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The Citizen, 2016-04-21, Page 7THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016. PAGE 7. Big occasions marked with local births, birthdays PEOPLE AROUND WALTON By Jo -Ann McDonald Call 887-6570 We have been all waiting for the arrival of spring, but it was more like the middle of summer arriving on the weekend. It was fantastic outside and we enjoyed playing outside with the grandchildren and doing some yard work as well. No coats, hats or boots! It was wonderful. We are glad to hear that Jean Bridge is home from hospital. She is better, but has a ways to go before she is out and about. Feel better soon Jean. Our condolences to the Campbell family on the passing of Margie Campbell. She was the wife of the late Arnold Campbell and she will be missed by her children Edward, Jim, Karen and Becky and their families. She was a hard working and happy person and will be missed by many. Our sympathies to all. Greg Wilson celebrated turning Bartsch brings vision to Brussels The new guy Arlen Bartsch is bringing his considerable and varied experience to Vital Imagery in Brussels after being a stakeholder with the company for nearly a decade and years in the tech industry throughout North America. (Shawn Loughlin photo) Brussels has welcomed a new citizen into its community this month and after holding a number of high-profile positions across North America, he's ready to roll up his sleeves for Huron County. Arlen Bartsch began working with Charlie and Alison Hoy at Vital Imagery earlier this month but he's certainly not a new face to either the Hoys' business or to the industry. Nearly 10 years ago, Bartsch purchased an equity stake in the business and served as a silent stakeholder for nearly a decade. In an interview with The Citizen, Bartsch says he saw the drive and potential of the Hoys' business very early in the process. Bartsch has spent most of his life in the technology industry, working for various companies, including a few he started, before making his way to Huron County for what he hopes will be the long haul. He began his work in the industry with the Corel Corporation, which is known for Core1DRAW, in 1988, a company for which he'd work for nearly a decade, eventually leaving in 1996. Over that time, he certainly made his mark, as the company grew from sales of $10 million per year when he started to $150 million per year when he left. He left Core1DRAW to create his own `.com' company, growing it until 2001 before he sold it. Between 2001 and 2008, Bartsch would work for a series of start-up companies, living in Silicon Valley in California during the tech boom of the early 2000s. In 2008, Bartsch said he was looking for a change, both in his work and a change of scenery, so he moved back to Canada and sought a new direction for his life, while deciding to remain in the technology industry. He took over as the director of development for fundraising, rentals and retail for the National Ballet School in Toronto — a job he took because of his business development skill set, he says. Bartsch found himself at the head of the school's programs, which carried with them a budget between $10 and $20 million. He was also taking care of retail sales, revenue and rentals for the organization. He then moved on to the Royal Conservatory of Music, also in Toronto, where he was the vice-president of business development for another multi- million -dollar budget. Again, he felt it was time to move on and he left the Royal Conservatory and began discussing his options with Charlie Hoy, looking ahead to the next stage of his life and wanting to return to something a little smaller in size, but grander in potential. He spent a three-month sabbatical in Spain and when he returned, he began that phase of his life in Brussels. Bartsch says he's an "entrepreneur through and through" which is why he's drawn to what the Hoys and their team are doing in Brussels. And he shares in a great vision for the business going forward. It's what's called the Vital Imagery 20/20/20 plan. Bartsch says he hopes to expand Vital Imagery by 2020, bringing in $20 million in sales. While Bartsch and the Vital Imagery team may have lofty goals for the next few years, the move mostly represents a sort of homecoming for Bartsch who was raised on a mixed dairy and poultry farm in Dalmeny, Saskatchewan. Bartsch farmed for a time, he said, when his family decided to get out of the business and he bought the land. However, in 1984, he left Saskatchewan for Ontario, where he attended the University of Ottawa and never looked back. He says he has the spirit of volunteerism in him and he hopes to pitch in throughout Huron County wherever he can. He mentioned the ongoing community initiatives in Brussels and Blyth's arts -related activities, a field with which he has history, as potential areas where he'd love to donate his time and skills. During his time both in Ottawa and in Toronto he donated his time to arts initiatives and choirs, all of which were experiences that fulfilled him on a variety of levels. While he has been hard at work in Brussels, he has yet to put in any volunteer hours, but he has undergone several Huron County rites of passage, such as buying a pick-up truck and being fitted for his first cowboy hat. the big 65 this past weekend with a trip to Niagara Falls. He and Sharon enjoyed the change of scenery and the change of age. Great-grandmother again is Dorothy Dilworth. Our congratulations to Mike and Chrissy Rammeloo on the birth of a baby girl. The wee little one is being called Claire. She is the first grandchild for Roger and Mary Dilworth and another for Ray and Wilma Rammeloo. Celebrating birthdays this past week included Tom Warwick, Murray Pepper, Edgar Andrades, Diety Bos, Sarah Alexander, Jacob Gulutzen, Ben Terpstra, Patty Banks, Blair Fraser, Edward Glanville, Heather Godkin, Katharine Bernard, Clara Blake, Betty McCallum and Mandy Mitchell Demaline. Happy birthday to all. Purses Bainton's Old Mill Downtown Blyth 519-523-4740 FROM WALTON BUY? SELL? TRY CLASSIFIED I( 11P%Vinnicombe Production Studio tip Small Town Service, Big City Quality Back in Business for the summer OPENING APRIL 25 For all your videography needs Contact Nick Email: nick@vpsfilms Website: www.vpsfilms.com Phone: 1-519-440-9633 L • `0 A,., Wingham and District Hospital Foundation SAVE THE DATE 01ADIOTHON$ THURSDAY, MAY 12TH, 2016 All donations to WDH Foundation support Our Hospital, Our Future campaign. The Healthrre ?, ,10-040N Her some, www.healthcareheroes. ca