth Predators.

The U9 B team will begin tournament play with the Wilmot Wolverines this morning, followed by an afternoon game with the Kitchener Lady Rangers.

The U15 A Heat will first play the St. Catharines Junior Badgers on Friday morning while the U15 B Heat will play the Lambeth Lancers. The teams will then continue that afternoon with games against the Bluewater Hawks and Wilmot Wolverines, respectively.

The U18 C team will play the Woodstock Wildcats on Friday afternoon, followed by a game that night with the Twin Centre

Hericanes. Meanwhile, in Barrie, the U18 BB Heat will play the Soo Junior Greyhounds and the Ancaster Avalanche as Sharkfest gets underway.

The next day, action will continue as the U9 B Heat play the Stratford Aces, the U13 B Heat plays the Woodstock Wildcats, the U15 B Heat plays the Windsor Wildcats, the U13 C Heat plays the South Huron Sabres, the U15 A Heat plays the Woodstock Wildcats and the U18 C Heat plays the Wilmot Wolverines.

Later that day, the U9 B Heat will play the Woolwich Wild, the U13 B Heat will play the London Devilettes, the U13 C Heat will play the Wilmot Wolverines and the U18 C Heat will play the Mitchell Meteors. In Barrie, the U18 BB  Heat will play the host Barrie Sharks in the hopes of making their way to championship play on Sunday.

In regular season action this weekend, the U11 HL Heat will play the St. Thomas Panthers in Blyth on Friday night, while the Senior Heat team will welcome the Twin Centre Hericanes to Hensall.

On Saturday, the U15 C Heat will play Lucan/South Huron in Goderich, the U9 C Heat will play

ESTATE AUCTION WINGHAM

the Lambeth Lancers on the road and the U9 HL team will play the Central Perth Predators in Seaforth. Also that day, the U7 team will play the Twin Centre Hericanes on the road, while the U11 A Heat will play the Sarnia Lady Sting, also on the road, the U11 HL team will make its way to Ilderton to play the Jets and the U13 A Heat will play the Lady Sting in Sarnia.

On Sunday, the U13 A Heat will

welcome the St. Thomas Panthers to Clinton, while the U11 C Heat will be on the road to play the B.A.D. Blazers. In Clinton, the U11 HL Heat will host the Sarnia Lady Sting and the U11 A Heat will play the Lambeth Lancers.

Meanwhile, in Brussels that day, the U13 HL Heat will play the Bluewater Hawks and the Senior C team will play the Upper Maitland Mustangs. In Hensall, the Senior Heat will play the Huron Cats.

On Monday, Nov. 18, the U13 HL  team will play the Panthers in St. Thomas and then, on Thursday, Nov. 21, the U15 C Heat will host the Central Perth Predators in Brussels.

Looking back, the U15 C Heat had a rough ride in Fergus at the Remembrance Day Classic, only winning one of their games.

The team beat the Kincardine Kinucks to open play by a score of 2-0, followed by a 1-0 loss to Lucan/South Huron and a scoreless draw with the Upper Maitland Mustangs. The Kinucks then put the Heat away with a 2-0 win.

In regular season action on Sunday, Nov. 10, the U13 B Heat beat the Saugeen Shores Storm by a score of 2-1 in Brussels and the U11 A Heat beat the Sarnia Lady Sting in Clinton by a score of 3-2.

Also that day, the U11 C Heat lost to the Twin Centre Hericanes by a score of 2-0 and the U13 C Heat lost to the Stratford Aces by a score of 1-0. Both games were played on the road.

The U18 C Heat lost to the B.A.D. Blazers in Seaforth by a score of 3-1, while the Senior C team hosted the Wilmot Wolverines in Brussels and the U9 B team

played the Woolwich Wild on the road, but scores for those games were unavailable at press time.

In Clinton that morning, the U15 B Heat lost to the Kitchener Lady Rangers by a score of 2-0 and the U15 A Heat lost to the Chatham Crush by a score of 4-1, while the U13 A Heat ended their game with the Sarnia Lady Sting tied at one.

The U18 BB Heat were on the road that day and beat the Guelph Junior Gryphons by a score of 3-0 in a game played at the University of Guelph.

On Saturday, Nov. 9, the U15 A Heat lost by a score of 7-0 to the London Devilettes on the road, while the U13 B Heat tied the Owen Sound Ice Hawks at three, also on the road, the U13 C Heat lost to the Wolverines in Wilmot by a score of 2-1 and the U18 BB Heat beat the Ayr Rockets in Clinton by a score of 4-2.

The Senior team played the Lucknow Sepoys on the road, the U9 B team hosted the Kincardine Kinucks in Seaforth, the U9 HL  team played South Huron, also in Seaforth, and the U9 C Heat played the Lambton Attack on the road, but scores for those games were unavailable at press time.

On Nov. 8, the Senior team played the Upper Maitland Mustangs in Howick, but a score for that game was unavailable at press time.

The U18 C Heat were scheduled to play the South Huron Sabres in Blyth on Nov. 7, but that game had to be cancelled. One day earlier, the U11 A team played the Panthers in St. Thomas and lost by a score of 31.

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Blast from the past

On Sunday, Melville Presbyterian Church held its 170th anniversary service, which included a look back at the history of the church, special musical performances and a check-in with Rev. Carolyn McAvoy, above, who had served in Brussels and Belgrave about 30 years ago before moving on. About 100 people took in the service. (John Stephenson photo)

Fire siren to remain in Seaforth despite complaint, HPPH rec.

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

The saga of the fire siren in Seaforth continues, as Huron East Council has directed staff to maintain the status quo, allowing it to sound in the event of an emergency despite direction from Huron Perth Public Health to the contrary.

Discussion around the fire siren ignited when, in late 2022, the municipality switched dispatch centres and, as a result of changes within the communication system, antiquated aspects of the system, such as fire sirens in Brussels and Seaforth, were discontinued.

However, shortly thereafter, Seaforth Ward Councillor Bob Fisher asked staff to investigate bringing it back, as he said he was hearing not just from residents, but from firefighters that it is an essential tool to keep everyone safe. When a call is made and firefighters are racing to the station from their homes or workplaces, the siren lets people know that there is a call at a time when not everyone may know or see the green flashing lights on vehicles’ dashboards.

In his report to council for the Nov. 5 meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Brad McRoberts said that staff was able to get the siren back online with a timer to ensure it would only sound between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., but, shortly thereafter, the municipality received a complaint. In addition, the complaint was also sent to the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks and Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH).

McRoberts said that, upon receiving the complaint, he advised the complainant that council had provided direction regarding the siren and recommended appearing as a delegation to discuss the matter further with council. McRoberts

noted, however, that that was when the correspondence ended. He also noted that, after being contacted by the Ministry about the siren, that council had provided such direction regarding the siren and McRoberts said it appeared as though the Ministry official was satisfied with the response from the municipality.

HPPH, however, which also investigated the use of the siren amid the complaint, asked that use of the siren in Seaforth be discontinued effective immediately.

In its findings, sent to Huron East, HPPH said that an outdoor sound measurement exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) maximum noise level guidance for single-noise events, which, it noted, is set to protect against acute hearing impairment. However, measurements taken indoors did not exceed those guidelines.

HPPH did note that further noise sampling could better characterize noise levels at outdoor locations.

As a result, HPPH asked Huron East to discontinue use of the siren, asking that an alternative notification device with a more acceptable decibel limit be used or that the municipality rely on its current pager system in place of the siren.

Council, however, wasn’t swayed by the non-binding recommendation from HPPH and felt things should remain status quo, regardless of the complaint.

Fisher went back to those earlier conversations, saying that the Seaforth firefighters he’d talked to were very clear about the safety benefits of the siren.

Councillors also were clear about not wanting to spend more money on further testing, so conversation began steering towards maintaining the status quo, with Councillor Larry McGrath saying that the issue was “so stupid” and that he felt the status quo should be maintained.

Mayor Bernie MacLellan, however,

New fleet schedule approved by M-T

On Tuesday, Nov. 5, MorrisTurnberry Council approved a fleet replacement tender schedule proposed by Director of Public Works Mike Alcock. In a report, Alcock says the plan is intended to secure timely replacements for essential public works equipment while controlling financial impact through a fleet reserve. Alcock explained that this reserve, started in 2021, allows the municipality to fund replacements without disrupting other services or requiring sudden budget adjustments.

The approved schedule outlines key equipment replacements, with tenders set for a tandem combination plow and a tractor backhoe in December of 2024, for expected deliveries in 2026 and 2025, respectively. That will be followed by a motor grader tender in September of 2025, with an anticipated 2026 delivery, and then a tender for a replacement pickup truck planned for January of 2025, with delivery targeted for spring 2025.

recommended placing the tandem plow tender in December of 2024 to avoid updated emissions requirements that will apply to new truck models that are built after 2025.

“It’s nice planning ahead for things just like this,” Alcock commented during the meeting, “so that it’s not a shock to the system.” He emphasized that MorrisTurnberry’s fleet reserve allows steady planning and helps avoid a “stacking effect” that could lead to multiple large purchases falling in the same year. He indicated that, before the reserve was established, Morris-Turnberry often had to shuffle equipment purchases based on available funds and competing priorities within public works.

Alcock explained that now, with annual contributions to the reserve, the municipality can spread out these purchases, avoiding strain on the annual budget and enabling more predictable replacements.

cautioned council, saying that the issue could be taken to court and there is a possibility that the municipality could lose the case.

A motion to maintain the status quo with the fire siren in Seaforth was then made by McGrath and seconded by Fisher and passed by council.

In his presentation, Alcock detailed the unique lead times and requirements for each piece of equipment, highlighting that the supply chain has experienced steadily increasing delays over the past several years. For instance, Alcock noted that tandem truck chassis delivery timelines now stretch from 10 to 12 months.

“Once the chassis arrives, it needs to be outfitted with a dump truck body, plow and wing,” he explained in the report, adding that this outfitting process takes another six to eight months. Alcock

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

By Larry Davis, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Farmers from across Ontario will be coming to Toronto at the end of this month to hear updates on key issues affecting agriculture, debate resolutions and network with each other.

They’ll be participating in the annual general meeting of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), the leading advocate and strongest voice of the province’s farmers through government relations, farm policy recommendations, public and community outreach and more.

The event’s theme is “Always in Season”, which is a perfect way to describe agriculture in Ontario. That’s because with more than 200 different commodities produced in this province, someone is always busy with planting, growing or harvesting.

Just now, many farmers with fruit, vegetable and field crops may be close to wrapping up their harvest, whereas Christmas tree and holiday flower growers are just coming into their busiest six weeks of the year, and greenhouses that grow transplants for next year’s tomato, celery, onion crops will be gearing up for January.

The annual meeting is the most important event on the OFA’s annual calendar and a great opportunity to reflect on the year that’s wrapping up

and plan for the one ahead.

My family and I farm near Burford in southern Ontario, where we raise sheep and grow hay, corn, and soybeans, as well as a biomass crop called miscanthus. I’ve represented farmers in Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk Counties as a director on the OFA board since 1989.

That means I’ve attended a lot of OFA annual meetings and I encourage my fellow farmers, whether they’re members of OFA or not, to consider joining us this year.

There aren’t many times during the year that farmers from all parts of the province and all commodities get together at a single event and it’s a great way to get to know new people and learn about the incredible diversity of farming we have in Ontario thanks to our varied climate and geography.

This event also attracts many politicians from all political parties who come to both share their perspectives and listen to the concerns and needs of the farming community.

Confirmed participants so far this year are Minister of Energy and Electrification Stephen Lecce, Ontario New Democratic Party Opposition House Leader John Vanthof, Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner and Senator Rob Black.

And finally, the AGM is the opportunity for our members to submit and debate resolutions that highlight specific issues from

across the province on which they want to see the OFA to take action.

Although any member can bring a resolution to the OFA board at any point during the year, the convention offers an opportunity for members to discuss those issues before voting on whether or not they should go forward to the board.

This year’s event will take place Nov. 26-27 at the Delta Toronto Airport Hotel and Convention Centre. In addition to the business of the organization, including the Director-at-Large election, presentations on leading issues, resolutions and more, the agenda also features a variety of professional development opportunities.

Branding expert and bestselling author Jeremy Miller will present a keynote address in which he’ll share stories and ideas about what makes a brand stand out and attract customers and how farmers can harness the power of branding in support of their businesses.

Two interactive panel sessions will bring diverse perspectives to two very important issues facing our sector: how to turn advocacy into action by delivering powerful municipal delegations and looking at the critical role of energy affordability on the farm.

For our younger farmers, the OFA is once again partnering with the Junior Farmers’ Association of Ontario to offer a tour program as

$210 – $237 Holstein Fed Cattle: $185 – $225

John Richardson of Harriston, consigned six head. Two black fed steers averaged 1,530 lbs. and sold for a price of $265.

Allen Kistner of Monkton, consigned three head.

Bulls: $144 – $212

Wayne Lawrence of Durham consigned nine head. One red cow weighed 1,170 lbs. and sold for a price of $185.

Terpstra Farms Ltd. of Brussels, consigned 13 head. One holstein cow weighed 1,430 lbs. and sold for a price of $166.

Veal: There were 115 veal and 25 bob calves on offer.

Beef Veal: $280 – $305

Good Holsteins: $280 – $306

SL Heavy Holsteins: $275 – $292

Heavy Holsteins: $254 – $299

Medium Holsteins: $250 – $270

Plain Holsteins: $225 – $255

Holstein Drop Calves: $600 – $1,550 / HEAD

Larry Graul of Walkerton consigned seven head. One holstein veal weighed 725 lbs. and sold for a price of $300.

Grant Bergsma of Londesborough, consigned five head. One holstein veal weighed 735 lbs. and sold for a price of $306.

Cranbrook Farms of Brussels, consigned nine head. One holstein bob calf sold for $1,550.

Lambs: Under

Sheep: $217.50 – $275

Shawn Bustin of Thamesville, consigned 15 head. Three lambs averaged 104 lbs. and sold for a price of $312.50.

Cheryl Souch of Brussels, consigned nine head. Four lambs averaged 94 lbs. and sold for a price of $350.

Goats:

Hendrika Vanderlip consigned 22 head. Three

and sold for a price of $535.

Lyle Cressman of Gowanstown, consigned 12 head. Six kid goats averaged 62 lbs. and sold for a price of $530.

OFA’s AGM in Toronto set for Nov. 26-27

well as opportunities to participate in the main conference program.

The convention will start with a welcome reception and exhibitor showcase on Nov. 25. The Ontario Harvest Celebration dinner the following night will put the spotlight on our organization’s grassroots members and volunteers, as well as some of Ontario’s finest local foods, wines and beer.

What I’ve always loved about the OFA annual meeting is that it offers the opportunity to bring people together. It is an organization for all farmers, whether big or small, and of all ages, and by coming together once a year, we can make those connections across Ontario’s farming sector.

More information about the OFA annual meeting is available at ofa.on.ca/agm.

An eventful morning

Stockers: There were 1,700 stockers on offer.

Dan Hoggart of Londesborough, consigned 34 head. Fifteen charolais steers averaged 596 lbs. and sold for a price of $464. Twelve charolais heifers averaged 585 lbs. and sold for a price of $410.

Curtis Dullard of East Garafraxa, consigned 44 head. Four charolais steers averaged 833 lbs. and sold for a price of $371.

Tom Publicover of Caledon, consigned 19 head. Seven charolais steers averaged 926

Hehn Farms of Walkerton, consigned 38

Ephriam Sauder of Teeswater, consigned 14 head. Four black heifers averaged 965 lbs. and sold for a price of $311.

Dave Rabe of Drumbo, consigned eight head. Eight charolais heifers averaged 1,004 lbs. and sold for a price of

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VaanAmersfoort, music from Joanne V she would have enjoyed the special beautiful service honouring Mom –Heights Community Church for a . Jason Gilbert and Hutton Rev special thank you to A appreciative. Mom and I were extremely t always fly back – both I couldn’ Each of you lovingly filled in when which helped reduce my worries. all the trips/extra care for Mom Renee and Marlene, thank you for my Uncle Jack, Cousin o To forgotten. T remarkable and will never be battled pancreatic cancer was our family over the past year as she and kindness showered on Mom and The support and online condolences. fffee/meals, calls, invitations for cof Arlyn, phone donations in honour of hugs, prayers, cards, flowers, and the community for heartfelt neighbours, extended church family family members, friends, express our sincere gratitude to ords cannot Wo – Y MONTGOMERRY W COSA2002

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Card results for Nov. 8 were: high gold card, Brenda Brooks; most shoots gold card, Mary Ellen Keller; high white card, Blair Leibold; and most shoots - white card, Elmer Gamache.

Cards will be played again on Friday, Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

Rev. Colin Snyder welcomed the congregation at Knox United Church on Sunday, Nov. 10. On this day of Remembrance, we gathered together as a community of faith and offered our praises and our prayers to the Prince of Peace. Rev. Colin read scripture lessons from Isaiah 2:1-5 and Mark 12:3844. His Reflection was entitled “Plough Shares and Pruning Hooks”.

This is the 23rd year for the Belgrave Community Growing Project. Since the inception of the project it has yielded almost $426,000 to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

Coffee Break was held on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at the Community Centre. “Happy Birthday” was sung to Jonathan VanCamp (Nov. 12), Keith Black (Nov. 12), Donna Bieman (Nov. 14) and John Campbell (Nov. 19). Birthday cake and ice cream were enjoyed by all.

We celebrate my husband’s birthday and our son Jeremy’s birthday (Nov. 21) at the same same time. We haven’t decided what we plan to do just yet, as we just celebrated our anniversary and our son Justin and Jen’s anniversary last weekend.

Sympathy is extended to Gerald McDowell in the loss of his dear wife, Carol and to Wayne and Claire, Ron and Alice, Kim and Allen Walker and Patti and Pat Cronin in the loss of their loving mother. ard of

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A milestone

Late last month, Allan Dickson, owner of Lewis Flowers in Wingham, held an open house to mark a number of anniversaries, including its 40th anniversary in Wingham and the 130th anniversary of the business itself. Dickson and crew celebrated with cake, free flowers and general excitement for what the future holds. (John Stephenson photo)

MT ends partnership with WGCC

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

During the Nov. 5 MorrisTurnberry Council meeting, Chief Administrative Officer and Clerk Trevor Hallam presented a report outlining the end of the municipality’s fiscal partnership with the Wingham Golf and Curling Club (WGCC). According to Hallam’s report, the partnership had allowed the WGCC to secure a $117,375 grant from the Leland and Thora Vance Fund, managed by the Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF). This grant was awarded in 2023 to fund kitchen upgrades, improved washroom accessibility and an upgraded irrigation pump station. Hallam explained that the fiscal

partnership had been established to make WGCC eligible for the grant, which provides financial support for community recreation projects. The funds, Hallam noted, were granted in December of 2023, with $85,953.67 of the total having been reimbursed to WGCC so far. The remaining $31,421.33, still held by the municipality, is set to be returned after WGCC requested its reimbursement following a decision by the club to sell its facility.

Hallam’s report highlighted that, on Oct. 23, WRCF had informed the municipality of the WGCC Board’s decision to sell the property. This sale, Hallam explained to council, effectively voided the grant agreement, since the WRCF’s funding conditions specify that grant-funded

improvements must remain available to Wingham residents.

Hallam confirmed that the township has co-operated by providing the WRCF with all documentation related to the grant and that WGCC will be responsible for any required repayment if it is determined that the decision to sell the facility was made prior to the grant award.

Additionally, Hallam assured council members that the township, which had acted only as a fiscal partner, is not liable for any repayment of spent grant funds.

Reimbursement of the unspent $31,421.33 to WRCF was included in the list of accounts for approval at the Nov. 5 meeting.

Mayor Jamie Heffer expressed appreciation to Hallam for the clarity of his report.

Obituaries

on Nov. 9 in her 86th year.

The mother of Lyle (Janet) Denny and Ken (Mary) Denny, Shirley was the grandmother of four grandchildren and the greatgrandmother of several greatgrandchildren.

She was the loving sister of Eleanor Newans, Beverly (Don) Morrison and Murray McEachern. She will be missed by many nieces and nephews and was the sister-in-law of Elizabeth McEachern.

Shirley was predeceased by her first husband Bill Denny, second husband Jim Bowman, brothers

Lloyd (Lenore) McEachern and Don McEachern, niece Debra Morrison-Holloway and in-laws

John Newans, Lorna McEachern and a nephew in infancy.

Shirley loved her pets and

Meeting schedule status quo in ACW

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

On Nov. 5, Ashfield-ColborneWawanosh (ACW) Council again revisited the contentious issue of the timing of planning meetings. This time around, council has decided to move its scheduled planning meetings from the evening to the morning. ACW’s procedure bylaw, which was adopted in November of 2023, states that planning meetings, when required, are to be held on the second Tuesday of each month, between the hours of 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Also at the Nov. 5 meeting, council confirmed the 2025 meeting schedule, which included those evening meetings.

Council last discussed the issue at its Feb. 6, meeting, during which Councillor Wayne Forster put forth a motion to reconsider the scheduling of planning meetings, which was seconded by DeputyMayor Bill Vanstone. The motion was defeated, and the meeting times were left as they had been set in 2023.

At ACW’s Oct. 15 meeting, Councillor Evan Hickey brought up the issue of the separate, evening planning meetings again. “So far this year, we’ve had 10 scheduled planning meetings. Two were canceled, because there were no items to discuss. We’ve had a 13minute, a 12-minute, a 21-minute, an 18-minute planning meeting.” Hickey enquired as to whether this was the right time to move the planning meetings. This spurred a discussion that led council to delay confirming the 2025 council meeting schedule so councillors could return to the subject of reconsidering the scheduling of planning meetings. According to the rules on reconsideration laid out in ACW’s procedure bylaw, a

motion can only be reconsidered twice in one year, and a motion to reconsider can only be discussed by council if the majority of council votes to do so.

At the Nov. 5 meeting, the 2025 council meeting schedule was on the agenda, as was the discussion about moving the planning meetings. Clerk Florence Witherspoon laid down the ground rules. “This will be the second time within a year that you would be permitted, under the procedure bylaw, to reconsider that decision. Ultimately, in order to have this conversation today, a motion to reconsider must be moved by anyone who voted in favour of the procedure bylaw being adopted, and that motion must carry by a two-thirds majority. Which means that five out of seven members must agree to have this conversation. If that motion is defeated, then we would respectfully request that council consider confirming the schedule for 2025.”

The motion to reconsider the

visiting the casino. She liked to farm and enjoyed showing her flowers, fruit and vegetables at the Brussels Fall Fair and helping at Melville Presbyterian Church. Shirley loved to play cards and enjoyed Halloween night with her family. She was one of a kind and will be missed.

A private family service will take place with Rev. Jeff Hawkins officiating. Interment will be at Palmerston Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers and as expressions of sympathy, donations to Wingham and District Hospital Foundation, the Brussels Agricultural Society or Melville Presbyterian Church would be appreciated. Donations may be sent to Box 340, Brussels. Condolences may be left at riversidefuneralhome.ca

SHIRLEY AGNES née

MCEACHERN BOWMAN

Shirley Agnes née McEachern Bowman passed away peacefully at The Village in Hanover

HE Council chooses new municipal logo

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

Huron East Council has chosen a new logo for the municipality that drops references to the five preamalgamation communities as part of an extensive rebranding process.

Council made the decision earlier this month at its Nov. 5 meeting. Representatives from Cinnamon Toast, the marketing agency contracted by the municipality for the job, detailed the process at the meeting and discussed the extensive public outreach, but ultimately left the final decision up to council.

The firm presented two new logo designs for council’s consideration. While three had been proposed originally, when they were thrown out to the public for input, two of the three received 97 per cent of the vote, so the firm dropped the one that wasn’t really speaking to residents ahead of their presentation to council.

Residents were largely split, with one option garnering 50 per cent of

the vote and the other receiving 47 per cent of the vote. Councillor

Justin Morrison, speaking up for the democratic process, said that those who were surveyed had chosen Option C with 50 per cent of the vote, so he felt council should listen to the will of the people.

And yet, several councillors voiced their personal preference as being Option A (Option B was the logo that received just three per cent of the vote and was dropped from contention by Cinnamon Toast ahead of the presentation).

However, before the official vote on a new logo, some, Mayor Bernie MacLellan and Deputy-Mayor Alvin McLellan among them, wondered about the need to even adopt a new logo in the first place, saying that they were happy with the original logo and didn’t feel that it needed to be refreshed.

The mayor, however, did say that what he liked about the new logo options were that they did away with the wards and that they really focused on Huron East as one,

united municipality.

Furthermore, Clerk Jessica Rudy noted that council had already decided to embark on the rebranding process, so, in a way, that conversation had already taken place and had been settled by council.

Council then embarked on a pair of votes that were considered by Rudy to be unofficial, as not all members of council cast a vote. Neither of them “passed” and she was forced to tighten things up and take official votes that would stand up to public scrutiny.

The reason some councillors said they didn’t vote for either option was that they were not in favour of either and would prefer to keep the current logo in place. That’s when Rudy said that the decision to adopt a new logo had already been made and that all councillors must cast a vote, according to the municipality’s procedural bylaw.

In the first full vote, Morrison, McLellan and Councillor Jeff Newell voted in favour of Option C,

First Coffee Chat in the books

Our weather is cooling down and that means many things. Heavier coats are needed, the furnaces are being turned up, extra blankets are now on the bed and maybe it’s time to find the snow boots and mitts, just in case. There are snow tires to put on and it’s now time to look for that darn snow brush. It is only about six weeks until Christmas.

The Snowmobile Club is planning for this year’s trails and some men have already been out to mark the trails. Now that is showing a positive attitude that snow may be on its way. So now snowmobile suits have to be brought out.

Our condolences to the Deitner family on the passing of Leo Deitner. He will be missed by his wife Rita and children Brian, Kathy and Kevin and their families. He was the grandfather of eight and great-grandfather of 13. He will be missed by sister Marie Blake and Nora Kraemer and Rita’s family.

Leo was born and raised on the 6th of Grey. The only son, he began farming at the age of 14 and continued until his mid-80s. He married the girl of his dreams and enjoyed working alongside her for 66 years. He loved to do woodworking, carving, whittling, and created over 300 projects over that time. Leo was a very nice gentleman who loved to chat with old and new friends. Our sympathies to the family.

We send our get-well, fasthealing wishes and prayers for a

complete recovery to Karen Braecker. She suffered an accidental fall and has badly broken the upper bone of her arm, near her shoulder. She is awaiting surgery, I believe, and may have had it by the time the paper is out. A long recovery is expected, but Karen is a great girl and the community of Winthrop and area has already stepped up to give her help. We send our best thoughts to Karen!

It is that time of year again when Mae Ebel is celebrating another birthday. There will be 97 candles on the cake this year! Her son Paul says she is doing very well, still in her apartment, although she doesn’t go out that much, but is very happy to be in her own place. She is still living in Ingersoll with her son Paul nearby.

Many will remember her and her late husband Lou when they came home to Brussels to retire. She is happy and content in her place and enjoys reading The Citizen and its stories about folks she remembers from Brussels.

The first Walton Coffee Chat was held on Saturday morning with a very small crowd, which is probably my fault for not reminding all. It was great to have Gerald and Nancy Smith come all the way from Belmore to visit! Thanks to Anne Bosman for helping to clean up when I had to leave early.

The next chat will be Nov. 23. They are the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.

The first deer hunt of the year is over and, to be honest, I didn’t see very many hunters on my travelsjust a few small groups of only a couple of guys. Luckily, I didn’t see any deer running out of the bush to the roadway either. I know of a Brodhagen group that had 10 deer by Wednesday and a Brussels group had five by then. I guess the deer don’t need corn to hide in to elude the hunters!

which received the majority of the 118 survey responses, while the rest of council voted against it. In a second vote, six members - Mayor Bernie MacLellan and Councillors Bob Fisher, Ray Chartrand, Brenda Dalton, Larry McGrath and Gloria

Wilbee - voted for Option A, while Morrison, McLellan, Newell and Dianne Diehl voted against it. Notably, Diehl voted against both options.

As for the rest of the rebranding, Cinnamon Toast representatives outlined a number of other aspects of the process. They said the municipality needs to be welcoming, authentic, confident and optimistic in nature, while also noting that agriculture, history and heritage and other aspects of life in Huron East should be highlighted, with over 77 per cent speaking on behalf of agriculture and just under 61 per cent saying heritage and history are important to Huron East.

We are pleased to hear Mary Bernard is out of hospital after a few days’ stay. We hope she is feeling much better.

Our sympathy is extended to Danny and Patricia McKay on the passing of his mother, Joanne McKay. She was the wife of the late Charlie and she will be missed by her many grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Our condolences to all.

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Shirley Bowman. She was the wife of the late Jim Bowman and the loving mother of Lyle and Ken and their families. She loved her pets, farming, growing vegetables and flowers, showing them at the local fairs and going to the casino. Our sympathies to all her family and friends.

Celebrating birthdays this past week included Brian Pryce, Danielle Ducharme Jutzi, Murray Henderson, Katie Roth, Tristan Rijkhoff, Pat Gillis, Michael Grobbink, Blaine Marks and Lynne Godkin. Happy birthday to all.

Centennial

Recently, the Seaforth Lions Club marked its 100th anniversary with a special dinner and awards ceremony. Among the presentations made was this one by HuronBruce MPP Lisa Thompson, recognizing the club for its century of service. Long-time member Doug Elliott was on hand to receive the honour. (John

Do your friends come to you for cooking advice and ask (or beg) you for your delicious recipes? Well, we want your recipe too! Send in recipes for your favourite holiday meals, desserts, appetizers, sides or cocktails, and be featured in The Citizen’s upcoming special section on November 29, Home Cooking for the Holidays. This section will feature tons of delicious recipes from talented readers like yourself, just in time for holiday entertaining!

Mail your recipe(s) to: The Citizen PO Box 429 Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 or email them to info@northhuron.on.ca

Be sure to include your name with your

for

Stephenson photo)

From the Minister’s Study Time makes it harder and harder to remember

By Rev. Alex Jebson, Blyth and Brussels United Churches

“I am a warrior, so that my son may be a merchant, so that his son may be a poet.” This is a quote from John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States. He was speaking of the progression of the generations who have known peace, community and freedom as a result of the hard work and sacrifice of those who have gone before them. It also speaks of the importance to remember the past generations, to understand how our personal lives and communities were shaped by those who went before us.

For some of us, we are in the merchant or the poet generation; those whose lives have been personally shaped and inspired by the veterans who fought in the name of justice and righteousness. Parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins and neighbours… those who served with diligence, found joy in peace, and struggled and wrestled with the horrors they witnessed. Myself and those younger, we are an even greater number of generations beyond. I suppose my parents were poets so that their child could be a minister.

In my early public school years, some 20-odd years ago, we would have a World War II veteran at our school’s Remembrance Day assemblies regularly, but that is no longer a given. I know the veterans of the communities I serve here only through their faces on streetlight banners and names scrawled on crosses in the cemeteries. This doesn’t mean the call to remembrance or gratitude of the younger generation is any less, it’s just the march of time. But on Remembrance Day, and indeed in the course of our daily lives, we must ensure that the sacrifice of those past never dims in our minds or in our actions.

This was a concern of many veterans, some just years or even months after the end of conflicts.

The World War I British soldier Siegfried Sassoon, himself a poet, voiced this concern in his poem “Aftermath”, written in March of 1919, shortly after his unit was demobilized. Though wrestling with the sheer loss of life and seeming purposelessness of it all, he still prized the sacrifice of his comrades and community. The poem reads in part:

“Have you forgotten yet?...

For the world’s events have rumbled on since those gagged days,

Like traffic checked while at the crossing of city-ways;

And the haunted gap in your mind has filled with thoughts that flow

Like clouds in the lit heaven of life; and you’re a man reprieved to go,

Taking your peaceful share of Time, with joy to spare.

But the past is just the same--and War’s a bloody game...

Have you forgotten yet?...

Look down, and swear by the slain of the War that you’ll never forget.”

Don’t forget. Don’t sugarcoat or trivialize the realities of war, and don’t take absolute delight in violence or loss of life. But don’t forget. That is the call we hear today. And we do remember. We remember with passion and gratitude. We remember that they served and sacrificed so that we might know safety and community. In small, tight-knit communities such as ours, our remembrance is always near at hand. The same family names as those soldiers of old still inhabit our villages.

In our faith, remembrance is built into the very fabric of our being and worshipping. Each psalm we recite, each passage we ponder, each time bread is broken, we remember. This extends into the rest of our life; with each sticky note and scribble, each monument erected, each page read or thought about those who have gone before us, all of them impact how we live our own lives of discipleship. We remember, and we give thanks to God for the way that God embraces us and emotes with us through thick and thin.

God’s solidarity with us and willingness to sacrifice for us so that we might know a more loving and peaceful world even resulted in God being on the Cross. But hope never died; in the Resurrection and in other actions of God, we remember this love and solidarity that God embodies. And God’s actions inspired generation upon generation of poets and prophets, who used their words and actions to remember and reflect God’s love and justice. Even Mary, Mother of Jesus, used her words to remember God:

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.” (Luke 1:46-55)

We can identify a lot with Mary in how we do our remembrance today. Someone who was considered insignificant, Mary wasn’t expecting to be called to serve in God’s ways. But when she discovered her calling, she turned to the examples of the past to bolster and guide her. She recalled the countless times that people had been moved to serve in ways of justice and love and peace. She recalled how God had shown, time and time again, that those who sought status and power and greed were on the wrong side of history.

And, in her own words as poet and prophet, Mary didn’t shy away from recognizing that there will still things that needed to be addressed, still things that needed the inbreaking of God’s Kingdom and God’s ways; Mary didn’t let her appreciation for the past stop her from working to better the present or future either.

We are called to similarly remember and respond. One of the best ways that we remember is by living out the values and sense of

BRUSSELS

service like that of those brave individuals who fought in the name of justice, who sought out peace, and who waited for loved ones to return. The values of serving or caring for others. Desiring a more just and peaceful world. Filling the hungry with good things.

For us generations of merchants and poets, who (we pray) will never have to be on the battlefield, we can still live out these values faithfully and dutifully. It is not just the role of warriors, but for all of us. And we are all empowered by the Holy Spirit to do so.

We remember and serve when we seek out peaceful ends to conflicts, when we think of ourselves as community, rather than as individuals solely, when we stand in solidarity with our marginalized siblings. We remember by appreciating the peace and security that we experience in our community, while not giving up on the duty to improve our nation for the benefit of everyone, not just the powerful and those who profit from

Trinity: 9:00 a.m. Parish of the Holy Spirit: 9:30 a.m. St. Paul’s-Trinity: 11:00 a.m.

66 Dinsley St. W, Blyth 21 Jarvis St. Seaforth 519-527-152223 John St E Wingham 519-357-4883 revjoann@hurontel.on.ca holyspirit@tcc.on.ca stpauls@hurontel.on.ca

The Regional Ministry of Hope www.holyspiritseaforth.cawww.regionalministryof hope.com

Livestreamed Sundays at 11 a m on our facebook page T he Anglican Churches of Blyth, Seaforth and Wingham Welcome You to Sunday Service! The

a.m. BMG Community Centre (upstairs room) 800 Sports Drive, Brussels

Childcare and Sunday School provided for children 0 to 8 during the sermon

Free supper and Bible study! 6 p.m. on Wednesday nights starting Oct. 16th More details at: brusselscommunitybiblechapel.ca

For the Hobbyist on your list!

GRANNY GET YOUR GLUE GUN

Don’t panic! This book is your guide to hours of creative fun with your grandchildren. You don’t have to be a grandmother to want to get started creating crafts and recipes with this amazing book. $14.95

DECORATIVE MACRAME

This book walks you through the process of creating your own unique pieces, perfect for your space. Clear step-by-step photographs show you how to create the four basic knots and apply simple macrame techniques, while detailed diagrams help you with things like measurements. $19.95

FOR THE LOVE OF KNITTING

A scrapbook of stories, essays and memories that celebrates knitting and knitting heritage. 24.95

A-Z OF KNITTING

This book will tell you almost everything there is to know about this beautiful and practical craft. $23.95

FEED THE BIRDS

This book is the perfect resource for beginners and experienced birdwatchers alike. Covering 196 bird species that are attracted to backyard feeders. A wide variety of feeders and seed types are discussed as well as bird behaviours. $29.95

WELL PRESERVED

What stops most of us from doing it is a lack of time and, initially, fear of getting it wrong...Walking you through it all is Mary Anne Dragan, whose Well Preserved still rules the world of books about preserving. $24.95

BIRDHOUSES BOXES & FEEDERS

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

THE CROCHET ANSWER BOOK

From beginning basics like yarn styles, stitch types, and necessary tools to detailed outlines of more advanced techniques this book delivers straightforward guidance and plenty of encouragement. $22.99

THE KNITTING ANSWER BOOK

A 24-hour hotline for knitters, this book answers questions on everything from needle sizes and yarn weights to dropped stitches, tight ribbing, chart reading and cutting edges. Hundreds of detailed illustrations. $22.95

THE BLACKSMITH’S CRAFT Blacksmithing is a romantic and practical skill and it still has many applications today. This comprehensive book is a primer of the tools and methods of the blacksmith and provides tips on how to make this skill pay. $27.95

THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC GARDENING CALENDAR 2025

The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Calendar spreads gardening joy at every turn of the page. Each month of this 2025 edition features the stunning illustration of an edible or ornamental accompanied by mini-feature captions that include growing guidance and fun facts about the plant shown. $12.99

KNOW YOUR CLASSIC TRACTORS

Many popular tractors from the late 1960s to the 1980s have become classics on Britain’s farms. This handy guide to 41 classic tractors contains descriptions, photographs, country of manufacture, engine and horsepower. $11.99

BEEKEEPING: A Practical Guide

A primer on beekeeping and how to get started this book offers 180 pages of practical information — everything from equipment to clothing to managing hives and collecting honey. $28.95

COUNTRYSIDE VIEWS IN CROSS

STITCH: 12 Beautiful Landscape Projects to Stitch

Everything you need to make beautiful wall hangings, fire screens, etc. Scenes of Dutch windmills, classic English thatched cottage, Exotic Chinese pagoda, etc. $24.99 Now $12.50

FARM & FOLK QUILT ALCHEMY

This book explores natural dyeing methods and details the process of creating a quilt from scratch. With an emphasis on the slow and intentional aspects of hand stitching, Buscaglia’s quilts are artful and satisfying to create. $37.95

New CT scanner to be operational by summer

‘Caring Together’

The ‘Caring Together’ campaign for a new CT scanner at the Wingham and District Hospital marked its successful conclusion last week after $3.6 million was raised for the new piece of equipment. It is expected to be operational next summer. Dr. Sean Henderson, left, and Wingham and District Hospital Foundation Executive Director Nicole Duquette-Jutzi, right, were among those who spoke. (Scott Stephenson photo)

Enthusiasm

Continued from page 1 lower with fundraising efforts, grant applications, and in-kind donations from local businesses. We’ve prepared copies of these quotes and drawings for each councillor to review - I’ll hand them out after.”

Gina MacDonald, Chair of the Benmiller Community Hall Committee, also told council she believes in the proposed playground project. “We have been working on it, and it’s something I

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

On Nov. 7, the Wingham and District Hospital Foundation celebrated the success of its “Caring Together” campaign, which raised $3.6 million to fund a new CT scanner for the hospital. The event, held at the Wingham Columbus Centre, offered attendees drinks and snacks while highlighting the contributions of major donors and campaign supporters.

Executive Director Nicole Duquette-Jutzi opened the evening by recounting the campaign’s yearlong journey, initially set to raise $2.5 million. However, due to inflation and additional project requirements, the goal rose to $3.6 million - a target that DuquetteJutzi described as very challenging. She credited the local community’s resilience for achieving this increased goal.

Britespan Building Systems Inc., a major contributor with a $1 million donation, was recognized for its leadership in supporting the campaign. Britespan co-owner Ben Hogervorst remarked on the extraordinary donation, saying, “We just felt it was time... we’re grateful we had the ability.” Hogervorst explained that the company had saved funds over the years to support a significant

community need, noting that most of their employees live within the service area of the hospital, so when this opportunity came up, they thought it was the right cause.

Dr. Sean Henderson, emergency department lead at Wingham Hospital, emphasized the scanner’s anticipated impact on patient care, sharing, “I can confidently tell you that this is going to both change and save lives.” Dr. Henderson acknowledged the physicians’ unanimous support for acquiring a CT scanner, essential for accurate and timely emergency diagnoses.

Campaign Chair Mark Foxton also addressed attendees, thanking Britespan for its transformative contribution. “I believe this generous gift set an example and resulted in individuals, families, community groups and businesses donating what they could,” Foxton said.

He further extended his gratitude to the dedicated campaign team members, including Andrew Kerr, Dayna Deans, Shelley Reinhardt, Angela McPherson and Jenny Hogervorst.

The evening concluded with a group photo featuring an oversized $3.6 million novelty cheque. Construction is underway to install the new CT scanner, expected to begin operation by the summer of 2025.

for Benmiller amid parks discussion

think we can work together on,” she said. “So I just want to show my support, and the BCHC’s support in moving forward on a playground. The sooner, the better.”

Resident Shawna Baxter believes that now is the time to invest in Benmiller’s future. “There are five new houses that went up in Benmiller in the last five years - all with small children. There are residents that have grandchildren, and there are residents who have great-grandchildren. I think the

playground would actually get a lot of use, not just during the summer and baseball, but year-round. Benmiller is growing. Huron County is growing. ACW is growing - why not grow with it?”

Ten-year-old Lucas Johnston also offered council his thoughts on what should be prioritized, park plan-wise. “I’d like to speak to you today, during this important time while you are reviewing plans to build local playgrounds. I live near Benmiller, and would love to have a

Evening planning meetings remain

Continued from page 17 scheduling of planning meetings was put forth by Vanstone, and seconded by Hickey. The only two who did not vote in favour of the reconsideration were Councillor Jennifer Miltenberg and Councillor Anita Snobelen.

Miltenberg explained why she was against reconsideration to the rest of council. “There was a large influx of people here in December who wanted night meetings. I didn’t, but the feeling at the time was ‘one night meeting a month, for a year,’ knowing it was going to cost a certain amount of money, and after the end of that year, we would have a staff report on how many came, and which we thought was better. And none of that has happened yet. We still have a large number of people that wanted it, and we said we’d try it for a year, and we haven’t. I’m not a fan of night meetings - I’d love to put it back in [to daytime meetings]. But I voted ‘no’ out of respect for what we told the people who were standing here in December.”

Hickey pointed out that waiting the whole 12 months would make it impossible to accurately confirm the 2025 council schedule. “We have the schedule proposed in front of us for the whole year next year. If we wait for the 12 months to

bring a staff report back, how can we approve a schedule for the full year then, at this point? That’s my question,” he concluded.

Chief Administrative Officer

Mark Becker had an answer for Hickey. “Well, we’re reconsidering it today, so I guess all cards are on the table. And if council wants to override what they’ve decided in the past, that’s council’s decision,” he explained.

Vanstone leaned into the idea of overriding council’s past decisions.

“When this first came up, there were a lot of people saying they wanted to come to the meetings and whatnot. But I think everybody has seen - at a lot of these meetings, there’s only council here for 10, 15 minutes. Which I think is a waste of everybody’s time. If it’s that important to people, they’ll make sure they’re here during the morning meeting and get it done. And it would save a huge amount of money over a year, or two, or three, or four, or however long this lasts.... Anyways, that’s why I think we should take it back and reconsider. And if we can save some money, heck, we can buy another playground.”

Snobelen also explained why she had voted against the reconsideration and requested they wait until they receive the staff

report at the end of a year. “Once council makes a decision, flipflopping and moving back and forth on that decision shows inconsistency to our ratepayers... I don’t like it either. Maybe it is a waste of money. Maybe there are meetings that are 10, 20 minutes long. But there have also been meetings where people come from out of town, and wanted to be at the meeting, and because it was a night meeting, they could. We can’t forget about those folks who make the effort to come to a night meeting.”

When Hickey began going into the details for his plans for even more night meetings, Mayor Glen McNeil expressed surprise - he had been under the impression the conversation had always been about moving evening planning meetings to occur in tandem with regular meetings. Councillor Curtis Blake was also desirous of night meetings. “Every constituent I’ve spoken to didn’t have an issue with the planning meetings, it’s meetings in general. Everybody I’ve talked to wants them at night, because it makes more sense.”

Despite these comments, council still voted in favour of moving the evening planning meetings to coincide with council’s regular, daytime meetings.

playground put at the ball diamonds. It would make watching ball games more fun for everyone, and fun for kids who live close by, or those who are visiting the hall for events. It would allow me to play with all of the neighbour kids that I don’t go to school with, and would otherwise not be able to get to know. It would allow kids to play in a safe environment, instead of getting into things they shouldn’t at the current park. My family will be able to take a short drive instead of a long one to another community... I’m surprised we don’t already have one,” he concluded.

Mayor Glen McNeil thanked all the residents of Benmiller for sharing their thoughts during the planning process.“We appreciate hearing from everyone, and especially the youth - it’s very, very important, so thank you very much.”

Designer Stasia Stempski of pl.ural attended the meeting via Zoom to answer any questions about the proposed designs for the eight parks. She explained the overall process and purpose of concept design, and responded to some of the public comments. “Essentially, what we’ve prepared are concept plans based off of information and community input from the Parks and Rec. Master Plan. We were given a wishlist in programming for each park, we went out to each park, did inventories and had a photo representation for each park.”

After the design firm created the concepts for each park, they were vetted by ACW Chief Administrative Officer Mark Becker, who is overseeing the project. The concept drawings were edited, and a rough preliminary budget was drafted based on those edited concepts. “What we have going on now are the posters illustrating your intent to move forward with some kind of plan, taking into consideration your

community’s wishes. Then those posters can be used for going after funding and grants, because you do need some kind of a plan, on paper,” Stempski explained. “As concepts, these are totally malleable…. The $150,000 as a start-up budget for that playground - it’s just a starting point.”

Councillor Jennifer Miltenberg wanted to ensure that other highneed communities wouldn’t be left behind. “I actually agree that Benmiller is one of our highest needs. But I also know that Dungannon has been fundraising and working for several years on a playground, and St. Helens has started one, and is working on the continuation.”

Stempski invited council and the people of ACW to look at the designs as just the beginning of a communal process to improve parkland in ACW. “I think these eight parks are really great jumping points for moving forward with any further implementation for these parks. It sounds like there’s a lot of enthusiasm for Benmiller.”

‘Egmondville Christmas Carol’ coming soon

props and everything else that a proper stage production demands.

The show will hit the stage on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. at the church for a free-will offering.

By Shawn Loughlin

The Citizen

Next month, Egmondville United Church will continue its successful tradition of live, community theatre with two performances of An Egmondville Christmas Carol , written by Walton’s Gloria Wilbee, based on the Charles Dickens classic.

On Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. at the church, the show will go on - all for a free-will offering to the church. And while Wilbee is the author of the show, it was Glen and Deb Haney who conceived of the show

and brought the idea to Wilbee.

Deb, in an interview with The Citizen, said she had been kicking the idea around for a number of years, thinking that local Brian Nuhn would make a good Scrooge if Egmondville were to tell its own

A Christmas Carol story as the total package of a local business owner who can act and sing.

This was the year that she finally decided to pull the trigger and move forward with the project. She said she reached out to Wilbee, who had written plays for the church before, and she was immediately interested as a long-time admirer of the original Dickens work and its 1951

film adaptation starring Alistair Sim. So, it didn’t take much convincing for Wilbee to climb aboard the project. She said she watched the film every Christmas, and has for as long as she can remember, so she was familiar with the story and had some ideas.

Conversations began back in May and Wilbee quickly got to work, adapting what she feels is a very faithful adaptation of the classic book, while spinning it into a tale about Egmondville that will appeal to local audiences.

She also thought that, as a licensed lay worship leader, this would be yet another great

opportunity to attract young families and children to the church for an activity that might show them all that the church can do for them and within their community.

Wilbee and Haney will both perform in the play as well, with Barrett Engel set to be this story’s Tiny Tim. Wilbee said that the entire cast is perfect, but that Engel has been a really heartening inclusion that has brought the production to the next level.

The cast of 19 has been rehearsing for months now and people like Haney and others have also been working diligently behind the scenes to create costumes, sets,

Continued from page 19 the abuse of others. To be active citizens, devoted advocates, and faithful servants to the last and the least.

This is a remembrance in which we can all take part. These actions add up. A testament for the generations that come after us, whatever occupation they may have, to continue taking up the mantle of those who gave their lives and livelihoods for others. Let us live our remembrance in our service, as waxed on about by another war poet, Edgar A. Guest, in his poem “Service”:

“I have no wealth of gold to give away,

But I can pledge to worthy causes these:

I’ll give my strength, my days and hours of ease,

My finest thought and courage when I may,

And take some deed accomplished for my pay.

I cannot offer much in silver fees, But I can serve when richer persons play,

And with my presence fill some vacancies.

There are some things beyond the gift of gold,

A richer treasure’s needed now and then;

Some joys life needs which are not bought and sold -

The high occasion often calls for men.

Some for release from service give their pelf,

But he gives most who freely gives himself.”

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Stepping up

No Hate in Huron, a loose group of like-minded individuals taking on hateful actions in the county, is hosting its first-ever event next weekend in the form of the Community Cabaret 4 Caring and Camaraderie. Patrick Corvyn, the group’s founder, and Amber Walker-Bolton, another member, have organized a day for all. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

Next Saturday, the newly-formed No Hate in Huron group will host its first-ever event: a day-long event at the Goderich Legion called the Community Cabaret 4 Caring and Camaraderie.

Patrick Corvyn, the founder of No Hate in Huron, and Amber

The Listowel Wingham Hospital Alliance has announced the addition of Dr. Abdalla Bazazo to its medical team, addressing the critical physician shortage that has impacted access to healthcare in the community. With many residents currently without a family physician, Dr. Bazazo’s arrival will significantly improve healthcare access for the people of Wingham.

Dr. Bazazo joins the Listowel Wingham Hospital Alliance through Ontario’s Practice Ready Program, which supports internationallytrained physicians in becoming licensed to practise in Ontario.

Originally trained in Egypt, Dr. Bazazo has been a general practitioner since 2014. He brings a wealth of clinical expertise and a

Walker-Bolton, another of the group’s volunteers, joined The Citizen for a chat last week, as well as a stroll down the Blyth Greenway Trail, to discuss the organization, its purpose and why it’s necessary in these divided days, and the cabaret.

The cabaret in question is a paywhat-you-can marathon that begins at noon on Nov. 23 at the Goderich

deep-rooted commitment to delivering healthcare in rural and remote areas. Dr. Bazazo will support primary care in the community and will have hospital admitting privileges, further enhancing the quality of care available to residents.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Bazazo to our community,” said Esther Millar, President and CEO of the Listowel Wingham Hospitals Alliance. “His experience and dedication to patient care will be invaluable as we work to ensure that everyone in Wingham and area has access to a family physician.”

Robin Spence Haffner, Executive

featuring a headline performance by “local vocal diva” Jenna Smiththis part of the event is ticketed. The night’s host will be Mikuria Vandersnatsch, also known as The Countess de Huròn, who is Corvyn’s drag queen alter ego.

Walker-Bolton, who has done a lot of work organizing the event, says there will be something for everyone, with safe, family-friendly events in the early afternoon hours that will make way for some more grown-up entertainment as the day gives way to night.

Corvyn said that he hopes the event will serve two purposes. First, he hopes it will provide a safe space for everyone and be an entertaining day for those who choose to attend and that it will raise the profile of the organization and its mandate. Second, he hopes that it will also serve as a successful fundraiser for the organization, which, he admits, is a loose collection of like-minded individuals who don’t want to see hateful conduct in their home community of Huron County.

Corvyn, a Goderich native who just recently returned to the area, says he felt the need to mobilize and take action when he saw active racism and neo-Nazi ideologies making their way into Huron County life.

Legion and will run until midnight. There will be a luncheon from noon to 4 p.m. and a coffee house operating throughout the day, including community performers, a collaborative art project and cooperative games, as well as conversations with local organizations. After the sun goes down, there will be a cabaret and dance throughout the night,

Director of the Health Team, states, “The Family Health Team joins the hospital in enthusiastically welcoming Dr. Bazazo to our community and increasing access to high-quality, team-based primary care in our area.”

Dr. Bazazo will relocate to Wingham with his wife and two children. Over the next three months, he will begin his practice and build his roster of patients with Health Care Connect.

Residents interested in becoming patients of Dr. Bazazo are encouraged to register with Health Care Connect by calling 1-800-4451822 or visiting online. You

First, he said, there was the controversial “White Lives Matter” sign that has been covered by local news outlets such as CTV. It sits north of Goderich on Highway 21 and it has inspired council discussions and petitions signed by hundreds, but cannot officially be ordered to be taken down, as it is on private property.

Second, he was motivated to action by a supposed neo-Nazi group meeting in Goderich earlier this year that has been documented by the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, which said it drew members from Canada and the United States.

Corvyn then began seeing

stickers along Goderich’s famed boardwalk advertising for The Great Lakes Active Club, which is said to be a Detroit-based neofascist group. He found a number of them along the lakefront and felt it was time to speak out and take action.

He then created a petition and began asking local politicians and leaders to publicly denounce neoNazi ideology, which saw a lot of support as it made the rounds.

Really, Corvyn said, it started when he began thinking that someone should be doing something to combat hate in his community when he stopped and thought that he was, indeed, someone and that perhaps he should be the one to stand up and fight back.

That’s when he started the petition and began assembling some like-minded friends in the area to create No Hate in Huron, which now has its placards all over Huron County in the windows of many offices, businesses, restaurants and other establishments all over the county.

The petition now has over 820 signatures and it is still active on change.org. As for the event, it is ready to go and will feature music, games, authors and poets, art, dancing and much, much more.

Hold On to What Matters