The Citizen, 2011-09-22, Page 17THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011. PAGE 17.
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Local ladies experience the thrill of skydiving
We have experienced a real mix
bag of weather the past week. Some
beautifully warm days that reminded
us of our hot summer. Morning
arrives and it’s time to put a sweater
on to fend off the cool breeze. Then
a little rain to moisten up the ground
and then some more nice days. Then
back to the cool again.
Jim and Leona Armstrong had
company from the east coast last
week. Their niece Charlene and
husband Gary Carpentier and
children Nicki and Matthew were
visiting from Halifax for five days.
They attended the 50th anniversary
of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and
Hobby Association and visited with
the Campbell relatives around Blyth.
They took in a Blue Jays game upon
arriving in Toronto the first day and
then headed west to our area.
They toured the sites of the area,
keeping very busy before they left
for home. Charlene is the daughter
of Leona’s sister, Joan of Nova
Scotia.
We send our get-well wishes to
Stan Bentley who is home from
hospital after having major surgery.
He is happy to be home after
spending over two weeks in hospital.He is very tired and has a long wayto go in his recovery but he is glad tobe home.Jim and Leona Armstrong
attended Jim’s class reunion last
Wednesday. Jim graduated from the
Ontario Agriculture College in 1953
and the group has gathered every
year since. They meet all over
Ontario and this year they met at the
Stone Crock Inn for a luncheon and
a tour.
Welcome back to Neil and Ruth
Schade who have returned from a
trip to Calgary. They went to visit
with Ruth’s twin siblings, 88-year-
old Gladys in Calgary and Glenn,
who lives in Lethbridge. Glenn’s son
brought him to Calgary to visit with
Neil and Ruth. They did very little
but enjoyed the visits. Neil went
walking several times a day to see
the neighbourhood. Ruth went one
day to have her hair done and it cost
only $27 for a shampoo and set.
The Schades returned from their
trip to their new surroundings. While
the couple was away, the children
moved them into their new home.
They are now residing in the
Campbell condo on King street.
Ruth reports that they are very nice
and yes the furniture is there, but
maybe not in all the right places just
yet.
Returning from a 10-day trip to
Bermuda is Lily Fincham and her
daughter Valerie Gratto. They flew
to Florida to board their cruise ship,
the Celebrity Summit and headed for
Bermuda. The ship was absolutely
beautiful and the food outstanding.
There were 40 different nationalitiesamong the staff. The weather waswarm, but very humid. The beds areturned down every evening and achocolate was left on the pillow. Lily
reports that tea and biscuits were
brought to the room before retiring –
just a quick phone call and it arrived
in moments. The ship stopped at the
port of Hamilton and it is a very
lovely city.
Lily reports that gas was $9.25 a
gallon and a bucket of KFC chicken
was $39.95. There were 163
churches on the island and 157
buses. The restaurants were very
expensive, so most folks would
return to the ship for their meals.
They took a five-hour tour of
Hamilton and St. George and report
that the houses are all beautifully
painted in pastel colours. They
report seeing one that was puce
green and another deep purple. Actor
Michael Douglas has an estate there
and they were able to see on the
property, a Zeta Jones nude statue
seated on a bench that she gave him
for his birthday. They saw the
smallest bridge in the world – 22
inches wide and ‘doggie potties’ –
stations with free plastic bags for
droppings. Valerie had a great time
using local taxis and very fast buses
to explore the area and take pictures.
Here are some facts of interest
about the education system in
Bermuda. All children must wear
school uniforms and must attend
school or families are penalized.
Education is free from kindergarten
to college. It is compulsory that
graduates serve a three-year army
term. The ladies report having a tripof a lifetime, a marvelous time andappreciate the Great CanadianTours.Gord and Dale Finch along with
Neil and Joan Beuermann enjoyed a
fantastic trip to Newfoundland last
month. They flew to St. John’s and
then rented a car. They travelled
around the island for 10 days and
had some really interesting
experiences at some of the cottages
they stayed at. They met a couple in
St. John’s who invited them for
supper their last night and threw a
big party for them with over 30 of
their family and friends to meet
them. They had jig’s supper, which
is everything goes into the pot to
cook as well as turkey. They report it
is an awesome place to see and the
people are very friendly and
welcoming.
Three area ladies had an
experience of a lifetime on the
weekend. They went sky diving.
Gail Semple, Pam McLean and
Rachel Elliott and two friends
wanted to experience the thrill of
jumping out of an airplane, so they
did. They went to the other side of
Toronto for the adventure. They
jumped with an instructor and Gail
reports somersaulting out of the
plane. Awesome!
It was quite a party for an early
celebration of Dave Smith’s
birthday. Guests were invited to
arrive after 2 p.m. and played golf or
just socialized. They enjoyed plenty
of food at the chalet and a great time.
It was a nicer time of year to party
because Dave’s birthday is in
January. It will be just a few more
months and Dave will be a half-
century old.
Updates on our folks not feeling
so well. Barry Hoegy came home
from hospital but has returned to
hospital. He is in Stratford Hospital
at this time and is waiting further
tests. Doreen Hackwell is still in
Seaforth Hospital.
Celebrating birthdays this past
week include Adam Baan, Val
Kirkby, Nick and James Durrell,
Stephen Bachert, Steve Wharton,
Brooke Leslie Ribey, Indre McCall
MacBain, Matthew Ryan, Emma
Strome, Ben Driscoll, Heather Kelso
and Bruce Whitmore. Happy
birthday to all.
By Jo-Ann
McDonald
Call
887-6570
PEOPLE AROUNDWALTON
NEWS
FROM WALTON
School board launches equity,inclusivity strategy
The Avon Maitland District
School Board (AMDSB) is pursuing
an equity and inclusivity strategy to
affect all levels of board and school
operations. Presented by
Superintendent of Education,
learning services, Peggy Blair at the
AMDSB Sept. 13 meeting, the
strategy includes the following
elements of diversity for protection:
race, ancestry, culture, ethnicity,
gender, gender identity, language,
physical and intellectual ability,
religious affiliation, sexual
orientation, and socio-economic
status. In an interview after the
meeting, Blair said schools will
determine which element or
elements of diversity they will focus
on.
Equity and Inclusivity Education
(EIE), as set by the Ministry of
Education in several documents, has
been chosen as the AMDSB’s BIG
idea for the 2011-2012 school year.
A BIG idea is one which is taught
throughout the curriculum across
different subjects. Previous BIG
ideas included responsibility
and respect.
Blair’s report said the rationale for
choosing EIE as the BIG idea is “the
moral imperative of bringing about
equitable outcomes for both students
and staff who have elements of
diversity.”
Speaking after the meeting, Blair
said schools will define what an
equitable outcome is, as well as
decide how to measure progress
towards that outcome. Work on EIE
will become part of school
achievement plans (SAP) and board
achievement plans (BAP). Blair said
the AMDSB will also examine
diversity in its own staff. The board
will work with its human resources
department and consult other school
boards to see how any issues could
be addressed.
The report also states that the
board will look for any systemic bias
in how students are evaluated.
Kim Black, superintendent of
education, curriculum, said that
could be a matter of finding a better
way to evaluate a student who can
speak, but can’t write.
Blair reported to trustees that an
Equity Working Committee had
already completed two required
administrative procedures: one on
EIE and one on religious
accommodation. Trustee Colleen
Schenk asked what kind of religious
accommodation is anticipated. Blair
answered that one possibility might
be a modesty requirement where a
student must wear pants instead of
shorts in gym class, or considering
the needs of students who are fasting
when scheduling exams.
Blair said a staff survey on
diversity will be completed toward
the end of the school year and
analyzed.
Work with students on EIE will
include work around safe schools,
gathering student perceptions
on bullying and the treatment of
others.
Blair said the multi-year strategy
is still in early stages.“
Williams celebrate a half-century of bliss
September 1 marked the 50th
anniversary of Margaret “Jean” Hall
and John “Grant” Williams of
Brussels.
Jean, the daughter of Grace and
Edgar Hall of Mimico, Ontario, and
Grant, the son of Ena and George
Williams of Port Huron, Michigan,
were wed on Sept. 1, 1951 at St.
Margaret’s Anglican Church in New
Toronto by the Reverend Dwelly. In
attendance were relatives and
friends.
Their honeymoon took them to
Windsor and Port Huron before they
returned to live in New Toronto.
The couple moved from New
Toronto to Hornby, then to Lorne
Park, then Wingham, followed by
Acton and finally moved into
Brussels.
Grant was a police officer and a
farmer over the years while Jean
was a housewife and manager of the
Salvation Army Thrift Store in
Acton.
The couple both retired in the mid
1990s, with Grant retiring in 1995
and Jean following suit in 1996.
They have three children; Mary
(Frank Stretton), Edgar (Angie) and
Les (Brenda)
They also have 10 grandchildren
Margaret (Dave Speer), Grant
(Cindy) Jarvis, Lesley and Brendan
Stretton, Harmony, Spencer,
Meaghan, Garret, Justine and Ryan
Williams, as well as two great-
grandsons, Ben and James Speer.
Both Grant and Jean are members
of the Salvation Army in Wingham.
The celebration was held at
the Fireside Café outside of
Wingham.
Fifty years
Margaret “Jean” and John “Grant” Williams of Brussels
celebrated the 50th anniversary of their wedding day on
Sept. 1. (Vicky Bremner photo)
By Madelaine Higgins
This week at St. Anne’s Catholic
Secondary School students became
more comfortable with the new
learning environment and began to
get back into the school year routine.
On Wednesday, Sept. 14, St.
Anne’s held a co-curricular fair
where each and every club, team and
group at the school was represented
to promote students getting involved
in school and putting their “hands
up” to the many opportunities that
high school has to offer.
During this week, school spirit
and individual spirituality were
revived. On Thursday, Sept. 15,
Father Chris led the student body
and staff in the celebration of the
school’s opening Mass, which was
accompanied by the lively choir and
St. Anne’s Christian Rock Band.
Both the cross country team and
the field hockey team began their
sports seasons this week, as the field
hockey girls headed to Goderich for
their first game on Sept. 14, and the
cross country runners travelled to
London for a meet on Thursday,
Sept. 15.
Next week, the hustle and bustle
of the school year will continue, and
the “Help Clean up
Goderich/Benmiller” campaign is
still in progress, in order to offer the
community a helping hand.
School holds fair to promote participation
By Rita Marshall
Special to The Citizen