The Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-11-27, Page 3jell`l tri
fo a 1y; ala, a u�atrsa
pal ll e� Bluewal: ntre focr,the :
e oto Marl capped, the
luewa en will provide a sect' re^
enstody,Inc lily for -16 and IT Year .old
offender's;
The #plemetiCation of the Young
Offenders ,;pct . has,.^ made it possible to
create separate ;institutions for this age
group, . where the programs can be
streamlined to do a better job of affecting
changes, thereby encouraging a life
indepetldant of crime when they return to
their communities.
The centre was opened by Ontario's
Solicitor General Ken Keyes who also
minister of Correctional Services.
Dignitaries who attended the ribbon
cutting ceremony included the Huron -
Bruce MPP Jack Riddell, Robert
McDonald, deputy minister of
Correctional Services, Vic Crew, regional
director for the western division of the
Ontario Ministry of Correctional Services,
John Duggin, assistant deputy minister of
Correctional Services, Carl DeGrandis,
superintendent of the Bluewater Centre,
Rev. Clare Geddes, chaplain of the
Bluewater Centre, Mayor Eileen Palmer
of Goderich, Deputy -Reeve Pat Osborn of
Goderich Township and Dorothy Wallace,
former chairman of the Huron County
board of education.
Built in 1962 and. opened under the
auspices of the Ministry of Health as a
psychiatric facility, the Bluewater Centre
was redesigned as a facility for the
Developmentally Handicapped and
transferred to the Ministry of Community
C
An aerial photograph of the Goderich Court House Park was
presented to the Bluewater Centre for Young Offenders at the of-
ficial opening of the secure custody institution on Friday.
Bluewater Centre superintendent, Carl DeGrandis, left and Huron -
Bruce MPP Jack Riddell, right, unveiled the photograph which will
and Social Services in 1975.
Following a decision by that ministry to
place the handicapped residents in group
homes in the community or smaller
institutions, the Bluewater Centre was
briefly closed in the fall of 1983 and
transferred to the Ministry of Correctional
Services in 1984.
Following a number of structural
hang in the centre's visitors lounge. Minister of Correctional Ser-
vices, Ken. Keyes, right, and Vic Crew, regional director for the
western division of the Ministry of Correctional Services, left, look
on. (Photo by Dave Sykes)
changes and extensive interior
renovations, Bluewater Centre admitted
its first residents in August, 1985. While
only one-third of the present residental
complex is operating today, it is
anticipated by 1987, Bluewater Centre will
be at full operating capacity, serving the
western region of the Ministry of
Correctional Services.
The cost of renovations in phase one the
interim plan amount to $680,000. The 1986-
87 operating budget is $5.5 - $6 million.
Located on 340acres are the main
residential complex, ,maintenance and
vocational trades buildings, a large
activity field, and a self-contained camp
on the lakefront.
There are 44 residents at Bluewater. now
W
,r.0.0.0. staff at, #le H3ue ter Cen re for.
tie Developmentally' Handicapped and 77
'accepted positions on the present'staff. All
w.ere,'retrained, as counsellors and direct
car` supervisors,. Retraining included
pr'ogramiis, seminars, lectures, •`classroom
instruction and placement in juvenile
institutions.
. The only other secure custody facility
for young offenders in the provine is
Maplehurst, located at Milton. According
to -Vic Crew, regional director for the
western division of the Ministry of
Correctional Services, it is anticpated, by
"virtue of experience" that one secure
custody facility willbe required in each of
the five ministry regions in the province..
The solicitor general said only 15 per
cent of the young offenders in the province
require placement in secure custody
arrangmements. The remaining 85 per
cent are in the community' in open custody
and probation programs.
Keyes said there is a real need for a
facility in eastern Ontario. This would
permit young offenders to remain closer to
their home communities where family can
participate in their rehabilitation
programs while they are in custody.
Those young offenders in secure custody
who are not in residence at either of the
province's facilities for young offenders
are placed throughout the adult system
institutions.
In the long range program at Bluewater,
a specific unit will be made available for
female young offenders who are now
serving their time at the Vanier Centre for
adult women in Brampton.
Fitness centre is an investment in the community
• from page 1
President Erik Kirk says the club is
willing to make a financial commitment to
a fitness facility if squash courts were part
of the plans. As a concession, the club
would like court consideration for its
financial support.
A community fitness centre is much
more than just a multi-million dollar
expenditure, it is an investment in the
community.
"Such plans are killed in the inception
stage many times but if the town is serious
about attracting industry, a fitness centre
is worth more than tan or land concessions
to an employer," he said. "Emloyers are
also concerned with lifestyle for their
employees and what the town has to offer
is important."
Various groups in town have, at one time
=2tr another over the past 15 years, picked
-lip the indoor swimming pool -fitness
complex concept and ran with the idea.
Ultimately, money seemed to be the
stumbling block. The ball was always
dropped after the initial carry.
Physical education instructor Lynn
Meyers may be the town's resident expert
on building an indoor pool. He almost
single-handedly pursued the concept of
building a pool onto the high school. He
turned his plans over to the Goderich Lions
Club after years of research.
Meyers was the driving force behind the
plans to fund and build the track across
from the high school. With that project
complete he set out, with a group of
interested citizens to explore the
feasibility of building an indoor swimming
pool.
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"We investigated the pool only and with
permission from the school board planned
to build it on the school to tie in with the
gymnasium and cafeteria," he explained.
"We contacted three different.gr'oups and
the cost was about $1 million a bottom
line was money. Every i#4:was arranged
but there was no grants "
The school board was recs a to. flue
idea and Meyers chains that operating
costs could have been minimized by
building on to the school and sharing
services.
"The town should haveone, .there's no.
,
doubt in my mind," he said,. "Swimming is
the best form of exercise for fitness and
seniors could use it, the mentally
handicapped, pre -natal groups,
everyone."
The pool Meyers talks about had three
lanes for lartswimmersanctikalWareas,
Sandra MacDonald, who operates a
massage and • hydrotherapy clinic in
Goderich, sees n need for an indoor pool
and fitness facility in her work but also
suggests it would be of value to young
people.
"With a pool. I could recommend water
fitness exercise to clinets,and 1 see it as
important in dealing with stress and
inactivity in young people.' she explained.
"There just isn't anytl'' 4 for teens and
it's important for then co have a place to
go and have fun, swim and even work out.
Seniors could benefit from water
exercise and it's a social and therapeutic
activity. A facility could encompass all
ages and activities. Where do you come
together now as a community? Everything
is scattered."
MacDonald has been gathering
signatures in support of the building of a
complex in town and she says the
organizational core will make or break the
project. "We have to keep promoting and
we have to do a lot of research."
A. community centre complete with
itltdoor p 1 squash courts, lounge,
Itsl� weight room would be an
' u ealty hit fear wetly Terse to use.
It wolr d
Estunat
million to build si
town is to entertain
much of that would ha
government while
certainly, would be lxat
the cost K
But `Itis elf:
t� by the tl
year's deficit amounted to $70,000. "We
have a deficit every year," he said. "It's
not cheap to operate."
The town of St. Marys 1
build a new outdop'i
'facility and while Ytea!#
alreadybeen donep:t
Love said the tole•i h a
to make. •
"We can re
$250,000, build
**nor build
f11b clod }?11
;fit::lainvi
s'n indoor
&lye `survey mi
"We looked for a site and we looked at
funding and we presented a report to
council a month ago," Ponting said.
.Council supported us in principle,
ted the land for the pool and will pick
up maintenance costs if the people raise
;Wiley. We'll need $1.5 million for a
ymnasium, four raquetball courts
d a li(nch area. Originally we thought
00,0 :would come from grants, $500,000
frogft the town and $500,000 from the
ice,," ld er, Ponting said that $500,006
fi1G1l of fr the .town would raise taxes in the
Ilifaii# of 8,500 by $80 over and above
l t ve percent increase council tries to
aintafn each year.
"iinety-five per cent of the people would
0 have a facility it's just a question of
1$: • ' er or not we can afford one."
=9 . ; + ing cited Leamington as an,
- a"i6 � •'nye". xnp ex.: ple of a cou wuuitithat supports its,
941fifidolletghbourhood indoor ,pool -fitness complex. Anticipating
t; d v: • is about the best a paid membership of 1,200 when the pool
was built, the popularity of the facility has
boosted memberships to 5,000.
Through the recreation department and
director 4aiie Netzke and program
director Bob Marshall, there are a myriad
of activities and programs offered for
people of all ages. We are not lacking, as a
community, in that respect.
But some of the services are fragmented
artitlothers appear to be inadequate.
Netzke would more than welcome a pool -
fitness complex into the recreation fold,
but realizes the community would have to
raise the money.
Advocates of the facility have suggested
Turn to page 5 •
01.00
prof f ..•: 1 ernment 4 Y
some grant money. alfa 9 j
Wintario grants, are a�
the moment.
Melanie McLibeilln,� st aunts
the Ministry of Tourism and Tl'er
says that grants s'ply .aren't
right now.
"There's'' no grant money rtg
There are rumors.thaat it might
soon but we just have to wait and see."
Even if the government let the lottery
money flow a,in, grants would onlycover
capital cost 'and not operating expenses
McLaughlin ewlainedi,4
The town of Port"Elgin has an Indoor
pool adjacent to its high school and
recreation director Clare Fowler said last
t" 5 -; s> =' d have to spend $1.5
1100 grant."
payers in the town of
rsoll. . ,> (,handed together with the
y S vee' of building an indoorpool
#` ey realize, Hugh Pontin .said,
that the money will habe to be ised up
front.
With two facilities o,. a2tPminu a drive.
away, . ,one :: tet Woodstock, the
-timer In Tl i onburg, the gr ti i con acted
alsgYeY194010010001flOterOrtaisted in
the community. Armed with the statistics
suggesting an interest was evident, a pool
committee was formed there a year and a
half ago.
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