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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2018-01-04, Page 7THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2018. PAGE 7. Memorial Hall reopens after $4 million in upgrades 1 A historic day Memorial Hall in Blyth reopened to hundreds of visitors on May 19. Over $4 million was poured into the project which saw the hall completely revamped and modernized, while retaining its historic facade and feel. Steven Sparling, left, was on hand for the grand reopening alongside, from left: Deputy -Premier Deb Matthews, Blyth Festival Artistic Director Gil Garratt and Blyth 14/19 Project Manager Peter Smith. (File photo) Continued from page 6 College, Lambton College and the Ontario Fire College, Ladner had worked in Mississauga, Puslinch and Erin and said he had focused his career on the training of others. APRIL The Blyth Brussels PeeWee Local League Crusaders finished their hockey season with a record of 13-2 and capped it off with a win of the Western Ontario Athletics Association Division. The Old Colony Mennonite Church officially purchased the former Brussels Public School building after being its primary tenant for several years. The church had started its own school in the building several years earlier, welcoming over 150 students to the village every day for a number of years. For the third year running, Blyth's Part II Bistro was honoured as the province's top restaurant offering Canadian cuisine and Ontario's top bistro, beating out thousands of competitors. Morris-Turnberry Council decided to look into part -ownership of the Brussels division of the Huron East Fire Department. As one of the few communities in Ontario without any ownership stake in a fire department, Morris-Turnberry had been on the hunt for a fire department for a number of years, including a well- publicized attempt at creating its own. The grand re -opening of Memorial Hall was planned for May 19 in Blyth, while plans for the Grant and Mildred Sparling Centre, at the site of the former Blyth Public School, continued to take shape. MAY The members of the Dutch - Canadians Remember as One committee announced that Princess Margriet of the Netherlands would be coming to Goderich A historic flood In June, much of Huron County saw historic rainfall that caused localized flooding in a number of communities that put emergency watershed planning to the test. Blyth and Wingham were hit hard, resulting in flooding that would take days to dissipate, like the above park in Wingham. (File photo) after years of their efforts. James Speer, a native of the Brussels area, claimed the top spot in the provincial Legion public speaking competition in the Grade 1-3 category. Speer first triumphed locally and then again at the Area competition in Barrie before competing at the provincial level in Stratford. As the topic of his speech, he chose to focus on the odd things parents and grandparents say. A delegation from Blyth made its way to Ottawa to host an event called, "A Taste of Rural" that aimed to introduce the movers and shakers in the nation's capital to all of the exciting initiatives ongoing in Blyth and throughout all of Huron County. As part of a moment that will live on throughout the Brussels community for generations, the first frames of the new Brussels Four Winds Barn were raised in the first steps of the new event centre's creation. Memorial Hall in Blyth re -opened to the community after over $4 million in renovations were completed. The hall opened to much fanfare and an open house that welcomed hundreds through the hall on May 19. tc07 JUNE Due to projected enrolment pressures at Hullett Central and Clinton Public Schools, the Avon Maitland District School Board was investigating the possibility of sending the school's Grade 7-8 students to Central Huron Secondary School. The move would be similar to the shift that occurred in Wingham just a few years earlier, as F.E. Madill Secondary School welcomed Grade 7-8 students from surrounding schools. The Festival of Wizardry, which had created a stir in Goderich and sold nearly 10,000 tickets for its 2017 event, was looking to relocate and Blyth was mentioned as a potential landing spot. Following the resignation of North Huron Chief Administrative Officer Sharon Chambers earlier in the year, Jeff Molenhuis, the shared Public Works Director for both North Huron and Morris-Turnberry, also opted to leave his post. North Huron Reeve Neil Vincent said that Molenhuis had chosen to move on and work for another municipality that was much closer to his Stratford home. Alex Peters of Blyth was honoured with the Ontario Hockey League's Mickey Renaud Captain's Trophy. The award crowned Peters the league's best captain thanks to his work with the Flint Firebirds. A number of familiar faces to the Blyth Festival won Dora Mayor Moore Awards for excellence in Toronto stage productions, including newly -named Associate Artistic Director Severn Thompson for her work directing Peter Pan for the Bad Hats Theatre Company. After the intense rainfall of June 22, a number of flooding safety measures were put to the test throughout the Maitland River watershed. The Blyth Creek was at its highest level in 40 years. JULY East Wawanosh Township and its residents celebrated the 150th Continued on page 8 REPRINTS*7' OF PHOTOS taken by Citizen photographers are available to purchase. ALL ARE IN COLOUR 4x6 - $4.00 5x7 - $5.00 8x10 - $8.00 Phone to order — 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 J DOORS C9ljei•1 lY[SDILL Jan 16th 2018 7:00-9:00 pm Snow Date Jan 18th Welcoming all Grade 6 6. 8 40 Liff!IW students, families & friends Come see what Madill has to offer *tours *Q&A *demonstrations *prizes SH