Loading...
The Citizen, 2003-12-03, Page 7THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2003. PAGE 7. Huron Perth connects on internet project By Elyse DeBruyn Citizen staff Huron and Perth Counties have been working hard the last six months to develop a project business plan worth $2.7 million and there is hope that the partnership will grow. To celebrate the completion of this plan and its submission to the province of Ontario for funding support, a presentation on Huron Perth Connects was held at the Seaforth Community Complex on Nov. 26. The presentation was to introduce the new project to local residence in the Huron and Perth areas and give them an idea of what Huron Perth Connects is all about. Representatives and organizations from all sectors of Huron and Perth Counties came together in developing a Connect Ontario project proposal involving online services to businesses. Connect Ontario is a program from the provincial government funded through the Ministry of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation. The goal is to enhance the competitiveness of the communities in the digital economy and create jobs, new investment and economic development opportunities through partnerships among community institutions and organizations, governments, local business and other private sector interests. Huron Perth Connects is a group representing community interests across both Huron and Perth. The objectives of the project are to enhance local access to electronic information and services across all sectors, support local businesses in adopting e-commerce strategies, creating more visitor attraction across rural parts of the region and supporting the agricultural community with an introduction to using the Internet to find content relevant to them. There are 41 project partners and are all distributed across key community sectors including municipal, youth, agriculture, libraries/museums/archives, business/tourism/economic development and health and caring. Representatives from different organizations came to the presentation and spoke about each sector and how the community will benefit from its online services. Brock Vodden spoke about an on­ line community calender with upcoming events across the Huron and Perth communities. He said people will be able to search for an event by organization, type of event, location or date. Organizations can post events for a certain date on the calender and have less .chance for a conflict with other organizations. He also spoke of virtual meeting rooms which will have the capacity to set up a chat group with common interests and the groups will be able to communicate with each other. “It’s an alternate of getting together physically,” said Vod­ den. Subscription rooms are available to organizations who, for example, want to get a notice of an upcoming event out to people. The citizens who subscribe will be sent an electronic notice immediately. Erica Horbanuik and Bonnie Baynhan helped to create a youth Web site in Huron County and now they are expanding it to Perth County. The idea is to place young people on-line and help them find different information and help them get involved with the community. Job searches will be available for those students who want volunteer hours for their 40 hours needed to complete high school. A teen health portion may also be included with the Web site. This will give students a chance to talk with health nurses in the area and ask them questions including birth control information. Horbanuik and Baynhan have hopes to get a discussion board up and going which will give students the opportunity to speak their minds about different topics. Each topic will include an expert to talk to on-line with the students. A web-based library system was designed for libraries, museums and archives. For example, a student can go online and locate the books required for an assignment then use a library card number to reserve the book or renew it. If a book is not returned on time, the fines can be viewed and paid online as well. The on-line genealogical and archival listings are available for indivduals researching their family tree and identifying where they came from, as well as birth, death and marriage notices dating back to the 1850s. A business directory will be available for residents requiring professional assistance, for example a carpenter or a plumber. For more information on these services and many others, go to www.pcm.on.ca and follow the Huron Perth Connects link. Stopping the breakaway Players from the Brussels Midget team try and stop a Zurich player from scoring during their final game of the Silver Stick tournament last Week. (Elyse DeBruyn photo) Hayter's Fresh Grade 'A1 Turkeys 13-26 lb. average We also have a great selection of frozen turkeys, ducks, turkey rolls, stuffed turkeys, hams, etc. Scrimgeour's FOOOTOWN MS lives here. MS is the most common neurological disease affecting young adults in Canada. MS Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada 1-800-268-7582 www.mssociety.ca EiaAt VasaetieN BLYTHE BROOKE ORCHARDS 1 mile west of Blyth For more information call 523-9338 or 482-9371 SUNDAY: ey l FRIDAY: SATURDAY Monday Night Football Broomball Night Kids under 10 Eat FREE 20/$20. nights (20 Wings, Pitcher for $20) - 40c Wings Black'n Cajan Catfish Prime Rib Dinner Featuring entertainment by Cactus Jam Roast Beef Dinner j ^.lan Ntui y.eai'& at the Jnn 523-9381 The Blyth Inn MONDAY: TUESDAY: WEDNESDAY THURSDAY: lij a:..': U .. Ils (b ll>l- Doug Gough, R.I.B. (ONT.) CAIB, Manager IVES INSURANCE BROKERS LTD. - BLYTH OFFICE 184 Dinsley St. W. Box 428 Blyth, ON NOM 1H0 Tel: (519) 523-9655 Fax: (519) 523-9793 All Classes of Insurance WWW.IVESINSURANCE.COM ■ A * 3 C 9 1 U. C O H I "Big or Small; Toys for All" Die-Cast 8310 Pedal Tractor Blyth 523-4244 www.hurontractor com Faithful Friends 'Part of the children’s daily chores involved filling the multitude of birdfeeders on the property. The sprightly chickadee would patiently wait, never . afraid of their presence k I promised myself that I ■ would one day paint this ■ special part of life on our farm . . when these little friends faithfully appear to g warm even the coldest of ■ winter days. " 426 Queen St., Blyth 523-4700 Open: lues. - Sat. ~ 10-5 Sun. - 12-4 Trisha’s latest limited edition 8 plate Faithful Friends” is bound to warm your heart during the dark days of winter! Suggested Retail Price $49.95 CDN/S39.95 US ©2003 Irisha Romance Lhe Arusrs Garden ln< . Licensee N C Cameron m Sons Limned