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$1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, September 26, 2013
Volume 29 No. 38
FAIR - Pg. 13Pictures, results fromthe Brussels Fall Fair LEO CLUB - Pg. 28Brussels Leo Clubreceives its charterSPORTS- Pg. 8Local named top pitcher ateastern Canadian tourneyPublications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0INSIDE THIS WEEK:
Smith named project director for 14/19 committee
Meeting
called as
hall faces
closure
They’re lined up
Last week was fair week in Brussels as the Agricultural Society hosted the annual Brussels Fall Fair. The weather was perfect
and attendance was high as hundreds of students from area schools made their way to the Brussels, Morris and Grey
Community Centre for the festivities. To see a full gallery of pictures from the September tradition, visit The Citizen’s website at
www.northhuron.on.ca. (Denny Scott photo)
Peter Smith, who served as interim
artistic director for the Blyth
Festival this season, has been
officially named project director for
the ambitious 14/19 vision for
Blyth.
This announcement comes just
ahead of the creation of a board of
directors for the project, which is
currently underway.
In an interview with The Citizen,
Smith said the decision was made to
move from a committee to a board to
make the project’s hierarchy more
formal.
He said that people in the
community can relate to a board
better, as they’re familiar with
traditional board positions such as
chair, vice-chair, treasurer and
secretary.
While Smith couldn’t go into
detail as to who he has approached
for board positions, he said he plans
on bringing “reputable characters”
aboard the project.
While Smith is currently trying to
spend as much time as he can in
Huron County working on the 14/19
project, the soon-to-be-formed
board’s next meeting will be held on
Oct. 3 in Blyth, at a location that has
yet to be determined.
The reason for the meeting, Smith
says, is to bring Pru Robey of
Artscape to Blyth and have her see
the village and its assets with her
own eyes.
The company’s mandate reads
“Artscape is a not-for-profit
organization that makes space for
creativity and transforms
communities,” according to its
website.
Smith says he has a tremendous
amount of respect for Robey and
Artscape, citing Toronto’s
Wychwood Barns as a particular
source of inspiration.
With the repurposing of the former
Blyth Public School building as one
of the goals of 14/19, Smith
says Artscape was a perfect fit for
that particular aspect of the
campaign.
Robey will be touring the
community on Oct. 2, and Smith
will be hosting a working lunch on
Oct. 3.
In addition to the lunch, Smith
says he’s currently working with the
fundraising committee as well,
ensuring that the $1 million that has
already been raised/pledged, is well
on its way to becoming the project’s
goal of $6 million.
The board is also in the process of
setting up a formal office in Blyth, as
well as a website.
For the latest news on the 14/19
campaign, which aims to renovate
Blyth Memorial Community
Hall, repurpose the former Blyth
Public School building and set
up a fund people can donate
to, keep checking back with The
Citizen.
The closure of the Ethel
Community Centre is a real
possibility unless volunteers come
forward, says Huron East
Councillor Alvin McLellan.
Speaking to the rest of Huron East
Council at its Sept. 17 meeting,
McLellan told councillors that he’d
like to hold a public meeting to
discuss the future of the hall, which
may very well include its closure.
The meeting has been set for the
evening of Thursday, Oct. 3 at 7:30
p.m. at the hall.
McLellan said, in an interview
with The Citizen, that he hopes the
closure of the hall is not in the cards,
but without additional volunteer
power, it certainly could be a
possibility.
McLellan said that when he first
became a councillor, before
amalgamation, Grey’s three halls,
Cranbrook, Ethel and Moncrieff,
had struggled to attract patrons, as
well as volunteers, but they kept
their heads above water.
Over the years, however, residents
“ Almost 100 years ago the Blyth Memorial Community Hall
was built. This is a living cenotaph, where we remember all
those that paid the ultimate sacrifice and to say thank you
to all that have and are serving past and present. We will
remember them. We are pleased to support campaign 14/19.”
ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION AND LADIES AUXILIARY
BRANCH 420, BLYTH
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
Continued on page 22