HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-03-09, Page 1INSIDE
THIS WEEK:
IPM 2017 - Pg. 10
Daltons, Ryans continue
countdown to IPM 2017
PLAN - Pg. 12
Farmers continue to
oppose Heritage Plan
COWBELL - Pg. 19
Blyth brewery marks one
year since announcement
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Volume 33 No. 10
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Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, March 9, 2017
Hanging out
With spring said to be just around the corner, the little bit of snow left on the ground at Hullett
Central Public School had changed into a bit of a mucky mess on Monday, despite the fact that
it still remained quite cold. Always with a mind of cleanliness, Elizabeth, left, and William
Howson spent their entire recess period on Monday afternoon climbing on the school's
bleachers in an attempt to stay clean and out of the mud. (Denny Scott photo)
Central Huron to
retain ward system
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
On Monday night, Central Huron
Council voted to maintain the
municipality's current ward system.
Council faced widespread
criticism of the proposed move in
the form of several delegations, the
municipality's own website poll and
residents speaking to councillors
over the past two weeks.
The issue was first raised last
month and council held its public
meeting on the issue on Monday
night. Approximately two dozen
residents were in attendance for the
meeting.
Ahead of council making its
decision, delegations of Bill
Stevenson, Dave Hemingway and
Brian Barnim all spoke against any
changes to the ward system.
Stevenson told council that he felt
the public had not been adequately
consulted on the matter and didn't
necessarily ask for these changes.
He also cited the Goderich
Township de -amalgamation
initiative of 2013, saying that
dissolving the ward system would be
a slap in the face to those residents,
70 per cent of total West Ward
residents, who signed a petition
wishing to deamalgamate from
Central Huron.
Hemingway agreed with many of
the points made by Stevenson,
adding that removing the ward
system in Central Huron would be
simply another step in the distancing
of government from the people it's
meant to represent. He cited
examples of organizations like the
Municipal Property Assessment
Corporation (MPAC) and the
conservation authorities to illustrate
the distancing of government from
its community roots.
Barnim said that dissolving the
ward system would kill a long,
proud tradition of grassroots,
community governance that
Goderich Township has known for
decades. He also referenced the
deamalgamation discussions from
2013, saying that removing the
wards from the municipality would
no doubt spark that fire to burn once
again.
He suggested that if council was to
go ahead with abolishing the ward
system, it would no doubt result in
an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB)
challenge, that would draw the
process out until past Jan. 1, 2018,
meaning that it would then be too
late for the changes to take effect in
time for the 2018 municipal
election.
He suggested a referendum vote
on the topic to truly garner input
from residents. He acknowledged
that a referendum would also delay
any potential changes until the 2022
municipal election, but said it would
be no different than if council were
to make a decision at Monday
night's meeting that would result in
an OMB challenge.
He also referenced current
Continued on page 15
Final open house scheduled for Blyth school building
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
The Blyth Public School is being
opened for one last time before it
faces demolition later this year.
Blyth Arts and Culture Initiative
14/19 Inc. Project Director Peter
Smith explained that he wanted to
give the community, as well as
former teachers and students of the
facility, an opportunity to bid
farewell.
"It's going to be an open house
before the closing of the house,"
Smith explained. "I wanted to figure
out a way for the community say
goodbye."
The site will soon be the home of
the Grant and Mildred Sparling
Centre which will house the
Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity
(CCRC). Plans for the site include
space for the fabric arts and textiles
(FACTs) program, digital
productions and the continued use of
the garden space behind the existing
public school.
The structure is being planned by
Heather Dubbeldam and her
company, Dubbeldam Architecture +
Design, which was chosen by 14/19
Inc. for its work with advanced
environmental building practices
and accolades within the
architectural community.
The construction of the facility
and the creation of the CCRC is the
second in a three -pronged program
set out by 14/19 Inc. The first phase
is the ongoing renovations of the
Blyth Memorial Hall, which is set to
conclude later this spring. The final
phase of the project is to set up a
trust to continue programming at the
CCRC.
The event, which will be held on
Saturday, March 11 from 10 a.m. to
noon, will offer an opportunity not
just for people to come and say
goodbye to a building that has been
part of the community for years, but
to witness the school as it was before
the land continues its life as an
educational facility.
Smith said those attending need to
wear sturdy footwear as the site is
still somewhat a construction site,
and said because of that, it may not
be exactly as people remember it.
"You can still come in, however,
sit in a chair and take in that vibe,
that spirit, that a structure that has
served as an educational site has," he
said. "We want people to have one
last look before we start to prepare it
for the new Grant and Mildred
Sparling Centre"
Smith said the site needs to be an
educational centre because, since
1896, that's the purpose the land has
served.
Committee to host Ladies Night
The Brussels, Morris and Grey
Recreation Board is hosting its
second annual Ladies Night Out on
March 30 in hopes of raising funds
for upgrades to the BMG
Community Centre.
The board held its first Ladies
Night Out last year. It was a success
which sold out weeks before the
event. It would go on to raise
approximately $5,000 for needed
upgrades and renovations at the
community centre.
Organizer Nicole Noble, also a
member of the board, said that she
and other board members have high
expectations for this year's event
and hope it will garner enough
interest to make the event an annual
one.
The fundraiser is set to take place
at the community centre on
Thursday, March 30. The doors will
open at 6:15 p.m. and the program
will begin at 7 p.m.
Adam Cousins will be performing
live music that night and the guest
speakers will be a representative
from Just In Time decluttering and
hoarding services and Dr. Sumar
from the Clinton Hospital, who will
speak on women's health and
Continued on page 15
He also said that saying goodbye
to the building has been a bittersweet
endeavour and one he had hoped
wouldn't need to happen.
"We seriously looked, through our
architects and through [various
Continued on page 18
Daylight Saving
Time Begins
Clocks go mead one hour
Sunday March 12 at 2 am