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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-03-19, Page 7Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Times—Advocate 7 Exeter entrepreneur opens Balanced Home Designs By Nina Van Lieshout TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Being a well estab- lished floral designer in Huron County for the past 15 years, Exeter resident and entrepreneur Karie-Sue MacLean has taken her career to another level, launching her new company Balanced Home Designs. MacLean, who has been an entre- preneur in Huron County for some time, owned and operated a flower shop, which she started at only 23 years old. This is when MacLean discovered her true passion for design. After running the business for five years, Balanced Home Designs — Exeter resident and entrepreneur Karie-Sue MacLean has launched her new company Balanced Home Designs, featuring home staging, re-designing/new designing and classical Feng Sui.(photo/submitted) MacLean sold the flower shop to raise her daughter, while pursuing Architectural Technology, Interior decorating and Feng Sui classes. MacLean has also studied under internationally recognized home staging expert Debra Gould, who is the president of Six Elements Inc. and the creator of "The Staging Diva." Now with MacLean's new she, "specializes in Upscale Home Staging for Re -Sale, Interior Designs and Classical Feng Sui," with her company's motto "Designs to sell...live...balance," a motto MacLean says is simple, while saying it all. Designs to Sell, Designs to Live and Designs to Balance are the three key areas of MacLean's business. Designs to Sell features the home staging aspect of her company. "Home Staging is creative- ly and strategically prepar- ing a home for sale within the client's budget and time frame," says MacLean, explaining that she is able to, while using "mostly existing furnishings, improve a home's appearance to attract as many buyers to achieve a quick turn over and a prof- itable sale." Designs to Live highlights the Re-Design/New Design area of MacLean's business. "Whether you are wanting to work with what you have or are starting from the beginning, with an empty room or floor plans, I can help you create your desired look," explains MacLean, adding, "Our homes are our sanctuaries." Finally, Designs to Balance features Classical Feng Sui. MacLean studied in company, Board looks at hiring policy By Stew Slater SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -ADVOCATE DUBLIN — The Huron -Perth Catholic District School Board tightened up the language in its hiring policy, reinforcing its inten- tion to give preference to appli- cants with a Catholic background. "That's what you do with poli- cies. From time to time, you take a look at them and make sure they're clear," explained board chairperson Bernard Murray after accep- tance of the changes by trustees at a regu- lar meeting Feb. 25. Under Ontario's Education Act, Catholic school boards are entitled to — in the words of the Huron -Perth board's updated poli- cy — "give preferential considera- tion to qualified Catholic appli- cants." According to Murray, proof of Catholic background is general- ly provided in the form of a bap- tismal certificate, usually with back-up support in the form of a letter from a Parish Priest. By the time teachers are granted "permanent status," which gener- ally occurs after two years of employment with a board, they're required to have completed a Religious Education course admin- istered by Ontario's Catholic teachers' unions. The Huron -Perth hiring policy covers teachers, subject coordina- tors, department heads, consul- tants and co-ordinators. The Feb. 25 amendments included calling on employees — in the "Expectation Statement" segment of the policy — "to uphold and impart the doctrine and moral teachings of the Roman Catholic Church," and "to encourage stu- dents to be active in church and communi- ty." Murray says these expectations were present in the previ- ous version of the policy, but he described the now - removed language as "vague and unrealis- tic." "All this does is clarify the lan- guage," he said. "(Trustees) thought this spelled it out more clearly." Murray noted the Huron -Perth board employs a number of people who don't have Catholic back- grounds, and he expects that will continue. That's because it's not uncommon for there to be a short- age of qualified, Catholic appli- cants — particularly in fields such as elementary -level French and specialized secondary school sub- jects. The Huron -Perth hiring policy covers teachers, subject coordinators, department heads, consultants and co- ordinators. Brampton under a master with 30 years experience. "Feng Sui is an art of `assessing' the quality of life through observa- tions and analysis of the person's liv- ing environment," says MacLean, adding when she first began studying Feng Sui, MacLean had no idea of its "complexity, nor the life changing effects it has on people." MacLean says she's excited to finally own her own business. "I love a challenge and I love a change," she says, adding, "the most important thing is always to do what you love. It is so important and shows in your work, in your personality and basically everything you do." 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