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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-05-04, Page 1INSIDE THIS WEEK: VIMY - Pg. 10 Local students return from Vimy anniversary trip LIONS - Pg. 11 Londesboro Lions to mark 40th anniversary WASTE - Pg. 23 North Huron approves status quo for collection Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON NOG 1H0 Citizen Volume 33 No. 18 $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, May 4, 2017 Incoming The Boys rugby team from F.E. Madill Secondary School was in action last week as they hosted the annual Matthew Dinning Memorial Cup. The school has played host to the tournament for a number of years, but this was the first year that the show was taken on the road, as St. Anne's Catholic Secondary School in Clinton was the venue this year due to ongoing renovations at the Wingham sports fields. The Madill team would shine on the road as they won the tournament for the first time in years, beating the team from St. Michael School in Stratford in the final 17-0. Here, Tyler Jones of Madill carries the ball with support from Maitland Higgins, left, as they attempt to dodge a tackle from a St. Michael's player. (Denny Scott photo) N. Huron budget approved By Denny Scott The Citizen North Huron Township Council approved its 2017 municipal budget including an overall spending increase of $170,662, or 3.61 per cent. The final budget was presented at Monday night's council meeting and includes several large capital projects. Director of Finance Donna White gave a brief overview of the budget, explaining that the municipality faces ongoing significant challenges when it comes time for budgeting. One such challenge is the increasing cost of Ontario Provincial Police coverage in the Blyth and East Wawanosh ward which will increase $36,057 this year for a total combined cost of $324,116 between the two wards. White said increased utility costs, declining industrial and commercial values and infrastructure and deficit programs, as well as maintaining North Huron's existing programs, are also challenges. Wages, including a 1.8 per cent cost of living adjustment, make up $5,567,246 of the $18,445,569 budget, or 30.1 per cent. Major projects include capital projects totalling $5,820,987 such as tar and chip projects in East Wawanosh at $105,000, the Westmoreland Street reconstruction project in Blyth at $435,000, a plow truck at $270,000 to be borrowed from Infrastructure Ontario, a backhoe/loader at $120,000, an initiative to replace streetlights Continued on page 23 Ondaatje coming to Blyth for Alice Munro Festival The newly -renovated Blyth Memorial Hall will play host to two very important events that will be part of the Alice Munro Festival of the Short Story, set to take place at the beginning of June. First, Blyth will set the stage for the official kick-off for the event, when it welcomes decorated author Michael Ondaatje to Memorial Hall for a special night of film and conversation. Ondaatje is best known for his literary work as the author of The English Patient, Anil's Ghost and In The Skin Of A Lion and the numerous awards he's won over the years, including the Governor General's Award, the Giller Prize and the Booker Prize. However, in the early 1970s, Ondaatje directed a film called The Clinton Special, a documentary on the making and production of The Farm Show nearly Clinton in 1972. The film will be screened on Friday night, June 2 at 7:30 p.m. and it will be followed by a discussion between Ondaatje and Farm Show director and Member to the Order of Canada Paul Thompson. Thompson will also be the subject of another film being screened that weekend when Theatre Beyond Walls is screened at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, June 3. The documentary that features on the work of Thompson has been created by his daughter, Rachel, and will span the entirety of his career. On Saturday night, June 3, The Drawer Boy: From Stage To Screen will be shown at Memorial Hall. The film will begin at 8 p.m. The film, created by Arturo Perez Torres and Aviva Armour -Ostroff, was filmed largely in Huron County — namely at the Lobb farm in Central Huron and the famous home of Ted Johns and Janet Amos in Belgrave — the inspiration for the play I'll Be Back Before Midnight. The crew was in Huron County last summer and fall and the film's creators vowed to return to Huron Continued on page 24 Princess coming for celebration It appears that the dogged efforts of the Dutch -Canadians Remember As One committee have paid off, as it's being reported that Princess Margriet of the Netherlands is coming to Goderich. The Stratford Beacon -Herald is reporting that Princess Margriet and her husband Pieter van Vollenhoven will be attending an event in Stratford as part of an Ontario tour. Stops in Goderich, Brampton, Hamilton, Burlington and Toronto are planned as part of the royal visit. The announcement was reportedly made at Stratford's council meeting on April 24. "We are very honoured to host Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet and Professor van Vollenhoven of the Netherlands here in Stratford," said Mayor Dan Mathieson. The Dutch -Canadians Remember As One event is scheduled to take place at Liberation Park in Goderich next weekend. Though no official schedule has been released, organizers Sid Bruinsma, Jim Rutledge and Patrick Nagle have said the day will feature music and special performances all in the spirit of Canada's special relationship with the Netherlands. Bruinsma and Rutledge have been planning the event for several years, collecting funding and recruiting volunteers. A press conference will be held at the Goderich Library today (May 4), hosted by the committee. For more information visit www.dutch-canadiansremember.ca.