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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2002-02-13, Page 5 (3)News THE HURON EXPOSITOR, FEBRUARY 13, soo2-4 A high school is important to a community From Page early days, when Chip Woods and I would discover that Mr. Weedmark (out of earshot he was called "Rags" because of his rumpled suits) had forgotten to lock the door of the old wooden gym. We couldn't reach the bars or the rings to swing, but we had some great old wrestling matches on the big mats. In later years I recall the chilling hundred foot dash, getting from the south door of the school to the old gym in the middle of winter. In the corner was an old wood burning pot- bellied stove - it did little more than keep out the frost. The biggest constructign job of the generation was excavating and building the new north wing attached to the original old high school. At one time or another the whole town came down to watch contractor Harry Edge and his men build a school from scratch. The earth moving machines of the day consisted of Wilson Hawkins dray horse team providing the power to pull the big metal scoops that peeled out the earth for the foundation. Next to the watching movies at the Regent theatre eyeballing the high school construction was the best entertainment in town. For me, the apprenticeship of small town living had its roots in the widest definition of education. Beyond just attending school and learning, was the association and camaraderie of classmates and friends. Building friendships and slowly but surely leaming the simple graces of mutual trust and civility was just as important as the three Rs, A lout with a Ph.D is still a lout. As a teen-ager I saw a bit of the business side of education. For many years my father was on the Public School Board, and served a term as Chair. I recall the meetings in our kitchen with my dad and board secretary Mac McKellar and Inspector Jim Kinkaid. I seem to recall much of the talk was about money. Seems like ancient times - but not really. The real ancient time was 1878 when Seaforth got its first High School. Salaries for teachers in Huron County averaged around $300. a year for men and $200. for women. For the past 124 years young men and women have taken the skills and learning they found at Seaforth's High School out into a very competitive world. Not exactly a collection of dullards. Chuck Stewart became President of The Robert Simpson Company and William Aberhart was the Premier of Alberta for eight years. Ken Larone founded the first major suburban weekly paper - The Don Mills Mirror and Arthur Reid built a financial empire known as Household Finance. Jim Gillespie became Principal of one of Canada's largest High Schools, Toronto's Central Technical and Howard Kerr, the godfather of Ontario's Community College system was the founder of what is now Ryerson University. Andrew Lumsden went west and started a newspaper, now called the Winnipeg Free Press and Jim Scott chronicled . Seaforth and Huron County in his many wonderful books. There are so many others - proud products of Seaforth's high school. Names like Ron Mason, Arnold Tumbull, and Louis Laudenbach come to mind. There was Joe Fisher, George Daly and George F. Rogers - who became Director of Education, the position once held by Egerton Ryerson. The first woman to make it to the top in the Ontario Department of Agriculture, Helen McKercher came in by horse and buggy from the farm to attend high school. So many others brought honour to their town and to their school. Concert singer Grace McFall, painter William Cresswell, Boston Bruins captain Cooney Weiland, Lloyd Eisler, Ken Doig, and Dave McLlwain and the many others, who carried the name Seaforth into major sports. What makes a prosperous town? For Seaforth it was location, and that lawyer James Patton, partner of John A. MacDonald, donated the land and built the station to get the Lake Huron and Buffalo Railway to go through their property. Seaforth was born because of that station and its future was secured. The steady flow of grain from the Northern Townships to the new rail center was such that by 1870 Seaforth was shipping more wheat than any other settlement in Ontario. When I read the front page story about the warning from Stop the hype and lower alcohol limits, says MADD From Page 4 volume) in two hours and get behind the wheel of a car, reasonably confident that he will not be charged. We find the reality of the current BAC level scary, but nevertheless the Canadian public deserves to know the truth. Lowering the BAC to 0.05% will not criminalize social drinkers. First, police probably would not lay Criminal Code charges until a driver's BAC is 0.07% or above. This means that our 200 lb. man could still drink 4 regular beers without exceeding the real-world level at which he would likely be charged. Obviously, this does not mean MADD Canada is encouraging people to drink and drive. Rather, MADD Canada wants to tell the Canadian public the truth. Clearly, lowering the BAC limit to 0.05% will have no impact on the individual who has a glass of wine with dinner or a beer after work. In fact, if all drinking drivers had just one drink, we wouldn't have a drunk driving problem in Canada. Critics have complained that lowering the BAC to 0.05% would overwhelm our police and courts. This argument ignores that lowering the limit would deter impaired driving. Interestingly, there are no reports of police or courts being overwhelmed from countries who have lowered their BAC limits. Critics have raised concerns about spiraling costs of enforcement. Again, this argument ignores the deterrent impact of lowering BAC limits. Even if a 0.05% BAC limit marginally increases these costs, it would be offset many times over by the savings to the health and social service sectors. Moreover, this focus on dollars completely ignores the reductions in alcohol death and injuries from lowering the BAC. There is no monetary equivalent to the suffering of victims and their families from the tragic consequences of impaired driving. Let's stop all the hype, fear mongering and emotion. Let's look at the facts about the current BAC limit, as frightening as they are. Let's acknowledge what the rest of the world already knows, that lowering the BAC limits means saving lives. The unvarnished truth is, our current BAC is protecting those who drink and drive at dangerous levels. Isn't it about time that Canada's criminal laws protected the interest of the overwhelming majority, namely the safe, sober and responsible users of our roadways. Andrew W. Murk National Executive Director of MADD Canada members of Business Improvement Area I remembered a call I received back in the 1960's when I was in the Department of Education. It was from a man in Columbus, Ohio, He was given my name by someone in the Economic Development department.. Although years before 1 was in that Ministry, he was calling me he said, on an matter concerning education. It went something like this. His company exports their products to Canada and they have decided to build a plant here that will employ 100 to 125 people. He introduced himself as a Vice -President with the responsibility of building the plant and moving to Canada to head it up As their main customer base is in Ontario they contacted the Economic Development Department for advice on a location. Their requirements were simply an area where they had access to sufficient water, electrical power, natural gas, and proximity to good rail and road transportation. Naturally I wondered what he wanted from me. "Mr. Westcott," he said, 'The Economic Development people have given us three suitable locations." "One is east of Toronto and the other two are in Western Ontario." "I will be locating my family in the community we choose and I want to make sure I make the right decision." After naming the three municipalities he continued, "I have three daughters and I simply want your advice on which community has the best • St. Thomas Anglican Church Jarvis St. Seaforth Rev. Michael Atkins SUNDAY SERVICE 9:30 a.m. Parish Office 482-7861 Bethel Bible Church An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth Sunday Worship Hour 11 am Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Adventure Club for Kids Wednesdays 7 p.m. First Presbyterian Church Goderlch St. W. Seaforth Rev. Nick Vandermey Worship Sunday 11:15 am Sunday School during Worship tWQ Catholic Church Saturday - 5:15 pm St. James Parish, Seaforth Saturday - 7:15 pm St. Joseph's Parish, Clinton Sunday - 9:00 am St. Michael's Parish, Blyth Sunday - 11:00 am St. James Parish, Seaforth Father Lance Magdziak Egmondville United Church Sunday School Gr. 2-8; Adults 10 am Nursery - Gr. 1 - 11 am 11 am Service Worship Leader: Dave Williams EVERYONE WELCOME NORTHSIDE - CAVAN UNITED CHURCHES Rev. Sheila Macgregor - Minister 527-2635 or 527-1449 54 Goderich St. W. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2002, First Sunday in Lent Cavan: 9:30 a.m. & Northside 11:00 a.m. Northside Luncheon and Annual Meeting to follow Worship Downstairs Wednesday, February 13th: 4:45 - 6:30 p.m. at Northside Confirmation Class & Supper High School." A few days later I gave him a report on each of the high schools that was prepared by an official in the Department. Actually the choice would be difficult for they all appeared to be excellent schools with a good scholastic record. Not an shaking drama - it reminded me of high school earth always important be. but how could a Becky Campbell Registered Ilassage Therapist MOI(, • THURS., 9amaIpm; Fridays 9 am to 5 pm NEW LOCATION! 137 Market St , Seaforth 527-2058 '104 hofs, a • don't carr NOTICE For the convenience of our clients SEAFORTH VETERINARY CLINIC will be open THURSDAY EVENINGS by appointment only Please call for appointments 519-527-1760 _HEALTH ON THE HILL_ A Review of activities at SEAFORTH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL ACCREDITATION The Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation Was very complimentary of the Huron Perth Hospitals Partnership (HPHP); particularly, the 4 focus sites of Clinton Public, Stratford General, Wingham & District and Seaforth Community Hospitals which were recently surveyed. Quality patient care is evident and patient satisfaction levels are very favourable. All HPHP Staff, Medical Staff, Volunteers, Board of Directors are to be congratulated on their delivery of quality patient care and an integrated health care model. COMPREHENSIVE SENIORS' HEALTH CENTRE (CSHC) Steering Committee will be establishing three community committees: recreation & transportation, housing and health and wellness. The goal of these committees will be to take what was heard at the community meetings last fall and turn it into an "action plan". The Steering Committee is currently seeking local individuals who are interested in participating; if you are intrigued by the CSHC development and would like more information about the opportunities for community involvement, please leave a message at (519) 527-3020. You will be contacted to determine your specific interest and availability for the project. CPR/FIRST AID Basic Rescuer CPR/Standard First Aid certification/recertification: February 16 & 17; March 23 & 24. For further information and to register, please contact the Canadian Red Cross Society, (519) 273-9339 or email: fi rstaid.stratford @ redcross.ca APPRECIATION is extended to Frances Teatero on her resignation after 28 years of outstanding leadership to the Hospital Auxiliary sponsored Student Volunteer Program. It is through practical experience of this nature that students are influenced to channel their future ambitions to careers in the health care field. Over the years, many long lasting relationships have been established with patients and fellow program participants and a sense of pride and recognition is due to Frances. Our sincerest commendations Frances! Special thanks to Linda O'Rourke, RPN who has capably assisted and contributed to the betterment of the program for the past 6 years. We are happy to announce that the Student Volunteer Program will continue; announcement to follow in near future. MEDITECIj a new computerized information system requires that individuals coming to the Hospital for outpatient appointments stop at Switchboard to register. Special thanks to everyone for your patience with oyr new registration process. Many thanks to all staff for your efforts with extensive training. weelV36 exolv lease web 17.999 down pm* and 1275 may depose ad 11.025 iregs Canada's #1 Choice For Ten Years Based on Ford branded vehrcla rr•:r aro from January 1992 to NovertthPr 2.;()I 2002 Ford Focus ons coways ew 10.1.4 b 700t rot orr0V:16 Mm*, one wan 12 749 *,.n morn 1»s wwrlrt7 00001 and $i*) b.r$f rSr* 9pOpeSar.mfrI OONIt= rdbybdsw dor NOMm/ti.*1�?OEOMt .. Alydrtrawa/rddw�.e4rrovSvrnewy9vtOlnvibe0el .Emea�. CLE are rls 150 Mei WW1 laded f 150 SY11 Sae .Ion 1500 OM Wm al me*** 2001 r dirl Moi ago pr d Okla e d mra 000ror 0.00040 t �'1Dasl n �`itoptnr 4 deo* Sb *yv S endesd y, r. 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