The Citizen - Oct. 7, 2021

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THIS WEEK

Citizen

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Thursday, October 7, 2021

Volume 37 No. 40

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0

Festival season closes

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

For Terry Hullett Central Public School students took part in their own special Terry Fox Run last week, raising money for the Terry Fox Foundation and cancer research as part of Fox’s ongoing legacy. Leading the way in their class

were, from left: Erica Lee, Brooklyn McClinchey and Alice Neeb. Hullett was one of many area schools that held their own Terry Fox Run, raising money and getting students outside. (Denny Scott photo)

COVID-19 cases continue to rise in H-P

By Denny Scott The Citizen Confirmed cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in Huron and Perth Counties, with 46 being reported in the last week, including new cases in every municipality across Perth County.

In Huron and Perth Counties, there are now 2,205 cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic started, up from 2,159 as of Monday last week, according to Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH).

New cases in Huron County have been reported in Huron East, where four new cases bring the municipality’s cumulative total to 164; Central Huron, which has three new cases for a cumulative total of 96; Goderich, which has 36 cumulative cases, up two from the previous week and South Huron and Howick, in which one new case each was reported, bringing those

municipalities’ cumulative totals to 168 and 53 respectively.

In Perth County, 11 new cases have been reported in Perth East, bringing the municipality’s cumulative total to 228. Seven new cases have been reported in Perth South, bringing its cumulative total to 62. West Perth now has 87 cumulative cases, up six from last week’s count of 81. Both Stratford and St. Marys reported four new cases each, bringing the municipalities’ cumulative totals to 517 and 58, respectively. Three new cases have been reported in North Perth, bringing its cumulative total to 480.

There are 46 active cases across the two counties, up from 37 last week. In Huron County, active cases can be found in Huron East (six), Central Huron (four), Goderich (two) and Howick (one).

In Perth County, active cases are located in Perth East (10), Perth South (seven), West Perth (five), St.

Marys and Stratford (four each) and North Perth (three).

Acquisition continues to be driven by household- and outbreaklinked exposure, with 29.9 per cent and 24.2 per cent of cases being linked to those types of spread.

Close contact with a known case is responsible for 19.4 per cent of exposures, while travel is responsible for 1.3 per cent of exposures. Unknown vectors are responsible for 25.1 per cent of cases.

For the first time in months, Huron and Perth Counties are in the “red” band of the now-defunct colour-coded provincial reopening plan with an incidence rate (the weekly number of cases per 100,000 people) of 48.7. The two counties’ per cent positivity rate sits at 2.04 per cent.

There are currently no outbreaks at long-term care or retirement facilities, though Listowel District Secondary School continues to be

classified as “in outbreak”. The school, after having several cases reported in the week prior, had one case reported since last Monday.

Other cases in schools have been reported at Little Falls Public School in St. Marys where, as of Oct. 2, there was one confirmed case and one class dismissal as a result, and St. Joseph’s Catholic Elementary School in Clinton where, as of Sept. 30, there was one new case and one class dismissed.

Blue Water Rest Home, which was declared to be in an outbreak situation as of Sept. 17, is no longer classified as “in outbreak” as of Monday. Over the two-week period, three cases were identified: one resident and two staff members.

HPPH is no longer reporting isolation orders, instead reporting the number of active contacts reached through contact tracing.

“Fully-vaccinated contacts that Continued on page 24

The Blyth Festival’s 2021 season on its outdoor Harvest Stage has come to an end and its success has left Artistic Director Gil Garratt emotional.

The season was due to conclude on Sunday with a matinee performance of Joan MacLeod’s Jewel, but it was one of the few performances that was cancelled due to inclement weather. Because it was due to be the last day of the season, there was not an opportunity to reschedule the performance.

In speaking with General Manager Rachael King over the weekend, Garratt said the pair had the opportunity to reflect on the entire season. Despite the Festival planning for the worst, anticipating everything from another provincial shutdown to weather-related cancellations to potential virus exposure, the season reached its natural conclusion with about 90 per cent of the scheduled shows going ahead.

Garratt said it’s not unusual for him to be emotional at this time of year in a normal year, after he’s sent artists home for the winter after a Festival season, but this year it was even more pronounced.

He said his prevailing feeling was one of gratitude. The Festival was lucky to have the support, he said, of North Huron Township, the provincial government, Community Futures Huron and local sponsors like Watson’s Home Hardware. However, he said the support that came from community members and patrons was also off the charts. In his nightly address to audiences, Garratt said that Blyth Festival membership has doubled since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is a great indicator of the support shown to the Festival over the last year and a half.

Garratt also said that the support from employees this season was excellent, as they were asked to do more as a result of the pandemic.

Whether it was contact tracing, sanitizing chairs between performances or any of the other new tasks introduced as a result of COVID-19, he said the staff supported the season tremendously and it wouldn’t have been the success it was if they hadn’t gone above and beyond the call of duty.

The vast majority of shows this season were sold out, Garratt said Continued on page 22

PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021.

Truth be told.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021. PAGE 3.

Policy recommends NH staff get COVID-19 vaccine

By Denny Scott The Citizen North Huron Township Council decided to pursue an employee vaccination policy that does not require its employees to be vaccinated, despite concerns raised about setting a double standard with residents.

During council’s Monday night meeting, council approved a recommended motion from staff that approved the vaccination policy and will have it brought back to the Oct. 18 meeting for adoption by bylaw. The policy recommends that all staff are vaccinated, but won’t require them to be.

The policy also calls for education on the importance of vaccination, and for a record of

vaccination status to be kept on all employees by the municipality.

Chief Administrative Officer Dwayne Evans explained that, regardless of how council proceeded with the policy, there are provincial regulations for childcare staff and recreation centres. The proposed policy would be an umbrella policy for all municipal staff if implemented by council.

The daycare centre requires staff to be vaccinated or, every week, provide a negative COVID-19 test result, Evans said, while patrons entering community centres are required to provide proof of vaccination, also known as a vaccination passport.

After taking a survey of the staff, Evans said that, among the

municipality’s employees, there are staff members who are not willing to get vaccinated and do not have an approved medical exemption. He said there are also staff who aren’t fully vaccinated but intend to be.

Councillor Kevin Falconer said he was concerned about the hypocrisy of ratepayers being required to be vaccinated to enter a community facility but the staff members monitoring their entrance don’t have to be. He said that such a policy would be a “disrespect to the people of the community.”

Falconer also asked why there were no entry controls on the theatre currently being used as a municipal council chambers and was told that whenever the Wingham Town Hall Theatre is being used for municipal council or

committee meetings, it was no longer covered by the same rules as a community space like a theatre, and instead was considered a municipal meeting space, which doesn’t require a vaccine passport to enter.

After debate on that point, Clerk Carson Lamb said the consensus at the municipality’s emergency committee meeting is that the provincial mandate is flawed, but that the municipality was aligning with it.

Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip understood Falconer’s concern regarding the double standard, but, throughout the meeting, gave several reasons why he felt that making vaccines mandatory wouldn’t work for North Huron staff. First, he said council and the municipality should focus on educating staff, saying they should listen to health experts, then said that vaccines are primarily for individual protection, saying it wouldn’t protect an individual standing beside him if Seip was vaccinated.

Editor’s Note: Many medical professionals agree that vaccination protects not only the vaccinated individual, but the community at large as it reduces transmission, which prevents outbreaks from overloading the healthcare system. Vaccination, according to medical experts, also reduces symptoms in the vaccinated as well as fatalities both in the vaccinated and in those around them.

Falconer said that, if council

doesn’t require vaccinations in staff, other policies the municipality has implemented should be revisited, like spending money on security to police ratepayers entering municipal facilities.

Seip said that some of the policies that had been discussed were provincial, not municipal, and if the municipality chose not to have those kinds of policies in place, municipal staff would probably appreciate that move.

“It’s a… disaster,” Seip said.

“People are being yelled at every five seconds for people being inconvenienced.”

He said complaints should be directed to the province, not the municipality.

While senior staff couldn’t comment on the number of employees who aren’t currently vaccinated, Director of Recreation and Facilities Vicky Luttenberger said a mandatory vaccine policy would have a negative impact on services due to the reduction in staff hours it would cause.

Earlier in the discussion, Seip and Reeve Bernie Bailey had both noted that a mandatory vaccine policy could make it difficult to find employees for the already-understaffed recreation department, which could then lead to cancellation of services.

Seip moved the recommended motion, which included approving the vaccine recommendation policy and having it brought back for approval by bylaw to the municipality’s Oct. 18 meeting.

Council approved the motion.

Living out the lessons in daily life!

J.R. Miller “If you know these things — happy are you if you do them.” John 13:17

Big winners While there was a first-place team at the Wingham and District Hospital Foundation’s Great Hospital Race over the weekend, the real winner was the foundation itself, which received $11,000 from the event. Scott Dolmage, left, and Tyler Jutzi, right, of the winning squad, The Burgs, are seen here with Foundation Development Officer Nicole Jutzi with a cheque for the proceeds of the event. (John Stephenson photo)

CKNX Radiothon set for Oct. 16 The past year and a half have served to remind Canadians just how important it is to have access to quality, local health care. On Saturday, Oct. 16, CKNX AM 920 will be hosting the 20th annual CKNX Health Care Heroes Radiothon to help raise funds for 12 area hospital foundations.

Listen to the broadcast all day on Oct. 16 on AM 920 and cknx.ca, or catch updates on the hour on 101.7 The One and Cool 94.5. Listeners will hear heartwarming patient stories and descriptions of equipment needed at each participating hospital. Don’t forget to listen for the two “Power Hours” throughout the day for your chance to win some fabulous prizes from local businesses.

The Clinton Public Hospital Foundation aims to raise $54,000 towards the purchase of two cardiac monitors, one for the emergency department and one for the inpatient unit at the hospital.

Support towards this goal may be made by mail, by telephone, in person or online at www.cphfoundation.ca. On Oct. 16, you can phone in your pledge during the broadcast by calling toll free 1-877-227-3486, from 9 a.m.

to 4 p.m. You may also text to donate $10 by simply texting HERO CLINTON to 45678 throughout the month of October.

Also taking place on Saturday, Oct. 16, the Clinton and District Kinsmen are once again hosting their annual breakfast in support of the Clinton Public Hospital Foundation’s Radiothon goal. The breakfast will take place at the Central Huron Community

Complex Libro Hall from 7:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. The breakfast will be take-out only and is by donation.

More information about the CKNX Healthcare Heroes Radiothon can be found at cknx.ca.

Be part of local health care in the community and support Clinton Public Hospital through the 20th annual CKNX Health Care Heroes Radiothon.

A great many people know plenty of Scripture truth — but do not live it out. Yet the real test of knowing Scripture — is obedience. We really know only so much truth — as we get into our experience and conduct. The only part of the Bible we have really learned — is what we have learned to live. It is a beautiful thing when a person has been welltaught; it is still more beautiful when he abides in the things which he has been taught, living out the lessons in daily life.

A Grace Gem Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church, Listowel, ON 519-492-1359

The Citizen will be closed Monday, October 11 for Thanksgiving Deadlines will be

Friday, October 8 2 pm in Brussels & Blyth for the October 14 paper

After the rain Blyth’s Mary Jane Scott recently captured this image after a heavy rain. Send your photos to reporter@northhuron.on.ca to see them in print. (Photo submitted)

405 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4792

541 Turnberry St., Brussels 519-887-9114

info@northhuron.on.ca

PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021.

Editorials & Opinions

Founding Publisher: Keith Roulston Publisher & President: Deb Sholdice Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny Scott Advertising Sales: Brenda Nyveld The Citizen is published 51 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $40.00/year ($38.10 + $1.90 G.S.T.) in Canada; $190.00/year in U.S.A. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited.

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Truth and Reconciliation For the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, designated as a federal statutory holiday, federal employees, Canada Post and national bank employees all received the day off with pay to “reflect on the tragic history of residential schools and honour their Survivors by engaging in reconciliation activities within our communities.”

It is hard to avoid the tough conversations that surround the treatment of our Indigenous peoples. Social media was lit up with orange in recognition of Orange Shirt Day, which was the original designation for Sept. 30 each year since 2013, to bring awareness to the damage from the residential school system. After the discovery of so many unmarked graves over the past year, the naming of a federally designated day seemed an important step in the reconciliation process.

Unfortunately, even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau didn’t get his own memo, as he spent the day on vacation with his family in Tofino, British Columbia, but he brings up an important discussion point. What is the correct way to spend the day? Trudeau should have been setting the example for the rest of the country by engaging in as many activities as possible or at least attending a drumming ceremony with the Tk’emlúps, who announced the finding of 215 unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School earlier this year.

Unlike Victoria Day (a birthday celebration) or Family Day, which are much more relaxed days that can be marked by fun activities, somber occasions like Remembrance Day and now the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation need to be spent in quiet reflection and education, not used for a Costco run or a springboard to time at the cottage. – DS

Whose side are you on?

The COVID-19 pandemic has made for some strange bedfellows; people who may have very little in common, but find themselves on the same side of debates over lockdowns, vaccinations or the virus itself.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz, one of today’s more despicable politicians, recently Tweeted his support for a foursome of professional basketball players who didn’t plan to be vaccinated. Cruz has been critical of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in recent years for its support of movements like Black Lives Matter, but, on this issue, he has found people with whom he agrees. Furthermore, Cruz has been criticized for using the #yourbodyyourchoice hashtag with his vaccination Tweet, despite not sharing that same sentiment when it comes to abortion.

Several pundits have pointed out that, if Cruz is on your side, you may want to reconsider your stance. One of the best weathervanes on controversial issues is who else is on your side. This came up when People’s Party Leader Maxime Bernier was asked about his support among white nationalist groups. If your opinions attract questionable supporters, perhaps it’s time to look in the mirror and wonder why.

This has been an issue locally with a certain racist street name. Sure, there are those who live in Blyth who speak about preserving history and perceived inconvenience, but then there are cheers from those who couldn’t point out Blyth on a map, but applaud the village for “fighting back” or “taking a stand”. Garnering support from these folks who long for the “good old days” should give pause and provoke introspection.

A good way to understand the side you’re on is to look at the others on your side. You just might learn something about yourself. – SL

Last year’s heroes The past months have proven that any industry or profession can have significant portions of the community turn on them quickly, regardless of how well thought of those individuals may have been beforehand.

Take, as the best example, medical professionals. The COVID-19 pandemic saw people across Canada literally lining up (in their vehicles) to honk their horns and show their appreciation for those in the health care system last year, letting them know we appreciated their sacrifice.

Fast-forward to 2021 and you might be forgiven for thinking that never happened. Medical care professionals and the patients they care for are having to wade through ill-conceived protests against vaccine passports while doctors, especially those in Alberta, are facing threats if they won’t give patients fraudulent vaccine passport exemptions.

To be clear, doctors, nurses, patients, engineers, janitors and candystripers had nothing to do with the passport, so protesting in front of a hospital makes as much sense as protesting government spending in front of a grocery store: all you’re doing is inconveniencing people who have nothing to do with your gripe. Locally, North Huron Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip pointed out that people have been aggressive with North Huron staff regarding COVID-19 controls, so it’s no surprise that people would yell at a doctor for not providing a requested vaccine exemption.

The entire country is trying to figure out a way forward, but there seems to be a strong contingent convinced they need to pull us all back.

Don’t be a part of that. Protest with letters, follow the rules and don’t blame people who have no control over the decision. – JDS

Looking Back Through the Years October 8, 1964 The Brussels ladies baseball team defeated Hanover in three straight games to win the best-offive championship final for the Western Ontario Athletic Association (WOAA). The locals won the games by scores of 3-2, 50 and 13-3.

The team had not won the regional championship since 1948.

The only active player who was a member then was Nora Stephenson.

While the Brussels Fall Fair brought in more exhibitors in 1964 than it had the previous year, heavy rain plagued the event.

Minister of Highways C.S. McNaughton would be in Brussels on Oct. 9 to officially open the new road running north from Seaforth to Highway 86 east of Wingham.

October 9, 1974 Frustrated with inaction on the Blyth sanitary sewer project, Blyth Village Council sought the help of Huron-Bruce MPP Murray Gaunt to speed up progress on the project.

Blyth Village Council was on the hunt for a site to house new seniors’ apartments for the village.

After becoming frustrated with a complicated potential land purchase, representatives of the Ontario Housing Corporation asked council for help, assuring council that the project was ready to move ahead if land could be found.

Nominations for the upcoming municipal elections were set to open on Nov. 7, just under a month before the Dec. 2 election.

The annual turkey shoot, just west of the Clinton Air Base, was set for Oct. 12.

October 9, 1996 Huron County’s Strategic Planning Committee was set to begin studying restructuring, with

three options on the table, though Blyth Reeve Mason Bailey would table a fourth.

The first proposal would group existing municipalities together to create seven new municipalities, ranging in size from a population of 4,400 to 12,000. For example, McKillop and Hullett Townships, under the first proposal, would be included in a new municipality with Clinton, Seaforth and Tuckersmith, while Blyth and Brussels would have been grouped with Morris and Grey Townships to create a new municipality with a population of just under 6,000 people.

The remaining groups would have been the Townships of East Wawanosh, West Wawanosh and Ashfield; Wingham, Howick and Turnberry Township and Colborne, Goderich and Goderich Township.

The second option proposed expanding the county’s five towns and then creating five rural municipalities, which would include villages and townships.

The third alternative would seek to make all new municipalities about the same size. Bailey’s fourth option, however, was that the county wouldn’t force anyone to amalgamate with anyone else without that council’s permission.

October 6, 2011 Central Huron Council donated $10,000 to the Goderich and Area Tornado Relief Fund, matching a donation made by AshfieldColborne-Wawanosh Council in the same amount.

The decision came after Central Huron Council took a brief pause on the issue, with Mayor Jim Ginn wondering if a donation was appropriate when Central Huron had, in fact, also been affected by the tornado.

The fund collected money on the promise from the provincial government that funds would be matched on a 2:1 basis, meaning that Central Huron’s donation of $10,000 would be considered a total donation of $30,000.

After an initial survey had been conducted in the spring, the Avon Maitland District School Board had delayed a decision on a potential new name for Hullett Central Public School. This came after the decision to close Blyth Public School, meaning that Hullett would be accepting many students from that school. However, the survey was set to reopen for 15 days in October, calling again for renaming submissions.

The 5 R’s Community Thrift Store marked its 20th anniversary in the Brussels community. Charter board members were Linda Garland, Betty Graber, Julie Harrison, Nancy Exel, Sharon Freeman, Caroline Kernaghan and Mary Lou Ruttan. The three staff members were store manager Joan Jacobs, Wendy Martin and Brenda Gilkes.

North Huron Council donated $2,000 to the Auburn Playground Committee, matching a donation made

by Ashfield-ColborneWawanosh Council, to assist in the construction of a new playground in the Central Huron portion of Auburn. Councillors voted in favour of the project, despite what North Huron Councillor Brock Vodden called Central Huron “not playing nice in the sandbox”.

He said the cross-border issues between the two municipalities were “historic” and a “point of principle” and it was unfortunate that those issues might affect the project.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021. PAGE 5.

Other Views

The world wants what we have

A

n article by freelancer and fellow Rural Voice columnist Jeffrey Carter in one of the other farm newspapers really highlighted for me, as Thanksgiving approaches, how privileged are the lives we lead in Canada.

The story was about the annual Thai Labour Day picnic in Thamesville that brings temporary farm workers from Thailand together. Among those speaking was someone who has been in Canada for 12 years, making trips home three times – a requirement of the Temporary Foreign Workers Program.

We tend to think that such workers struggle to get by in their own country, but this fellow’s family actually owns a plantation of more than 6,000 rubber trees back home. Still, he can earn more money working for minimum wage in the fields and greenhouses of southwestern Ontario than he could if he stayed home.

These are jobs that you can’t convince Canadians to do, even when employers offer higher wages in an effort to find a more permanent workforce. People here often don’t want to – and don’t need to – work in the hot strawberry or asparagus fields, in the sweaty greenhouses or the smelly pig barns.

Jobs are so plentiful that even in more attractive workplaces employers have unfilled vacancies.

With our low birthrate in Canada, we need to bring in 400,000 immigrants a year to meet our employment needs, and that’s even with 550,000 temporary foreign workers employed in everything from long-term care homes to restaurants and hotels to food processing plants.

On top of this, there are 530,000 foreign students studying in Canada, so grateful for the opportunity of an education in one of our universities that they pay much higher tuition fees than Canadian students –

Keith Roulston From the cluttered desk thus helping universities meet their expenses as governments cut back their taxpayer support.

Not every Canadian is happy about these visitors. There’s a significant backlash against the influx of people who don’t look or sound like the “traditional” Canadians. There has been every since the 1800s when Globe and Mail publisher, and future Father of Confederation, George Brown complained in his paper that Irish immigrants were “lazy, improvident and unthankful; they fill our poorhouses and our prisons.”

Yet we only have to look at Britain today to see what anti-immigrant sentiment can do.

Pollsters estimate that 70 per cent of those who supported Britain leaving the European Union did so because they resented the 2.9 million citizens of other European countries living in Britain. With such a large proportion of the population against these European workers, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson didn’t even consider a cross-border labour-mobility pact when he negotiated Brexit.

Now pumps are closed at gas stations in Britain because a lack of truck drivers – a job previously filled by foreign workers – means fuel can’t be delivered.

Likewise it’s hard to find milk and meat on supermarket store shelves. Already there are predictions that the gaiety may be missing in Christmas celebrations with turkeys and Christmas trees in short supply.

One British cabinet minister suggested: “This

is going to be a really difficult winter for people.”

In Western countries we live a good life, but for some people there’s a resentment that others might get a piece of that good life. There’s also the human failing that enough is never enough. No matter how many luxuries and gadgets we have, advertisers are constantly dangling the prospect of a little more joy if we just buy this new cell phone/car/sofa/kitchen gadget or fly off to this exotic pleasure capital for a vacation.

And because we want these goodies, we resent anything that diverts any of our income from what we want, to things we need – like food or electricity. And when it comes to taxes, many can’t help feeling that government is robbing them. We see what we pay, but we seldom think about what we get – from good roads at the local level, to healthcare and education at the provincial level, to all the pandemic relief programs the federal government provided that prevented the past year and a half from being even more grim than it has been.

On Truth and Reconciliation Day, a Mohawk Land Defender and Water Protector suggested our governments should put more priority on human rights and focus less on economic growth and wealth creation.

It’s not so simple a choice, of course. Part of the reason people around the world want to come to Canada is the comfortable lifestyle we lead because of wealth creation. But they also come because they can hope for freedom, educational opportunities for their children and the security of social safety nets.

This Thanksgiving we need to look past our material possessions to more precious blessings that make living in this land so desireable,

Finding the right ‘shareconomy’ balance

I

t’s great that the world is turning to the internet and apps to help share what they have, creating markets for under-utilized assets, but it has to be done in a logical way, or else it’s definitely going to create more problems than it solves.

That was the conclusion I came to earlier this week after hearing about Swimply - an online platform for renting out unused pools. The company has been making waves in Ontario thanks to opening operations in Toronto last year and creating a real splash this year by signing over 1,000 hosts this year. Okay, I promise, that’s the last water pun.

At first glance, Swimply, which is basically AirBnB for pools (and rented hourly instead of daily), matches a supply to a demand.

However, when you get a bit deeper, the problems with the idea become apparent.

Take, for example, me having to close my windows to the beautiful cool breezes we’ve been experiencing lately. A few weeks back I had some extra work to do and didn’t get to head to my family’s little get-away spot for the weekend. Instead, I covered some events and wrote some stories to be fully prepared for a busy week. Despite having the house to myself, sleep didn’t come easy to me because there were some neighbours having some kind of celebration outside and partying late into the night. That’s not a complaint: I don’t mind closing my windows when it’s proof that this great little community hasn’t turned into a retirement centre.

It happens a time or three over the summer and, as long as nobody wakes up my five-yearold daughter, I don’t get too worked up about having to close the windows and turn on the central air.

Denny Scott Denny’s Den I’m not 100 per cent sure which neighbour was celebrating what that night, but the sounds of splashing indicated they were around the pool having fun, and that’s good for them.

The noise issue wasn’t one I would even think twice on, had I not heard about Swimply.

The platform, which includes its website swimply.com, allows people to list their unused private pools for rental for between $40 and $100 an hour, with some requiring multi-hour bookings.

If you do the math, pool owners could make a good chunk of money with minimal effort. The way I looked at it, you could rent out the pool a few hours a night and 28 hours over the weekend for 43 hours a week, or $4,300 if you’re charging $100 an hour. That’s over $17,000 a month and, if you’ve got a heated pool that could be enjoyed in May, that’s nearly $70,000 a year with the only work being maintaining the pool, which you likely would have done anyway. Swimply claims that some hosts are bringing in six figures.

Along with the more than 1,000 hosts (which the company expect to grow to between 5,000 and 6,000 next year), complaints about the service have risen as well, with neighbours claiming Swimply hosts are disrupting their lives with constant parties, drunken revelers on their lawns and people parking up and down the streets of the Greater

Toronto Area. Those neighbours are calling for controls on the Swimply platform, similar to those demanded when AirBnB and other such residential rental platforms became the centre of controversy in the past.

It’s absolutely wonderful that these pools are being used, because they are a significant strain on environmental systems and to have them sitting unused, especially in such highlyconcentrated areas like a city the size of Toronto, is harming the environment for no good reason. Just in case you’re wondering, pool pumps are huge electricity users (accounting for almost a full per cent of residential energy consumption in the United States as of 2001) and, of course, pool chemicals can have significant, negative impacts on the environment.

However, as Swimply proves, there needs to be a lot more done to make sure this kind of service isn’t going to turn neighbour against neighbour, which ultimately could lead to the strict restrictions that were placed on AirBnB. I’m behind the idea of a ‘shareconomy’ that is a system that lets people rent out things they aren’t using. I’d be lying if I said that I hadn’t seen services that allow people to rent out their recreational vehicles when they’re not being used and wondered if I couldn’t benefit from it.

While I’m behind the shareconomy, I’ve never actually used any of those services because I’m worried about the impact that these companies have when their great ideas turn out to be half-baked.

From trashed apartments to pool parties leading to inebriated trespassers, the horror stories keep me away from those kinds of programs, and prove that, while the idea is good, the implementation of it all may just be all wet. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

Shawn Loughlin Shawn’s Sense

No one cares

I

t really was just a matter of time until our newspapers, social media and broadcasts were flooded with stories of businesses openly defying the provincial government’s proof of vaccination system. Every day it was a new story about this dinky restaurant in Oakville or that crappy gym in Sarnia refusing to comply with so-called vaccine passports and I have to say that I couldn’t care less.

As some people are turning the COVID-19 pandemic into their own personal Battle of Waterloo - whether it be with lockdowns, which largely appear to be a thing of the past, or vaccinations, mandatory or otherwise - in the very simplest of terms, I’m over it, man.

I don’t care who is planning on defying government orders under the guise of “not discriminating” and I certainly don’t care about the reasons being given in the story.

But, there they are every day - we even have some local ones - making a big show in the newspaper, online or on T.V., seeking attention because they’ve decided not to follow a rule.

They have opted to pander to the 15 per cent of people who have chosen not to be vaccinated, rather than the 85 per cent who have shown that their health and the health of others is important to them. Sheer economics show these businesses will fail. Take 15 cents out of every dollar and put it into one bank account and the other 85 cents and put it into another and tell me which one fills up first.

We’re all seeing these stories. While many small businesses are finding ways to make it work, struggling with a shortage of employees and bending over backwards to create an environment where even the most cautious consumer can feel safe, the media (yes, we can be to blame sometimes) is more apt to tell you the story of a defiant idiot breaking the law.

But wait! Won’t it include impassioned quotes from the aforementioned idiot about why he/she is doing what he/she is doing? You bet it will and I can assure you that they’ll be exactly as interesting and intelligent as any sane person would expect them to be. Plus, it’s almost always offered with a side of some special gesture or product just to show how damn defiant and unique they really are. (Try the “Don’t Tread On Me” burger with a side of “F... Trudeau” fries, plus every kids’ meal comes with a small “Nuremberg Code” soda with a fun, dare I say, experimental flavour formula - and a free Charter of Rights and Freedoms placemat!)

No, thank you. I am worn down to a nub with this stuff. Maybe turning a blind eye is just as bad, but, like certain debates that have filled these pages recently, I’ll be thankful to never have them cross my desk again.

Last week, the Toronto Star was kind enough to report that hundreds of provincial businesses are openly defying government legislation. The story also detailed efforts to create a sort of database of these businesses for the unvaccinated to know where to put their dollars. There have also been efforts the other way, with people trying to stop such a database from being created. Furthermore, some fully vaccinated Ontarians have been using the list as a kind of anti-Zagat Survey, leading them to avoid these “inclusive” businesses so they can feel safe eating, working out, etc.

These stories are boring and unnecessary, but maybe they get clicks or incite arguments in the comment section. Like coverage of antivaccine protests in front of hospitals (their mothers must be so proud), these stories create a false equivalency at a time when the majority of Ontarians are quietly and conscientiously doing the right thing, looking after each other.

PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021.

Give thanks while recognizing strife of others A NOTE FROM BETTY

By Betty Graber Watson Call 887-9231 Autumn has arrived. The joy of living in Canada, one of many, is

the changing of the seasons. The facts of the different seasons on the calendar are confirmed with a step outside. The air smells different, the sounds change and the look of the land confirms that the season has changed. Now, on to the next.

I’m never sure which is my favourite month, but October is in the running. The hustle and confusion of September is now settled and things are a little more routine. Then the fun of Thanksgiving arrives followed by

the fantasy of Halloween, toss in a few birthdays, and it’s a great month.

When we look at the changes that COVID-19 and its variants have brought to our lives, it is not all bad.

Going places and doing things now is given more thought and often the trip could be revised. Doctor’s appointments have a new look while protecting everyone. A phone call or Zoom time from a specialist saves a lot of time and travel, as well as saving you the joy of waiting in an office. Meetings are

now held for a good specific reason.

So, as much as we don’t like the restrictions, they are still very necessary until we get the numbers to a safe place. So take a big breath, don the mask, keep your distance and stay home when you can.

Subdued is perhaps the word we need to use as we make Thanksgiving plans. Invitations need to be made with recent knowledge of the guests activities in mind, for the safety of all others. COVID-19 is still in control and we need to be

At the Branch

Fish fry crew marks last meal of the year Variety, McDonald Lumber and the Brussels Legion (open 4-6 p.m.

Tuesday to Friday). The more tickets sold, the bigger the weekly prize, the bigger the jackpot and the community benefits from donations from the Brussels Legion. Get yours today!

The final fish fry for 2021 was held at the Brussels Branch on Saturday. Comrades helping on Friday night with preparation work included Judy Lee, Jo-Ann McDonald, Nanci Ducharme and Jamie Mitchell. The Saturday crew feeding approximately 150 people included Sandra and Jim Brown, Kathy Burkholder, Jamie Mitchell, Murray Lowe, Randy White, Nanci Ducharme, Judy Lee, Randy White and Joe and Deb Seili delivered the meals. Thanks everyone for a great job and thanks to all for supporting the Brussels Legion. Everything will be cleaned up and put away for the season as we all enjoy the rest through winter.

Last meals Jamie Mitchell, President of the Brussels Legion, was on hand over the weekend as a member of the Legion’s fish fry crew to hand out its final meals of the year. The crew cleaned and stored the frying equipment after the meal. Volunteers fed a reported 150 diners through the event. (John Stephenson photo)

By Jo-Ann McDonald The week at the Brussels Legion Branch started with the in-person general meeting held Tuesday evening. President Jamie presided.

Treasurer Nanci Bridge had lots to report. An application for a Trillium grant for the new furnace was submitted. The financial review committee met and only had a minor suggestion for the Branch, otherwise everything looked good.

She investigated other banking options for the Branch and will look at it again when more information is received. Nanci also presented the monthly report for August for approval.

The application was accepted for a new member and the early bird program for members has started.

The first winner, for the month of September, is Deb Cann, who wins her next year’s dues. Get in and pay your dues and you could be the next winner in October or November.

The sports report included that zone golf was postponed due to bad weather and the annual Legion PeeWee hockey tournament will not be held this year due to the pandemic.

We need a couple of outside electrical outlets for Christmas lights, etc. and will look into getting it done, along with a few other minor repairs.

The cadet report includes that they have a tentative start date during October. They will need to be reminded that they must all be vaccinated to be in the Branch. The Poppy committee asked for

approval to make donations to Wingham and Clinton hospitals.

They have not received the appropriate paperwork for the other area hospitals. A $500 donation for each was approved.

It was decided to book Nic Vinnicombe and company to livestream the Remembrance Day service again, in case COVID-19 protocols restrict attendance. The HealthCare Heroes radiothon is also coming and donations of $100 for each of the area four hospitals – Wingham, Clinton, Listowel and Seaforth were approved from the Ace account. The area churches and community halls are receiving donations as well from the Ace account. Donations were passed for the St. Ambrose Catholic, Melville Presbyterian, St. John’s Anglican, Brussels United and Brussels Mennonite Kid’s Corner program and the Walton, Cranbrook, Ethel and Bluevale Community Halls to receive $500 each.

The Ace draw has reached week nine. The upcoming menu for food includes hotdogs this week, then beef on a bun, then poutine and sausage and sauerkraut.

The entertainment committee has been busy scheduling events for the Branch and for your entertainment.

We start with karaoke and Stubby D playing on Oct. 29. Nov. 19 will be Jelly Bean Blue and Dec. 10 is yet to be confirmed. They are also looking at booking a night in February for a special event band.

A special event being planned is another drive-thru turkey dinner,

scheduled for Dec. 5. Tickets will be $25 and will include pie. We will start taking reservations in November.

President Jamie reports five more banners have been ordered and will arrive soon. Branch visitation is Oct. 26 for all members to attend at 7 p.m. A Brussels Legion members’ day is being planned for November and information will follow. It was a busy meeting with lots of information and decisions being made for the upcoming months at the Branch.

I apologize for this past week’s supper. I thought it was beef on a bun, but it was pulled pork. My cooking abilities will be called into question. I guess I wasn’t paying attention. Sorry!

The Catch the Ace draw on Friday evening was conducted by Jo-Ann, Jamie and Nanci. The weekly winner was Sherry Snell who won $200. Her envelope choice was number 12 and the queen of hearts was revealed. The approximate jackpot for this week will be $3,000. Get your tickets at Brussels Pharmacy, Brussels

vigilant in all aspects of our living.

Thanksgiving needs to be in our thoughts as we go about our days.

We live where guns are kept for curtailing animals. We drink water that is not mercury laden. We eat food that is available, healthy and plentiful. We have universal health care. So, as we mutter about how life is unfair, stop. We are blessed with life in Canada that so many only imagine. Take a moment and put yourself in an Indigenous community in Northern Ontario or public housing in the Greater Toronto Area or a refugee camp anywhere in the world. Give thanks for your life, but be aware and supportive of the many who are victims of theirs.

Keep positive, be kind and be safe.

Bye now, Betty G.W.

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS

Brussels Legion 218 Catch the Ace Weekly Winner Winning Ticket: Sherry Snell $200 Envelope #12 found the Queen of Hearts Estimated jackpot for October 8 is $3000

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021. PAGE 7.

BIA forwards pedestrian safety concerns to G2G After debating the issue at length, the Blyth Business Improvement Association decided to express the organization’s concerns over cycling safety to the Goderich-to-

Guelph (G2G) Rail Trail committee.

The hope expressed by members of the BIA executive is that the dangers in cycling in and around Blyth will be relayed by the G2G

committee to North Huron and Huron County Councils.

Chair of the BIA David Sparling said that, aside from a recent incident in which a local teen was

Marking the day The Junior and Senior Kindergarten B class at Hullett Central Public School marked the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by donning orange bracelets and clothing and taking in an appropriately-themed story, read to the class by Mrs. Anderson. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

struck while cycling on County Road 25, there have been other concerns raised about cycling in the community, including crossing Queen Street when using the G2G and the ongoing issue of speed on the community’s main street.

“Last year, we talked with Huron County [staff] about that area,” Sparling, who is also on the G2G committee, said of the intersection of the G2G and Queen Street. “It gets complicated because the crossing for the G2G is also an access for cars for parking near the trail. The rules around a crosswalk beside auto access require [addressing] a number of problems.”

He said the G2G committee is aware of the situation and he will pass any correspondence to the committee.

Sparling said the county has already been tackling the issue with two crosswalks being installed in the village. A controlled crosswalk was installed in the commercial core last year while another crosswalk at the intersection of Wellington and Queen Street is currently being finished.

He said the BIA’s request of the county to reduce the speed limit on County Road 4/Queen Street through the village to 40 kilometres-per-hour had yet to be addressed.

He said bicycle safety is of the utmost importance for the community, as G2G traffic has been picking up over the past two years, saying that the trail user counts for weekdays in late September were reaching

between 15 and 25 cyclists per day.

“We can pass these messages along and convey our concerns,” Sparling said. “As business owners, if people don’t feel safe [in the village] we might miss out on opportunities they could bring around the town.”

While Sparling initially suggested sending a letter to Huron County, North Huron Council’s representative on the BIA Councillor Kevin Falconer suggested forwarding the concerns to the G2G committee as it “may have more clout” when asking for changes.

Sparling said he would pass the concerns to the G2G committee and suggest they be forwarded to Huron County.

NEWS FROM BLYTH

Letter to the Editor

‘White privilege’ not racist, present in name debate THE EDITOR, I think Denny Scott’s column from two weeks ago is being much maligned.

While Denny’s column is an opinion column, and it’s uncomfortable, he has nonetheless stated a fact: we, as a community, are acting with white privilege in this situation. Inflammatory as those words may feel, I would urge all of us to take a deep breath and sit with this one for a minute.

The idea of white privilege is being misunderstood. People are understandably angry at what they feel is an affront; but it’s important for us to understand this. White privilege has become a bit of a buzzword and lots of people are using it to whip us up on all sides of lots of issues, but I don’t think we are really being helped to understand it.

Saying that we have white

privilege is not racist against white people. Saying we have white privilege is not saying that our lives are easy, or that we haven’t had to work for what we have. It is not saying that everything has been handed to us and we are evil. It is not saying that our ancestors didn’t toil and struggle through deep poverty or oppression of one kind or another. It is not saying that we too have not faced genuine hardship, or are not continuing to face challenges.

White privilege means that we have inherited certain kinds of power over the way our communities act. It helps us exert our collective will as white people.

It doesn’t mean we are bad or terrible, it doesn’t mean we are full of hate or overtly racists. It means we are afforded certain advantages that non-white people are not afforded. We can use our

privilege to help others, or hurt them.

The situation in town with the renaming of G*psy Lane is sadly a very clear example of the way white privilege works. And I, as a white man whose family has also been in Huron County since the early 1800s have a duty, for the betterment of our community, to try to understand it.

In our circumstance here in Blyth, we have decided that what we want to call the Roma people and their descendants matters more than what the Roma people want to be called. We want to name the street what we want, and we don’t want their input or opinions affecting that. Our privilege has meant we can do just that. We are privileging our desire over theirs.

In our circumstance, we have decided that our memories of the caravans coming to town is what

Fall red and orange showing up From Marilyn’s Desk

By Marilyn Craig Call 523-9318

Sympathy is extended to Karl Whitfield, his family and his extended family after the death of his wife Sandra, who passed away this past week.

Happy birthday to John Stewart, who celebrates Oct. 7; Christa Haggitt, Oct. 8; Gord Haggitt and Jeffery Walden, Oct. 9 and Kyle Martin, Gowanstown (my grandson-in-law), Oct. 12.

As you travel through the countryside this week, look for Mother Nature’s changing colours.

The reds and oranges are beginning to show among the green colours of the leaves and many of the trees are beginning to lose their leaves.

Hard work begins for some of us, but the kids will have fun playing in the leaves.

There are many food-related dates coming up. Blyth United Church started to make meat pies on Oct. 6. Call Donna Moore at 519-523-9855 and she will put your name on the list. Blyth United is also having a fall drive-through roast beef supper on Oct. 16 from 4 - 6 p.m. Pre-orders and take-out only. Call John at 519-525-0025.

The church is also hosting a lasagna drive-through lunch and supper on Nov. 4.

Have a good Thanksgiving weekend and stay safe. Give someone a call to let them know you are thinking of them.

matters. We have decided that us calling those people G*psies is our right because that is how we want to remember it all. Our history comes first, and deserves to be on the signs.

We, as a predominantly white community, with a predominantly white elected council (a council that has always been predominantly white, since incorporation) we are the ones in control. Since incorporation in 1876, we have had the power to choose what we call our streets. This is our privilege.

This does not mean white people in our town are evil, mean or cruel.

It just means that we have power, that power grants us privilege, and we can decide things.

Today, our power and our privilege (whether we feel it or not) has given us control over the decision making that will determine what names should go on our signs.

The Roma people were enslaved for 500 years throughout Europe.

The Romanian government were the principal slave masters and created a legal system that allowed for the Roma to be slaves. The Roma slaves had no rights. When landowners died, they could leave

their Roma slaves in their wills to their descendants, like any other livestock. When slavery ended for the Roma, all of the slaveholders were paid compensation for having to give up their slaves. The Roma were paid nothing. The word “G*psy” was created by the Romanian government as a way to degrade the Roma people in order to justify taking away all of their humanity.

In the 200 years since that slavery ended, the Roma have continued to suffer, including extreme marginalization and state harassment. They also faced extermination under the Nazis, where hundreds of thousands were gassed. Still today they are treated as second-class citizens all over the world. The Nazis’ official name for the Roma was G*psy. This is part of Continued on page 8

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PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021.

McDonald marks three months until Christmas PEOPLE AROUND WALTON

By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570

It was a great week for the farmers as the white bean and soybean harvest continued. Those who finished moved right into planting wheat. It is getting late, according to the experts, but we will hope for the right weather; some sun, some heat, some moisture all in moderation.

Let’s remember, farmers are

working long hours and certainly after dark. Watch for the flashing lights and slow down. Sometimes they have to swing wide to make a right turn and sometimes they have to swing right to check traffic for a left turn. Be careful and cautious when approaching large farm machinery. You can see them, but they can’t always see you.

Our condolences to the McArter families on the passing of Florence McArter. She will be missed by Joanne and Gary and their families.

She was a lovely lady who I met many years ago at the dances at the Legion. She always had a smile and was pleasant with those she met.

She will be missed by many. Our sympathies to all.

Well, the first month of school is over and most children have settled

into the routine they have been out of for almost five months. They seem happy on the bus to be with their friends again. The schools are getting better at loading and unloading and everyone seems to know where they are supposed to be and the timing is down pat. The first day off for kids and driving the bus will be next Monday for Thanksgiving. Everyone enjoys the day off.

We always like to look ahead and just a reminder, it is only three months until Christmas. I chuckled when, on the news the other day, an announcer suggested to do Christmas shopping early this year.

First reason was because you never know when things could be shut down again. Then you could become unemployed and the stores

Doing it for her Leading the way at the North Woods Elementary School Terry Fox Run are, from left, Connor, Lucas, Alexis and Mitchell White, along with Principal Cathy Goetz. The Whites were chosen as marshalls of the walk after Lucas and Mitchell’s mother and Connor and Alexis’s aunt Elizabeth White, who was an active volunteer at the school, lost her battle with cancer last year. (Denny Scott photo)

might be closed. Many folks have turned to online shopping, but I hear that is also having some challenges, including items not being available and a lack of workers at Amazon. The second reason was the lack of availability of items, so you should start looking now.

The third reason was our unpredictable weather; nice today, storming tomorrow. The fourth reason, it spreads out the expense of shopping.

That is where I struggle. I see something that would be perfect and will pick it up and put it away.

Then I forget about it. Then I see something else for that person that would be great and get it. Oops, now this one has more than that one and now I have found the gift I had put away. Yikes! Not only has someone an extra gift I have spent more money than I intended when I try to even it out. I can see where just writing a cheque can be easier. Everyone is treated the same!

A lovely reception was held on Saturday evening for Tanner and Taylor Cardiff. A beautifully decorated tent and a beautiful looking couple enjoyed a lovely reception for family and friends to celebrate their recent marriage.

Great music for a great time for all.

Congratulations again to the couple.

I had a couple of folks question what was I thinking when writing last week. Obviously, my eyes missed reading the month of the birthday calendar and I reported the last week of October birthdays instead of September’s. Oops!

Celebrating the last week of September included Tara Smith,

NEWS FROM WALTON Peggy Sloan, Raymond Wilts, Karen Hoegy, Sebastian Andrades, Ashley Stevenson, Brandon Williamson, Aliya Haggitt, Bill Gulutzen, Crystal McCallum, Nancy Godkin Schmeltzer, Ron Tervit, Michael Bernard, Elaine D. Brown, Ron Clarke, Kassidy Eckert, MacKenzie Hackwell, Brittney Pryce, Tom Williamson, Bryn deVos, Mary Bradshaw, Lorren Poland and Gary Williamson. October kicks off with Fannie Somers, Cindy Carter, Mary Ann Grobbink, W.Doug Mitchell, Annette McCutcheon, Helen Craig, Gerry Rijkhoff, Michelle Dalton, Christopher Blake, Chantelle den Dekker, Melva Fraser, Valerie Gratto, Bryce Shortreed, Ken Storey, Matthew Shortreed, Paulene Bennett, Shaye Flaxbard and Paul Kirkby. Happy birthday to all!

Not renaming street condones future racism: Garratt Continued from page 7 why many Roma today are calling for its removal everywhere.

This kind of renaming isn’t only happening in Blyth. It is happening all over. The Romanian government is engaged in a truth and reconciliation commission of its own for their treatment of the Roma people. UNICEF is working right now to try and help Roma children all over Eastern Europe who are being denied education or forced to attend segregated schools. Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders, and hundreds of other agencies are working across the world to try to lift the Roma out of poverty and oppression.

This is just a glimpse of the history of the Roma people. The reason we are hearing about it in Blyth today, is in part because there is an international effort underway to try and help, to raise awareness.

And this is where our privilege comes back in.

So far, we have decided that our ongoing use of the word G*psy is more valuable to us than whatever word the Roma people themselves might want. In spite of what some people in town seem to think, the reality is there are more than 12 million Roma people living in the world today, with tens of thousands here in Canada, and more coming as refugees every year. Why don’t we want to ask them about all this?

No one from our community or our township has asked the Romani-Canadian Alliance, or the Roma Community Centre of Toronto, or any representatives from the Roma Civil Rights Movement, or UNICEF, or Amnesty International to come and

talk to us, before we made our decision. None of us has read the Romanian Truth Commission Report or suggested we share it.

We, as a town, have our blinders on. We have not been looking at all sides. And our privilege (whether we feel it or not) has allowed us not to have to.

But our problem in Blyth isn’t about what happened in the past.

The problem is now. It is perfectly okay not to have known that “G*psy” was a derogatory, racist term. It’s okay not to have known that. It’s okay that lots of us didn’t know. We live and we learn. When the street was named back in the 1970s, the people involved didn’t know, and that’s okay. It’s perfectly forgivable. But now, we do know.

This is what matters.

I realize the issue of wasting “tax dollars” is being raised, but I’m not sure we are asking the right question. The problem with this name isn’t going away, this is a much bigger problem than the Village of Blyth; the word is hurtful and there’s no changing that. We can either address it today, or address it tomorrow, but the consequences of leaving it in place will only make the problem worse and a lot more expensive.

From a fiscal perspective the best use of tax dollars is to deal with it immediately. The more we prolong this, the more costly it becomes.

The responsible thing to do here is to act, and to act now. Council has a responsibility to protect the community from precisely this kind of liability. Deferring action here doesn’t save us money in the long run, it only ends up costing us all much, much more.

We can all be forgiven for the

transgressions of the past. But only if we are willing to change the future. Are we planning on knowingly leaving future generations to solve (and pay for) these problems? Do we expect our children’s tax dollars to fix it? Our grandchildren’s tax dollars? Are we going to leave them responsible for this?

And this the biggest thing for me right now: the next generation. As you read this letter, there is a whole new generation of kids who are packing their hockey equipment into their duffle bags, getting ready for practice or games, tournaments, climbing into the minivan to drive to our arena, and in spite of what we’ve learned over the last few months about the oppression of the Roma all over the world, and in spite of having a young woman come forward and tell us how it hurts and what it means for her family and their culture, we are telling those young hockey players it’s still okay to just keep calling those people G*psies. Figure skaters, next year’s T-ball teams, slo-pitch, baseballers, kids at the skate park, we’re telling them all it’s okay to keep calling them G*psies. There are families planning camping trips now, and we’re telling all of those kids who come to roast marshmallows in the park: it’s okay, just keep calling them G*psies.

I understand there are hassles to be had with changing addresses. I’d love to see the BIA offer to volunteer to help anyone who needs it.

But I think anger at Denny Scott, at the paper, at the Festival, and at each other in the community is terribly misplaced.

In this situation, our white privilege has worked against us.

Our privilege is preventing us from opening our hearts to a people in this world who need our help and

support, even if it’s just saying publicly we won’t keep calling your people by the name your slave owners did.

Gil Garratt.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021. PAGE 9.

Taylors celebrate 60th wedding anniversary

A day to remember Bill and Doreen Taylor celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary late last month with a special drive-through celebration at their home farm on Nature Centre Road. Doreen even took the celebration one step further, wearing her wedding dress 60 years later to mark the occasion, which attracted many to the farm to wish the happy couple well.

(John Stephenson photo)

Doreen (née Howatt) and Bill Taylor celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on sunny Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, with a drive-through event at their farm, located at 39359 Nature Centre Road, Belgrave. Doreen Howatt, daughter of the late Edgar and Ferne Howatt of Westfield, and William (Bill) E. B. Taylor, son of the late Melvin and Jean Taylor of Belgrave, were married on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 1961, at 11 a.m. on a sunny, but very windy day at Westfield United Church. Rev. Lewis officiated the ceremony with sister-to-the-bride, Dorothy Howatt, and brother-to-the-groom, Ross Taylor, as attendants. Bill and Doreen wore their original wedding clothes at the 60th wedding anniversary event!

As a youth, Bill Taylor helped with chores while attending school.

He was active in 4-H clubs for over 20 years as a member and leader.

Bill was an Ontario award winner at 4-H tractor driving. Bill raised and showed short-horn beef cattle at community 4-H events and worked his way to the first prize grouping at the Royal Winter Fair.

Bill attended school in the oneroom schoolhouse, still standing, on the same block at Nature Centre Road and Scott Line. Bill also attended Junior Farmers.

During his career as a farmer, Bill raised Holsteins for cream quota, farrow-to-finish swine, chickens for eggs, and had a beef cattle calf-tocow operation. As soon as the announcement of a first grandchild was made, the bull and boar were shipped away. Bill’s current hobbies are gardening, food preparation, eating, puzzle making, tinkering, and joking using his dry humour.

Bill loves John Deere tractors and equipment because of its quality and durability. The farm is now hay

and pasture. Bill owns a collection of restored two-cylinder JD tractors that he enjoys with his children and grandchildren. Bill amazes his family as he continues to drive his John Deere loader tractor with precision and accuracy at 91 years of age.

In 1950, Bill, along with Donald Murray of Lucknow, represented Huron County in a 4-H competition held in Guelph, beating over 30 competitors in tractor maintenance, driving and a written quiz.

Bill also found success in the Huron 4-H Calf Club competition, earning first place in 1951 and winning the first-ever wristwatch awarded for the highest score in Huron calf clubs from John Anstett of Clinton.

As a youth, Doreen Howatt would help with barn chores on the

family farm and financially support her parents by working with other families. By the age of 14, Doreen would live with families as a caregiver to prepare and cook meals, assist the children, gardening, cleaning the home from top to bottom, hand wash, and hang to dry the laundry for the household. Doreen attended 4-H and Junior Farmers.

The tremendous work ethic, pleasant personality, and homemaking skills prepared Doreen for her love of caring for people in nursing. Doreen worked diligently as she dreamed of a career as a Registered Nursing Assistant (RNA) to receive an income of her very own.

Doreen worked and graduated in the RNA program at the Wingham Hospital. After working up to a

supervisor level, she moved to Listowel Hospital as an RNA. Doreen competed in the finals for the Dairy Princess competition at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) in Toronto in 1960. One of Doreen’s accomplishments was the title of Huron County’s first Queen of the Furrow in 1960.

When Bill and Doreen were both 4-H members, members had to be 12 years old to join. Doreen had been a member for four years and club leader Bill asked that Doreen’s boyfriend at the time drive the other club members to a meeting on one day. Bill had always driven these members, but he said he would be late that day.

On that night, Bill was teaching members how to make a rope halter for their calves. Doreen needed help and asked Bill and, before they left the barn for the house for lunch, Bill asked Doreen to come home with him. Doreen said yes, upset with her boyfriend for driving the carload of other members, and she wanted to complete her rope halter.

After the meeting, Bill took Doreen to the farm where she was living and it was there that Bill finished making Doreen’s rope halter under the farmyard light and the rest is history.

Doreen and Bill dated for five years. Bill followed her around from one county to another. Finally, Bill proposed, and they were married in five months. They didn’t send out any wedding invitations, but the church was packed on their wedding day.

Eventually, Doreen returned to her nursing career. Managing home, farm, husband, children, career and church developed her work ethic to super-human status in the eyes of her family. Doreen continues her impeccable standards to this day, fit like an athlete, and inspires all those around her with her diligence, work ethic and service to others.

The honeymoon occurred as a journey to Sault Ste. Marie and Algonquin Park. They still have

beautiful fall leaves from Kushog Lake Road (Highway #11) to Dorset, as they travelled to Algonquin Park. The happy couple drove 1,263 miles. Doreen tracked the following expenses: petroleum fuel costs were $23.19, an oil change cost $3.09, motels averaged cost were $6 per night, three meals each day cost $4.56! The trip was exciting as they had started their new life together.

The couple farmed together all their lives at 39359 Nature Centre Road, Belgrave. The best crop they ever sowed was Glen, then twins, Marion, and Murray. At present they have seven grandchildren and one great-grandson. Bill and Doreen experienced their second childhoods as they spent devoted, quality time helping to raise their grandchildren.

Doreen loves gardening, sewing, baking, cooking, and sharing with others.

She is well known for a prolific garden of fruits and vegetables, canning, buffet meals, prize-worthy baking, such as pies, and her favourite, whole-wheat, baked bread and rolls!

Together the Taylors share community spirit and enjoy friends and family. They were faithful to attend and maintain the Westfield Church, Westfield for decades.

Consistently, Christian faith, hope and love have carried them through life’s blessings and challenges resulting in their milestone of 60 years of marriage together. Bill has set a goal to achieve 70 years of marriage, since the best is yet to come!

Doreen and Bill would like to thank family and friends who attended their 60th drive-through event on Sept. 19, as they are both feeling grateful and blessed.

Walk Ins Welcome SHEAR TALENT Hair Design & Tanning

45 West St., Goderich 519-524-6555

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519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114

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PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021.

Huron East Fire Department Fire Prevention Week is October 3-9

Huron East Fire Department ~ Brussels Station The 2021 Brussels division of the Huron East Fire Department is, back row, from left: Toby Hundt, Melissa Jacklin, Ken Higgins, Jason Vandermeer (now retired), Tyler Deitner, Heather Dunbar, Jamie Mitchell, Eric Dwyer, John Groves, Chris Gibson, Chris Riley and Robert Cronin. Front row, from left: Captain Donald Hastings, Captain Doug Sholdice, Deputy-District Chief Brian Deitner, Huron East Fire Chief

Thank you to our firefighters!

519-887-6122 or 1-800-667-8399

Thank you to all our firefighters!

83997 Brussels Line, RR #2 Brussels

SHOP: 519-887-6916 GREG RYAN CELL: 519-357-5129 Email:tugryan@tcc.on.ca

Brussels Optimist Club wishes to thank all our dedicated firefighters for their service

Lisa Thompson, MPP Huron-Bruce Thank you to our Firefighters CONSTITUENCY OFFICES Blyth Office: Phone: 519-523-4251

Kincardine Office: Phone: 519-396-3007

Website: www.lisathompsonmpp.ca Email: lisa.thompsonco@pc.ola.org

Brett & Laura Fischer Brussels • 519-887-8253 Office brettandlaura@plantpioneer.com

Municipality of Morris-Turnberry 519-887-6137

Marty Bedard, District Chief Max McLellan, Captain Mike Noble and Captain Derek Pilatzke. Absent were Jason Kellington, Mark Pennington, Cody Subject, Curtis White, Ryan Sholdice and Meghan O’Hara. Please note these pictures were taken in 2019 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. (File photo)

Touchstone Therapies 625 Turnberry St, Brussels (226) 889-5654

Huron East Fire Department

519-887-9393

42659 Walton Rd. | Walton, ON | N0K 1Z0 www.barmytech.on.ca

Thank you to our firefighters

Brussels Station “Practise your Home Escape Plan” In an emergency call 9-1-1

For all your vehicle service needs Time to order your snow tires!

86924 Brussels Line, Bluevale 519-335-3857 info@borrmannsgarage.com

Todd Wheeler Insurance Inc. www.brusselsagromart.ca • Crop Inputs • Crop Consulting • Crop Protection Products • Seed • Custom Application • Nutrient Management Planning

Brussels

519-887-6273

McDonald Home Hardware Building Centre 519-887-6277 Brussels www.mcdonaldhomehardware.com

Brussels Legion Branch 218 Thanking our Firefighters for the dedicated service Thank you to all the Firefighters

Thank you for supporting local

AGENT: TODD WHEELER Box 394, 75 Sports Dr., Brussels, ON N0G 1H0

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

HURON FEEDING SYSTEMS JOE SEILI

It’s like having a Pharmacist for a best friend!

Brussels 519-887-6289

Brussels • 226-889-4152

Keep up the great work

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021. PAGE 11.

Huron East Fire Department Fire Prevention Week is October 3-9

Huron East Fire Department ~ Grey Station The 2021 Grey division of the Huron East Fire Department is, back row, from left: Tony Ward, Mike Boyer, Mike Alexander, Mark Gillis, Harold Subject, Tyler Deitner, Ryan Horst, Matt Buchanan, Mike Cook and Ian Pearson. Front row, from left: Captain Steve Boyer, Captain Bill Pearson, District Chief Gary Boyer, Huron East

Huron East Fire Department Grey Station

“Don’t Wait ~ Check the Date!

Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years”

"You will find it at CARQUEST" AUTO PARTS

RADAR

AUTO PARTS

235 Turnberry St., BRUSSELS 519-887-9661 3878 Wellington St., MITCHELL 519-348-8485 20 King St., CLINTON 519-482-3445

Rathwell Gravel Inc. 44857 St. Michaels Road, Brussels Steve Rathwell Cell: 519-292-1044 Res: 519-887-6930 • bedding sand • septic sand • cement gravel • A & B Gravel

Thank you Firefighters!

CHAPTER email: madd@hurontel.on.ca 519-357-4552

No drugs, no alcohol, no victims

AUTOMOBILE • HOME • FARM • COTTAGE • BUSINESS • MARINE COMMERCIAL • LIFE • INVESTMENTS • GROUP BENEFITS BLYTH 519-523-4481

BRUSSELS 519-887-6100

GODERICH 519-524-2664

LINWOOD 519-698-2215

SEAFORTH 519-527-1610

STRATFORD 519-271-4340

Carpet One Floor & Home

“You can’t pass on TenPas, where the welcome mat is always out for you!”

122 Main St. E., Listowel

519-291-4440

www.tenpasdecorcarpetonelistowel.com

Molesworth Farm Supply Ltd. RR #1 Listowel, ON

519-291-3740 Serving Grey Township’s livestock feed needs for over 40 years!

Use baking soda (flour can be explosive) on shallow grease fires.

Maple Lane Haven Where elegance meets rustic country Huron East Ontario ~ 519-440-8116 www.maplelanehaven.com

A huge thank you to our Firefighters

TENPAS DECOR

Fire Chief Marty Bedard, Deputy-District Chief Don Cochrane, Captain Jim Stephenson and Captain Adam Cochrane. Absent: Rodney Kraemer, Michael Reibeling, Tyson Feltz and Tylor O’Neil. Please note these pictures were taken in 2019 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. (File photo)

Blyth 519-523-4244 “We’re very big on service” www.hurontractor.com

Regular Home Cleanings Plus……

MOVING? We specialize in Homestaging Decluttering and moving cleans

519 743 3249

Susan Alexander, CFP CLU CHS Kim Perrier Financial Advisor 480 Turnberry St., Box 86, Brussels, Ontario N0G 1H0

Phone: 519-887-2662 Toll Free: 1-866-887-2662 www.sholdicefinancial.com salexander@peakgroup.com kperrier@peakgroup.com

Talk with all family members about a fire escape plan and practise the plan twice a year.

Thank you Firefighters!

If a fire occurs in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL FOR HELP

Do you have a fire escape plan in place?

This could save someone’s life!

1-800-265-3033 www.howickmutual.com

44786 Rowland Rd., Ethel Automotive repairs, alignments, trailers repairs and annual safeties Don Cochrane Adam Cochrane

cochranesrepairs@hotmail.com

PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021.

Huron East Fire Department Fire Prevention Week is October 3-9

Huron East Fire Department ~ Seaforth Station The 2021 Seaforth division of the Huron East Fire Department is, back row, standing from left: Tyler Eckert, Jason Berard, Adam Haney, Don Brown, Scott Jervis, Colton Pickett, Matt Shannon (back), Jeff Holman (front), Barry Young, Steve Eckert, Kalen Martene, Greg McGrath, Kristena Hendrick, Dean Finnigan, Glenyce Kelly and Chief

Huron East Fire Department Seaforth Station

Keep items that can catch fire at least three feet away from heat sources such as space heaters.

Design your next project with our trusted team

Marty Bedard. Front kneeling, from left: Mitchell McKee, District Chief Tom Phillips, Captain James Wilbee, Deputy District Chief Doug Anstett, Captain Mark Melady, Paul Hulley.

Absent: Nick TenHag and Joe VandenHengel.

Special Thanks to our Firefighters

Seaforth Optimist Club

Seaforth Foodland

Keep extension cords out of high-traffic areas, and inspect them frequently for damage. Don't overload extension cords with plugs and ensure that you do not exceed the maximum wattage allowed.

Open 7 days a week 95 Main St., Seaforth ~ 519-527-1631

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Thank you to all our Firefighters

Brian E. Wightman

“Huron County’s Home of Golf”

Chartered Professional Accountant Certified General Accountant

Always remembering the fast and efficient response in December 2003. We are truly grateful.

C - 119 Pinebush Rd., Cambridge, ON Fax: 1-866-388-9659 Email: info@waddelleng.com

TRUCK REPAIR INC. 83012 Humphries St., Walton Paul Ryan - Manager

519-887-8880

Seaforth Legion Branch 156 If there are no adults around, kids escaping a fire should find a safe place like a neighbour's house and call 911. Don't ever call 911 from inside a burning building. Get out first.

42990 Front Rd., Seaforth 519-522-0985 www.seaforthgolf.com seaforthgolf@seaforthgolf.com

www.tcc.on.ca

519.606.2211

tcc@tcc.on.ca

MUNICIPALITY OF HURON EAST Smoke alarms save lives — test monthly

CALL THE EXPERTS! 43479 Blyth Road (R.R. #1) Walton, ON N0K 1Z0 E-Mail: kmmfarmdrainage@outlook.com

1-888-868-7513

Business: 519-887-6428

W E R Re n t a l s & S a l e s & WER Mfg. Rental Fleet

FOR FULL LISTING VISIT OUR WEBSITE

519-887-9319 42822 Blyth Rd., Walton, ON N0K 1Z0 Email: wer@tcc.on.ca Drag-Line Systems, Parts & Accessories

www.wergroup.ca

• Personal & Corporate Tax • Accounting & Bookkeeping • Agricultural Services

Seaforth ~ 519-527-1331 Email: brian@wightmancpa.ca

Box 819, 91 Main Street S. Seaforth, Ontario N0K 1W0

519-527-0400 • 1-800-463-9204 www.mckillopmutual.com Teach your children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one.

SILLS The Citizen

HOME HARDWARE Locally owned and family run for 5 generations

Phone: 519-527-1620 homehardware.ca

Open Monday to Friday 8 to 5; Saturday 8 to 4 69 Main Street, Seaforth

We salute our volunteer firefighters 405 Queen St., Blyth

541 Turnberry St., Brussels

519-523-4792 519-887-9114

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021. PAGE 13.

Fire Department of North Huron Fire Prevention Week is October 3-9

Fire Department of North Huron - Blyth Station The 2021 Blyth division of the Fire Department of North Huron is, from left: Ben Kolkman, Captain Mike McDonald, Dalton Richmond, Captain Jeff Josling, Robb Finch, Josh Wesselink, Captain Don Greidanus, Randy Zwep, Alain Dery, Kelsy Long, District Chief Jeff Howson, Deputy Chief Chad Kregar, Chief Marty Bedard,

Jenna McDonald, Captain Russ Nesbitt, Joost VanHittersum, and Fire Student Chloe Elliott.

Absent: Darrel Eckert, Dan Ryan, Greg Jeffray, Fred Kreuger, Stephen Kolkman, Herb Govier, and Mike McDowell.

Green’s Meat Market & Abattoir

Complete Collision Repairs

Dumpster Rental and Service

Thank you Firefighters

Residential & Commercial Dumpster Rental & Service

Auto Body & Towing Ltd. BLYTH, ON N0M 1H0

24 Hour Towing “Big or Small, Will Tow ’em all!”

519-523-9474 • TOLL FREE 1-800-350-6993

Proudly serving farmers, families and our community since 1971

Blyth Road, BLYTH

237 Arthur St., Wingham

612 Campbell St., Lucknow

519-523-9990

(519) 357-2912

(519) 528-2242

Owners/Operators Jenny & Bill McGrath Jr.

Thank you Firefighters for your dedication and service Full Automotive Service Tires, Brake & Alignment Specialists

Real Estate Broker: Steve Nixon

40356 LONDESBORO RD., Londesboro

519-357-2222

1-877-619-7877 519-523-4742 www.townsendtire.ca

website: www.stevennixon.com email: nixon@execulink.com

Open Monday - Saturday

R.R. #1 41403 Londesboro Road Londesboro, ON N0M 2H0 Jim Anderson 519-523-4894 Cell 519-440-6007 Jason Fleet: Cell 519-525-9473

Thank you to our firefighters!

Blyth Legion Branch 420 Remember: Don’t wait....check the date.

Smoke detectors need changed every 10 years

McBurney Funeral Home Ltd.

CANADIAN-INDEPENDENT

Serving the funeral service needs of North Huron since 1979.

35 Patrick Street West, Wingham 519-357-1170 www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com AGGREGATE, EQUIPMENT RENTAL, TRUCK REPAIRS, CUSTOM CRUSHING

The Rural Voice

“Rock Solid for over 90 Years”

The Magazine of Agricultural Life

Located west of Londesborough

519-523-9781 Choose the right wood for your fireplace.

Burn only dry, seasoned wood and avoid burning trash in your fireplace.

G. L. HUBBARD LIMITED Growers And Packers Of Quality Rutabagas

The Hubbard Family Dinsley St., Blyth 519-523-4554

Blyth ~ 519-523-4311 When an alarm makes noises – a beeping sound or a chirping sound – you must take action!

Special thanks to all our Firefighters for your dedication and service Harriston 1.800.997.2310 Walkerton 1.800.790.4690 Wingham 1.888.495.8885 www.lesliemotors.com

40389 Amberley Road, Wingham, ON N0G 2W0 BUS: 519-357-3530

www.joekerrlimited.ca

Thanks to all our firefighters!

Thanking our Firefighters

COOK Dining & Accommodations

ELECTRIC

422 Queen Street Blyth, Ontario N0M 1H0

Belgrave

519-523-9381 www.blythinn.ca

PAUL COOK

519-357-1537

PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2020.

Fire Department of North Huron Fire Prevention Week is October 3-9

Fire Department of North Huron - Wingham Station The 2021 Wingham division of the Fire Department of North Huron is, from left: Nathan Skinn, Chief Marty Bedard, Deputy Chief Chad Kregar, Captain Eric Mulholland, Jon Walters, Andy Williams, Brad Robinson, Captain Brad Hodgkinson, Laura Souch, Captain Trevor Hickey, Ken Wright, Located 2 miles south of Blyth corner of London Rd. & Hullett McKillop Rd.

Repairs to all makes & models of cars & trucks

Used Car & Truck Sales

519-523-9308 Jack Van Dorp

Jeff Hodgkinson, Brendan Thebeau, Renny James, Kyle Volmer, District Chief Ken Devries.

Absent: Captain Brandon Rybicki, Arnold Wiegersma, Brad Carter, Tyler Peel, Amanda Bekkers, Carel Grundlingh, Chad McCann and Kevin Hogg.

Thank you to our Firefighters

FIRE DEPARTMENT OF NORTH HURON

Locations ~ Blyth and Walton

In an emergency call 911 Every second counts

519-523-9624 • 1-800-663-3653 Royal Home Wingham Plant:

213 Arthur St., Wingham

. $ ( . )( ) . . '-. . "& ! %. . . .

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. .

. .

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Wingham Design Centre

Howson & Howson Ltd. Flour Mill Blyth 519-523-4241

40498 Amberley Rd., Wingham

1-800-265-3083 royalhomes.com Come Visit our Open House Friday, October 8, 2021 (9 am to 8 pm) Saturday, October 9, 2021 (9 am to 5 pm)

Thank you to our Firefighters Dealer for

We carry do-it-yourself kits

We appreciate all you do!

Rutling Holdings

Thunder Road Floor Coating Solutions & Other Fine Epoxy Products

519-357-5461 or 800-420-6434

Rutledge Subdivision-Blyth Dr L McCarthy • Dr K Alton • Dr S Doorn Tel : 519-357-1282 • Fax: 519-357-4509

86323 London Rd., Wingham

email: reception@winghamoptometry. com

www.thunderroadracing.ca

THANK YOU TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS!

Thank you to all our Firefighters!

519-955-2323

With deep gratitude for the service of our local heroes

Dave Franken

CONCRETE FORMING COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL RR#3 Blyth ~ Fax 519-523-9604

519-523-9971

• FARM • HOME • AUTO • • BUSINESS • COMMERCIAL • • RECREATION • Well informed and qualified local personnel Your Neighbours...Working For You www.mcconvilleomni.ca

1-877-839-3742

J.R. FEAR APIARIES INC. RR #2, Wingham

519-357-3656

Fresh Honey Pure Unscented Beeswax Candles Creamed Honey Honey Baskets

Blyth Lions Club We thank all our volunteer firefighters

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021. PAGE 15.

Central Huron to move forward with new building

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Central Huron is moving ahead with the construction of a new

water and sewer department building, despite rising costs that gave some councillors pause.

Central Huron Council decided to move ahead with the project during

a council meeting held last month.

The new building will cost the municipality $1,466,740 and the contract was awarded to VandenHeuvel Structures Limited.

A familiar sight Local photographer Tyler Jutzi caught a number of great harvest photos recently and shared them with The Citizen. You can do the same and see your photos in print by submitting them to reporter@northhuron.on.ca. (Denny Scott photo)

Christmas event set for Nov. 21 issue,” she said of the first-come, first-served plan. “We did a poll on Facebook and that’s what most people [who responded] want.”

Pipe said it’s nice to be able to shop locally at Christmas, and even better to be able to get photos with Santa locally.

“We found a lot of people liked that they could get photos taken locally instead of having to think about going to a large city,” she said, adding that, at $10 per session, it’s an affordable alternative.

“We’re excited to make it by donation so we can support a local charity,” Pipe said. “We’re always looking for a charity that’s not always top of mind.”

Council had discussed the issue earlier this year, but held off on approving the project, opting instead to investigate potential alternatives when the project estimates came in significantly higher than council had budgeted.

Utilities Manager Ian Koetsier, in a report to council, said that VandenHeuvel did review its bid on the project, but was unable to lower it significantly.

“VandenHeuvel reviewed their bid and, apart from using subquality material in regards to items such as flooring and fixtures (which would end up needing replacement prematurely in a commercial setting), they can’t significantly lower their bid price,” Koetsier said in his report to council. “They already gave us a ‘hometown’ discount in hopes to work with Central Huron, which is reflective of the $273,460 difference in price from the next closest bidder.

Building [material prices] are high and products such as steel continue to rise [in cost]. It is hard for the contractor to negotiate a price when the price they get for materials is only good for five days.

“Contractors and engineers predict that building prices will not come down significantly next year.

I have researched online to verify and building materials such as concrete and cement will remain at the present pricing for 2022, while steel and lumber pricing is more vulnerable and unpredictable, inventories need to improve before [the price of] these materials will significantly improve.”

Koetsier said that if council were to delay the project beyond 90 days after the tender closed, Central Huron wouldn’t be permitted to tender the project again until next year.

He also noted that a small mobile office would cost over $53,000 for a period of 20 months, and that would not include a washroom or any storage.

“The lowest bid price to build a new water and sewer work centre is 40 per cent higher than originally estimated for in the fall of 2020.

Unfortunately, that is the current building market and most of the predictions researched indicate it will not change next year.

Comparing building projects costing prior to 2021 is not a fair evaluation due to the changes in the building market of 2021. Delaying the project might actually cost the municipality more money. Factors such as skilled trade wages, schedules, interest rates, renting a portable office unit, extra engineering costs and material availability will continue to affect the price of the project,” Koetsier said in his report.

“Extending the displacement of water operator staff will have a negative impact [in] meeting ministry requirements, staff morale and the services provided to our ratepayers. Staff have done their best to work around the deteriorating former PUC building for far too long, as engineering recommendations were to take the building out of service over 10 years ago. Staff need a new permanent facility to run efficiently and safely.”

Despite the rise in cost, council approved Koetsier’s recommendation, approving the construction of a new building.

Make your voice heard!

Send a Letter to the Editor by e-mailing info@northhuron.on.ca or mailing them to Box 429 Blyth, Ontario N0M1H0

Blyth Christian Reformed Church 354 Queen St., Blyth

Invites You to join us throughout the week! – We have programs for all ages.

Holiday cheer

SUNDAY SCHOOL:

The Brussels Four Winds Barn will be hosting its annual Christmas Holiday Market on Nov. 21, including photos with Santa Claus, who will be on hand to hear the wishlists of the well-behaved. (File photo)

By Denny Scott The Citizen The Brussels Four Winds Barn will be hosting its Christmas Holiday Market again this year, with proceeds from the fundraising event going towards the Huron Women’s Shelter.

The event is set for Nov. 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and includes a number of attractions for families to take part in to get ready for the Christmas season.

Kaitlyn Pipe, general manager of the facility, said that, while there will be vendors offering all sorts of unique items for Christmas celebrations and as gifts, there will also be two photo booths with Santa Claus for photos.

“This year the proceeds from the photo shoots are going to the Huron Women’s Shelter,” Pipe said. “The donations will be given as gift cards to the families in second-stage housing or at the shelter to let them buy Christmas gifts for their children.”

Last year’s event raised $1,600 for the Huron County Christmas Bureau, Pipe said, and she hopes to raise a similar amount this year.

Photo sessions will run every five minutes, she said, running from 10 a.m. to 4:55 p.m., and will be bookable through the barn’s Facebook page, where a post will invite people to sign up.

The market will feature over 36 vendors this year, up from when it was first held in 2019, but significantly up from last year’s 10 vendors due to stricter COVID-19 restrictions. Pipe said vendors’ wares will include chocolates and treats, books, toys, clothing, hats, mugs and ornaments.

“There will be everything you need to buy holiday gifts for your family or friends,” Pipe said.

One hundred people will be permitted in the barn, Pipe said, so those who don’t have times booked for photos with Santa Claus should come early in the day to make sure they get in early.

“We don’t think it will be an

3 to 6 yrs. old during morning service.

Grades 2 to 8 Sunday at 11:00 am Contact Hillie VanAmersfoort - 519-525-2783

Sunday School GEMS:

A non-denominational youth ministry for girls Grades 4-8.

Music, crafts, badges!

Every Wednesday beginning October 6th 7:30-9:00 pm For more information contact Kirsten Passchier 519-807-5728 or email: dkpasschier@hotmail.com

CADETS: A non-denominational youth ministry for boys Grades 4-8.

Woodworking, outdoor skills, badges!

Every Wednesday beginning October 6th 7:30-9:00 pm Contact: Jim Shortreed 519-523-4903 or email: jimshortreed26@hotmail.com

COFFEE BREAK: Interdenominational Women’s Bible Study Every Wednesday starting October 6th 10 am to 11:30 am - Babysitting available Contact Brenda Sjaarda 519-440-2744 or email: sjaardabrenda@gmail.com Also Thursday Evenings 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm Contact Hillie VanAmersfoort 519-525-2783

YOUTH GROUP/FAITH INSTRUCTION: Boys and Girls, Grades 9-12 Every Tuesday beginning October 5th 7:30 pm Contact: Lisa Baarda 519-440-9961 or email: lbaarda@hotmail.com Facebook: Blyth CRC Youth Please note: These programs will be taking place in compliance with Provincial COVID-19 guidelines including mask wearing, hand sanitizing and physical distancing. If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or are unwell, please stay home.

PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021.

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

Card of thanks Help wanted Notice BACHERT MEATS INC. – FARM worker, hogs, no experience needed, fast-paced environment, physically demanding, $14.50 per hour. Email résumé to bachertmeatshiring@ gmail.com 35-6 --------------------------------------------

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

Articles for sale FOR SALE: SUFFOLK RAM. Quality Breeding. Born April 2021.

519-482-5008.

40-1p -------------------------------------------GERBERS FIREWOOD SERVING you for over 10 years. Your number one source of quality slabwood and bodywood. Delivery available. No Sunday calls. 519-656-2057, 519441-2085.

01-50p -------------------------------------------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 519523-4792 or 519-887-9114. tfn -------------------------------------------THE CITIZEN IS AVAILABLE TO purchase at these locations – Auburn Co-op, Auburn Esso, Belgrave Variety, Blyth Variety, Blyth Food Market, Blyth Ultramar, Brussels Foodland, Brussels Variety, Clinton Convenience, Clinton Foodland, Dean’s Valu-Mart in Wingham, Wingham Mini Mart, Seaforth Foodland, GT Mini Mart in Seaforth, Fincher’s in Goderich, Goderich Victoria St. Shell and The Citizen Blyth.

Coming events

Municipality of Morris-Turnberry 2021 FALL YARD WASTE COLLECTION The Municipality will be picking up leaves, grass clippings and yard waste in the Morris-Turnberry Urban areas on the following dates:

Ron Weiss WEISS. I would like to thank everyone for flowers, food and cards and all the phone calls since the passing of a husband, father and grandfather. Also thanks to all the nurses at the Seaforth Hospital for all the care they gave to my husband Ron. Thanks to all the doctors and homecare and thanks to Fr. Phillips and Haskett Funeral Home for being there for us. Thanks to the Seaforth Legion ladies for the lovely lunch they served. Your thoughtfulness will never be forgotten. – wife Betty, children Dale and Yvonne, stepsons Kevin and Mark and grandchildren Kyle and Michael.

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Tenders

BMG Community Centre is looking for part-time help evenings and weekends Must have a G licence.

Please email résumés to bmgcc@huroneast.com

Seeking an Organist or Pianist St. Paul’s Trinity Anglican Church, Wingham is looking for an organist or pianist who will also be the choir director to our dynamic SATB choir. This is a salaried position. Our church has a Yamaha upright piano and a new Rodgers­2 manual digital organ with full pedal board.

Résumés and any questions may be sent in confidence to stpauls@hurontel.on.ca or 519­357­7781.

Tenders

Property For Sale by Tender

BMG RECREATION BOARD Drive-Thru beef brisket dinner with vegetable rice pilaf, roll and tart, Wednesday, Oct. 20. Tickets: $25.

Pickup times 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. or 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Meal by Rollin Roasters. Advance tickets only from any Rec Board member or call Rosanne Groves 519-887-6530 or John Lowe 519-887-9799.

39-2 -------------------------------------------FALL TAKE-OUT LUNCH, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Trinity Anglican Church, Blyth.

Menu: meatloaf, mashed potatoes, turnip, carrots, tea biscuit and dessert, $10 per person. For ordering/pick-up time, call 519-523-9396 or email: mcgregor@ezlink.ca Order deadline: Monday, Oct. 18.

40-2

0.723 acres with 31.68 metres of frontage on Patrick Street and 75.73 metres of frontage on Adelaide Street 1 level church building with fully finished basement; main – 2,670 sq ft, basement – 2,300 sq ft

Card of thanks

Open house to take place on Saturday, October 16, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

TAYLOR. On a beautiful sunny afternoon, family and friends celebrated Doreen and Bill Taylor’s 60th wedding anniversary. To our delight guests arrived by car, pickups, convertible, plane, motorcycle, John Deere tractors, gator and to top it off a decorated float! A heartfelt thank you for our cards, gifts, flowers, food, texts, phone calls and visits. We have been truly blessed with the best gift of all “60 wonderful years of marriage” and we’re so grateful. – Doreen and Bill Taylor.

40-1p --------------------------------------------

Notice

3080 Patrick Street, Fordwich, Ontario Being PT LT 7 S/S ADELAIDE ST PL 243 HOWICK AS IN R202511; PT LT 8 S/S ADELAIDE ST PL 243 HOWICK AS IN HOA11039 EXCEPT HOA15235 ; HOWICK (PIN 41012-0079)

Sale conditional on consent from United Church of Canada All offers shall be accompanied by a deposit of no less than $10,000.00 in the form of a certified cheque or bank draft to “Tarbush Dickey Giller & Associates PC, In Trust” All offers should include the purchaser’s intended use of the property

All offers must be delivered in a sealed envelope no later than 4:30 p.m. on October 20, 2021 to the following address: Attn: Ross Arangio Tarbush Dickey Giller & Associates PC P.O. Box 67 140 Barber Avenue South Listowel, ON N4W 3H2 (519) 291-2710 An Approved form of offer is available at Tarbush Dickey Giller & Associates PC Office The Vendor need not accept the highest, or any tenders submitted

Tuesday, October 12, 2021, and Monday, November 1, 2021 For more information, please refer to the flyer you received by mail, or on the website at www.morristurnberry.ca

Tenders

Tenders FORM 6 SALE OF LAND BY PUBLIC TENDER Municipal Act, 2001 Ontario Regulation 181/03, Municipal Tax Sale Rules

SALE OF LAND BY PUBLIC TENDER THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF MORRIS-TURNBERRY 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 November 3, 2021, at the Morris-Turnberry Municipal Office, 41342 Morris Rd., Brussels, Ontario.

The tenders will then be opened in public on the same day as soon as possible after 3:00 p.m. at the Morris-Turnberry Municipal Office, 41342 Morris Rd., Brussels.

Description of land: Roll No. 40 60 490 016 03515 0000; Wroxeter, Ont; PIN 41037-0050 (LT); PT LT 30 CON C TURNBERRY AS IN R263528; MUNICIPALITY OF MORRIS-TURNBERRY; File No. 19-05 According to the last returned assesment roll, the assessed value of the land is $52,000.00 Minimum tender amount: $9,298.52.

Tenders must be submitted in the prescribed form and must be accompanied by a deposit of at least 20 per cent of the tender amount, which deposit shall be made by way of a certified cheque/bank draft/money order payable to the municipality.

Except as follows, the municipality makes no representation regarding the title to or any other matters relating to the land to be sold. Responsibility for ascertaining these matters rests with the potential purchasers. The assessed value, according to the last returned assessment roll, may or may not be representative of the current market value of the property.

This sale is governed by the Municipal Act, 2001 and the Municipal Tax Sales Rules made under that Act. The successful purchaser will be required to pay the amount tendered plus accumulated taxes and any taxes that may be applicable, such as a land transfer tax and HST. The municipality has no obligation to provide vacant possession to the successful purchaser.

A copy of the prescribed form of tender is available on the website of the Government of Ontario Central Forms Repository under the listing for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.

For further information regarding this sale and a copy of the prescribed form of tender, visit: www.OntarioTaxSales.ca or if no internet access available, contact: Kelly Tiffin Tax Collector The Corporation of the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry 41342 Morris Rd. PO Box 310 Brussels, ON N0G 1H0 519-887-6137 Ext. 223 ktiffin@morristurnberry.ca

See more Tenders on Page 17

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

www.huroncitizen.ca

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021. PAGE 17.

Classified Advertisements Tenders

Tenders

FARM FOR SALE BY TENDER Craig and Blaine Hackwell invite tenders for the purchase of their farm located at 42991 Hullett-McKillop Line, R.R. #4, Walton, legally described as Part Lot 23, Concession 12, Part 23, Concession 11, McKillop Township, Municipality of Huron East with 134 workable acres more or less and without (Option A) or with (Option B) buildings For tender forms & other particulars contact: Devereaux Murray Professional Corporation 77 Main St. South, Seaforth, Ontario N0K 1W0 Phone: (519) 527-0850 x 234 Email: tsmith@devereauxmurray.ca Tenders to be submitted by 12:00 noon on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 Highest or any tender not necessarily accepted

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

Let us help you turn that junk into $$

Raising money The students of Hullett Central Public School were hard at work last week raising money through the Terry Fox Run. In addition to the actual run and associated fundraising efforts, students also expressed their admiration for Fox with chalk art around the grounds of the school. From left: Cole Mason, Carter Howson, Bryce Dale, Tyler Boven, Elizabeth Howson and Clara deBoer. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

Churches to fill truck with food

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

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

Call 519-523-4792 or email: info@northhuron.on.ca FOR SALE - friendly and feral felines for five bucks. Call 519450-8308 for further details. 40-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE - Fender Baseman 150 base amplifier, great practise amp suitable for small venues, good condition and works fine. Pick up in Blyth, $125. 416-294-7477.40-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE - older Maytag washer and Kenmore dryer, Doherty pump organ, free or donation accepted for North Huron Food Share. 519-8876098.

40-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE - sofa bed, clean and in good condition, memory foam pad included, 6' wide, pick up in Blyth. $1. 416-294-7477.

40-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE - cardiostyle elliptical exercise machine, has display, works, $25. 519-357-8234. 40-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE - two dollhouses with furniture, $40 and $20; Barbie dolls; framed chalkboard 37"x37", $20. Culligan water cooler, $15.

519-357-9249.

40-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE - solid wood golden oak table and chair set, four feet round plus 2 ft. table leaf insert, two captain chairs plus six other chairs, excellent condition with little wear, $300. Call 519-440-1035 near Brussels.

39-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE - split bin composter, like new, $75. Phone 519-5258422.

39-3

FOR SALE - assortment of chains, chain binders, straps and winches, various tarps. Phone 519-525-8422.

39-3 -----------------------------------------WANTED - 15 cement patio stones 24"x24". 226-222-1074 or 519440-2700.

39-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE - dark cherry colour desk, (57.5"Lx25"Wx30"H), two drawers, side cabinet and sliding keyboard tray, $25. Text 519-4402495 for picture, pickup near Clinton.

38-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE - chain link fence, approx. 100', $75; 16 foot heavy logging chain, $40; quantity of stove/duct pipe, $5; heavy glass for shelves, various sizes, $3 to $10; new interior door 32"Wx80"H, $40; two brown screen doors, 33"x80", $15 each. 519-523-4711.

38-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE - chimney brush with three extensions, $25. Phone 519357-1722.

38-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE - Stihl 170 chainsaw with 14" bar, in good condition, $140. 519-357-9694.

38-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE - Dominion pump organ for sale, best offer. Contact aproc668@gmail.com 38-3 ------------------------------------------

Rev. Jan Aylward offered the Sacrament of Communion at Knox United Church, Auburn and Londesborough United Church on Sunday, Oct. 3, which was celebrated around the world as World Wide Communion Sunday.

She invited everyone to come to the table as a child of God. In Jan’s reflection, based on Mark 10:2-16, she stressed that in God’s eyes we are all His children. We come to church and to His table admitting we are vulnerable to the events and hurts of life. So we gather with a community of folk who care, love and offer support to each other in God’s name.

Rev. Aylward read and talked about a colourful book by Desmond Tutu about what is God's dream: to love and care for each other.

A bouquet of fall flowers/colours was placed on the memorial table in memory of Ruth Hodgins, mother of Sherry Postma.

Londesborough United Church is helping Clinton United fill a halfton truck and trailer from Lavis Contracting with non-perishable food and toiletries. There is a box in the narthex for your donations on or before Oct. 10.

Next Sunday is Thanksgiving Sunday. The following Sunday, Oct. 17, Knox United in Auburn will hold its anniversary service.

There will not be a service at Londesborough United that day.

It becomes increasingly difficult to write a weekly column in the midst of a pandemic. Events are just not taking place and news is not shared as easily as in the past. So this week I am sharing a number of what I think are interesting items I have recently come across. These are things you might not learn about otherwise if the only paper you read is this weekly one, little snippets from the wider world.

It is no secret that John and I enjoy car races. Although the days of actually being in the stands have passed for us, we try to catch many races on TV over the months of the race season. This next story is also intended to remind girls that they should chase their dreams.

Last Sunday’s Toronto Star carried a story about Caley Weese of Carling, Ontario, who has been racing for 18 years. She is now 35.

Her family has no history of car racing but after seeing her first race with her father, she was hooked.

Not in the least mechanically minded, she took high school automotive classes and she and her family – dad and husband – have learned how to care for her car.

Caley is a champion dirt-track stock car racer in a male-dominated sport. She has just won the distinction of being the only female to win a late model dirt feature in a geographical area called the Northeast - Ontario, Quebec and some American states - on Sept. 4.

The General Sherman Sequoia Tree in the Sierra Nevada area of California is wrapped in aluminum foil. Now not entirely, as the tree towers 84 metres high and is 31 metres around at its base. The Gen. Sherman is believed to be the largest tree in the world by volume.

These fire-resistant blankets have been wrapped around many trees in an attempt to save a huge grove of

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

www.huroncitizen.ca

old growth trees from California’s wildfires.

The Canadian Press reports that 35.5 million tonnes of food is thrown out in Canada every year.

One group in Vancouver is working to get that food to those who might be food insecure.The Food Stash Foundation rescues 30,000 kilograms of food each month. This article does not say from where they obtain the food but we have all heard of similar initiatives right here in Ontario which collect food from restaurants, grocery stores, gardeners and farmers. Perfectly good produce that just doesn’t quite pass the ‘eye’ test.

At the Rescue Food Market patrons can shop for what they need and pay what they want or can afford. This money and donations keep the market running. This foundation also has a community fridge stocked and accessible to everyone free.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

NEWS FROM LONDESBORO

PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021.

Obituaries

GEORGE ALFRED KNIGHT 1941 – 2021 -a beautiful mindIt is with profound shock and sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of George Alfred Knight at Kingston General Hospital on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021.

George was predeceased by his parents, Hector and Olive Knight.

He is survived and greatly missed by his beloved and loving partner, Stefanie, who has been and always will, be in awe of him; by his best friend and “adopted” son, Jason Alford (Trish); by his longtime dear friend, Nancy Erwin Knight; beloved brother, Doug (Margaret); dear cousins, Mary Anne Kukoly, Richard McCosh, Dale Knight; “brother”, Jan Brochocki; nephews, John, Andrew, and Konrad, and many other family members. His loss will be greatly felt by a multitude of friends and former colleagues and students. George was born in Wroxeter, and later, in his teen years, the family moved to Picton.

George had a long, varied, and distinguished teaching career in four counties. He taught at both the elementary and secondary levels and also served as principal and vice-principal.

His career culminated in his being awarded the Ontario Premier’s Teaching Award in 2009. His work with a group of Napanee students in producing a solar-Stirling engine attracted the attention of David Suzuki and other prominent alternative energy proponents worldwide when the students were asked to present at the World Wind Energy Conference. As a result, in 2009, he was presented with the Prince Edward County Civic Recognition Award. He taught virtually every subject, but machining was always nearest and dearest to his heart.

Thanks to George and his students, the clock on the Picton United Church tower is operational and keeping good time.

George advocated strongly for alternative energy sources in the county and worldwide. He was among the first in the county to install a Microfit Solar Energy system at his home. At one time he developed machinery to produce wind turbine blades. He pushed for more and better technological education in schools. Equipped with an extraordinary intellect, energy and creativity, and a talent for collecting machinery and auto parts, he conceived projects that

would have required several lifetimes for him to complete. It was well known that for anyone needing some obscure replacement part or a tool (of any size) George was the person to contact. Decades ago, with a talented team he assembled, he developed a highly advanced computer control system for machinery, a system that still would be competitive today. An avid motorcyclist, he loved touring North America with friends.

George was active for many years with the Bay of Quinte Power Squadron, serving as vice-president and obtaining the rank of Senior Navigator, and also teaching many of the Canadian Power and Sail courses. He was instrumental in establishing speakers’ nights that presented an array of talent in the boating field.

In recent years his attention was drawn to establishing the land speed record for steam-powered automobiles. He joined the Steam Automobile Club of America and was elected as vice-president and joined the team that produced and ran a steam-powered car at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. It was an attempt to establish a new land speed record with steam. The vehicle managed to exceed the established record speed, but an end-of-course crash prevented the second run for the official record.

Undaunted, George was presently working on a new and innovative engine to be used in a future attempt at setting a record. His creative energy and drive will be sorely missed by the team.

What may not be known, except to those who benefited, were his quiet acts of charity, generosity, support, and kindness to those he cared about. We will miss his wit, his charm, his unique sense of humour, and his boyish good looks.

George, smiling and forever young, occupies a place in our hearts that could never be filled by anyone else.

Much gratitude is due to the wonderful doctors, nurses, and support staff of KGH Davies II ICU, especially Michelle, Mikaela, and Jeff, who did everything they could to try to keep him with us and to comfort us.

Arrangements were made through Rushnell Funeral Home - Picton Chapel. Cremation has taken place.

An online memorial and condolences may be shared at rushnellfamilyservices.com.

A celebration of George’s life will take place at a future date when all can gather safely to honour him and

STRATFORD MEMORIALS Creating Memories in Stone for Over 95 years

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

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share memories and laughs.

Donations in memory of George may be made to the Princess Auto Foundation (supporting skilled trades education), Kingston General Hospital, or the humane society of your choice.

SANDRA ADELE (née Rath) WHITFIELD Sandra Adelle (née Rath) Whitfield, passed away at Wingham and District Hospital on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. She was in her 83rd year.

Sandra was the loving wife of Karl Whitfield for 64 years; mother of Lonnie (Marilyn), Dale (Sharon), Kurt (Lisa) and Dean Whitfield and grandmother of Nicolle (Ryan) Cook, Nollan Whitfield, Tori Oliver (Adam Schiestel), Kellsey Whitfield (Chad Henderson), Carly (Andrew) Gubasta, Braydon Whitfield, Kendall (Brett) James and Collin Whitfield. She will be missed by 12 great-grandchildren.

Sandra was the sister of Yvonne Youngblut and sister-in-law of Rosemarie (Harold) Campbell and Gordon Howatt.

She was predeceased by sisters Joyce (Len) Radford, Colleen Howatt, brotherin-law Lyle Youngblut, and sisterin-law Joan (Edward) Watson.

Sandra loved her farm. She farmed alongside Karl for many years, and raised four boys. She was a hard worker with a green thumb, growing a large vegetable garden for many years. She loved all her farm animals – cats, dogs and cows (and her boys).

Sandra enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren and watching them grow. She lived in the same area her entire life, beginning on Nature Centre Road, where she had to walk uphill both ways to

school (so we’ve been told).

Sandra loved to bowl, taking many trophies home from the bowling alley in Blyth. She loved hockey – whether it was to watch the countless games of her sons, or to cheer her beloved Toronto Maple Leafs. A self-proclaimed Leaf fan forever, she anxiously waited for them to win the cup.

Although Sandra was a nononsense mother, she had an abundance of love to give, and, most of all, wanted her family to be happy.

According to her wishes, a family graveside service took place on Thursday, Sept. 30 at the Blyth Union Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers and as expressions of sympathy, donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or the charity of one’s choice, would be appreciated.

Condolences may be left at riversidefuneralhome.ca

DR. PETER STANLEY SCHMALZ Oct. 22, 1938 - Oct. 1, 2021 Dr. Peter Stanley Schmalz of Walkerton passed away, surrounded by the love of his family, on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.

Peter’s greatest joy was his family, and he was very proud of his children, James, Michael (Tonya Poirier), Lisa, and grandchildren Jackson, Walker, Jacob, and Rachel Schmalz, Scarlett Shore, and Jenson Shore. He is also survived by his wife, Bev MacDonald, and her children Kriss (Jodi) Snell, Craig (Katie Vanderhaar) Snell, Nikki (William) Culbert, and her grandchildren Masyn, Jordyn, Hailey, Alison, Ava, Axl, Enid, and Kent. Peter will be missed by his twin brother Paul (Myrna) Schmalz, as well as Bev’s siblings Brian

(Karen) MacDonald, Barry (Cindy) MacDonald, Scott (Kathy) MacDonald, Lynn (Darryl) Chalmers, Lisa (Kurt) Whitfield, and several nieces and nephews.

Peter was predeceased by his first wife, Shirley Hide, mother and stepfather Mary and Paul Matiussi, his older brother James Schmalz Bickers, and brother-in-law Peter Hide.

Peter’s passions were history and teaching. His teaching career started at John F. Ross Collegiate in Guelph, and he came to Walkerton District Secondary School in 1967 as head of the history department and remained there until his retirement.

During his teaching career, Peter obtained his Master’s Degree and PhD in History from the University of Waterloo. He had a keen interest in our Indigenous people and received the Joseph Brant Award in 1992 for his book History of the Saugeen Indians from the Ontario Historical Society and the Sir John A. Macdonald honourable mention in 1991 for his book The Ojibwa of Southern Ontario.

“I heard the owl call my name.”

Cremation has taken place and per Peter’s wishes there will be no services. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Walkerton and District Hospital Foundation would be appreciated by the family. Cards are available at Cameron Funeral Home in Walkerton.

Donations and condolences may also be made online at www.cameronfuneralhomes.com.

Wingham Memorials Distinctive memorials of lasting satisfaction produced by us to your specifications.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021. PAGE 19.

519-523-4311

www.ruralvoice.ca

Agriculture

BLYTH 519-523-4244

www.hurontractor.com

Brussels Livestock report

Holstein veal sells actively at weekly sale

Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending Oct. 1 were 1,790 cattle and 928 lambs and goats.

On Tuesday, fed steers and heifers sold actively at prices $2 to $3 higher. Choice steers and heifers sold $155 to $169 with sales to $171.

Second-cut cattle sold $145 to $154. Aged and medium-fed steers and heifers sold $130 to $150. Fed holstein steers and heifers sold $85 to $148. Cows sold steady.

On Thursday, holstein veal sold actively with prices $2 to $3 higher, beef veal sold steady. Lambs, sheep

and goats sold steady.

On Friday, calves and yearlings sold on a good demand at steady prices.

John Richardson of Harriston, consigned 10 head. One black heifer weighed 1,500 lbs. and sold for a price of $171. George Roney of Staffa, consigned five head. One black heifer weighed 1,325 lbs. and sold for a price of $171.

There were 425 cows on offer.

Beef sold $85 to $107.50; good holstein cows, $79 to $93; medium holstein cows, $75 to $89; plain cows, $64 to $75.

There were 125 head of veal on

offer. Beef veal sold $130 to $175; good holsteins, $136 to $148 with sales to $152; SL heavy holsteins, $125 to $138; heavy holsteins, $115 to $128.

Paul Pennington of Mildmay, consigned five head. One holstein steer weighed 680 lbs. and sold for a price of $152.

Lambs under 50 lbs. sold $313 to $327.50; 50 - 64 lbs., $271 to $322; 65 - 79 lbs., $260 to $289; 80 - 94 lbs., $234 to $254; 95 - 109 lbs., $216 to $227; 110 lbs. and over, $209.50 to $230.

Sheep sold $125 to $250; Goats: billies sold $150 to $400; nannies, $100 to $250; kids: meat, $275 to

$325; dairy, $200 to $260.

Nick and Mike Masse of Zurich, consigned 31 head. Thirteen lambs averaged 64 lbs. and sold for an average price of $299.

Top quality stocker steers under 400 lbs. sold $280 to $300; 400 499 lbs., $259.75 to $301; 500 - 599 lbs., $232.75 to $262; 600 - 699 lbs., $211.50 to $227; 700 - 799 lbs., $192 to $208; 800 - 899 lbs., $200.50 to $206.75; 900 - 999 lbs., $186 to $198; 1,000 lbs. and over, $183 to $199.

Top quality stocker heifers, 400 499 lbs., $201.75 to $214; 500 - 599 lbs., $192.50 to $215; 600 - 699 lbs., $186 to $197; 700 - 799 lbs.,

$168 to $177; 800 - 899 lbs., $159.75 to $172; 900 lbs. and over, $166 to $178.50.

Raymond Hutchinson of Parkhill, consigned 12 head. Twelve charolais heifers averaged 978 lbs. and sold for an average price of $178.50.

Amsey Martin of Lucknow, consigned 40 head. Ten charolais steers averaged 833 lbs. and sold for an average price of $206.75.

Kevin Horsburgh of Holstein, consigned 48 head. Twelve charolais steers averaged 1,034 lbs. and sold for an average price of $197.

Brussels Fall Fair parade, meal a success

By Denny Scott The Citizen

The modified Brussels Fall Fair held late last month has been deemed a success by one of its organizers, Brussels Agricultural Society President Zoellyn Onn. Onn, in an interview with The Citizen, said the event, which included showcasing the winners of the photo contest, a community parade and a drive-through dinner, was well-received by the community.

“The events went very well,” she said. “You could tell that things had definitely opened up more and people were doing more.”

The parade was well attended and featured a good number of entries, she said, and more than 700 tickets were sold for the Brussels Agricultural Society’s drivethrough dinner.

Onn said community groups may

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The tradition continues

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While Brussels Fall Fair events of the past two years have looked much different than they have in the past, some, like the parade and a special take-out meal, have been able to go ahead and thrill community members, even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Above, John Lowe of the Brussels Agricultural Society and members of his family make their way down the village’s main street as part of another successful Brussels Fall Fair parade. (John Stephenson photo)

OFA welcomes new government The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) would like to extend sincere congratulations to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party of Canada on their re-election to form the 44th government in our nation’s history.

Prime Minister Trudeau, who enters his third term as Canada’s leader, will once again lead a minority government.

The OFA looks forward to collaborating and working together with the newly-elected federal government to keep agriculture and rural priorities at the forefront of their political agenda. The agrifood sector and rural Ontario are full of economic growth opportunities and the organization intends to work collaboratively to

unlock that potential.

“Minority governments offer further opportunities for collaboration across all political parties to strengthen the agri-food sector and rural communities across Canada and Ontario,” said OFA President Peggy Brekveld. “The OFA will continue to bring the message to federal politicians that an investment in farm businesses, rural communities and the future of agriculture is an investment that pay benefit all Canadians.”

In the coming weeks and months, the OFA plans to renew its focus with the government on the issues impacting farmers including environmental sustainability, a fair carbon pricing policy, revisions to business risk management

programs and access to skilled labour.

Ontario’s agri-food industry contributes more than $47 billion in GDP to Canada’s economy and supports over 860,400 jobs across the province.

As the largest general farm organization in Ontario, the OFA wants to ensure that its 38,000 farm business members have access to the tools, resources and support necessary to keep their businesses strong, profitable and sustainable.

The OFA looks forward to getting to know all of the newly-elected Members of Parliament across the province and connecting with returning politicians about the needs, priorities and opportunities for the agricultural sector.

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

have some difficulty rebounding from cancelled events in 2020 and 2021, however with modified events those groups can reach out to the community and push for a better event next year.

“Hopefully people can look forward to that,” she said, “then we can have lots of entries and it will be a fun time for everyone.”

Onn said the parade can be viewed on the BrusselsTV YouTube channel.

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

Neews depends endss on facts. ts. Whe Where are you our facts ts coming com ng from? ro News Media Canada is a passion ssionate advocate for the news industry. We support our mem mber m publications in their pursuit of quality journalism nalism.

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PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021.

Local hospitals receive provincial funding The Ontario government is investing close to $6.5 million this year to support critical health care infrastructure upgrades, repairs and maintenance in hospitals serving Huron-Bruce residents.

“These funds are greatly needed by our hospitals to help them continue providing excellent health care to our residents,” said HuronBruce MPP Lisa Thompson. “While it is not an area often noticed by the general public, repairing and upgrading hospital infrastructure is vital to the overall health care system.

Investments through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund include: South Huron Hospital, $1,160,098; Wingham and District Hospital, $704,335; Alexandra Marine and General Hospital, $433,395; Seaforth Community Hospital, $410,296; Clinton Public Hospital, $407,407; Grey Bruce Health Services, $1,986,129 (includes Southampton hospital)

and South Bruce Grey Health Centre, $1,376,429.

The Ontario government is also investing $20,788 to the Canadian Mental Health Association, Grey Bruce Branch.

The government is providing $175 million to hospitals through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund and $7.6 million to community health service providers through the Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund.

Funding from the province allows its health care system partners to address urgent infrastructure renewal needs such as upgrades or replacements of roofs, windows, security systems, fire alarms and back-up generators.

A total of $50 million from the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund will be used by hospitals for urgent projects, including those that support the health system response to COVID-19, such as upgrading HVAC systems to enhance patient

and staff safety, and improving infection prevention and control measures.

“Upgrading and maintaining hospitals and community health infrastructure is one more way our government is ensuring Ontarians receive the exceptional care when they need it and closer to home,” said Christine Elliott, DeputyPremier and Minister of Health.

“These crucial investments will help build the capacity needed to end hallway health care, while ensuring our hospitals have the tools they need to improve the quality of care for patients and continue responding to COVID19.”

The government continues to make record investments to support world-class hospitals across the province and ensure the health care system is prepared to respond to any scenario. In March of 2021, the government committed up to $696.6 million in funding to help

cover historic working funds deficits and strengthen the financial stability of hospitals across the province.

Through the 2021 budget, Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our Economy, the government is providing a total of $1.8 billion in additional investments to hospitals in 2021-22.

This includes funding to create

more than 3,100 additional hospital beds to increase capacity, as well as an increase of $778 million in operational funding to ensure all publicly funded hospitals will receive a minimum one per cent increase to help them keep pace with patient needs and to increase access to high-quality care for patients and families across Ontario.

Letter to the Editor Name an honour: Tolls THE EDITOR, In response to The Citizen printed on Sept. 30, well said Betty, Rick and Marg!

In regards to the turmoil caused over the proposed renaming of “Gypsy Lane” in Blyth. Imagine the backlash had a name change been directed to “Dutch Line” in

Central Huron? It was also chosen as to honour!

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021. PAGE 21.

From the Minister’s Study

Be thankful, even for what’s not obvious

By Ernest Dow, Exec. Pastor, Huron Chapel EMC, Auburn As we approach Thanksgiving this year, it may be that some are finding it hard to come up with reasons to be thankful. Back in March, 2020 we expected COVID19 would be over within a few months, and here it is a year and half later and we’re dealing with a fourth wave (although currently it seems Ontario is having some success in flattening the curve).

There is a labour shortage and some businesses are short-staffed, resulting in inferior customer service.

There have been disruptions to the supply chain, making it difficult to obtain items that formerly were readily available. Real estate prices have jumped, making it difficult for some to obtain affordable housing.

Meanwhile, besides those affected directly by COVID-19 (and socalled ‘long COVID-19’), our health system struggles, delaying procedures for those coping with serious health issues of other sorts.

And the continuing crisis is taking a toll on medical professionals, some of whom will be retiring earlier than expected due to the constant strain and threat of burnout.

Scripture enjoins, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1Thess.5:16ff) But in such stressful circumstances, what is there to be thankful for?

A quick survey of the Psalms hints there is much to be thankful for that is independent of our circumstances. A primary focus there is giving thanks for God’s very nature, who He is in Himself.

We can be thankful because of God’s character, which is right and just and full of integrity. “I will give thanks to the LORD because of His righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.” (Ps.7:17) We can be thankful because of the Lord’s protection and sustaining power in our lives. “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.

My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” (Ps. 28:7) But the most oft-emphasized reason to be thankful expressed in the Psalms is on account of God’s sheer goodness – and the context is quick to add the constancy of His love for us. “Give thanks to the

LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1; 118:1) “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Ps 100:4-5) Repeatedly, Psalm 136 in a litany celebrates God’s goodness and love: “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.” (Ps 136:1-3) Yes, COVID-19 is still with us.

But there are signs we are gradually turning a corner: vaccination rates in our province are relatively high; new medications for early treatment of the disease are being introduced; and numbers of patients in ICU are not as severe as in some other areas of our country.

There is grounds for cautious optimism. But fundamentally, even if the tide were to turn for the worse, God’s Word reminds us to be placing our trust in Him and His righteous character and unending loving faithfulness rather than in

Dementia education night set The Alzheimer Society of Huron County is once again hosting its virtual Fall Dementia Education Night on Thursday, Oct. 7 from 78:30 p.m. via Zoom, entitled Dementia 2021. The guest speaker this year is Dr. Elizabeth Finger, M.D., Associate Professor of Neurology, Western University.

Dr. Finger will be presenting, “Inflammation and the Brain: Implications for Dementia.”

Tickets are $10 and are available online at https://bit.ly/3nxvCiZ. You can also purchase tickets directly from the Alzheimer Society of Huron County at 519-482-1482 or 1-800-561-5012.

Dr. Finger is a neurologist at the Parkwood Institute, and a scientist

Celebrating A Special Occasion?

Advertise it in

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

at Lawson Health Research Institute. In addition to many other ongoing research programs, her recent research has focused on empathy in patients with frontotemporal dementia.

Society representatives say they look forward to hosting Dr. Finger as she discusses the latest research and theories regarding neuroinflammation and its impact on the brain.

Brussels Mennonite Fellowship We’re Back!!!

Worshipping Jesus Together All Are Welcome

our own abilities or circumstances.

The prophet Habakkuk champions this approach at a time when the land was undergoing extreme hardship due to invading armies. “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.” (Hab. 3:16-18) A story of unjust incarceration during the Second World War reminds us there can be benefits to negative circumstances which do not become apparent until after the fact. Corrie ten Boom and her sister

Betsy had been imprisoned because their family was caught providing shelter to Jewish people fleeing Hitler’s advance. While Corrie was living in a German concentration camp, her entire body became infested with lice, making a bad situation worse.

She was complaining about it one day, and her sister reminded her of the Bible verse that says, “In everything give thanks,” and she challenged Corrie to give thanks for the lice.

Corrie's response was, “How can I give thanks to God for lice?” But she made a choice to offer thanks for the lice anyway. Later, she found out that the lice had actually protected her from the assaults of the German soldiers.

The Regional Ministry of Hope Churches are now open for in-person worship.

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

Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector 519-357-7781 email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca The­Regional­Ministry­of­ Hope

Trinity

St. John’s

BLYTH 9:00 AM

BRUSSELS 12 NOON

St. Paul’s Trinity

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COME WORSHIP WITH US!

BRUSSELS

United Church Welcome back to Thanksgiving worship in our Church sanctuary Sunday, October 10, 9:30 am COVID-19 distancing and masks required Contact Alex at minister.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com Website: brusselsandblythuc.ca P.O. Box 359, Brussels ~ 519-887-6259

Welcome Back!

We are open with limited capacity Join us for our 10:00 am and 7:30 pm services.

Sundays @ 10 am ­­ Face masks & social distancing in effect 250 Princess St., Brussels • 519­887­6388 • Pastor Ken Gazley

MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Indoor Worship Sundays at 11:00 am All are welcome!

Virtual worship found on YouTube Search for “St. Andrew’s and Melville Sermon” Or subscribe to “Rev. Charmila”

Video services can also be found by searching on YouTube “Blyth Christian Reformed Church”

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

THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH

OUR CHURCHES HAVE RE-OPENED. WELCOME BACK.

Brussels Soup and More 2 is cancelled until further notice.

Evangelical Missionary Church

THANKSGIVING SUNDAY

519-357-5273

Oct. 10, 10:30 am Guest Speaker TIM WHATLEY (Ethnos Canada), “Gazing on that which Cannot Be Seen” (2Cor.4:8ff)

Blyth United Church 11 am

Service will be held in the sanctuary with COVID-19 protocols in place.

Outreach project is food collection for the North Huron Food Share.

Items can be dropped off Wednesday mornings, Thursday afternoons or brought to church on Sunday.

Sunday School during the Worship Service

In-person and online! live.huronchapel.com 119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131

"Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth: break forth into joyous songs and sing praises.” (Psalm 98:4) Contact Alex at: minister.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com

Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches blythunited@tcc.on.ca ~ 519-523-4224

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

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

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

1025 Wallace Avenue N. Facebook: Search for St. Joseph/Sacred Heart/St. Ambrose Live Sunday Mass, Sundays at 10:00 a.m.

PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021.

‘Thomson’ raises $4,525 for Almost Famous Players

Giving back For every performance of Assassinating Thomson, writer, performer and artist Bruce Horak, left, would paint a portrait of the audience, live on stage as he performed. At the end of the night, he and the Blyth Festival team would auction the portrait off to one lucky audience member. With the run of shows now concluded, the total amount of money raised has reached $4,525, which will be donated to the Almost Famous Players, a local performance troupe. Accepting Horak’s donation on behalf of the organization was Kathy Herd, a representative of the group. (Photo submitted)

Continued from page 1 which was also very encouraging.

While Garratt says he and his team badly need naps after the past few months, he’s very satisfied that the season was about to reach a natural conclusion and go ahead as planned, despite existing in such an unstable, unpredictable environment. With Ontario poised to enter the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, which experts say appears to have levelled out for the time being, Garratt said anything could have happened with the season. And, because of the way it was structured, the Festival was prepared to drop shows and truncate the season if public health guidelines deemed it necessary.

However, things went smoothly, shows went ahead and the entire season was able to be produced, beginning with The Downs, followed by Café Daughter, Chase the Ace, Assassinating Thomson and Jewel. Each show had a twoweek run, though the Chase the Ace production had several shows added due to high demand.

One of the major factors that allowed the season to go ahead, Garratt said, was the patience and understanding of audience members, sitting in distanced seating, outdoors and wearing masks. Garratt said there were no major issues with non-compliance over the course of the season, which was refreshing.

All five of the shows found a home with the Festival audiences, he said. The Downs, which had been produced twice before at the Festival’s Phillips Studio, made for the perfect first show of the season,

whereas Café Daughter was a show, Garratt said, that he felt audiences were ready for, with all that is going on in the world.

Tackling themes of Indigenous culture and anti-Asian sentiment, the play connected with audiences in Blyth in a very deep and meaningful way, he said.

Chase the Ace provided muchneeded laughs for an audience that has proven to love playwright and star Mark Crawford’s work, while the heart-wrenching story of Jewel brought the talented Rebecca Auerbach back to the village.

Bruce Horak’s Assassinating Thomson, Garratt said, was a special show for him. Not only did Horak’s nightly audience portraits raise over $4,500 for the Almost Famous Players, a local performance group, but Horak’s story proved to be one about persevering and being resilient through art, which is what Garratt felt the whole season was about.

Looking ahead, Garratt said it’s impossible to know what next summer holds, but he and his team hope to be able to offer a full season of plays on the Memorial Hall stage, complemented by productions on the Harvest Stage.

Time will tell, however.

With the success of the first season on the Harvest Stage, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, Garratt said it was comforting to know that, if the situation doesn’t improve, the Festival is capable of hosting another successful season entirely outdoors and in compliance with public health regulations after this year on the Harvest Stage.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021. PAGE 23.

H. East pursuing new plan

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

What an honour At the 2021 Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) conference, there were numerous reasons for Huron East residents to be proud. First, the Seaforth BIA was honoured with the Marketing and Communications Award for its “Seaforth is Welcoming You” video. Second, the provincial organization has rebranded its Pinnacle Award as the Jan Hawley Memorial Pinnacle Award to recognize the work of the late Huron East Economic Development Officer. In 2019, Hawley was the first person to win the award.

Above, Maureen Agar, left, and Shelly Stanley accepted the BIA’s award. (Photo submitted)

Garland to speak Oct. 10 PEOPLE AROUND BELGRAVE

speaker is Elwin Garland. Everyone is welcome.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

By Linda Campbell Call 357-2188

Irene Lamont’s sister-in-law Mary McLeod from Moosemin, Saskatchewan, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 3 after a lengthy illness.

Sincere sympathy is extended to the family.

Mike and Donelda Cottrill visited on Sunday with Dale and Colleen Lamont in London.

The guest speaker at Knox United Church, Belgrave on Sunday, Oct. 3 was Sandra Cable.

World Communion takes place on Sunday, Oct. 10. The guest

NEWS FROM BELGRAVE

Huron East Council has approved the creation of a new communications strategy for the municipality, which several councillors said had been a “long time coming”.

Chief Administrative Officer Brad McRoberts presented his proposed strategy at council’s Sept.

7 meeting, which was held virtually via Zoom. He stated that the strategy was another of the tasks council first charged him with when he started with the municipality earlier this year.

McRoberts proposed using the $80,000 set aside in reserves by the municipality from modernization funding provided by the provincial government to help implement the new communications strategy. With so much money left sitting in reserves thanks to the provincial government’s modernization funding, McRoberts said the municipality hasn’t been able to apply for further funding. By utilizing this money, he said, the municipality would again be able to apply for the next intake.

“Council has identified communications as a priority.

Engaging municipal stakeholders, including residents, business owners, visitors, council, employees, municipal and county partners, and federal and provincial representatives is the key to building a dynamic, wellfunctioning community,” McRoberts said in his report to council. “Having a communications plan with good execution can help to engage stakeholders positively, providing for better relationships and understanding, reduced chaos, duplication of effort, wasted time and money, and improved inputs to decision making.”

McRoberts then noted a number of current issues with the municipality’s communications.

First, he said, there was a lack of external (out) communications through news media, social media and the municipality’s website.

He also said that internal communications with council (up) needed to be improved. He noted issues like a lack of notification of key events, milestones, issues or relevant news to members of council.

“Members of council feel that they are being put off-guard when a member of the public notes or

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questions them regarding an event, milestone, issue or relevant news when they were not aware of it,” McRoberts said in his report. “Not all issues will be able to be conveyed to council in sufficient time, but it should remain as a key component of the communication strategy.”

He also suggested that internal staff communications (down) should be improved and formalized within the municipal staff’s administration structure.

One of the ways McRoberts aims to bridge this gap, he said, is a staff debriefing following every council meeting. He also said that bi-annual staff meetings will also become part of life in Huron East.

While the lack of a community engagement platform had not been specifically raised during the consultation process, McRoberts said it is something that has been used effectively by other municipalities.

“These tools are valuable and informative and can help staff and council when making decisions regarding key issues or projects within the municipality,” McRoberts said in his report. “The engagement platform can allow the undertaking of surveys to gauge public opinion, discussion forums for major projects, and a place to locate project information and updates.”

He said that an engagement platform would be useful if the municipality is working on future sessions with a communications plan; recreation, facility and cultural master plans; economic development strategic planning; corporate and community strategic planning; budget deliberations; asset management planning; infrastructure and construction projects; public opinion; municipal initiatives and new policies or bylaws.

He also said there has been a lack of ease in accessing municipal documentation, which could be alleviated by improvements to the municipal website. Other issues of concern in the plan were the use of

newsletters, a potential website calendar and improved press release policy.

He said the implementation of the plan will begin with consultation, which should take between six and eight weeks. This, he said, will be followed by an identification of needs, which will take between four and six weeks, acquisition and preparation (four to six weeks), review and commenting (four to five weeks), finalization (three to four weeks), approval (one week), formal training (four to six weeks) and promotion (two weeks, and ongoing), followed by an annual review and continued refresher training.

McRoberts said the entire process should take between six and eight months to complete, with the first two steps being completed before 2022 budget deliberations. This way, he said, a financial implication for next year can be identified and included in the budget.

The first expense associated with the plan would be the annual fee for the aforementioned engagement platform, which typically ranges from $6,500 to $10,000 per year.

He estimated that the platform that Huron East would use would cost $8,500 for its first year and then $6,500 for each subsequent year.

Council approved McRoberts’ recommendation with little further discussion.

Sudoku Solution

Home Cooking for the Holidays Do your friends come to you for cooking advice and ask (or beg) you for your delicious recipes?

Well, we want your recipe too!

Send in recipes for your favourite holiday meals, desserts, appetizers, sides or cocktails, and be featured in The Citizen’s upcoming special section on December 2, Home Cooking for the Holidays. This section will feature tons of delicious recipes from talented readers like yourself, just in time for holiday entertaining!

Mail your recipe(s) to:

The Citizen PO Box 429 Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 or email them to info@northhuron.on.ca Be sure to include your name with your recipe.

Deadline for submissions is November 26

PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021.

Parking issues persist

Parking issues continue to be a problem for the Blyth Business Improvement Area (BIA) according to Chair David Sparling.

During the BIA’s Sept. 30 meeting, Sparling said that he had received correspondence from a number of people regarding parking problems.

Among the issues, he said, were problems with parking for both short- and long-term visitors to the community parking in private spaces, as well as permanent residents in the apartments on main street parking overnight and all day in spots in front of businesses.

Sparling said the problem with people parking on main street all hours of the day was that there wasn’t a bylaw control officer to enforce the two-hour maximum parking restriction that exists for Queen Street from North Street to County Road 25 (as outlined in Schedule I of Bylaw 64-2019, the municipality’s parking bylaw). The bylaw indicates that, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, the maximum allotted time for parking is two hours.

“Some apartments have no parking spaces,” he said, adding that other parking issues would need to be handled through a new bylaw, like addressing the problem with people parking in private parkings spots, Sparling said.

“Sometime in the next month I have a meeting with [North Huron Chief Administrative Officer Dwayne Evans and Director of Public Works Jamie McCarthy],” Sparling said. “I’ll advise them of the tenant issues and have a chat with [North Huron staff regarding other parking issues].”

Councillor Kevin Falconer, North Huron Council’s representative on the BIA, said his fellow Blyth ward councillor Ric McBurney had brought the issue up at a recent meeting and council would be discussing it in the near future.

Sparling also said he had received questions about when more parking spaces in the community would be painted, and said that, prior to construction being completed on sideroads in the village, all the spaces that could be identified by painting had been.

Terry’s walk A number of schools held their Terry For Runs last week, recognizing the Canadian hero who raised awareness and funds to fight cancer. North Woods Elementary School was led by four students who had lost a family member to cancer in the past year. Lucas and Mitchell White walked in honour of their mother Elizabeth White, an active volunteer at the school, who was also an aunt to Connor and Alexis White. (Denny Scott photo) BREAD MAKING Crafting the Perfect Loaf from Crust to Crumb If you’ve never known the satisfaction of taking warm, fragrant bread from your oven, now is the time to start kneading. This start-tofinish primer on everything bread will make confident bakers of the most hesitant beginners. $22.95

Stuff the Bus The North Huron Community Food Share, with support from Montgomery Bus Lines, held its Stuff the Bus fundraiser over the weekend at several local grocery stores. Above, Montgomery driver Dianne Duskocy receives a donation at Brussels Foodland. (John Stephenson photo)

Nearly 2,000 have third vaccination Continued from page 1 are asymptomatic are generally not required to isolate,” HPPH reported on its statistic sheets.

Currently, there are 218 active contacts in Huron and Perth County, and a total of 6,922 contacts have been made since HPPH began recording those numbers in August of last year.

Vaccination rates continue to increase across the two counties.

Demographic increases are as follows: • 12-17: 7.505 (79.4 of eligible residents) to 7,578 (80.2) • 18-24: 8,103 (69.5) to 8,203 (70.3) • 25-29: 6,375 (68.6) to 6,439 (69.3) • 30-39: 12,545 (71.1) to 12,671 (71.8) • 40-49: 12,725 (79.2) to 12,800 (79.7) • 50-59: 16,581 (85.2) to 16,636 (85.5) • 60-69: 20,115 (93.5) to 20,157 (93.7)

• 70-79: 14,388 (99.4) to 14,402 (99.5) • 80+: to 8,046 (97.3) to 8,049 (97.4) Fully-vaccinated statistics are as follows: • 12-17: 6,501 (68.8) to 6,757 (71.5) • 18-24: 7,151 (61.3) to 7,315 (62.7) • 25-29: 5,594 (60.2) to 5,729 (61.7) • 30-39: 11,274 (63.9) to 11,480 (65) • 40-49: 11,758 (73.2) to 11,943 (74.4) • 50-59: 15,817 (81.3) to 15,917 (81.8) • 60-69: 19,489 (90.6) to 19,573 (90.9) • 70-79: 14,017 (96.8) to 14,037 (97) • 80+: 7,832 (94.7) to 7,836 (94.8) In Huron and Perth County, 1,946 residents and non-residents have received their third vaccination.

For more information, visit hpph.ca.

THE APPLE COOKBOOK Celebrate the versatility of the beloved apple by biting into these125 recipes in this 3rd edition for breakfast, salads, soups, main courses and desserts.

Learn about both new hybrids and heirloom varieties and get tips on preparation. $22.95

THE BEAUTY AND BOUNTY OF HURON COUNTY Stunning photographs by 3 Huron County photographers, including Brussels’ David Bishop, show Huron County as you’ve never seen it with aerial shots, wildlife, landscapes, nature. $40.00

MAKING WILD WINES AND MEADS Making your own wine can be enjoyable, not to mention saving you money at the LCBO. Avid home winemakers Pattie Varga and Rich Gulling provide 125 unusual recipes using herbs, fruits, flowers and more to stir your creativity. $25.95

EVEN COWS GO TO HEAVEN Linda Knox tells the often funny story of her father Melville Knox who was born near Stratford, trained at Ontario Veterinary College, and practiced veterinary medicine in Grey County for many years. $14.95

The Old Farmer’s Almanac For Kids Tons of fun for everyone. This allnew Old Farmer’s Almanac for Kids has even more of what you’ve always loved: animals, astronomy, friend on the farm, weird weather, perplexing puzzles and cool comics. $10.95

BREAD MAKING THE APPLE COOKBOOK (3RD EDITION) THE BEAUTY AND BOUNTY OF HURON COUNTY MAKING WILD WINES & MEADS EVEN COWS GO TO HEAVEN THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC FOR KIDS Prices subject to change with increases in wholesale prices, postage, taxes, etc. Please refer to current issue for correct figures.

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The Citizen

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Send cheque or money order for full amount to: Books: North Huron Publishing P.O. Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 or call and pay by credit card 519-523-4792

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