Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-06-30, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2016. Editorials Opinions Publisher: Keith Roulston Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny Scott Advertising Sales: Lori Patterson, Brenda Nyveld & Dawn MacLeod 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 One year to go Friday marks Canada Day, the 149th anniversary of the founding of our country in 1867. If we're going to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday in our communities the planning can't be put off any longer. It would be a shame not to take advantage of next year's milestone anniversary to celebrate our own communities and their place in the country. Those old enough can remember that Canada's centennial in 1967 was an occasion that mobilized communities to work together to make our towns and villages better places. The positive effects of those efforts lasted for years, both in terms of facilities added to our communities and in the community spirit that was the side effect of people working together for the good of their community. Let's capture that sense of celebration of both the country and your community for Canada's 150th birthday. As you mark Canada Day this year, think of what could be done for July 1, 2017 to make this an event to remember for Canada or your town or village. — KR The way it's supposed to work Peace and harmony seldom brings headlines, so when Canadian premiers and the federal government worked out a plan last week to help secure the retirement years of future generations of senior citizens by extending the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), the good news quickly got shunted aside by tragedies from around the world. Instead, we should have been celebrating that Canada's political leaders were able to work together and find compromises to come to a workable agreement. For far too long we've become accustomed to bitterness and shouting. Certainly there were some power -plays behind the scenes. Ontario's intent to go ahead with its own pension plan unless the other provinces agree to increase CPP coverage, and then its imposition of a fast - approaching deadline, put pressure for a quick decision. At least Ontario was willing to compromise to accept a plan less ambitious than its own, and in doing so, it made the plan less of a burden for employers. For once we saw the country work the way it should. Here's hoping this is just the beginning of a new working relationship. — KR Frustration must be dealt with There are reasons why people make seemingly self-destructive choices such as those Britons who voted to leave the European Union (EU) or Americans who support Donald Trump. From a distance these might not seem reasonable, but there are reasons. To an extent, residents of rural Ontario feel somewhat similar frustrations to British voters who voted to quit the EU. Many Britons feel frustrated and angry that bureaucrats and politicians in the EU capital of Brussels are making decisions that affect their lives when they don't know what the day-to-day reality of British life is like. People in rural Ontario have been frustrated with the current Ontario government and the increasingly urban -centred, indeed Toronto -centred, nature of provincial decision-making Voters in both Britain and the U.S. seem to be reacting to the sense they have lost control over their lives because their jobs are in danger of being shifted abroad, aided by free trade deals. A recent poll showed that even after more than 20 years, only 25 per cent of Canadians like the North American Free Trade Agreement. As for lost jobs, local residents have only to look at plant closures such as the Volvo move to the U.S. to feel powerless. Unlike Britain where people's anger turned against immigrants, with halting immigration as the goal of many voters, or the U.S. where Trump has proposed banning Muslims from entering the country and wants to build a wall across the Mexican border, there are few visible minority residents in rural Ontario to bear the brunt of people's frustration. What the British referendum decision and the popularity of Trump's divisive campaign south of the border have demonstrated, however, is that the frustration, anger and sense of powerlessness of some areas or parts of the population can't be ignored. We must be sure all Ontarions and all Canadians feel they have some ability to control their own lives and futures. — KR Letters Policy The Citizen welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and should include a daytime telephone number for the purpose of verification only. Letters that are not signed will not be printed. Submissions may be edited for length, clarity and content, using fair comment as our guideline. The Citizen reserves the right to refuse any letter on the basis of unfair bias, prejudice or inaccurate information. As well, letters can only be printed as space allows. Please keep your letters brief and concise. Looking Back Through the Years July 1, 1959 Guests from Sarnia, Toronto, Shallow Lake, Forest, Windsor and Teeswater were at Blyth United Church to watch Rev. E. McLagan, assisted by Rev. C.J. Scott join Mildred Jean Christie Pollard and Grant Rufus Sparling in marriage. Mildred, who was given away by her brother Russell Christie, wore a floor -length gown for the ceremony. Dorothy Shouldice, sister of the bride, served as the maid of honour for the ceremony. Thirty-three members of the Blyth Women's Institute travelled to Hamilton where they enjoyed a trip to the city's botanical gardens and continued on to the botanical gardens in Niagara Falls. July 2, 1970 As part of a special ceremony, Grey Central Public School handed out a number of awards to help honour its athletes. Darlene Ducharme, with her 28 points, was tops for the Senior Girls track and field competition, while Bruce Fischer was first in the Senior Boys competition with 26 points. The boys softball team, named the Tigers, was another success and featured the talents of Bruce Wilbee, Monty Engel and Murray Cardiff. Three of the school's students were also successful at the Wingham invitational field meet, which had been held June 19. Bruce Fischer was the Senior Boys champion at the meet, Dave McClory was the Senior Boys runner-up and Darlene Ducharme was the Senior Girls runner-up. June 25, 1986 At the 79th annual general meeting for the Wingham and District Hospital, some in attendance expressed concern with a plan that would close 16 of the hospital's beds. With beds due to be closed, N.M. Hayes, the hospital's executive director, said there wouldn't be any additional cutbacks and that no one would lose their jobs. The statement, however, was met by laughter by some in the room. A major addition to the Brussels shopping community officially opened its doors, as the new 6,000 - square foot EMS supermarket opened for business in the footprint of the old Queen's Hotel. More than 100 members of the tourism community from across Ontario made their way to Blyth for a special production of Another Season's Promise, the Blyth Festival's opening play for the 1986 season. Ross Daily, agriculture and business editor of CPFL Television in London told those at the Blyth Festival's opening night gala dinner that they should be watchful over the potential cost of free trade to the country. Nearly 150 people were in attendance as Daily said that the issue of free trade has something to do with every member of society and everyone should be aware of it. In the afterglow of the official opening of the new Brussels, Morris and Grey Pool, a number of floats were honoured as best in the parade. Sarah Exel took home the prize for the prettiest float, while Jeremy Van Kuelen took home the award for most creative float. July 3, 2002 After a lengthy court challenge, Seaforth District High School would finally close. A three-judge panel with the Ontario Divisional Court in Toronto dismissed the community-based challenge against the Avon Maitland District School Board, allowing the school to close as the board has intended. The challenge stated that the accommodation review had been an unfair process and shouldn't have been allowed. The court challenge was initiated in April after the board voted to close the school in February. Blyth Public School was set to be the site of a pilot project that would see Junior and Senior Kindergarten students split into separate classes for the 2002/2003 school year. Blyth's School Council requested the change as a way to examine the benefits and drawbacks of separating the classes. A small, but enthusiastic group of business -owners and those in the world of agriculture met at the Walton Hall to discuss business with Bonnie Lafontaine, the new Huron East economic development officer. Huron East Mayor Lin Steffler said she was proud of the municipality and of Huron East Council, which had the foresight to hire an economic development officer, a relatively new position at the time. Howson and Howson Ltd. made their presence felt in the Blyth community, donating $50,000 to the Heart and Soul campaign to be used towards the renovation of the Blyth arena. At a joint service held on Sunday, June 30, the congregations of Auburn and Londesborough United Churches bid farewell to Rev. Paul Ross after he had announced he would be leaving the charge. Ally and Mikayla Henry of Blyth were set to become stage stars with roles in the upcoming Blyth Festival productions of The Outdoor Donnellys and Goodbye, Piccadilly.