Loading...
The Citizen, 2017-01-05, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017. Editorials Opinions Publisher: Keith Roulston • Associate Publisher: Deb Sholdice Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny Scott Advertising Sales: Brenda Nyveld The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $36.00/year ($34.29 + $1.71 G.S.T.) in Canada; $160.00/year in U.S.A. and $205/year in other foreign countries. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Mon. 2 p.m. - Brussels; Mon. 4 p.m. - Blyth. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG 1HO email: info@northhuron.on.ca The Citizen P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1H0 NOG 1 HO Ph. 519-523-4792 Phone Fax 519-523-9140 519-887-9114 E-mail info@northhuron.on.ca Website www.northhuron.on.ca Canada ..ocna CCNA Member of the Ontario Press Council We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or Department of Canadian Heritage. photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright CMCA AUDITED A year to celebrate While international terrorist threats and the inauguration of a loose - cannon President of the United States cause uncertainty about the coming year on a world scale, at the local level 2017 appears to hold the promise of one of the most exciting years in a long time. Marking the 150th anniversary of Confederation gives our area, as well as the entire nation, the opportunity to party. On top of that, two communities have their own significant dates to observe: East Wawanosh's 150th birthday and Blyth's 140th. Then there's the biggest celebration of them all with the 100th International Plowing Match being held near Walton from Sept. 19-23. As if these community celebrations don't offer enough excitement there are potentially community -changing business events such as the planned opening of Blyth Cowbell Brewing Co.'s new destination craft brewery this coming spring, creating more than 100 jobs. Longer term, the development of the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity has the potential to make Huron County a hub for the exchange of ideas and inspiration for rural Canadians from coast to coast. 2017 begins with more positivity in our region than any year in recent memory. Have fun, celebrate, and add your own energy to make this truly a year to remember. — KR Sinking to the lowest target One of the problems with globalization is that often the worst behaviour is best rewarded. Even before he takes office, U.S. President- elect Donald Trump seems to be lowering the bar on climate change. With Trump suggesting he plans to remove the U.S. from the Paris climate change agreement, indeed questioning that there even is climate change, the Chambers of Commerce of 20 different communities here in Ontario have called on the province to delay implementation of its cap and trade system designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Nationally, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall warned Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that it's foolish for Canada to impose carbon taxes if U.S. businesses are going to have an advantage of lower costs. Trump's opinions don't change the reality that scientists find more evidence every day that the climate is changing even faster than they had predicted. What he can do, as leader of the world's largest economy, is delay combating the problem by punishing the very people who are trying to make things better for our children and grandchildren. Canadian governments and businesses face a dilemma — how do we do what's right for the world while remaining competitive. The welfare of today's and future generations depends on us being able to find the balance. — KR Let's take the next step Those old enough to remember how transformative the celebration of Canada's Centennial in 1967 was, can only hope to see as much growth as we mark the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017. Younger people would hardly recognize our country if they could be transported by a time machine back to the late 1950s and early 1960s. Prior to 1965 we didn't have our own flag. Even after that, we still sang God Save the Queen as the national anthem. Though an independent country, we still clung to so many colonial roots. The Centennial's focus on our country's accomplishments, on the discovery and telling of our own stories and giving them equal place with the inherited tales our forefathers brought from Europe gave Canadians a new boost of self-confidence. Raised to feel we must look up to the Mother Country, we finally came to regard ourselves as equal. We'd need our new self-esteem. Ahead were times that would test our strength. Even in 1967 there were five terrorist attacks by Front de Liberation du Quebec (FLQ) radicals seeking to "free" Quebec. October 1970 would bring a crisis in which FLQ kidnapped British diplomat James Cross and kidnapped and murdered provincial cabinet minister Pierre Laporte. Later would come the election of the Parti Quebecois which vowed to separate Quebec from Canada, two referenda in which Quebeckers narrowly voted to remain in Canada, and seemingly endless constitutional negotiations which eventually resulted in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which in itself has vastly changed Canada. We'd fret over whether various free trade agreements would undermine our sovereignty and our economy, a worry that is raised again with each new trade agreement. Separatism has, for now at least, receded as a threat to Canada's future. Our colonial past is history. Still today, sitting beside the world's largest creator of popular culture and with the internet making borders irrelevant, Canadians are going to need to reinvigorate our sense of who we are and what makes us different if we are to remain a self-confident country. Here's hoping Canada 150 provides the boost of self-confidence we need. — KR Looking Back Through the Years January 4, 1944 Word had been received by The Brussels Post that Lieutenant Douglas Anderson had been killed in action in World War II in Italy on Dec. 23. Anderson had been a teller at the Canadian Bank of Commerce in Brussels for three years. He left for the war in March, 1943 and became part of the Haldimand and Prince Edward Scottish Regiment. He then made his way to Sicily in July. The Brussels Post told readers that Canada would soon be issuing a new coin to residents: a 12 -sided coin made of chronium steel that would be worth five cents. This came after the first nickel had been issued several years earlier with the familiar beaver symbol and then in 1943 it was issued with the "V" for victory, as well as the victory torch. Two new Toledo scales had been recently installed at the Brussels Creamery. The scales were graduated and used to weigh the cream produced there. January 12, 1967 At the Canadian Centennial meeting called for Brussels in early January, only five people were in attendance. The Brussels Post called for more attendance, otherwise the entire proceedings would be cancelled. Jack Thynne, Archer Grewar and Frank Thompson asked that more people attend to ensure that Brussels held a great celebration on the event of Canada's Centennial. The roster for the Jan. 28 old- timers hockey game was announced. The Kansas Farmer would be the head coach and he would be assisted by Krafty Krauter as the club's manager. The roster of the all-stars that would be playing the old-timers had yet to be announced. The Brussels Post speculated that it may have been because the team was "attempting to sign up stars from outer space who are holding out for more cold cash" January 7, 1981 New Year's babies were born in Blyth on Dec. 30, but they were of a different breed. Mark Nethery's Chihauhau Peanut gave birth to three happy and healthy puppies to officially become Blyth's New Year's mother. Peanut and her newest additions were featured on the front page of the Jan. 7, 1981 issue of The Blyth Standard. Huron County Board of Education trustees would receive the same monthly allowance in 1981 that they had received the previous year. The annual amount of $300 for each trustee was up for a vote and a motion to retain the same pay scale passed by a narrow margin of 8-7. Tuckersmith/Clinton trustee Frank Falconer was outspoken in his opposition to the decision, suggesting that the board increase allowances for trustees by 10 per cent. "It's poor policy to accept the same thing," he said. "If trustees were paid $300 for rubber stamping, they're worth 10 per cent more for a voice." Trustee Murray Mulvey agreed with Falconer, saying that the lack of allowance increases meant that trustee payment wasn't even keeping up with inflation. Representatives from both Blyth and Londesborough made their way to the World Junior Figure Skating Championship, which was held in London, meaning that one remote part of Huron County was well represented at the competition. Dawn Flynn, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Flynn of Londesborough, and Shelley Wasson, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Wasson of Blyth were both part of the colour party that carried out the flags of the competition's 19 participating nations. January 8, 1997 The 1997 New Year's baby was born to a Grey Township couple from RR1, Listowel. Anneke and Rymert Los welcomed their son Luke into the world at 7:55 a.m. on Jan. 3, the first baby to arrive in The Citizen's coverage area for the year. Huron County Council was in the midst of forwarding a resolution to the rural division of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (ROMA) pushing back on forced amalgamation. The resolution stated that Huron County and its communities felt there was no economic benefit to amalgamation. Huron County OPP officers felt like their annual message about not drinking and driving throughout the holidays was getting through as they arrested just one drunk driver over the Christmas break. This came after the police arrested nine impaired drivers during the same period just two years earlier. A 60 -day extension was granted for the long-awaited final report on hospital restructuring throughout Huron and Perth Counties. Due to the extension, the Citizens' Action Committee for Wingham and District Hospital had announced a number of information sessions to help meet and plan for the future. The first of these meetings was set to take place at Blyth Public School on Jan. 27.