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.