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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-08-23, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012. REPRINTS OF PHOTOS taken by Citizen photographers are available to purchase. ALL ARE IN COLOUR 4x6 - $4.00 5x7 - $5.00 8x10 - $8.00 Phone to order ~ 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 YMCA contract does not address competition issueWhat Central Huron Council perceived as a no-competition clause between area gyms and the local YMCA was discussed with no clear resolution at the Aug. 13 meeting of council. Representatives from the YMCAsaid they would do their best toresolve any issues with other gymsin the municipality (namely Curves and The County Club), but also confirmed that once the agreement was signed, council no longer had the power to dictate programming to the YMCA. Councillors stated that they feltthey had a good handle on what wasdiscussed with the YMCA before anagreement was signed and that those discussions explicitly involved a no- competition clause. Kathi Lomas-McGee, senior vice- president of operations for the local YMCA, told councillors that an assessment was done when theYMCA was brought on in 2010 andorganizers worked from thatassessment to provide programming in Clinton. Because Zumba, a Colombian dance fitness program that combines the worlds of dance and aerobics and incorporates elements of hip-hop, soca, samba, merengue, mambo,martial arts, Bollywood dancing,belly dancing, squats and lunges,was not offered in the community in 2010, YMCA programmers made it part of the future for the centre. However by the time the YMCA had implemented the program in the fall of 2011, Clinton’s Curves had already started the program in the spring. In the minds of some, this was seen as a violation of the agreement signed by the municipality and the YMCA. Because Zumba was not offered elsewhere in 2010, Lomas-McGee said, it was scheduled to be part of the centre’s programming in 2011. In the meantime, however, the program began running at Curves. Councillor Alison Lobb, who was chairing the meeting in the absence of Mayor Jim Ginn, who declared a conflict of interest on the discussion, said it was her opinion, and the opinion of several other councillors, that there would be no interference whatsoever. “We thought you had agreed to be non-competitive,” Lobb said. Lomas-McGee said she and other organizers were very careful not to duplicate programs that were being offered at the time of the assessment in 2010. Tanya Dykstra, owner of Curves, said it seemed like a long time to have a program “waiting” to be rolled out. Dykstra said that if the YMCA was to offer the exact same programming as Curves, her gym simply couldn’t compete for a variety of reasons. Ray Garon of The County Club pointed out that the YMCA, as a charitable organization, doesn’t have to charge HST, as the other two businesses do. “We have to pay everything and they don’t,” he said. Councillor Dan Colquhoun, however, felt the issue was rather black and white, saying the YMCA agreed not to compete with existing municipal fitness centres and that it was as simple as that. Councillor Alex Westerhout agreed, saying that the YMCA should simply cancel its once-a- week Zumba class and proceed from there. Councillor Marg Anderson asked if it would be possible for the YMCA to check with Curves and The County Club before rolling out a new program. Garon said he has his programming for the next year scheduled, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to co-ordinate programming between the three organizations. Lobb, however, said councillors knew what they were agreeing too, but the contract didn’t spell it out and that responsibility falls back on the municipality. “We were very clear, but the contract doesn’t make that clear,” Lobb said. Garon, however, felt that everyone in the equation was coming to the MIKAYLA ALLEN Mikayla is the daughter of Don and Catherine Allen of Blyth. An Ontario Scholar from St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School, Mikayla will be attending the University of Western Ontario in the fall. ERICA BOS An Ontario Scholar from St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School, Erica is the daughter of John and Tina Bos of Auburn. She will be attending Georgian College in the fall. MARC DERY The son of Alain and Barb Dery of Londesborough, Marc, is an Ontario Scholar from St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School. Marc is planning on attending Algonquin College in the fall. ANNE MARIE DYKSTRA Anne is the daughter of John and Elaine Dykstra of Londesborough. This Ontario Scholar is a St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School graduate who will be returning to St. Anne’s to further her education in the fall. SARAH GERBER A St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School Ontario Scholar, Sarah is heading to Wilfrid Laurier University in the fall. She is the daughter of Josef and Susan Gerber of Walton. CASSIE HENRY Ontario Scholar Cassie is the daughter of Mike and Sandy Henry of Blyth. In the fall, this St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School graduate will be attending Elegance School in London. ALICIA MIDDEGAAL Alicia will be going to the University of Guelph in the fall. This St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School graduate is an Ontario Scholar and daughter of Bert Middegaal and Barb Forbes of Londesborough. MCKALA MIDDEGAAL McKala is the daughter of Bert Middegaal and Barb Forbes of Londesborough. An Ontario Scholar from St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School, McKala will be entering the workforce in the fall. JOLANDE OUDSHOORN An Ontario Scholar from St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School, Jolande is the daughter of Marita and Peter Oudshoorn of Auburn. She will be returning to St. Anne’s in the fall to further her education. MARIJKE OUDSHOORN The daughter of Marita and Peter Oudshoorn of Auburn, Marijke is an Ontario Scholar from St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School. She is going to be attending Ridgetown College in the fall. LINAYA POT Linaya is the daughter of Freddy and Lisa Pot of Auburn. This Ontario Scholar is a St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School graduate who will be studying at the University of Guelph in the fall. EMILY UYL A St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School Ontario Scholar, Emily is heading to Wilfrid Laurier University in the fall. Emily is the daughter of John and Ruth Uyl of Blyth. SHEREE UYL Ontario Scholar Sheree is the daughter of Peter and Linda Uyl of Blyth. In the fall, this St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School graduate will head to Fanshawe College. LAURA VAN SCHAIK Laura, a St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School graduate and Ontario Scholar will be attending Trent University in the fall. She is the daughter of Ellen and Henk Van Schaik of Blyth. BROOKLYN VERCRUYSEN Brooklyn is the daughter of Ron and Jacqui of Blyth. An Ontario Scholar from St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School, Brooklyn will be attending Trent University in the fall. AMBER CLAASEN An Ontario Scholar from St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School, Amber is the daughter of Garry and Maria Claasen of Belgrave. She will be returning to St. Anne’s in the fall to further her education. RAFFAELE IPPOLITO The son of Angelo and Camilla Ippolito of Belgrave, Raffaele is an Ontario Scholar from St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School. He will be returning to St. Anne’s in the fall. HANNAH MCCUTCHEON Hannah is the daughter of Gary and Jane McCutcheon of Brussels. Hannah, an Ontario Scholar from St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School, will be attending the University of Waterloo in the fall. NATHAN WHARTON A St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School Ontario Scholar, Nathan will be entering the workforce in the fall. Nathan is the son of Steve and Julie Wharton of Belgrave. St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School Ontario Scholars Got Married... 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 Share your news by placing your announcement in The CitizenCall for pricing & details Continued on page 23 By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen