HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2004-09-16, Page 6TIME FOR
A CHECK UP.
Protect your family against fire
and deadly carbon monoxide.
Have your heating system
examined annually by a qualified
service technician.
ENBRIDGE
Enbridge Gas Distnbubon
Reduce the Risk of West Nile Virus
As the days get shorter and cooler, mosquitoes
are still present and precautions are necessary.
How to prevent -mosquitoes bites:
• Take precautions outdoors, especially in early morning and early
evening, when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear light-coloured clothing and cover up whenever possible.
• Use insect repellent containing 10% DEET or less.
What is the County doing?
The County of Huron has a West Nile Virus Advisory Committee
and a program to monitor birds and mosquitoes for West Nile
Virus.
What can you do?
• Stay informed about West Nile Virus.
• Report sightings of dead crows and blue jays to the Health Unit.
• Drain the rain on your home, cottage and business property.
To find out more, visit www.huroncounty.ca or call the Huron
County Health Unit at 482-3416 Ext. 2001. If calling long
distance, dial toll free1-877-837-6143 Ext. 2001.
PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2004.
Letter to the editor
Grey residents seek de-amalgamation
THE EDITOR,
Taxpayers in the former Grey
Twp. may soon be receiving a flyer
dealing with the possibility of de-
amalgamation.
A group of citizens have started
looking into the steps to follow to
separate from the Municipality of
Huron East. A public meeting will
Community safety is a shared
responsibility. This year, "take back
the night" at home.
Every year, thousands of women
take to the streets on the third
Thursday in September to Take
Back the Night. The original
purpose for this march back in the
1970s was to protest the fact that
many women were in danger of
violence merely by walking on their
own streets at night. The point of the
protest was to assert women's right
as citizens and members of the
community to walk unaccosted and
unmolested in their own
neighbourhoods - to be safe on the
streets at night.
Well, here in Huron County, such
a protest may seem misinformed,
because the reality is that women are
statistically safer to walk the streets
in Goderich than they are to be
where they should feel most safe -
their homes.
Even though people may think of
safety as "looking out for the bad
guy in the bushes", the reality is that
those who commit violence against
women are rarely strangers - most
often they are men whom women
know and usually have every reason
to trust. These men are current or
foi-mer husbands, partners or
boyfriends or another male family
member or friend; men who have
access to women due to their
relationship with them.
In other words, most abusers of
women are men who live in or have
access to women's homes. And,
whenever there is violence against
women in homes, children, among
the most vulnerable citizens, also
experience this violence.
Last year in Huron County, 149
women and 118 children sought
safety from violence at the women's
shelter. Many more contacted the
shelter by phone to seek advice and
support about their safety. About 50
women called Women Today of
Huron for support last year, too. "It
makes those among us who work
with women wonder how many
women haven't called the women's
centre or gone to the shelter," Said
Pam Hanington, executive director
of Women Today. In fact, we know
that there are many women living in
danger in their homes right now.
Considering that statistics indicate
that one in four women experience
some form of violence in
relationships during her lifetime,
that's about 5,000 women in Huron
County who are, or can expect to
experience violence in their
relationship. This means that you
probably know someone in this
situation, too." Everyone wants to
live in a safe community.
Community safety is among the
many reasons people choose to
move to small, rural communities.
However, a community is only as
safe as its most vulnerable citizens -
and if women and children can't be
sate 'in their own homes - then
where?
This year, the women and children
of this community are not takiing the
annual Take Back the Night message
to the streets; it's hoped that citizens
be called in the near future, to get the
feelings of taxpayers of Grey, with a
committee being formed from those
interested. There has been a lot of
talk out there and, this group has
finally decided to get the ball rolling.
The opposition to the
amalgamation is not with the other
communities, but with the level of
and members of this community,
will take it into their homes.
"Talk to each other about the
problem of violence again women
and find out more about this
problem. Speak out against violence
when you see it, and if you know
someone who is experiencing
violence at home - take action."
Find a way to let her know that
everyone has the right to be safe -
and hat there are people and
services that will help. Give her the
women's shelter number 524-6245
or 1-800-265-5506.
services and the general feeling of
being lost within a larger
municipality. Bigger is not always
better and there are many concerns
that need to be addressed.
There are many other communities
that have already started looking into
this, because they are not happy with
the way their new municipalities
The women's shelter phone
number is on the inside front cover
of every phone book in the county.
Support and assistance is available
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Women Today of Huron supports
women in transition from violence
and is open Monday - Friday from
9:30-4:30. Please call 524-6767 or
1-888-547-3478.
And, if you're a woman who
needs emergency assistance, please
call the women's shelter or 911.
Community safety is a shared
responsibility. Caring about
have been running.
The group met with councillors
last week to have some of their
questions addressed. Different
concerns were discussed but no real
headway was made. More financial
records and information is needed to
pass on to the public.
We need to let our local, provincial
community safety means caring
about women and children,
especially. "If our vision of
community safety includes a
community that does not tolerate
violence against women, together
we can "take back the night" in our
community where it really matters -
in our homes."
icia Please Recycle
T-10 This Newspaper
and federal governments know that
We are not happy and things need to
change.
Concerned Grey Taxpayers.
WT says Take Back the Night at home