HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-04-21, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2011.
M-T advises on
wildlife policy
A great likeness
Paul Josling, centre, was presented with an artistic rendering of his years in the fire service
over the weekend after a ceremony at the Blyth and District Community Centre. The portrait
features Josling during different stages in his firefighting career centred around a likeness of
him and his son Jeff, left. The celebration was organized by the Blyth Firefighters Association,
of which Robb Finch, right, is the president. (Photo submitted)
Josling honoured for his Blyth fire service
Some recognition
Former Blyth fire chief Paul Josling, right, was honoured by
the Fire Fighters’ Association of Ontario (FFAO) at a
celebration of his years in the fire service on Saturday at
the Blyth and District Community Centre. Josling received
best wishes from the FFAO from representative Darren
Storey, left, who presented Josling with a letter from FFAO
president Carl Pearson. (Vicky Bremner photo)
Dozens of people, from close to
home and across the province
gathered at Blyth and District
Community Centre, Saturday to
honour Paul Josling for his 37 years
of service to the Blyth and District
Fire Department.
There was a long list of people
speaking about retired Chief
Josling’s contributions or sending
messages if they couldn’t attend.
In a message read by Jeff Howson,
chair for the program, John Stewart,
former clerk-treasurer of Blyth and
later administrator for the Township
of North Huron, said “I remember
that during our budget deliberations
you always put the safety of your
men first,” in asking for proper
equipment.
It was a message repeated by Marg
Anderson, Central Huron Councillor
and the last chair of the Blyth and
District Fire Area Board before thedepartment was taken over byTownship of North Huron.
Ben Lobb, MP for Huron-Bruce
said he knew how much time
volunteer firefighters put into their
jobs. “We need more people like
Paul,” he said. “Blyth is remarkable
because of people like Paul, who
have done so much.”
Marty Bedard, fire chief of the
Huron East department praised the
work Josling had done as Huron
County Mutual Aid Co-ordinator
and said the 340 firefighters in
Huron County thank him for his
contribution.
Darren Storey of the Firefighters’
Association of Ontario (FFAO)
recalled Josling had been a
great host when the FFAO
conventions had been held in
Blyth in 2001, 2004, 2007 and
2010.
He said he had been in Blyth many
times and in speaking with members
of the department had never heard acomplaint about Josling’sleadership, something he often heard
in speaking with members of other
departments.
Liz Brown, a Huron County
paramedic, sent a note that she
remembered initally meeting Josling
when she came to give first response
training to Blyth firefighters 15 years
ago. She praised his leadership of the
department and said “your
department became affectionately
known as ‘my boys’.”
Brown said she was honouredwhen approached to by Josling to bea member of the board of the Dave
Mounsey Memorial Fund, set up in
memory the late OPP officer and
Blyth volunteer firefighter.
OPP Officer Patrick Armstrong,
founder of the fund recalled how
Dave Mounsey couldn’t stop talking
about his experience with the fire
department. At Mounsey’s funeral,
after being killed on police duty in
2006, Josling had delivered the
eulogy.
“The Dave Mounsey MemorialFund wouldn’t be here withoutPaul,” Armstrong said. After meeting
him, “I see what a role model, a great
leader and what a man, is supposed
to be.”
In thanking everyone for their kind
remarks, Josling said: “They say a
man is judged by his friends. I’m
rich.
“You’re the best,” he said to his
former comrades. “I love every one
of you. I appreciate what you’ve
done for me.”
Acting on the recommendations of
its animal control officer, Morris-
Turnberry will send
recommendations to the province on
its Wildlife Discussion Paper.
At their April 5 meting,
councillors considered a draft letter
suggesting changes to proposals
circulated by the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Bob Trick had suggested council
comment on the paper when he gave
his annual report at the March 22
meeting.
Among concerns in the letter was
a proposal that every person
claiming damage to livestock
from wild predators must have
a valid premise identification
number. Council felt this is a
duplication of the 911 address
that already identifies each
property.
The letter also state concerns
about a reference to the
Environmental Farm Plan and asked
if each farmer had to have completed
a plan in order to be eligible for
compensation.
The letter asked the province to
ensure a mechanism is established to
increase the value per animal as
market value increases, not adopt a
flat rate that may be unfair in the
future.
In their discussion, councillors
expressed concern about the loss of
crop value farmers suffer at the
hands of wildlife. Councillor John
Smuck noted that if a farmer loses
three acres at the back of his farm to
damage from turkeys or deer, at
today’s corn prices that could be a
loss of $3,000 income. “They need
to cover crop losses as well as
livestock losses,” he said.
But Councillor Jamie Heffer, a
former livestock evaluator,
suggested that combining the two
issues in the suggestion to
government might mean a loss for
both crops and livestock farmers.
Mayor Paul Gowing noted that
there seemed to be little sensitivity
on the part of the Ministry of Natural
Resources in introducing species
that can damage crops. There was
consultation with hunters in
reintroducing wild turkeys but no
concern for farmers, he said.
By Keith RoulstonThe Citizen