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The Citizen, 2004-02-05, Page 6Catch. 21-p Seine (heat Seadittg! Drop in to our offices in Blyth and Brussels and look through our wide selection of books The Citizen Blyth Brussels 523-4792 887-9114 kls Looking for local heroes There are so many people out there who do so much to improve their community. Now you have a chance to say thanks. Nominate that special person for the 19th Annual Citizen Citizenship Awards. Each year a committee chooses an outstanding citizen from each of the Blyth and area and Brussels and area communities to receive an award for contribution to the community. If you know someone you think should be honoured, please fill in the ballot and send it in. You may attach a longer explanation of why you think your nominee shpuld win, if you like. If you have nominated someone before and he or she didn't win, please feel free to try again. I nominate as Citizen of the year for 1:.1 Blyth j Brussels & area & area I feel she/he deserves this award because Nomination Deadline April 30, 2004. Name and phone number of nominator Family literacy celebration To celebrate Family Literacy Day, students at Grey Central Public School with help from a Writers' Union of Canada grant, were able to host world-famous author, Kathy Stinson on Feb. 2. Stinson has written novels for young adults and storybooks for children including Red is Best, Big or Little and King of the Castle, which the Grade 4 class is presently reading. Stinson sits in front of her collection of books and tells the students how she became a writer. (Elyse OeBruyn photo) PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2004. Letter to the editor Minimum wage increase effective Feb. 1 THE EDITOR, Nine years have passed since Ontario's minimum wage earners received a raise. In that time, the cost of living in Ontario has increased by more than 15 per cent, while the general minimum wage remained frozen at $6.85 per hour. Ontario's minimum wage earners struggled to make ends meet amid rising costs and no raise. The McGuinty government is delivering real, positive change to the lowest income earners in Ontario by addressing this imbalance. Minimum wage earners contribute enormously to this province's economy. It is only right that they be able to share in the province's prosperity. On Feb. 1 Ontario's general minimum wage increased to $7.15 per hour. During the next three years, the general minimum wage will increase annually until it I don't know if you've heard or not but there are a lot of adults being referred to around town lately as being "pretty cool". Dave Glen's pretty cool. Jamie Lindsay. Larry Smith. Paul Schott. Sam Clark. Yep, all achieving "way cool" status by the young community members who have attended hockey times while they have been supervising over the past week. One supervising adult mentioned that he had quite a good time with the kids and he thought it would be great to see more adults out. Rise to the challenge, folks! Many teens have been out snowmobiling also, which must feel great for them! Winter is certainly a time to find lots to do! Just a reminder about the community surveys that came out in the paper. A stack of surveys as well as a drop box is located at Brubachers' restaurant. The surveys are due back on Friday, but Huron East economic development officer Ralph Laviolette said he will leave it a bit longer at the restaurant to give more people a chance to fill them in Revisit bylaws says Moyer Continued from page 1 of ratepayers. Moyer recognizes that the Municipality of Huron East has sent council members out .in attempts to mediate. She would like to see some of the bylaws "revisited" and upheld and have more productive conflict resolutions introduced. "We as ratepayers must be willing to support council financially so that they may put such proactive measures in place." When asked to respond to the municipality's need for such services, Grey Ward councillor Mark Beaven replied "We've tried that. Is it the municipality's responsibility to mediate? No, I don't think so." The next meeting is set for Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. reaches $8 per hour on Feb. 1, 2007. Minimum wage rates for students, liquor servers, homeworkers and hunting and fishing guides will also increase. In 2000, there were 191,000 minimum wage earners in Ontario who earned between the liquor server's minimum wage of $5.95 per hour and the general minimum wage of $6.85 per hour. Another 489,000 workers earned between the general minimum wage of $6.85 per hour and $8 per hour. Minimum wage earners are strong contributors to the economy, both as workers and as consumers. Raising the minimum wage will help to increase their standard of living and their spending power. This benefits all Ontario communities. While the McGuinty government recognizes it is time for a reasonable and fair increase in the minimum wage, we are also sensitive to the and have their thoughts recognized. It is a pretty simple way to have a say in things, but remember, don't just be a "naysayer". Give some ideas on how to improve certain things, not just what needs to be improved! You just might turn on a light bulb no one has thought of before. Did you know that it takes approximately 11 seconds to cross main street (Brandon Road) in Ethel on foot? Thirteen if you are trudging through deeper snow or carrying a child. I know because, after wondering why more people don't stop vehicles to allow pedestrians to cross the road, I counted. I began to wonder how much further behind a driver would be in arriving somewhere on time if they stopped to allow someone to cross the road. Even stopping for 10 pedestrians isn't going to make much of a difference-unless, obviously, it's an emergency. What I have also come to realize is that most people, when a conscious effort to stop and allow them to pass is made, smile and/or wave. Gratification doesn't get any more instant than that. So, if you did stop for those 10 pedestrians, that's perhaps 10 more smiles that you might have seen that day. Holding doors works the same magic-except people actually smile and say hello. It's a simple way to make a difference in what kind of day it will turn out to be. Food for thought. Have a great week. concerns of Ontario businesses. Phasing-in the increases in minimum wage is a fair and responsible approach that balances the concerns of business with the needs of Ontario's most vulnerable workers. Raising the minimum wage in this way brings positive change to one of the groups of people in Ontario that need it most. Chris Bentley Minister of Labour.