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TIMES -ADVOCATE
Exeter, Ontario, Canada
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
1.25 (includes GST)
Breaking the silence against violence
By Mary Simmons
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
ZURICH —
Approximately 40 people
gathered in Zurich and
marched along Main
Street Saturday morning
to raise awareness about
violence.
The march was led by
Kim Gingerich, who was
brutally attacked with a
sword by Andrew
Bannister Jan. 6, 2003.
Bannister, who was
found criminally not
responsible for attempted
murder in March 2003,
due to schizophrenia,
comes up for review by
the Ontario Review Board
May 14, and could be
released from the St.
Thomas Psychiatric
Hospital.
Protesters marched
with signs and handed
out purple ribbons
attached to a leaflet
which stated proper laws
need to be instated for
perpetrators with mental
illness who commit vio-
lent acts.
"We will not stand by
silently. We will not let
fear win," it said.
Gingerich said she orga-
nized the march because
she wanted people to
know about the effects of
violence.
"I never knew much
about the legal system
and the justice system
until this happened," she
said.
Gingerich said there
needs to be more support
available for the victims
and their families.
"You don't know what
it's like until it happens to
you," she said.
"Our hearts go out to
the families and the vic-
tims who have felt the
unfairness and injustice
of the laws today," said
Vicki Geoffrey,
Gingerich's aunt. "We
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Marchers gathered in Zurich Saturday morning to break the silence against violence and protest the possible
release of Andrew Bannister from the St.Thomas Psychiatric Hospital. (photo/Mary Simmons)
need your help to stop
this from happening to
another. Break your
silence against violence." Thomas May 7 and a review board meets to
Gingerich said a march group of protesters will discuss the case May 14.
may also take place in St. be at the facility when the
Members of Exeter Lodge 67 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows received 50 and 60 year pins April
23. Noble Grand Claire Wright and District Deputy Grand Master Bev Skinner presented 60 year pins to
Donald Dearing, Bill Coward, Gerald McFalls and Donald Kernick. Skinner also received a 50 year pin.
Absent is Lloyd Webber, who also received a 50 year pin. (photo/Mary Simmons)
GGBCA talks
about Species
at Risk
By Mary Simmons
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
GRAND BEND — At a meeting of the Greater Grand
Bend Community Association (GGBCA) at the Grand
Bend Medical Centre Friday, members of the board
heard about the Species at Risk program.
Mari Veliz of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation
Authority (ABCA) told the group she would welcome
their involvement in the Ausable Rover Recovery
Strategy in response to the federal Species at Risk legis-
lation.
Veliz said seven species of fish, four species of fresh-
water mussels and three reptile species found in the
Ausable River are considered to be at risk.
President Stephanie Donaldson suggested the group
could adopt one of the species at risk as a conservation
and awareness project.
The Ausable River Recovery Team is made up of part-
ners from ABCA, Department of Fisheries and Oceans,
Huron Stewardship Council, Middlesex Stewardship
Committee, National Water Research Institute of
Environment Canada, Natural Heritage Information
Centre, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources, Pinery Provincial Park,
Royal Ontario Museum, Lakehead University, University
of Guelph and University of Windsor.
The team has produced a synthesis report with strate-
gies to improve the abundance and welfare of wildlife
in the watershed.
Veliz said there are four main areas of work to be
done: management, monitoring and research, steward-
ship and communication.
She said GGBCA could lend a hand in the communica-
See SPECIES page 2