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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2004-06-23, Page 3News Horticultural Society honours their founder, a local doctor who wanted to be a gardener By Sisson Hundertmark Expositor Editor The founder of the Seaforth Horticultural Society - a doctor who wanted to be a gardener before he went into medical school - was honoured with a tree -planting ceremony at Seaforth Community Hospital last week. Dr. Rodger Whitman, who lived in Seaforth from 1967 to 1980 and founded the Horticultural Society in 1972, died in Hamilton this January and the local society decided to plant his favourite tree, an oak, in his Memory. "It's fitting to plant a tree in Dr. Whitman's memory since trees are so long lasting. Dr. Whitman sure was marvellous - he saved many lives," said Rev. Arthur Horst at Thursday's ceremony. Horticultural Society member Vivienne Newnham read from the society's first annual report where Whitman encouraged the group's 123 members to share their skills with other garden and flower lovers to "make our town a more attractive and enjoyable place to live." "Many people in town will still have cuttings, seeds and bulbs from his garden. And, quite often the garden was under his fingernails because he's see something in a garden and stop and tend it," said Newnham. Whitman began the Horticultural Society after it had ceased to be during a 40 - year gap. "He drew people together and got it going again," she said. "We took on town projects like planting in front of town hall and have done ever since." Helen McLean, of Seaforth, said she remembered moving to Seaforth 27 years ago and having Whitman supply all the plants she needed to landscape her new home from his garden. "It took us two and a half hours to dig it up," she says. Whitman's daughter Janis Bisback, of Hensall, said her father was the kind of gardner who also had' a seed, a bulb or a clipping in the pocket of his pants to give away or plant in a likely spot. "And, he always had a wet kleenex in his pocket in case there was a snippet of a plant he wanted to pick up," said Bisback. "We grew things so well he couldn't stand to see them die so he'd give them away to everyone," added THE HURON EXPOSITOR, June 23, 2004-3 Many colours and patterns available. Shop early for best selection! Low prices, superior service & great value! 90 Main St. S., Seaforth 527-0661 • OPEN: Tues-Thurs 10-5 Fn 10-6 Sat s-4 Closed Sun & Mon IRWIN PHYSIOTHERAPY Susan Hundertmark photo Janis Bisback (second from right), Dr. Whitman's daughter, prepares the ground to plant an oak tree in memory of her father while members of the Horticultral Society, (left) Vivienne Newnham, Jean Durst, and Rev. Arthur Horst look on. Newnham. Bisback said her dad was a renaissance man who hooked rugs, kept bees, hated television and telephones and made house calls as a doctor to the homes of his patients using a horse and cutter in the winter time. Sparks fly between federal candidates on televised debate From Page 1 the family farm would be to "Finding a doctor elect the NDP. shouldn't be like winning the "For too long both the lottery," Robertson said. Conservatives and the Smith said one of the Liberals have showed little cornerstones of the concern for farm families Marijuana Party is health and for keeping and care. Their plan calls for maintaining our farm legalization of marijuana families," Robertson said. with billions of new revenue "They have been much more dollars invested in health concerned about export care. Vasey. said the o>R. •mark is .that . rive.• daw.i Party.wavinaminteres*eves��y }rt : Ile'. bottom a long-term solution and t comen denofo: n itce.° `'.� ' would invest in preventative Joslin said the federal health and work to clean up government should lower the waste in our interprovincial trade barriers environment. Joslin said one not just for farmers but also way to attract new family for all businesses and physicians would be to suggested products produced increase the fees for in countries like China practitioners while setting should be banned from Canada -wide health care Canada because of their standards. loose slave labour laws. During a rebuttal session Vasey suggested there be Steckle asked Fisher to more community-based explain how it would be farms because corporate possible for the farming is ruining the land. Conservatives to implement Smith focused his attention tax cuts while at the same on hemp and suggested time investing billions into legalization would provide health care programs. farmers with another huge "How do you plan to cash crop since marijuana balance the budget given that has a street value of $2,800 we do not yet know what . Per pound. surpluses are going to be in When asked about a the future?" Steckle asked. cleaner environment the "There are some people in subject of Bruce Nuclear the Conservative Party that took centrestage. believe we'll have $90 Vasey, an employee with billion in five years from the nuclear plant, said there now. That's a pretty should be a phasing out of 'optithistic estimate of future nuclear and fossil fuels expenditures. within the next 50 years. Fisher responded by However, he stressed that discounting Robertson's nuclear energy would remain comments that Stephen a key element in helping Harper and the Canada reach its Kyoto Conservatives are looking targets. ahead to privatization saying "We should not only meet "privatization is not an our Kyoto targets but we issue" her party has put on need to exceed them by 50 the table. per cent and set a precedent "The provincial Liberals to the rest of the world," have managed to cause Vasey said.. . taxation and create a two-tier Fisher, herself a former system of health care and I employee of the Bruce plant, think it's regressive to be called nuclear energy one of delisting services," Fisher the cleanest forms of energy said produced around. She On the subject of strongly urged Ontario agriculture and what could Premier Dalton McOuinty to be done to help family put forward similar operation farmers in Huron -Bruce, plans for Pickering and Steckle said his record Darlington. speaks for itself. Robertson said his party's Fisher said farmers preference would have been continue to be worried about to keep Bruce Nuclear in the bovine spongiform public hands but since the encephalopathy (BSE) crisis sale would like to see the and'insisted Canada must Plant expanded, in order to become more competitive. create more jobs. "We need to value (our Steckle said he s proud of products) at home and we the government's need to create jobs at home commitment to Kyoto - the and sell our goods elsewhere agreement received support in the world," Fisher said. from all parties except the "To'•tlo that we need new Conservatives. pac int plants in Ontario "There is tremendous and ` : promise to commit to leadership at the Bruce under wo rig effectively towards Mr. Duncan Hawthorne," suFtt"it goal " Steckle said. "It's a model Robertson said the best that should be copied by the way to change the attitude of other plants at Darlington federal governments towards and Pickering." During the rebuttal Fisher defended her party's actions on Kyoto arguing that having no deal in place with the provinces is what prevented the Conservatives from supporting the agreement. Steckle disagreed with Fisher's suggestion there are problems with all of the provinces. Instead, he said .1.I�..t�1Jc.i�rnY.i�>�.luilclrtug., ,?ac .,on siguing,,K�'oto Ito out west where they re trying to protect the oil and gas industry. "He was a very spiritual man and he felt if something was meant to live, then it would. So he planted things everywhere to give them the chance," she said. P4v4ial4se4afav cam: • Reduce Pain • Strengthen Problem Areas • Improve Mobility • Prevent Injury • Restore Maximum Function Craig Irwin, PT CALL: 527-1551 Or visit us at the Seaforth Community Health Centre 28 Centennial Drive, Seaforth Most Services covered by WSIB, Auto Insurance or Extended Health Benefits. • 411110 0110 411W 411. 4. 411W 411P 4111W 4110 4110 • � GT MINI MART. � 0 D D D DVD Rental $1.48 Bread $1.19 Milk 4L $4.39 Pop 2L $1 .29 • real uWAN1) oPENJvc;!-- 'Witness Theis Exciting Development in 'our Coininunity. The Bridges of Seaforth introduces a new era of active adult living that underlines the importance of community. 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