Huron Expositor, 2013-12-18, Page 44 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, December 18, 2013
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Canacri
editorial
Fighting to
stay afloat
Following in the footsteps of another
large company, Heinz, cereal giant
Kellogg's is preparing to take another
chunk out of the national job market as the
company announced on Dec. 10, their inten-
sion to close their London plant by the end of
2014.
With this newest closure, 500 more workers
will lose their full-time jobs; meaning the
province's food processing industry will have
lost close to 3,200 jobs in the past six years
alone.
Unfortunately, the loss of local plants is
nothing new for the industry, and has even
been felt in Seaforth with E.D. Smith's shut
down cutting 180 jobs in 2012. Just one more
name in what has become a growing trend
across Ontario
As companies continue to downsize or
relocate, some are making the decision to
move to either the United States or Mexico.
With some citing reasons such as cutting
labour costs and an overly strong Canadian
dollar, how can anyone feel safe in today's
workforce?
The answer is in small business and
innovation.
When Huron -Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson
visited Seaforth for the Huron Manufacturing
Awards this past November, she expressed
how poignant the evening's festivities had
become due to Heinz's announcement
regarding the Leamington closure that same
afternoon.
"That's 800 jobs and so many negative rip-
ple effects, we can't even begin to think of
them all," she said, going on to explain how
special Huron County is, due to its founda-
tion of small business which brings jobs to
the local communities.
Huron East went on to win the majority of
awards that night, showing the area indeed
has the ability to create jobs and find sturdy
ground, even when times around it are tough.
The people of Ontario need to stop relying
on big companies and begin to grow their
own local economy. By supporting small - as
well as independently owned - businesses,
everyone can help their communities thrive
and help keep their jobs local.
Little kid with big heart reminds
us what Christmas is all about
AAwdvertising has come a long
way from the days of catchy
igarette print ads fueled by
Don Draper's three -Martini -lunches.
Nowadays, two
grown men sing
about 'perfect days'
and how 'you just
keep me hanging on'
while behind the
wheel of a muscle car
or a futuristic weapon
used to kill the enemy
on distant, imaginary
planets.
Carefully orchestrated car wrecks
and shootout scenes - one featuring
a cameo from actor Megan Fox - are
revving up the desire this holiday
season for the fourth installments of
Assassins Creed and Battlefield.
The holidays are long past the sat-
uration point of over indulgence and
gluttony. What is for many a reli-
gious time of year has been tran-
scended by a need for the newest,
coolest, shiniest, hottest items, even
if it boils over into a fight at a big box
store and someone, heaven forbid,
yanks out a Taser.
It's all a little overwhelming.
Then along comes a kid like Alex-
ander Ryan to remind us what the
holiday season is all about.
Xander, as he likes to be called,
decided this year to forego the right
of every five-year-old by asking his
friends not to buy him presents on
his birthday, but to instead bring
something to his party that could be
donated to the Huron Christmas
Bureau or St. Vincent de Paul.
"He is a kid with a huge, huge
heart," says mom Katrina Brindley.
Indeed, Xander was happy to
accept garbage bags full of clothes:
coats, mitts, hats, as well as food
donations and some gifts that will go
directly towards helping the less for-
tunate in our community.
The tight -knit clan has struggled at
times themselves, Brindley said,
although her husband, Patrick Ryan,
recently earned a promotion and
that has brightened things up.
Brindley believes her son may be
high -functioning Autistic but there
has been no formal diagnosis. What
she does know is that her little St.
Marys student is wise beyond his
years. "People always
think they need to give
something. Most of the
time it sits in a box."
"We talked about it as
a family (Grandma and
an uncle also live in the
home). He is learning
Colu
mn
Paul
Cluff
at school; what would
Jesus do? He takes this
very seriously. He doesn't need any-
thing, he doesn't want anything."
Brindley hopes Xander motivates
others to forgo the annual parade of
gifts and help out those who need it
most.
His kindness has inspired others.
"One of the little girls (at the
party), it was her first birthday. And
her mom said they might do some-
thing similar."
Adds Brindley: "If a five-year-old
can do it, anyone can do it."
GOOD NEWS FOR FOOD BANKS,
DASH FOR DIABETES
Signal Star fitness columnist and
Goderich Fit Body Boot camp owner
Nadine Vandenheuval challenged
Menesetung CrossFit boss Chris
Watson to a friendly competition.
Until Friday, both businesses are
accepting non-perishable food
items. There is no biggest loser here,
but the owner who collects the least
will participate in a workout session
led by their colleague.
I imagine it would be a tough one
at that. Nadine (955-2464) and Chris
(524-5099) will pick up food items,
as well.
HENDERSON HELPING OUT
DASH FOR DIABETES
Port Albert/Toronto resident Frank
Gardiner informs us that hockey leg-
end Paul Henderson has agreed to
help out the Goderich Dash for Dia-
betes team. Henderson will serve as
honourary chairman. Held on the
Canada Day long weekend, the
event is entering its 12th year.
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