HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-06-06, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013.New president hopes for accessibility at Branch
Making their voices heard
A handful of protestors camped outside Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson’s office in Blyth
late last month to protest potential changes in legislation that would cut physiotherapy to
ambulatory patients in long-term care facilities. Representatives were quick to say that
Thompson is supporting their stance, but they were simply hoping to raise awareness of the
issue. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
Jo-Ann McDonald is now thePresident of the Brussels Legion forthe second time, having previouslyserved in the role from 2006 to 2009,and intends to have the Branchbuilding made more accessible bythe time she leaves office.
McDonald is the 49th president
since the Branch was created in
1931. She is the sixth comrade to
have served twice in the office of
president and one of only four
women to serve in the role.
“My big plans are to continue
working towards the accessibility
plan we have,” she said. “We’ve
been fundraising for five years with
the goal of addressing accessibility
by building an addition and making
the site more usable.”
While fundraising hasn’t been a
huge difficulty, McDonald said that
addressing the existing needs of the
Branch building has to come first,
and often those expenses can make it
harder to put funds away.
The addition, which includes a lift
as well as accessible washrooms and
extra storage, is a major concern for
McDonald and the Branch to
address, but she also said that
declining enrolment is something
that needs to be addressed.
“When I became president in
2006, we had 200 members,” she
said. “Now we have about 110. It’s
an issue that we really have to
address.”
Aside from the declining
enrolment, McDonald, who is
actively involved in most of the
workings at the Legion, said the
events that happen are a result of the
hard work of a core group of about
20 comrades and that both those
numbers need to grow.
“We need to stop the decline inenrolment and begin getting morepeople involved,” she said. During her first term as president,she tried to keep the Legion as activeas possible, starting or growingprograms such as euchre nights,Friday night suppers and theexpansion of the fish fry schedule.“I worked hard to promote the
Legion and I plan on continuing to
do this,” she said.
For those interested in becoming a
member of the Legion, McDonald
said it’s easier than ever to join after
stipulations on membership were
recently nearly completely removed.
“The only real pre-requisite for
joining is being a Canadian citizen,”
she said. “They removed the
stipulations of being affiliated with a
veteran because there are so few
veterans left and, with the way it’s
classified, people coming back from
conflicts now may not be labelled as
veterans.
“The only thing that someone has
to do is commit to serving and
promoting remembrance and
remembering the veterans and the
sacrifices they made,” she said.
To find out more about joining a
local Legion branch, speak to any
comrade.
McDonald expects to be officially
installed in her role during the
Branch’s June 3 meeting.
McDonald has been a member of
the Royal Canadian Legion for
nearly 40 years.
“My father was a veteran and he
was a part of Legion in Mitchell,”
she said. “That is where I joined. It
was my husband that was a member
of the Brussels Legion and he was
asked to go on the executive.
“At that time, the Legion was
struggling financially, as it has for
many years,” she said. “He was
president and we were talking aboutwhat we could do. I knew that theMitchell Legion had a verysuccessful luncheon program goingon, but I knew we could do Lunch. Ifigured, why don’t we try supperinstead.”McDonald started the Friday nightdinner program shortly after. “At the start, it was just little
things like chili and a bun, beef stew
or whatever,” she said. “Between the
dinners and my husband’s role, I just
kept getting involved more and my
involvement has blossomed into
what it is today.”
McDonald said that she enjoys the
work she does because most times it
doesn’t seem like work.
“When you’re having fun while
you’re working, it doesn’t seem like
working,” she said. “I guess I’m just
the kind of person that, since I’m
involved, I get completely invested
in something. It’s a good thing
because that’s when things get fun,
but I guess it’s a downfall in that it
keeps me very, very busy since the
Legion isn’t the only thing I’m
involved in.”
McDonald’s favourite role from
her various positions at the Legion is
being a part of the catering team.
“It’s a social thing,” she explained.
“You see a lot of people and you get
to work with a great group.”
When asked about why she got so
fully involved, McDonald said that’s
the best way to experience being a
part of the Royal Canadian Legion.
“A lot of people join the Branch
for varying reasons, maybe it’s
because they have a mother or a
father that’s a veteran or another
family member, but they don’t fully
participate,” she said. “Even if they
supported by coming and finding
one of their interests, whether it’s
sports, catering or starting a new
interest group for younger people, itwould be just great. Once they getinvolved in stuff like that, peoplekind of catch on.”Originally called the CanadianLegion of the British Empire ServiceLeague, the Branch received itscharter on Nov. 2, 1931. Of the 17original charter members, severalfamily names are still recognizable
in today members including Bell,
Elliott, Rutledge, Sellers and
Willis.
Prior to the Branch receiving their
charter, members travelled to Mount
Forest on a monthly basis to attend
meetings. After that, meetings were
held either in the Brussels town hallor in members’ homes.When the second World War brokeout, the registry for the Branchdropped to 13 members, butpersevered until veterans beginreturning from the war.The original president of thebranch was Fred Burchill in 1931.The original branch building was
located in the downtown core of
Brussels and is a part of what is now
known as Huron Country Hardware,
previously Oldfield’s Hardware.
That building was used until the
existing building was completed in
1965.
Morris-Turnberry councillors
learned, at their May 21
meeting, that the cost of policing is
likely to take a substantial jump in
2014.
A letter received from R.A.
Philbin, superintendent, commander
of the Municipal Policing Bureau
stated that the two-year salary freeze
will end in 2014 and salaries are
expected to increase Jan. 1, 2014 by
8.55 per cent to $94,702 for a
provincial constable.
Philbin said council will get an
estimate of 2014 policing costs in
December of this year.
***
To the end of April there had been
just 13 building permits issues for
2013 with a value of $138,350,
reported Steve Fortier, chief building
official. This time last year there had
been 19 permits with a value of more
than $1.5 million.
***
Council learned that a grant it had
applied for from Human Resources
and Skills Development Canada to
upgrade the municipal website had
been turned down. New accessibility
requirements mean the website must
be made accessible for those with
handicaps by Jan. 1, 2014. It will
cost about $3,000 to make the
changes.
***
Council will open discussions
with Huron East over renewal of its
contract to have a portion of Morris
Ward provided with fire protection
from the Brussels fire station.
“At this point it will mean a letter
asking them if they would like to
renew [the contract]” said Nancy
Michie, administrator, clerk-
treasurer.
***
Council approved revised
operating hours for the municipal
office for the summer. During July
and August the office will be
open 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday to
Thursday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on
Fridays.
There also will be one less council
meeting. July will see meetings
on July 2 and 16 but there
will be only one August meeting,
Aug. 6.
***
Council voted to delegate to
Huron County the municipality’s
authority to pass a bylaw in respect
the destruction or injuring of trees in
woodlots.
NORTHSIDE UNITED CHURCH, SEAFORTH
invites you to a
CORONATION TEA &
AUTHENTIC VINTAGE
FASHION SHOW
by Marion Kernighan
Saturday, June 8, 2013
1:30 and 7:00 pm
Seaforth and District Community Centres
• Models (men, women & children)
• Antique cars
• Delicious goodies, tea
and musical entertainment
Makes a great gift.
ALL WELCOME.
TICKETS $25
Tickets available at: NAPA Auto Parts, Blooms n’ Rooms
Allan Carter 519-522-0399
Courtesy of: Anna’s Dress Shoppe “New” Vintage Fashions, Seaforth
Total Image II, Seaforth
Lynda Vincent, McKillop Mutual Insurance, Seaforth
Garden Décor
519-523-4299
414 Queen St.,
Blyth, Ont.
By Denny ScottThe Citizen
By Keith Roulston
The Citizen
Area policing costs
to jump in 2014