The Goderich Signal-Star, 1984-07-18, Page 4PAGE 4--GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY,, JULY 18 1994
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DAVE
SYKES
i
He's well aware of the routine.
And I'm certain the only reason he -raises
the issue is to appeal to my sensibilities as a
caring father. What he accomplishes is to
make old dad feel absolutely guilty.
Mondays are difficult to cope with at the
best of times. Add tl,e prospect of a fun-
packed council meeting to the agenda and it
mattes for a fairly miserable start to the
week.
As a rule, Goderich town council meets
the first three Mondays, of the month but,
fortunately, only once a month during July
and August.
But, to the point of the matter, it
consistently appears that my son, Bradley,
knowing the council schedule by heart, lays
a guilt trip on his father for abandoning
familial responsibilities.
Monday was no different and the
conversation at the supper table. (true to the
word) unfolded like this:
"So do you wanna stay home and play
cars with me or something tonight dad," he
says looking up at his dad woefully while
potatoes and vegetables are escaping from
his mouth.
"Well, no. Sorry Bradley but I have to go
to council tonight. It's Monday, remember,"
I offer in response while adjusting my facial
muscles to produce my best woebegone
expression. "We'll have to play another
night."
"But why do you have to go to council
dad? Why do ya," he asks persistently as
more potatoes and vegetables
indescriminately jump out of the vicinity of
his mouth and fall onto a pile that's forming
on his lap.
"I have to go to council because it's part of
my job Bradley. I write stories about the
things they talk about at council meetings,"
I tell him by way of explanation, an
explanation he's heard hundreds of times
before. This busirfess of attending council
meetings and writing stories for a living
fails to impress my three-year old son. He's
made no attempt to hide the fact that if I was
a self-respecting parent, I would drive the
forklift truck for a living. It's a much more
appealing career.
After discussing the merits of a career in
forklifting, which he fully intends to pursue,
he again reverts to ,the previous line of
questioning.
"Do you like to go to council meetings and
see the other men? Do you dad," he asks.
"Well, not really Bradley," I offer feebly,
while trying to formulate a reasonable
answer that will not reflect my narrow-
minded prejudices.
"I don't always like to go to council, it's
just part of my job."
"Well then just stay home and play with
me and don't go to council," he -.suggests
tempting his father all t hell with the
proposition. "What do you do at the council
meeting: ;
"The people talk about roads and sewers
and spending money and things like that," I
reply somewaht stimul ting and interesting. to make the entire eal sund
"Do mens go there," he gtfestions.
"Well, , if I get big then I could go to a
council meeting too with the mens. That
sounds like a good idea dad. I'd like to do
that," he says believing his dad is getting
out on some kind of entertainment
extravaganza at these council meetings he
knows nothing about.
While his enthusiasm is admirable I feel.
compelled to warn him about municipal
politics and municipal politicians.
"There will be time to talk about that," I
suggest. "Maybe you should just think this
thing over a bit. This council business isn't
that exciting."
"Well then just stay home."
I wish he wouldn't tease me.
Member:
eN A
Second class
mail registration
number 0716
BLUE
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,1983
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A positive attitude
The town of Goderich, it has become apparent, is at the
crossroads.' It has reached.the point where it must decide
if it is ,indeed desirable to proceed with an ambitious
campaign of tourist promotion.
This town is a bit of paradox. Dialogue at two public
meetings on the subject of tourism and the role it should
play in the town's development, has produced two schools
of thought.
One segment does not believe the town should take an
active role in tourist promotion and the susbsequent
expenditure of tax dollars on creating a tourism and
industrial promotion department.
Others realize that tourists are vital to the economy of
the town and would support the town's effort to package
and promote Goderich as a major tourist attraction in
Southwestern Ontario.
Town officials have to decide which course to pursue
and once the choice is made, pursue it with vigor and a
renewed commitment.
The motion that resulted from the public meeting
Wednesday called for the town to proceed with the
establishment of a structure, a committee or board, with a
manager or co-ordinator, to draw and solicit members
and funding from members in Goderich and the
surrounding area, and implement a scheme of tourist
promotion in the town of Goderich.
In the past, we have argued that if the town is to make a
genuine and sincere commitment to tourist and industrial
promotion, it should pursue the prospect of hiring a
professional to handle the job.
The organizational review committee will now make
that type of recommendation to council. It has also
suggested that the business community support the
proposal and make direct contributions to the department
and committee that will promote the town of Goderich.
If business people. and those in the service industry
directly related to the tourist business, reap the benefits of
an active tourist town, they should be prepared to chip in.
But tourism benefits everyone in the community,
indirectly.
We are all involved in the tourist business because of
our association with the town of Goderich. Ostensibly, we
must all be ambassadors for the town, we. must all
maintain a healthy respect for tourism. It is a major
industry, or, could be, provided the town. made a
concerted effort to promote Goderich as an attraction.
Mike Lawley of the Ministry of Tourism and Recreation
told the meeting that tourism plays a major role in
economic development but that it also requires a positive
attitude and a long-term commitment.
This town is on the borderline with respect to population
and a fiscal commitment to a promotion department will
not sit well with some taxpayers.
But that commitment has to be made. And considering
that the tourist industry already plays a vital role in the
community, it would make sense to build 9n that existing
industry.
But when Lawley talked about a positive attitude, he
was referring to a community 'generated spirit that
welcomes and embraces the industry as an important cog
in its fiscal wheel.
One business person suggested that "we have to go a
long way to change the attitude in this town" and the
reference included the business community that directly
benefits from the industry.
The dialogue has taken place but now it's time for
action.
A despicable act
It seems that just when you've heard and read some
positive stories about man's sensitivity, his willingness to
reach out and grasp an outstretched hand, his compassion
)veempathy, something comes along tat dashes your
rspective and outlook.
This week, we received a call fro a 90 year-old
esident of the community who astonish gly related the
theft of lawn forniturke from her veranda over the
weekend.
The elderly lady did not hear anyone or see anything.
But, she spends a great deal of time on her veranda in the
shade on lazy summer evenings and is having great
difficulty comprehending why anyone would steal valued
possessions from an elderly lady. It makes us wonder too.
All she would like, is to have her valued furniture
returned. It would make an elder statesman of the
community happy.
First ride
by Joanne Buchanan
DEAR READERS
SHIRLEY KELLER
If it is true that two heads are better than one,
surely it must follow that two groups or even
three, can have better results when they are
working together.
That's what the people from Alexandra Marine
and General Hospital, the Huron County Health
Unit and the Huron Centre for Children and
Youth. are hoping this weekend when they stage
their very first Health Fair in conjunction with
Festival of the Arts.
Good, glowing health and healthy, active
lifestyles are very much desired these days. It's
what people talk about, strive for and work to
maintain. It's the subject of many articles in all
kinds of magazines. It's more fashionabe than
television, and more rewarding than weal .
Government is into the act, promoting th ,idea
of regular exercise and nutritious eating, non-
smoking and moderation in the use of alcohol
and other drugs.
Doctors are into it, going to great lengths to
encourage their patients to take off weight, eat
properly to give their bodies the best opportunity
to perform at peak capacity, and exercise in
moderation to reduce stress.
Hospitals are getting into it, creating resource
centres for people with all types of problems who
want to help themselves back to -vibrant well-
being.
Quite frankly, the word is out. Nearly everyone
I know realizes the value of good health,
understands that good health requires some
effort to achieve and maintain, and tries in one
way or another to live a healthier lifestyle.
But it is a never-ending battle. One can never
say, "I'm healthy now. I will stay this way for
the rest of my life."
There's always something more you can do ...
something more you can learn about getting well
and staying well. And that's exactly where
Health Fair '84 comes in.
Health Fair '84 is a series of demonstrations,
hands on activities, handouts and helpful
opportunities to learn more about yourself and
your good health. What's more, some of the
county's most. respected professionals are on
hand daily to talk to you, answer your questions
and assist you to develop your own program for
self-improvement.
There will be information on nutrition with
Barb Guse, a qualified and very practical
professional who knows her subject and has
dealt with all kinds of special nutrition problems
during her career as a nutritionist.
There will be Sheryl Gilbert of the Huron
County Health Unit who has something to offer
on the subjects of smoking, stress management,
dental health and venereal disease.
There will be Don Keillor and Laurie Thomson
of the Huron Centre for Children and Youth who
will talk to you about child development and
family living.
There will be Grant Ellison to provide
information and insight into the abuse of
substances - all kinds of substances, some of
which could surprise you.
There will be Salim Remtulla and Liz Perkins
of the physiotherapy department at AM&GH to
discuss with you posture and body mechanics.
There will be skipping demonstrations by
elementary school students involved with Jump
Rope for Heart.
There will be a lifestyle assessment opportuni-
ty whiclfwill provide for you a computer readout
of your score and what it means.
Summertime with its easy airs and warm
ways leads us more to beaches and
barbecues than towards giving a helping
hand to serious planning and problem
solving.
Nevertheless, speaking of local and area
issues, quite a lot of interest and attention
has been caught by two recently re -opened
subjects—the fate of the pioneev museum
located in Goderich and the necessities and
niceties of tourist industry promotion for the
benefit of our larger neighbourhood.
Whilst the ' museum, owned by Huron
County, will continue to be in study and talk
stages a bit longer, the' Goderich town
council should now resort to early ction and
put in place an effective and realistic
mechanism for suitably promoting the
many things we can share with visitors for
Mutual benefit and enjoyment.
As the town council moved somewhat
awkwardly away from its volunteer tourism
committee, it did so surprisinigly without
ideas and plans for what else to do for
tourism. Much valuable time has been lost.
However, if the council can now initiate a
more timely system, the loss could be
regarded as a learning experience of
positive value for all.
The daily workload of aggressive tourism
promotion is an increasingly competitive
society is past the volunteer stage. I agree
with Mr. Sherwood's observation at a recent
public meeting on the subject that the
matter is also past the stage of spa ding
more time on further committees anol
studies on the local scene. An actly an
imaginative co-ordinator of tourism and
economic development is a necessity, not a
luxury.
As Mayor Palmer pointed out, it is likely
that such an updated system could be
financed out of the total of the promotional
dollars traditionally divided among the
budgets of various departments and groups
where the promotion is done in isolation and
thus realistically less effectively. The new
method would -require some re -thinking and
taking some chances.
ny threads, a successful
tie together, making a
re -arranging an
There are so
co-ordinator coul
point of understanding the needs . and
interests of all the elements and bodies
concerned. There are nearly endless
possibilities for exploring, developing,
demonstrating, combining, packaging and
in every way clearly marking the path to our
collective door. That is what successful
tourist industry and economic development
is about.
Is our tourist period limited only to a few
surrimer months or could the other seasons
also be developed and marketed? Would it
be possible to create a fairy world of blaze
and beauty in Christmas lights on our
famous and unique Square? What other area
in town should present improved
attractions? When the out-of-town runners
/grid cyclists attend our events, how do we
welcome them and their families and how
are we making them aware of our facilities
for extended visits? Whom do we send to tell
potential visitors about our heritage
treasures and about the beauty of our towtl,
and its surroundings? We have all thought
about these things and many more. Now we
need someone whose time and energy is
fully dedicated to making it happen.
Then there is the other extremely
important side. The best intentions of the
council and the most ambitious
preparations by a co-ordinator can be fully
successful only if there is understanding and
helpful response from our own public in
general and our business community in
particular. Do we really appreciate the
benefits? Are we prepared to contribute by
creating a good and welcoming
atmosphere? What about the exchange
rates our stores give on American money
and the attitude and manners of the
personnel? Are businesses and services
keeping an eye on long term goals as part of
an ovrall pattern?
Mr. Lawley, representing the Ministry of
Tourism and Recreation at the public
meeting, made a very valid observation. In
tourism our town is doing quite well on an
established basis that remains more or less
the same. However, Goderich potential
places it on the borderline into a much
larger appeal with better results. It depends
entirely on our awareness, motivation and
commitment. "Do you want to see
yourselves as a growing community?" What
is the answer in our minds and in our actions
on every level?
There will be the Seat Belt Convincer which is
your chance to find out what happens to your
body if you are riding in a car when an accident
occurs. You should be able to see first hand the
importance of using a seat belt at all times when
driving or riding in a car.
There will be a rabies van from the Ontario
Ministry of Health on hand to give you some
important facts that may help save the life of
your pet.
And just for the health of it, there will be an on-
site colouring contest which could earn your
child a prize as well as keep him or her
entertained for a while.
And there will be free balloons and a free draw
each day.
If you are interested in your good health - and I
know you are - you will wantto make at least one
visit to Health Fair '84 located in the blue and
white booth on the south end of The Square. It's
the place to be if you want to get the most out of
life this summer and for a long, long time to
come.
And by the way, let the staff at the booth know
what you think of the program they have offered
to you. They have spent many hours planning
and executing this project for the benefit of the
people who will visit Festival of the Arts and they
would like to know if you have appreciated their
efforts, what you found most helpful and what
you would like to see added in future outings of
this sort.
As I said, good health isn't a one-shot deal. It's
everyday living. Getting into a lifestyle that suits
you and your body.
This will be Health_Fair'84 .... but it leaves the
door open for Health Fair '85 and Health Fair '86
and
ELSA 1-IAYDON