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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-01-22, Page 1Goderich N Mental health ervices expand STA 138 YEAR -04 GODERICH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1986 60 CENTS PER COPY lion -smokers are silent rnaj orit Employers in Goderich get few complains about smoking BY SUSAN HUNDERTMARK • Non-smokers in the workplaces of Goderich remain the polite and silent tna- jority, While in larger centres such as London or Toronto, non-smokers are becoming - more and more vocal about the health risks accompanying secondhand smoke and their employers are -responding with no -smoking policies, nothing similar is happening in Goderich. Major employers in Goderich agree that there are few .,,or no policies concerning smoking in the workplace mostly because employees have not brought the issue to their attention. "There are people joking about smoking but we've had no formal complaints," says Gaston Brousseau, mine manager of Dom- tar Sifto Salt Mine. The only non-smoking areas at the mine are located where there are volatile li- quids, explosives or fuel trucks. Safety not secondhand smoke is the concern is these areas. . "We can't just forbid smoking on the job; we'd have to get support from the greater majority of workers. 'And, we've still got a long way to go before most peo- ple see cigarettes as toxic things which are left at the gate along with beer bottles and liquor," he says. Still, many employees at Domtar. have quit smoking and workers are finding working conditions better as a result, says Brousseau. • Smoking in the workplace is not an issue at Champion 'Road Machinery, says Bill Metcalfe, marketing services director. Like Domtar, the only regulations at Champion concerning smoking are to do with safety. . "We have a lot of communication going op with suggestion programs and quality circles and smoking hasn't become something anyone's concerned with. And, if it was to become an issue, we'd deal with. it,".he says. Metcalfe`says smoking In the workplace is not an issue because both smokers and non-smokers in ,Goderich are very con- siderate of each other. "We're not dealing with strangers So Smoking In the workplace is a hot issue in major centres such as London and; Toronto especially during Non -Smoking Week and Weedless Wednesday today, when smokers are asked to butt out for the day. But Goderich workers have mostly remained silent on the topic. Goderich employers say they have no policy about smoking on the job because they've received few or no complaints. i photo by Susan Hurulertmark 1 we're probably more understanding. Peo- ple are more considerate around here. . They generally ask if it's okay to smoke," he says. He -alsor surmises that fewer people smoke in Goderich than in other parts of the country. Instead they are, responding to smoking as a health issue by quitting. Though information about smoking from the Department of Health has-been posted at Champion, Metcalfe says the company generally tries to let individuals do. what's }fest for them. P eepic -are not concerned Co' the extent they're getting together to protest," he says. Though she has a hard' time asking fellow workers not to smoke, Marilyn Cor - c• nlsh., who works at Champion, says she thinks no one should, be able to smoke on the job. "At one time, 1 had a chain -smoker right beside, me and I was getting the smoke fullblast. I have all kinds of allergies and the smoke would make me cough, my sinuses elog up and my eyes water. It was . just so annoying," she says. When she made her supervisor aware of, the problem, he suggested she talk to the smoker who then placed her ashtray on the other side of her desk. "'That time it worked out but it depends on the person. Some smokers will blow their smoke right in your face when you tell them the smoke is bothering you. Why should you have to put up with that?" she says: Even though she ,notices fewer people smoking all the time atwork, Cornish says an education program about the issue wouldn't hurt in her office. Though a designated smoking area was suggested at a general staff meeting about a year ago, Bob Shrier, president of Signal Star Publishing, says nothing came of it. "I don't think it was that big an issue," he says: A smoker himself, Shrier • admits to becoming emotional about the. issue of smoking. He says an education program for smokers based . on caring and understanding would by the most effective way to solve the problem of smoking the workplace. ' ' ° And, he says he's not entirely convinced about the dangers of secondhand smoke; "I would have to see medical journals with conclusive evidence," he says. But, if smokers were ,forced .through legislation to stop smoking in • the workplace, Shrier can see a positive side to the possibility. "I don't like ' to be legislated into anything but possibly after I got over my anger, I might think if I can't smoke at work, then why smoke. at all. And, there are a lot -of people teetering on the edge," he says. A vocal non-smoker, Joanne' Cicchini, who works at' Signal Star, says she can't Turn to page 2A Grant proposal f�r recreation study is OK'd Goderich's. recreation board got the go- , ahead from council Monday night to send away a proposal for a community recrea- tion planning grant to develop a 10 year master plan for the town's recreation and a feasibility study ,for a new recreation centre. "•It was developed in response to the -sup- port for a new recreation centre. We won't be asking for any financial contribution until we get the grant," Recreation Direc- tor Jane Netzke told council. A major part of the proposal is the • feasibility study. It will determine poten- tial community needs, construction costs, funding sources, a 10 year forecast of operating expenditures and revenues, potential sites, floor plan proposals and an analysis of the effect of a centre on the county recreation network. The second part involves a master plan which will document existing facilities and programs, identify gaps in public ac- cessibility to then) and make recommen- dations to fill the gaps, develop a 10 year plan of -implementation and review recrea- tion department administrative practices. A planning committee will be appointed by the recreation board at its February meeting consisting of three board members,. one council member and four interested citizens. Public meetings, presentations and public surveys will be done by a consulting pete in the Calgary Spec a ympics this July after qualifying at the regional le'v'el in .l(une, winning a gold, two silvers and a bronze Medal, I..ln- da previosly Wan two golds at the provincial championships in Guelph in 1984 which she says was her.hl gest.t�tri L Fifteen regional athletes including Linda will compete in track and field, bowling, and; swhtnm—ing representing Ontario at the gamer. tlrh't►1 by-Sharon' Dietz) firm for :community input. The planning committee will also attend service club meetings to keep them up to date and in- formed. The grant proposal projects the comple- tion of the study to be Jan. 5, 1987. "We hope to receive approval by sometime in February but if we get per- mission earlier than we expect, we'll have to come back to council earlier and it will be up to you to decide at that time," Netzke told council. The grant will cover 50 per cent of the cost of the study. "I wouldn't go along with the study if there was no. grant," said Deputy -Reeve John Doherty. When Coun. Bill Clifford asked if Col- borne and Goderich Townships were' con- tributing financially to the study since parts of : both townships were being studied, Netzke said they weren't but that bath townships have a decided effect on the recreation budget. "That means the taxpayers of Goderich are subsidizing our neighbors on both sides in terms of recreation," said Clifford. Mayor Eileen Palmer congratulated the study team sub -committee for a well- prepared grant proposal. "The first meeting was held in mid- December and the committee still came up .with a perfected term of reference," she said. Goderich swimmer ill compete at Specia Olympics in Caig ry BY SHARON DIETZ A Goderich athlete has qualified for the Special Olympics in, Calgary this summer and will compete in the ladies swimming competition at the games. , Linda Reid, 18, brought home two golds when she competed in the provincial championships at Guelph in , 1984. She qualified for the 1985 national games in Calgary at the regional level try outs in Scarborough in June, winning a gold, two silver and a bronze. If she qualifiesi at Calgary she can go on to compete in the in- ternational competiton in South Bend, In- diana. Brought home two gold medals Linda's two golds in 1984 qualified her to ti•y out for the North American champion 'hips in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She nar- rowly missed qualifying, tying for fourth place on the team, falling short by nine- tenthsiof a point. The biggest thrill of her i swimming career was the two gold medals she won at the natiohal competition in Guelph. She - won a gold in the 25 metre front stroke and the 50 metre back stroke and a fourth in the 25 metre back stroke, only .09 seconds behind the first place winner. At the provincial competition in Scar- borough in June she won a gold in the 25 Metre freestyle, two silvers in the 25 metre back stroke and the 50 metre back stroke 'anda bronze in the 50 metre freestyle. She has 40 ribbons and medals toher.crodit. since she began competing in 1974. She will 'egin training for the Calgary national ampionships in May and June at the Va astra Recreation Centre. Train- ing also i ludes weightlifting. As well as being a r -orous physical test, competition at Lin ' .'s level is also a very costly finan- cially. She has been sponsored by her dad's labour union and a.Goderich ladies softball team in the past. Like most other amateur athletes, she relies on sponsors and hqr parents to fund her competitive costs to enable her to continue competing. Competitors from this region will com- pete in track and field and bowling as well as swimmingg. The athletes include in swimming, Jack Janse, Drayton;' Pip Lacasse, Hepworth; Gary Nuhn, Williamsford and Linda; in track and field, Carolyn Klooster, Drayton; Dennis Long, Palmerston' Atthnom Song, Drayton;. Bonita Ludington, Monkton and Brenda Rollins, Listowel and in bowling, Brian Gordon, Walkerton; Craig Harrison, Hanover; Susan Nelson, Hanover; Doris Weber, Hanover; John Grater, Walkerton and Jim Ross, Kincardine. Psychiatric out-patient services at the Alexandra and Marine Hospital in Goderich will be expanded, Health Minister Murray Elston and Agriculture and Food Mlnlstet, Jack Riddell, MPP Huron -Middlesex, announced recently. The hospital will receive an additional $110,550 in annual operating costs to ex- pand the services through the ministry's community mental health program. The new program is in addition to the hospital's existing Community Psychiatric Services Program, which is directed to emotionally disturbed people who live in Huron County. "The out-patient program w111 expand Its day treatment services, doubling the number of the people now being treated. Altogether it will serve approximately 40 Epeople at one time, or about 120 annually," lston said. "The out-patient program will continue to provide individual and group therapy, financial counselling, living -skills training and literacy upgrading, brit on a broader basis," Riddell said. "The goal of the pro- gram is to help prevent the need to stay in hospital and: help patients least productive lives 1n the community." "The program is among '34 new coin - murky mental- -health .programs to be funded by the ministry at an annual cost of $4.6 millipn," Elston said. "Another $1.5 million has been approved for enhance- ment of existing programs—This brings total spending to $48 million annually for 276 community mental health programs." Offenders Act to be amended Let me brave in the attempt Goderich council's resolution regarding the Young Offenders Act will be given careful consideration by Solicitor General Perrin Beatty when he amends the act Huron Bruce MP Murray Cardiff tole council in a letter: • "The question of whether` the Young Of- fenders Act, should allow for the publica- tion of the names and identities of young offenders has been raised in a number of representations to my office," said Beatty. He added he will be exploring the Act with provincial ministers responsible for juvenile justice with the idea of amending it iri early 1986. The athletes will also have the oppor- tunity to tour Calgary,, Banff and attend a mini rodeo at a earlIy ranch during their stay in Alberta from July 15. • 20. An experience they will never forget, the athletes are encouraged to live by their Olympic motto: Let me win, but if 1 cannot -Win, Id Me brave h the attempt Goderich man dies in accident A 77 -year-old Goderich area man died at the scene of a • three vehicle mishap Thursday afternoon, the Sebringville OPP reported. Orville Bodges of .RR 2 Goderich was ,, pronounced dead at the scene of the'acci- dent when his pickup truck caught fire after it collided with a tractor- trailer heading north on Highway 23 at about 3:15 p.m. Reginald Small, 41, of RR 1 Harriston was the driver of the tractor -trailer which then collided with a parked car and' a hydro pole. The Mitchell Fire Department respond,- ed. espond-ed. A fire department spokesman said the Rodges vehicle was on the shoulder of Highway 23 heading north when it turned into the path of the tractor -trailer. There were no other injuries. Damage was estimated at $20,000. Michael Reilly of Listowel owned the park- ed car. INSIDE THE SIGNAL -STAR Skating medals The Goderich Figure Skating Club held its annual club competition at the Goderich Arena on Saturday when skaters competed,, in a variety of events for trophies and medals. See our special report on today's sports page In section H. Huronview report A report prepared by the Huronview ad- ministrator suggests its' time people ser- vices get a greater share of the Huron County tax dollars. The report outlines the long range plans for rehovatihns at Huror►t view wlifch will decorflpose its institutional character and provide a warm dignified environment. See Sharon Dietz's feature report on the front page of today's com- munity section.