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The Times Advocate, 2004-01-07, Page 27Wednesday, January 7, 2004 Exeter Times -Advocate 27 Community SH councillor trammels to Japan for exchange South Huron Coun. Ken Oke, left, recently travelled to Japan as part of an exchange program.As part of the program, 32 rural sites, including Usborne Twp., were chosen for study. Other Canadian delegates from left include Don Tabor (Nova Scotia), Clay Armstrong (Alberta), Louis -David Choquette (Quebec) and Evan Morton (Tweed, Ont.). (photo/submitted) By Ken Oke SPECIAL TO THE T -A Note: Ken Oke represents the Usborne ward on South Huron council and recently went to Japan on a rural leader exchange program. The follow- ing is his report. JAPAN — I recently partici- pated in a rural leader exchange program between Canada and Japan. This exchange program was conducted by the "New Rural Economy" project (NRE). The NRE is a research and educa- tion program for rural Canada and is a collaborative under- taking, bringing together rural people, policy analysts, researchers, the business com- munity and government agen- cies at all levels to identify and address vital rural issues. It is conducted at a national level with historical and statistical data analysis, and at the local level with case studies involv- ing community and household surveys. Since its inauguration in May 1997, the project has held 10 national workshops and con- ferences, prepared major reports, established a Centre for Rural Data, profiled 32 carefully selected rural sites for research and education activities and organized 33 partners, 22 researchers, 19 universities and 18 govern- ment departments across Canada. Usborne Township was cho- sen to be one of the 32 careful- ly selected rural sites for research. Japan saw the merit in the program and asked to be a part of the program and chose two rural sites to research. The two sites they chose were the Village of Iitate and the Town of Awano. The Village of Iitate is the result of two municipalities amalgamating in 1950. The population peaked at 11,403 in 1955 and has declined to less than 7,000 today. It is situated in the Fukushima prefecture about 90 minutes north of Tokyo. The Town of Awano is situated in the Utsunomiya prefecture just north of the Fukushima prefecture with a population of around 10,000. The location is approximately 2 hours north of Tokyo. The Japanese site of Iitate was twinned with the Canadian site of Tweed, Ont., and the Japanese site of Awano was twinned with the Canadian site of St. Damese, Que. The Japanese sent dele- gates to a conference at Miramichi, N.B., in November 2002. In 2003 Japan extended an invitation to the NRE for eight delegates for visit Japan. Delegates were to tour the two rural communities in Japan, talk with local politi- cians, local people, the farming community, and the business community. The topic would be common problems and solutions in the rural sites of both Japan and Canada. A researcher from British Columbia was chosen as well as seven people from seven of the 32 rural research sites in Canada. Two people from Ontario, one person each from Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Alberta were chosen. Farms, factories, schools, senior homes, community cen- ters, local festivals and tourist attractions were inspected. Three or more days were spent on each of Iitate, Awano, and Tokyo. Numerous meet- ings were held in each of the two sites with politicians and municipal officials. A final meeting was held in Tokyo with Dr. Tokumi Odagiri, gov- ernment consultant, and Mr. Hino, Secretary-General for the Organization for Urban - Rural Interchange Revitalization. A town or a village govern- ment in Japan seemed to have the same status and is compa- rable to our county govern- ment. I assumed the prefecture would have the same status as a province. I was amazed at what was common between the munici- palities of each country consid- ering we exist on the opposite sides of the world. We have similar problems and man- dates, but each has their own ways of accomplishing their duties. I attended the Autumn Thanksgiving Festival which is similar to our Fall Fair. The municipality maintains roads, parks, sport fields, schools, day care centers, and community centers. They have police and fire protection. The Japanese have recog- nized a problem with the growing division between rural and urban people and have taken steps to encourage the people of the cities to visit rural areas to enjoy culture, festivals and landscape. People in cities are called urban and anyone who lives outside the city is considered rural. Not only do these visits to the rural break down this barrier between the two groups, it also provides employment for the rural peo- ple. This hasn't been consid- ered a problem in Canada yet. Delegates from both coun- tries acknowledge there is a serious problem with the youth leaving the rural areas causing a general population decline for these areas. Awano had no statistics on wages, but Iitate stated the average wage was 47 per cent of the Tokyo aver- age wage. Both areas had programs to attract young people, but noth- ing has worked so far. Iitate had a slogan for 10 years about `quality of life' and changed it for the future 10 years to 'slow life.' They have received criticism because in Japan, fast means good and slow means bad. Awano gives a grant for young people to build a new house and gives them a pension for one year. Delegates from both coun- tries acknowledge there is a serious problem attracting doctors to the rural areas. Awano has two doctors for 10,000 people. They have a medical center where every one has three free check-ups a year and then if there is a problem, patients are referred to a doctor. Both countries realize the municipal "scale of operation" is necessary for prosperity. The method of implementing amalgamation is identical for both countries. The upper tier government is encouraging amalgamation and letting the lower tier governments know eventually it will be imposed if nothing is done by the lower tier governments. Both Iitate and Awano men- tioned amalgamation, but would not talk about it for fear of the future and the unknown. The upper tier government is giving little direction or help and covering up their lack of direction with the theory it should be locally driven. Talking with officials from the National government, amalga- mations will take place and the minimum population will be 100,000 for each new munici- pality when they are through. The Japanese had trouble believing Canadians volunteer their time and money for the betterment of their communi- ty. They said they have social organizations, but they don't contribute to the community. Both countries have warm and sensitive people. This was shown by how all people had a wonderful time. Great hospi- tality was given by the Japanese people and I am sure wonderful memories will be had by all. Catholic board chooses chairperson By Stew Slater SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -ADVOCATE DUBLIN — Stratford trustee Ron Marcy will chair the Huron -Perth Catholic District School Board, returning to a post he has held five previous times since first join- ing the board in 1974. The five -Huron -Perth trustees, all of whom were returned by acclamation during the recent municipal elections, chose who would serve key positions for 2004 during the board's annual inaugural meeting Dec. 1. North Perth//Perth East/Huron East representative Vince McInnes, another long -serving trustee, was cho- sen vice chairperson. Outgoing chairperson Bernard Murray of Perth South will be the Management chair- person, Mike Miller will fulfill the same role in the Personnel portfolio, and Mary -Catherine McKeon will handle Education duties. Asked if he's concerned about the lack of turnover in the trustee positions during the recent election, Marcy pointed out the board just replaced both its director of education and education superintendent. "We're getting new ideas because we've got a new director, a new superintendent — new administra- tion," he said. Most recently, Marcy was Huron -Perth chairperson three years ago. This time around, he expects the newly -elected Liberal government will provide a new set of challenges for the board. "They'll make changes. I know that," he said. He's unimpressed, however, with some of the Liberal campaign promises. Plans to increase the minimum drop-out age and decrease the class size in primary grades have yet to become reality, and Marcy wonders whether they'll ever come to pass, considering how costly they'll be. In the case of the drop-out age, he argues such a move would create hardship for teachers asked to deal with older teenagers who just don't want to be in school. And in the case of the primary class sizes, he notes such promises have been made by previous gov- ernments, but never realized. As a board, Marcy says, Huron -Perth Catholic han- dled the financial challenges handed down by the pre- vious Conservative government well. And he's confi- dent that will continue. Major developments facing the board in 2004 include the construction of new elementary schools in Listowel and Clinton, both of which will replace aging facilities labelled by the province as "prohibitive to repair." Marcy is confident the construction in Clinton will definitely be complete by the end of 2004, and with the board's purchase of property in Listowel within the last couple of weeks, the relocation of Hesson's St. Mary's school could also be complete at that time. The board is undertaking a study of accommodation issues in Stratford, with the most likely outcome being a major addition at St. Joseph's elementary to relieve current and projected overcrowding at St. Aloysius. A similar study will soon be launched into all Huron County schools, with the aim of identifying any possible changes in boundaries. Also in Huron, St. Joseph's school in Kingsbridge faces an accommodation review of its own, as it tries to cope with severely declining enrolment.