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Seaforth Curling Club gets $24,800
grant from Trillium Foundation
Susan Hundertmark
The Seaforth Curling Club will be
buying a new ice scraper and reno-
vating its building after receiving a
$24,800 grant from the
Trillium Foundation.
"It's a huge boost for
the club and in turn for
the community," says
past president Tom
Devereaux.
Renovations planned
include new carpeting
in the club, new
linoleum in the kitchen
and bathrooms, new
bathroom fixtures in the
three bathrooms, new windows in
the entranceway and a fresh coat of
paint in the clubhouse.
"It's very exciting for us. It will
create a brighter, more modern
facility," says Devereaux.
A new $9,000 ice scraper will
replace what Devereaux describes
as an "antique" scraper, an impor-
tant piece of equipment which peels
the top layer of ice in preparation
for curling.
"We can't get parts for the one we
have," adds Connie Trotter, junior
curling chair.
President Don McKercher says
the new scraper will be more user-
friendly, allowing more volunteers
to help with the ice preparation.
"We'll have more consistent ice
and better and fairer com-
petition. You can't blame
the ice for a bad game
now," adds Devereaux.
The curling club
executive is hoping that
the facelift for the hall will
encourage more people to
give curling a try and pos-
sibly boost membership.
But, even before the
work begins, Devereaux
says membership has been increas-
ing this year, with anywhere from
eight to 11 new curlers in the men's
league, the co-ed night and junior
curlers.
"We want to increase usage of the
hall and help the physical fitness
level in the area," he says.
The membership includes about
90 in total, including adults and
junior curlers.
The hall, which seats 50-70 peo-
ple, is rented for family birthday
and anniversary parties, small busi-
`It will create a
brighter, more
modern
facility,' --
Tom Devereaux
The Huron Expositor • December 7, 2005 Page 7
ness parties and bonspiels.
"We don't want people to think
they have to be members to rent the
hall," says Trotter.
While the grant will cover the
major renovations, the painting of
both the interior and exterior will
be funded by the curling club and
done by member volunteers.
Devereaux says the 125 -year-old
club is being rejuvenated by the
funding.
As one of the oldest curling clubs
in Ontario, Seaforth's curling club
began on local
ponds and rivers,
moved to a cov-
ered outdoor rink
downtown where
Artech Signs is
now located,
moved into the
old Seaforth
arena and finally
built its own
building - using
an old horse shed
from Brucefield
United Church -
in 1955.
Seaforth's new doctors are
town's best recruitment tool,
says advisory committee
Susan Hundertmark
Enthusiastic new recruits to the Seaforth
Medical Centre are the town's. best recruit-
ment tool for more doctors, said members of
Seaforth's Local Advisory Committee (LAC) at
a recent meeting.
At a quarterly meeting between the
Seaforth LAC to the Huron Perth Healthcare
Alliance and the municipality of Huron East,
the LAC sang the praises of a recent recruit-
ment gala in Stratford.
LAC vice -chair Sheila Morton said both Dr.
Jason Datema and Dr. Helen Frye - who both
began a practice at the Seaforth Medical
Centre within the last six months - were
invaluable at the recruitment weekend.
"The main question was, 'Why did you
choose Seaforth?' and Dr. Datema was very
complimentary about the setup at the clinic
and the hospital. He was marvellous," said
Morton.
She said Dr. Frye also praised the large
campus at the Seaforth hospital, including
the Community Care Access Centre and the
helicopter pad.
"It was good to have someone new encourag-
ing other doctors," she said.
Seaforth hospital site administrator Mary
Cardinal said word of mouth between doctors
and a warm welcome are two of the biggest
influences m recruitment.
"It comes down to how welcome people feel
and this is a welcoming community," she said.
Morton added that feeling welcome was the
deciding factor for Dr. Datema.
"He told me he did not originally intend to
settle in this area. But, he came as a locum
and everyone made everything so great for
him he decided to stay," she said.
Dick Burgess, a Seaforth representative on
the Alliance board, said he thought the set-up
at the medical centre also made Seaforth
attractive to doctors.
"The business model of a community -owned
health centre is unique and I will put it up
against any other in the province for cost-
effectiveness for physicians," he said.
Burgess added that the ability of young doc-
tors to try out the community as a locum is
also beneficial.
"Because we're not locking them in, we can
attract them," he said.
He reiterated that doctors are the communi-
ty's best recruiting tool.
"We could hire a $100,000 consultant and
they wouldn't be as effective as a Dr.
Datema," he said.
H. REID ALLEN
1 1 R\lilt RI;
Ri•:STOR:\TIO\
I;IFI\ISIII\(�
SEAFORTH
527-2717
The holiday season is
building and that
means it's time to ,
share Special
Christmas wishes
3i1ursday, ber
15 is the
to be included in
Our Annual
Greetings Edition,
published on
tuber 21, 2005.
Call Bernie
or Tom today,
The Huron County Federation of Agriculture
is hosting an
ALL CANDIDATE MEETING
for the upcoming federal election on
Thursday, Dec. 15, at 8 pm at
Goderich Township Hall, Holmesville
The candidates will be answering an array of written
questions developed by a panel of Federation Directors
with input from the audience. Audience members will also
have an opportunity to ask questions.
Everyone Welcome!! Mark your calendars.
ace
ervices available a
15 Goderlch St. (Hwy. 8)
SEAFORTH
527-0505
Licensed for Sheet Metal, Refrigeration, Gas & Plumbing