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Huron Expositor, 2007-08-08, Page 4Page 4 Aug. 8, 2007 • The Huron Expositor Opinion Proprietor and Publisher, Bowes Publishers Limited, 11 Main St., Seaforth, ON, NOK 1WO How far do we warm to open the door? As Seaforth continues to participate in the. provincial Doors Open program welcoming tourists into our historical buildings and businesses, it seems we're beginning to face the second stage of the relationship - they like us and they want to see a lot more of us. A number of visitors interviewed as they toured through town on Monday complained that more doors were not open to the public view. The thought of only being able to drive by a number of featured buildings was not satisfying to them. "It's Doors Open - the doors should be open," said one interested tourist. While our first instinct might be to view the remarks as criticism, they're really more of a com- _ pliment - the historical buildings and quaint down- town streetscape we see as our claim to fame are also being appreciated by others. The idea that our history and our ability to pre- serve it will draw tourists is being proven correct. But, making that visit an optimal experience for tourists seems to be the next challenge and moving into that next stage of the relationship is going to require more work. Are we committed enough to drawing tourists that we're willing to build a festival atmosphere into the Doors Open weekend with open stores, food and music? Are we feeling accommodating enough to open up a lot more of our historic homes to curious tourists and history buffs? Do we have enough volunteers who aren't already overextended by other projects to roll out the red carpet at even more venues than are already offered? The comprehensive historical booklets created for Huron East by the economic development commit- tee are already being praised by many visitors and their online versions have drawn many to the area already. And, while the booklets have been seen as an alternative to amassing an army of volunteers who may not even exist - to act as guides during the visit, it seems they've also served to whet the appetites of curious tourists. We've opened the door and visitors are accepting the invitation. What remains to be seen is how far we want to fling that door open. Susan Hundertmark Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 E-mail us at seaforth@bowesnet.com Visit our home page at www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com (14a1) '4114 SUN MEM OUEBKOR - ▪ MEDIA Canada "We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs." Katimavik was the most challenging .nine months of my life Although the Katimavik pro- gram has been around for the past 30 years, it is relatively unknown in this area. Katimavik is Canada's leading national volunteer service for youth between the ages of 17 and 21. It allows for approxi- mately 1000 youth each year to travel to three different areas of Canada, getting volunteer experience in each of these places. There is also a group living aspect to the program. Each group is made up of 11 partici- pants and a project leader who work together to accomplish everything from daily house- hold tasks, weekly essential activities to com- munity improvement projects. This past year I was one of those lucky participants. Initially going into Katimavik, my major draw was travelling, a break from the world of traditional schooling. I didn't want to pur- sue post secondary school immediately after high school; I was looking for an adventure. I wanted to break the mold. That I did for I was forever confronted prior to Katimavik and even after with the question "shouldn't you be going to school?" Yes, maybe I should, but a program like Katimavik was able to give me so much more than a trip across Canada, or a year studying at a university or college. It gave me life expe- riences that I could only imagine encounter- ing within a lifetime rather than a few short months. Katimavik will always be by far the most intense and challenging nine months of my Guest columnist Corrine Bos life. Many people may chal- lenge me on this for I am only 19 years old and have a whole life in front of me. The amount I learned and experienced dur- ing the program is indescrib- able and very difficult to cap- ture within a few words. Katimavik provided me with life changing lessons in personal develop- ment, society, and relationships that will enable me to live the rest of my life making the right choices with consideration, confi- dence and maturity. It has changed my approach in life; it has made me more aware of what I should appreciate in my life and what surrounds me. The organization of Katimavik has set up the program so that each participant has the opportunity to learn subjects, such as leader- ship, official languages, cultural discovery, active/healthy lifestyle and environmental issues. Through these programs I have become a more confident and outgoing per- son. Most of my growth and learning experi- ences in these areas came from working in three very different and unique volunteer placements. My first placement was in Winnipeg, Manitoba at an organization called Winnipeg Harvest. This is a food distribution centre for all the food banks and drop-in cen- tres for the city of Winnipeg. My work there was laborious, tough and exhausting. Yet every moment of it was See KATIMAVIK, Page 6 Ron & Dave I don't get it. In Sunday School they teach us that God created the world in six days....right? In regular school they teach us that the world has evolved over billions of years and that we are descended from lower life forms....right? What the heck are they doing? Which is the correct answer? You're given all the information and it's up to you to decide for yourself. by David Lacey Oh, that's just great! Leave the ultimate question of life up to a ten year old? And if you're wrong you get eternal damnation. (I'm stressing out. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: LOCAL - 36.18 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. SENIORS - 34.17 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. Ern: 36.18 a year in advance, plus $181.48 postage, G.S.T. exempt USA.; 36.18 a year in advance, plus $92.56 postage, G.S.T. exempt Published weekly by Sun Media at 11 Main St., Seaforth. 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Box 69, Seaforth, ON., NOK 1 WO Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association & the Ontario Community Newspapers Association Susan Hundertmark Editor Bernie Pugh Advertising / Office Aaron Jacklin Reporter Maxwell Bickford Composing Dianne McGrath Front office Editorial and Business Offices - 11 Main Street.,Seaforth Telephone (519) 527-0240 Fax (519) 527-2858 Mailing Address - P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, Ontario, NOK 1 WO