HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2006-05-04, Page 1e Citizen
Serving the , communities of 'Blyth arid Brussels and northern Huron County
Volume 22 No. 18
Thursday, May 4, 2006
$1 (93c + 7c GST)
NORTH HURON PUBOSHING COMPANY INC.
Inside this week
Pg 3 Library moves into
1 5,* new home
Q Stewarts making
I 5,* " sports news
Home & Garden
Pg. 13 section begins
Pg
. 2c A huge 'Battle'
JI coming to Blyth
Pg. 3 New clerk in place
" at North Huron
BIG
focus
on main
street
Last fall the )3Iyth Idea Group
(BIG) invited the businesses of Blyth
to participate in the Open Street
Heritage Program. The focus is the
Queen Street retail district.
The objective of the facade
improvement program is to tie
separate areas of the Queen Street
retail district together by improving
the collective visual appeal of the
village, said committee member Bev
Elliott.
"This program is designed to.
enhance the appearance of
businesses along the main corridor
through Blyth by building upon the
Victorian Heritage theme of the
original streetscape: This will be
accomplished through a sustained,
co-ordinated effort to use traditional
heritage exterior colours and/or
painting schemes, themes and visual
elements that highlight specific
architectural features."
The result, she said will be a
dramatic improvement in the visual
interest and charm of Queen Street,
which will benefit the whole village.
"We encourage your help to launch
the revitalisation of Blyth. Business
owners are encouraged to submit an
application. While this is non-
binding, success will require a co-
ordinated approach, said Elliott.
BIG volunteers have assembled
some facade improvement ideas for
several buildings that fit within the
heritage theme. These are intended to
provide inspiration.
"You are not limited to these
plans," said Elliott. "Rather, use them
as a starting point for your design. If
you would like assistance with doing
your design, you may contact
BIG/Blyth Decor Shoppe or Blyth
Building Centre." "Take advantage
of even the simplest opportunities to
enhance the curb appeal of your
storefront. We realize that some
Continued on page 8
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
It may not have happened on
Parliament Hill, but the flags at
Brussels and Blyth Public Schools
flew at half mast this past week in
honour of fallen soldier Corporal
Matthew Dinning.
Brussels principal Heather Beattie
said the decision did not come from
the board, but rather from one of the
students.
"Geoff Williams, our director of
education has always said that we
have to know the culture of our
community," explained principal
Heather Beattie.
Jane Morton, principal at Blyth
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
It was a night of farewell and
heartfelt best wishes as the Twp. of
North Huron feted its retiring clerk-
administrator John Stewart on April
27 at the Wingham Golf and Curling
Club.
Following dinner, presentations
were made by the new clerk-
administrator Kriss Snell on behalf
of the clerks and treasurers
association and by staff.
Stewart, who was clerk at
Colborne and Blyth before coming
to North Huron in 2001, was
recognized several times throughout
the evening for his dedication and
passion for his job.
Councillor Archie MacGowan
quoted, "You make a living by what
said she made the decision to lower
the flag because the death of Cpl.
Dinning hit close to home. "He was
from North Huron. It was the thing
to do."
Beattie admits that she didn't
make the connection at first. "I had
heard about the four young (soldiers)
who had died in Afghanistan, but
didn't make the connection to here.
Then a Grade 3 student came to me
and asked why we hadn't lowered
the flag."
Beattie said that she talked over
the situation with the student and at
the end of the conversation he told
her his point of view. "Mrs. Beattie,
he said. We need to do this. It's the
right thing to do."
you get but you make a life by what
you give", adding that this applied
to the type of man Stewart is.
He went on to say that Stewart was
the right person for the job as
council grappled with
amalgamation.
MacGowan said that Stewart once
said he felt his role was to gather
information to provide council with
the best information possible so they
could make an informed decision.
"He was true to his word and I thank
him for that."
The councillor also stated that he
couldn't say enough about the role
Stewart played in the transition from
three separate municipalities into the
Twp. of North Huron. "He worked
tirelessly to provide the best service
to ratepayers. He is the epitome of
dedication."
OPP Const. Lincoln Dinning
would agree. Two weeks prior to his
son's death he wrote a letter to
Liberal MP Paul Steckle disagreeing
with the decision of the new
Conservative government.
The previous Liberal government
started lowering flags after military
deaths in 2002, but Prime Minister
Stephen Harper wanted to return to
the traditional practice of lowering
the flag only on Remembrance Day.
Expressing his .pleasure that
Steckle had voiced support for the
soldiers in Afghanistan, Const.
Dinning wondered why that support
and respect didn't extend as far as
the Canadian flag.
"When I called your Heritage
"I will miss his wise counsel on all
things large and small. This
community was a better place
for having had him (as
administrator)."
Director of finance/treasurer
Donna White spoke of Stewart's
respect for his staff and his
leadership.
"He got this township off to the
best start possible."
Mason Bailey, who was reeve in
Blyth, called Stewart a "godsend. I
don't think anyone else could have
done what he did."
However, he joked, that Stewart
couldn't just sit on the new chair he
had received as a gift. "How are you
at picking apples," said the orchard
owner.
Friend Bob Hillis and brother Don
"Barney" Stewart spoke on the
Minister's office... to inquire as to
why it hadn't been lowered for the
death of Private Robert Costall, I
was told its usually - only done for
politicians and VIPs. I would
suggest to you that there is no more
important VIP than a Canadian
soldier who gave his life in the
service of his country."
Const. Dinning added a postscript
saying that he hoped and prayed the
flags would not have to be lowered
but as Afghanistan is a war zone the
likelihood existed that more soldiers
could die."
In making a statement in the
House of Commons April 25,
Steckle read Dinning's letter
Continued on page 6
personal elements of Stewart, with
his brother saying how much he had
looked up to his brother, was looking
forward to seeing him more often,
and "couldn't wait to get him into a
pair of paint pants."
(Following a trip to Europe,
Stewart is going to work in his
brother's decor business)
Others described the administrator
as unflappable and always prepared
with the facts.
But the compliments were not
one-sided. In typical fashion,
Stewart paid tribute to everyone
from council and staff to family and
friends.
He said he is retiring with mixed
feelings, looking forward to it, but
will miss the people he has worked
with in various capacities over the
years.
Farewell to a local hero
More than 2,000 people attended the funeral service at the Matthew Dinning of Wingham. Dinning was one of four
North Huron Wescast Community Complex on Saturday Canadians killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on
morning to pay tribute to Canadian soldier Corporal
April 22. (Vicky Bremner photo)
Student requests lowering of flag
North Huron honours retiring clerk