HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2016-03-23, Page 7Wednesday, March 23, 2016 • Huron Expositor 7
Local is recognized with significant award FourhUCCh@S work
Shaun Gregory
Huron Expositor
Through the tough chal-
lenges of life Ross McGrath
has endured, he is still "good
humoured" and constantly
telling jokes and living life to
the fullest. This month he won
a significant accolade called
the Award for Fortitude for his
dedication to Scouts Canada.
"This is a very special
award," said his scout leader,
Shari Campbell.
During a recent phone
interview it was evident
that Campbell was filled
with emotion by the tone of
her voice, "It was great to
see the smile on his face
when he realized that (it
was) for him."
This is for both the youth
and adult members of
Scouts Canada. It signifies
the fact that despite their
physical and mental
impediments, they play a
significant contribution to
Scouts Canada.
Shaun Gregory
Ross McGrath, 18, with his mother Effie and brother Levi. He
was given an Award for Fortitude for his constant contribution to
Scouts Canada.
"Ross, your persever- to do their best," was
ance and positive attitude stated in a document by
continually inspire others Scouts Canada.
Blyth Centre for the Arts and Huron Arts
& Heritage Network Scholarship Fund
Blyth Centre for the Arts
and Huron Arts & Heritage
Network (HAHN) are pleased
to announce a new scholar-
ship fund to support graduat-
ing high school students from
Huron County with their
post -secondary school stud-
ies in the arts.
The scholarship fund will
provide up to $1,000 to a
deserving young arts student,
or can be divided into two $500
scholarships for two deserving
arts students. "This scholarship
will provide much needed
support to young graduates as
the venture on into their post-
secondary education in the
arts," said HAHN Board Chair
Aaron Neeb, adding that the
development of this scholar-
ship fulfills a recommendation
in the Huron County Cultural
Plan to establish a scholarship
fund for Huron County stu-
dents pursuing the arts.
"The Blyth Centre for the
Arts is pleased to offer this sup-
port to Huron County gradu-
ates as they pursue studies in
the arts at the post -secondary
level," said David Armstrong,
President, Blyth Centre for the
Arts. "Through 41 seasons, the
Blyth Festival has been signifi-
cantly enriched by the involve-
ment of our talented young
people and we see this as an
opportunity to continue to
encourage these young artists"
In order to qualify for this
scholarship fund, applicants
must:
• Be graduating from a Huron
County secondary school in
June
• Be attending a post -second-
ary institute enrolled in an arts
program in September
• Provide samples ofyour artis-
tic work, whether it be in visual
arts, theatre, music, writing, etc.
• Show support from a teacher
The deadline for submis-
sions is April 8 by 5 p.m. All
submissions will be reviewed
by a jury made up of members
of the Blyth Centre for the Arts
and the Huron Arts & Heritage
Network board members. The
winner(s) of the scholarship
will be recognized and
awarded at the Huron County
Cultural Awards scheduled to
take place on May 6 at the
White Carnation in Holmes-
ville. The Scholarship Fund is a
new addition to the Cultural
Awards, which is an annual
event held to recognize the
exceptional achievements of
Huron County residents, busi-
nesses, and organizations in
the following categories: Cul-
tural Event/Organization, Indi-
vidual Artist, Community Con-
tribution, Heritage, and
Innovation. Tickets for the
awards are $20 each and can
be purchased through the
Blyth Festival box office at
519-523- 9300 or toll free at
1-877-862-5984.
For full details about the
scholarship or to download the
application form, please visit
www.creativehuron.ca.
For more information,
please contact Rick Sickinger,
Cultural Development Officer,
at rickinger@huroncounty.ca
or call 519-482-5457 ext. 8.
together to get Syrian family
Shaun Gregory
Huron Expositor
A few blocks away from
each other at Seaforth's most
focal coordinates are the two
Ethiopian families. Less than
two months from now the
town's latest humanitarian
efforts in the refugee crusade
will include a Syrian family
all thanks to four churches.
Canada as a nation has
surpassed their promise of
25,000 Syrian refugees, but
through a joint venture with
the Brucefield Community
United Church, Clinton
United Church and Vanastra
Christian Reformed Church,
the Egmondville United
Church is stretching that
already exceeded number to
five more desperate souls.
The charitable endeavor
known as the Tuckersmith
Refugee Project first broke
ground last Halloween when
the organization attended a
seminar put together by the
United Church of Canada in
London Ont. The conference
educated the public on the
Syrian crisis that has left
more than four million Syri-
ans in search of a better life
in both bordering and far
afield countries. Realizing
the importance of human
life, the TRP acted immedi-
ately and submitted an
application last December.
The charitable organization
was then told 200 other
1erth
Baseball
for
players
with
Special
Needs
of
all
ages!
To read about the program, please Google
'New program hopes to be a home run'
Stratford Gazette —April 9, 20
To view the pictures of our first season,
taken by The Mitchell Advocate, please Google
www.mitchelladvocate.com/2015/06/01/challenge-
baseball-underway
OOptui
Stall
enge
Base o
5
If interested, please e-mail Optimist Dianne Oliver by April 11
wpchallengebaseball@outlook.com
churches were hurtling
down that same path of wel-
coming refugees and only
seven families were
available.
"So we decided to go on a
private sponsorship pro-
gram," explained Jack McLa-
chlan, chair of the Tucker -
smith Refugee Project.In the
Expositor's office, McLa-
chlan, Huron East>s first
Clerk -Administrator who
had retired from council five
year prior said after an in-
depth investigation of two
families they decided to
select a husband, wife, two
children, and the mother
in-law.
"This is the first family
sponsored by the Egmond-
ville church, it is big for us,"
also adding that they have
reached out to people in
Africa, but nothing to this
magnitude.
To make the mission as
successful as possible five
committees, including four
local churches, have been
formed. From their constant
pledges, a house in Egmond-
ville is now available for the
family to live. Since this is in
the 'beginning stages,' McLa-
chlan indicated that not only
will they need $27,000-
$37,000 to sponsor the Syri-
an's for the first year but they
are also looking for dona-
tions for clothing, appliances
and anything else that a fam-
ily from a foreign country
could benefit from.
"You hear the stories of
families that have been in a
refugee camp for 14 years,"
stated McLachlan.
"It just makes you feel
good you can do something
good for them."
According to McLachlan
they are expected to arrive on
Canadian soil sometime in
the next six weeks. And to top
it off he said they should
adjust quite easily seeing as
the entire family knows a "lit-
tle bit' of English and the
father is an experienced elec-
trician. As soon as they are
established in the commu-
nity, McLachlan added the
family of five is not travelling
to take advantage of the gov-
ernment by applying for social
assistance and such.
"That was the view that
some people had, when we
first made the announce-
ment. They said there (are)
people here (in Canada) that
could use the help. My com-
ment back is yes, but there
(are) government programs
they can partake in," ended
McLachlan."
"They are coming to make
our country better."
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519-235-4949
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