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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-10-28, Page 6PAGE 6--GODEHICH SIGNAL -STAR. WEDNF SI)AY, OCTOBER 28, 1987 Where world you want to lige when you can no longer live in your own home? The Seniors Care Facility Committee would like to know what the seniors of Huron Coun- ty believe their future should hold. In March 1985 the Ministry announced plans to spend $75 million to improve and upgrade the hous- ing situation for the aged in Ontario. This pro- gram was very well received. Huronview began to assess its situation. An architectural team was hired to provide a functional pro- gram which included a needs study. Upon careful review of this report, the Ministry of Community and Social Services gave direc- tion for the establishment of a Seniors Care Facility Committee with the following mandate: • 1. To identify within Huron County the specific care needs of the Seniors'communi- ty through meetings, forums and sub- missions. 2. To prepare a repott detailing the above fin- dings with recommendations for the necessary facility / facilities including size, location(s) and range Of desired care. • In order to fulfil thismandate we need to hear from the seniors in Huron County. We would like to know what you believe is needed for the Seniors of today and tomorrow. Over the next few weeks, your Seniors' group will be receiving an invitation along with a question- naire. We would like you to select three or four members of your group to represent your organization's point of view with our commit- tee. These four members will be our guests at Huronview for a meeting and luncheon. At this time they. will be given fifteen minutes to present their viewpoint on the issues of Seniors' facility needs, including Alzheimers' units, submit their questionnaire returns to the Committee and then participate in an in- formal discussion with the Committee and other Seniors' groups from the county. These meetings will be taking place at Huron - view on November 25 and 26. Each group will be sent an agenda, questionnaires and invita- tions. They are welcome to attend the entire discussion or if they choose, only that seg - anent which directly involves their Seniors' group. A date will be announced shortly when residents' councils."of the various Nursing Homes will be presenting their questionnaires at a similar meeting and luncheon. The County Care Agencies (Huron Day Cen- tre, Wingham Day Centre, Integrated Homemaking, for example) are also being sent questionnaires and invitations to a forum and luncheon held at Huronview on November 24. The input and information we hope to obtain from these services is invaluable. Please watch your local newspaper for more information regarding these very important events. If you are a senior and do not belong to any organization but wish to complete a question- naire, one can be sent to you if you contact any of the following Committee members. Lossy Fuller Co -Chairman Seniors Care Facility Committee Ed Oddleifson, P. Eng. Co -Chairman Seniors Care Facility Committee Patricia Archibald Executive Secretary Seniors Care Facility Committee Linda Girard Ministry of Community & Social Services Leona Armstrong Reeve Norman Hayes Corporate Executive Wingham & District Hospital James Coulter • Bill Hanly Clerk Treasurer, Court House Frank Bissett Loretta Seigner Officer Exeter 235-0684 Bayfield 55-2526 Goderich 524-8408 London 438-5111 Grey Twp. 887-6753 Wingham 357-3210 Goderich 524-7877 Administrator Goderich 524-8394 Clinton 482-3451 Exeter 235-2786 Ian McAllister Board of Directors Bluewater Rest Home Doreen Wilson, H.C.A. Bev Brown Corinne Van Miltenburg, R.N. Wayne Lester Administrator, Huronview Brian McBurney Warden, Huron County Opinion Canada Post taking rural Canada back in history Dear Editor: A massive advertising campaign by Canada Post, costing millions ,of dollars, has recently been launched to sell Cana- dians on the Corporation's Plans for the 2 future. It is ironic that emphasis is being put on the theme of "Taking Canada Post into the 21st Century" when the plans for rural Canada will take those citizens back to the 19th Century. The early history of rural postal service shows. the struggle that rural postmasters went through providing service to the com- munity, while being paid a pittance, in the form of commission, for their efforts. Ser- vice had -to be provided far in excess of any normal work -week; even on Sundays and Holidays. When assistants. were needed to perform the work, their wages were paid by the postmaster out of a meagre com- mission, ..or as a subsidy from the postmaster's pocket. Additional respon- sibilities or work -loads were added by the Government without consultation or addi- tional renumeration. Despite the postmaster's dedication to service and ac- ceptance of these hardships, he was never sure of keeping his job. Jealousy, competi- tion and political patronage resulted in the turn -over of many postmasterships. It only required an accusation by a Member of Parliament that a postmaster had engag- ed in "political partisanship" to bring about a dismissal. In 1938, there were 363 dismissed across Canada, for this reason. Smaller postmasterships were recognized as part of the spoils of political victory. It took sixty years for the Government to Zurich 236-4034 Clinton 526-7218 Brussels 887-9621 Clinton 482-5856 Clinton 482=3451 Goderich 524-8394 Paid Advertisement LETTERS finally realize the value of the rural post offices and the people who staffed them. Farsighted men, like Deputy Postmaster - General Walter Turnbull, recognized this. He said, "postmasters should break away from the notion of being retail merchants, selling on commission, and become full- time, salaried employees". Others, like William Hamilton, followed that example. He stated, "The postal service has been built, and will always remain based, on human beings - people. We can never get a machine to go down the street and deliver letters to individual houses. We can never find a machine which will stand behind the wicket in a revenue post office and do the variety of work which you do in your everyday routine." More recently, Andre Ouellet stated, "In villages and small towns across Canada, the Post Office re- mains one of the most frequently visited places by citizens of the community. The Post Office has, over the years, become a much needed resource centre. Members of the community know where to go in order to obtain information on a variety of sub- jects. The federal Government is everywhere in Canada and the post office is still the most familiar place which br- ings information to people. The Postmaster is foremost, a person of trust, goodwill and one who is willing to listen to everyone's needs. The post office . is a meeting place for all and creates a bond between the members of the community. It is a unifying force which gives one the feeling of belonging." Yet today, as we approach the 21st cen- tury, Canada Post plans to take you back to the "good old days". Bowing to the pressure from the Govern- ment to balance the budget, their answer is to abandon the responsibility of pro- viding this vital service. It will be franchiz- ed out to a local business, which will be paid a small commission to do the job. No longer will the dedicated postmaster be there to serve a variety of functions, in ad- dition to the postal duties. Instead, an overworked store clerk or corner -store owner will try to serve your postal needs while managing the main business, which pays the bills. In many towns, the only representative of the Federal Government will disappear, as have all the other government services, like the railroad, the airport and small schools. Rural Canadians do not expect to receive all the benefits enjoyed by city residents. However, they pay the same federal taxes as do their counterparts in those cities. The postal system is one federal service used by all Canadians. Is it asking too much to insist that this one ser- vice be maintained as a public, Govern- ment service in rural Canada? Canada Post and the present Govern- ment say "Yes, you expect too much." What do you say? H.L. Johnson National President Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association Death from tobacco use occurs daily, reader Dear Editor: If we were to read in your newspaper that two jumbo jets had collided in the air, leaving no survivors, we would be shocked and deeply saddened. But if we were to discover that this tragedy is happening not once a year, but every single day of the year, killing over 350,000 people in the U.S. and 32,000 in Canada annually, we would rise up in in- dignation, demanding that air traffic be made safer. Yet, when this tragedy happens quietly as a direct result of cancer caused by tobacco use, we are strangely silent. The time for silence, however, has pass- ed. We must unite to bring an end to the suffering and death caused by tobacco use. We have, however,' a formidable oppo- nent in this cause; dedicated to the task of increasing tobacco sales worldwide. That opponent is none other than the multi- national corporations that control the LETTERS NO MATTER HOW BIG... !,)1 OR LITTLE... YOUR, HOME IMPROVEMENT PLANS ARE.. WE'LL BE GLAD TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT A LOAN! *11p to $22.5000.00 available *Completely Open for pre -payment *Simple Interest *Life Insured *Up to 60 Months for repayment We are the "People helping People" and that's what makes us your kind of bank. Stop in and see us for all the facts and figures. Ask about JOINT LOAN LIFE INSURANCE Coverage built for two. 1M , "Member Ontario Share end Deposit Insurance Corporation" You're a part of it all. GODERICH COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION 39 St. David Street, Goderich Phone 524-8366 CPN DAILY: 0:30 am- . 15 pt Edda s: 111 6:00. Saturdays till Noon Ai fabulously profitable cigarette industry. It is this industry that has launched a major unlimited cost campaign in an ef- fort to defeat Bill C-51, a Bill currently before our federal government that would bring an end to the advertising of tobacco products in Canada. It is this same in- dustry that is spending $80 million a year in Canada on advertising aimed at recruiting new young smokers. Canadians who care ought to immediate- ly write to The Honourable Jake Epp, Minister of National Health and Welfare and to their Members of Parliament, ex- pressing strong support for Bill C-51 that would bring an end to tobacco advertising in Canada by 1989. We may never have a better chance to express our collective indignation against the profit-seeking tobacco empire. But time is running out; please write now and support this important life-saving cause! Sincerely, Karl N. Burden Executive Director, Alcohol & Drug Concerns, Inc. Congratulations Dear editor, Congratulations to the students, adult volunteers and staff of Robertson Memorial Public School as well as the Signal -Star on publishing the "Robertson Right Up". This feature was a joy to read and your initiative provides an example of the good things that can happen through school-community partnerships. AlSygrove Walton Public School NOTICE BAN ON OVERNIGHT PARKING + OVERNIGHT . PARKING l tiARCH 15 aid 7 a.m. —Goderich Traffic By -Law Stan Profit, Councillor, Chairman, Traffic Committee Royal Bank Deposits 00• Our "Interest" Is You fire Snell "THE HELPFUL BANK"