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The Times Advocate, 2006-06-14, Page 17Wednesday, June 14, 2006 Exeter Times–Advocate 17 Conference looks at Huron County's vision Paul Born was the guest speaker at the Huron Community Matters convention in Vanastra June 7-8. He encouraged Huron County groups to work together and look for a unique vision to achieve greatness. (photo/Scott Nixon) By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF VANASTRA — A close look at Huron County, its vision, its various businesses, services and its people was undertaken last week at the Huron Community Matters convention in Vanastra. The convention at the Vanastra Christian Reformed Church was part of an effort to examine the county and discuss a vision for the future. The project was made possible through a grant with the Ontario Trillium Foundation and involves the Huron County United Way, Huron County, Human Resources Skills Development Canada, the Bruce -Grey -Huron -Perth -Georgian Triangle Training Board and the Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition. The two-day conference June 7-8 involved workshops, discussions from successful businesses and services in the county, displays, the unveiling of the "Community Matters" report and guest inspirational speaker Paul Born. Community Matters has also involved a survey and town hall meetings in various communities throughout the county to find out what the needs and issues are in Huron. Groups involved with Community Matters hope to take the results from the survey and discussions to make positive changes in the county. Thursday morning's portion of the convention involved `Hidden Gems' or success stories from within the county. Erica Horbanuik, Spark website co-ordinator with the Huron County Health Unit, spoke first, along with health promoter Sherri Bezaire and Jessica McCabe, one of the youths working on the Spark website project. The Youth Spark website was made possible by a $232,809 grant from the federal government. The pro- ject sees six youths hired to help develop an interactive website that will include professional advice on various health issues such as substance abuse. Horbanuik, after showing a video to the audience, said one of the main concerns in the county is the "out migration" of youths who leave the area for jobs. Part of the Youth Spark website will showcase the county, cre- ating a sense of community. Bezaire said the group wants to increase "community connectedness" for youth and offer them a place, through the website, to chat with friends. She said she hopes the site gives the youth of the county a connection and encourages them to become engaged with county activities. RTM North, a fibreglass moulding plant in Vanastra, is one of the county's success stories. CEO Doug Smith spoke of his company and showed a video of its work, which uses more environmentally safe methods. He said RTM North does work in 15 countries beyond North America, including Africa and South America. Admitting Vanastra isn't well known, Smith said peo- ple who come to RTM North for a week-long training stay at the Benmiller Inn outside Goderich and, by the end of the week, don't want to leave the area. Don Brisson of Huron County Housing let people know what kind of subsidized housing is available in Huron. He said affordable housing is needed to integrate the disabled and disadvantaged in society. He said there are 627 subsidized units in the county that offer affordabili- ty, safety, security, companionship and support systems. A housing analysis for the county, looking at future sub- sidized housing, should be completed by October. Tim Martens of the Huron Perth Catholic District School Board and Glenn MacGregor of the Avon Maitland District School Board also spoke about keeping young people in the county and giving them the proper training to find jobs. MacGregor echoed the earlier comments of "out migration" and spoke for the need of technological pro- grams. He said high schools in the Avon Maitland board link up with colleges concerning tech programs. Martens said staffing tech programs is tough and expensive and the boards have to hire the "best, most passionate" people. Both boards offer multi -credit cours- es to give students more time and focus on the tech areas. "We need to ensure our youth stay here," Martens said. Martens and MacGregor also spoke of the annual Grade 7/8 tech camp, which exposes students to the technological courses available to them when they get to high school. "Our hidden gem is working with these students and also with the community," MacGregor said. Second Stage Housing manager Gertie Gerrits detailed the county programs available to women. Second Stage Housing, a non-profit organization funded by the county, started in 1991. Designed for women leaving an abusive relationship, there are 10 Second Stage apartments in Goderich and six each in Exeter and Clinton. Women can stay, with their children, for up to a year. Housing is safe and secure with controlled entrances, Gerrits said. There is also counselling and advocacy available to the women and a support worker for the children. Gerrits described Second Stage as "very successful" and an important step for women leaving an abusive relationship. Last year there were 41 women and 42 From left, South Huron District High School art students Andy Bellaire, Jen Donovan,Todd Grey and Donald MacLeod show off some of the work they will be displaying at this years Grade 9, 10 and 1 1 Art and Design Show which is going on this week at the high school.The show opened last night in the small gym and runs today (Wednesday) and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Some of the pieces are for sale with proceeds going to MS research.Admission is free but donations are welcome. For more information contact the high school at 235-0880. (photo/Pat Bolen) children living in Second Stage Housing in the county. Craig Harrison of Willing Workers spoke of his rebel- lious youth, eventually ending up homeless in Goderich, and his ability to turn his life around and wanting to help youths and provide them with opportunities. Funded by Service Canada, Willing Workers helps young people with employment skills and provides workshops and information on organization skills, parenting and budgeting. Another of the county's success stories is ice sculpting business iceculture of Hensall. Founder Julian Bayley spoke of his company's $1.2 million, 10,000 square foot expansion in Hensall that will see the first permanent ice sculpture exhibit in North America. Bayley is looking at a Nov. 1 grand opening that will start with a Christmas theme and include specialized lighting and a sound sys- tem. He said his company considered putting the exhibit in Niagara Falls, but rents are "tremendous" there. Instead, iceculture is creating "a destination" in Hensall. "People say 'why Hensall?' I say, 'Why not Hensall?"' Bayley said, adding tour and bus companies have already approached iceculture about the new venture and the company will be partnering with hotels and other businesses. Iceculture has business and crews all over the world and hosts two to three tours at its Hensall building every week. The company has a staff of 50 (all local, Bayley said) and makes world class, crystal clear ice sculptures. Rebecca Rathwell of Huron County said RTM North and iceculture are "fantastic examples" of local busi- nesses who have customers all over the world. Paul Born, president of Tamarack, a Waterloo -based company involved in community building, wrapped up the morning's talks by presenting "Collaborating — Creating a Movement for Change " Speaking of Huron County, Born said, "Don't you just feel damn proud to be here?" He said it is "marvelous" how the county, the United Way and local businesses have worked together to present Huron Community Matters. He added collaboration is an important theme for the conference. He said collaboration is an emerging field and encouraged people to work together in "unique ways." Huron County is complex and its communities are places of richness and caring, Born said, adding resi- dents should harness the county's strengths. He said 80-90 per cent of the county's population lives in quality housing and is working and "the fact that we desire an even better community than we already have is an amazing asset." Born said one of the things Huron County has to figure out is how to move its communities from being good to being great. "How do we get better?" he asked. Doing things the same way as we always have will not get the job done, he added. Born said Canada hasn't made significant progress in its "human system" in the last 20 years. "In some ways, we're slipping." He said people need to work together, listen to each other and bring their assets into harmony, creating a compelling vision for the county. "You want to be the best place to live." Born said Huron County is on the right path and its vision should be unique and represent all sectors of the community. cooking with memories BY DEBBY WAGLER THIS IS THE RECIPE YOU REALLY SHOULD CUT OUT IF YOU CUT OUT NO OTHERS. IT IS AN ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS MARINADE FOR BEEF, CHICKEN AND PORK! WE BY FAR USE IT THE MOST AND IT ALWAYS GETS THE "DID YOU USE THE GOOD MARINADE?" QUESTION AS MY KIDS GET READY TO EAT A BBQ MEAT. IT BARES REPEATING THIRD YEAR IN A ROW, IT IS THAT GOOD. SO CUT IT OUT AND ENJOY!! BEST MARINADE EVER 1/2 cup soy sauce 1/2 cup red wine vinegar 3 tbsp white vinegar 2 tbsp. oil 2 tbsp white sugar 1/2 tsp ginger 1-2 garlic cloves minced or 1 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp black pepper Mix all ingredients together and set aside a small bit for your final basting on the BBQ. Put the remaining marinade in a large Ziploc bag with the meat and seal. Let sit for at least 4 hours, overnight is even better. Keep in refrigerator. Remove meat and BBQ. Awesome!! THIS RECIPE WAS PRINTED RECENTLY BUTTHE OIL INGREDIENTWAS MISSED.THIS RECIPE CAN BE USED WITHOUT OIL BUT IT DOES ASSIST CHEAPER TYPES OF MEAT