The Citizen, 2015-04-30, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015.
Huron East is in the midst of
preparing to the take the next steps
in making the municipality an age-
friendly community with the help of
the University of Guelph.
After extensive research, Dr. John
Lewis, along with several of his
students from the university,
presented his findings to council at
its April 21 meeting, beginning by
saying that Huron East is an
amazing place.
The process began, Lewis told
councillors, when he was first
approached about the concept in
2013. Lewis was then invited to
speak to council in 2014 and
research within the community
began shortly thereafter.
In August, 2014, a number of
focus groups were consulted, which
then led to interviews in February
and an age-friendly needs
assessment in March.
The model, Lewis said, was
established by the World Health
Organization (WHO) and it takes
into consideration a number of
factors not just for senior residents,
but for residents of all ages, to
ensure that a community is
accessible and accommodating for
children, teens, adults and seniors
and everybody in between.
Lewis told council that the model
focuses on eight different aspects of
life in a community such as housing,
transportation and communication,
among others.
Huron East has a strong,
distinctive identity, heritage
architecture and a safe atmosphere,
but faces challenges because of a
declining economy and limited
communication between
communities.
The opportunities he saw in Huron
East, Lewis said, were that there are
a number of active community
champions, as well as a strong social
support network.
He indicated that the communities
are forecasted to grow, but at a
modest rate. The most growth,
Lewis said, would be in the
communities of Seaforth, Brussels
and Vanastra.
In the area of outdoor spaces, for
example, Lewis said that Huron East
has good visibility and lighting,
well-maintained, pleasant Victorian
architecture and good signage, while
there is a lack of appropriate public
seating, sub-par snow clearing on
sidewalks and public walkways,
very few sidewalk curbs and while
local residents desire cycle paths,
there is no plan to implement them.
In terms of transportation, Huron
East has a well-maintained road
infrastructure with adequate snow
removal and a strong network of
volunteers and family for
transportation. However,
affordability and reliability are
concerns, Lewis said, as well as a
lack of traffic calming measures.
Lewis found that Huron East has a
number of existing affordable
housing units and seniors
apartments, but that affordability
continues to be a problem with a
lack of seniors and low-income
options, as well as a lack of rental
units, despite high demand.
Huron East’s community support
and health services network is also
strong, Lewis said, with an array of
local health services, accessible
doctors and a high level of self-
reported health issues.
Weaknesses, however, include
staying physically fit, depression,
healthy eating and a lack of service
promotion.
The next step, Lewis said, would
be for Huron East to prepare an
application for age-friendly
community funding for the WHO.
He said he would prepare the
application on behalf of the
municipality.
He also suggested the creation of a
seniors’ advisory committee to help
implement some of the research’s
findings. The committee, he
suggested, should be formed by
fall.
The Student Show 2015 will be
part of the Blyth Festival Art
Gallery’s 40th Anniversary
celebrations as it opens the new
season of exhibitions at the Gallery.
Dozens of works by Huron and
Perth County high school art
students will fill the Bainton Gallery
for this show, which begins with the
opening reception at 6 p.m.,
Thursday, April 30 and runs until
May 21.
This annual show is an exciting
venue for celebrating student
creativity and features the best
works of art students in Grades 9-12.
The Avon Maitland District School
Board includes schools from
Wingham, Clinton, Goderich,
Exeter, Mitchell, St. Mary's,
Stratford and Listowel. The Huron
Perth Catholic School Board is
represented by students from
Clinton and Stratford. Many
different artistic techniques will be
featured including mixed media,
sculpture, photography, drawing,
painting, printmaking and digital
illustration.
This year, the Student Show has
been recognized and nominated for
Huron County’s Arts and Heritage
Network’s Cultural Event of
2014.
The public can expect to see
exciting art, full of youthful energy
and off-the-wall ideas. The Student
Show 2015 is presented by the Blyth
Festival Art Gallery and sponsored
by Goderich Print Shop. It is curated
by Lauren Marshall and officially
opens with a celebratory reception in
the Bainton Gallery (next to the
Blyth Festival box office) on
Thursday, April 30 at 6 p.m. Five
awards of excellence will be
presented to outstanding students.
All teachers, students, parents and
members of the public are invited to
the reception to join in the festivities
and help us open this exhibition.
Refreshments will be served.
The show will be available for
viewing during the Blyth Festival
box office hours and continues on
display until May 21.
Student Show opens Thursday
Huron East to submit application to WHO
It begins again
After winter weather brought an abrupt halt to road work in Brussels last year, warmer weather
had to be waited on to finish the massive reconstruction of Brussels main street. That work
began last week with sidewalks in the community, which should only take a few weeks, and
extensive work in the north end of the village, which will take a bit longer, set to conclude in
July. (Denny Scott photo)
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