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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2009-11-05, Page 23The participation of St. Anne’sCatholic Secondary School in theMe to We organization, whichalready inspired a group of 18 students to travel to Kenya this past summer to help build a school, will again be highlighted Nov. 6 with a presentation from a former child soldier from Central Africa. Michel Chikwanine, who was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is now a speaker with Me to We, headed by well-known Canadian activists Craig and Marc Kielburger. The organization, which operates in conjunction with international aid group Free the Children, works with schoolchildren across the country to inspire them to think about the worldaround them.Chikwanine will address the St.Anne’s student body, as well asrepresentatives from other schools inthe Huron-Perth Catholic DistrictSchool Board, at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6. “Michel has endured obstacles and challenges that no one should ever have to face in their lifetime,” states a news release from Jodi Kuran, principal of the Clinton secondary school. “He was, most recently, a passionate speaker at We Day in Vancouver where 16,000 youth gathered to take action and change the world.” It was a similar presentation – that time by Marc Kielburger – that inspired last summer’s school- building trip by 18 St. Anne’s students and three adult chaperones.The students raised $8,500following a 2008 visit from the Meto We co-founder, then travelled toassist Free the Children in theconstruction of an elementary schoolin Kenya’s Maasi Mara region. On Monday, Oct. 26, during a regular Huron-Perth board meeting, Kuran and fellow chaperone Father John Jassica of Goderich, along with two of the student participants, presented a video and spoke about their experiences. “I’ve been to a lot of great places of the church and of the faith but, to me, this was a life-changing experience,” Fr. Jassica told trustees. And participant Andre Egli spokeabout realizing how little mostKenyan people have in comparisonto the average Canadian, and aboutre-evaluating what’s important in hislife.The video is being shown at feeder elementary schools for St. Anne’s, as well as for Huron County organizations that assisted during thefundraising drive.According to Kuran, the St.Anne’s Me to We group hascommitted to an even greaterfundraising goal for its next project:helping Free the Children construct a secondary school in the same district as the new elementary school. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2009. PAGE 23. Following an extensive period of legal wrangling and negotiations, school boards in Ontario have learned the specifics about the financial hit they’ll take as a result of changed copyright rules for student research materials. “For some boards, it’s into the millions of dollars,” claimed Huron- Perth Catholic District School Board business superintendent Gerry Thuss. Since 1988 in Canada, a not-for- profit organization called Access Copyright – governed by representatives from the publishing industry – has administered the billing of copyright fees from school boards and other public agencies. School boards, in general, have been charged on a per-pupil basis. In June, 2009, the Copyright Board of Canada sided with Access Copyright in a long-running fight by school boards to prevent fee increases. As a result, school boards in Ontario were charged retroactively to cover the fees from the time that Access Copyright actually implemented them. In all, that represents an approximate total of $20 million that suddenly became due for payment from school boards across the province. Thankfully for school boards, the Education Ministry announced last week that it will issue one-time payments to cover these retroactive bills. A memorandum from the Ministry, outlining a series of payments that fall outside this year’s Grants for Student Needs funding envelope, reveals the Avon Maitland District School Board will receive $183,259, while the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board will receive $50,008. Thuss cautioned, however, that this is a one-time government grant. From here forward, boards will be responsible for paying the higher copyright fees. And they’ll have to find room in their existing budgets to cover those costs. A report from CKNX Radio Wingham, citing business superintendent Janet Baird-Jackson, suggested the Avon Maitland board will be on the hook for an additional $90,000 per year as a result of the increased fees. In the same report, Baird-Jackson added that Access Copyright continues to hint at plans to increase the fees even more. By Stew SlaterSpecial to The CitizenLocal contribution to be highlighted in presentation By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen School boards to face annual copyright charge Tickets on sale at Blyth Festival Office, Blyth Legion, Ernie King Music (Goderich & Wingham) Credit Card Orders: 1-800-465-7829 www.tommyhunter.com www.rocklandsentertainment.com SAT. JANUARY 23/10 - 2PM BLYTH MEMORIAL HALLLOOK WHO’S TURNING 60! The family of Chris Ten Pas would like to invite everyone to an Open House on Saturday, November 14th, from 1 pm - 4 pm at Huron Chapel Evangelical Missionary Church, 119 John’s Ave, Auburn, ON For more information please contact Dawn Hastings 519-887-6222 or Ben Ten Pas 519-887-9309. Best wishes only, or if you wish bring donations for the Food Bank. Wedding Reception Abigail Mitchell, in the company of her grandparents Ron and Debbie Root and Doug and Janet Mitchell request the honour of your presence at the wedding reception of her parents Tammy Root and Rob Mitchell Saturday, Nov. 7 at 9:00 pm Brussels Community Centre, Brussels Everyone Welcome 80th Birthday Open House forJoyce Lake Sunday, November 15 2-4 pm Maitland Terrace 555 Elm Ave., Listowel Best Wishes Only SSaattuurrddaayy,, NNoovveemmbbeerr 1144 tthh at the Blyth Memorial Hall Lunch booth available by Legion Ladies Auxiliary Sponsored by Living Water Christian Fellowship DDoooorrss ooppeenn 99 aamm -- 33 ppmm CCoommee sshhoopp llooccaallllyy ffoorr CChhrriissttmmaass!! Consultants: Alloette, Avon, Creative Memories, Epicure, M&M Creations, Mary Kay, Noah’s Ark, Healthy Pillows, Pampered Chef, Party Lite, Tasty Treats, Tupperware, Xocai Healthy Chocolate, Regal, Tom Boy Tools, Stampin Up, Barmy Tech, Blyth Festival (Box Office), Discovery Toys, Kidsmart, Steeped Tea, Under The Moon, Heather Dietz Photography, Usborne Books, Signature Home Styles, Fifth Avenue Jewellery. CCoommee bbee oouurr GGuueesstt aatt oouurr HHoommee PPaarrttyy!!