CommunityNews N O R T H
W E L L I N G T O N
Volume 53 Issue 07
Thursday, February 13, 2020
Minto anticipates savings on insurance premiums PATRICK RAFTIS REPORTER MINTO – This municipality is anticipating savings of more than $12,000 on 2020 insurance premiums after council agreed to switch carriers. Council directed staff on Feb. 7 to negotiate the town’s 2020 insurance renewal with Frank Cowan Company and local broker Brown Insurance after receiving a submission for a $264,587 premium from the company. The town’s 2019 premium through JLT/Marsh was $277,032. The JLT/ Marsh submission for 2020 was a premium of $337,598. A report from treasurer Gordon Duff explained the town has had primary insurance coverage through JLT (now Marsh) Insurance for the last six years. “Coverage levels and service from the company and the local broker has been very good,” noted Duff.
School’s Out Day Camp - Penny Nijenhuis, Brigid Crome and Naomi Henderson take part in some of the crafts offered at Arthur Pentecostal Assembly on Feb. 6. Photo by Mike Robinson
School’s Out Day Camp offers alternative during job action MIKE ROBINSON REPORTER ARTHUR - For the Arthur Pentecostal Assembly, it is about giving back to the community. Recently, the church took the initiative to assist local parents dealing with education workers’ strikes by offering a “School’s Out Day Camp.” On Feb. 4 and 6, the church held the day camp for students in JK to Grade 6. Free of charge, the camp provided games, snacks, crafts, a movie and lunch. “As a church we are constantly looking for ways to be part of the community and where we can give
back to the community,” said Arthur Pentecostal Assembly Pastor Roy Hyde. “We saw a need. With the teachers out, parents were looking for things for their children to do.” Traditionally, parents would take time off work or find someone to take care of their children. “We realized as this walkout goes further on, there are additional needs. As a church we saw this as an opportunity to support families and give them a place - for free - and provide activities for their children during this time.” Hyde said support from the community was fairly good.
“It’s a lot of fun-based stuff with a lot of games and crafts,” he said of the camp, adding that on Thursday, the children did a bit of drama. He noted there was also a free hot dog lunch and snacks. “It’s just a time for the kids to burn off some energy ... and it’s been a lot of fun,” he said. “It’s all very simple; we’re trying to meet a need as much as we can within the community.” Hyde noted that earlier, the church held a teacher appreciation lunch on a PD day. “We wanted to let them know we were so thankful for investing their lives into our kids’ lives,” he said.
After the 2019 renewal, Duff noted, council decided to check the market again before the next renewal. Staff engaged Randy Bushey, an municipal insurance consultant, to assist with the preparation of a request for proposal (RFP) and review of the bids. The town had previously retained Bushey to consult on the 2014 insurance RFP process. “It’s not a simple business as we know,” Duff told council. The bids from JLT/Marsh Insurance and Frank Cowan Company were the only bids received. The report describes the proposals as “competitive” with “similar coverage.” The report also notes both proposals included representation from competent local brokers. “We’re staying in Minto. Our broker is in Minto so that’s good. We’re sharing the wealth a bit,” said deputy mayor Dave Turton.
Drayton club to celebrate Kin Canada centennial JAIME MYSLIK REPORTER DRAYTON – The Kinsmen Club of Drayton is celebrating Founders Day on Feb. 22 at the Drayton firehall. Club president Chad Bridge and Founders Day chairman Craig Frere came of Mapleton council on Jan. 28 to ask permission to raise the Kin Canada flag at the Drayton firehall. “All across Canada clubs are partnering with municipalities to raise a flag for a day or a week,” Frere said. The event will take place around 9am at the firehall to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Kin Canada, which began in 1920. Mayor Gregg Davidson has also said that he will attend the event and announce a proclamation. “I’m very supportive of this, being as my wife is a Kinette,” he said. Councillor Paul Douglas asked whether there was a flag bylaw or
policy around using a municipal flag pole for something like this request. CAO Manny Barron said the township has policies surrounding when to lower the flag to half-staff but “not regarding special circumstances such as this.” Councillor Dennis Craven said he was in full support of the Kinsmen Club of Drayton celebration. “I know the Kinsmen have done some great work in the area,” he said. “A lot of things we wouldn’t have in town, in the community, if it wasn’t for the Kinsmen and just thank you very much for your work and support of that.” Among the many ways the Kinsmen have impacted the township are: park projects, shade shelter projects, sports fields and various donations to groups in need. “Since 1968 the kinsmen club has been involved in Drayton,” Bridge SEE KINSMEN » 11
Guelph taking over Mapleton fire dispatch JAIME MYSLIK REPORTER DRAYTON – The City of Guelph is now responsible for dispatch services for Mapleton Fire Rescue. Fire Chief Rick Richardson made a presentation to Mapleton council on Jan. 28 explaining the local communication towers have been corrected and transmission will be possible throughout all corners of the township. Firefighters have tested all the problem areas, including in Drayton and around Conestogo Lake. “We’ve found full communication from portables, from the mobiles, from the base, no problem,” Richardson said. Guelph has been providing 24-hour dispatch for about two years and it has been available to county fire departments. However, because of patchy signals, Mapleton did not
want to go with the remote service in Guelph and continued using two parttime dispatchers - one in Moorefield and one in Drayton. One of the dispatchers has moved to London and a firefighter would be required to stay back if no dispatcher is available. However, now that the towers are fixed, Guelph will take over the dispatching service and will track sent pages, monitor calls, track when the firefighters are on scene, when the fire is out, how many people were rescued, how many vehicles were involved in an accident, how many victims, etc. and send report at the end of a call with required benchmarks the fire department must record. “We have had to access those audios in the past for different reasons, for training or for just explaining some of the things we did and so we SEE DISPATCH » 11
Ready to roll - Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Wellington (BBBSNW) held a ceremonial kickoff to the 2020 Bowl for Kids Sake campaign at the Mount Forest Bowling Centre on Feb. 9. Officials report the campaign is “off to a great start with 132 bowlers from the Arthur/Alma community coming out to bowl and raising $10,283 on opening day. The Mount Forest community is bowling on Feb. 23 and Minto/Mapleton on March 1. Anyone who would like to bowl in support of the fundraising event, should call Teri Dykeman at 519-323-4273 or email teri.dykeman@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca to book a day and time. The theme this year is crazy hats/crazy hair. Participants have a chance to win prizes, including Toronto Maple Leaf tickets, in a draw on March 3. Officials at the opening included, from left: BBBSNW executive director Marriane Christie, Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece, Minto Mayor George Bridge, Mapleton Mayor Gregg Davidson, Wellington North Mayor Andy Lennox, Wellington County councillor Steve O’Neill and Bowl for Kids Sake coordinator Teri Dykeman. Additional photos on page 7. Photo by Patrick Raftis
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