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TIMES -ADVOCATE
Exeter, Ontario, Canada
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
1.25 (includes GST)
Artist Blacksmith Janis Book stokes her flame Oct. 15 at the Lambton Heritage Museum during the Lambton
Fall Colour and Craft Festival which was held over the weekend. Book was one of over 75 vendors and
artists displaying their talents at the show. (photo/Pat Bolen)
Hensall plan
won't be
presented
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
VARNA — The Hensall Deamalgamation committee
won't be presenting its business plan to Bluewater
council.
In a recorded vote Monday night, council voted not to
allow the committee to present its plan at the Nov. 21
council meeting.
But the council said it is willing to listen to any con-
cerns the committee has regarding services in Hensall.
The business plan, which was worked on for a year,
was accepted at a public meeting in Hensall Sept. 19 by
a margin a 148 to three.
But Monday night, Coun Jim Fergusson said it would
be fine if the committee wishes to discuss service prob-
lems, but otherwise it would be better served talking to
the province.
Bluewater Mayor Bill Dowson agreed saying to look at
the business plan would be "giving false hope."
Deputy Mayor Paul Klopp added the responsibility
shouldn't be put on the municipality but instead the
province should set the direction.
Clerk administrator Janisse Zimmerman said there is
no legislation to permit deamalgamation but she has
been told the minister will back any plan supported by
the council.
Dowson added the council would meet with the com-
mittee but only on issues they have on service and the
council "is not prepared for anything further."
The motion was passed saying the council wouldn't
listen to business plans on deamalgamation until such
legislation is passed by the province but will listen to
concerns on services.
The motion was passed unanimously with Hensall
Ward Councillor Rod Parker absent.
Pineridge Zoo given an automatic fail
By Nina Van Lieshout
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
GRAND BEND — The Pineridge Zoo in
Grand Bend was given an automatic fail
in a report released recently from the
World Society of the Protection of
Animals (WSPA).
According to the report done at the
end of May, the Pineridge Zoo received
15 points on average for the five
exhibits evaluated out of a possible 50
points.
WSPA Spokesperson Pat Tohill says,
"A pass is a 40 out of 50 but even then
there is still room for improvement, an
ideal mark would be a perfect score."
An employee from the Pineridge Zoo
who declined to give her name had little
to say. "I have no comment other then it
is not true and that these animal rights
people do this every so many years."
In response Tohill says, "This defen-
sive behaviour is expected and unfortu-
nate because there will likely be no
improvements made. Also, we are not
an animal rights group we are an ani-
mal wealth organization looking out for
not only animal welfare but the safety of
the public that visits the zoo."
The Pineridge Zoo failed a report in
2002 and 1998 as well.
This year an automatic fail was given
due to critical conditions not met in the
Siberian Tiger exhibit. Some of the rea-
sons included the exhibit being so small
it restricts normal behavior, there were
very hard substrates, no features for
enrichment and no educational signs for
the public.
In fact, shown on the Pineridge Zoo
report are 22 zeros in total.
"One third to two thirds of these zoos
should not be operating, including this
one," says Tohill.
Out of the 16 zoos in Ontario randomly
chosen to be graded only four passed. Of
the 80 exhibits audited within the zoos,
83 per cent failed.
All three London area zoos failed,
including Likety Split Ranch and Zoo in
London and Greenview Aviaries Park
and Zoo in Ridgetown.
"Unfortunately we do not have the
power to go in and shut down the failing
zoos, some laws need to be changed in
order for us to do that, revisions need to
be made because nothings been looked
A Siberian Tiger from the Pineridge Zoo lays down this summer.The Pineridge
Zoo Siberian Tiger exhibit failed automatically in a report released by the World
Society of the Protection of Animals (WSPA) recently. It stated critical conditions
were not met, including the cage being so small that it restricts normal behaviour.
(file photo)
at in 120 to 130 years and that's too improve, dispense of some of the ani -
long," says Tohill. mals or simply close.
In the meantime Tohill would like to
see either the facilities for the animals