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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1995-10-25, Page 18NOTICE Township of Morris Municipal Office Office Hours from October 23 to October 27, 1995 9 a.m. to 12 Noon Normal office hours will resume as usual October 30,1995. Book Picture It Photography for your 1996 Wedding • Excellent Rates • Studio • Outdoor gardens for a perfect background Call Ruth Uyl for your FREE consultation Laminating Service Available Picture It Photography 120 North St., Blyth (519) 523-9892 PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1995. Former resident gets B.C. students in business Mac Taylor (Photo from Canadian Business, December 7994) By Bonnie Gropp Though he's been doing the work he has for 10 years, a former Mor- ris Twp. resident is making the news lately. A story on Mac Taylor, now of Dawson Creek, B.C. appeared in the August issue of Reader's Digest and on CBC's business show Ven- ture. The reason is the Enterprise Centre at South Peace Secondary School, a non-profit community- owned program, where students learn self-employment as a career option. Taylor grew up on the farm out- side Blyth, where his brother Boyd still resides. He attended high school in Clinton and is a graduate of the University of Guelph. In 1961 he and his wife, the former Jayne Mary Snell, moved to Daw- son Creek, where he began farming and to supplement that income teaching economics and agriculture in a local high school. He also opened a sheepskin shop in Prince George, which became so successful that he quit teaching in 1978, opened a second store and began a steel construction business. Something he couldn't help notic- ing, however, was that the young people of Dawson Creek, in the remote north-eastern corner of B.C., were having difficulties find- ing employment after they graduat- ed. "You can't within 50 miles come up with a million people," Taylor said. "There was a despon- dency. The kids had no real goals, which is a dismal thing if you look at it that way." "I believe that self-employment is better than under employment," said Taylor. 'Huron and South Peace are similar in that there is a tremendous amount of agriculture. My feeling is that rather than ship (what we grow), what if we could turn our own product into corn oil and corn flakes in Huron County. What stops you is not money, it's people. You need a take charge attitude." Believing that a university educa- tion isn't the be-all and end-all for today's young people was the incentive behind the Enterprise Centre. "You have to show them the opportunities that lie right in front of them," said Taylor. The Centre, of which he is direc- tor, has in its 10-year history proven that it does just that, with much success. The mission of the Centre is to teach students how to operate their own businesses and profit doing it. It has become one of the most innovative and admired high school entrepreneurship cours- es in the country. According to a story in the December 1994 issue of Canadian Business Taylor's graduates include an overachieving stockbroker who was licensed at age 20, a..24-year-old real estate agent, who runs his own office, a would-be bailing twine magnate who shipped in $50,000 worth of twine as his Grade 12 project and a model who plans to open a clothing store. In the first part of the program, students must develop an idea for a feasible product or service. Market- ing and financial research is then done, after which they prepare a business plan and present it to the business community. The next phase is when the students open and run their business, earn revenue and prepare and submit financial statements. The average earnings In the Early years class, orange was the topic. They made orange playdough, went on an orange hunt, made orange books with Mrs. Griffith and cut orange things. They also made paper bag pumpkins and have begun to make spooky witches. They are getting ready for Halloween with lots of songs and poems. Cassandra Banks brought her and her brother's Guinea pigs to show her Grade 1 class. Sassy and Squeaks enjoyed their experience and the kids certainly loved having them. The class also had fun this week making assembly line pumpkin muffins. They learned different aspects of math - eg. measuring, counting, etc. The Grade 2s have completed Mary Humphries greeted wor- shippers at Duff's United Church on Oct. 22. Kevin Wilbee began the service by lighting the Christ Candle. Rev. Randy Banks wel- comed everyone and reminded them of the turkey supper on Nov. 1. As promised Rev. Banks told the Margaret Lacroix had quite a surprise when she entered her house on Saturday night. There to greet her with Happy 60th Birthday were 35 family members and friends. She said that she had no idea that anything like this was being planned. for a Grade 12 project are $400 a term. There are no classes, no exams. Students with promising projects can apply for use of a student office, which provides them with free rent, secretarial support, fax, photocoping and phone privileges. B. C. schools have the opportuni- ty to offer locally developed cours- es, which earn students credits without the hassles of government mandates. Taylor says the key is to get peo- ple "who give a damn, who care about the community and its young people, to teach a program like this and in every school there are those kinds of people." their box city - 'Twoville'. They also went on a treasure hunt and found a wonderful goody. In art the kids got to disguise pumpkins out of paper with some crazy looking results. Mrs. Scott's Grade 3 took a wonderful wilderness trip through Steve and Rita Bowers' bush. Steven taught them about identify- ing different kinds of trees and by using an increment border he showed them how to tell the age of trees. They discovered a deer nest and they saw many deer tracks. It was a great learning experience for the class. Congratulations to the kids who competed in the cross-country run. Jennifer McClure, Josh Gowan, Krista Shortreed and Tyler Elligsen finished in the top 20. Mrs. Vivian said that they all showed good sportsmanship. kids what the Swahili words, 'Mungu yu Mwema' meant — God is so Good. The kids sang it in Swahili and in English. Olene Dennis was scripture reader and Rev. Banks's sermon was called, 'The little something that I do for God'. Congratulations! Cheryl, Glen and Lucas Mader from Windsor were guests of Doug and Marjory Fraser this weekend. They helped Doug and Marj celebrate 47 years of marriage. The couple both agreed that it has been a wonderful 47 years. The employment future of today's graduates is a nationwide concern, one which it is obvious Taylor cares passionately for. "Many communities have called and asked us how this works. It's not rocket science stuff. We spend mega-bucks setting up technical programs and sports teams in our school. Business is the same thing. Some of these kids are naturals. They will start major businesses in our communities if they are just shown how." Noting the numbers of university and college grads who are unable to find work Taylor says, "Kids are learning tremendous skills, but how do they use them? We really have Officers of the Wingham OPP were called to a two car accident at the intersection of Hwy 4 and County Road 25 on Tuesday, Oct. 17. According to police, 77-year-old Stanley Acheson of RR3, Listowel, was westbound on the county road and failing to stop at the stop sign, proceeded across Hwy 4. A southbound 1987 Toyota, driv- en by Norman Barlow of Vanastra braked, skidded and struck Acheson's 1994 Chrysler in the southbound lane of the highway. Police say both drivers and a pas- senger in the Acheson car, Gertrude Acheson, 76 suffered minor injuries and were taken to Clinton Hospital by ambulance. Police have charged Acheson with failing to stop for a stop sign. to do something for them." While he would be happy to help set up an initiative in other commu- nities, the effort has got to be "homegrown." "We've got the building blocks, but we can't transplant them, You've got to build them yourself." Taylor, who has been invited to attend a conference in Toronto this November on Entrepreneurship Education in the New Millenium, says, "We've got to counsel kids to the 90's reality. In 1958, when I graduated I had several job offers. That's not the world today. We need to teach these kids to be self- starters, to contract and construct. If they are strong they will fly." Compiled by Patty Banks Phone 887-6860 Orange, Early Year topic M. Humphries greets at Duffs Woman celebrates 60th JOHN McKERCHER CONSTRUCTION LTD. • backhoeing • bulldozing • loading & hauling • sand, gravel and topsoil R.R. #2 Bluevale 887-9061 if busy 887-9999 Once again Seeing smashed cars at the corner of Hwy 4 and County Road 25, at the south edge of Blyth seems to be becoming a common sight. This accident which occurred late afternoon, Oct. 17 was the most recent of several that have happened at the intersection over the past few months. 3 taken to hospital after crash