Huron Expositor, 2015-09-30, Page 1212 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, September 30, 2015
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Celebrate
Incredible.
Help us recognize the
junior citizens who
make our communities
better. Nominate
someone age 6-17
for a 2015 Ontario
Junior Citizen
Award!
Annaleise Carr, 2012 and 2014
Ontario Junior Citizen, Simcoe, ON
At 14, Annaleise Carr was the youngest person ever to swim
across Lake Ontario. Two years later, Annaleise swam
across Lake Erie. Combined these efforts raised
awareness and hundreds of thousands of dollars for
Camp Trillium, a family camp for children with cancer.
Her book, Annaleise Carr: How I Conquered Lake Ontario
to Help Kids Battling Cancer, inspires others to take on
great challenges and help their fellow citizens.
Do you know someone who is involved in worthwhile community
service, is contributing while living with a limitation, has performed
an heroic act, demonstrates individual excellence, or is going above
and beyond to help others? If so, nominate them today!
Nominations are open until November 30, and nomination forms are
available from this newspaper, and the Ontario Community Newspapers
Association at www.ocna.org or 905-639-8720 ext. 4439.
ONTARIO
JUNIOR CITIZEN
AWARDS
Sponsored by:
Photos by Laura Broadley Clinton News Record
Little Ray's Reptile Zoo showed the crowd snakes, turtles and even spiders at the
Tuckersmith Day Nursery.
Avery Lavis puts on a brave face and Siblings Hayden and Lauren Koonstra have
handles a tarantula during the reptile show fun in the bouncy castle at the Tuckersmith
last Saturday. Day Nursery 40th anniversary celebration.
Shane Kyle places his handprint on the
bench. Supervisor Tammy Martene was
collecting handprints of current students
and students from years ago to fill up the
memory bench.
Huron East councillor, Ray Chartrand, and
supervisor, Tammy Martene stand beside
the sign presenting the new name of
the Tuckersmith Day Nursery. To update
the terminology the name is changed to
Vanastra Early Childhood Learning Centre.
Tuckersmith Day Nursery celebrates 40 years
Laura Broadley
Postmedia Network
Since 1975 the Tucker -
smith Day Nursery in
Vanastra has been wel-
coming children through
its doors.
On September 26 peo-
ple came to celebrate the
centre's 40th anniversary
with a barbeque, reptile
show and bouncy castle.
For 40 years the centre
has been known as the
Tuckersmith Day Nurs-
ery but that is changing.
As part of the celebra-
tions the centre is
rebranding to Vanastra
Early Childhood Learn-
ing Centre.
Supervisor Tammy
Martene said the change
was in an effort to update
the old terminology, not-
ing that "nursery" is an
older word and that new
people to the area might
not know why Tucker -
smith is in the name.
Martene has been the
supervisor for 29 years
has seen the program
change to a child -led
focus over the years.
The program at the
centre is unique because
it offers a large gym and
has swimming two days a
week, said Martene.
Shane Kyle remembers
coming to the nursery
when he was only
5 -years -old back in the
80s. Looking around the
room he looks over at the
original cubbies, remem-
bering his young efforts
to evade his teachers.
The staff at the daycare
were more than just
teachers, they were sec-
ond mothers, said Kyle.
Karen McEwing-McCo-
rmell was the first supervi-
sor in 1975. At that time
there were only about five
students and it was only $5
per day for the program.
Although McEwing-
McConnell has since
retired after many years
as a program advisor for
the ministry she still
remembers the time she
spent and the people she
met during her time at
Tuckersmith Day
Nursery.
McEwing-McConnell
said the day to day con-
tact with the parents and
children are something
she will always miss.