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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1996-09-04, Page 3AS Times-Advocate, September 4, 1996 Page 3 WhereAre•They Now? is an: extended .series on South Huron District High School graduates and their career choices 3The Weigands: teaching in IMMO MEI EXETER - With similar educational backgrounds and teaching careers in the same school, Traci and Dan Weigand have a lot in common. After graduating from South Huron District High School, they both attended Guelph University where he studied biology and she pursued child studies. After that was teacher's college - Dan concentrated on chemistry and biology at Althouse in London while Traci focused on primary -junior grades at.Queens University in Kingston. After graduating in May last year, they were married in July. They left to teach in Brussels 10 days later. During a summer holiday in the Exeter area, Traci enrolled in courses at the University of Western Ontario while Dan spent time in Virginia to work on his Masters of Science in computers. Last week the couple returned to teach at the International School of Brussels. Because the 1990 SHDHS graduates love to travel, working in another country has been very rewarding. The school, which is set in 40 acres of woodland, contains four divisions including an early childhood centre as well as elementary. middle and high school grades. "An international school doesn't mean we're teaching English -as -a- second -language," stressed Traci, adding the curriculum is in English for the school's 1,130 students of 62 ationalities. An information brochure points out many of the school's students are "'third culture' children," who are "neither a product of the culture of the country in which they are studying nor of the country of their legal nationality." Traci has learned her own lessons from.the children she teaches. 'They teach me a lot about their culture and I think that will enhance my teaching when 1 come back to Canada," she said, adding she and Dan plan to return to their home country in a few years. Although the Weigands claim they are too busy to be homesick, they don't plan to stay in Brussels because, as Traci puts it, they would miss their families in Exeter and Dashwood. On the other hand, she added, they do have "this little itch to travel." They claim it wasn't the lack of Ontario teaching jobs that attracted them to Brussels but the idea of traveling itself. However, they do express concern about the future of education within ntario. "I don't think the situation in Ontario has bottomed out yet," said Dan, who expects further cutbacks. "They have to start putting back into the system because it's cut to the ""--- .,,,,.. ---,-.. bone right now." Traci is concerned people responsible for cutbacks are "not `"~c"-7� looking at the future and how it affects the children." Dan described the situation in Ontario as "a crisis," explaining his largest class in Brussels consists of 20 pupils and therefore offers more individualized attention. The greatest challenge for the couple has been dealing with the area's French and Flemish languages on a day to day basis. Dan admitted it has been stressful with a "new marriage, new job" and "new country." Traci is now teaching a newly approved Junior -Kindergarten program. Last year she was a support teacher for two Grade 7 and 9 students before working with elementary pupils. Although she likes being involved with J -K, she hopes to later teach grades 3 to 6. But "with the little guys," she explained, "they make you smile because they're so innocent and naive." Dan continues to teach Grades 7 to 9 math and science this year. "I love interacting with kids...They're alive," he said. "They're fun to be with." He's also working on a school project that involves "trying to integrate computers into the curriculum more than they are now." Dan has always been involved with student council, first at SHDHS, then at Althouse. "I always put student council first, ahead of everything else," he said. "That year (at SHDHS) was a turning point in my Iife...That's the year I grew up." His experiences have been enriched at a young age due to his student council involvement and a trip to Africa doing missionary activities as well as work in an Egyptian orphanage through a 10 -week Teen Missions group. He knew he wanted to teach and set his sights on being a principal. When the Weigands aren't teaching, they coach sports and travel to areas such as Switzerland, France, Holland and Italy. flrussels Dan and iraci i1'cigand: nee Tryon Utilities bid to maintain status quo Huron County utilities have jointly presented MPP Helen Johns with a response to the MacDonald -re ,4 t province to ensure people who are further Despite some differences of opinion on how away from generation centers do not pay to implerhent change, all agreed that Ontario more for service. residents should be entitled to safe, consistent. "It is the opinion of the government that power at a lower price. Participants also rates are substantially different throughout agreed control over transmission of power Canada and the United States," said Johns. must stay in public hands. "I've had a great deal of trouble s'ith this one Blyth Reeve Mason Bailey expressed grave concern over the proposed privatization of Ontario Hydro, should a portion of it be sold to a foreign conglomerate. The Co-op believes it has taken the first steps toward streamlining itself while re- maining intact. Jointly, Huron commissions may be able to achieve economies of scale that will allow them to compete with free en- terprise. It has been suggested that 10 units could stand shoulder to shoulder across Huron County in a structure that looks like one" while maintaining local contact. An open forum meeting is scheduled for Oc- tober 9 in Holmesville. Major users as well as Johns and ministry representatives will be invited to attend. EXETER - Although'the MacDonald Report indicates maintaining the status quo is un- acceptable. Huron utility commissions believe they are currently providing reliable, efficient and .^conomical service. "Hopefully we can keep the status quo," said Exeter PUC Chair Chan Livingstone at a meeting Friday at the Exeter Firehall where Huron Cooperative Utilities presented 'its 'Framework for Competition' and addressed several concerns. "This is what we are striving for." The Co-op is comprised of PUC members from Blyth, Brussels. Clinton, Exeter, Gode- rich, Grand Bend, Hcnsall, Seaforth and Wingham in addition to representatives from Dashwood and Zurich Hydro. Johns agreed with the PUC representatives who believe the customer is the first priority hut did not concur that the way things have been done in the past is necessarily the best or most cost effective. She also stressed the im- portance of creating a "postage stamp" ap- proach to setting transmission costs across the area." Members of the Co-op explained several factgrs contribute to this inequity including the cost of nuclear versus thermal power as well as the area of distribution. For example, in Manitoba rates are low because only the southern' area is serviced and the rest of the province relies mainly on generators for its power. Ontar;o, however, services a much wider area through its grid. Friday's meeting also touched on the topic of the "vertical unbundling" or the breaking down of Ontario Hydro. While the Co-op sup- ports ending the 90 -year monopoly, it seemed divided regarding whether an umbrella group should regulate power or local utilities should each be responsible for purchasing power. Contaminated water a major concern or- Continued from front page "There's obviously some sourc- es," said Prout. "Eventually we will find one or many sources." Seeger explained in areas where sanitary and storm sewers are com- bined, such as in Lucan and Gode- rich, water plants can't handle the extra flow, which is directed to the lake. Meeting participants also men- tioned a trailer park north of St. Jo- seph that had been dumping raw sewage into the lake. According to a park resident, the problem has been rectified. It was also sug- gested some farmers dump manure in creeks and it ends up at the beach. Durand pointed out manure prac- . tices of many area farmers are sound and suggested manure is worth too much money to Waste by spreading it carelessly. Fertilizer prices, he explained, are "through the mor and sug- gested ignorant people are likely at fault. Cash croppers want to cut costs, he said, and they are inter- ested in soil preservadon. He pointed out mpg people at the . meeting were cottager* and al- though Mari wOotd lilts se fanners an y t art Country's .planning deportees*, A said, "Chances are we're not going to find the smoking gun," adding the answer lies in increasing aware- ness. He mentioned the Yellow Fish Program, which involves painting yellow fish on sewer grates to re- mind people there is a link between the sewer and ravine and that Zu- rich water does end up in St. Jo- seph. He told the group they will not find the answers from the health unit nor from the ABCA but in their own backyards. "The best way to go at this job," pointed out Durand, "is to coop- erate" rather than turn it into a "witch hunt." "It's the beginning of a coop- eration that is part of a world-wide network." added Joan Karstens, president of the Zurich and Area Chamber of Commerce, who stressed how important water qual- ity is to local tourism. "We need Glean water we can rely on." she said. describing ag- riculture as the county's most im- portant tourism as an underrated second. "$t shouldn't have to be a qua bort,abos whether er not we have ,utter" she continued, to AN b the andienoe applauded. Moore aid *L Joseph waw qual- ityis. Irn a Oviag, Monty due to in- creased public awtlrettatt. A woman in the audience won- dered about what she described as the water's deteriorating appear- ance but Seeger assured her it is not necessarily related to E. Coli levels. Prout encouraged volunteer water testing at the meeting, adding most government testing Tabs have been shut down. He described the Rapid Detection Study performed last year. "You would know on a daily ba- sis what the water quality was," he said. "We did not want to spend the money to have Grand Bend posted rapidly," said Hay Township Coun- cillor Don Oesch. "We don't want the beaches to be posted," added $ woman, hinting a solution would be more beneficial. Desch said council approves of water testing but is worried about funding. When Prout suggested in-' itiative on the part of residents means testing could be continued, Love responded, "How do you fund it?" At one point in the meeting Moore suggested larger issues sur- rounding water contamination will be "a long -rave process." As Wer indicated by meeting par- dcipants, those �� involve two lawny* farm iniWa ce and tourism. • FAMILY HAIR CARE PROFESSIONALS euttingaimt (Beside Murphy's) 235 -HAIR (4247) Vicki Parsons Kim Scott Terri Farquhar-Vanneste Rhonda Lightfoot Hours: Mon. -Fri. 9-7•Set. 94 • Waxing and ear piercing SENIORS DISCOUNT on Mon., Tues., Wed. • A Ron's Health Centre 1/2 Price' Yarns Patons sug. retails 1996 prices All Patons in stock Sayelle, Chunky, Baby Yarn, Astra and more "Plus" All in stock toys 'h price 4 days only Sept. 4 - Sept. 7 Winsor & Newton Artists Paints & Brushes - Water color - Oil - Acrylic In stock - while supplies last NOTICE t-4.1 RE: SPOT SPRAYING OF WEDS kftl This notice is to advise residents of the County 6f Huron that SPOT SPRAYING OF WEEDS in rural areas will commence on June 10.1096, for a period of approximately 12 to 14 weeks. Herbicides to be used are: ESTAPROP, Registration No. 14803; AMITROL T, Registration No. 16548; and DIPHENOPROP, Registration No. 15707. To be controlled are noxious weeds as per the Provindel Weed Control Act. This notice complies with Section 68(2) of Regulation 914 under the Pesticides Act. For further information, please call the Huron County Weed Inspector at 519-524-8394.