The Citizen - Sept. 27, 2024

The

THIS WEEK 8 • Sports 10 • Film 15 • Obituaries 19 • Art

Citizen

Huron County’s most trusted independent news source Volume 40 No. 39

Friday, September 27, 2024

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Brussels Fall Fair unites community under sunny skies

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

Tough customers The path to success in the Brussels Fall Fair went through these three judges and they would not be easily convinced. Sure, The Citizen was named best business float for the second year in a row, no big deal, but for others, it was sure to be tougher. Junior Ambassador Bridget McCallum, left, Ambassador Emily Bieman, centre, and Little Ambassador Sophia Blake, right, were the ones who made the decisions last Wednesday in what turned out to be a great day for the fair. (Scott Stephenson photo)

Most assuredly, each and every agricultural fair in this great, girthsome nation is special and unique in its own way, but there was just something a little bit extra awesome about the Brussels Fall Fair this year.

Admittedly, Brussels puts on a top notch fall fair every year - it always has a great parade, the homecraft competition is a wild and wide-ranging battle and the livestock show is one of the best around. Brussels also gets bonus points for carrying on with the proud tradition of the mid-week fair, when so many others have capitulated to the whims of the modern age and moved their fair to the weekend. But still, the 2024 edition of the beloved annual event had an additional aura of amusement that made everything even more entertaining than normal. And that aura was emanating straight from the very heart of the fair: its annual theme!

For those readers not in the know, every year, the fall fair has a different theme, and this year, Brussels bucked the current trend of choosing an autumnal rhyme (ie Scarecrows and Pumpkin Rows) as their theme, instead going with the very unexpected “Pork and Beans”.

With this single, well-chosen theme, the Brussels Fall Fair enriched its entire experience.

The annual parade, which always

has a casual community vibe that you just can’t find in your larger parades, was punctuated by children representing the pork portion of the theme by wearing snouts, ears and curly tails. A parade with people dressed like pigs is almost always better than one without, as they say. The pig was also well represented in the homecraft competition. There were cardboard pigs, cake pigs, knit pigs - just a plethora of pig crafts. Beans, of course, have always been a fall fair staple, but beans are generally less amusing than their porcine counterparts.

While the 4-H livestock show was the one part of the fair that didn’t go whole hog, it did have some talented young people showing off some beautiful cows and sheep.

Newly-crowned Brussels Fall Fair Ambassador Emily Biemen won over judges and the public with both her public speaking prowess and her sheepshowing skills, winning two of the sheep categories. She attributed her impressive performance to her family, her community and her involvement with 4-H. “4-H allows me to learn to do by doing. It’s allowed me to gain a lot of new skills that I wouldn’t have been able to achieve,” she explained. It looks like the agricultural interests of Brussels are in good hands again this year.

The peameal bacon sandwiches on offer for lunch were both themeappropriate and delicious.

Citizen of the Year nomination deadline extended The Citizen has extended the deadline for Citizen of the Year Award nominations in the name of more nominations for the newspaper’s home communities of Blyth and Brussels.

Nominators now have until midnight on Sunday, Oct. 13 to put forth the name of a dedicated volunteer, community champion and all-around good egg in Blyth, Brussels or the greater Huron County community. The decisions will then be made in later October with the hopes of having an inperson Citizen of the Year celebration in Brussels in November.

Consider this your last opportunity to nominate someone who has done tremendous work for their community in 2024 and deserves to be honoured for making their corner of the world a better place this year.

The Citizen has received very few

nominations for these prestigious awards and the deadline is now under a month away.

This week, you’ll find a nomination form for our annual Citizen of the Year Awards, which are handed out to outstanding volunteers from Blyth and the surrounding areas, Brussels and the surrounding areas and, new in 2022, the Huron County Citizen of the Year, who can be someone from anywhere in Huron County who has made a difference this year.

Last year’s winners were Joe Gahan and Meaghan Lee-Gahan in Blyth, thanks to their work founding and maintaining the Blyth Kids Club, Roxane Nicholson in Brussels, thanks to her work raising funds for the renovation and expansion of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre, and Wayne Clausius of southern Huron County, who was just the second Huron County Citizen of the Year

thanks to his work helping the lessfortunate with tax returns and other programs. Clausius would pass away shortly after winning the award.

Nominators can fill out the form found in this week’s newspaper or e-mail submissions to Editor Shawn Loughlin at editor@ northhuron.on.ca. Be sure to include your name, your nominee’s

name and all of the reasons why they should be considered as this year’s Citizen of the Year.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.

Since The Citizen began publishing in 1985, the year the newspaper was founded, North Huron Publishing has been handing out Citizen of the Year Awards for outstanding volunteers from both

the Blyth and Brussels communities. However, as the newspaper’s coverage area has continued to grow, the editorial department has received an increased number of nominations and inquiries about honouring volunteers who don’t live in Blyth, Brussels or their immediate surrounding communities. To Continued on page 3

National awards for ‘Citizen’ On Tuesday, The Citizen won two Canadian Community Newspaper Awards through News Media Canada for its editorial writing and community service.

First, Editor Shawn Loughlin placed third in the Best Local Editorial category for a newspaper with a circulation under 10,000.

The editorial in question was published in the Jan. 20, 2023 issue

of The Citizen, entitled “A Community’s Centre”, tackling North Huron Council considering closing the Blyth and District Community Centre and the importance of a community centre in a village such as Blyth.

Loughlin was bested only by the Manitoulin Expositor on Manitoulin Island in first place and The Rocky Mountain Goat in

Valemount and McBride, British Columbia in second.

Second, The Citizen placed third in the Outstanding Community Service category for the presentation of its Citizen of the Year Awards last year.

Victoria News from British Columbia placed first in the category for its “Mental Health Continued on page 3

PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024.

What was that again?

Glimpses of the Past with Karen Webster

I

t seems that every era has its own set of customs and ideas about what is proper and what is not. If we were to step back in time, we might be quite surprised at the wording used in local newspapers and, to be fair, should a person of a bygone era see what is acceptable in 2024, they too would likely be shocked.

The case of Invisible Women Titles are one example of the disparity. A man was always “Mr.” while a woman was either a “Miss” or a “Mrs.” It took several generations for “Ms.” to come on the scene.

In the 1920s, we read that “Miss Jean Turnbull has returned to the Western University, to resume her studies in the Arts course. She is entering her third year.”

However, when one wed, a vibrant young woman who attended Normal School or was at a skating party became invisible in the local newspapers. For example: “Jno. and Mrs. Grasby announce the engagement of their youngest daughter, Marjorie to Clarence....”

At least in this example, the nameless mother is given her proper title. Not so with the Benmiller notice in 1882 that “Mr. Edward Flanaghan and Mrs. F. have left for Detroit.” Even more in the shadows is the woman in the report that A. J. Thompson and wife left for a trip to Michigan.

It is curious to the present day reader to see a birth announcement such as the 1901 Goderich one that reads, “John Reilly is all smiles right now. The reason, a daughter.” At least this was a cheerful one quite

unlike the one that read “Hatt: In Seaforth, on the 18th, the wife of Mr. Jas Hatt, a son.” This notice sounds rather cold and impersonal.

In July of 1884, we learn that Mr. Henry Wilson of Saratoga, “got tired of leading a solitary bachelor life” and “on Wednesday last took into himself a wife” A mystery woman for sure.

Among the examples of women not being recognized by their own names are the newspaper reports of clubs and societies by women themselves. Take, for example, a 1959 report of the Auburn Women’s Institute. Here we learn that the delegates to an upcoming district meeting were Mrs. Thomas Haggitt, Mrs. George Millian, Mrs. Arnold Craig and Mrs. Thomas Lawlor.

For all time, these women’s identities remain lost to us. One can argue that this was a well-accepted and probably expected state of affairs. Present-day reporting would almost exclusively use a woman’s first name and most likely not have the title of Miss or Mrs. attached to it.

Romance In the past, speculation about possible romances and affairs of the heart could be quite cryptic in the papers. Perhaps, if no names were used, no blame could be cast on the informant.

Leeburn was a small community just north of Goderich and it was from there that this tidbit caught our attention. “The fair sex of our burg and some of the Dunlop ladies were a wee bit surprised the other day at seeing one of our quiet bachelors, who lives a little south of the Hall,

taking home some new furniture, including a large bureau. All are thinking something is going to happen.”

A Bundle of Joy Announcements of the arrival of babies could be quite poetic at times.

Take, for example, the one for the proprietor of the Queen’s Hotel, Dungannon, in 1901. “Mine host of the Queen’s Hotel is wearing many smiles owing to the arrival of an heiress on Monday. We congratulate the newly invested pater and mater and hope that the young heiress will be long spared to them to comfort them in advancing years.” One had

to be a resident of that locality to decipher this information.

Dearly Departed Perhaps the greatest dissimilarities between reporting in the past and in the current era can be found in the obituary section. While today’s newspapers may use the terms “passed away” or “died”, way back the wording was quite poetic.

One young man, aged 27, was remembered in the Huron Expositor this way: “after six months of hopeless illness was called to rest”.

The Nov. 4 issue of 1897 Huron News-Record tells us that, “Mr. Thom. Neilands ‘shuffled off the mortal coil’ when he dropped dead while sitting in the Londesborough Hotel dining room.” He had been the tax collector for Hullett Township for 27 years and had been in the process of raising the revenue for the next year’s council when the “silver cord was snapped asunder”.

In 1903, the Blyth Standard informed that, “at midnight of Wednesday last week, the spirit of Lucinda Ferris passed away to the unseen world.” Meanwhile, in Hullett, “John Cuming, after a painful and lingering illness, joined those who have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.”

Language can be a fluid thing, ever-changing. What might be considered as rude or impolite at one time becomes acceptable in another era. Today’s norms include politically correct language, careful assigning of pronouns and several other conventions that would puzzle readers of the past.

‘Glimpses of the Past’ will take a short break for October, returning in the Nov. 8 issue

A time to gather Clinton’s main street was closed for a time on Saturday at Central Huron celebrated Harvest Fest, its annual street festival with games, a car show, food and lots to see and (John Stephenson do for residents and visitors of all ages, especially the younger ones. photo)

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024. PAGE 3.

Awards win nationally for ‘community service’ Continued from page 1 Overdose Prevention Resource Guide 2023”, while The Lake Report took the silver medal with its work on “Celebrating the Women of Niagara-on-the-Lake”.

This comes after The Citizen won four Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA) Better Newspapers Competition awards back in May. Loughlin earned second- and third-place awards in the Best Business or Finance Story and Best Rural Story

categories, respectively, while the newspaper itself placed second in the General Excellence category for its circulation class and columnist Karen Webster placed third in the Heritage category for her “Glimpses of the Past” column.

The Citizen has been a consistent presence on the national and provincial awards circuits in recent years, in addition to Stops Along The Way being honoured provincially with a 2021 award, a silver medal in the Best Vertical

Product category. The Citizen’s website received an honourable mention at the 2021 OCNA awards in addition to the Stops win.

In 2020, The Citizen placed second provincially in the Best Special Section (circulation under 9,999) for its special section on the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association.

At the 2019 awards, The Citizen placed third in Ontario in the General Excellence category for its

circulation class and Loughlin won a bronze medal in the Best Sports Photograph of the Year category.

In 2018, The Citizen placed first in the Best Rural Story category for Ontario newspapers with a circulation of 9,999 or under for a story on rural homelessness written

by Rural Voice Editor Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot, while in 2017, the newspaper won first place in the Best Community Website category for a newspaper with a circulation under 9,999.

In 2015, The Citizen placed third in General Excellence for its circulation class in Ontario, as well as in the Best Community Website

category for its circulation class.

Nationally, in 2019, The Citizen won Canadian Community Newspaper Award in the Best Rural Story category, which followed several years of honours at the national level.

The Citizen received secondplace finishes in the Best Overall Newspaper, Best Front Page and Best Editorial Page categories for its circulation class at the 2014 awards before triumphing in all three categories the following year, being named the best newspaper in Canada, the best front page and the best editorial page in its circulation class that year.

Walton’s Baans now grandparents PEOPLE AROUND WALTON

By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570

Pork and beans Last week’s Brussels Fall Fair was another day for the Village of Brussels, the Brussels Agricultural Society and the residents of Brussels, celebrating agriculture and providing plenty of fun for all who attended. The main attraction, of course, was Wednesday morning’s parade, which is always a highlight of the fair. (John Stephenson photo)

Oct. 13 set as new deadline Continued from page 1 honour one of these individuals each year, North Huron Publishing has created a third Citizen of the Year Award to honour Huron County’s Citizen of the Year.

On the Citizen of the Year nomination form, which can be found in this issue of the newspaper, there will now be three boxes available to tick. If you’d like to put forward the name of an outstanding volunteer who lives outside of the Blyth or Brussels areas, this year it’s now a possibility.

The Citizen encourages residents and readers to nominate someone who has made a difference in the community and with this year going as it has, there are plenty of people who have stepped up and helped their neighbours and friends.

The annual Citizen of the Year Award winners are chosen from among reader nominations. Readers nominate residents who make a difference in their communities.

Those nominations are then considered by a panel of past Citizen of the Year Award winners, who then choose the year’s winners.

North Huron Publishing Inc. and

The Citizen are proud to present this award annually, celebrating volunteerism and community

The roads have been busy with farm machinery this past week. The farmers are busy, busy, busy. Drive safely, slow down and show a little patience. Leave five minutes early to get to where you’re going, just in case you get held up.

Congratulations to Don and Monique Baan on becoming grandparents for the first time. Son Adam and wife Bailey have welcomed a beautiful baby boy to their lives. Brooks Donald is doing well and is already 10 days old!

Congratulations to Wayne McCutcheon and wife Kathleen on their marriage last week. It was a lovely day and the reception was held at Maple Lane Haven.

We are sad to report that Thys DeJong is now a patient in Clinton Hospital. We hope he is improving.

Celebrating birthdays this past week include Heather Kelso, Bruce

Whitmore, MacKenzie Dalton, Mike Boven, Peg Cameron, Lucas Godkin, Sean Kirkby, Tim Nolan, Kathy Burkholder, Tara Smith, Peggy Sloan, Raymond Wilts, Sebastian Andrades, Karen Hoegy, Ashley Stevenson, Brandon Williamson, Aliya Haggitt, Bill Gulutzen, Crystal McCallum, Nancy Schmeltzer, Michael Bernard, Ron Clarke, Kassidy Eckert, Brittney Pryce and Bryn deVos. Happy birthday to all.

NEWS FROM WALTON

commitment in the Blyth and Brussels communities and will honour them later this fall.

The diamond in that ring!

(Thomas Brooks, “The Crown and Glory of Christianity, or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness”) The whole of Scripture is but one entire love-letter, all written in golden letters, dispatched from the Lord Christ to His beloved spouse on earth. In it, there is so much to be read of... the love of Christ, the heart of Christ, the kindness of Christ, the grace of Christ, and the glory of Christ, that a holy heart cannot but love, and embrace, and endeavor to conform to every line.

The whole Word of God is a field--and Christ is the treasure which is hidden in that field!

The whole Word of God is a ring of gold--and Christ is the diamond in that ring!

"The Scriptures point to Me!" John 5:39 A Grace Gem Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church Listowel, ON 519-291-3887

Huron East Fire Department

PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024.

Editorials & Opinions

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

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How do you like them apples?

Recently, a group of area apple growers turned out to be unicorns in the world of agriculture: farmers who are not complaining about the weather. As a matter of fact, the apple industry around southwestern Ontario, especially the London area, is pretty chuffed with Mother Nature this year.

While the weather may have been a bit wild this year, with heavy downpours and heat waves playing havoc with some holiday plans, it seems that all of that moisture and warmth have been transformed into humongous apples. Growers are reporting that the apples are 20 to 30 per cent larger than normal, making medium-sized varieties into large and extra large this year. Some farms are reporting the largest apples they’ve ever seen, even outdoing the previous record, which was more than 30 years ago in 1992. Many growers are also seeing fruit ready early, as much as two to three weeks ahead of schedule.

Mother Nature deals many hands and it is nice to see her give farmers a bumper crop once in a while. – DS

This must be the place It was a bit of a roller coaster ride to watch Prime Minister Justin Trudeau give us his best, “How Do You Do, Fellow Kids?” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Monday night. In one breath, he happily volleyed cheerful answers back at Colbert’s fluffy questions about why Canada is the greatest country in the world and all of the glorious, leftleaning initiatives his government has introduced; pure catnip for a similarly left-leaning audience that would fill Colbert’s seats. And yet, in another, he touched on the anger a lot of Canadians are feeling, many of whom point the finger at him, and the creeping far-right influence being seen not just in Canada and the U.S., but around the world.

In doing so, he scratched at the changing identity of Canadians. At once, we are viewed by many as polite over-apologizers who live in a socialist utopia where everything is free, abundant, clean and friendly, and yet we are home to intimidating protests, selfish occupations and a profane flag aimed at Trudeau that flies over homes and businesses.

Is the image of the overly polite Canadian dead? “We’re not some magical place of rainbows and unicorns all the time,” Trudeau told Colbert before listing some of the problems facing the country. Perhaps that will be the lasting image of Trudeau dipping his toe into the pool of late-night television. He heard the cheers from audience members when he extolled Canada’s virtues and proudly flaunted its universal health care system. And yet, at home, with those who have a say in his future, the cheers are much harder to find. Perhaps that was the point: to show Canadians all that they have that other nations wish they did, but that may be digging too deep into what was, essentially, a rather dull segment that neither excited nor infuriated much of anyone.

While he trails in the polls and fights calls for a snap election, the Prime Minister is embattled at home and this Late Show appearance is unlikely to move the needle one way or another with voters. – SL

Community connections Canada has long been a wellspring of musical talent, producing artists who not only excel in their craft, but also deeply represent their roots and communities. The recent victories of Jeremy Dutcher and Owen Riegling in their respective fields illustrate the unique ability of Canadian musicians to profoundly connect with their heritage and their audiences.

Dutcher’s historic second Polaris Music Prize win for Motewolonuwok exemplifies the power of music to preserve and promote cultural identity. Dutcher, a Wolastoqiyik artist, has dedicated his career to the reclamation and revitalization of the Wolastoqey language - a mission that transcends mere artistic ambition. With his latest album, Dutcher has expanded his approach by incorporating English lyrics, fostering conversations around reconciliation and inviting more people into the dialogue about Indigenous history and identity. His music does more than entertain; it educates, creating bridges between cultures and emphasizing the importance of linguistic and cultural preservation in the modern world. Meanwhile, Riegling has taken the country music world by storm, with a trajectory that is as rooted in community pride as it is in raw talent. Winning both Songwriter of the Year and Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards, Riegling emphasized the importance of staying true to one’s roots in both life and music. His down-to-earth style and lyrics reflect a deep bond with the people and places that shaped him, ensuring that his music resonates with audiences far beyond his hometown.

Both Dutcher and Riegling exemplify the powerful connection between artist and community, showing how Canadian musicians are not just performing for the masses, but also telling deeply personal stories that resonate with listeners everywhere. Their victories reflect not only their individual achievements, but also the resilience, pride and creativity of the places from which they come. – SBS

Looking Back Through the Years October 1, 1969 At some point during the night on Saturday or early Sunday morning, thieves broke into Snell’s Grocery Store. They gained entry by crawling through a small cellar window. Once inside the building, the robbers proceeded to the main floor of the store and took $25 in quarters from the till.

Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Snell were asleep in the apartment above the store at the time of the robbery and were unaware that anything unusual had occurred.

Huron County museum curator, Raymond Scotchmer, informed county council that 22,622 tourists visited the museum over the summer.

He also reported to council that 71 groups of schoolchildren, totalling 41,021 children, toured the museum. This number was 1,124 more than the previous year.

At some point last Friday night or Saturday morning, a thief or thieves attempted to break into Madill’s store but were unsuccessful. They tried to gain entry through the front door, and the lock was damaged enough to require the installation of a new one. It seemed as though a sharp, strong tool was inserted into the lock, and the thieves attempted to twist it open.

With the store’s annual anniversary sale underway, the thieves likely expected to find a significant amount of cash in the till. However, the use of after-hours safety deposit boxes at the local bank made such a haul impossible, as both Madill’s and most local merchants utilized this service.

September 28, 1977 The rain held off, the sun was shining and an estimated 3,000 people attended the

Brussels Fall Fair last Wednesday.

The Palace opened on Tuesday evening, allowing the public to view the impressive array of exhibits. On Wednesday, the parade featured students and teachers from Grey Central, Walton and Brussels Public Schools, marching to the music of the Seaforth District High School Trumpet Band and the Brussels Legion Pipe Band. There were also several floats, a group of horses with costumed riders, and decorated motorized vehicles and bicycles.

This year’s fair included Blyth, Brussels and Belgrave 4-H competitions, along with a display of purebred cattle by the HuronPerth Shorthorn Club. Among the outdoor attractions were heavy and light horse shows and pony races.

A Brussels man narrowly avoided serious injury on Thursday when his tractor-trailer, carrying 33 tons of gravel, collided with a CNR freight train five miles west of town.

Hugh Alexander McKay of Brussels tried to avoid a collision at a level crossing on Fullarton Township Sideroad 10 but crashed into two diesel units of the 15-car westbound freight train.

Mrs. Carl Kokesch, who had served as Brussels Postmaster since 1958, passed away suddenly early Monday morning at Wingham and District Hospital, shortly after being admitted. She had been in poor health for some time and was 61 years old.

Born Pearl Baker, she was originally from Grey Township and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chester Baker.

Since taking charge of the Brussels post office, she had been a resident of the village.

September 27, 1989 Jack Riddell, M.P.P. for Huron, took on a new role. The former Ontario Minister of Agriculture was appointed last week by Premier David Peterson as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Lyn McLeod.

Although the perfect weather may have kept many local farmers from attending last week’s Brussels Fair, gate receipts indicated an increase in attendance compared to previous years.

A portion of Walton shifted to Auburn last week when a house from Keith Wilbee’s farm near Walton was relocated to Don Young’s farm, northwest of Auburn. The Wilbees had recently constructed a new home, while the Youngs lost theirs to a fire earlier this year.

September 30, 2004 With clear skies and pleasant temperatures, the annual Brussels Fall Fair was once again a success.

Ann Huffman, the fair board secretary, described it as a wellattended “great fair” this year, featuring one of the best parades to date and a highly successful silent auction, which replaced the traditional live auction of homemade pies and preserves.

The Wingham Ironmen kicked off their defence of the Western Junior C Hockey League championship on Friday evening at the North Huron Wescast Community Complex, facing off against the Mount Forest Patriots.

President Kay Roberts welcomed 12 members and two guests to the September meeting of the Belgrave Women’s Institute. For roll call, members reported their volunteer hours since the last meeting.

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024. PAGE 5.

Other Views

Pay me now or pay me later

W

hether it’s in the U.S. or, recently Canada, there is much talk about federal elections; a little more than a month away in the U.S. and just about any day in Canada after the NDP withdrew its support from the federal Liberal government.

In the U.S., the results remain in doubt with 80 million voters stubbornly sticking with Republican choice Donald Trump, despite several convictions in court and more defeats possible in cases his lawyers have managed to postpone until after the election while he hopes to win and, as president, make the cases go away.

Here in Canada, there seems to be no doubt, according to multiple polls, that the unpopularity of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will see a Liberal defeat and a new Prime Minister in Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.

But how closely do Canadian voters study Poilievre? He has relentlessly attacked the government’s carbon tax, saying he will drop the tax as an early measure.

Writing recently in The Globe and Mail, columnist Andrew Coyne called out the Conservative leader. “But Mr. Poilievre saw through the public. He understood that the public are deeply, almost perversely, hypocritical on this as on most things: they want something done about the climate but they want someone else to pay for it. Or, perhaps: they are prepared to pay for it, if they have to, but they want to be lied to about it.”

There is no doubt that the Prime Minister and his government undermined their own argument for the tax, when they curried favour with voters in Atlantic Canada by exempting their home heating oil from the tax, leaving other Canadians to question why they should pay tax from which

Keith Roulston

From the cluttered desk their eastern neighbours were exempted.

There is also no doubt, Coyne says, that the government has not managed to get through to the public on a consistent basis how the tax works. It uses market forces to convince Canadians to reduce their pollution that is causing climate change. We pay a tax, increasing the cost of a tank of gas or furnace oil, but to offset that we receive a quarterly grant that, for most of us, exceeds the money we pay.

But most of us don’t see the refund, which is quietly deposited in our bank accounts, but we do see the extra tax on a tank of gas. The average person still gets back more than they spend, but people who drive more miles or whose home inefficiently uses heat, pay more.

(To be clear, because I’m retired and don’t drive much, I come out ahead. Two of my daughters, who drive miles to work, no doubt pay more than they receive.)

But as Coyne says, “Even though the policy is well designed overall, the federal government has failed in terms of explaining it to Canadians. Most people, for example, don’t know they are getting quarterly rebate cheques that, for the vast majority of them, fully offset the impact on their monthly budgets. And many of those who notice the cheques don’t see why they make sense, even though the carbon price still incentivizes

them to reduce their own emissions.”

Meanwhile, many opponents of the tax conveniently forget the rebates and make it appear as a tax that simply increases our cost of living. But people like Poilievre don’t propose any alternative to reduce the amount of carbon we are putting into the air, causing forest fires in northern Canada and giving southern Canadians such polluted air that many will be sick.

“Though opposition to carbon pricing is certainly legitimate,” Coyne writes, “any serious political opponent surely needs to state their preferred alternative. But it’s pretty quiet on that front. It almost makes you think they don’t care about climate change.”

And in some cases, they don’t. Electors in Alberta and Saskatchewan that provide oil and natural gas to the world think only of the shortterm benefit they receive: the jobs and taxes.

Many consumers, even in eastern Canada, don’t want the good things they enjoy, like overseas vacations, to end. Let’s just go on the way we are and let our grandchildren solve the problem.

Coyne lays out the arguments. “First, carbon pricing costs a lot less than alternative policies, even though the high costs of those alternatives tend to be hidden.

“Second, carbon pricing creates incentives for innovation, as the incentive urges technological innovators to seek ways to reduce the cost of emissions.”

And finally, Coyne argues, carbon pricing works. “Carbon pricing has already reduced emissions in B.C. and Quebec and other jurisdictions that got a head start. It’s working today in the rest of Canada, and it will have even more impact in the future if we let it rise over time, as planned.”

Will we stick with it, or bail out?

Looking back at the last 100 years

M

onuments are often erected to commemorate the most illustrious achievements of civilizations. Yet, as we find ourselves ensconced in the year 2124, it is not the grandiose statues, towering skyscrapers, or ambitious space elevators that we choose to honour, but rather the enduring legacy of the greatest institution known to humankind: The Chaff. As we reflect upon its centennial service to the public good, one cannot help but marvel at the myriad ways in which this unassuming publication has indelibly shaped the trajectory of history, and illuminated the minds of generations.

From its nascent beginnings as a cherished voice nestled amid the pastoral landscapes of Huron County, The Chaff burgeoned into something far greater than a mere local column. By the late 21st century, it had ascended to global prominence, recognized as a vanguard in both agricultural policy reform and the burgeoning field of quantum humour theory. While the masses may recall the column’s watershed moment in 2039 - when it astutely persuaded a global summit of world leaders to supplant all armed conflict with a biannual bovine breakdancing jamboree, resulting in a remarkable reduction in worldwide tensions - the true milestones reside in the smaller, yet no less significant, moments of truth and absurdity that The Chaff has infused into the lives of its readers.

Indeed, The Chaff is credited with reviving interest in ancient comedic forms, such as the classic banana peel pratfall and the intricate dance of verbose wordplay, which had languished in obscurity during the height of the Memesphere Wars of the 2040s. It is no hyperbole to assert that this publication singularly thwarted the impending collapse of civilization by reminding us all that humour,

Scott Stephenson The Chaff regardless of how nonsensical or irreverent, could forge connections more robustly than any sterile diplomatic discourse or misguided world council could hope to achieve.

Who among us could forget the pivotal role that The Chaff played in catalyzing the Mars colony initiative in 2071? While other media outlets prattled on about the scientific and economic merits of off-planet expansion, it was The Chaff that unearthed the true value of such ventures: the prospect of discovering a celestial body where one could unabashedly recount jokes about pumpkins without the suffocating eye-rolling of Earth’s increasingly earnest populace.

Perhaps one of The Chaff’s less-heralded, yet equally momentous contributions lay in its crusade against the proliferation of unnecessary acronyms within the global lexicon in 2096. Its scathing exposé on the rampant overuse of acronyms in governmental, military and quotidian contexts culminated in the infamous UN mandate, which rendered “acronymical obfuscation” a criminal offence, punishable by compulsory attendance at “plain speech” training sessions. This seemingly trivial victory had an unforeseen corollary: as communication became increasingly lucid, humanity’s capacity for humour expanded exponentially. Coincidence? The Chaff did not believe so.

And, lest we neglect to acknowledge it, The

Chaff steadfastly upheld its noble duty of reporting on the epoch’s technological advancements. When the Singularity graced us with its presence in 2057, heralding a new era dominated by AI overlords, The Chaff emerged as one of the few publications audacious enough to confront them. It posed the challenging questions that other media outlets shied away from, sparking discussions that would reverberate through the ages.

As we gather to celebrate this momentous 100-year retrospective, we also take a moment to reflect on The Chaff’s profound influence on the educational landscape. By 2080, schools worldwide were integrating The Chaff’s incisive columns into their core curricula, illustrating the publication’s unparalleled impact on pedagogical practices.

Ultimately, what rendered The Chaff truly extraordinary was not merely its capacity to provoke thought, but its unwavering commitment to rendering the absurd not only palatable, but also essential. As we cast our gaze toward the future, we carry with us the understanding that no matter how advanced we become - whether colonizing new worlds, communicating with extraterrestrial beings or existing within digital consciousness - we will invariably require The Chaff. For without it, who would have dared to broach the most vital of inquiries, such as, “Why don’t intergalactic treaties encompass provisions for face-pieing competitions?” or “Can we please reinstate the ‘fun’ in ‘fungal spore analysis?’”

Here’s to another century of The Chaff; may its wit, wisdom and unwavering dedication to both the truth and the profound continue to inspire future generations, long after humanity’s laughter resonates among the stars.

Shawn Loughlin Shawn’s Sense

Misdirection

K

ids are smart. This is something that I’ve learned over the past four years or so as Jess and I have had two of them.

Oh, they may not be smart in the sense that they nap when given the opportunity (an opportunity, might I add, that their parents would gladly take 100 times out of 100) or by taking the initiative to get jobs and chip in around here, but they are certainly perceptive.

Jess and I have endured an absolute bear of six-week stretch in the parenting arena. It began with starting year-and-a-half-old Cooper in daycare and four-year-old Tallulah in Junior Kindergarten and has continued through numerous bouts of sickness and a teething process that, at this point, seems like a cruel joke for Cooper not resembling anything Tallulah experienced in any way whatsoever.

During this time, and others, there have been periods of tension and frustration among all four members of the family. And, at times, those periods have boiled over.

Tallulah, especially, can tell. She knows that a certain tone can mean one of her parents is frustrated or losing their patience. She knows the difference in the sound between a utensil normally placed in the sink by a calm person and one with a little bit more mustard on it as a grumpy parent and not-listening child clash.

And yet, Jess and I have both done our best to assure her that, despite what she may think she’s seeing or hearing, we are being calm and handling things in a normal, patient manner.

This is the old parenting and leadership trick of asking people to do as you say, not as you do, which we’ve all heard before in one context or another. Its more succinct cousin says that actions speak louder than words.

It is through this lens that I couldn’t help but view some of the recent extreme right wing thinking creeping into Huron County and Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh (ACW).

There, we have a council that voted in a new three-flag policy to shut down any flag-flying requests. Of course, they’re all shut down, but the only request to fly a flag ever formally received from the municipality was to fly the Pride flag in June in recent years. This has been a real cracker of a debate for local council bodies, not just ACW, with many turning down the requests. ACW had voted in favour of the request in the past, but now, with this policy in place, requests seemingly won’t even make it to council anymore. And yet, there was Huron County Warden and ACW Mayor Glen McNeil reminding us all that both ACW and Huron County are places of equality, diversity and inclusion. “Everyone is welcome in Huron County. And everyone belongs in Huron County. There is no place for discrimination or prejudice against anyone,” he said.

Without singling out McNeil, who has been a champion for inclusion individually, it’s hard not to hear those words ringing a bit hollow. A welcoming community would, theoretically, do welcoming things, not vote against them.

It kind of reminds me of the discussion in Moneyball when Billy Beane’s scouts assure him that a player with mediocre statistics is a good hitter. “If he’s a good hitter, why doesn’t he hit good?” Ah, the eternal question.

Then there’s the matter of the nasty billboard just north of Goderich, as tackled capably by CTV’s Scott Miller. A racist billboard proudly created and displayed by someone who assures Miller that he’s not a racist. Got it.

Debating prowess, a willingness to gaslight, the delusion to earnestly question whether the sky is blue and dusting off the old fascism dog whistle will not pass the smell test for the smartest among us. Just ask my daughter.

PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024.

At the Branch

Brussels Legion begins early bird membership drive

By Jo-Ann McDonald We have had a busy September so far and I have forgotten to mention the early bird membership drive has started. Pay your dues in the months of September, October or November for a discounted price and have a chance to win your membership for next year. Drop into the Branch, send it by mail to Box 128, Brussels, or call and etransfer your payment. There are lots of options, so do it today and call the Branch at 519-887-6562 for more information.

This may seem early, but we want as many children as possible to be involved in the Remembrance Day poster and literacy contest. It is

open to all school-aged children; even Kindergarten students can draw and submit a poster. There are four age groups to be involved.

Primary (Kindergarten to Grade 3), Junior (Grades 4-6), Intermediate (Grades 7-9) and Senior (Grades 10-12). Categories include Black and White 22 inches by 28 inches in pencil, colour, 22 inches by 28 inches, any medium, no canvas.

The literacy contest is for those in Grades 4-12. Type an original poem, maximum 32 lines excluding title, or type an essay, one side of the page only - the word count for Junior is 350, Intermediate is 500 and Senior is 800. Entries need to arrive at the Legion before Nov. 15,

which is only about six weeks away. Entries need a registration form and, for more information, call the Legion at 519-887-6562, Nanci Ducharme at 519-531-1205 or your school, which has the information. You can also go to legion.ca or remembrancecontests.ca.

Your theme is remembrance and we look forward to seeing many entries.

The Legion had an information booth at the very successful Brussels Fall Fair. There was information available about the Legion, the Military Service Recognition book, memorial banners and the Poppy campaign.

Thanks to Eric Ross, Deb Seili and

Jo-Ann McDonald for looking after the booth.

We also had information about a play being presented by the Goderich Little Theatre in the Livery in Goderich in October. It is a play celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force called The Streamliners: the R.C.A. Streamliners Dance Band 1941-1946.

The incredible swing band was created by three young men from Clinton and Goderich in 1941: Billy Carter, Jake Perdue and Phil Sparling. The play is about the formation of the band and its travels from St. Thomas to Gander, the British Isles and Europe during the final two years of the war. The play includes 10 speaking cast members, about 20 “swing dancers” performing the original music.

The Catch the Ace draw, week 28, was held on Friday night and the lucky weekly winner was Julie Jutzi. She won $229. Her envelope of choice was number 51 and the nine of spades was revealed. The jackpot continues to grow with every ticket purchased. Get your tickets at the usual outlets of McDonald Home Hardware, the Brussels Pharmacy, Brussels Variety and the Legion.

This Friday night will be Karaoke with Stubby D, so come out and sing a song, visit with others or just listen.

The Branch fish fry crew was in Londesborough to cook for the final fish fry of the year. The crew included Jo-Ann and Judy for preparation work and the cooks of the day included Judy Lee, Kathy Burkholder, Deb Ross, Chris

The parade was a highlight of the Brussels Fall Fair once again, with the theme of “Pork and Beans” infiltrating every float and display, showing that everyone was truly getting into the spirit. (Scott Stephenson photo)

By Betty Graber Watson Call 887-9231 We had another good Brussels Fall Fair by all accounts that I heard and the weather was wonderful. We left right after the fair to check on things to the north and, yippee, the weather stayed just great until it was time to head home.

A stop in Barrie caught us up on the life of teenagers Ella and Sloan and their take on high school and the education system. Of course, hearing a few of Curt’s work stories is always worth a chuckle or two.

After that, it was on to Algonquin Provincial Park - one of the largest stretches of continuous forest cover in the southern part of Ontario. The park is 7,635 square kilometres with wilderness and commerce in tune. Knowing the logging and railroad history back in the 1800s makes this pristine spot even more special. The peace that comes off the lakes and through the trees makes this a great place to spend time and we did.

Perth, one of our older towns that

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Winning Ticket: Julie Jutzi, $229.

Envelope #51 found the 9 of spades.

The jackpot continues to grow with each ticket purchased!

Fair-goers enjoy great weather has kept its limestone history intact, is a nice place to visit. The Tay River runs through the town and there are benches and bridges and trees in abundance. As a bonus, Mike, Val, Zac and Chey were nearby on the Mississippi River, near Balderson, so that was another peaceful spot with water nearby.

A stop in Bobcaygeon to see brother Bob and Barb hit the spot again, as their house backs the Trent Canal with lots of water traffic on Sunday, so we had another restful view.

Everyone that we check in on is well and enjoying their space.

Traffic was good all week and the changing colours of the trees were as varied as the communities we visited. Fall really is a startling season with vivid oranges, brilliant reds and the more popular yellows and gold. Lots of the green ones are still waiting to change.

Ontario really is a beautiful spot with so many different regions to appreciate. This has been our summer for the North with Timmins, Sudbury, North Bay, Barrie, Whitney and Perth on our agenda this summer - all good!

We’re into Orange Shirt Week, with Sept. 30 being Orange Shirt Day. From the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of 2021, a National holiday was recommended. Number 80 in the findings suggested as a day of

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Brussels Legion 218 Catch the Ace Weekly Winner

Ready to hit the road

A NOTE FROM BETTY

Brown, Jim and Sandra Brown, Rick Demaray, Keith White, Joe and Deb Seili, Linda Bird, Rhonda Fischer, Tanya Martin and Eric Ross. It takes many hands to feed more than 620 folks and the Branch helpers and Londesborough Lions Club members did a great job.

Now it is time to clean up the fryers and tuck them away until next year. Another job well done by the many members of the Branch.

Thanks to Sandra Brown, booking agent, Jo-Ann McDonald purchasing agent, Deb and Eric Ross, fryer and propane agents, and Jo-Ann and Judy Lee, prep agents.

The Branch did 15 dinners this year and already have seven booked for 2025.

The Lions have returned to the Branch for one meeting a month and Monday night was the first meal. They enjoyed a meal of chicken breast. Branch helpers included Judy Lee, Jo-Ann, Linda Bird and Mabel Glanville.

mourning for the Indigenous communities and a day of reflection and understanding for the settlers.

We need to acknowledge and recall this horrendous time in our land.

Children were ripped from family and community with no respect for their way of living.

Generations have been affected by this action and the time is now to start and continue the healing. Wear your orange shirt and know the story.

Take care of yourself.

Bye now Betty GW

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NEWS FROM BRUSSELS

Phone 519-523-4792 or mail cheque made payable to North Huron Publishing to: P.O. Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024. PAGE 7.

Huron County Historical Society Meets in Blyth

By Keith Roulston Special to The Citizen The Huron County Historical Society’s monthly meeting was held at Blyth Memorial Hall on Sept. 18 with more than 30 members in attendance to learn more about the importance of one of the most significant buildings in the county.

Blyth Festival Artistic Director Gil Garratt and General Manager Rachael King were introduced by

Society President David Armstrong, himself a past-president of the Festival’s board of directors.

Garratt explained that the residents of Blyth and the surrounding area chose to remember the soldiers of World War I with Memorial Hall, while most communities simply built a cenotaph. Blyth’s ambitious plans were made despite it being a difficult time to raise money. The Blyth Women’s Institute bought the land on which the hall would be

Run boy run Sprinting with the finesse of a professional athlete, Hullett Central Public School student Jack Gahan participates in his school’s Terry Fox Run on Friday, Sept. 20. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

Cool, damp weather marks return of fall

By Deb Hakkers The first official week of fall brought a little relief from the heat and some much-needed rain - all while fall fairs and festivals were underway.

We are all back into the routines of fall. My perennials are starting to need attention again, as the summer ones need to be trimmed and the sedum has come into its full autumn glory. The fall mums, as well as everyone’s fall decorations, are beautiful reminders of all we have to be thankful for in this beautiful season of harvest.

Mom continues with rehab in Huronlea, she managed to stand again several times last week. This is a big step towards her goal of walking.

This week, we wish a happy birthday to Elaine Chamney on Sept. 27, Jesse Hakkers on Sept. 29, Ty Fraser on Sept. 30 and Bill Andrews on Oct. 2. We hope everyone enjoys their special day!

If there is anything special you would like to see mentioned in this column, please e-mail me at

built. The village and surrounding townships donated money.

Community fundraising was done and donations received. Altogether, the community raised $25,000, then an astounding total when there were no grants from provincial and federal governments that would be available for later renovations. Any debt was paid off in five years.

It was a time, Garratt explained, when six trains a day travelled through Blyth on two railway lines: the north-south Canadian National and the east-west Canadian Pacific.

Memorial Hall, for many years, was busy with concerts and touring shows upstairs in the theatre and dances and banquets in the downstairs hall. Little by little, the type of events that used the theatre petered out, though the basement remained busy.

That was the situation in 1972 when Paul Thompson, artistic director of Theatre Passe Muraille and a former resident of Atwood, brought a company of young actors to Ray Bird’s barn, west of Clinton.

Over several weeks, the actors interviewed the neighbours and worked up short scenes, in the end producing The Farm Show for the neighbourhood. They expected a handful of neighbours at a show previewing the material one Sunday afternoon in August of 1972, but a much bigger audience had heard about the show and turned out (including two of the Blyth Festival’s three founders, Clinton native and founding artistic director James Roy and myself, reporting for The Blyth Standard at the time).

The Farm Show returned to Passe Muraille’s home theatre in Toronto and became a huge hit, touring around the world, including throughout Huron and Perth Counties and a performance in the basement of Memorial Hall, because the upstairs theatre had been closed when it was discovered that the roof had to be replaced. As a result, the theatre sat unusable until Blyth Village Council decided to remove the roof and replace it with a safer new design in 1974 and early 1975.

In the spring of 1975, Roy, a recent graduate of York University’s theatre program, was working at Theatre Passe Muraille

and told Thompson he hoped to start a summer theatre. Thompson told him about interest in Blyth, where the theatre was now available for use. Although Roy had been in the hall to get his polio shots as a young Hullett Township student, he had never been in the theatre. He contacted me and viewed the theatre for the first time.

Roy decided to proceed with a theatre that summer. Because of his own interest and the goal of Canadian theatres at the time, he decided to create a show from local author and St. Augustine native Harry J. Boyle’s books, borrowing the title of one of the books, Mostly in Clover. With the risky proposition of a new, Canadian play for the Festival’s first production, he chose the “safe” production of the world’s most popular play at the time, Agatha Christie’s The Mouse Trap as the second production.

He bought his wife at the time, Anne Chislett, a Toronto theatre teacher, to act as the first administrator. She raised money by visiting local homes, drinking tea at each, and collecting donations.

Mostly In Clover kicked off the first season on July 9 with a soldout audience on a hot night in the theatre, which had no air conditioning and people stuck to the tacky varnish on their seats. It greatly outdrew The Mouse Trap and Roy decided the Blyth Summer Festival, as it was then called, would produce only Canadian plays of interest to local people.

Garratt pointed to the walls of the room, which contained posters from all the Festival’s seasons. Over the years, playwrights, actors, directors and technical staff have been brought to the community, and the theatre, to create and produce plays.

Some, like Peter Colley’s I’ll Be Back Before Midnight, were so successful that they are still being produced around the world. Others, like the 2008 play Innocence Lost: A Play About Steven Truscott, by Beverley Cooper, telling the story of the 14-year-old Steven Truscott‘s original conviction for murder and later exoneration, were produced at many of the top theatres in Canada.

Garratt said the mystery of the Festival is, “why has it happened here?” as audiences flocked to

1st Blyth Scouts Fall Registrations (girls and boys) BEAVERS (age 5-7) CUBS (age 8-10) SCOUTS (age 11-13) Leadership and team skills, Camping skills, Canoe skills, STEM Tuesday evening at 6:30 (all groups) Register online at Scouts.ca and myScouts

Contact: Lavern Clark 519-523-9659

MAITLAND VALLEY CAMERA CLUB

mcraig1@tcc.on.ca, or call me at 519-525-8640.

Until next week, take care of yourselves and each other and enjoy summer while it is here because it’s short, and fall will be here very soon!

NEWS FROM BLYTH

Blyth to see shows they had often not heard of before. “I never worked in a theatre (before) that is designed for/by the audience,” he said.

King stepped in to add some specific facts. In this, the 50th season, there were 115 performances at Memorial Hall and the Festival’s outdoor Harvest Stage, with six of the outdoor productions having to be moved to Memorial Hall due to rain (as opposed to 16 in 2023). There were 6,000 ticket buyers, 1,500 buying for the first time. There were 29 actors in those productions.

Garratt commented that there were 145 volunteers looking after various tasks, like ushering, and the demand was so high that the Festival had to borrow volunteers from other organizations.

One of the Festival’s innovations, in a village without enough restaurants to serve all the meals theatre-goers sought, was Country Suppers, originally served by churches and community groups throughout the area. Most of those groups don’t have the volunteer power anymore, but the Blyth Legion stepped up and served 506 meals this season.

Photography by Clara Blake

PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024.

Sports Ironmen still perfect after first two weekends of play

A great start The Wingham Ironmen added a pair of wins to their perfect record over the weekend, beating both the Walkerton Capitals and the Mitchell Hawks on the road, building on the momentum of their win at home in their first game of the season over Walkerton, above.

(John Stephenson photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen The Wingham Ironmen have continued their winning ways, claiming victory in both of their games over the weekend, meaning they’ll carry a perfect 4-0 record into this weekend’s action as they sit in first place in their division.

The team notched a 5-3 victory over the Walkerton Capitals on the road on Sunday, despite Ironmen spending nearly three quarters of an hour in the penalty box. In the heated contest, the Ironmen were handed 18 penalties worth 44 minutes in the box, while the Walkerton Capitals were given 10 penalties for 18 minutes though Walkerton’s Austin Drew was given a game misconduct for hitting from behind. This came just over two minutes after Wingham’s Damon Murray received a game misconduct of his own for head contact.

Despite all the rough stuff, there were still plenty of goals scored that night, beginning with an Ironmen goal by Micah Kraayenbrink, assisted by Tanner Dietz and Nate Bloemberg just 59 seconds into the game.

Dietz then doubled Wingham’s lead at 16;48 of the first period, assisted by Noah Bloemberg and Logan Burnham.

The Capitals struck back, however, when Markus GrajnarPtok scored his first goal of the season at 19:15, assisted by Chase Lorenz and Owen Troyer.

The second period, however, was all Wingham, with Brandon Bishop scoring his first goal of the season, a unassisted, shorthanded effort, at 8:49 of the period, followed by a goal by Tate Berfelz at 14:50, assisted by Nigel Kreager and Noah Bloemberg.

The Capitals came storming back in the third, scoring power play goals at 16:07 (Owen Troyer from Nathan Doran and Aiden Stanley) and 17:11 (Stanley from Troyer and Doran) to pull within one goal of the Ironmen, but Wingham would snuff out that hope with an emptynet goal at 19:21 scored by Micah Kraayenbrink, his second of the game, assisted by Tanner Dietz and Tyson Fischer.

Kaleb Meyer earned the win in the Ironmen net, stopping 26 of the

29 shots he faced, while Glen Crandall stopped 24 of 28 shots in a losing effort for the Capitals.

One night earlier, the Ironmen were in Mitchell to play the Hawks and handed their neighbours to the southeast a 6-3 loss.

The first period was all Wingham, with the Ironmen scoring four goals in that first frame. Noah Bloemberg opened with a goal at 5:21, assisted

by Logan Burnham, followed by a Tanner Dietz power play goal at 6:41, assisted by Micah

Kraayenbrink and Nate Bloemberg, an Adam MacRobbie goal at 7:32, assisted by Brett McCutcheon and Dawson Dietz, and a Nate Bloemberg goal, assisted by Logan Burnham, at 13:57 of the first period.

In the second period, penalties yielded all of the goals, with three power play goals and one shorthanded marker.

Mitchell would score the first goal of the second period, with Ben Medhurst finding the back of the

net at 8:40 for a power play goal assisted by Ben Tenhag and Ryan Gansevles. The Ironmen hit back with a power play goal of their own at 10:51, scored by Logan Burnham and assisted by Noah Bloemberg and Jaden Meyer. Mitchell then scored a second Hawks’ power play goal in the period when Nathan Jewitt found the back of the net at 17:38, assisted by Rhett Terpstra and Kaden Brame, followed by a shorthanded goal scored by Mitchell’s Jarrett Van Bakel and assisted by Nathan Jewitt.

The Ironmen, however, were not in the mood to entertain a comeback effort by the Hawks and, in the third period, Tanner Dietz scored an unassisted power play goal for the Ironmen at 14:24 of the third period to put the game away.

This was a much cleaner game for the Ironmen, with just six penalties for 12 minutes being called on the team, while the Mitchell Hawks faced nine penalties for 18 minutes over the course of the game.

Noah Ricci earned the win for Wingham, saving 27 of the 30 shots he faced, while Colin Gibbings was handed the loss for the Hawks, stopping 14 of 18 shots in just under 14 minutes in the first period before he was pulled. Tomas Brintnell then finished the game, playing over 46 minutes of relief hockey and stopping 22 of 24 shots to end the game.

The Ironmen sit alone atop the North Pollock Division standings within the Provincial Junior

Hockey League with a perfect 4-0 record and eight points.

The Hanover Barons sit in second place in the division with three wins and a shootout loss, and seven points, followed by the Mount Forest Patriots in third place, also with seven points, with three wins, one overtime loss and one shootout win.

In fourth place are the Fergus Whalers with a record of 3-1 and six points, followed by the Mitchell Hawks in fifth place with a record of 2-2 and four points. The Goderich Flyers sit in sixth place with a record of 1-2 and two points, while the Kincardine Bulldogs and Walkerton Capitals are both winless, sitting in seventh place with a record of 0-4 and eighth place with a record of 0-5, respectively.

Tonight, the Goderich Flyers will head northeast as the Ironmen return to Wingham, then, the next night, the Ironmen will be in Mount Forest to play the Patriots to end action in the month of September.

The next weekend, the Ironmen will play three games, all of them on the road: the Mount Forest Patriots on Friday, Oct. 4, the Goderich Flyers on Oct. 5 and the Fergus Whalers on Oct. 6.

The team will then play its four remaining games in October all at home. First, it will be the Mount Forest Patriots on Oct. 11, the Hanover Barons on Oct. 12, the Kincardine Bulldogs on Oct. 18 and the Fergus Whalers on Oct. 25.

39th Annual Citizen of the Year Award Nominations Open North Huron Publishing reporter Scott Stepehson (left) and publisher Deb Sholdice (right) presents Roxane Nicholson her 2023 Citizen of the Year award.

There are so many people out there who do so much to improve their community.

This is your opportunity to show your appreciation for all they do.

Each year a committee chooses an outstanding citizen from each of the Blyth and area and Brussels and area communities and wider Huron County area to receive an award for contribution to the community. If you know someone you think should be honoured, please fill in the form and send it in. You may attach a longer explanation of why you think your nominee should win, if you like. If you have nominated someone before and they didn't win, we encourage you to submit again. Emailed submissions can be sent to Shawn Loughlin at editor@northhuron.on.ca I nominate ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

q

q

q

Deadline extended to I feel she/he deserves this award because ______________________________________________________________________________________ October 14th! as Citizen of the year for

Blyth & area

Brussels & area

Huron County

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Nomination Deadline September 27, 2024.

Name and phone number of nominator Fax: 519-523-9140 Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024. PAGE 9.

Sports Cornhole tourney a success in Belgrave PEOPLE AROUND BELGRAVE

By Linda Campbell Call 357-2188

Another season Hockey is underway once again and on Sunday at the Central Huron Community Complex, the U15 B Huron Heat took on the Lucan Irish, above, and the U13 B Heat played the South Huron Sabres in regular season action, though scores for those games were unavailable at press time. (John Stephenson photo)

Heat teams heading to Oakville This weekend will be a busy one for six Huron Heat teams who will be starting their season off with a bang in Oakville, taking part in the annual Harvest Classic tournament.

The U11 A, U13 A and B, U15 A and B and U18 BB Huron Heat teams will all be heading east this weekend for the tournament.

Action for the U11 A team begins on Friday morning, bright and early at 8 a.m., when they will take on the Grand River Mustangs. That afternoon, the team will play the Guelph Gryphons.

The next day, the Heat will play the North Halton Twisters and the Stoney Creek Sabres in an effort to earn a spot in Sunday’s championship round action.

The U13 A team will begin its tournament on Friday afternoon with a game against the North Halton Twisters, followed by a game that evening with the North Bay Junior Lakers.

Action continues the next day with an early-morning game with the Barrie Sharks and then a game later that afternoon with the Toronto Leaside Wildcats.

Staying in the U13 division, the B Heat will open their tournament play on Friday morning with a game against the Orangeville Tigers followed by a Friday night contest with the Kincardine Kinucks. The next day, just after lunch, the team will play the Toronto Leaside Wildcats.

The U15 A Huron Heat will play early Friday morning as well to take on the Waterloo Ravens, followed by a game with the Nepean Wildcats that afternoon. On Saturday morning, the Scarborough Sharks will be waiting for the Heat.

The U15 B Heat will open their tournament with a game against the Burlington Barracudas in the morning before a game against the Kincardine Kinucks that evening.

On Saturday afternoon, the team will play the Bluewater Hawks, followed by a Saturday night game with the Mississauga Hurricanes.

On Friday, the U18 BB Heat will play their first game of the tournament in the afternoon against the North Halton Twisters, followed by a night game with the Toronto Leaside Wildcats.

The next day, the U18 BB team will play at 10 a.m. with the Burlington Barracudas ready to take them on. Then, that afternoon, the team will play the Ancaster Avalanche.

In regular season action on Sept.

29, the U11 C Heat will play the Upper Maitland Mustangs in Clinton at the Central Huron Community Complex, while, also that day, the U13 HL team will play the Mooretown Lady Flags in an exhibition game in Seaforth.

To help kick off the season, Huron Heat Day will return to the Seaforth and District Community Centre on Saturday, Oct. 19 (and the evening of Friday, Oct. 18). A full slate of games for that weekend has yet to be announced.

Looking back, several Huron Heat teams are now in the early stages of their regular seasons. On Sunday, the U15 B team played the Lucan Irish, the U13 B team played the South Huron Sabres and the U11 C Heat played the South Huron Sabres, all in Clinton at the Central Huron Community Complex, but scores for those games were unavailable at press time.

On Saturday, the U13 C Heat hosted the Wilmot Wolverines and the U15 B team played the Kincardine Kinucks, both in Seaforth, but scores for those games were unavailable at press time.

On Friday night, the U13 A Heat hosted the London Devilettes in Seaforth, but the teams played to a scoreless tie.

Mackenzie Wightman played prelude and postlude music and accompanied all hymns on the piano at Knox United Church on Sunday, September 22. Rev. Colin Snyder welcomed the congregation, read the Call to Worship from Psalm 1:1-3 and lit the Christ Candle.

Scripture readings were taken from Psalm 1, James 3:13, 4:3, 7-8a and Mark 9:30-37.

There was a good turnout for the coffee break on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at the Community Centre. People enjoy visiting and catching up on the latest news.

Renne Lanthier of Rochester, New York visited for a few days with her aunt Arlyn Montgomery.

As everybody probably knows by now the Belgrave Post Office was closed as of Sept. 12. Mail delivery is no longer available at the Belgrave Post Office. All post office box mail and parcels needing to be picked up were transferred to the Wingham Post Office at 303 Josephine St., Wingham.

Your mail will be delivered to you over the counter at the Wingham Post Office. Please ensure you have proper identification with you. In order to

maintain local mail delivery, Canada Post will be temporarily replacing your current delivery service with community mailboxes.

Further communication will be provided with regards to the transition to your temporary community mailbox.

Our weather really changed this week. We were blessed with summer-like sunny weather for many days. Sunshine and warmer temperatures are supposed to return, so enjoy it.

The cornhole tournament on Sept. 21 at the Belgrave Community Centre was well attended. Thanks to all those who attended and to those who helped in any way. Proceeds were raised for the new playground equipment.

NEWS FROM BELGRAVE

NOTICE: TOWN HALL PUBLIC MEETING Attention all North Huron constituents: The Council of the Township of North Huron invites you to attend the annual Town Hall Public Meeting on: Thursday, October 10, 2024 at 6:00PM in the Blyth & District Community Centre - 2nd Floor (377 Gypsy Lane, Blyth)

This is an opportunity to engage with your elected officials to discuss topics that are important to you and to ask your questions in a public forum setting.

Your participation is crucial to ensuring that North Huron reflects the needs and aspirations of all constituents.

Your voice matters. Join us and be part of the conversation.

For more information, please contact the Clerk’s Department at okempel@northhuron.ca or (519) 357-3550 x121

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

Sinclair passes Townsend torch to teen grand-nephew

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

The next generation Earlier this month, Townsend Tire officially said goodbye to John Sinclair, second from right, as he retired, but Sinclair’s grand-nephew Jack Hayter, second from left, has found a home at the shop and plans to make a career there. Townsend owners Matt, left, and George, right, were among those who celebrated the passing of the baton at Matt’s house in Blyth. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

Two men at opposing points in their professional lives celebrated somewhat of a torch-passing moment earlier this month when John Sinclair retired from MGM Townsend Tire, paving the way for his great-nephew to take his place.

Sinclair, who lives between Goderich and Clinton on a small cow-calf farm he will still operate even into his retirement from the automotive world, had worked for Townsend Tire for nearly six years when he decided to retire. This came after spending 35 years at Huron Tirecraft in Clinton.

Upon completing his time there, he could have retired, but chose to travel north to Londesborough for a part-time job with the respected, family-run business.

He had always been interested in cars, even since he was a young boy, so Sinclair knew that a career as a mechanic awaited.

Townsend Tire co-owner Matt Townsend and his team threw a bit of a retirement party for Sinclair at Townsend’s home on Labour Day Monday as a way to thank him for his years of hard work, dedication and loyalty.

And while Sinclair will ride off into the sunset and enjoy his wellearned retirement (as much as he can while still running a farm), his last year or two at Townsend Tire were among the most enjoyable of his career because he was about to

work alongside his great-nephew Jack Hayter.

Hayter, like his grand-uncle, knew he wanted to be a mechanic from a very young age, which is, of course, relative, as he is still just 17 years old right now. He began his time with Townsend Tire as a co-op student at Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton and immediately felt at home at the shop.

Both men spoke glowingly about the work environment there and of the family atmosphere, even down to the shop shutting down for an hour at noon every day so everyone could enjoy lunch together - a rarity in the business world these days.

When Hayter began working at the shop, he and Sinclair worked together a lot - essentially side-byside for a while, which Hayter said was at once so special and an incredible learning opportunity.

Hayter would eventually take a job at Townsend Tire and is now a full-fledged employee at the shop.

He says he learned a lot about alignment and suspension from Sinclair, as well as the many differences between cars and trucks and tractors, which Hayter had considered working with for some time before returning to standard road vehicles.

And now, with his whole career ahead of him, Hayter is enjoying his time in Londesborough and has no plans of moving anywhere else, while Sinclair intends to come back for lunch with the staff as often as he can.

Londesborough Lions feed 625 with annual fish fry

It seems scammer calls have increased in recent weeks, perhaps as they think people are moving indoors now that the summer is waning. The current ploy is saying unusual activity on your bank account or credit card. Also doing the rounds is a supposed call from Bell Canada.

One of the things to be aware of is that when you answer, a recorded message comes on. This is the clue that you are being transferred to the scammer. And they are so smooth in their presentation as to lull you away from thinking clearly. But be cautious. Be suspicious. Don’t be swindled out of your hard-earned savings.

My disgust with this sort of person is that their smarts could be used for the good of the world, not for doing harm. The OPP is so concerned about the number of calls they are getting from people in regards to scams recently that they are now presenting seminars to educate people. If you want to learn more, contact the OPP and ask about these.

We/I do not watch much daytime T.V. But we turned the T.V. on just a few minutes early for the news the other day. I heard the talk show host sign off with these words, “Have a good day. If you’re not, try to change it.” And I thought, what great advice! Because, when you get right down to the matter, sometimes it is just up to us

whether we have a good day or not.

Tragedy struck our little village again last Tuesday afternoon, just as the school buses were loading at the end of classes at Hullett Central Public School. Fire departments from Wingham, Blyth and Clinton responded quickly to a fire that might have had a worse outcome, but for their firefighting skills. The OPP attended in large numbers as well and made it possible for the fire departments to do their work unimpeded.

The house at 285 Elizabeth Street was the home of Rhonda Glanville and Brent Rodgers. However, the house is a complete loss. But it is/was closely surrounded on all sides by trees. A shed on the property and homes on that corner are tight to each other, especially for such a raging blaze. Gratefully, the fire was contained to just that one house.

No one was home at the time of the fire, thankfully. The site was inspected the following day by the area’s Fire Marshal for cause.

Speculation is that the fire was triggered by faulty wiring and/or an air conditioner.

Our thoughts go out to this family as they decide on their future.

The Londesborough Lions Club’s fish fry was a great success last Saturday. The group fed 625 persons thanks to the cooking efforts of the Brussels Legion. The Lions will now clean up the kitchen and prepare for their next event, their old-tyme country breakfast on Sunday, Oct. 20.

Londesborough United Church has an antique wooden pulpit chair with arms they would like someone else to have. The “undercarriage” of the seat is in need of repair.

However the price is right, it is free for the taking. Contact Lynda Horbanuik or Robert Hunking if you are interested in the chair.

This coming Sunday, Sept. 29, the time of fellowship following the morning service is designated to be an Alzheimer Coffee Break.

Donations for that society will be received. The sacrament of Communion will be offered this Sunday as well by Rev. Aylward.

Londesborough United’s official board is selling tickets for a takeout only fall supper. They are offering sausage on a bun, plus extras, for $20 each on Oct. 9 from 4-6:30 pm. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Caring, compassionate and making a difference in the lives of patients and their families was how Joan Goodall introduced a member of Huron County’s community paramedics to the ladies of Londesborough’s United Church Women (UCW) on Monday, Sept.

16.

When Don and Joan began receiving help from this medical group, they realized it was a service about which very few people knew.

NEWS FROM LONDESBORO

Joan invited paramedic Josh Rehel to talk to the September meeting to explain the service.

Josh noted that four paramedics have been serving the county for approximately four years now, checking in and assisting with the health issues of 100 patients each a month. The community paramedics see patients in their homes and offer resources to which they wouldn’t otherwise have access.

To receive this service, a patient is referred to the paramedic service by some other medical person, such as a doctor, nurse or ambulance

driver. Then, a representative makes an initial visit to the home to see what is needed in terms of care and sets up a visiting schedule.

Visits involve medical assessments, checking home safety, and, when necessary, making referrals to other services, like dieticians, physiotherapists, dayaway programs, etc. Doctors have come to rely on the findings of the paramedics. Paramedics advocate for the patients, so they receive the best help for their circumstances.

Many routine, but necessary tests Continued on page 15

Test Your Smoke Alarm Day September 28

Fire Department of North Huron

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024. PAGE 11.

Group endeavours to restore local gravestones

Honouring the dead The Cemetery Enthusiasts of Huron County is a dedicated volunteer group committed to restoring and preserving neglected gravestones across the region.

(Courtesy photos)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

The Cemetery Enthusiasts of Huron County, Ontario (CEHCO) have been getting a lot of good press lately, and rightly so - this volunteer collective is decidedly dedicated to cataloging, cleaning and restoring the area’s grave markers, many of which are at risk of being lost to time after decades of neglect.

All the attention has increased public awareness and attracted new members, making this the perfect moment in time for The Citizen to

call up CEHCO founder Lori Carter for a quick chat about cemeteries, memories and the group’s upcoming events.

Carter is a far cry from the morose and macabre sort of character frequently found lurking in the cemeteries of popular culture - she goes about honouring Huron County’s dead with an infectious sense of community spirit.

“Without our ancestors, we wouldn't be here!” she pointed out cheerfully. “I think that they deserve to have their resting places cared for.”

Along with CEHCO co-leader

Finish Line Fitness opens

Debi Bryans, Carter hopes to eventually catalog every grave marker in Huron County, one town at a time. “We keep busy! We started a mission on Brussels Cemetery last year, and it has kind of taken us longer than we would have thought, but we’re doing a really good job, and we’re doing a thorough job,” Carter explained.

“We’re trying to dot all the ‘t’s’, cross all the ‘i’s’, and try to find everybody.”

Cataloging grave markers is a slow and methodical art. “I walk stone by stone, documenting and picturing,” she explained. While she now considers herself to be a pro, it wasn’t like that when she first started out. “That first cemetery was tough. You get home, and half the pictures are unreadable, because of the condition of the stones. So then you head back to the cemetery! Now we’re like a welloiled machine.”

The CEHCO is not satisfied with merely preserving the physical relics of these memorials - they also strive to connect those orphaned stones to the present day by researching the history of the names they encounter, studying their family trees, and reaching out to any living descendants they come across. “Most people have no clue where their great-grandparents, or great-great-grandparents are even buried, so when [the gravestones]

fall into disrepair, how are we going to find out who they belong to so we can try to save them?”

Facilitating these family reunions is one of Carter’s favourite parts of being a guardian of the grave. “It’s exciting for all the people whose families we’ve found!” she exclaimed. “My biggest satisfaction is connecting people to their families, and getting their thank you messages.” So far, Carter and her team have helped to fill in the foliage on family trees as far flung as California, British Columbia, England and beyond.

When she’s not documenting and cleaning headstones, Carter likes to check out some of the other interesting features of Ontario’s graveyards. “I think the most fascinating thing for me [is] the white zinc monuments,” she said.

“So far, I’ve found at least one or two in each cemetery, and the bigger cemeteries have multiples. A little tidbit of information - zinc monuments all have little plates along the bottom that are screwed on, and it’s rumoured that they were a hiding place for bootleggers back in the day - the plates came right off!” During the heyday of prohibition, most zinc monuments, or “zinkys” were manufactured in St. Thomas.

On Oct 5, the CEHCO will be partnering with Sarnia’s Memorial Restoration to host a headstone

repair workshop at the Brussels Cemetery. All 34 spots in the handson event filled up quickly, so any interested parties will just have to wait for the next one. Carter is excited to see what kind of impact these new volunteers will have on the local cemetery improvement scene. She pointed out that the Brussels Cemetery alone has more than its fair share of grave markers in need of some TLC. “At Brussels Cemetery, in the first four rows, there are over 100 tablet style stones that have fallen over and are lying flat on the ground...we’re going to learn how to get them upright. The ones that are lying down have deteriorated so much, and the ones that are standing aren't. These stones were purchased by their families, who intended for them to be standing and appreciated. A lot of the old stones have phrases on them, and a common phrase is ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ - we should show these people they haven’t been forgotten.”

Carter will also be giving a free talk at the Goderich branch of the Huron County Library on Oct. 19 to further spread her passion for cemeteries and promote the group.

The way she sees it, cemetery culture is for everybody. “It’s the one thing we all have in common, no matter your race, sex, age - we all know somebody that’s died.”

Get pumped A new fitness centre is now open in Brussels.

(John Stephenson photo)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

Brussels is now home to a brand new gym, which is conveniently located in the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre (BMGCC). Exercise-oriented early birds and night owls can also rejoice, because Finish Line Fitness is a 24-hour facility!

Owner Chris Gibson officially opened his doors to the public on Sept. 7, and, in his opinion, things are already off to a pretty good start. “There’s been lots of people coming through, and they’re excited about it,” he explained.

Keeping fit isn’t just a hobby for Gibson - as a volunteer firefighter with Huron East, a proper workout is all part of the job. “I’ve always been interested in fitness, and now I compete in the FireFit challenges, so that kind of got me more streamlined in a direction something to train for.” Soon, Gibson will be packing his bags and heading to Kamloops, BC to compete in the FireFit Nationals.

“Fitness is important for me, for life longevity. And if you’re active, you feel better. If you eat clean, you feel better. And then you can just enjoy life more.”

While his dream of providing a proper workout space for the people of Brussels was in the works for quite a while, Gibson already has more than enough experience

running his own business. After 10 years as a firefighter, Gibson knows first-hand that an increased understanding of fire safety amongst the general public would lead to a decrease in deadly fires.

That’s why he owns Fire-Alert London - a mobile education unit that teaches fire safety wherever it is most needed.

When Gibson saw the community’s need for a fitness facility in Brussels, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

“There’s nothing in the area, right?

Unless I drive either to Wingham, or Listowel, or Seaforth. There was nowhere to work out locally.

Brussels is where I live and where the need is.” Since Finish Line Fitness is the only gym around, Gibson strove to create an exercise space that works for the whole community. “It’s for everybody, really. The 24/7 access allows people on different shifts and different schedules to still be able to get in and work out.” In terms of equipment, Gibson went for a mix of everything. There’s cardio equipment, treadmills, a stairclimber, free weights, barbells and much more. “It’s kind of a mix of all different styles of gym in one,” he explained. If you’re still not sure if you’re a ‘gym person’ or not, Gibson suggests stopping by to check out what he’s put together at the BMGCC. “Come to the gym and just take a tour, see the space, ask questions, and get started.”

Congratulations John Sinclair on your well deserved retirement!! It took a little more than 40 years of vehicle alignments but I think you finally have everything straightened out!! We couldn’t be any happier that you chose to finish out your career with your extended daytime family at MGM Townsend Tire. And don’t worry folks, it seems to be all in the family as John’s “grand nephew” Jack Hayter has been attached to John for the last 16-18 months to learn the trade to John’s high standards. He may be young but John says, “He’s got it. He has the eye!”

Happy retirement and enjoy the farm!

40356 Londesboro Rd., Londesborough 519-523-4742 • 1-877-619-7877 www.townsendtire.ca email: ttyr@tcc.on.ca

PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024.

NH establishes township-wide flat rate for water/sewer

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

A divided North Huron Council voted in favour of moving to flatrate sewer and water charges for residential properties across the entire township, effective Jan. 1, 2025. The decision came after extensive debate at the Sept. 16 meeting, during which councillors considered the long-term implications of abandoning the current hybrid system (combination of metered and flat-rate).

Currently, the Blyth system is a flat rate service, the Belgrave system is a cost-recovery service and Wingham is a metered service.

At the meeting, Director of Public Works and Facilities Dax McAllister presented a report

outlining possible changes to sewer and water charges in North Huron.

In the report, McAllister says that currently, Wingham has 1,294 metered customers, divided into four routes. On average, 146 meters per route are unreadable due to accessibility issues or end-of-life conditions, complicating the reading process for Veolia staff members who are responsible for the operation of North Huron’s water and sewer operations, maintenance and management.

McAllister’s report says that if council provided direction to proceed with a metered system across the township, there would be significant costs involved with replacing old meters and installing new ones.

Councillor Mitch Wright voiced

strong opposition to the flat-rate model, arguing that a metered system is the fairest and most efficient option. “If you have a flat rate, basically, it means people with lower incomes, who tend to use less water, are subsidizing the usage of people that have greater incomes and use more water,” Wright explained. He added that, based on his research, municipalities using flat rates consume 30 per cent more water than those with metered systems, leading to increased infrastructure costs.

Wright questioned whether the costs of replacing old water meters would fall on the municipality or individual users.

McAllister, responded by saying that new meter installations would require plumbing upgrades from homeowners, but

further details about costs could be provided in a future report. Wright inquired further about the possibility of charging users for meter installations, to which McAllister agreed to provide additional information.

Deputy-Reeve Kevin Falconer expressed concerns about the costs associated with manual meter reading. McAllister acknowledged that the current process takes three to five days but could be significantly reduced to a half-day if North Huron were to invest in a radio frequency reading system.

Reeve Paul Heffer asked McAllister whether adopting a flat rate would preclude a future switch to a metered system. McAllister clarified that a change could be made at any time.

Falconer sought clarification on the reasoning behind staff’s preference for a flat-rate system.

McAllister explained that the recommendation aligns with other ongoing water infrastructure projects, noting that many of the existing meters in Wingham are at the end of their lifespan and would need to be replaced soon.

Council motioned to receive the report and to support Option 2 - flat rates for sewer and water - with an invitation extended to BM Ross and Associates Limited to present updated financial plans at the Oct. 7 council meeting. Wright, Falconer, and Councillor Lonnie Whitfield voted against the motion, but Heffer and Councillors Ric McBurney, Anita van Hittersum and Chris Palmer supported it.

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Lucknow hosts another successful fall fair

Fall leaves and flannel sleeves Lucknow’s annual Fall Fair celebrated 161 years of honouring its agricultural community with exhibits, entertainment and the Fair Ambassador Competition.

(Scott Stephenson and Chelsea Gamble photos)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

Lucknow held its annual Fall Fair earlier this month, which marked the agricultural community’s 161st year of celebrating the many hardworking farmers and talented

citizens that make it special.

In addition to all the games, entertainment, and excellent exhibitions of food, art, and crafts, each year, rural fairs all over Ontario hold a Fair Ambassador Competition in which local youths compete for the chance to represent

the agricultural interests of their hometown for a year. The competitors each make a short speech at the fair about a community-oriented topic about which they’re passionate, and the winner goes on to speak at various agricultural events in Huron County and beyond. Each Ambassador also attends the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) each year, where they compete for the position of CNE Fair Ambassador.

In 2024, Lucknow’s Ambassador was Shelby Barger, who ably represented her hometown at the CNE with her speech about the economic strength of small town rural economies. Barger may not have won the CNE competition, but she did graciously lend her extra socks to winner and fellow HuronKinloss Ambassador Hannah MacDonald of Ripley, who had failed to pack extra clothes because she was not expecting to win.

Barger has now passed her Lucknow Ambassador sash on to the new 2025 Ambassador, Graham Howard. He may have been running unopposed, but he still gave it his all in his speech and thoroughly impressed the judges. Lucknow also has a new Junior Ambassador in 11-year-old Lyndon Gillespie, who narrowly edged out competitors Jasmine Scott and Evelyn Scott for the title.

and see all the other ambassadors.

I’m just delighted with everything that our fair is, and everything it stands for.”

With Howard at the helm, it seems Lucknow’s agricultural community will be well represented in 2025.

Howard is already taking his new responsibility seriously, and offered this official comment to The Citizen, “I’m absolutely thrilled to be the Lucknow Ambassador - I think this is a great opportunity to become a part of our proud history.

I’m so glad to have the chance to go

Graham Howard Shelby Barger

Lillian Beyersbergen-Oakes

BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK REPORT For the week ending September 20, 2024 Total Receipts: 1,175 cattle; 615 lambs, sheep, and goats.

Tuesday – Fed cattle sold on a steady market. Cows sold steady.

Thursday – Veal sold strong at prices $15 - $20 higher than last week. Lambs, sheep and goats sold on a strong and active trade at steady prices.

Friday – All classes of cattle traded on a strong and steady market. Grass cattle traded at a premium.

Fed Cattle: There were 80 fed cattle on offer: Choice Fed Cattle: $245 – $261 up to $276 Second Cut Fed Cattle: $235 – $244 Aged and Medium Fed Cattle: $210 – $225 Holstein Fed Cattle: $190 – $220 Bill Finlay of Durham, consigned 17 head.

Five simmental cross fat steers averaged 1,594 lbs. and sold for an average price of $256.

Matthew Bros. Farms of Durham, consigned seven head. Seven black fat steers averaged 1,256 lbs. and sold for an average price of $255.

Cows: There were 125 cows on offer:

Lambs:

Beef Cows: $145 – $215 Good Holstein Cows: $148 – $166 up to $185 Medium Holstein Cows: $139 – $147 Bulls: $190 – $233

Under 50 lbs.: $200 – $350 50-64 lbs.: $355 – $370 65-79 lbs.: $265 – $340 80-94 lbs.: $255.50 – $300 95-109 lbs.: $247.50 – $277.50 110 lbs. and over: $220 – $255

Scottslea Farms Ltd. of Blyth, consigned six head. One charolais cow weighed 1,595 lbs. and sold for a price of $216.

Eckerlea Acres Ltd. of Seaforth, consigned one holstein cow that weighed 1,425 lbs. and sold for a price of $178.

Veal: There were 120 veal and 25 bob calves on offer:

Sheep: $115 – $242.50 Eric Weber of Listowel, consigned 10 head. Four lambs averaged 60 lbs. and sold for an average price of $355.

Blythhill Farms Inc. of Blyth, consigned 10 head. Five lambs averaged 90 lbs. and sold for an average price of $300.00.

John and Cheryl Bennewies of Bornholm, consigned three head. One holstein veal weighed 735 lbs. and sold for a price of $279.

Cranbrook Farms of Brussels, consigned six head. One holstein bob calf sold for $1,035 per head.

Top Quality Steers: Under 400 lbs.: Too few to establish a market 400 – 499 lbs.: $405 – $405 500 – 599 lbs.: $392.50 – $447 600 – 699 lbs.: $345 – $410 700 – 799 lbs.: $345 – $389 800 – 899 lbs.: $330 – $363.50 900 – 999 lbs.: $318.75 – $343 1,000 lbs. and over: $294 – $322.50 Top Quality Heifers: Under 400 lbs.: Too few to establish a market 400 – 499 lbs.: Too few to establish a market 500 – 599 lbs.: $330 – $355 600 – 699 lbs.: $333 – $345 700 – 799 lbs.: $281 – $340 800 – 899 lbs.: $275.50 – $338.50 900 lbs. and over: $270 – $309 up to $320

Beef Veal: $265 – $290 Good Holsteins: $265 – $282 SL Heavy Holsteins: $255 – $275 Heavy Holsteins: $240 – $265 Medium Holsteins: $235 – $255 Plain Holsteins: $220 – $230 Holstein Drop Calves: $300 – $1,050 / HEAD Levi Miller of Auburn, consigned five head. One holstein veal weighed 710 lbs. and sold for a price of $282.

Stockers: There were 825 stockers on offer:

Goats: Meat Kids: $400 – $495 Dairy Kids: $320 – $400 Mature Bucks: $300 – $400 Mature Does: $177.50 – $290 Darrin Durand of Hensall, consigned 10 head. Three kid goats averaged 55 lbs. and sold for an average price of $495.

Curtis Klaver of Mitchell, consigned six head. Five kid goats averaged 63 lbs. and sold for an average price of $465.

Alcopa Investments Ltd. of Concord, consigned 23 head. Ten charolais steers averaged 905 lbs. and sold for an average price of $343.

Jonas Weber of Listowel, consigned 55 head. Seventeen black steers averaged 838 lbs. and sold for an average price of $363.50.

John M. S. Martin of Dundalk, consigned 41 head. Twenty charolais steers averaged 949 lbs. and sold for an average price of $327.

Abner W. Bowman of Lucknow, consigned 15 head. Ten black steers averaged 1,001 lbs. and sold for an average price of $322.50.

Boyd Erb of Millbank, consigned 36 head. eight black heifers averaged 757 lbs. and sold for an average price of $340.

Nathanael W. Martin of Wroxeter, consigned 27 head. Eight charolais heifers averaged 913 lbs. and sold for an average price of $320.

George Roney of Staffa, consigned 28 head. Sixteen charolais heifers averaged 861 lbs. and sold for an average price of $333.

BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd.

UPCOMING SALES TUESDAYS 10:00 a.m.

Fed Cattle, Bulls & Cows

THURSDAYS

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

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

Call us 519-887-6461

PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

Classified Advertising – RATES – 20 words or less only $9.00 + HST Additional words 25¢ ea. + HST

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

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

------------------------------------------Shade trees, Spruce, White Pine, Cedars, windbreaks and privacy hedges, Shrubs, Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Sweet & sour Cherry Trees at (Emanuel E.M. Martin) Martin's Nursery 42661 Orangehill Rd, Wroxeter ON N0G 2X0 ------------------------------------------REPRINTS OF PHOTOS taken by Citizen photographers are available to purchase. All are in colour. 4x6 $5.00, 5x7 - $6.00, 8x10 - $10.00.

Phone to order 519-523-4792 or email info@northhuron.on.ca ------------------------------------------THE CITIZEN IS AVAILABLE TO purchase at these locations - Auburn Esso, Belgrave Variety, Blyth Food Market, Blyth Variety, Blyth Ultramar, Brussels Foodland, Brussels Variety, Clinton Convenience, Clinton Foodland, Fogal's YIG (Wingham), Seaforth Foodland, Fincher's (Goderich), Goderich Victoria St Shell, Goderich Petro-Canada Gas Bar, and The Citizen office in Blyth.

------------------------------------------POLY OUTDOOR FURNITURE up to $100 off retail price. Further quantity discounts available.

Located 2 blocks north of Whitechurch at 382 Whitechurch St -------------------------------------------

Coming events Coming events In memoriam AUBURN AND DISTRICT LIONS Club Breakfast at the Auburn Community Hall, Sunday, Oct. 6, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Adults $15, Children $6, Preschool free. Maple syrup supplied by Robinson Maple Products. Eggs supplied by Huron County Egg Farmers. Proceeds for Community Betterment. We Serve.

------------------------------------------PUBLIC MEETING to update status of the Clinton Public Hospital ER. The Community Working Group (CWG) will host a public meeting at the Libro Hall in Clinton on Monday, September 30 at 7:30 pm to provide an update on the CWG advocacy to improve public access to the Clinton ER and to determine next steps. The CWG hopes that there will be representation from the councils of Central Huron, Huron East and Bluewater, as well as the HPHA. ------------------------------------------TAKE-OUT HOMECOOKED MEAL!!! Turkey and stuffing, mashed potatoes, peas and carrots, roll $19.50. Fri, Oct. 4, 11 to 1 pm and 4:30 to 7 pm. Pie, Tarts, Ice cream 11 am to 7 pm RSVP 226971-2395. Maitside Orchards, 23 Orchard Lane, Brussels.

EVERYONE WELCOME!!

------------------------------------------WINGHAM HOSPITAL RUMMAGE SALE at the Wingham Legion, Tuesday (note day change) October 15 2 to 6 pm and Wednesday, October 16 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Seasonal clothing can be dropped off Tuesday until noon at the Legion. Pickup of articles call Lois 519-357-3326. We need seasonal clothing, small household items, books, toys, puzzles, jewellery, etc. NO furniture or electronics please. Support your local Wingham Hospital Ladies Auxiliary.

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

Card of thanks SNELL, GEORGE - We wish to thank family, friends and neighbours for their kindness and support during the recent loss of our brother, George Snell. We thank you for your expressions of sympathy through floral tributes, donations, and food brought to our home. Thanks to the Clinton Public Hospital, University Hospital, Stratford General Hospital during his recent illness. Thanks to Don Vair for providing the funeral service and special tribute by Dan Snell and Ron Snell. Special thanks to Dayna Deans, Doug and Jackie McBurney and Mandy at McBurney Funeral Home and the Wingham Legion Ladies for lunch provided.

Your thoughtfulness will never be forgotten. Barbara Snell, Ken Snell and Murray Snell.

------------------------------------------PLETCH - The family of Edna Pletch are so thankful for all those who helped Mom during the past few months - Dr. Heather Percival, One Care staff, Clinton, her PSWs, doctors and nurses of Stratford & Seaforth Hospitals. Thank you to all those who brought food to our homes, made donations to her charities, Zoey Onn & the Riverside Funeral Home, Brussels Legion and ladies for a delicious luncheon. Your thoughtfulness was greatly appreciated.

Branch 420 Blyth, Ontario

BLYTH LEGION COFFEE HOUR

You are invited to join us

Citizen-To-Citizen

Tired of Eating Alone?

Come share a meal with us!

“SWAP SHOP” ad

Join us the first Monday of each month Starting October 7th at 11:30 a.m.

No cost, we ask you bring some food to share.

Blyth United Church 442 Mill St., Blyth Questions: Call Emily 519-357-0406 or Pat 226-222-8835

In memoriam JACKLIN - In memory of Joyce Jacklin (Kellington) who passed away 10 years ago September 29th.

Our lives go on without you, Bur nothing is the same, We have to hide our heartache, When someone speaks your name.

Sad are the hearts that love you, Silent are the tears that fall, Living without you is the Hardest part of all.

You did so many things for us, Your heart was so kind and true, And when we needed someone, We could always count on you.

The special years will not return, When we are all together, But with the love in our hearts, You walk with us forever.

Loved and missed Don, Dave, Janice and families.

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

Tenders

Swap shop

McGrath: In loving memory of our beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother Ina who left us suddenly 10 years ago, September 28, 2014.

Ten years later your absence is still deeply felt, But your love is our everlasting comfort.

Always remembered by Larry, Dianne and family.

------------------------------------------McGRATH - Ina McGrath, loving mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother who passed away 10 years ago on September 28, 2014.

Ina was loved and is missed by all of us. We are so fortunate to be able to wrap ourselves in the Tie Quilts she made for each of us, knowing the love that she had for us when she was sewing them. We think of her often and miss her still. Bill, Mary Anne and our family.

The Citizen 519-523-4792 huroncitizen.ca

Tenders

Call 519-523-4792 or email: info@northhuron.on.ca FOUND - Ring, sentimental value, Call 365-994-0462 to identify.

39-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Two new tire rims, white, 15 inches, 6 bolt holes. $30 each or best offer. Call 519-525-9304.

39-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Ecoped Scooter, new batteries, sold as is. $300 or best offer.

519-357-9898.

38-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Sunbeam humidifier $25; unique computer cabinet, $100; Moen shower head (new in box) $25; Armoire $50; 4 shrub covers $25; barely used Brute snowblower $1,000. Pictures available.

519-357-2768.

38-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Sears Craftsman YT 3000 riding lawnmower, used ver little, $700; engine stand, capacity 1,000 lbs. $25.

519-887-9615.

38-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Seasoned hardwood, approx. 12 cord, you pick up. 519-3576258.

38-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Farm King grain auger 7”, $950.; six bolt Martin wagon gear, $700.

519-395-4211 38-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - 42” ceiling fan with lights, in original box, never used. Asking $100 or best offer. 519-887-6267 38-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Queen size bed, complete, $60 or best offer; harvest table and six chairs, $60; vintage slipper chair, $30; buffet and hutch, $50. 519-482-7262.

37-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Ski-doo TNT 440 Snowmobile, needs some care, $600 or best offer. Brussels 519-887-6488. 37-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Digital backup camera wireless, never used, $20. 519-523-9671.

37-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - China cabinet, $20; cradle, $30; round oak table, $30; two-drawer chest, $10. Blyth 519-525-9377.

37-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - John Deere JS 48” selfpropelled push mower, $200. 519-3576338.

37-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Beaver vintage 8” table saw.

Model 2200 made in Guelph, ON, Mobile base, fence, mitre gauge and 18 ft. cord.

Great condition $325. Text 519-887-9577.

37-3

Tenders

Come join us for coffee from 2:00 pm ’til 3:30 pm “Everyone is Welcome” DATES:

OCT. 2, 2024 NOV. 6, 2024 DEC. 4, 2024 JAN. 8, 2025

LOCATION: 192 Dinsley St., Blyth, ON Legion Hall - Upstairs “DONATIONS WELCOME”

Looking for work?

Check out the classifieds!

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

SALE OF LAND BY PUBLIC TENDER THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HURON Take Notice that tenders are invited for the purchase of the land described below and will be received until 3:00 p.m. local time on October 31, 2024, at the Township of North Huron Municipal Office, 274 Josephine Street, Wingham Ontario.

Description of Lands: Roll No. 40 50 510 004 00600 0000; 99 DAVID ST., WINGHAM; PIN 41063-0014 (LT); File No. 23-12; Minimum Tender Amount: $51,985.55.

Except as follows, the municipality makes no representation regarding the title to, any environmental contamination concerns or any other matters relating to the land to be sold.

Responsibility for ascertaining these matters rests with the potential purchasers. This sale is governed by the Municipal Act, 2001 and the Municipal Tax Sales Rules made under that Act. A full copy of the tax sale advertisement and further information about this matter is available on line at www.OntarioTaxSales.ca or www.northhuron.ca or you may contact Chris Townes, Director of Finance/Treasurer, The Corporation of the Township of North Huron, P.O. Box 90, 274 Josephine Street, Wingham ON N0G 2W0, Phone: 519-357-3550 Ext. 127, Email: ctownes@northhuron.ca

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

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024. PAGE 15.

Obituaries Saturday, Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. for Muriel’s celebration of life service.

In lieu of flowers and as expressions of sympathy, donations to the Alzheimer’s Society of Huron Perth would be appreciated.

Please send donation cheques to Box 340 Brussels, N0G 1H0.

Condolences may be left at riversidefuneralhome.ca

MURIEL JEANNETTE BLANEY née FRAISER Muriel Jeannette Blaney née Fraiser passed away peacefully on Sept. 18 at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital in Goderich in her 80th year.

The loving wife of the late William Blaney, Muriel was the mother of Gloria Workman, Glenda (Rick) Rankin and Jamie Workman.

She was the former spouse of the father of her children, Harold Workman, and stepmother of Debbie Sullens, Mark Blaney and Bill Blaney.

Muriel was the grandmother of Ashlea, Curtis, Marlea, Evan, Amy and Leah and the greatgrandmother of 11.

She was the sister of Arthur Fraiser, Jack Fraiser, Bill Fraiser, Doug Fraiser, Dorothy Devitt, Helen Radford, Ruth Rintoul, Jean McNaughton, Cecile Leeming, Mary Weick, Barbara Bennewies, Edna Gingrich and Audrey Cudmore.

Muriel was a caring, generous, compassionate and feisty lady. She loved her family and enjoyed spending time with them.

She was most proud of her work at the Vernon Fanning Auxiliary Hospital in Calgary, Alberta, where she worked for 27 years, caring for older people in the neurological rehabilitation unit.

Her best friends were Fran from Calgary and her chocolate lab Kayla. Her greatest pleasure was preparing and serving delicious meals for family and friends. Her wonderful culinary creations will be missed.

Friends and family are invited to the Anglican Parish of the Holy Spirit Church, Seaforth on

GARRY YOUNG Garry Young of Seaforth passed away peacefully at London Health Sciences Centre - Victoria Hospital on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024 at the age of 71.

He was the proud dad of Tonya and Josh Hummel and the adored grandpa of Khloe and Mylee.

Garry was the cherished son of Isabelle and the late Norman (2017) Young and the dear brother and brother-in-law of Murray Young (Deb), Ralph Young, Nancy Young, and Sandra Jessome (Silby). He will be fondly remembered by many nieces and nephews.

Garry was always up for touring around; he would say “gas tank is full, where are we going today?” He cherished his time with family and friends and always made time for visits. Even after retirement from many hardworking years at Lavis, Garry always kept a keen eye on the crews and kept up with the comings and goings.

A celebration of Garry’s life was held at the Seaforth Legion on Sunday, Sept. 22. Cremation has taken place and a private family interment will be held at Brussels Cemetery at a later date.

Donations to the Seaforth Community Hospital Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated by the family.

Condolences may be forwarded through www.haskettfh.com.

MARILYN JEAN STILES née STEISS Marilyn Jean Stiles née Steiss passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Sept. 23 at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital, Goderich, in her 89th year.

The beloved wife of the late James Gordon Stiles for 59 years, Jean was the loving mother of Donelda (Terry) Schwartzentruber and loving grandma to her grandpups, Otis and Jethro.

Jean is survived by her sister Eileen Mann of West Perth Village in Mitchell and sister-in-law Madelene Steiss of Cranbrook.

She was predeceased by parents Alex and Ruby Steiss, sister Winnifred (Charlie) Mann, brother Stewart Steiss, and brother-in-law Harry Mann.

Jean was raised in Grey Township, attended school in Cranbrook and went to high school in Listowel. Jean met Gordon at the mailbox and her mailman became her husband. She started working at the Brussels CIBC at age 17 and retired in 1989 after 46 years of working in the banking industry.

Jean lived in Brussels and area until their 1971 move to Stratford, where she stayed until her move to Harbour Hill in Goderich in 2023 to be closer to her family.

Jean was a member of the Palmerston/Harriston Order of the Eastern Star and had received her 65-year pin, she received a lifetime achievement award for volunteering at the Canadian Cancer Society for over 30 years.

She played shuffleboard with the Zippy Zioners in Stratford and was a member of the Home Builders Club through the Sebringville United Church.

She enjoyed going to the cottage

for 27 years at Bluewater Beach and all the family gatherings throughout the holidays and birthdays. She loved to crochet, knit, play cards and be in her garden. She loved nature and enjoyed visiting the farm and spending time with the animals, especially her two grand-pups.

Jean was an avid walker, she loved to meet people on the street and hear about their day, no matter the weather.

Her friendly conversation will be missed.

Family and friends were received at Riverside Funeral Home,

Brussels Chapel on Wednesday, Sept. 25 and the funeral service followed on Sept. 26 with Rev. Harry Disher officiating.

Interment will take place at Brussels Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers and as expressions of sympathy, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society, specifically the multiple myeloma unit or the breast cancer unit, the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital Foundation or the Basset Hound Rescue of Ontario would be appreciated.

Condolences may be left at riversidefuneralhome.ca

UCW to give to Blyth Kids Club Continued from page 10 are performed in the home, as well as many types of vaccinations.

Remote home monitoring catches changes in a patient’s condition quickly so help can be delivered.

Because the patient and his/her family is visited on a regular basis, any changes in the patient’s condition are noted and dealt with quickly as well.

The office is staffed seven days a week, making help easy to access.

Project Lifesaver uses GPS tracking to keep autistic persons and persons with dementia safe.

Palliative care is also part of the care. Visits by a community paramedic help persons struggling with mental health issues realize care is out there for them as well.

Community paramedic services are government-funded.

The service began in Nova Scotia 20 years ago and similar services exist across the country.

Josh fielded many questions from the ladies present and distributed

information pamphlets to everyone.

Many listening that evening could identify someone they knew who would benefit from this home service, which highlights how necessary this service is.

A gift was made to Huron Hospice as a thanks to Josh and the other paramedics for their service and care.

Joan Howatt and Margaret Wright offered a reading and a prayer to conclude the program part of the evening. They stressed that even the smallest act of caregiving we all might do makes a difference in someone's life.

President Kim Roetsicoender conducted the business portion of the meeting. A variety of topics were discussed and offered for consideration, such as the Christmas meeting, the lists for 2025 and Lions Club meals/catering.

A $500 donation will be given to the Blyth Kids Club from the group.

The Citizen

405 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4792

Advertise your business here!

One of the most read areas of the paper

SUDOKU Fun By The Numbers Like puzzles?

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

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

PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024.

From the Minister’s Study

Align with God’s purposes, no matter the cost

By Douglas Allen, Huron Chapel, Auburn During the Children of Israel’s exodus out of Egypt, God had taught them how they should worship Him as their sovereign God. To illustrate the vast contrast between His holiness and their sinfulness, He required of them various kinds of sacrificial offerings to be consumed in fire on altars specifically built for that purpose.

Accordingly, the word “sacrifice” came to mean the surrender of a possession as an offering to God in recognition of His divine nature. In the Israelite system of worship this “surrender” occurred a particular event: “the sacrifice”. But there was a specific attitude that was called for: to give up something despite what it might cost, in what might be called a sacrificial act. Consider for a moment how this definition is impacted when that which is about to be given as a sacrifice is obtained by the giver through no effort or cost on his part. Is it still a sacrifice?

The passage 2 Samuel 24:20-24 describes how a prophet of God had instructed David to worship Him by offering a sacrifice at a specific place: “the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”

Threshing floors were found on high ground where they would be consistently exposed to prevailing breezes. The harvested grain would be laid on the “floor” where it would be beaten by wooden threshing sticks or trod on by oxen.

This way, stalks of the wheat or barley would be broken up, later to be thrown up into the wind. The lighter stalk material (the chaff) would be carried away by the breeze, leaving the heavier seed to settle on the floor.

Bible scholars believe that this threshing floor was the location of the temple that would later be built

by David’s son, Solomon. Both as a threshing floor and a temple, this high ground is appropriate as a place of worship to God because of its prominent position, being visible to a wide audience.

What is significant is the present owner’s identity. He is a Jebusite, a descendent of the original settlers to occupy Jerusalem. While Joshua had defeated other Canaanite cultures, the Jebusites had successfully defended their citystate until, finally, David had conquered them. In a sense, Araunah is now a foreigner in the city that the Israelites now occupied.

From Araunah’s

perspective, the man standing before him is not only Israel’s king, but a victorious conqueror to whom he had no choice but to show his subservience. It’s not surprising to read of Araunah’s response to the appearance of the Israelite King. He bows before the king with his face to the ground; a sign of respect and an acknowledgment of his authority. No doubt, it was with great anxiety that he awaits to hear the reason for the king’s visit.

With great courtesy toward his defeated foe, David states his purpose: “I have come to buy your threshing floor [for the purpose of] building an altar to the LORD there.” David’s presence demands that he prove his allegiance to the victorious Israelite. So, Araunah offers not only the space for which David has asked, but also everything necessary with which to offer a suitable sacrifice to His God. “Take it, my Lord the king, and use it as you wish. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and you can use the threshing boards and ox yokes for wood to build a fire on the altar. I will give it all to you, Your Majesty, and may the LORD your God accept your sacrifice.”

I think it’s significant that the Jebusite is willing to jeopardize his future livelihood by giving the king everything that he would need for future harvests. All for a God he does not personally honour! But if the king wishes it, he will naturally provide it. Isn’t this a true definition of sacrifice?

David’s response is significant. “I will not sacrifice to Yahweh burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

David’s refusal to allow the Jebusite to absorb the cost of a sacrifice that was rightly his own responsibility shows that David had a full understanding of the need for him to offer a sacrifice that cost him something. And so we are told that he purchased the threshing floor and the oxen for 50 shekels of silver.

Doesn’t David’s response have a lot to say to us about our own practice of supporting the church or other significant social ministries?

Aren’t we too called upon to show a similar sacrificial attitude? And yet many churches and charitable programs find themselves in financial distress, to the point that they cease operations or find it necessary to curtail important aspects of their programs.

Ultimately, isn’t our support of the church and/or Christian and charitable ministries a reflection of our desire to worship God and contribute to his purposes?

There is no doubt that these are difficult times, presenting all of us with significant financial challenges. In response, we may find ourselves justifying adjusting what we contribute (maybe to the point of ceasing our contributions altogether). What does that say about our modern-day equivalent of the Old Testament sacrifices?

Shouldn’t the gift we offer in honour of a great king entail the giving up of something substantial, or have we become guilty of offering gifts that don’t cost us very much?

More importantly, do we offer more substantial “gifts” in favour of

BRUSSELS S

U United Chu ur urch All are are welcome welcom welcom me to Worship Worship Sunday, Sunday y,, September Septembe er 29 at at 11:00 a.m.

Come be part of our Faith Community Sunday, Octtober 6: lunch after Church and “story teelling” with the Affirm team.

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

Sunday, September 29, 10:30 a.m.

Pastor Mike Stanley speaking on “Don’t Get Complacent” (Nehemiah 13)

Pastor Stephen nT Ta amming will be leading us in the e 10:00 am service.

There will be no evening service.

Services S ervices are are llive-streamed ive-streamed a and nd c can an b be e ffo found ound b by ys searching earching ““Blyth “B Blly yth C Christian hristian R Reformed effo orrm med C Church” hurrc ch”

Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743 www.blythcrc.ca

Blyth United Church at 9:30 a.m.

On-site and online - live.huronchapel.com To talk to Pastor Mike please email pastormike@huronchapel.com

119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131

Celebrating A Special Occasion?

Advertise it in

The Citizen Call or email to book your ad today!

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

The Anglican Churches of Blyth, Seaforth and Wingham Welcome You to Sunday Service!

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 519-527-1522

revjoann@hurontel.on.ca

holyspirit@tcc.on.ca

stpauls@hurontel.on.ca

www.holyspiritseaforth.ca

www.regionalministryof hope.com

The Regional Ministry of Hope

23 John St E Wingham 519-357-4883

Service Livestreamed Sundays at 11 a.m. on our facebook page

The Regional Ministry of

Worrship with us at Brruss M Brussels Mennonite Fellowship p Service at 10:00 a.m.

Worship W Co ee Time at 11:00 a.m. ool for all ages at 11:15 a.m. ay Scho S Sunda All A Are Welcome Interim Pastor s Elwin Elwiin Garland 250 Princess St., Brussels • 519 887 6388

Praise God Pr for th the harvest!

Sunday, September 29 at 10 a.m.

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

Worship and Prayer Time Loving Fellowship Expository Preaching

brusselscommunitybiblechapel.ca

Sunday, September 29

Nursery & Sunday School during worship

dwell on these supposed limitations, perhaps we ought to focus on the example shown here

by David.

Is God a Being that inspires us to greater levels of sacrifice, or simply a being to whom we offer only a token sacrifice? David was determined to be known by God as one willing to sacrifice self-interest in favour of genuine worship.

Shouldn’t that inspire each of us to be similarly generous in our efforts to align ourselves with God’s purposes, no matter the cost?

Join us Sun nday y,, September 29 9

BLYT TH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Evangelical Missionary Church

the other “gods” that seek our attention, such as status symbols, luxury items, unnecessary gadgets and various “toys”? If we were honest with ourselves, is God only getting the leftovers?

Having said that, I realize that sacrificial giving is not limited to the offering of animals (or, in our case, finances), but will be seen in the devotion of self and all that entails. In Romans 12:1, Paul urges the believer to see how worship involves more than the giving of physical goods. He says, “[instead] offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable.”

I wonder though if we haven’t become content with offerings that demand very little of us. I know that all of us are conscious of the many concerns that face us financially.

Our desire is to be a testimony to our Heavenly Father, yet, it’s hard to envision how that is possible, given the circumstances. We say that we’d like to do this; we’d like to do that, but how, given our limited resources? Rather than

MEL LV VILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS

Sunday, September 29, 2024

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11

We are invited to join St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Molesworth, as they celebrate their anniversary at 11 a.m. with Doug Sargent as the worsship leader.

All are welcome. There will be no service at Melville this Su unday.

Outreach project for North Huron Food Share. (Especially lunch box items).

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

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

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

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024. PAGE 17.

ers t t e L THE TO

R

TO EDI

Writer questions wisdom of library move THE EDITOR, Look out citizens and Blyth and its surrounding areas, as North Huron Council is attacking our village again; this time wanting to take away our only place in town to host a dance, wedding reception, a celebration of life, and broomball and hockey tournaments. It’s also the place in which hundreds of people are fed by the United Church during the annual Thresher Reunion.

Yes, our wonderful North Huron Council wants to move the library and construct a meeting room (which no one will use, because the rent will be too high) in the auditorium above the arena for a savings of $18,000 a year. I’m sure, as with everything else they seem to touch, this will end up costing taxpayers more money to make such a move, as they will not have done their homework on costs involved.

There are the stairs to deal with at the arena and, yes, there is an elevator, but it’s still an inconvenience for everyday use.

The township will need someone to run the elevator, which will cost extra money, accessibility will be a huge issue and code compliance may come into play, meaning more money.

Has anyone thought to maybe ask user groups for their thoughts on moving the library?

The other thing that should be looked into is the usage of a library anymore with all the online books and information at your fingertips.

Unfortunately, a library is not as popular as it used to be with all the

online resources. How many more years will it be used? I guess time will tell. Then, we have the state-ofthe-art kitchen at the community centre that sits and rots away and never prepares another dinner for anyone. Who suffers? The churches, service groups and families that need a hall to host an event in the Blyth area.

Speaking of hosting an event in the auditorium at the Blyth Community Centre, I have heard many people say they would gladly rent it for an event, but North Huron has the rental fees jacked up so high and has imposed so many rules that people just cannot afford to have an event there. They would rather let the auditorium sit empty than generate some income from it. I scratch my head as to how this makes logical sense.

Mitch Wright had a great, common-sense comment about giving the auditorium a muchneeded facelift to attract new renters and I think this is a great idea, but North Huron would have to keep in mind that it still needs to be affordable for people to rent.

This goes back to the fire hall days when North Huron wanted to rip out a perfectly good ball diamond to build a fire hall. The ball diamond cost money to build over the years and would have cost a lot of money to remove. So, it’s the same type of plan for the auditorium as fire hall - council will destroy the only place in Blyth we have to host a event to move a library that’s costing North Huron $18,000 a year in rental fees.

Let’s look at the North Huron Council chambers in comparison.

Approximately $400,000 was spent to construct council chambers, plus it’s in a building that the township doesn’t own, so we, as taxpayers, have to pay a monthly rental fee forever. I’m sure there was a building or space that the township owned that could have served the same purpose without monthly rental fee.

Council’s solution is to try to save $18,000 a year by taking away the only place we can host an event: the auditorium in our community centre. North Huron Council needs to look at the larger costs on the

books, because $18,000 is peanuts compared to the money that is spent on other items deemed necessary. If I’m not mistaken, the Knights of Columbus Centre has been bailed out by North Huron Council more than once.

Why not spend some money on updating the auditorium and work harder at promoting the place instead of letting it sit empty all the time and complaining that no one rents it?

Whose job or responsibility is it to ensure that all our facilities are being used to their full potential? Maybe it’s time to look at this person’s job. They may need a bit of guidance on what’s expected. So, let’s get with making money from the resources we have and spend less time taking away what we have.

I just learned on the weekend that Blyth Broomball called to book the arena auditorium for its annual tournament in 2025 and were told that they cannot book until January, as the rates are going up. Go figure.

Todd MacDonald, concerned taxpayer.

A welcoming community is needed to recruit healthcare professionals THE EDITOR, Through personal experience or that of a loved one, everyone in Huron County has been hurt by the shortage of skilled healthcare professionals.

Long waitlists for primary care, long waits for emergency rooms, emergency room closures and empty nursing positions across the county speak to the health human resource crisis in our community.

Provincial reimbursement changes apply provincially when healthcare wages in Huron County rise, they rise even higher in urban settings. We can’t compete with what nurses and physicians can earn in the city. Previous attractions like lower housing costs and low costs of living are no longer in our favour; in 2023, the United Way calculated the living wage in Huron County at $22.75 an hour, only a couple of dollars less than that of Toronto or Vancouver.

When communities like Huron

for the community before deciding whether they want to live, work, and raise families here. As an RN and a nurse educator, I don’t believe many will feel attracted by what they’re seeing and hearing about the welcoming nature of Huron County.

You may not believe that a controversy over a billboard or a flag affects you personally; perhaps you’re not a member of any of the groups on the receiving end of these statements. Despite the loudest voices in our community, most Huron County residents probably feel this way. But, we are all affected; economically, socially, and in our ability to recruit the best and brightest to make Huron County their home.

I hope we will all consider the impact on attracting skilled healthcare workers to our community for our own sake, the sakes of our loved ones, and for all the children growing up in Huron County with limited access to care.

A welcoming community means more than a tagline. It takes dedication and, in these increasingly polarized times, it takes action to protect and maintain.

Erin Donald, PhD, RN.

County are recruiting high-quality healthcare professionals, we’re recruiting on quality of life in our community. And it’s hard to do that in a community that fosters discrimination, whether that discrimination is considered personal opinion on a billboard or whether it’s codified in a council decision about a flag.

Both experienced and newlytrained healthcare personnel are looking for jobs in an employee’s market. They’ve cared for a wide variety of people and have learned that we are all human. Often, they have trained in diverse cities and know from firsthand experience that diversity brings life and depth to a community. They’re facing pay cuts and the expense of relocation when considering whether to move and practise here.

Huron County won’t be the only community they’re considering, so the quality of life we offer matters.

A single physician or nurse practitioner can take on hundreds of people who need primary care. A single nurse will provide care for hundreds more over the course of just one year. And you had better believe that these potential assets to our community are driving around, talking to people, and getting a feel

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In the 1940’s Blyth was home to two flax mills. Flax production was crucial to the war effort being used in the production of coats, tarpaulins, rope and parachute harnesses.

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024. PAGE 19.

Entertainment & Leisure

Kelly Stevenson’s ‘beyond ana’ opens in Goderich

Impactful installation Kelly Stevenson’s multimedia exhibition “beyond ana” opened Saturday at the Huron County Museum in Goderich, with the artist sharing deeply personal reflections on eating disorders. Developed over 13 years, the immersive installation addresses themes of memory, grief and societal perceptions of anorexia. “beyond ana” will be on display until Nov. 24. (Scott Stephenson photos)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

On Saturday night, Blyth-based artist Kelly Stevenson’s latest work, “beyond ana”, opened in a large, secluded room on the second floor of the Huron County Museum in Goderich.

An intimate coterie of friends, family, invited guests and art fans gathered in the lobby of the museum in anticipation of the show, but before they were invited up the stairs to engage with the installation, Stevenson brought them into a small auditorium, where she prefaced her work with some prepared remarks that added context, insight and emotional resonance to the unveiling.

She explained that “beyond ana” had been in development for a very long time. Stevenson first began working on the multimedia experience as part of her thesis project 13 years ago when she was a student at the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD). Back then, the young artist had no idea that so much time would pass between this show’s conception and its eventual actualization. Back then, it was her intention that “beyond ana” would get people talking about eating disorders like anorexia nervosa - an important social issue that has had devastating effects on so many Canadians, including Stevenson’s own family.

Stevenson spoke about all the reasons why, 13 years ago, she had decided that “beyond ana” would be her contribution to the discourse of eating disorders, and how the true impetus of this show had much older origins. The true grit at the

Sudoku Solution

centre of Stevenson’s painful, gorgeous pearl of an exhibition began way back in 1997, when her 18-year-old cousin Sarah died suddenly from complications caused by her own eating disorder.

She talked about how “beyond ana” isn’t just about social messaging - it’s about honouring, remembering and loving a person whose legacy had been all but buried beneath the so-called shame of dying of a disease that was long considered to be a personal failing of the many victims that have not survived its insidious influence.

Stevenson spoke about her own struggles with eating disorders, the strain of carrying this project and its emotional weight for over a decade, and the stress surrounding finally presenting it to an audience. What she did not explain was her actual work, which she wisely allowed to speak for itself.

One of the biggest barriers that prevented “beyond ana” from being exhibited is the sheer size of the work; finding a suitable room to contain the show proved challenging for the artist. But the Huron County Museum’s upper gallery has proved to be the perfect place for “beyond ana”. It almost feels erroneous to refer to this as a collection of work, or a show, or an exhibit - once you enter, it feels as though you are moving within the body of a single work in many pieces. “beyond ana” is a staggering, brutal, and beautiful tour de force from Stevenson - full of contradiction, open to interpretation, and demanding to be seen, heard and discussed.

The exhibit will remain in the museum until Sunday, Nov. 24.

Patrons can see it by paying regular admission to the museum or for free with a museum membership or a Huron County library card.

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PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024.

Blyth-area native coming to big screen at film festival

The big time Blyth-area native Kelsey Falconer is the star of Fortescue, an independent film making its world premiere next month at London’s Forest City Film Festival. See is seen above with her co-star Tyson Coady and then again below in a pair of behind-the-scenes images from the production of the film. (Photos courtesy of Eli Meadow)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Kelsey Falconer, an accomplished actor who was born and raised just outside of Blyth, is making a star turn in Rebeccah Love’s Fortescue, a feature film that will have its world premiere at the Forest City Film Festival in London next month.

The film will greet audiences for the first time on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 6:15 p.m. in London’s Wolf Performance Hall. Written, directed and produced by Love, Fortescue stars Falconer in the lead role, alongside Chelsea Preston, Tyson Coady, Nickolas Franco, Jacqueline Greer Graham and Kaitlyn Chalmers-Rizzato.

This comes after an exciting few years for Falconer, who had a recurring role in Netflix’s Grand Army in 2020 and a trio of singleepisode roles in 2022 in HBO Max’s Station Eleven, as well as Reacher and The Boys, both produced by Amazon Prime. Then, in 2023, she was in two episodes of FX’s Fargo as Lenore Hunk which gave her the chance to act opposite the two-time Golden Globe Awardwinning star of Mad Men Jon Hamm in a memorable scene early in the series.

The Citizen last spoke with

Falconer in 2019 when she had just appeared in a memorable episode of The Handmaid’s Tale, the Hulu series starring Elisabeth Moss that has won multiple Emmy and Golden Globe Awards. Now, she stands on the precipice of a tremendous moment in her career, starring in her first feature film and premiering it in London, Ontario, a city in which Falconer has so much history.

Falconer grew up in Huron County, just outside of Blyth, but she went to high school at London’s H.B. Beal Secondary School as part of its theatre program. While there, she was part of four high school projects at The Grand Theatre in London. October’s premiere of Fortescue will be special for Falconer, as many friends and family members from Huron County, London and beyond are planning to be in attendance.

How Falconer came to be involved in Fortescue is that a good friend of hers had worked with Love in some of her earlier short film work. Love received a Canadian Arts Council grant to develop a feature film - what would later become Fortescue - and cast Falconer’s friend, a frequent collaborator. However, when she had to drop out of the project, she made a handful of recommendations for her replacement, one of whom was Falconer. There was a proper audition process and Falconer was the actor who booked the role.

This was a first for Falconer, who has a theatre background but had, most recently, worked predominantly in television. So, for her first feature film role to be a starring one, it’s been a lot for her all at once, but she’s taken it in stride, saying that embodying one character for a month or so at a time isn’t unlike much of the theatre work she did in her earlier years in the profession.

“As a playwright enlists her boyfriend and best friend to

stage a play for their neighbours, she experiences a frightening psychosis that dramatizes her struggles with mental health and the pains of performing womanhood for men,” reads the film’s description on the Forest City Film Festival’s website, “adding that it’s an “honest and vivid portrayal of the dynamics at play within female friendships, heterosexual relationships, and mental health struggles.”

Falconer said she and the cast engaged in the creation of a true independent film, living together in a cabin during its month-long production and shooting in another.

Because many of the television roles she’s taken were on big shows for established networks, she said the creation of Fortescue was unique, grassroots and truly magical.

She said that while the process was intense, it was an amazing shoot with some very talented colleagues. It was an encouraging environment and everyone was allowed the space to unplug from their roles and get the rest they needed after a day of shooting.

Falconer, specifically, said she would release the pressure valve of the day by watching old episodes of Gilmore Girls.

And now, having seen the fruits of their labour finished and ready to meet the world, Falconer says it’s an exciting time for the film and its creators, as well as a special time for her. She had a private screening of the film with Love and some of her castmates and to see the finished product, the story put together, what made it in and what was left on the cutting room floor, was a special experience. That intimate screening of the film before the rest of the world gets to see it, she said, was an experience she won’t soon forget.

To learn more or buy tickets to the world premiere of Fortescue at the Forest City Film Festival, visit fcff.ca/events/fortescue/ The show is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24 at Wolf Performance Hall in London, Ontario. General admission tickets are $15 each, while tickets for seniors or students are $12.75 each.

They can be purchased on the film festival’s website.

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