HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-10-02, Page 1A dream 18 months coming was
realized last week when the Gateway
Rural Health Research Institute was
officially launched, opening the
doors of a national one-of-a-kind
health facility in Seaforth.
The director of the only other
centre of its kind and the inspiration
behind the project, the University of
Kentucky Center For Excellence In
Rural Health, Dr. Baretta Casey
made the trip up to see the “Sister
Centre” open its doors.
While much of the attention
surrounded Casey and Seaforth’s
new Head of Research, Dr. Claudio
Munoz, the launch showered praise
on Gwen Devereaux, Huron-Perth’s
medical recruitment head, whose
idea the centre was in the first place.
The beginnings of the centre were
as humble as Devereaux searching
the phrase “rural health” on the
internet and coming upon the
University of Kentucky centre’s
website.
From there, Devereaux organized
a trip of approximately 15 people
involved with Huron County at
various levels where she met Casey.
Her full efforts then went into
bringing a similar centre to Huron
County.
The trip lasted three days, but as
soon as the group talked with Casey,
they discovered that Huron County
had the same needs as rural
Kentucky. Both areas are rich in
agriculture and both face similarly
high rates of conditions like
hypertension, heart disease, stroke,
depression and diabetes.
Munoz hopes to study these
statistics and patients in the area in
order to get to the bottom of why
rural Canadians are more susceptible
to these specific diseases.
The launch featured lectures from
Casey, detailing the successes of her
centre, Devereaux going through the
process she and her team went
through to get to this point and a
presentation from Munoz outlining
the need and the strategy in the
coming months and years for the
Gateway Centre.
In addition to the donation from
the McCall MacBain Foundation,
$500,000 over five years, Maureen
Agar spoke about 2009’s Seaforth
Country Classic, which will raise
funds for the Gateway Centre.
Paul Nichol of the Huron Business
Development Corporation was
pleased to announce that a video was
being made of the Centre’s launch. A
representative of FedNor, economic
development funding in Northern
Ontario will be bringing the video to
the corporation as an example of
what good initiatives are taking
place in Southwestern Ontario.
Nichol said that one project was
selected to represent the area, and
the Gateway Centre was chosen.
The Centre’s website has also
officially been launched at
www.gatewayresearch.ca
The annual Fall Colour Tour at
Wawanosh Valley Conservation
Area will be held on Sunday, Oct. 5,
from 1- 4 p.m. Hosted jointly by the
Maitland Valley Conservation
Authority and the Maitland
Conservation Foundation, this is a
family event celebrating the autumn
season.
Wagon rides through the
Conservation Area will be available
from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The wagon
rides will travel through the old
meadows along the edge of the
forest. Visitors will be dropped off at
the hardwood forest if they wish to
walk back along the river trail.
During the afternoon conservation
authority staff will be offering
guided walks through the
Conservation Area. Staff will
provide information on how plants
and animals are preparing for winter.
Visitors are also welcome to pick up
a trail map and explore the property
on their own.
The Wawanosh Nature Centre will
be open throughout the tour. Visitors
are invited to stop by and explore the
displays and hands-on conservation
activities. There will be special
activities for children.
Admission to the Fall Colour Tour
is free. Apple cider will be available
for 50 cents a cup. Reusable
shopping bags will also be on sale
for $2 each or three for $5.
The Wawanosh Conservation Area
is located south of Belgrave, and
west of County Road 4, on Nature
Centre Road. Contact the MVCA at
519 335-3557 for information.
Gateway Institute
gets official launch
M-T embraces co-operation
Fall colour tour this Sunday
On the air
Rick Mercer was in Walton last Sunday filming for an upcoming segment on his show The
Mercer Report. He was outfitted with a suit and a helmet, then was given lessons on riding
basics as well as donuts and taking jumps. More photos and the story on page 8. (Shawn Loughlin
photo)
CitizenTh
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$1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008
Volume 24 No. 39RECOGNITION- Pg. 13A salute to local firefightersbegins GOOD WORKS - Pg. 27Local family returns frommission to BelizeELECTION- Pg. 7Candidates face off atFederation’s debatePublications 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:
Morris-Turnberry councillors
indicated they’re willing to co-
operate with North Huron on
development issues following a
presentation by North Huron
councillor Greg McClinchey and
economic development officer
Connie Goodall at their Sept. 23
meeting.
McClinchey noted that County
Road 86 is the main thoroughfare for
thousands of people from the
Kitchener-Waterloo and Guelph
areas who are travelling to Lake
Huron but that many of the
attractions in both North Huron and
Morris-Turnberry are located north
or south of the highway, “out of
eyesight” of the travellers. “As a
results our tourists are missing
them.”
“We need to think more co-
operatively,” he said. Pointing to the
example of the difference in strength
between a stick and a bundle of
sticks, he said getting together could
deliver more results.
He cited the agreement between
North Huron and the Blyth Festival
to combine efforts in promotion.
Money provided to the Festival
by the municipality helps
purchase billboards, media ads
and brochures.
“We reached three million people
with $20,000,” he said.
He suggested the North Huron and
Morris-Turnberry should sit down,
even starting over coffee, to look at
opportunities to co-operate.
“Economic development doesn’t
respect boundaries.”
McClinchey pointed out that local
municipalities are “maxed out” on
their ability to get more resources by
raising taxes and the only way to get
more revenue is through economic
development.
“We can’t compete on our own,”
he said.
Councillor Mark Beaven said he
applauded McClinchey’s initiative
and “we’re definitely on the right
track,” but he warned Morris-
Turnberry wasn’t in a position to
share such costs evenly.
McClinchey agreed, saying ways
to determine cost/benefit could be
developed.
Jim Nelemans, deputy-mayor,
warned against putting too much
emphasis on tourism, saying many
of the jobs provided are low paying
and only for the summer.
“We need full-time employment,”
he said.
Although council took no action
they promised to consider the issue
further.
By Keith Roulston
The Citizen