HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-04-05, Page 17Wednesday, April 5, 2006
Exeter Times–Advocate 17
IdentityTheftWorkshop statistics shock residents
The South Huron Chamber of Commerce held an
IdentityTheftWorkshop March 29 at Exeter's Ranch
House Inn. From left are guest speakers Carey Brooks
and Andrew Plum of PPL Legal Care of Canada
Corporation. (photo/Nina Van Lieshout)
By Nina Van Lieshout
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — Residents from Exeter and area were
shocked to hear of statistics presented at an Identity
Theft Workshop March 29 at Exeter's Ranch House
Inn' "Theroblem is
The South Huron Chamber of Commerce p
hosted the workshop in commemoration of here to stay.There
March being "Fraud Prevention Month" in are no laws in
Canada and around the world. Canada dealing
Guest speakers Carey Brooks and Andrew
Plum of PPL Legal Care of Canada with identity theft
Corporation presented several articles from yet. It's a slap on
newspapers on fraud, saying it is a huge the hand basically."
problem everywhere.
RCA EY BROOKS
They explained to the full room just how ppL LEGAL CARE OF
easy it is to commit identity theft by taking a
walk to a stationary store and finding all of CANADA CORPORATION
credit theft.
They also detailed each one, explaining how danger-
ous they can be for the victim.
For instance, with the character theft it was explained,
someone could commit a crime in the victim's name,
which could cause serious trouble for the victim.
"It's scary stuff where it can lead to," says
Brooks.
Two myths surrounding identity theft
were also acknowledged, including that it is
only about money, which according to
Brooks is untrue.
"Only 26 per cent is financial," he says.
The second is that the victim of identity
theft can't actually lose any money.
Plum says the key to identity theft is edu-
cation.
He also says people need to be prepared
for what to look for before, during and
after.
Plum says one out of four people in
Canada this year will be a victim of identity theft or
know someone who has been a victim.
Another scary statistic given by Plum was that only
one in 700 criminals actually gets caught.
"The biggest problem is proving things," says Plum.
Some tips given for safeguarding your identity includ-
ed watching what you throw away, not carrying your
social insurance number in your wallet or purse and
frequently changing your passwords or personal identi-
fication numbers.
Brooks and Plum are encouraging members of the
area to get involved in helping to prevent identity theft.
the items needed to perform this crime.
"It's happening everywhere," says Brooks.
He mentioned E -bay scams are popular and says 70
per cent of identity scams come from companies.
"The problem is here to stay," says Brooks, adding
that,"There are no laws in Canada dealing with identity
theft yet. It's a slap on the hand basically."
He also told a story of a man living in Toronto.
"His house was sold while the gentleman was still liv-
ing in it," says Brooks.
There are several areas of identity theft but five main
ones.
These include the theft of the driver's license, social
insurance number, medical theft, character theft and
South Huron updates "Romeo and Juliet" for spring production
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — South Huron District High School stu-
dents and staff are busy getting ready for their annual
production, which this year will feature one of William
Shakespeare's most popular plays.
The school will present "Romeo and Juliet" May 9-12
at 7:30 p.m. in the small gym.
Director Beth Jantzi said rehearsals have been held
since the end of October. The cast is now getting ready
for complete run-throughs in rehearsal and is working
on polishing their performances.
Jantzi said she's pleased with the progress the pro-
duction is making.
"We have a really good cast and crew," she said.
"They're fun kids to work with."
Jantzi said the students wanted to work on a
Shakespeare play this year and "Romeo and Juliet"
was chosen in part because it's well known and the
audience is familiar with the story.
But South Huron's production of "Romeo and Juliet"
will have a twist — the play has been updated to take
place in 1967 Italy.
Jantzi said she wanted the play to have a contempo-
rary hook, but also be set in a time of conflict between
teens and their parents.
"Romeo is a hippie who wants to make love, not
war," she says.
To keep the text up to date, some jokes from the orig-
inal play, which are now outdated, have been pulled,
and some elements have been added to help tell the
story.
A live rock band will also play during the production,
in some cases being part of the action and in others
helping the transition from one scene to the next.
Songs played by the band will include "Twist and
Shout," "Paint it Black" and "Unchained Melody."
Sword fights have been replaced by knife fights and
flashlights will be used instead of torches.
Students involved represent all grades this year and
while most of them have previous acting experience,
they're not all necessarily Drama students. This year's
performance has a double cast, with some actors per-
forming one night, with others performing on the other
nights.
Technical director Jan Beitans, also a math and sci-
ence teacher at the school, will come up with the
design and oversee the set building. He said the props
crew have been busy getting ready for the play. The
woodworking, shop departments and visual arts class-
es will also be involved.
Volunteer Shelley Gardiner is also doing a lot of work
on the play, helping with set design. All told, Jantzi
says there are about 100 people working on the play
and she says the school's annual productions receive
"tremendous support" from school staff.
The community also donates a large number of props
and the fact that the play represents a lot of hard work
from a large number of people makes it "fun and
rewarding," Jantzi said.
"People are putting their heart and soul into this,"
she added.
The school's annual production is a major time com-
mitment for students and staff, with rehearsals held
Tuesdays and Thursdays after school and on occasion-
al Sundays.
New this year is the fact the production will take
place on a stage in the small gym instead of on the
floor. Beitans said this will give the performance more
of a theatre -like feel.
Tickets are $7 and will go on sale during the week of
April 17-21 and will be available at Village Vines
Florists (235-0009) or through Jean Mason at the high
school.
Curves for Women in Exeter has donated 3,634 lbs of food to the Exeter Food Bank.Their
campaign goal for the March fundraiser was originally 2,000 lbs but that was raised in the
first week.Above, from left are Curves manager Sid Reaburn and employees Jaime
Drouillard, Spring Robinson, Joyce McDonald, South Huron District High School co-opera-
tive education student Amy Parsons and Joan McCullough. Behind, exercising from left are
Susan Leishman, Doreen Regier and Audrey McGregor. Missing are Curves owners Matt
and Yvonne Gamble and employee Jamie Reaburn.Yvonne and Sid are pleased with support
from the members of Curves and the Exeter community. Last year the average Curves in
Canada raised 1,644 lbs. (photo/Nina Van Lieshout)
Busy month of April planned
HENSALL - Ladies of the Hensall
Legion provided assistance and
prizes for the bingo players
Monday afternoon. They have
sponsored the bingo games each
Monday throughout the month of
March. Lori Burt, Registered
Massage Therapist brought her
soothing touch to several Residents
during her regularly scheduled
Monday at Queensway.
Breakfast group met Tuesday
morning over ham and eggs, toast,
fruit, coffee and tea. Volunteer
Lillian Beer assisted at the pro-
gram which several Residents, new
to Queensway attended. It was an
excellent way for them to get
acquainted in a smaller group set-
ting. In the afternoon Shirley
Luther of the Salvation Army led
worship with her husband Eric as
volunteer pianist.
Julie Grimminck, Director of the
retirement residence took a few
guests along to the Zurich Dining
for Seniors to enjoy lunch and a
visit with some old friends. Those
attending were pleased that there
happened to be a Penny Sale going
on during their visit. Euchre was
the focus for some gentlemen
Wednesday afternoon when a few
games were played.
Thursday, Lisa Stewart, Music
Therapist presided over her group
of music lovers in the lounge and
then worked with several
Residents individually throughout
the morning gearing her visit to
each one's specific musical prefer-
ences.
Nursing Home Resident Council
met Friday morning to discuss
upcoming events and give input
into the program planning. In the
afternoon Retirement Residence
Operations group held their
monthly meeting. They are looking
forward to rebooking the Red Hat
Lunch that had been cancelled in
November due to poor weather.
Coming events
Tues., April 4 at 9 a.m. Volunteer
Auxiliary meeting
Fri., April 7 at 7 p.m. Friendship
Friday with Andy Rau and Friends
Sun., April 9 at 2 p.m. Gospel
Music with The Fellowship Singers
Mon., April 10 - Retirement
Residence "Men's Breakfast and
Tour of Antique and Oak Furniture
Factory" St. Joseph's
Tues., April 11 at 7 p.m.
Christian Reform Singers