The Citizen, 2016-03-24, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2016.
Matthews hopes locals can leveragefunding
A big day
With the announcement that the provincial government has committed $3.3 million in its 2016
budget to Blyth's 14/19 initiative, both 14/19 Chair Elli Cohen, left, and Blyth Festival Artistic
Director Gil Garratt, centre, were all smiles in the presence of Deputy -Premier Deb Matthews,
right, who delivered the good news. (Denny Scott photo)
Huron East releases expenses
Huron East Council cost
ratepayers just over $155,000 in
2015 according to council's annual
statement of remuneration and
expenses. The annual report was
presented to councillors for
information at the March 15 meeting
of council.
As for honourariums, Mayor
Bernie MacLellan was paid $8,053
in 2015, while Deputy -Mayor Joe
Steffler was paid $5,905. All 10
Huron East councillors were paid an
honourarium of $4,295 each.
MacLellan was paid for the most
meetings, $6,844.40, followed by
Councillor David Blaney with
$6,746.43 and Steffler at $6,161.95.
The rest of council ranged between
Councillors John Lowe at $5,805.56
and Bob Fisher at $4,287.10.
Each member of council spent at
least $1,300 on conventions with the
exception of Councillor Dianne
Diehl who spent just $30 and
Councillor Larry McGrath who
attended no conventions.
Total costs, including honou-
rarium, meetings, conventions,
mileage and miscellaneous expe-
nses, are: Mayor Bernie MacLellan,
$18,805.85; David Blaney,
$14,591.52; John Lowe, $14,344.05;
Kevin Wilbee, $14,267.95; Deputy -
Mayor Joe Steffler, $13,751.47;
Brenda Dalton, $13,042.08; Ray
Chartrand, $12,458.04; Alvin
McLellan, $12,504.92; Nathan
Marshall, $11,619.93; Bob Fisher,
$10,693.54; Dianne Diehl,
$10,490.43 and Larry McGrath,
$9,743.89 for a total of $156,313.67.
Leos helping Lions help the Legion
It was a case of all hands being on deck on Sunday as members of both the Brussels Lions
and Leo Clubs were at the Brussels Legion to help members "boost the build" at the local
Branch, which is currently undergoing extensive renovations and improvements. Sean Mitchell
of the Leos, left, was on his feet all morning serving food to hungry diners like six-year-old
Brooklyn Bromley. (Vicky Bremner photo)
Continued from page 9
got miles to go before we rest."
Another man with a big smile on
his face March 15 was Blyth Festival
Artistic Director Gil Garratt, who
saw the day's announcement as
validation of what the Festival has
been doing for over 40 years.
When Garratt first received word
that 14/19, a project which includes
a phase that will revitalize Memorial
Hall, home of the Festival, had
received funding, he just began
thinking of all the opportunities that
would be available as a result.
He was also encouraged by seeing
that 14/19 was one of few arts
projects to receive funding. To see
that the provincial government saw
fit to award funding to this project
over so many others was pretty
amazing, he said.
He also said that what 14/19 is
attempting to do, engaging the entire
Blyth community and beyond, is in
line with the Festival's mandate.
Garratt said that no art can thrive
without an engaged support base and
community and Blyth is a true
example of that, in that the
community has supported the
Festival and the Hall for decades.
He also said that working with
14/19 or any other community group
in Blyth is crucial going forward. To
suggest otherwise, he said, would be
missing a unique opportunity.
"We have more power if we stand
shoulder to shoulder. We've already
proven that on multiple occasions,"
Garratt said.
Going forward, Smith said, it's
now up to those at the head of 14/19
to decide how the province's money
will be spent. Smith said that
because it's taxpayers' dollars, there
is an intensive documentation
process and the provincial
government wants to know exactly
where its money is going.
Last Friday, Smith and 14/19
Administrator Karen Stewart had a
meeting with provincial government
officials on that very topic and the
process is now already underway.
In terms of physical next steps,
Smith said, of course renovations to
Memorial Hall are the first phase of
the project and will be further
investigated very soon, but those
involved with the project are also
looking ahead to the second phase of
the project: the creation of the
Canadian Centre for Rural
Creativity.
Some questions remain regarding
the creation of the centre, but Smith
insists that nothing has been
finalized regarding the former home
of Blyth Public School.
Smith said that the Canadian
Centre for Rural Creativity, and by
extension the Grant and Mildred
Sparling Centre, will exist on the
grounds of the former school. Its
exact form, however, has yet to be
determined.
On the day of the funding
announcement, Smith said, he had
reported to another local media
outlet that the school would be
demolished in favour of a new
building. While that remains an
option — he says that both
repurposing the current building and
demolishing it in favour of a new,
purpose -designed, energy-efficient
building have been discussed — no
final decisions have been made.
If and when a decision is made, he
said, it would then have to be
ratified by the 14/19 Board of
Directors.
For more information on 14/19,
visit its website at blyth 1419.ca.
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