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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2019-05-02, Page 2PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2019. Proceeds from the Sale will go to support the Blyth Repository of History ~“the future of the past” Your Next Chapter Awaits.... being held at Blyth Memorial Hall at the Blyth Repository of History Used Book Sale Donations accepted at The Citizen office until May 28th. Donations accepted at Blyth Memorial Hall May 29th and 30th from 9 am until 8 pm. For more information or to volunteer call Deb at 519-523-4792. 431 Queen St. Your Next Chapter Awaits.... at the Blyth Repository of History Used Book Sale being held at Blyth Memorial Hall 431 Queen St. Friday, May 31st 5 pm - 8 pm Saturday, June 1st 9 am - 5 pm Sunday, June 2nd 9 am - 2 pm Friday, May 31st 5 pm - 8 pm Saturday, June 1st 9 am - 5 pm Sunday, June 2nd 9 am - 2 pm Festival, McGregor, Roulston honoured by HAHN Continued from page 1 discuss the ever-changing model of community newspaper ownership. Years ago, he said, nearly all local newspapers were owned by locals. Now, he said, there is a lack of community ownership and, as a result, a lack of newspapers properly serving their communities. “The Citizen’s unique ownership structure means it continues to be committed to publishing the best newspaper it can, even in a changing and often difficult environment,” Roulston said. At number nine was Blyth-based theatre director Duncan McGregor, who specializes in children’s theatre, often performed at Blyth’s Memorial Hall. McGregor was followed by the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association based in Blyth, and Bluevale’s Jacquie Bishop, the chair of the 2017 International Plowing Match in Walton in seventh place. Next was FauxPop Media, a film company based in Goderich, which finished in sixth place. The Blyth Festival, which plans to produce its 45th season this summer, came in at fifth place. Artistic Director Gil Garratt said it was a tremendous honour to be on the list. It shows, he said, that the Festival is truly serving its local community first, while also being an important theatre in the province and in the country. Nobel Prize-winning author Alice Munro was in fourth place, followed by the Kingsbridge Centre in third place, Goderich-based historian David Yates in second place and, finally, IceCulture in first place. Each of the winners was presented with a framed image from either Bonnie Sitter or Devin Sturgeon, both local artists. The evening also included musical entertainment and a catered dinner by Bon Vivant. A new way of doing things To mark the 10th anniversary of the Huron County Cultural Awards, the Huron Arts and Heritage Network, through votes, ranked previous winners. The top 10, including former Citizen Publisher Keith Roulston, were honoured last week. Roulston’s award was presented by Huron County Librarian Beth Rumble. (Photo submitted) Library cuts causing problems Huron County Librarian Beth Rumble says that cuts to library services by the provincial government are already being felt on the front lines with local patrons. Last week, libraries across the province heard that budgets for the Southern Ontario Library Service (SOLS) and Ontario Library Service North (OLSN) were cut in half by Premier Doug Ford and the provincial government. These cuts resulted in the immediate cessation of the inter-library exchange program, meaning that any Huron County resident with a book from another library system had to return it immediately and that future requests would not be filled. In a post on the Huron County Library’s Facebook page, the organization communicated that 24 SOLS drivers would be losing their jobs. In 2018, they drove nearly one million kilometres, delivering over 710,000 packages to over 150 libraries across southern Ontario. Locally, the Huron County system brought in over 4,500 materials to the county through the exchange, while lending out over 3,600. While SOLS operates the exchange program, it also serves a number of other centralized functions in the provincial library system, according to Rumble, like training opportunities, bulk buying and other services that she feels are made more efficient with the organization at full strength. Rumble says that first and foremost, to her, the cuts make no sense. For a government such as Ford’s, which is preaching the need for fiscal responsibility and efficiency, the SOLS cuts are a step in the wrong direction. Not only does SOLS help local libraries to procure books for cheaper prices, but the library system is one of the leanest in the province’s portfolio. Rumble says she’s not only confused by the decision, but, as are most other library professionals, she’s rather upset by the cuts as well. She said that while some of what SOLS does is behind the scenes for professionals, such as training, some of these cuts, like the elimination of the exchange program, have begun affecting local library users immediately. In an interview with The Citizen last week, Rumble said that she and the rest of the province’s library professionals were still trying to learn exactly what the cuts meant and that there was still very little information available. Just before the interview, Rumble was one of many professionals on a conference call to discuss the cuts and how the province’s libraries planned to proceed in their wake. A solution is still far off, she said, but discussions have begun. She also says that libraries are working to mobilize users who depend on the library, urging them to let their voices be heard. As for the library’s next steps, Rumble says that remains to be seen, but that right now Ontario’s librarians are busy getting the word out and communicating to users just how these cuts will be affecting their usage of the library, both now and in the future of Huron. In an interview with The Citizen last week Huron-Bruce MPP and Minister of Education Lisa Thompson said that the changes made by Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Michael Tibollo really strike at the heart of efficiency and modernization. “It’s about modernization,” Thompson said. “At the end of the day, it’s time to move into the digital world and that was the focus of Minister Tibollo. Again, we’re moving into the 21st century, embracing technology and recognizing the need to embrace the digitization of our reading material.” When asked about Rumble’s concerns regarding the SOLS cuts and whether they will actually help or hurt efficiency measures, Thompson said that a one-size-fits- all approach doesn’t work and that she would do her best to ensure Huron-Bruce concerns were being heard at the provincial level. She said the government understands that not everyone will move along with the changes at the same pace. Top 10 Duncan McGregor, left, was one of the top 10 previous Huron County Cultural Awards winners from the past decade honoured last week. Presenting the award is Ben Scholten. (Photo submitted) STEVEN NIXON Broker WILFRED MCINTEE & CO. L IMITED Bus: 519-357-2222 Cell: 519-531-0252 Fax: 519-357-4482 Email: nixon@execulink.com Web: www.stevennixon.com 249 Josephine St., WINGHAM, ON N0G 2W0 Serving the area since 1999 101 acre farm with new 1,898 sq ft. house custom built in 2017, great room with vaulted ceiling, master bedroom with 5 pc ensuite and walk-in closet, finished basement with family & game rooms and wet bar, approx. 80 acres of mostly level workable land with the remainder hardwood & mixed bush, systematically drained, great farm to add to your current farming operation. Call Steve Nixon 519.357.2222 #15 746 JOSEPHINE ST., WINGHAM $1,650,000.00 MLS# 30729665 New L i s t i n g By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen An anniversary Christine McGrath of Christine’s Clothes Closet hosted the organization’s 30th annual spring fashion show last week and with a full house at the Knights of Columbus hall, it was truly a time for celebration. (Shawn Loughlin photo)