HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-09-15, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2011. PAGE 19.
Donation
Nicole Noble, right, of the Brussels Agricultural Society
accepted a $500 donation to the society from TD Canada
Trust in Wingham. Noble completed 40 hours of volunteer
work there and received the donation from branch manager
Cheryl Ryan, left. (Photo submitted)
Training Centre celebrates grand opening
The expansion of the Emergency
Services Training Centre is complete
with the new technology building
being officially opened on Sept. 9.
The building, which will house
apparatus, classrooms and
washrooms and showers, and can
double as a command centre for
emergency situations, welcomed
visitors and dignitaries for a “hose
uncoupling” ceremony to mark the
completion of the project.
Huron-Bruce Member of
Parliament Ben Lobb commented
that the building, which was
constructed with funds made
available through the Community
Adjustment Fund, a part of the
Federal Economic Action Plan, was
truly a great investment for Blyth
and North Huron.
He stated that recent emergency
situations showed how important the
work of emergency workers,
volunteer or otherwise, is.
“[The tornado that recently
touched down in] Goderich proves
fire departments from all over the
county will contribute when there is
an emergency,” Lobb said. “Every
single fire department in HuronCounty worked well togetherbecause of training locations like
this. These dollars are being invested
wisely.”
Reeve Neil Vincent brought
congratulations both from North
Huron Council and Huron County as
Warden.
He stated that the project isn’t just
a North Huron or Huron County
project, but one that will be used by
many firefighters and emergency
service workers from southwestern
Ontario and beyond.
“This centre is adaptable to all
kinds of emergency services
training,” Vincent said. “We were
missing this kind of training
opportunity before and this will
greatly advance us.”
Vincent also stated he would
encourage the township to do a
better job of publicizing the
centre.
Fire Protection Officer Thom
Evered from the Ontario office of
the Fire Marshal, said that, two years
ago, he was impressed with what the
centre had to offer, and said this
evolution is one he is happy to be
able to celebrate.
Fire Department of North Huron
Chief John Black said it was great tohave so many people on hand for thecelebration, and said that the centre
would encourage to strive for
excellence to equip emergency
services worker with the best
training available.
Black gave a history of the centre,
explaining that seven years ago it
was started because an instructor at
the Ontario Fire College in
Gravenhurst, of which the ESTC is
now a satellite campus, suggested
firefighters from Blyth set up their
own training grounds.
“In seven years, we’ve gone from
a few small props to what we have
now,” Black said.
He also thanked those who had
made the centre possible, singling
out former Blyth Fire Chief Paul
Josling for his work in bringing the
centre into being and the Sparling
family for the donation of the land
on which the centre sits as well as
for being active members of the fire
department.
Black said that the building will
greatly enhance the ability of the
centre to train by allowing year-
round courses, and, with 40 fully
accredited courses on the schedule,
the first year with the new
technology building is going to be a
big one.
The year will also be a big one for
the community, according to Black,
who said that Blyth and area will see
great returns from having the centre
located close by.
“The people taking the course here
will stay at the hotels, motels and
bed and breakfasts around here,” he
said. “They will eat at our
restaurants and return with their
family to camp or see a play.”
Rev. Gary Clark of the Blyth
United Church, who was recently
named the chaplain of the Fire
Department of North Huron,commenced the opening ceremonywith a prayer conveying his sincerest
hopes that the people who received
training and worked in the buildingwould go on to serve theircommunity and also concluded the
ceremony.
By Denny ScottThe Citizen
No ribbons here
Instead of cutting a ribbon, Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb and
Huron County Warden Neil Vincent uncoupled a fire hose
to officially open the new technology building at the
Emergency Services Training Centre. The uncoupling
ceremony took place on Friday, Sept. 9. (Denny Scott photo)
Brussels Library to be
renovated, expanded
Continued from page 1
main street is not.”
MacLellan continued, saying that
in the long run, the renovation and
expansion option may cost Huron
East slightly more money, but he
said it was worth it.
MacLellan said there were five
different proposals considered at the
Aug. 24 meeting, but the accepted
concept was to put an addition on
the back of the existing library. That
option, MacLellan said, would make
the library accessible without need
for a lift, an elevator or an excessive
ramp.
To proceed, MacLellan said a
committee would be appointed to
deal with Rutledge when the library
reached the planning stage.
“We should talk to John, tell him
what we hope to have when we’re
done,” MacLellan said. “We’ll give
him some instructions on what we
want and what we want to see
coming back.”
Brussels Councillor Frank
Stretton, who had been sworn in
mere hours earlier, said he would
like to see Huron County Librarian
Meighan Wark attend some of the
planning sessions as well.
Because the renovation will have
to last for some time, Stretton said,
it would be helpful to know the
inside of the library is being
redesigned to code and that it won’t
need further redesign one or two
years down the road.
After the discussion, council
took a vote to renovate and
expand the existing Brussels Library
and the motion was officially
passed.