HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-12-03, Page 2020
Times -Advocate
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Football skills led to future success for South Huron grad
By Ben Forrest
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
WATERLOO There are those
who remember when South
Huron District High School
(SHDHS) had a football team.
Bill Fisher, a South Huron
grad and detective sergeant
with the Waterloo Regional
Police, is one of them.
Fisher was a Panther
running back during the
1980s, winning a Huron -
Perth title as a senior before
moving to Wilfrid Laurier Uni-
versity, where he played tailback
and won Ontario s university
championship, the Yates Cup.
From there, Fisher went to po-
lice college in Aylmer, then com-
pleted five years of patrol work
with the Waterloo Regional Police.
From the time he was hired,
however, Fisher hoped to join
the squad s elite Emergency
Response Unit, which is simi-
lar to American SWAT teams.
During Fisher s tenure, they
dealt with hostage situations,
high-risk vehicle takedowns
and high-risk warrants, he said.
I think I excelled in that area
of policing because of all the
past team sports and things
like that just the cohesive
team environment, he added.
It was exciting work,
but also physically de-
manding. After a while,
) it began to wear on him.
There were long
hours, he noted, and the
physical requirements of
the job were considerable.
So he moved from the physi-
cal grind of emergency re-
sponse to detective work, which
posed its own challenges.
The job required work-
ing in a team environment,
which appealed to Fisher.
It also presented a considerable
mental workout: when called out
to an investigation, you basi-
cally start with nothing and you
gather all the missing pieces of
what actually happened, he said.
To be able to piece it all together,
and to be able to see suspects suc-
cessfully prosecuted provided a
sense of satisfaction, Fisher said.
His investigative work has in-
cluded four homicides, three
attempted homicides and a
number of major robberies.
The mental workout of de-
tective work is comparable to
the physical workout of emer-
gency response work, Fisher
says, though detective work
has physical challenges as well.
You might have to work
35 hours straight before
you get a break, he said.
Fisher is the son of Mary and
the late Glenn Fisher, and is
now married with two daugh-
ters Kirsten and Abbey.
Bill s wife Amy is also a po-
lice officer, something he said
has helped the relationship:
at the end of a stressful day,
both have a sense of what the
other might be going through.
Aside from the skills he gathered
while playing sports in Exeter,
Fisher believes the values, mor-
als and sense of community he
learned here have served him well.
I can look back at [teach-
ers] Ron Bogart and Dave Cox,
who coached me at South Hu-
ron, and numerous other teach-
ers that assisted me, he added.
They are definitely a big reason
Family picture Former South Huron District High School
running back Bill Fisher is seen here with his daughters Kirsten,
Abbey and wife Amy (left to right). Fisher is now a detective ser-
geant with the Waterloo Regional Police. (photo/submitted)
why I am where I am today.
Fisher also noted his fam-
ily s influence, and its con-
tribution to his success.
Throughout his high school
years, and when growing up,
he had a strong sense of fam-
ily and support, he said.
Fisher knows he was lucky in
this regard, and he knows it has
helped place him wherehe is today.
Give the gift of your time and presence
HENSALL A big thank you
to everyone who supported our
Craft and Bake Sale Sat., Nov. 29.
Volunteers Lillian Beer and Millie
Hoggarth presided over the tea
room serving numerous visitors
and residents tea and coffee from
our best china tea cups along
with delicious Christmas good-
ies, including shortbreads that
retirement residents had baked.
Vendors did a brisk business
selling everything from beautiful
handknit dresses for your favou-
rite toddler and crocheted dish-
cloths to teddybears, handmade
jewelry and woodcrafted Christ-
mas and garden decorations.
Volunteers, Edna Deitz and Fran-
cis Kinsman saw their table full of
baking and Christmas goodies dis-
appear quickly as people scooped
up the tasty fudge, peanut brittle,
cookies, tarts, lemon pies and
more that had been so graciously
donated by baking group, family
members, volunteers and staff.
Volunteer Kay Mock covered the
door prize table ensuring that
all attendees had their names in
for the draws and sold Christ-
mas ornaments for the Retire-
ment Operations group. Thanks
go to volunteer, Merle McLellan
who pinch hit for our jewelry
vendor who sent her handmade
stock but was unable to attend.
Winners of the door prizes
were as follows. Christmas ar-
rangement won by Julia Dickens,
wooden Christmas angel won by
Mildred Gingerich and bracelet
won by Kristy Bray. If you were
unable to attend the sale, volun-
teer Rita Van Wieren and resident
Beth Knox still have some beauti-
ful items remaining, just call Carol
at 262-2830 at ext. 225 for details.
Regularly scheduled programs
completed the very busy week
for residents as we gear up for the
many special Christmas events.
Remember, we welcome fam-
ily and friends to join us for any
of our special programs as the
presence of loved ones always
enhances residents enjoyment.
Coming events
Dec. 3 and 10 at 6:30 p.m.
Christmas Light Tours
Thurs., Dec. 4 - 2 p.m.
Wilbert Schwindt plays
"The Whiskey Bottles"
Fri., Dec. 5 - 7 p.m. Friend-
ship Friday with Andy's Friends
Sun., Dec. 14 - 2 p.m. Christmas
Gospel Music with The Goldies
Fri., Dec. 19 - 7 p.m. Friend-
ship Friday with Martin Gelinas
Sat., Dec. 20 - 2 p.m.
Resident Christmas Par-
ty with "Homemade Jam"
Wed., Dec. 31 - 2 p.m. New
Years Party with Larry McQuarrie
Vested interest Exeter
Public School student Kayla Hansen
runs to deposit a dodge ball in a
bin while wearing a weighted vest.
Hansen was one of a number of
students who took part in an exer-
cise organized by the anti-smoking
group Rebels With a Cause
(RWAC). RWAC claims studies
show smoking is just as hard on
the heart and lungs as carrying
around 100 lbs of extra weight.To
get a sense of this, participants in
the RWAC exercise completed an
obstacle course, then completed
a similar course while wearing
the vest, which had about 20 lbs.
of weight on it.The intent was to
show students the effect smoking
can have on their athletic perfor-
mance. (photo/Ben Forrest)
Solo scores
For the week of Nov. 26
High score: Millie Webber;
Second high score: Bill Coleman;
High solo: Edythe Brintnell; 2nd
high solo: Rosaleen Berends;
Mystery score: Sandy Maxwell
Exeter Bridge
Above average scores from Nov
26: Heather and Al Beattie .562, Iris
and Don Curren .562, Ann Diloreto
and Linda Mclean .541, Liz Bell and
Rosaleen Berends .500 Iris and Don
Curren .562, Ann Diloreto and Linda
Mclean .541, Liz Bell and Rosaleen
Berends .500
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