The Citizen, 2009-12-17, Page 21The effect of banning bottledwater in Avon Maitland DistrictSchool Board facilities could range
from heightened levels of diabetes
and obesity, decreased job
opportunities, and diverting school
board resources away from more
important initiatives.
At least that’s the message trustees
heard at a regular meeting Tuesday,
Dec. 8, from the director of
corporate affairs for Canada’s largest
bottled water producer.
“We find it unconscionable that
the Avon Maitland District School
Board . . . is removing the most
healthful beverage available to
young people,” argued Nestle WatersCanada representative JohnChallinor, in a public delegation tothe board.Speaking to reporters after hispresentation, Challinor explained he
asked to speak to the board in
August, 2009, following the
submission of a recommendation for
the ban from an environmental-
themed subcommittee composed of
representatives from teaching staff,
administration, trustees and students.
His request was not granted at that
time, and in November, trustees
voted in favour of the
recommendation.
A subsequent request to appear
before the board was then granted.
“We’re very concerned about the
image this (ban) creates in thiscommunity about this product,”Challinor told reporters. He stressedhis company doesn’t even sellbottled water in school vendingmachines, but Nestle Waters Canada
is a leading member of a nationwide
association of bottlers and that
association is definitely opposed to
the ban.
Among concerns expressed by
Challinor in his presentation, he
suggested bottled water does not
compete with tap water brought to
school in re-useable containers –
something he suggests the ban is
meant to promote.
Instead, it competes against
calorie-rich nutrient drinks and fruit
punches.
And he argues students will opt forthose once bottled water is removedeffective Jan. 1.He also suggested the boardapproved the ban in an effort todecrease the amount of waste going
to landfills from schools. He told
trustees the bottled water industry is
a leader in helping institutions and
municipalities create effective
recycling systems, and offered
assistance in doing the same for the
Avon Maitland board.
Trustees, however, seemed
unmoved by Challinor’s request for
a reversal of the ban. And they
suggested Nestle Waters Canada –
by concentrating on the recycling
goals of the recommendation – had
missed the point of the ban.
“It’s widely regarded in somecircles that bottling water is a humanright,” said Huron East/CentralHuron representative WilheminaLaurie, referring to the NestleWaters Canada position. Laurie’s
view, by contrast, is that “in a
number of countries, access to clean
tap water has been declared a human
right” and Canada’s failure to do so
leaves the door open for water
bottling companies to treat water as
a commodity.
South Huron trustee Randy
Wagler, meanwhile, explained a
large part of the ban is sending a
message to students and staff about
personal use of renewable resources.
“I think (Challinor) missed that
point entirely,” Wagler said.
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2009. PAGE 21. Trustees not swayed by bottled water producer
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By Stew SlaterSpecial to The Citizen
Huron County council received its
annual tourism report at its
committee of the whole meeting on
Dec. 9, which outlined many of the
achievements and struggles that have
faced Huron County tourism in the
past year.
While many of Huron County’s
events have seen similar attendance
numbers as in previous years, or
slightly less in some cases, planner
Cindy Fisher cites the H1N1
outbreak and increased border-
crossing requirements as some of the
reasons tourism has been tough in
Huron County.
In 2010, she said, the county will
have to adapt to the trends they have
seen, which will see a significant
decline in American visitors and that
Canadians are travelling closer to
home.
However, in 2009, keeping with
recent numbers, Huron County saw
approximately 500,000 visitors
come and go throughout the year.
Some of the more successful
events, however, were all culture-
themed, such as the Goderich
Bluesfest, The First Nations
celebration, Taste Of Huron and
Doors Open.
Goderich mayor Deb Shewfelt
said council should keep this in mind
when approaching tourism in
2010 that people seem to be
trending to cultural events in Huron
County.
Huron County’s tourism marketer
Jenna Ujiye says the county’s
internet presence has helped
tourism.
In addition to specific websites
designed for events like Taste Of
Huron, she hopes to design one for
Huron County’s golf courses by
spring 2010.
This new website will be part of
the campaign being kicked off by
Huron County in April, coinciding
with the annual brochure swap,
which is taking place in Clinton this
year.
In addition to the new golf
website, she says she is also working
on a comprehensive business
database for businesses throughout
the county.
Shewfelt suggested that a website
be considered for fishing attractions
throughout the county, similar to the
golf website concept, something
Ujiye said was worth looking into
due to recent attention being paid to
Huron County’s waterways by
fishing publications.
In addition, Huron County was
also featured in En Route
magazine’s food issue, a magazine
produced by Air Canada.
With the circulation and the space
generated by Huron County’s
article, Ujiye said the $600 spent on
expenses for the writer was money
well spent because of the coverage
the county received.
County councillors hear annual tourism story
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
Find bargains
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