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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