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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-01-06, Page 4A cabin by the river Photo by Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot Looking Back Through the Years From the files of the Blyth Standard, Brussels Post and The Citizen SIX YEARS AGO January 7, 1987 Ron Vercruyssen of Blyth learned that he was chosen to play basketball for Ontario, to compete in the Canada Winter Games in Nova Scotia. Mr. Vercruyssen attended Seaforth District High School and was a member of the All-Ontario Senior Boys' Basket- ball championship the previous year. Bruce Shillinglaw of RR 1, Lon- desboro and Lyle Martin of Ethel were both nominated for the Nor- man Alexander Conservation Award. They were chosen for their outstanding use of soil and water conservation practices in their every day methods of farming. The Brussels Crusaders brought home the crown from the tourna- ment in Milverton. The six teams that were involved consisted of Wellesley, Drayton, Monkton, Luc- know, Milverton and Brussels. 21 YEARS AGO January 5, 1972 McKillop Township council at its first meeting for the year in Winthrop reviewed the salary schedule and made several increas- es. Clerk-Treasurer Mrs. Kenneth McClure received $4,900 up from $3,900. The road superintendent's wage increased by 25 cents per hour, bringing it to $2.60, while the agricultural grounds for the Grey Branch Society. It was determined without ques- tion that new grounds were a neces- sity. The Caledonia Society, Brussels Driving Park Association and the East Huron Farmers' Institute would lend their aid in securing a suitable park. William McLeod, apprentice in Milne's grist mill had the front fin- ger of his right hand badly mutilat- ed in the gearing. It was found necessary to amputate it. New teachers in Walton were Mr. McIntosh and Miss Mc- Dougall. Victor Smith was the new teacher in Cranbrook. Retiring teacher was A. McKay. A large number of Free Masons went to Blyth on New Year's Day to attend the funeral of Dr. A. Sloan. The first carnival of the season was held on the Maitland skating rink. The day was one of the rough- est of the winter for snow drifts, but attendance was good. Brussels town hall rentals for the past year totaled $140.50 Got a beef? Write a letter grade operators is $3 per hour up, 15 cents. The reeves stipend was increased to $600 from $525 and each coun- cillor got $500 up from $425. Blyth village council voted to call tenders for a new roof for Blyth Memorial Hall. Continued, complaints about snowmobilers led Blyth council to issue a stern warning about snow- mobile conduct in the village. Council voted to issue a notice to snowmobilers through The Blyth Standard warning them that contin- ued reckless and inconsiderate use of the machines would bring tough action by council to regulate the use of snowmobiles inside the municipality or ban use entirely. The Belgrave Orange Lodge cel- ebrated its 100th anniversary in December. A four-goal performance by Gord Riley of Londesboro helped Clinton Mustangs snap a two-game losing streak and retain their hold on first place in the OHA Western Junior D league. 106 YEARS AGO January 7,1887 W. H. McCracken defeated J. H. Young by nine votes to win the position of Brussels reeve. Councillors were: George Baek- er, W.H. Kerr, J. Wynn, all re- elected and R. Graham, who displaced W.F. Vanstone. An annual meeting was held to discuss the purchase of the new The North Huron itizen Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Sales Representatives, Jeannette McNeil and Merle Gunby P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 PAID The Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $20.50/year ($19.16 plus $1.34 G.S.T.) for local; $31.03/year ($29.00 plus $2.03 G.S.T.) for local letter carrier in Goderich, Hanover, Listowel, etc. and out-of-area (40 miles from Brussels); $60.00/year f.:4 U.S.A. and Foreign. Advertising is accepted on the condition that In the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m.. Blyth. We are not responsible for unsolicited newscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copywright. Publications Mail Registration No. 6968 P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 Serving Blyth, Brussels, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and the surrounding townships. PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1993. E ditorial Feeling good, doing bad Nationalism can be one of the most beneficial, and most evil, forces on the face of the earth, depending on how the emotion involved is used, or abused. With the collapse of Communism in eastern Europe, the entire region seems afire with nationalism, and ancient hatreds we thought the world had turned its back on, have resurfaced. A little bit of nationalism goes a long way. Just as we try to build self-confidence in children as they grow, so citizens of a country must feel good about the place they live in. Canada for many years, suffered from a huge inferiority complex, remnants of being a colony of one of the world's great powers, then living beside the succeeding world leader. That inferiority complex prevented Canadians, and still does to a lesser extent, from accomplishing what they might. We needed an ego boost to be able to take the kind of chances that must be taken by successful countries (and individuals). But the positive side of nationalism can turn negative very easily. Just as a self-conscious child can take out his insecurities by putting others down, too strong a dose of nationalism can turn destructive. It can lead a country to think it must conquer its neighbours in order to fulfill its true destiny. When people go from thinking they're as good as anyone else to feeling they are better than others, they become dangerous, whether as individuals or nations. Similarly, multiculturalism as practiced in Canada can be a positive or a negative force. The attempt to keep Canadians from other lands in touch with their roots can help people feel good about themselves. Yet it can also promote old animosities we would have hoped had been left in the "old country" of the new Canadians. Tensions now evident between Serbs and Croats in the fragmented Yugoslovia, have been ongoing in Toronto for years. Recently a civic ceremony in North York degenerated into a mini-riot when someone tried to raise a flag of the newly self-proclaimed country of Macedonia. Canadians of Greek origin attacked the flag raisers because they feel Macedonia is really part of Greece.The mayor of North York was injured in the scuffle. Similarly the war between Sikh extremists seeking independence for their homeland in India against the Hindu government of India had been too often played out on Canadian soil, the most terrible consequence being the bombing of an Air India flight with hundreds of Canadians being killed. The horrible thing about what is happening in eastern Europe, in the Middle East and in India, isn't only that people are being killed and injured now, but that new grievances are being created now that will nurture hatred for many more generations. International action may stem the current violence in a place like Bosnia but how long will it be before the hatred breaks out again. There's little Canadians can do except provide troops to help end the violence and humanitarian aid to the victims. Here at home, however, we must make sure that old hatreds are left behind. Multiculturalism, like nationalism, must be kept as a positive force, not allowed to keep the old hatreds alive. And as Canadians we can make sure that we never let our nationalism turn destructive. Just because we love our country doesn't mean we have to hate someone else.-KR New Year wishes A new year dawns and with it we all dream of better things to come. If even some of the wishes could be realized so much would be better in our lives in 1993. Canadians might wish for a leader who would make them think of what could be accomplished instead of what failures we have. It's so refreshing to look south of the border these days to the confidence Bill Clinton is bringing his country. No doubt the detractors will start chipping at his feet of clay soon after his inauguration later this month but for the time being he is giving people the idea anything can be accomplished. Canadians can only look on with envy. Couldn't we have good weather and good prices for our farmers just for once? It's a decade now since Huron County's farmers have enjoyed bouyant prices. This past year they faced the double whammy of bad crops and poor prices. After 1992 surely they deserve the opposite in 1993. If they get it, everyone in the community will benefit. Canadians, and especially rural residents, could accomplish much by recovering some of the spirit of our pioneers. While we can't do anything about international markets, we can do many things to boost our own community. First, however, we have to believe we can make a difference, and not get bogged down in recession depression.—KR