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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-07-29, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 29,1992. The Other Side Notes from a short vacation Times being what they are, a three-day vacation will have to do this year, but even that long is enough to inspire observations, though scattered like the mind of the observer. Three days in Geor­ gian Bay vacation country brought these thoughts.... If you're in business in the last couple of years, you wonder where all the money went. If you're travel­ ling, on the other hand, you're stunned by how much money there still is out there. A real estate office in Midland had properties listed out front: $394,000 for cottages, $569,000 for year-round shoreline homes. The harbours that line the bay are filled with motor and sailing yachts each costing what was once a good price for a home. You can't help wondering where people earn enough money for all this. How can these people live in an expensive city like Toronto and own a house there (or rent or own an expensive apartment) and still afford these expensive toys? It makes you realize that a reces­ sion is only a matter of a few per­ centage points? While 15 per cent are out of work alot of other peo­ ple are still doing very well. While sales drop and companies go bankrupt, profit margins are often such that it's only a few per centage points of drop in sales that make the difference between profit and loss. The 10 or 15 per cent a com­ pany mafy be down in sales is where aJLW^rofit is. It's only when you leave Huron County and get out into more popu­ lous parts of the province that you realize how multicultural Canada s alwaYs a bit of culture shock, s*^Tor instance, to drop into downtown Toronto and sometimes get the impression that English is a minori­ ty language. Even in cottage coun­ try north of the big smoke, however, the experience is totally different than around home. Let's face it, although we had a major change in our local society with the influx of Dutch people since World War II, we've been pretty well by­ passed by the major waves of immigration. Few Italians, Greeks and Portuguese made it this far, let alone later waves of Chinese, Caribbeans and East Indians. It's suddenly strange to hear tidbits of different language floating on the breeze as you walk along a dock, like a touch of a new spice in a familiar recipe. It's fascinating to contemplate too what this country will be like a cen­ tury from now when descendants of these people blend in more... after there is more intermarriage and people cross lines between race and heritage. I know that some people worry that multicultural policies will encourage people to stay sepa­ rate but if you look back a century you can remember too when Irish couldn't stand Scots, when Polish or Ukrainians were ridiculed. Someday these people too will blend more than today, though skin colour will always keep barriers more visible. There will be tough times in the meantime but there will be an interesting future. *** I always find it fascinating to see _ how big the towns are up here around the bay and over in Musko- ka. We tend to think that the popu­ lation thins out as we go further north but it isn't so when you look at reality. Midland and Colling­ wood are over 12,000. Penetan- guishene is small by comparison but at 5000 is bigger than any Huron town but Goderich. Brace­ bridge is 8800, Huntsville, 11,000 and Gravenhurst 8200. Tourism, of course, spurs the economy but it can't provide the year-round jobs to provide that kind of economic strength. Besides, we have a pretty good bit of tourism in Huron coun­ ty. We also have some of Ontario's best farmland which they certainly don't have. Logging or mining might have provided jobs at one time but not anymore. The difference? All these towns have a strong industrial base that only Goderich has in Huron. Why? Haven't we always been told that our distance from Toronto and the U.S. hurt us in attracting industry? So how come these towns that are even further away have enough industry to make then larger than the largest town in Huron? *** While we're celebrating 150 years of county government, or 125 years of township government, at Ste. Marie Among the Hurons, you're walking on ground trod by Jesuit priests and Huron (actually Wendat) Indians more than 350 years about. Look at the Jesuit habitations and the Indian long houses reconstructed on the site, it's hard to see which had the more uncomfortable life. One more thing: in the audio­ visual presentation given before you enter the village you're led into understanding of why the Jesuits eventually burned their village and headed back to Quebec with a few hundred Indians who they had con­ verted to Christianity. Surrounded by Wendat who opposed their Christianizing and Iroquois who hated both the Wendat and the French, the French lived in constant fear of being overwhelmed by those outside the walls they had constructed around their settlement. Some things never change. *** Chains, whether restaurants or hotels, prosper by people who want no surprises so pick out a familiar DUNGANNON 529-7922/1-800-265-5595 Frank Foran, Lucknow 528-3824 Lyons & Mulhern, Goderich 524-2664 Donald R. Simpson, Ripley 395-5362 Delmar Sproul, Auburn 529-7273 Clinton 482-3434 Chapman-Graham & Assoc. Insurance Brokers, Owen Sound 376-1774 Slade Insurance Brokers Inc., Kincardine 396-9513 Laurie Campbell, Brussels 887-9051 Kenneth MacLean, Paisley 368-7537 McMaster Siemon Insurance Brokers Inc., Mitchell 348-9150 John Nixon, Brussels 887-9417 name among the signs advertising the various services available. For the most part we avoided the family iar this time and were rewarded with many pleasant surprises, from a restaurant that served the biggest, most tender piece of roast beef I've ever tasted, to a Chinese restaurant bustling with customers where a huge plate of excellent Chinese food cost little more than a fast­ food hamburger. In fact the one unpleasant surprise we had was when, on the way home, we stopped at a familiar fast-food chain and got something totally different than what we had come to expect from that chain over the years. K. Procter tells tall tale Karen Procter defeated six other contestants in the Maitland Motivators Toastmasters Club's annual Tall Tale speech contest on Monday, July 20 at the Mennonite Fellowship. She competed as the club's representative in an area-wide contest Thursday, July 23. Other participants in the local contest were Linda Loder, Allan Dettweiler, Marie McIntosh, Craig Hackwell, Ernie Williams and Mark Rock. A graduate of F.E. Madill, Karen will begin her second and final year in Sept, at Fanshawe College, London in the Developmental Service Worker Program. Her speech title was “One Wonderful Day”. The area speech contest was conducted at the R.C.A.F. Wing, Waterloo, hosted by the Silver Tongues Club. Martin Meehan of Waterloo won this contest There are 5,000 Toastmaster Clubs around the world. Over 25,000 members compete in club level speech contests every year. Through competition on the area, division, district and regional levels nine contestants will vie for the world championship of public speakers in August. Letters Reader says thank you THE EDITOR, As your readers are already aware, we have just completed our 125th Celebrations in East Wawanosh. From all reports, it has been an outstanding reunion and this was due in large part to the exceptional effort that each committee took in looking after details. The weekend was pure magic, typified by the many transformations of the Belgrave Arena. One minute, it was a concert hall, the next, a dance floor, a church area complete with massed choir, then seating for a roast beef dinner, to mention only a few of the transformations. Each of these seemingly effortless changes was HEALTH ON THE HILL A review of activities at SEAFORTH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL Medication Fee Increase: The minimum Administration Fee for medications sent with patients, who are discharged from the Emergency Department, has been increased to $10.00 effective April 1,1992. The fee may be greater depending on the type of medication sent with the patient. There is NO CHARGE for medications that are administered to patients while in the Emergency Department. The administration fee can be paid at the reception window at any time, and an Income tax receipt will be prepared. Planned Admission: Nursing staff reminds patients who have a hospital arranged planned admission to bring only the following personal items to hospital: kleenex, tooth brush and paste, grooming supplies, razors, pyjamas/night gown, bathrobe, slippers and comfortable good supporting shoes. Do not bring large sums of money or unnecessary jewellery. You may wish to bring a small amount of money to buy items from the Gift Shop. Pharmacy News: Yvette Binnendyck and husband have delivered a shipment of medications and used eye glasses to the Canadian Foundation for World Development. Director Ken Davis regrinds and distributes the glasses to 3rd world countries, where the cost of one pair new can be up to $1,000. Please continue to donate used eye glasses by dropping them off at the clinic or the hospital. Hospital Appreciation Dav Highlights: Everyone who participated in the Londesboro Lion's Day was really pleased with the support of the staff from Seaforth Community Hospital. There were scrapes and bruises and aches the next day, but everyone had a great time, and a terrific pork barbecue to look forward to. The Special Olympics included crutch walking (our physiotherapists need to do a little inservice for next year), egg catching , wagon racing, board walking, passing balloons and stretcher races. The baseball game even included cheerleaders and Dr. Woldnik promises to buy his son a baseball glove for next year's game. To complete a terrific day, the CKNX Try Hards took on the Seaforth/Clinton team. Whoever heard of a fishnet used as a glove, whipped cream on a catcher or a "missing" third base. Thanks again to the Londesboro Lions. Watch out Clinton! Next year we will be locking your door in the wagon race. Activation News: July has arrived but NOT with warm weather and because of this, the patients have been unable to enjoy outdoor outings. We remain positive here with high hopes for summer weather in August. Rosalind Higgs keeps brightening the patients' days by bringing in "Lina" 1-2 days per week. This pet therapy really does work and we would appreciate a few more visiting animals. If you have a healthy pet, please contact us. Our vegetable planters are growing well - the cabbage & tomatoes are certainly filling out! We are hoping that we can enjoy them soon not only in sight but in taste. We need at least one more volunteer to assist with our activation group. It meets regularly on Tues. & Fri. 11:00 -11:45. We would request your assistance only one of those days per week. If anyone "out there" feels generously inclined please call Mary Margaret Nash or Carol Hunt at 527-1650 est 231. Thank you. the result of many people digging in and making sure it happened. However, all the planning in the world would not have made these Celebrations a success without the phenomenal enthusiasm of the community that turned out and supported each event. This weekend is the result of not one person but many people working as a team to create magic. The steering committee of the 125lh Anniversary Celebrations Committee expresses thanks to everyone who helped. Thanks to your paper for your complete coverage of our celebrations, particularly your fine photos. George Cull ["Huron County Library"} < NEW LIBRARY HOURS [ Belgrave Branch Thursdays 7-9 p.m. ' (June - August) ■ Saturdays 2-4 p.m. , ‘ (Sept. - May) ' Bluevale Branch ' Tuesdays 7-9 p.m. Walton Branch Wednesdays 6-8 p.m. L — — — C||p & save — — — -J