HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-06-21, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2007.
A safe investment
The defibrilator for the Brussels Fire Department was made possible through funds donated
in memory of Ian VanderMeer, who passed away last year, and from St. John Ambulance.
Ian’s parents Patty and Jason, left, and Betty Graber Watson of St. John, right, were
recognized for the donation at the firefighters breakfast on Sunday morning. Also pictured is
Doug Sholdice of the Brussels Fire Department. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
The Huron-Perth Catholic District
School Board will send a letter to
parents and all Catholic parishes
within its jurisdiction, offering
justifications for the existence of two
publicly-funded English school
systems in Ontario.
“We want to reassure all Catholic
school parents, teachers, students
and supporters that the ‘one school
system’ campaign represents the
opinions of only a small minority in
our province,” states the letter.
The board’s religion-neutral
counterpart, the Avon Maitland
District School Board, has been on
record for several years as a
supporter of a single publicly-
funded school system.
Earlier this year, in response to a
renewed effort by the Grand Erie
District School Board to lobby the
government on the issue, Avon
Maitland trustees publicly reiterated
that stance.
Even high-profile federal Liberal
candidate Justin Trudeau got asked
about the issue when he visited the
Avon Maitland board’s Mitchell
District High School in early May.
Trudeau dodged the question, but he
had only days earlier stirred up some
controversy by questioning the
necessity of split English and French
systems in New Brunswick.
For its part, the Huron-Perth board
has not gone public about the issue –
until now.
At a regular meeting Monday,
May 28, trustees discussed a draft
version of the 10-paragraph letter,
signed by chair Ron Marcy and
education director Larry Langan.
They then directed staff to fine-tune
the letter and send it to school
newsletters and parishes as soon as
possible.
“Our board feels it’s timely for us
to continue to educate our
constituents . . . about how we
contribute to education in Ontario,”
Langan told reporters following the
meeting.
For Marcy, pointing out the
existence of those “constituents” is a
key element of the message.
Speaking in favour of the letter, he
pinpointed a paragraph which states
“Catholic schools . . . educate over
one-third of all students in
Kindergarten to Grade 12 – more
than 670,000 students. Over a
million parents choose Catholic
education for their children. That
choice is supported by 2.4 million
Catholic ratepayers and voters and is
funded through the property,
income, sales and other taxes paid
by Ontario’s Catholic community.”
Another paragraph challenges the
argument that amalgamating school
boards would save money.
“Ontario went through a major
amalgamation of school boards in
1998 and most economies of scale
have now been realized. The history
of these amalgamations shows that
costs rose to the highest
denominator.”
The letter adds that “Catholic and
public school boards already save
taxpayers millions of dollars
annually through a variety of
successful business partnerships . . .
(and) continue to explore other cost
savings initiatives.”
308 Blyth Rd. E. ~ Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590
B l y t h C o m m u n ity Church of God
C H U R C H O F G O D ,ANDERS
O
N
,
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N
D
I
A
N
A
Sunday 9:45 a.m.
- Christian Education
for all ages
11:00 a.m. - Worship Service
Mid-week Bible Studies
“The Church
is not a building,
it is people
touching people
Sunday 10:30 a.m. - Sunday Worship Service
- Sunday School Picnic &
Promotion Sunday following
service
7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship Service
Wednesday 7:00 p.m. - Adult & Youth Bible Study
Something for everyone!
Call the church for current Youth events
HURON CHAPEL
EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 519-526-1131
PASTOR DAVE WOOD
July 9-13 - Vacation Bible School presents
“Galilee by the Sea.”
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
Sunday, June 24
Ethel United Church
Worship Service & Sunday School
9:30 a.m.
Brussels United Church
Worship Service & Sunday School
11:00 a.m.
Please join us for worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00am
Evening Service 7:30pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, Blyth
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
Sunday, June 24
Celebration for the Sunday School Year
9:30 a.m. Worship Service
Guest Speaker: Elwin Garland
No Sunday School
Summer Worship is at 10:00 am
beginning Sunday, July 1
Pastor Brent Kipfer 519-887-6388
Guests Welcome
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Welcomes you to come
and worship with us
SUNDAY, JUNE 24
The Rev. Tom Wilson, B.A., MDiv. 519-887-9273
Trinity, Blyth
9:30 a.m.
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
Corner of Dinsley & Mill StreetBlyth United Church
Office: 519-523-4224
Worship Service,Sunday School & Nursery ~11:00 a.m.Sunday, June 24All Welcome
getlivingwater.org
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Sun., June 24: Romans 5:1-11
Evangelical Missionary Church
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
Tuesdays 7:30 pm -Wingham Small Group
Outdoor
Worship Service
283 Wellington St.,
Blyth
Baptism
& Potluck
“Benefits of Believing
- Peace, Joy & Love”
HPCDSB letter ‘justifies’
existence of two boards
By Stew Slater
Special to The Citizen MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, JUNE 24
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 519-887-9831
11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
at Armstrong Aerodome
- Sunday School
9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service