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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2018-03-01, Page 25THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018. PAGE 25. With bank loss looming, Blyth community meets By Denny Scott The Citizen What started as a discussion about the future of Blyth in light of the village losing its school and possibly its only bank has led to a second meeting for further discussion. Hosted by the Blyth Business Improvement Area (BIA) after its AGM on Feb. 22, the discussion brought together local business owners, stakeholders and residents to discuss the future of the village. While some discussion was geared towards Blyth's current situation with financial institutions, either keeping the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) branch that is slated for closure in September or bringing in a new institution, there The Cream The Cream (which rises to the top) was one of 10 local teams to pull up their sleeves and take part in the Blyth Lions Club's annual snow volleyball tournament, which, on Saturday, was devoid of any snow and was more of a mud volleyball tournament. Losing the 'C' Final didn't dampen their enthusiasm though and stop the team from celebrating their final game of the day. The tournament is held annually by the Lions in the names of John Bokhout and Blake Hesselwood, locals who perished several years ago. From left: Kevin Austin, Jessica Loughlin, Shawn Loughlin, Dana Loughlin, Denny Scott and Brett Walther. 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BIA Past -Chair and commercial property owner Rick Elliott said that, before looking to getting a bank, the group should consider what services they are currently using and what kind of banking services they need. "In the last two years, we've seen people get away from ATMs and start using their phone," he said. "We need to decide whether that migration is something that will continue or whether there are still services that are important to the community." He said the village hosts many events, and, because of that and because of the businesses downtown, a night deposit system is likely very important. Being able to get change is also important. Irene Kellins of Stitches With a Twist said that a byproduct of the petition created to keep CIBC in town was that she now had a better understanding of what people want in their banks. "A large number of people said they like face to face interactions," she said. "They are not ready to trust electronic banking. They want to walk in and talk to people and that's what they are looking for." Chris Lee of Walton, former president of the Walton Raceway who is currently involved with the Goderich-to-Guelph Rail Trail (G2G), said contacting the banks might be a good way to go. He suggested a regional manager with a local credit union to start. Elliott said that, in talking to the banks, the conversation would likely be focused on deposits. "We have to support our banks and drive as many dollars into the local economy as we can," he said, expanding on that idea by saying locals also need to support Blyth's grocery store, post office and other businesses. "We can't push money out of the community anymore. This is the result" Blyth ratepayer Patty Kellins said that, with a proposed development at the north end of the village focused on seniors, a bank would need to know that they are going to have face-to-face customers. She said that CIBC may have made the decision to close long before that development became public and that kind of information may change the situation. "We have to make whatever bank we're looking at aware of that growth," she said. "Things have changed a lot here in the last two years" Blyth Festival Artistic Director Gil Garratt said that the better plan may be to focus on what will bring people to the community which will attract a bank instead of trying to attract a bank. He likened the situation to one in Goderich where a physician recruitment board had attracted 18 doctors to the lakeside community. "They didn't talk about hiring [when asked how they managed the feat]," he said. "The committee talked about what the community has with the library, the pool, the YMCA and other factors that Continued on page 30 Broken Dryer? Blyth Laundromat 191 Westmoreland St., Blyth 519-523-9687 EXTEND YOUR REACH -ADVERTISE PROVINCIALLY OR ACROSS THE COUNTRY! 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