THE
SERVING THE MAPLETON COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY NEWS Volume 49 Issue 19
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 1.82% 3 Year GIC - 2.00% 5 Year GIC - 2.40% Daily Interest 1.00%
638-3328
Friday, May 13, 2016
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Council gathers input at special meeting on Sunday gun hunting by Patrick Raftis DRAYTON - Mapleton council heard arguments both for and against allowing Sunday gun hunting in the township at a special meeting on May 3. About 25 people attended the gathering, leaving plenty of empty seats at the PMD arena hall. A call for written submissions on the topic generated 34 responses prior to the meeting, with 28 in favour of expanding hunting to Sundays and six opposed. Three submissions that arrived after the deadline added one voice to the proSunday hunting side and two more in opposition. Of the correspondents that clearly indicated they lived in Mapleton, eight were in favour and six opposed. One submission from Mapleton resident Paul Day suggested a referendum on the issue in the next municipal election. “This would give all residents ample time to mull it over and base the decision on solid data. We’ve lived without the Sunday hunt up until now so another year or two would be bearable,� Day stated. A referendum was also suggested by Palmerston resident Andy Tarc, the only individual who requested advance permis-
sion to speak at the meeting. “We have here a powerful gun lobby trying to convince the people of Mapleton to add gun hunting on Sundays,� said Tarc, who added, even without Sundays, “presently you can hunt 86 per cent of the time.� Tarc said that leaves only 14 per cent of time available for families to enjoy the outdoors “without having bullets or razor-sharp arrowheads whizzing past them.� Later in the meeting several speakers pointed out how hunting has never been prohibited on Sundays, while another noted only “hunting� - not shooting - is banned in Ontario on Sundays, meaning target practice, skeet shooting and similar pastimes are allowed. Tarc said the people of Wellington North “had no vote and were absolutely denied their democratic rights� when that municipality became the first in Wellington County to approve Sunday gun hunting by a 3-2 vote of council on Jan. 11. “The mayor of Wellington North used his one winning vote to force gun hunting on the whole community,� stated Tarc. “Don’t hijack the people’s democracy. Let the people decide.� “I can assure you process is done differently in Mapleton
than it is in Wellington North,â€? said Mayor Neil Driscoll. A resolution passed by Mapleton council at the special meeting allowed unscheduled delegates an opportunity to address the gathering. “I support the notion to allow gun hunting,â€? said Steven Schindler of Moorefield. “I believe everyone should be able to enjoy their days off from work as they see fit. “ Schindler added he sees no reason “we are stopped from doing something we enjoy on the second of two days I get off from work.â€? Moorefield area resident Donna Selinger said she lives beside an area where hunting is allowed and “on Saturday mornings its like a race course ... We don’t see anyone from the GRCA until the end of the day and it’s already dark.â€? Selinger added, “We don’t allow hunting on our property and I don’t think they need one more day for shooting animals.â€? Mapleton resident Sherry Denstedt stated, “I have never been in favour of hunting on my property at any time because I enjoy letting my dogs loose and I enjoy walking on my property ‌ I think it would be great for us to have a vote about it. That would make sense.â€? Continued on page 6
Silver skills - The Junior Lego Mechanics team from Alma Public School, under the direction of teacher/coach Jake Ladner, earned silver medals at the Skills Canada provincial championships held at RIM Park on May 1. From left: Wesley Weber, Kent Kelly, Brodie Skerritt and Jonathan Thiessen. submitted photo
Mapleton declares June Seniors Month by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - Council here has declared June “Seniors Month� and the local Seniors Centre For Excellence is organizing a variety of activities to celebrate. “You don’t have to look too far to see the difference that seniors make in the Township of Mapleton,� stated Helen Edwards, seniors health services coordinator at the centre. “They continue to serve as leaders, mentors and volunteers. Seniors are active and
important members of our community; by proclaiming June 2016 Seniors’ Month in Mapleton, seniors will know that they are held in high esteem and are valued and recognized for their vast contributions to their community.� Seniors Month is celebrated province wide and Edwards noted this June marks the 32nd anniversary of the designation in Ontario. “This is a month to recognize the vast contributions that seniors make to the com-
munity of Mapleton. The theme for Seniors’ Month 2016 is ‘Seniors Making a Difference,’� Edwards stated. As part of the celebration, Edwards said a photo gallery of seniors, who through their volunteer work are making a difference in their respective communities in north Wellington, will be created. The photo gallery will be available for viewing on the Township of Mapleton website and the municipality’s Facebook page.
Minto Rural Health Centre officially opened at local hospital site on May 4
Health facility opens - Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team executive director Shirley Borges addresses the crowd at the official opening of the Minto Rural Health Centre (MRHC) on May 4. From left: PerthWellington MPP Randy Pettapiece, Waterloo-Wellington LHIN chair Joan Fisk, Minto Mayor George Bridge, North Wellington Health Care chair Tom Sullivan, MRHC committee chair David Craig, Dr. Christopher Cressey and Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation chair Dan Hill. photo by Patrick Raftis
Main St. W. Palmerston
Rated PG
THE HUNTSMAN: WINTERS WAR TIMES: Fri & Sat 8pm and Sun 7pm
Big Film Fest: Mon., May 16th at 7:15pm, Featuring “Al Purdy Was Here� $10
For more info call 519-343-3640 or visit www.norgantheatre.com
by Patrick Raftis PALMERSTON - Five years in the planning and just over a year from ground-breaking the Minto Rural Health Centre (MRHC) became a reality on May 4. Dignitaries and community members gathered to celebrate the opening of the new 11,750-square foot medical arts building which houses a variety of community partners in the delivery of health services to area residents. Tenants include the Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation, MintoMapleton Family Health Team, Canadian Mental Health Association, St. Elizabeth’s Wound Clinic and Community Care Access Centre. Palmerston family physician Dr. Christopher Cressey is the first doctor to open an office in the facility, which can accommodate up to three more physicians as well as additional community services. At the opening, Cressey said the centre is integral to providing up-to-date medical care and attracting medical profession-
Weekly Wag
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als to the community. “I couldn’t do it in my 1,000-square-foot converted Anglican manse downtown. There was no room to grow,� he said. North Wellington Health Care (NWHC) board chair Tom Sullivan stated, “The Minto Rural Health Centre provides the venue for integrated and collaborative primary health care to flourish. No longer will patients have to travel far to receive the care they need. “We also now have the space to accommodate new family physicians to our community - a key to the longterm health care strategy for the Minto area.� Telemedicine access point The MRHC is located beside Palmerston and District Hospital (PDH), allowing easy access for patients to flow to and from the hospital. The reception area for the building is a large, bright atrium and the building also includes facilities for telemedicine and an activity room stocked with treadmills, stationary bicycles and other equipment.
Financing for the $3-million facility came from three sources: the PDH Foundation, NWHC, and a debenture which NWHC arranged through the Town of Minto. “The Town of Minto is a strong believer that having quality care in our community is a key element of economic development and essential to the growth of our community,� said Minto Mayor George Bridge, who is also warden of Wellington County. Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team executive director Shirley Borges said the team is “very excited� to be able to expand many FHT-based programs and services to the community. “Minto residents have been looking forward to the day that they can access our programs on a regular basis in Palmerston,� she stated. “The centre will also provide a wonderful venue for fostering community partnerships and joint initiatives, and our residents always benefit when health providers work together.�
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