HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-06-11, Page 1Blyth Festival is proud to
announce that one of its most
treasured artists has been nominated
for a 2009 Dora Award.
Janet Amos, star of this year’s The
Bootblack Orator by Ted Johns was
nominated for Outstanding
Performance by a Female in the
Independent Theatre Production
Division for her work in The
Gladstone Variations.
The Dora Mavor Moore Award
(also known as the Dora Award) is a
Canadian award presented annually
by the Toronto Alliance for the
Performing Arts which honours
Canadian theatre, dance and opera
productions. Named after Dora
Mavor Moore, who helped establish
Canadian professional theatre, the
award was established on Dec. 13,
1978.
Each winner receives a bronze
statue made from the original by
John Romano.
Amos began her association with
the Blyth Festival in 1977 when she
directed the immortal Blyth
Memorial History Show. Since then
she has been artistic director twice,
1979 - 1984 and 1994 - 1997. Recent
roles as an actor at Blyth Festival
include Cricket and Claudette, Heat
Wave, Barnboozled and Sometime,
Never.
She was assistant professor at the
University of Regina from 2003-
2006 and guest artist at the
University of Ottawa in 2008.
Other nominees with a Blyth
connection include: Rebecca
Picherack, who received two
nominations for her work as a
lighting designer. At Blyth, this
season, she will direct the 2009
Young Company project and is
lighting designer for The Bootblack
Orator and The Mail Order Bride.
Shawn Kerwin (2009 set and
costume designer for Hockey Mom,
Hockey Dad) was nominated for
outstanding costume design.
The playwright of last year’s
Courting Johanna (based on
Hateship, Friendship, Courtship,
Loveship, Marriage by Alice
Munro), Marcia Johnson is
nominated for her work as a librettist
in the Outstanding New
Musical/Opera category. Also
nominated in the Outstanding new
play category was Andrew Moodie
(Eyes of Heaven) and Charlotte
Corbeil Coleman (Young Company).
Waawaate Fobister (Schoolhouse)
was nominated in the Outstanding
Performance by a Male in a
Principal Role and Lyne Coleman
was nominated for Outstanding New
Play/Musical for Tijuana Cure.
Winners will be announced at a
30th anniversary awards ceremony
at the Elgin and Winter Garden
Theatre Centre on Monday, June 29.
A new look
Was she clowning around or creating a work of art? Justin Morrison, five, settles comfortably
in the chair while Snippity gives him some colour. There was entertainment for young and old
at the annual Brussels Lions elimination draw on Saturday. Following dinner, there were
activities to amuse the little ones, entertainment by local musician Lyndon John and his reggae
band, while the adults eagerly awaited the countdown to the winning ticket. (Vicky Bremner photo)
The challenge that Huron East is
facing regarding a proposal for wind
turbines was brought to county
council’s June 3 meeting.
Huron East councillor Joe Seili
told of the opposition coming to his
council and noted they had been
getting some help from the planning
department in trying to find answers.
However, Seili wondered if the
county couldn’t take the initiative in
an interim control bylaw until all of
the issues, particularly those of
health concerns, could be cleared up.
Seili went so far as to say that
there have been threats made against
the person proposing the project to
the point where they feel they can’t
have the individual make a
presentation as they “can’t guarantee
his safety.”
Bert Dykstra, councillor for
Central Huron, felt that a county
bylaw wasn’t going to help as the
Green Energy Act takes precedence
over any county bylaw.
Councillor Ben Van Diepenbeek
of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh
said, “I understand that the province
is letting out requests for proposals
in the next few months. But the
province has also promised
consultation.”
Seili said that the delegation
attending Huron East council are
well informed about the Green
Energy Act, but are still requesting
the municipality move forward on
what would essentially be a
moratorium to stop the placement of
turbines. “If we go as each
municipality to the province it’s
divide and conquer,” said Seili.
“They may listen to a united front.”
Seili reminded that there are many
issues coming to light about the
turbines that need to be considered.
“If we sit and do nothing we could
be left to clean up the bill.”
Deb Shewfelt, Goderich
councillor, said that an
environmental assessment would be
required prior to the construction of
any wind turbines. What troubled
him more was the earlier comment
by Seili. “It’s disturbing to hear you
can’t protect someone who wants to
present to council. This is a free
country.”
Director of planning for the
county Scott Tousaw explained that
there really was little the county
could do at this point. An interim
control bylaw is a zoning issue and
the county would need a supporting
resolution from each municipality to
upload the bylaw to the county.
However, he promised to
investigate further and bring back a
report to committee of the whole.
He added that there have been a lot
of questions posed to the province
that they have not been able to
answer.
Warden Ken Oke of South Huron
said that a bylaw could land the
county in court and cost a lot of
money.
“We have to let the province know
though that these people are upset
and we have to look and analyze
what the effects are.”
Seili said that was all he was
asking for. “These people are not
angry about the turbines. They want
to have the health impacts studied
and find out what it does to the value
of property.”
Van Diepenbeek said there had
been a presentation at his
council that showed one turbine isn’t
the issue, it’s when they are
clustered around homes that there’s
a problem.
He also noted that the cables
should be buried. “That’s where
stray voltages are coming from, not
from the turbines.”
There was to be further discussion
at the June 10 committee of the
whole.
Morris-Turnberry mayor Dorothy
Kelly announced her intention at the
June 3 meeting to seek the chair of
Huron County warden for the next
term.
Kelly who ran two years ago and
lost to Central Huron councillor
John Bezaire feels she is better
prepared for the demands of the
position now.
“My years on county council have
been a tremendous benefit and two
years ago I was less ready than I am
now. I think I’m better seasoned to
take this on.”
Kelly didn’t try for the position
last year because of personal issues
in her life. “But things are in place
now and it’s time to run again. I
think I can work in the demands of
this job to the time I have.”
If she wins, Kelly said the biggest
issue will be the service review. “I
think county has done well in
keeping the levy down and keeping
our thoughts on the ratepayers, but
there’s more work to be done.”
“My interest has always been in
municipal and county government.
This is a good opportunity to do
more.”
Amos nominated
for Dora Award
CitizenTh
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$1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, June 11, 2009
Volume 25 No. 23THEATRE- Pg. 19Stratford’s ‘Sisters’weighs heavy at times NEWS - Pg. 19 Blyth’s artistic directorleads PACTCOMMUNITY- Pg. 2Walton couple wins big atelimination drawPublications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 PAP Registration No. 09244 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0INSIDE THIS WEEK:
Kelly sets sights
on warden’s chair
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen
Huron East mayor seeks county support
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen