HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-07-10, Page 1North Huron council heard the
good news at their regular meeting
of July 7 when auditor Paul Seebach
of Vodden, Bender & Seebach
Chartered Accountants, presented
the financial statements for 2007.
The big news was that the
township finished the year with a
surplus of $259,321, bringing the
accumulated surplus to $467,184.
According to director of
finance/treasurer Donna White, this
occurred because some projects had
not been finished. As well with a
change to the position of economic
development, as well as not
operating the museum full time,
there was less money spent on staff
than anticipated.
Seebach said that there weren’t a
lot of adjustments required during
the audit of the financial statements
as the firm had worked closely with
White throughout the year.
In his brief presentation, Seebach
highlighted several items. He noted
that there is now about $54,000 in
reserves for landfill closures.
He noted that $118,435 was paid
on the North Huron Wescast
Community Complex loan principal,
as well as the $91,233 interest. This
loan comes due in 2009.
The protection to persons and
property actual cost of $117,535 was
considerably higher than the
budgeted figure of $63,000 because
it included the fire board budget.
“A percentage of both fire boards
gets added into our statement,” said
White.
A total of $1,007,350 had been in
the budget for environmental
services. However, said Seebach, a
lagoon project had not been
completed resulting in spending of
$845,116.
“This was a force main. There was
$128,000 in the budget,” said
White.
That money will be spent,
however, as the project is
continuing.
On vacation
Community Vacation Bible School touched down in Auburn on Monday at the Huron Chapel
Evangelical Missionary Church with a full morning of games and activities all designed to
entertain as well as educate. Outside, the kids enjoyed a variation of dodgeball under the hot
July sun. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
NH adds to surplus
The new appointments to the
Order of Canada were announced
July 1 and among them is someone
near and dear to the area and its
theatre community.
Playwright/director Paul
Thompson was
among the 75
named by Her
Excellency, The
Right Honourable
Michaëlle Jean,
Governor General
of Canada. The
appointees, include
five Companions, 26
Officers, among
them Thompson,
and 43 Members, as well as one
Honorary Officer.
“It’s an extraordinary honour,”
said Thompson, who was with his
93-year-old mother-in-law at a
cottage when he learned of the
appointment from his cousin.
“What’s great is that they recognize
the vast differences of the country.”
“This is much deserved,” said
Blyth Festival artistic director Eric
Coates, who has worked with
Thompson on a number of projects
at Blyth, including the acclaimed
Outdoor Donnellys.
“There are not many who have
taken the risks he has over the years
and the ones that have hit
have become literally national
icons.”
The Order of Canada awards were
presented for the first time in 1967.
As the centrepiece of the country’s
honour system the awards recognize
a lifetime of outstanding
achievement, dedication to the
community and service to Canada.
Those selected have been seen as
having enriched the lives of others
in a way that makes a difference to
the country.
Thompson, a playwright and
director was born in 1940. He was
raised in the Listowel and Atwood
area and attended Listowel high
school.
A scholarship took him to France
where he studied before returning to
Canada.
In 1972 he became artistic director
of Theatre Passe Muraille. The
company counted among its talents
Saul Rubinek, Miles Potter, Ted
Johns, Janet Amos and Anne Anglin,
Thompson’s wife.
(The couple has two daughters,
Severn, an actor, and Rachel, a
filmmaker and teacher).
From 1987 to 1991 Thompson
was director-general of the National
Theatre School in Montreal.
According to the Canadian
Encyclopedia, he was responsible in
large part for securing funding for
renovations to the Monument
National as a performing space.
He initiated a playwright’s chair
for the English section and laid the
groundwork for setting up a
director’s program for both language
sections.
Thompson also taught at the
Centre for Indigenous Theatre.
The Canadian Theatre
Encyclopedia said the Toronto
resident’s mark on the country’s
theatrical history is “indelible”.
His appointment was in
recognition of this contribution to
Canadian theatre, but notably for
bringing the stories of ordinary
Canadians to the stage and for
bringing theatre to the people
through performances held in rural
communities as well as large cities
across the country.
Thompson, along with Ted Johns
was responsible for The Farm Show
in 1972. He and the cast met,
interviewed and worked with
Ontario farm families, then wove
their stories and often even their
words into a collective that has
become part of Canadian history.
Since then his collectives, which
include Barndance Live and Booze
Days in a Dry County which played
at Blyth, have become legend.
He has been involved in the
celebrated Doukobors, 1837 The
Farmers’ Revolt and Maggie and
Pierre among others. As well
Thompson has directed at theatres
across the country.
Touring the country to gather
information for his collectives has
been “a thrill” said Thompson. “And
that we can make theatre with a
connection to people, the experience
becomes even more special.”
This year’s recipients will be
invited to accept their insignia at a
ceremony to be held at a later
date.
CitizenTh
e
$1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, July 10, 2008
Volume 24 No. 28GRADUATION- Pg. 11Celebrating the Grade 8classes of 2008 OBITUARY - Pg. 24East Wawanosh entrepreneur,politician passes awaySPORTS- Pg. 8Local teams enjoy winningweekPublications 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:
Popular director gets Order of Canada appointment
PAUL
THOMPSON
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen
With months to go until the end of
the term, there is already a race for
Huron County warden in 2009.
At the July 2 meeting of county
council, current warden John
Bezaire of Central Huron stated his
intent to seek a second term. Then,
during the councillors’ issues
portion of the agenda, South
Huron’s Ken Oke said he was
also letting his name stand for
warden.
With an election facing them then,
the issue of how the new warden
would be selected was brought
forward by councillor George
Robertson of South Huron, who said
he’d like to see a change to the
procedural bylaw on voting.
“I would like to return to a secret
ballot,” he said, making a motion
that this be further investigated at the
next committee of the whole
meeting.
The motion carried.
2 toss in hat for
warden’s chair
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen