HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1996-06-26, Page 4New beginnings
Photo by Janice R, ^ker
Through
the Years
From the files of The Blyth Stan-
dard, The Brussels Post and The
North Huron Citizen
47 YEARS AGO
JUNE 29, 1949
Progressive Conservative incum-
bent Lewis Elston Cardiff was re-
elected to parliament. Voters chose
Cardiff to represent them in the
House of Commons for the third
successive time.
Ex-service men were called to
the Brussels Legion for the Decora-
tion Service.
The congregation of Rev. H.C.
Wilson and his wife presented the
couple with a farewell gift of
money. Rev. Wilson addressed the
audience in the church garden and
then prepared for his new charge in
Clinton.
Guelph battled the Brussels foot-
ball team at Victoria Park. Admis-
sion for the game was 25 cents.
Heavy rain caused a two car acci-
dent just north of Winthrop. The
two Brussels residents involved in
the collision escaped with superfi-
cial cuts and bruises. However, the
cars suffered $1,500 in damages.
Elizabeth Taylor and William
Powell lit up the silver screen in,
"Life With Father."
An engagement and wedding
ring package could be purchased
for $58.75.
Letters
THE EDITOR,
On Monday, June 10 the
Wingham and District Community
Living Association held its annual
general meeting in Teeswater at the
Curling Club.
Some of the local businesses and
organizations were acknowledged
for their support and services in the
past. I would like to take this
29 YEARS AGO
JUNE 28, 1967
Wet, humid weather hampered
haying operations in Huron Coun-
ty. Yellowed cereal grains in some
areas resulted from an excess of
wet soil conditions.
Bad weather forced the Blyth
centennial worship service to go to
the community hall instead of the
Lion's Park as was originally
planned.
opportunity to thank the Blyth
Christian Reformed Church, the
Blyth Festival, the Blyth
Horticulture Society, the Blyth
Library, the Corner Beauty Salon,
Belgrave; Huronlea, Brussels; and
the Ranch House Restaurant, Blyth.
If there is anyone interested in
becoming a Volunteer Job Coach in
the Blyth or Brussels area they can
contact myself, Cheryl Myers,
Community .Support Worker at
(519) 357-3562 or write to Jennifer
Dierolf, Co-ordinator of Volun-
teers, P.O. Box 818, Wingham,
Ontario, NOG 2W0.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Myers.
C The North Huron
itizen
Publisher, Keith Roulston
Editor, Bonnie Gropp
Advertising Manager,
Jeannette McNeil
The Citizen is published weekly In Brussels, Ontario by North Huron
Publishing Company Inc.
Subscriptions are payable In advance at a rate of $27.00/year ($25.24 + $1.76
G.S.T.) In Canada; $62.00/year in U.S.A. and $75.00/year in ether foreign
countries.
Advertiiing 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 newscripls or photographs.
Contents of The Citizen are 0 Copyright.
Publications Mail Registration No. 6968
BLUE
RIBBON
AWARD
1995
P.O. Box 429,
BLYTH, Ont.
NOM 1H0
Phone 523-4792
FAX 523-9140
P.O. Box 152,
BRUSSELS, Ont.
NOG 1H0
Phone 887-9114
FAX 887-9021
PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 1996
Seeing a different perspective
Speaking at the opening night dinner of the Blyth Festival, Friday
night, Christopher Newton, artistic director of the Shaw Festival,
delivered an eloquent plea for support for the arts, and never once used
the word "grant".
Newton, a native of Great
Britain, recalled how he had
come to Canada and was
immediately immersed in the
country by a nation-wide tour
of the old Canadian Players theatre troupe. He got to know the country
intimately and saw the impression theatre could have on ordinary
people. But he also got to know Canada in another way, he said,
through the works of Canadian writers and artists. We not only need to
see things for ourselves, he said, but we need the enlightening
experience of seeing things through the eyes of others, the kinds of
experience that is provided in theatre and the other arts.
Many in the arts community hoped that, of all the audience present,
the political representatives would hear the message most clearly.
Funding for the arts, like funding in many other areas, is being slashed
as governments try to cut costs. There is real fear that the Canada
Council, which more than anything was responsible for the birth of
today's vibrant arts scene in Canada, could be a victim of federal
government funding. Meanwhile the Harris government has already
announced two cuts to the Ontario Arts Council funding in one year.
Recent complaints by a major private donor have struck a sympathetic
chord that money is being wasted on mediocre artistic enterprises.
No doubt there is money spent on the arts in Ontario that ultimately
yields little long-term success, but asking that everything tried in the
arts be successful, is like asking cancer researchers to stop fooling
around and find the cure with their first experiment. The arts are trial
and error: when there is error, little may seem to have been achieved
though the error may have led to the success of later projects. When
there is success, people can enjoy an experience that opens their eyes.
Later, after Newton had finished his speech and the audience had
ducked raindrops getting to the theatre, that kind of experience was on
view with Barndance Live, in which local people got a chance to look
at the culture of their area through new eyes. Created by an expensive
"collective" process in which. the actors interview people and do
research, then create the play, Barndance Live was an example of how
arts funding cad be put to good use to allow people to see a part of their
own lives through the eyes of others. Most present would have agreed
the money was well spent. — KR
Stumbling toward divorce
As Canadians prepare to celebrate the 129th birthday of their
country, Monday, they seem to be sleepwalking toward its destruction.
Symbolic of the malaise was the meeting of the prime minister and
provincial premiers last week. As the meeting approached, several
premiers announced they wanted no part of the meeting if the
constitution was going to be discussed. True to his word, when Quebec
Premier Lucien Bouchard heard the word constitution raised, he left the
room. He didn't have to be away long, because the premiers agreed not
to talk about changes and that part of the meeting lasted only minutes.
The premiers are quite willing to strip the federal government of its
powers (as long as they get money too) but few are willing to go
beyond the interests of their own province to take a look at the
problems of the whole country. We seem to be like married people who
suddenly say "I'm tired of compromising; I'm going to look after myself
and what will happen, will happen".
That mood seems to accurately reflect the mood of Canadians in
general. There's little appetite for the provinces to get into constitutional
wrangling again. People want Quebec to stay in Canada, but are tired of
seeing that province dominate the political agenda. Others feel the
attention given to Quebec is taking away from the focus that should be
given to the problems of their province.
Other Canadians aren't sure that even the stripping of power from
Ottawa that all provinces covet, is a good idea. What is the sense of
destroying the federal government in the name of pleasing Quebec, if
voters there decide they want to leave anyway?
And so we stumble on, awaiting divine intervention to keep the
country together for another few years. Happy Canada Day. — KR
Editorial