HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-04-26, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN. WEDNESDAY. APRIL 26. 1989.
Dr. Anne Martin-Matthews and Brussels resident Alfred Knight enjoy a few minutes of reminiscing before the
celebrations began at last week’s Open House for the Wingham and Area Day Centre for the Homebound. Dr.
Martin-Matthews had interviewed Mr. Knight in 1983 for a video that was produced by the University of Guelph. Dr.
Martin-Matthews is Director of Gerentology Research there.
Gerentology researchers look
at rural seniors' concerns
Cranbrook
Compiled by Mrs. Mac Engel. Phone 887-6645
Stevensons visit Toronto
“Our focus now is no longer on
the seniors themselves but on the
range of services that promote their
independence.’’ So said Dr. Anne
Martin-Matthews during her
speech at the Wingham and Area
Day Centre for the Homebound’s
10th anniversary Open House last
Thursday.
Since 1982 there has been a
tremendous number of changes
concerning senior citizens in our
society and though Dr. Martin-
Matthews, who is Director of
Gerentology Research at the Uni
versity of Guelph, was not part of
the early initiative she has been a
driving force in the development
since.
Dr. Martin-Matthews first be
came interested in the study of the
aged as a Masters student at
McMaster University in Hamilton
while living near several elederly
ladies who used to attend Conser
vative party meetings with her. She
became interested in their lives and
activities and went on to take her
Doctorate in Gerentology at Mc
Master. She became affiliated with
the University of Guelph in 1978.
According to Dr. Martin-Mat
thews there are increasing num
bers of elderly in our population.
Those over the age of 65, she
remarked are the fastest growing
segment of today’s society, par
ticularly the over 80 group.
Also, she states that there is an
increase of 117 per cent of widows
in the population and 40 per cent of
today’s unattached women live
below the normal income level.
While most men over the age of 65
reach old age married, Dr. Martin-
Matthews said that most women
can expect to spend their senior
years as widows.
Dr. Martin-Matthews went on to
explain what the research people
are doing to look at the issues. A
video, made partially at the Wing
ham Centre and featuring some of
its members in 1982-83 was pro
duced by the University of Guelph,
and used last summer by Canada
Mortgage and Housing to get
people out to talk about rural
housing and look at new initiatives
for the problem of housing for the
rural aged.
A tremendous income is targeted
for the Seniors’ Independence Pro
gram, which is hoping to maximize
the independence of seniors in
surroundings that are familiar and
comfortable to them. As Dr. Mar
tin-Matthews said “Seniors them
selves will have a large say in what
they’d like.’’
A Home Support Review from
the Ministry of Social Services is
studying the whole range of ser
vices available to homebound sen
iors such as friendly visiting or
meals-on-wheels.
The Fact Book on Aging in
Ontario has been designed to
present one compendium on every
thing people need to know, cata
loguing all the information in a way
that people can use.
Dr. Martin-Matthew says that
there is a definite recognition of
these needs because of all the
demographic information. When
she first was hired at the University
of Guelph she said it was to teach
one course in Gerentology. Since
then, however, the University of
fers Gerentology Study as an
Undergraduate Major study and a
Doctorate Course.
“We are trying to make resour
ces more equitable than in the
past,” she said, citing Article 15 of
the Constitution which is against
discrimination, as an example. A
question concerning the Widowed
Spousal Allowance is under scru
tiny for discrimination against di-
LET’S CELEBRATE
by Karin Lee
In celebration of Education Week
and the Twentieth Anniversary of
the Huron County Board of Educa
tion, the students are presenting a
special program on May 4 at 1:15
p.m. Senior Citizens and other
friends of Blyth Public School are
invited to attend the program.
THE RETURN OF THE ICONS
by Sarah Rouw and
Jennifer Stadelmann
On Monday, April 17, the ICON
computers came to BPS. They will
be here for three weeks. Some
programs you can choose from are:
Math Race and Math Maze; Math
Race is a game where you can test
vorced, separated, or single wo
men, between the ages of 60 and 65
who are not eligible for their
spouses pension should he die.
These are the policies that must be
looked out and the appropriate
conclusions reached, said Mr.
Martin-Matthews. The government
has in the past, frequently taken
our suggestions concerning policies
and used them, Dr. Martin-Mat
thews maintained.
Also present for the celebration
were Wingham Mayor Ian More
land, Bruce County Reeve Jack
Riley, and Jim Fitzgerald, Execu
tive Assistant to MPP Jack Riddell,
Director of the Centre Gloria
Workman read a congratulatory
letter from MP Murray Cardiff,
who expressed his regrets at being
unable to attend.
Special service awards were
presented to several individuals
who have contributed their time,
efforts, and energies into the
Centre since its inception 10 years
ago. They were described by one
member as “the backbone of the
organization.” Among those spe
cial people honoured were Clarence
and Ruby Hanna of Belgrave.
your math skills, going against
“Chips,” which is the computer.
Math Maze is much the same but
you make your maze inside a
castle. In order to collect power
points, you have to answer the
math questions correctly. Many of
the programs can be adapted to any
grade level.
DAFFY DOWN DILLY
by Chrystal Cucksey
On April 20, the grade 8 students
sold daffodils for the Canada
Cancer Society. They canvassed
the village during the afternoon.
The response was excellent and
soon the bunches were all sold. The
students collected over $300 which
will be used by the Society in the
fight against cancer.
SWIM YOUR HEART OUT
by Jennifer Stadelmann and
Sarah Rouw
On April 5, the grade 4 class
began swimming lessons at Vana-
stra Recreation Centre. They will
be going every Wednesday for a
total of 8 weeks and they will
receive a badge if they pass the
swimming test. This activity is
partially funded by the school.
Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Stevenson
visited in Toronto on the weekend.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Clark, Strat
ford, called on friends Friday. They
returned recently from Florida
where they spent the winter.
EUCHRE WINNERS
, A good crowd attended the
Foresters euchre on April 21 when
16 tables played.
Winners were: high, Isabell
Bremner, Bill McClelland; low,
Marjorie Metcalfe, Jim Cooper;
lone hands, Jean Conley, Lloyd
Smith; lucky table, Isabelle Craig,
Iona McLean, Eluned McNair,
Ross Stephenson; tallies, Jean
Bewley, Erma Brighton, Donald
Clark, Viola Kirkby, Keith Turn
bull, Verna Tunney, Bill Craig,
Verna Crawford, Wilfred Strickler,
Roberta Simpson, Anne Bragg,
Cliff Hoegy, Mac Smith, Agnes
Harrow, Dorothy Dilworth, Ruby
Steiss, Adrian Versteop, Jim
Smith, Bill Dobson, Laura Strick-*
ler, Bill Eckmier, Helen Dobson,
John Subject, Beryl Smith.
The Foresters are holding their
last euchre of the season on May 5
Help Shape the Future
of Your County
Issues such as waste management, economic develop
ment, an aging population. . . and increasing costs. . .
are putting an impossible strain on our county govern
ment system which has changed little since 1849.
, That’s why the Minister of Municipal Affairs set up
/ an. Advisory Committee on County Government in
1987 to study ways in which this vital segment of
municipal administration could be updated to face
the realities of today. He followed this up with the
appointment of a Consultation Committee on County
Government in 1988 which held hearings in each of
Ontario’s 26 counties to get YOUR views on this
important topic.
Taking into account suggestions made by county govern
ment representatives, members of municipal councils
and interested individuals and associations, the Con
sultation Committee drew up a report containing
41 recommendations, including ways to:
— strengthen local municipalities within counties;
— improve the way local municipalities are represented
on county council;
— ensure that services are being delivered by the
most appropriate level of local government.
The Minister of Municipal Affairs wants whatever
form of government can best serve the needs of each
county. Your views are important and the Minister
would like to hear from you before July 14th, 1989.
To receive your copy of the Report, complete and
return the attached coupon to the address listed below.
After studying the report, you can make your views
known to the Minister by writing to him at the same
address.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: Minister of Municipal Affairs,
777 Bay Street, 17th Floor,
Toronto, Ontario M5G 2E5
Please send me my copy of the Report of the Consultation Committee
on County Government.
Name: .......................................................................................
Address:...................................................................................
............................................................ Postal Code: ............
Ontario
Ministry of
Municipal
Affairs
John Eakins, Minister
and the Hall Board will have their
last one April 28.
PEOPLE
Mrs. Ken Cooper, Ottawa, visit
ed her father, Harold Smalldon, in
the Callander Nursing Home and
spent Sunday night with Mrs. Mac
Engel. She also visited the Chris
Lee family at Walton. Mrs. Lee is
her niece.
BRUSSELS
OFFICE
HOURS
Monday -10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Tuesday - Closed
Wednesday -10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Thursday -10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Friday -10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Saturday - Closed
Sunday - Closed