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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-04-17, Page 5TT'S YOUR B1JSTWESS Times -Advocate, April 17, 1991 Page 5 Computer system completely changing the monument trade By Adrian Harte CENTRALIA - As Steve Fergus- son puts it, most people don't gen- erally realize how much work goes into a stone monument. Nowadays, with the introduction of a new com- puter system at Pryde Monuments, they'll probably be even more amazed at how a monument goes from initial design to finished stone. The new computer system allows the designer to put together the ele- ments that will form the final mon- ument on the computer monitor. The traditional method involved creating rubber stencils from a cutting press and transferring them to the stone itself. It was a pains- taking process, often requiring hours just to determine the size and placement of the leuering. Now, Not for the superstitious - If you like, Steve Fergusson can put your name on a tombstone within sec- onds. Alcan donation to Western LONDON - Research and teach- ing at the Western Business School received another boost recently from Alcan Aluminium Limited. The company has pledged $100,00 to The University of Western Onta- rio's Renaissance Campaign. Douglas Bland, president of Alcan Wire and Cable, announced that the funds will create the Alcan Seminar Room in the addition to the Nation- al Centre for Management, Re- search and Development building, a capital campaign project. Commenting on the gift, Mr. Bland said, "We in Alcan have an interest in ensuring that this coun- try continues to have a supply of top calibre graduates. These are the types of people the Western Busi- ness School produces." "Western and Alcan share a com- mitment to international educa- tion," said Pedersen. "This support will help the University maintain its standards of excellence and meet the demands of change." Western's Renaissance Campaign is the largest fund-raising initiative in the University's 113 -year histo- ry. Funds will support seven capital building projects, technological in- novation, academic enhancement projects and new initiatives. computer software can let the de- signer try out a whole host of letter- ing options and arrangements in a fraction of the time. When finished, the computer will be able print out the design to show the customer, or cut it on a stencil ready for sandblasting the stone. While the computer system is ex- pensive, noted Fergusson at an open house for Pryde Monuments customers and other dealers Satur- day morning, it pays for itself in al- lowing an almost unlimited number of lettering styles to be chosen or created. Traditional letter tem- plates cost $1,000 a set, leading no monument maker to stock much more than half a dozen styles. Be- cause of the flexibility of the pro- gram, customers can pick and chose from design elements, even to the point of changing the type of rose on a floral decoration. The computer can also cut the to- tal time of lettering a stone from several hours to about 15 minutes. "We're still as overworked as ever," explained Fergusson. "But it allows us more time to better a product" "If it's done properly, it'll cause . more work," he said, adding that it, is the company's intention to make! its computer design facilities avail able to other monument makers in' the region. Also, because Pryde's; shop can handle large stones, such as St. Marys' 2.5 metre -tall four - tonne cenotaph, they also hope to make those services more widely, available. Pryde Monuments usually stocks ' about seven colours of granite, and even though Canada is known for its miles of such rock, most monu- ment -quality stone is imported from around the world in 25 tonne blocks, cut to size and shipped to dealers, who then sandblast the in- scriptions into them. The stone comes from quarries in Sweden, Finland, the United States, and even Snuth Africa. The shift to a computer-based op- eration comes at a time when Pryde I Monuments is reorganizing its whole shop. The sandblast shop is going to be moved and expanded and the whole business is going to be dressed up to better fit in with the increasingly residential nature Blyth hosts tourism seminars for Huron County businesses BLYTH - "Are you getting your share of the tourism market" and "what easy steps you can take to increase your business profits" are the subject of free tourism semi- nars offered to all businesses in Huron County by the Blyth Festi- val, Goderich and District Cham- ber of Commerce and Huron County Planning Department. About 100 people are expected to attend these educational work- shops at Blyth Memorial Hall on Thursday, April 18, 1991 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. To register call Jane Gardner, Blyth Festival at (519) 523-4345. One of the surprises in store at this year's seminar is the unveiling of Huron County's outstanding se- ries of seven new infornhation bro- chures - guides to accommodations, From around the world - Monu- ment -grade granite is actually im- ported from several countries. Thank You of the area. The new operation should be able to handle the pro- duction of up to 8-10 stones a day - each with the deep -cut lettering and "double shape carve" that has be- come Pryde's hallmark. • Pryde Monuments opened its doors in downtown Exeter in 1919, operated by Walter Cunningham and Tom Pryde. Ideal Monuments bought the company in 1972 and Gerald Fergusson took it over shortly thereafter, moving it to Cen- tralia in 1986. Gerald says it took him about five years to become competent in the design of monument stones, but points out that his son Steve today is becoming quite proficient in only a few months with the aid of the computer system. Because the computer allows for drawing and redrawing a design, the customer can get a good idea of how the final product will look, an advantage for the increasing num- ber of customers who are pre- arranging their own funerals and burials. When a customer is paying an av- erage of $1,200-$2.000 for their own tombstone, they want to be sure it will be perfect "The percentage is doubling eve- ry year," said Steve Fergusson of the expanding market trend. The computer-aided monument design system is aimed at keeping pace with that market trend. CAN find the best GIC 91/2%2 5 years Let us shop the market for you Galser-Kneale Exeter Grand Bend Hensall 235-2420 238-8484 262-2607 123um[Inaao p) e --12V CHARTERED ALCOUNTANTS Kime, Mills, Dunlop. Chaffered Accountants Daniel B. Daum, B.A., M.Acc., C.A. Manager 412 Main St., P.O. Box 2405 Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S7 (519) 235-0345 Fax: (519) 235-3235 John A.M. Norris CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT We at Oke Woodsmith would like to say Thank You to those who came to visit us at our display at the Exeter Home and Gar- den Show. Also, the atten- dance at Kevin and Joanne Oke's Open House was overwhelming. The winners of our draws were: 1. Basket of House Plants: Armin Sr Christine Schatz - ler of Lucan. 2. Handy man for day: Doug Riddell of Southcott Pines The help of all who made the display and open house a success, is greatly appre- ciated! 497 Main Stret South, Exeter, Ontario N( 1 S I Tel: (519) 235-3240 Fax: (519) 235-3246 MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTING SERVICES FRED SIMMONS B.A. • Personal and Business Tax Returns For appointment or pickup service Call (519) 235-1854 restaurants, bed and breakfasts, an- tiques, bicycling, fishing and camp - in$. Businesses are encouraged to bnng their brochures and to swap them with other tourism related businesses that get a steady stream of visitors to their operations. These brochures were researched and developed by the Huron County Planning and Development Department Beginning at 7 p.m. on April 18, behind the scenes tours of the Blyth Centre for the Artsfacilities are of- fered to seminar participants. San- dra Chabot, Manager of Southwest- ern Ontario Travel Association of London, is the guest speaker at7;30 p.m. in the Lower Hall of Blyth Memorial Hall to address the ques- tion "Are you getting you share of the tourism market?" NOTICE OF PROPOSED NURSING HOME LICENCE RENEWAL AND REQUEST FOR SUBMISSIONS PROJECT 271-91 Pursuant to the Nursing Homes Act, notice is hereby given of the intent of the Director, Residential Services Branch, to renew the licence of the following nursing home: Exeter Villa Exeter, Ontario Oral and written submissions concerning the proposed licence renewal may be presented at a public meeting, to be held on Tuesday, May 21, 1991 at 10:00 a.m., Municipal Office, 406 Main Street South, Exeter, Ontario. Submissions concerning the proposed licence renewal may be sent to The Director, Residential Services Branch, Ontario Ministry of Health, 15 Overlea Blvd., 5th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M4H 1A9, (416) 963-1038 by May 20, 1991. Please mark the name of the nursing home and the project number on submissions. The Director will consider all submissions prior to approving the proposed renewal_ Ontario Gaiser-Kneale Insurance Brokers Inc. Notice of Change effective May 6, 1991 AUCTIONEERS FILSON & ROBSON The Experienced . Auctioneers that Guarantee You More SS Considering A Sale or Need an Appraisal 666-0833 666-1967 Call Collect Supplying You with 30 Yrs. Efficient Service • Mobile office • immediate Payment • 2 Auctioneers It Is Our Pleasure To Serve You Bob Heywood Licensed Auctioneer Specializing in household and estate auctions Reasonable rates Bob 235-0874 Laverne 235-1278 NORM WHITING LICENSED AUCTIONEER B APPRAISER Prompt Courteous Efficient ANY TYPE, ANY SIZE ANYWHERE W. give complete sole service PROFIT SY EXPERIENCE Phone Collect 233.1044 EXETER AUCTIONEER- S Bruce & Brett Coulter Household, Estate and Farm Auctions Grand Bend 238-8000 Parkhill 294-6164 Ministry of Health Ministry of Community and Social Services Susan Smith Ins. Broker Hensall office will be closed and files moved to Exet- er. For many years, we have continued to operate a small brokerage office in the community of Hensall. Pending changes in legislation at the provincial level have forced us to make a decision. This difficult decision was not made lightly, however we feel the level of service will be maintained by Susan from Gaiser Kneale's Exetercation. 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