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The Citizen, 2006-09-28, Page 6You make us what we are--strong. You, your neighbours, your community all with a common goal. Excellent service, fair prices and a commitment to you for 135 years and counting. Call Us Today. South Easthope Mutual Insurance 1-800-263-9987 www.seins.on.ca Farm & Urban Property • Auto Insurance Working Together For Insurance That Works. MUTUAL Our Advantage Comes From You. PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2006. HPCDSB trustees give themselves a big raise By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen Trustees of the Huron-Perth Catholic - District School Board approved a more than 50 per cent raise from their existing annual remuneration, in keeping with amounts' suggested by a new provincial formula. They'll now earn $7,591 per year as trustees, with the chair earning $13,091 and the vice-chair earning $10.341. Other Ontario school boards are in various stages of the same process, with some already approving similar changes and most expected to follow suit. City boards with higher student populations tend to demand higher remunerations under the formula, while the distance travelled to regular meetings can also have an effect. At their regular meeting Monday, Sept. 25, Huron- Perth trustees voted unanimously in favour of five recommendations brought forward from a six-member "Citizens' Advisory Committee," comprising representatives from across the two counties. The committee met once to consider a formula for maximum trustee remuneration, set out for each board in a newly-introduced clause of Ontario's Education Act. Under the Conservative government of Mike Harris, annual remuneration for all Ontario school board trustees was set at $5,000. - The new formula retains $5,000 as a base Amount, but also includes factors for the enrolment and the distance travelled to meetings in each board, and these are used to determine a maximum overall remuneration. The Huron-Perth board's citizens' committee -- which is also required under the new regulation -- recommended the maximum amount for the period following November's municipal election, as well as the maximum retroactive payment for the final year of the current trustees' mandate. Stratford trustee Ron Marcy cautioned there has been no indication, as yet, about provincial funding for the retroactive payment, so he suggested an amendment stating the 2005-06 payment would be "contingent on funding." Commitment has already been announced .by the Education ministry for funding for the increased remuneration in future years. Blyth Festival hosts country singing contest Much thanks From left: Lee-Anne Poelman, event co-ordinator for the am920 Ontario Open Country Singing Contest receives lead sponsorship support from CKNX am920 representatives Amanda Dixon and Scott Pettigrew. (Photo for employment services Ontario Open Couniry Singing Contest will be held June 8 - 10. Registration is limited to As of Oct. 1, employment services in Huron County will be delivered by the Avon Maitland District School Board, the Huron Business Development Corporation, Armstrong _ Hayes & Associates, and the County of Huron. Services include: five employment resource centres (located in Goderich, Seaforth, Exeter, Clinton and Wingham), case management and needs identification services, employment counselling, and job search related workshops. New delivery model This new delivery model is in response to the community consultations completed by Service Canada in 2005. Employment Assistance Services providers have been closely working with Goderich and London Service Canada Representatives to reorganize and distribute the services offered in Huron County. This new delivery model should continue to allow a high level of customer service while assisting. Huron County residents in finding sustainable employment. For further information or 100 participants and packages are available now. For more information visit the Blyth Festival website at BUY? SELL? TRY if you are a community agency wishing a presentation on how to refer clients into the new delivery model contact Terry McDougall at the Clinton Centre for Employment and Learning at 519- 482-1700 ore-mail tmcdougall @ smallbusinessh uron ca www.blythfestival.com or call Lee-Anna Poelman, special events co-ordinator at 519- 523-9300, ext 211. submitted) With the generous support of CKNX am920 Radio, the Blyth Festival will be hosting the am920 Ontario Open Country Singing Contest from June 8-10. This is a professionally produced annual music festival that attracts country music performers from throughout the province. Last February representatives from the Twp. of North. Huron and lead organizers from the Wingham event approached the Festival about taking on this annual singing contest. The Township had purchased the rights to the event that had been held in Wingham for three years — froni 2002-2004. THE EDITOR, If you are looking for a great' night out with your family, the Brussels Public School Parent Council is planning a Family Fun in the Fall Night on Oct. 5 at the BMG CoMmunity Centre from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. With a family dinner catered by Beth Earl Catering, silent auction,' and entertainment and games for the children, there is something for everyone. Not only will you have a great evening, but you will have the opportunity to support the school. With your help the parent council can provide extra Opportunities for our children, and that is something we all want. I encourage you to partake in this event, whether it be by The board and staff of the Festival embraced the opportunity to host the singing contest as it promotes Canadian talent and provides a high quality showcase of country music. In addition, it gives the Village of Blyth a great opportunity to draw music lovers and tourists into the region and invest in the development of young performers and musicians of all ages. As annual event sponsors for the 2007, 2008 and 2009 contests, am920- Radio welcomed the opportunity to partner with the Festival furthering their goals and objectives of promoting Canadian talent. The am920 attending, or donating to the_ silent auction. Our children are one of our most important assets in this community, and as we near the season of Thanksgiving I am truly thankful for the willingness of our community to support one another, and on behalf of all our children I thank you so much for all your support now and in the future. Last year was a great success and a wonderful time was had by all! It is an evening you won't want to miss! For more information or to donate contact Pauleen Kerkhof, 519-887-9422; Bonnie Hastings, 519-887- 9847 or Dawn Hastings 519- 887-6222 by Sept. 29. Sincerely Dawn Hastings - BPS Parent Council Member. Letter to the editor