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Skidaddle
and
Snow Blitz
make
winter fun
The Port Albert Skidaddle and the Snow Blitz weekend in Goderich
provided a variety of events for people to get out and enjoy the
,winter season. Top left, Liesa Beth Hartman watches Clete Dalton
water his horses before she enjoys another sleigh ride at the Port
Albert Skidaddle. Below left; Harold Leddy, middle and Dave
Hamilton and Sue Ceddy, in the bottom pic played ball in the snow
at the Snow Blitz Snow Pitch.. Tournament held at the Goderich
Agriculture Park, Saturday; In the picture below right, Kim
Brownlee, left and Angie Skelton, right took part in the Fancy
Dress Skating Carnival. .
There's new
hope foe)
Haiti's future
After enduring 28 years of repression
under the regime of "president -for -life"
Jean-Claude (Baby Doc) Duvalier and
his father Papa Doc, the world's poorest
country is celebrating. After ridding the
country of one of the world's most cor-
rupt and brutal despots, Haitians turned
somersaults through the streets in ex-
ultation while radio stations played the
"Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's
Messiah.
Then, rage followed on the heels of the
rejoicing and Haitians rioted in the
streets, ransacking wealthy businesses
and killing members of the Tontons
Macoutes, Duvalier's secret police.
It's all quite understandable in a coun-
try
ouptry where less than half of one per cent of
the country's six million people control 40
per cent of the wealth, in a cotry where
$380 was the annual per capta itllcome
last year and in a country wh re sewage
runs into the same streams used as
drinking water.
In a country where a small minority
live in extravagant luxury and the rest
barely survive, it's no surprise that the
government has been the target of pro-
test for the past two months. What is sur -
.prising is that only 50 people died before
Duvalier fled the country preventing the
violence that seemed inevitable as long
as he remained.
And, though Duvalier continues to
have doors slammed in his face
throughout the world during his gpest for
political asylum, he has at least left the
door open for development in his own
country by deserting it.
Depending on what sort of regime
replaces. Duvalier's, it is a time of great
hope and possibility for the people of
Haiti. It seems a time when the country's
glaring problems—widespread erosion,
agricultural problems,polluted water
and gross inequities between the rich and
,.poor= -have a -chance at being solved. .
And, for the- rest of the world, It's a
time when foreign aid could do the most
good. As pointed out in an editorial in the
London Free Press, "Without Duvalier,
there is also the prospect of increased
foreign aid from nations that had
wearied of the embarrassment of his
human rights abuses and the way aid
funds seemed to end up in the pockets of
his cronies."
I suggest, that with the recent turn of
events in Haiti, now may be the time
when Goderich council could re -open its
file and do some more thinking about the
possibility of twinning with the Haitian
city of St. Marc.
After seeking more information about
St. Marc froin Ken Davis, president of
the Canadian Foundation for World
Development, council filed the issue with
little disc__quissjon in December.
Reaso'llig not to pursue the issue fur-
ther , . included . the - arguments that
Goderich would not gain anything from
the twinning as it could in tourist dollars
from its twin, Bay City, Michigan, that
Goderich has its own problems to deal
with and that because nothing concrete
was suggested by Davis to aid Haiti,
Goderich would only be .paying lip ser-
vice to St. Marc's poverty by twinning
with it. '
It can also be argued that issues such
as international aid should be left to the
federal government since municipalities
have neither the mandate nor the budget
to help third world countries. .
But, I think that with some innovative
thinking, Goderich can both make a con-
tribution to Haiti's de`felopment
(especially at such an exciting, hopeful
time in the country's history) and gain
from it.
One of the most obvious ways would be
to contribute financially to the trip Mia
Dalton is planning to Haiti this July.
Dalton says the group will proceed with
its plans to travel to Haiti if the political
environment is stable in -Way. Oth rwise,
it will travel to another third world'cQQun-
try such as Mexico, Peru or t. Vincent
"We wouldn't endanger anyone. The
main reason we're going is to sensitize
people to third world countries," she
says.
Another way to contribute could be
looking through the town's inventory and
sending old machinery or equipment in
consultation with Davis' organization. As
Davis suggested to council, an old tractor
that council wants to replace could con-
tinue to work in a developing country
though its resale value for council would
be minimal.
Matching the amount of money spent
by the town to participate in activities
with Goderich's twin, Bay City and sen-
ding it to an orphanage in St. Marc is
another suggestion. Or, . challenging
another town to a day -long event similar
to the Participaction Challenge and rais-
ing money through sponsors could also
help.
By itself, Goderich cannot and should
not . expect - to come close to solving
Haiti's problems. But, by doing its small
part, Goderich could acknowledge the
good fortune and prosperous economy it
enjoys while fostering in its citizenry a
Willingness to share its wealth aiid a sen-
sitive awareness of other people. •
Snow Blitz weekend is fun for all ages
Fifth Annual Snow Blitz Winter Weekend is a success
Mild weather at the beginning of last
week created some moments of anxie-
ty but the snowstorm on Friday ushered in
the fifth annual Snow Blitz Winter
Weekend in grand style.
The Goderich Figure Skating Club got'
things off to an early start Saturday morn-
ing with the Snow Blitz breakfast. The
baseball fanatics were on the field by 10
a.m. for a game of snow pitch baseball at
the agriculture park diamond which saw . ,
ppaiyers navigate slippery baselines and
deep snow in the outfield. The field condi-
' tions only added to the enjoyment of the
sport.
Presechool and elementary school
children participated in the fancy dress
skating Carnival Saturday afternoon.
Prize winners included Vanessa yeats for
the' most comical and Nicole Smith for
most original in, the five yea rs and under
category. Irene Hullah for most comical
and Angie Skelton for most original in the
six to nine year category. Emma IIoll-
in orth for most comical and Paula Gles .
foil most Original in the 10 years and over
category. Dana Lunby was judged best
overall.
Mayor Eileen Palmer was "celebrity of
the day" at the Worth Huron Big Brother
Association second annual Celebrity Day
Bowl For Millions. Big and Little Brothers
and friends raised pledges for the weekend
event but the total sum of money raised for
the association was not available at press
time.
About 30 people participated in the
Trivial Pursuit Tournament Saturday
afternon in the meeting room at the grand-
stand. First prize was won by the Goderich
Little Theatre , team of Maureen Penn,
Daphne Davidson, Stuart Davidson and
Floyd Herman. Second prize went to Spare
Parts, Greg Hansen, Michelle Hansen,
Don Parker and Brenda Parker. Third
prize was won by Myrtle McNair, Wayne
Bauer, Debbie Bauer and Jim Bowie.
The Salvation Army tea and bake sale on
Saturday afternoon was well attended.
Proceeds from the event go towards the
Army Home League Fund.
The only disappointmeni!s of the
weekend., were the snow sculpturing con-
test which had to be cancelled because of
poor snow for scultping and the Kinsmen
ski-a-thon which interested only 10 skiers
lin the event. Those who participated rais-
edapproximately $400 for cystic fibrosis
research.