THE
SERVING THE MAPLETON COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY NEWS Volume 49 Issue 34
Drayton, Ontario
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638-3328
Friday, August 26, 2016
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Mapleton fire, building departments support firefighter safety initiative
Furrow Queen - 2015-16 Wellington County Queen of the Furrow Allison Witzel, of Alma, poses with a bell that was custom-made for the Wellington County Plowmen’s Association. The association is donating the bell for the 2016 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo. It will be auctioned off at the IPM in Harriston this September. The bell was on display at the Wellington County Plowing Match in Puslinch Township on Aug. 18. Additional photo on page 6.
PERTH-WELLINGTON – The Mapleton fire and building departments are recommending council endorse a private members bill aimed at improving safety for firefighters. On March 17, 2011, a fire claimed the lives of North Perth Fire Service members Ken Rea and Ray Walter. Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece is working on a new fire safety initiative to help address one of the factors in that tragic accident: firefighters had no way of knowing the building used truss and lightweight construction. “Lightweight- and trusstype construction is increasingly commonplace,” Pettapiece explained. “But unless it is identified, it can pose serious risk to responding firefighters. That’s why they need as much information as possible - as soon as they arrive on scene to assess the risk and plan their attack.” Pettapiece is working on a private member’s bill to make sure firefighters have better information. It would require most commercial and industrial buildings, as well as apartment complexes of three or more
units, to display an emblem alerting fire crews to the building’s use of truss and lightweight construction. Truss- and lightweighttype construction is used in almost every new home and in building renovations. The term generally refers to construction using building components that bear the weight of the building with a minimum amount of materials, rather than “overbuilding,” states an Aug. 17 press release from Pettapiece’s office. The release states that tests conducted by the National Research Council Canada show the times to reach structural failure during a fire for truss and lightweight construction were 35 to 60% shorter than that for solid wood joist assembly. Structural failure can happen in as little as six minutes. Pettapiece modeled his bill after a bylaw passed in the City of Stratford, which requires buildings using truss and lightweight construction to post an emblem by their door. Municipalities including West Perth, Perth East and Perth South have passed similar bylaws.
The MPP credits the hard work of firefighter Mike Lukachko, who championed the initiative in Stratford. Pettapiece says he also worked closely on the bill with fire chiefs from across PerthWellington including chiefs Chris Harrow (Minto), John Paradis (Stratford), Bill Hunter (Perth East and West Perth) and Ed Smith (North Perth). “My bill is named after Ken Rea and Ray Walter, who lost their lives in service to their community,” said Pettapiece. “If passed, this bill will add a measure of safety to responding firefighters. It could very well save lives.” Over the summer, Pettapiece says, he has consulted stakeholders across the province on his bill. Last week he met with fire officials in the City of Windsor; in the coming weeks he will travel to the Kenora and Ottawa areas. Pettapiece plans to formally introduce his bill in the legislature in the fall. Debate is scheduled for Oct. 20. A report recommending council endorse the bill was on the agenda for the Aug. 23 council meeting, held after the Community News’ deadline.
Organizers seek new volunteers as excitement builds for Terry Fox Run
Steady tilling - Crystal Ellis of Mapleton was among a group of County of Wellington employees trying their hand at tilling the land at the Wellington County Plowing Match hosted by Rolf and Jenn Deter on the Don Inglis Farm in Puslinch on Aug. 18. photos by Patrick Raftis
Diners learn about plowing history at August congregate gathering by Caroline Sealey PALMERSTON - With Wellington County hosting the 2016 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM) in September, Seniors’ Centre for Excellence program coordinator Helen Edwards elected to focus on plowing history at the August congregate dining program. The event, held in
Palmerston, featured Wellington County Museum and Archives program assistant Kyle Smith’s presentation titled Under the Plow, Furrow into Your History. Smith began by stating, “The plow was the most important invention influencing society. This simple piece of equipment was a builder of civilization, shaper of our world, and
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the IPM is a celebration of this great invention.” In Europe the early design of a plow was a simple hoe and digging stick which cut furrows in the soil for seeding. The aeration of the soil produced a more productive soil. Early plows worked well in soft soil but harder soils required a heavier plow and oxen to pull Continued on page 4
DRAYTON - Organizers are ramping up for the Drayton Mapleton Terry Fox Walk/ Run/Cycle event on Sept. 18. The organizing committee “is looking to build on the contributions from this generous community,” which last year supported 193 participants, raising over $30,250, states a press release from the group. This was the largest total in the last five years and “it was heart-warming to see everyone pull together for the fight against cancer,” said committee member Louise Ellis. She notes the Mapleton Drayton Terry Fox organizing committee looks forward to “this awesome community’s continuing and growing spirit for the 2016 Terry Fox event.” On Sept. 18, participants are invited to walk, run or cycle down a 2km or 10km path to continue to make progress in the battle against cancer. Sponsor forms are available for pick-up at various locations through: Drayton and Moorefield Royal Bank locations, Blooming Dale’s, Drayton Food Market,
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d an is motivate A creative m , to achieve by the desire beat others. to e ir s e d e not by th - Ayn Rand -
Gourlay’s Store and Dobben’s Hardware. “In our experience, when community members are approached to support the Terry Fox project - they reach generously into their pockets,” stated Ellis. “To know that donations are applied to research rather than burdensome administration costs, puts the Terry Fox Foundation ahead of other organizations that struggle with this challenging balance.” She added the Terry Fox Foundation scores an A-plus on The Money Sense’s list of charities run most efficiently. This year also brings some change to the local run. Longtime organizers Terry Fox organizers remain steadfastly supportive, but are looking for new volunteers. “Many on the committee have provided over 20 years of volunteer service. The process for organizing this annual September day is well established and we are ready to pass the reins to a refreshed team, with new ideas and energies,” said Ellis, who invites any-
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one interested to contact her as soon as possible at loularellis@ yahoo.ca or 519-638-2120 to join this year’s committee to learn the ropes. “Terry Fox believed in himself and the rest of the country when he started his marathon of hope. When his cancer returned and ended his epic run across the country, he entrusted his name and legacy to all of us, hoping that his quest to find a cure for cancer would continue,” organizers state. On Sept. 18 the event begins at Drayton’s Old Arena at the Fairground with registration at 12:30pm. The send-off takes place at 1:30pm. Everyone is encouraged to bring a donation, participate or sponsor a participant. Businesses and organizations are encouraged to become corporate sponsors, and will be listed in the Community News following the event, organizers state. Terry Fox Run T-shirts, with an “inspirational” 2016 design, are available for purchase at Blooming Dale’s in Drayton for $20.
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