HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-04-20, Page 1I Ell HURON
W
TRACTOR
Exeter
TIMES-ADVOCATE
Exeter, Ontario, Canada
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
x.25 (includes GST)
For 105 years the Presbyterian Church Women have supported their place of worship and its congregation but now the group has folded. A luncheon honouring those who
have dedicated their time to Caven Presbyterian Church in Exeter was held April 17. A special service of worship, thanking the women for their acts of charity and goodwill, pre-
ceded the Sunday luncheon. In photo at left, members pose for one last group shot. From back left to right: Lil McLelland, Donna Webster, Isobel Rescorl, Lorna Stuart, Mary
Easton, PatWheeler, Dorothy Moffat and Molly Burke. In front row from left to right: Edna Simmons, Pauline Simmons, Bea Dykstra, Helena Toornsta, Jean Easton, and Beryl Elgie.
In the front centre is Floy Forman. At right, Beryl Elgie (left) and Floy Forman cut the official cakes marking the celebratory gathering. (photos/Stephanie Mandziuk)
Chlorine spill in river kills fish Community Living
South Huron close
to strike action
By Stephanie Mandziuk
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — A chlorine leak from
an outdoor storage tank at an
Exeter business spilled into the
Ausable River Monday killing hun-
dreds of fish.
A MacLeans Home Hardware
employee made the discovery
Monday morning and contacted
the store's owner, Gary MacLean,
who was out of town. At about the
same time an employee with the
Ausable Bayfield Conservation
Authority, conducting a routine
water sample, found about 100
dead fish near the Hay Bridge on
Airport Road.
The situation was immediately
reported to the Ministry of
Environment. Bill Thompson, a
senior environment officer from
the Sarnia office, confirms chlo-
rine entered the waterway from
Exeter. He says it began dissipat-
ing as it moved downstream.
Gary MacLean says the source of
the spill is a 5,000 litre chlorine
holding tank located outside his
business. The tank is normally
upright and stands 8 -feet tall and
4 -feet wide. MacLean says his
employee discovered the tank on
its side and it's not known how it
got that way.
The 12 per cent chlorine in ques-
tion is used for swimming pools
and by farmers in wells.
MacLean says from the very
beginning, he was "concerned
with the environmental aspect of
the situation and he made all the
necessary phone calls immediate-
ly." He says he has co-operated
fully with authorities.
The spill has killed a number of
species including suckers, small
bass, rainbow trout, darters and
minnows.
The Ministry of Environment
isn't releasing any further details
until it completes its investigation.
A chlorine spill is responsible for killing hundreds of fish in the Ausable River. In right photo Bill Thompson,
with the Ministry of Environment, tests a water sample from the Hay Bridge area on Airport Road in Exeter.
(photos/Stephanie Mandziuk)
By Mike Johnston and Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — Programs and supports for people with
developmental disabilities are woefully underfunded,
and both Community Living workers and clients are
paying the price, say counselors with Community
Living South Huron.
Barb Dunlop from the Canadian Union of Public
Employees (CUPE) said part of the problem at
Community Living is provincial underfunding.
The Ontario Liberal government provided a 0.5 per
cent increase to developmental services last year.
But blame for the problem (which according to
CUPE includes long waiting lists, understaffing,
heavy workloads and low wages) also rests on the
employer, said Dunlop.
"Because of the low wages and demanding stress-
ful work, many staff resign," said Dunlop.
"This means agencies deal with high staff turnover
rates and a lack of continuity of care that puts both
clients and workers at risk. We believe that if the
agency paid higher wages, more staff would stay and
the quality of programs and supports for clients
would improve."
A study of the sector showed that staff in compa-
rable jobs earn 25 per cent more than the
Community Living staff.
The Community Living workers recently voted in
favour of a strike with a majority of 76 per cent and
are now in contract negotiations.
Dunlop said if the mediation doesn't go well the
strike will start on or around May 10.
"Our first concern is for our clients. We want to
negotiate a fair contract. We believe that a settle-
ment is possible if the agency treated its employees
fairly and with respect," said Dunlop.
Community Living executive director Bruce Shaw
said a final offer has been given to the union and
Community Living was meeting with a conciliator
May 9.
"To the best of my knowledge, both sides have
See STRIKE page 2