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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-02-12, Page 24Huron East council was lukewarm to the idea of municipal entrance signs when it was brought up at the Feb. 3 meeting. The idea was initially floated at council’s Jan. 20 meeting concerning a possible program through Huron County where municipalities could enter into an agreement and have uniform signs constructed at county entry points. For Huron East, this would mean six points along the east side of the municipality with five of the six being at Hwy. 8 or further north. The proposed signs would feature the name of the town or hamlet prominently above writing detailing the municipality above a bar with the Ontario’s West Coast logo across the bottom. The signs, at the Huron County level, however, are still subject to final budget approval. Councillor Bill Siemon, however, was still enthusiastic about the proposal. “If we want to get in on this, it’ll never be cheaper than it is now,” Siemon said. “It’s only going to get more expensive and if we do it on [Huron County’s] time, it’s going to get a lot more expensive.” Clerk-administrator Jack McLachlan, who prepared the report for council, has been directed to look further into the proposal and bring his findings back to council. Preliminary estimates for the cost of the signs are $50,000. PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2009. With ratepayers worried about the future of fire service in Morris- Turnberry because of North Huron’s withdrawal from Wingham and Blyth fire area boards, council has decided to hold a public meeting to answer questions. The meeting, Feb. 19 at Bluevale Hall at 7:30 p.m. will bring ratepayers up to date on the current situation, though councillors said they didn’t have many answers to give as they wait for the next development. For instance they have no idea of how much fire service will cost or how much Morris-Turnberry’s share of the capital assets will be on dissolution of the fire area boards. Deputy mayor Jim Nelemans supported the idea of the meeting if ratepayers were given a handout as they arrived, to show people the chain of events leading up to the current situation. “We need to point out we’ve had a gun put to our heads,” he said of North Huron’s decision. “We need to point out we didn’t press the issue. It was North Huron that pressed the issue.” Councillors asked that Howick and North Huron councils also be invited. HE lukewarm on signs M-T public meeting looks at fire service Huron gets economic development awards The County of Huron was nominated for three Ontario Economic Development Awards and took top honours in all three last Thursday evening at the Toronto Mariott Eaton Centre Hotel. In the tourism category Huron received the top awards for the special event with Doors Open Haunted Huron and also received an award of merit for the restyled Ontario’s West Coast Brand. The Huron Economic Development Matters (HEDM) partnership between Huron Business Development Corporation (HBDC) and The County of Huron received the award for best strategic plan in the business development category. The ceremony honours winners and honourable mentions for their efforts in promoting their communities for location andtourism opportunities.Economic Development initiativesare also judged as part of theprocess.This year, over 150 entries were judged, stated 2009 EDCO president Aileen Murray, Ec.DF., The competition allows local communities to see just how they stack up against other municipalities when it comes to promoting location, investment and tourism opportunities. Expert judges reviewed all of the entries that covered everything from promotional brochures to infrastructure development projects. There are judges from specialized areas of expertise assigned to judge specific categories. Rick Sickinger and Jenna Ujiye were on hand to accept the tourism awards and Pam Stanley and warden Ken Oke accepted the HEDM award during the annual conference of the Economic Developers Council of Ontario. “It is an honour to receive this award as the competition is very stiff,” stated Paul Nichol, economic development manager for HBDC. “This competition result demonstrates our effectiveness in our economic development efforts” “It is nice to get recognition for the event, the major significance being that six of the county’s municipalities worked together” said Sickinger, heritage and culturalpartnership co-ordinator. “The eventand now this award are testimony ofwhat we can accomplish when wework together.”The Ontario’s West coast brand has been around for more than 15 years and went through a re-styling process during 2008. “The Ontario’s West Coast Brand is the image for our County and the Huron Tourism Association,” stated Ujiye, tourism marketer for the county. “The recognition of Ontario’s West Coast brand will help to build great tourism profile for the community.” EDCO is the country’s largest provincial economic development association that offers this program as well as professional development opportunities throughout the year. Membership is close to 600 that come from the private and public sector. 404 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4792 541 Turnberry St., Brussels 519-887-9114 The Citizen UNFORGETTABLE CANADA Explore your country, if only in print with this beautifully illustrated tour to 100 destinations across the country from Signal Hill, Newfoundland to the killer whales off the west coast to the Yukon’s Top of the World highway. $29.95 Beautiful Books for your Reading Enjoyment THE BEDSIDE BOOK OF BIRDS Noted Canadian writer Graeme Gibson turns to his love of birds, collecting bird stories from various traditions around the world. Illustrated with international drawings and paintings. $39.95 THE FAMILY BUTTERFLY BOOK Love butterflies? This book’s for you. How to attract butterflies to your garden, make butterfly boxes and cages, identify 40 favourite North American species, even build your own butterfly farm. $20.95 OWEN SOUND: The Port City The story of Owen Sound from 1840 to today. $21.95 ONCE UPON A TIME . . . IN DUNGANNON The community of Dungannon celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2005 by publishing a history of the hamlet and the people of the area including hundreds of photos in the 168 pages, large format. $19.05 THE GIFT OF COUNTRY LIFE Saskatchewan writer Victor Carl Friesen turns his memories of growing up on a small farm in the 1940s into poems. Illustrated by his own photos, he tells of a simpler time when less was more. $18.95 JOHN DEERE 16-MONTH CALENDAR For the green machine fanatic on your Christmas list this 16-month 2009 calendar features colourful prints of paintings of John Deere tractors from recent history in farm various settings. Reg. $16.95 NOW ONLY $4.99 Last One! Only $499 3 cheers, 3 awards for Huron! Huron County took top honours in three Ontario economic development awards, for tourism, branding and strategic planning. Presentations were made in Toronto. Among those celebrating were, from left: Kerri Herrfort, County of Huron downtown revitalization co- ordinator; warden Ken Oke; Pamela Stanley, Huron Business Development Corporation president; Rick Sickinger, heritage and cultural partnership co-ordinator and Jenna Ujiye, tourism marketer for the county. (Photo submitted) ON $6.00 THURSDAYS Drop into either of our offices any Thursday with your word classified (maximum 20 words) and pay only $6.00 + GST (paid in advance). That’s $1.00 off regular rates. The Citizen By Keith Roulston The Citizen By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Classified ads in The Citizen available on our website at www.northhuron.on.ca