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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-02-08, Page 6Neil and Marie McGavin had a family drop-in centre a week ago Saturday for the occasion of Bryan and Heather Kelso and family being home for Friday and Saturday. They talked, laughed, played and ate, over and over again, as other family members dropped in to touch base with the Kelso family. The children Hayden, Jessica, Ella and Jared played with their McGavin cousins and at 10 p.m. Saturday evening they loaded up the van and headed home to North Bay. Grandma and Grandpa Hackwell, Howard and Audrey, were on babysitting duty last weekend as well. Having grandson Sebastian is not really a tough job, but an adventure for them. They also had Eddie and Patricia Andrades, Sebastian’s mom and dad, stay over Saturday evening. Eddie and Patricia were enjoying an evening out with friends in Stratford where they enjoyed dining out then attended the Blue Rodeo concert at the Stratford Festival. It was an excited little boy at the Walton Inn on Monday morning for the breakfast. Young master Caden Lee and his father Brett had been to Toronto on Sunday to attend theAHL Allstar Classic SkillsCompetition at the Ricah Coliseumat Exhibition Place. They werefortunate to have been given ticketsand they were front row seats, on theboards with the glass removed soplayers were right there.The players signed Caden’ssouvenir book as well as his TorontoMaple Leaf jersey. He had hispicture taken with some of the players captured by the TV camera crew and had his picture taken with the Toronto Marlies Mascot, a large colourful dog, hugging him. There were lots of other team mascots on hand as well. Caden met players Chris Newbury, Mike Keane and Eric Westrum, some who have been called up to play with the Leafs. Caden reports eating at the Spaghetti Factory and told us all about his amazing time. He had pictures on his dad’s digital camera and took great pleasure in showing his pictures with all at the restaurant. What a good storyteller Caden is and it was so much fun interviewing my five-year-old friend. Returning from a fantastic four- day trip to the beautiful island of Bermuda is Linda McDonald. Lindawas awarded the trip in recognitionof her being the number-one salesassociate for TD Canada Trust forthis district.Linda is employed at the WinghamBranch of TD Canada Trust.The all-expense-paid trip beganwith Linda being picked up by alimo on Tuesday afternoon. The 85-member group of TD successfulemployees flew from Toronto to Bermuda and a beautiful resort on the outskirts of the capital city of Hamilton. Each traveller had his own private small condo to enjoy and each night following dinner and returning to the condo, they would find a gift waiting. They received a backpack with special gifts inside, a hand- blown glass frog, a watercolour print of St. George and a pin made from the treasures of the volcanic mines. The pampered guests enjoyed a boat cruise around the island on a lovely calm sea as well as a bus tour of the beautiful island. Although not overly warm at 70°F and rather cloudy, the weather was sure better than here in Ontario. The TD company even sent a gift basket to the McDonald family left at home for their enjoyment inLinda’s absence.The limo trip home on Saturdayevening extended the time away alittle longer because of the horribleweather and the number of closedroads in the area.Linda reports that the trip wasabsolutely amazing.We offer our congratulations toLinda for achieving such greatsuccess in her chosen field. We offer our condolences to the Webster and Huether families on the passing of Grant Webster. Enjoying a trip to Punta Canta in the Dominican Republic were Ron and Betty McCallum. They flew down to celebrate an early surprise for Harold McCallum for his 76th birthday. Pearl and Wayne and Joyce Hartman and Harold were already there. They were away the week and the return was planned for Sunday. Betty reports the weather wasn’t really too bad until getting close to Listowel and of course to Walton. The first week of February sees several people celebrating birthdays. They are Thys DeJong, Sarah Mitchell, Brian Williamson, John Driscoll, Marilyn McDonald, Amy Whyte, Pamela Hackwell, ArnoldDenDekker, Katie Dionne, GeorgeKruse, Emilee Bennett, CodyNichol, Lois Todd, Elgin Schade,Mike Durell, Sherri Bachert,Heather Williamson, Robert Stevensand Dianne Williamson.Celebrating wedding anniversarieswere Dean and Kelly Hackwell andMike and Shirley Ann Boven.Congratulations to all.Glad to report that Dennis Dolmage is coming along in his recovery with his broken leg. He has a new cast and is getting out and about some. The Duff’s United Church breakfast that was to be held this past week will be held this Sunday after church. PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2007. Program no longer an option Continued from page 1 Maitland trustees. “It is a standard Canadian program offered from coast to coast.” In a question session following her presentation, South Huron trustee Randy Wagler took issue with her rejection of the term “option.” He noted French immersion is defined as “optional” by Ontario’s education ministry. Ferenczy countered that French immersion “has become a standard” in many boards, including rural boards like Bluewater in Bruce and Grey Counties. She added the Avon Maitland board already provides the program in Perth County, so not providing it in Huron County amounts to inequality within the board. “There truly remain no barriers to offering French immersion programming,” she said. Interviewed after the meeting, education director Geoff Williams conceded the board received money as a result of the federal/provincial agreement. But he said much of the money is being spent on French as a second language programming, which is allowed and “which is where our students are.” In her presentation, Ferenczy called on the board to revisit data collected in 2005 regarding interest in French immersion in communities outside Stratford. She noted interest was highest – although not quite high enough to meet the board’s criteria at that time – in Exeter and Clinton, as well as St. Marys in Perth County. “Let’s not waste time on more surveys, which will only indicate what we already know – that there is public demand for the program across the county.” No commitment for action was given by the board. “If the trustees want us to take a second look at (the 2005 data), we will,” Williams said after the meeting. investing in RRSPs? 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