HomeMy WebLinkAboutLearning In North Huron, 1992-10-07, Page 5OCTOBER 1992. PAGE 5.
x®ird:
Wingham Rec. program keeps people busy
by Bonnie Gropp
Every town and many villages
these days have their own recre
ation programs, but few are as
ambitious as the town of Wing
ham's.
On a perpetual basis the Wing
ham Recreation Department offers
courses and programs in everything
from self-improvement and fitness
to business and crafts.
Rachelle Gerrie, who has been on
Continued from page 4
2179, Beg. $20, Tykes $50, Nov.
$60.
Public Skating (natural ice),
Belgrave Recreation Dept.,
Belgrave, Jan.-Feb. (Sat. and
Sun), 357-2179, $1.00/person.
Euchre Tournament, Belgrave
Recreation Dept., Belgrave, third
Friday of month in winter, 357-
2179, $5.00/person.
“Houseleague” or “Rep”
Minor Hockey, Belmore, Liz
Louttit, 335-3607; Brussels, Chris
Making a business work
Chris Dickson, owner of ’Goodies by Two Shoes' has built her small business into a sizable
wholesale market in just three years. Locally her specialty foods retail at Pine River Cheese
Factory, From our Heart in Lucknow and Remember When in Blyth to name only a few. In
addition she retails custom gift baskets like the two pictured here.
Entrepreneur offers advice
CRAFTSMANSHIP
IN THE
COUNTRY TRADITION
by Bonnie Gropp
"When it comes to starting your
own business, first, you have to be
willing to take the chance and then
after a minimum of five years eval
uate where you are."
And who better to give such
advice then Chris Dickson, owner
of Goodies By Two Shoes, a busi
ness dealing in specialty food man
ufacturing and gift baskets. In the
three years since Chris began her
small business it has grown in size
beyond even her expectations.
What began in 1989 on a small
scale with nuts'n'bolts, peanut brit
tle, maple popcorn and fruit cake
for Christmas customers, has bur
geoned to a yearly operation which
wholesales a large variety of home
made products such as jams, pick
les, chili sauce, bakery mixes for
tea biscuits, pancakes or beer
breads, and antipasto. From Aug 1,
the job as recreation secretary for
four years, says the programs were
set up many years ago by the recre
ation directors.
Now she and present recreation
director John Mayer put their heads
together for new and popular ideas
to educate and stimulate individuals
of varying interests and ages, then
line up instructors. "It's a team
effort," she says.
This year, she says the focus has
been primarily on the young chil
Cooper, 887-6033; Howick,
Wayne Connor, 335-3492; Wing
ham, Jon Bateson, 357-3096;
Wingham Minor Hockey Assoc.,
John Leitch, 357-1975.
Junior & Intermediate Men's
Softball, Belmore Steelhawks,
Owen Wright, 357-3238;
Wroxeter Juniors & Royals,
Randall Hamilton, 335-3830.
Minor Softball, Belgrave
(Mite, Bantam), Lloyd Michie,
887-6472; Belgrave (Pee Wee),
Glen Walker, 357-3729; Belgrave
(Midget), Bob Dickert, 357-1097;
1991 to July 1992 Goodies by Two
Shoes sold 5400 jars of pickles,
3,000 jars of antipasto, 1700 jars of
jam and 1500 bags of bakery
mixes. Last year, the business
expanded once again into retail gift
baskets.
Growing up in Kincardine, the
daughter of hotelier/restauranteurs,
Chris said it was natural when she
decided to embark on a business
venture of her own to pick the food
industry. "I had quit my job as a
legal secretary to be home with my
children (she has three, Andrew,
now five, Karla, three and Jamie 1
1/2). I knew, however, that I want
ed to do something more. I had
always given homemade food as
gifts so in deciding what that some
thing would be, the food business
seemed in part a natural choice,"
she said.
When Chris realized she'd like to
dren, teens and seniors with such
diverse offerings as ballet and
karate. However, they also try to
meet demands and needs. For
example a server intervention pro
gram on law and liability and pre
venting intoxication is being
offered this year in anticipation of
new legislation regarding people
hired to serve liquor.
Another example are the P.D.
day activities for youngsters enjoy-
Belmore, Wayne Ballagh,
392-6384; Bluevale (squirt girls),
Tim Thompson, 357-1139;
Brussels (midget girls), Gary
Pipe, 887-6291; Brussels (pee
wee boys) Gary Dauphin,
887-9718; Brussels (bantam
boys), John Lowe, 887-6681;
Brussels (midget boys), Stu
Steiss, 887-6670; Fordwich
(bantam boys), Trevor Roth,
335-3931; Wingham (midget),
Dave Bourne, 357-2365;
Wroxeter (pee wee boys), Jim
Dickison, 335-3398.
expand her inventory and thus the
business a commercial sized
kitchen was built in the basement
of the spacious country home
where she and her husband Paul
and their family reside.
She also became not only self-
employed, but an employer as staff
was hired to meet demand.
Taking the risk in a time when
business has indeed been risky, did
n't worry Chris overmuch. "I was
fairly certain of the market, but was
not counting on the local market as
the product is upscale and as such,
pricier," she said, adding, however,
that they do have local buyers.
Located as she is in the 'boonies',
just south-east of the hamlet of Bel
more, Chris first took her product
to arts shows to advertise, then
approached local merchants to see
if they would be interested in
Continued on page 6
ing a day from school while the
teachers attend workshops. "Chil
dren, come here for games and
activities which makes it easier for
parents who would have to find
someone to look after their school
age child," says Ms Gerrie.
Many courses are geared to spe
cial seasons such as Hallowe'en and
Christmas craft courses. This year,
for the first time, the department is
sponsoring a Christmas frolic com
plete with sleigh rides, carolling
and hot chocolate.
Most of the courses are offered in
the fall, winter and spring while
summer is dedicated to swimming
and the playground, which is tend
ed to by a staff of high school and
college students.
What is unique about the recre
ation program is the ambitiousness
of it. Besides being an almost full-
time job for Ms Gerrie, it encom
passes almost every facility in the
town. Courses are held in the arena
and armouries, while sports events
are held at the pool, ball diamonds
and the park. Another unique facet
is the arrangement with the schools
— a barter agreement. While the
education facilities in the town will
donate certain areas for specific
events, the recreation department in
return provides free usage of its
facilities for students. "I don't know
where that originated; it was in
R.R. #1
Ethel
Custom Made
Clothes and Costumes
for Children
Men's Coveralls
Porcelain Doll
Classes
Beginners or Experienced
Greenware & Firing Available
• Custom Made Doll Clothes
Craft Classes
Register now for basketry classes
beginning in the new year.
Furniture Restoration & Cabinetry
• original designs • repairing • refinishing
• upholstering
Basket Craft - Caning - Rush &
Wicker
• original works from wood splints to sweet grass
• traditional cane and wicker chairs and
artifacts repaired
Craft Showroom & Sales
• featuring a selection of craft items from
local artisans
TRIPLE J
FURNITURE RESTORATIONS
Kathy and Gary Leeman
ST HELENS just north of the village centre 528-2492
place when I came here; but it
works very well," said Ms Gerrie.
Costs for courses vary, primarily
being the instructor’s fee. Some
events like the adult volleyball and
basketball are free.
In times when people are tighten
ing the purse strings the Wingham
Recreation program is obviously
working well, because it's still
working.
Ms Gerrie says the key to begin
ning a successful program like the
one in Wingham is to first find
someone to co-ordinate it, who in
turn will find people willing to
teach. "Then once you have the
available times from them, you co
ordinate a facility," says Ms Gerrie.
"Once you’ve organized one year
it runs smoothly," she says.
LESSOR
Learn to play the piano
with a qualified teacher
Madeline
Steiss arct
887-6670
RR 2 BRUSSELS
Jennifer Cochrane
887-9675