The Citizen, 2004-12-09, Page 1Helping the homeless
After a visit to Toronto and seeing the serious problem of homelessness first-hand, Abby
McGavin decided she wanted to help those less fortunate. Last year she managed to collect
72 coats which were donated to a church outreach program in Toronto, but this year she has
far surpassed that number with over 70 coats, 12 pairs of snowpants and a big bag of hats
and mitts. McGavin sits on the huge pile of outer-wear, all donated. (Elyse DeBruyn photo)
Girl sees need and acts
Inside this week
pg
Good year
• 6 for Gay Lea
Huron East reviews
Pg. 11 budget
Woman celebrates
Pg. IL, 90th birthday
P
g. 1 I-I Surprise arrives at
local farm
Former Blyth vet Pg. 18 OVC president
The Citizen
Volume 20 No. 48
Thursday, Dec. 9, 2004
$1 (93c + 7c GST)
HE council
hears from
focus group
By Ronda Wicks
Special to The Citizen
The first hour of Huron East's
council meeting on Tuesday, Nov.
30 was given to meeting with Dr.
Rodney and the Seaforth
community focus group for,.
discussing the future of Seaforth
Community Llospital; its viability
and representation in the Alliance
through the LAC (Local Advisory
Committee) in view of recent
concerns that the hospital might
have to close its doors.
Ultimately, nobody wants to see
this happen; there is already a
shortage of medical resources in
Huron East as it is. But Rodney
outlined the fact that the hospital
needs to have a system, a policy. "In
the past it has been run on a do-as-
you-can basis," Rodney said, "but it
can't just be run simply for having
an emergency room ... with
technology being so intense today, a
small college-type hospital just
doesn't cut it."
He went on to say that the hospital
isn't doing anything wrong, its
professional quality has never been
compromised. But part of the
problem lies in cost-saving
measures and that the hospital needs
to have a specific role in the area,
perhaps as an overflow resource for
Stratford hospital just as Clinton
hospital serves as an overflow for
London in various departments.
With room .to expand as needed, a
heliport, ample parking, and easy
access on a main transportation
route, the growth of the hospital and
not its demise should certainly be
established and supported but it
isn't.
When asked why -Seaforth
hospital tends to get overlooked
Maureen Spittal of the focus group
explained that while the hospital
continues to ask what more is
needed the government only says
that they want four "viable" sites
but never defines "viable" and what
Continued on page 13
By Elyse DeBruyn
Citizen staff
While most nine-year-olds are
undoubtedly making their Christmas
list and counting down the days until
they can eagerly unwrap presents,
one local girl has put homeless
people first.
Abby McGavin, daughter of Brian
and Shelley of the Seaforth area, has
once again collected dozens of
winter outer-wear clothing articles
for the homeless citizens of Toronto.
Through hand-me-down clothing
donations from family, friends,
classmates and local citizens,
McGavin was able to collect 76
coats, 12 pairs of snowpants and a
big bag full of hats, mits and scarves.
McGavin's act of kindness was
sparked after she travelled to
Toronto to see the theatrical
performance of The Lion King last
year.
"When we were in Toronto I saw a
lot of homeless people without any
coats," said McGavin. "1 felt really
bad for them."
The sight of poverty and
depression had gotten to her, so
when McGavin returned home she
asked her mother what she could to
help them.
"I didn't think it was fair for us to
have homes and stuff and all those
people didn't even have coats," she
said.
Shelley said that she had contacted
Cherrie DiNova, the minister of
Emmanuel Howard United Church
in Toronto, who also happened to
minister in this area before, to see
where Abby. could take everything
that she had collected.
As luck would have it, DiNova
had an outreach program at Emanual
Howard for homeless people, and.
she was thrilled to receive Abby's
donation.
So after several months of
collecting the articles, the McGavins
took out the middle seat of their
family van and drove to Toronto to
deliver, what would be to some
people, the greatest gift of all.
"When we took the stuff to the
church there was a homeless man
there and he looked pretty happy
when we dropped everything off,"
said McGavin. "It makes me feel
good inside knowing I've helped
someone."
She started collecting articles in
the summer and on Dec 4 she and
her mom took everything to Toronto.
They managed to collect a little
something for everyone including
coats for men, women and children
in all different sizes. Unfortunately,
Shelley said there is a desperate
need for men's coats as there is
always a shortage.
"Hopefully people will see these
random acts of kindness and do
something nice for someone else,"
said McGavin.
If anyone is interested in donating
winter clothing to help the homeless,
contact McGavin at 519-527-
2394.
Producers
updated
on BSE
By Bonnie cropp
Citizen editor
Close to 100 people attended Beef
Symposium 2004 at the Brussels
arena on Dec. 2. The message they
heard was one of guarded optimism.
Dennis Martin, a feedlot specialist
with OMAF provided an overview of
the industry during which he
expressed a somewhat positive
outlook. Exports he said are up 30
per cent over 2003 with 41 countries
now accepting Canadian beef. "We
are moving in the right direction."
Regarding imports, he explained
that Canada does have an obligation
with the World Trade Organization
and roughly 76,000 tons of beef are
imported annually. However, the
import quotas have been reduced
over the year.
"ExpOrts are moving, in the right
direction and imports are down."
With surveillance testing, Martin
said that it is important to maintain
confidence. "We have to be seen
internationally as being pro-active
regarding BSE."
A target figure of 30,000 cattle for
testing in 2005 has been set. "We are
being recognized as a country that is
meeting the issue head-on. This will
only strengthen our trade position."
While he had no numbers for
consumption over 2004, Martin said
it had risen five per cent in 2003
from the previous year. "The
consumer support was there.
They've been behind us 100 per
cent."
On a per capita basis for
consumption, beef is above pork and
below chicken. "Overall
consumption has been good."
Inventory has certainly been an
issue, said Martin, as the numbers
have grown, up four or five per cent
from last year. Currently Ontario has
just over 400,000 cows, with the
west having higher numbers. "Most
of this can be attributed to the fact
that guys are just not willing to take
less than nothing for that cow
they've fed."
Slaughter capacity is currently at
around 80,000 kill per week. Martin
said there is a potential for new
plants and more expansion. "There is
potential for substantial growth in
next year and beyond."
"The bottom line is, however, that
we do have cattle in the system. But
the bigger issue is that the cull rates
are obviously down because these
animals tend to go back into a herd.
The producer perhaps will re-breed
hoping for a better price than they've
been able to get for over a year now."
CONTINGENCY PLAN
Dave Stewart, executive
director/manager with the Ontario
Cattlemen's Association (OCA)
updated on the BSE contingency
plan.
Stewart said that it had become
apparent in the spring that the
information OCA was receiving
about getting the border open was
Continued on page 13