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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-10-20, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016. Editorials Opinions Publisher: Keith Roulston Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny Scott Advertising Sales: Brenda Nyveld & Nicole Gillespie 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 Something lost - and gained It's a bitter-sweet moment for many Blyth -area residents this week — bitter because of the news that the former Blyth Public School will soon be demolished; sweet because it will be replaced by the brand new Grant and Mildred Sparling Centre which will house the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity (CCRC), estimated to cost $5 million Many who attended classes in the building or sent their children there, were probably hoping the school could find new life with the CCRC. It turns out, after much study, that the nearly 60 -year-old building would be prohibitively expensive to reconfigure for the needs of the centre and so must come down. Hopefully by this time next year a replacement will have broken ground. Where Blyth is fortunate is that there is an exciting future for the property. The loss of the school was a serious loss to the community, as it was to Brussels and Belgrave when all these schools were closed in one swoop by the Avon Maitland District School Board. Sending local children outside the community to attend school is not ideal but fortunately, at least, all of the former school properties have found new uses that add value to their communities. Things change, and change doesn't always equal improvement, but the CCRC in Blyth could see the village become an important national centre for rural creativity, culture and economic development. It's like making an omelette from broken eggs. — KR Who wants to pay more? Trade agreements are getting a bad name these days after the legislature of the Wallonia region of Belgium last week tried to block the passing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the European Union and Canada while in the U.S., Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump promised if he's elected he'll tear up free trade agreements his country has signed. Trump's promise has won him support from many people who have been hurt as outsourcing saw products that used to be made in the U.S. now made in lower -wage countries like China and Mexico. The Globe and Mail, on Saturday, visited the Chicago -area city of Rockford, Illinois where people have been badly hurt by the loss of industrial jobs to foreign locations. People who lost $22 -an -hour jobs are now working for $14. One man lost his $17 -dollar -an -hour warehouse job with a company that moved its operations to Mexico and Asia. Now he makes $8.50 as a security guard. These victims of globalization are desperate enough to give Trump's simplistic promise a try. It would be interesting to see what would result if Trump tried to carry through with his promise. Insisting that products sold to Americans are made by Americans sounds good, but many have become used to cheap prices for goods made by people making less per day than American workers expect for an hour's work. Not many people are willing to pay more to protect local jobs — we've seen that here with the destruction of small-town retail sections through the desire of shoppers to get cheaper prices at big box stores. Some people might like Trump to turn back the clock but those who have benefited by globalization are unlikely to let him reset the time to help industrial workers harmed by the trend. — KR Trump's greatest sin While U.S. Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump's boorish boasting (followed by denial he actually did what he said he did) of assault on women gathers the biggest headlines, it's his assault on democracy that carries the greatest danger. Lately Trump has been spreading fear among his supporters that if he loses, it will only be because the election is rigged. This is inexcusable. People have been bitter in defeat before (the famous "hanging chads" incident in Florida in the 2000 presidential election comes to mind) but nobody has suggested the whole system was rigged to steal victory from the rightful winner. Unfortunately many Trump supporters seem susceptible to conspiracy theories. Trump has stooped lower than ever by undermining the very belief in democracy. — 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 October 21, 1959 The Blyth Lions Club was preparing for a visit from District Governor of District A9 Harold Forster of Barrie. The Young Peoples held their annual Fall Rally in Seaforth, welcoming Rev. Dr. J. Semple of Egmondville as the evening's guest speaker. Semple spoke on the topic of "studying large maps" to the 130 people who were in attendance. Early plans for the 1960 Blyth Fall Fair were in the works in an attempt to wind down the finances from the 1959 fair and begin looking ahead to the following year's event. Looking ahead to the 1960 fair, those involved with the Blyth Agricultural Society suggested more sheep pens, enlarging the junior section for pets and extending all of the junior classes. The Blyth Women's Institute held their monthly meeting, welcoming a large number of guests from the Belgrave, Clinton and Wingham Women's Institutes to the meeting. October 22, 1970 The Wingham and Brussels Intermediate Ladies Softball team defeated their counterparts from Brucefield by a score of 11-6 in Clinton to win a best -of -five series that declared the ladies Western Ontario Athletic Association champions. After their historic win, Manager Verna Steffler was presented with the team's trophy from the association. A total of 108 young hockey players signed up to play Canada's favourite winter sport in 1970 and 1971. Of the players who signed up, 55 were from Brussels, 41 were from Morris Township and 12 were from Grey Township. Season tickets to the association's games were also on sale for the modest price of $8. October 22, 1986 Murray Cardiff, Huron -Bruce MP, was sworn in as Secretary to the Solicitor General of Canada, the Honourable James Kelleher, which meant a bit of a promotion for the local representative. In a massive one -day fundraiser, the Londesborough Lions Club was aiming higher than it ever had before, hoping to raise between $25,000 and $30,000 for Ron Nesbitt, a member of the club who was injured in a diving accident the previous summer. Saturday, Nov. 29 would be known as the day the club asked the community to "Back the Biter" as Nesbitt was known locally by his nickname, The Biter. During a tour of Huron County, Federal Minister of Agriculture John Wise promised aid for Huron County's bean farmers. He was in areas like Exeter and Grand Bend to see first hand the damage that had been done to the area's white bean crop as a result of record rainfall in recent weeks. The Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association and Blyth Village Council were busy discussing potential improvements to the Blyth community centre park that would see 5.5 acres of land purchased from the farm of Murray Siertsema to be added to the park. October 23, 2002 As part of a report from the Avon Maitland District School Board, Blyth Public School was again up for potential closure, alongside Turnberry Central, Mitchell, Colborne Central and Holmesville Public Schools. As part of the report, the board placed the concept of placing Grade 7 and 8 students into secondary schools under the microscope again. A proposed subdivision on the edge of Brussels cleared the first of many hurdles at a public meeting. The subdivision was planned for the former Maitside Orchard lands, which would change the land zoning from agricultural to residential to allow for development. A number of local residents were presented with Queen's Golden Jubilee Medals to recognize their hard work and volunteerism throughout the community. Neil McGavin of Walton was one of the recipients, while Doug and Karen Dolmage of Londesborough also received medals. The Brussels Crusaders were recognized with a special section in The Citizen ahead of their upcoming season. Jamie McCallum was listed as the club's manager, while Mike McDonald was his assistant. Jo -Ann McDonald of Walton was honoured with a Citizen of the Year Award for the Brussels community. Sheila Richards, a founding member of The Citizen's board of directors, presented McDonald with her award. The Blyth Festival announced its upcoming season for 2003 with The Perilous Pirate's Daughter by Anne Chislett and David Archibald scheduled to open the season. Leaving Home by David French would continue the season, followed by Hippie by Paul Thompson and several members of his collective and Having Hope at Home by David Craig. The final production of the season would come from Festival regular Ted Johns and it would be the follow-up to his hit show He Won't Come in from the Barn, with Barnboozled: He Won't Come in from the Barn II.