The Citizen, 2015-09-24, Page 32THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2015. PAGE 33.
Continued from page 29
agricultural land, ensure rural
Ontario businesses and farms have
access to comparable services and
infrastructure as their urban
counterparts, use the proceeds from
the sale of Hydro One to fund
infrastructure in rural communities
and consider the needs of modern
agricultural equipment with
transportation infrastructure. We
believe these important principles
should be addressed with any new
infrastructure funding program,
ensuring agriculture does not pay
the cost for community
improvements.
Infrastructure decisions and
funding are critical to rural Ontario
and our communities. The OFA’s
recommendations for where funding
gets allocated outside the GTHA
includes the need for natural gas,
expanded broadband service, and
support for northern expansion
projects. It should include resiliency
to climate change in project funding,
and it should increase the overall
level of the $15 billion infrastructure
funding to specifically support rural
projects.
No community or city can
function without an effective
infrastructure plan. Rural Ontario
has specific requests as the
government evaluates how to allot
$15 billion in new “bricks and
mortar” money. Agriculture is a big
driver in the provincial economy,
and we need appropriate, planned
infrastructure support from
government to keep our
communities and our industry
thriving. Continued from page 1
student events, other parts of the fair
seemed to thrive, according to
Noble.
“Our dog show numbers were up
from last year, which was good,” she
said. “The parade was also excellent.
It had the biggest decorated bike
section I have seen in years. I am
very pleased about that.”
The euchre tournament, which
was new to the fair this year, wasn’t
as well attended as Noble said the
board had hoped it would be, but, as
a new event, they expected it would
need to grow.
She said that entries were also
down across the board for exhibits,
some of which might have been due
to the students not being on site and
some just because entries were
down.
The R&R Pet Paradise Power
Paws Dog Show on Wednesday also
brought out good crowds according
to Noble.
As is to be expected the clowns,
who paint faces and make balloon
animals, had long lineups.
The midway, which was brought
back after a hiatus of several years,
also did well according to Noble.
“I think it was great,” she said.
“The attendance on Wednesday was
down a bit due to the lack of
students, but I think the midway
company was happy and we were
happy with them.”
Lora Kapustinsky, one of the
operators for the midway, said that it
was a nice turnout on Tuesday and
that, if the company is brought back,
there will hopefully be more
children on site for the second day of
the fair.
Reeve Neil Vincent was confused
and saddened by the announcement
that the recently minted Huron
County Economic Development
Board had recommended denial of a
funding request for the Emergency
Services Training Centre.
“It’s with sadness that I report that
there was, in the Huron County
Council communications [for the
Sept. 9 Committee of the Whole
meeting] a letter recommending
denial of our economic development
[funding request for the ESTC],” he
said. “Until we figure exactly what
was meant in the letter, we aren’t
going to go forward.”
Vincent said that it would take
time for staff to review the letter and
see what the next steps are.
“The information they said they
asked for was never requested from
North Huron,” he said, adding that
the application for funding was
made prior to the striking of the
committee. “I felt there was a
breakdown in communications.”
The application had been for
funding for the centre which
operates specialized training courses
predominantly for firefighting
situations.
Specifically, the funding request,
which was presented in January,
asked for $284,600 over the next
three years, $175,000 of which
would come in the first year,
$63,800 for the second year and
$45,800 in the third.
The funding would not go towards
wages or remuneration, but help
with expenses including online
registration and payment, a business
consultant to prepare a business plan
for the centre and equipment to help
expand the courses that the centre
can offer.
During the announcement Fire
Department of North Huron Chief
and ESTC Principal David Sparling
explained that changing regulations
had reduced the number of
graduated firefighters across the
province, so the need for a training
facility that could produce
firefighters was apparent.
Lots of work
The Brussels Leo Club, which was only formed a few years ago, officially cut the ribbon on its
first project last week: the Libro Credit Union Multi-Purpose Sports Pad, which is just beside
the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. The pad is now the perfect place for tennis,
basketball or pickle ball, among other activities. The ribbon was cut just an hour before the
opening of the Brussels Fall Fair. Front row, from left: Brussels Lion and Leo Club advisor
Kathy Nichol, Abi Corbett of Huron East, Amanda Morrison, Jamie Sheltema, Megan Exel, Leo
Club President Jasmine Vader, Colin Barber, Leo Club Past-President Sean Mitchell, Chris
Exel and Brussels Fall Fair Ambassador Tiffany Deitner. Back row, from left: Brussels Lions
Club Past-President Gord Mitchell, Lion Bob Richmond, Leanne Exel, Lion Jean Davidson,
Lions Club President John Gillis, Optimist Kevin Deitner and Brussels Community
Development Trust member Paul Nichol. Absent was Tim Prior, a representative of Libro. As
part of the presentation, the Lions Club also donated $2,000 to the Leos for the project. (Photo
submitted)
OFA offers comments
APRIL COOK
April Cook of Blyth passed away
at Clinton Public Hospital on
Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015. She was 55.
The former April McBurney was
the loving companion of Joseph
Phelan and dear mother of Jackie
Cook, Toronto; Carla and Mike
Pawitch, Blyth and Marie Cook,
Goderich. She will be lovingly
remembered by Joe’s family, Jason
Phelan, Kitchener; Joel and Monica
Phelan, Milverton; Jeremy Phelan
and Sarah MacKay, Ripley and
Justin and Sherry Phelan, Goderich.
She was the grandmother of 14
grandchildren and sister of Richard
and Merrilyn McBurney, Blyth and
Daniel and Marjorie McBurney,
Belgrave. April was predeceased by
her parents Alan and Marion (White)
McBurney, her grandson Travis
Power and stepmother June.
A celebration of life will be held at
the Blyth Community Centre on
Friday, Sept. 25 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Memorial donations to Huron Perth
Addiction and Mental Health or
SPCA of Huron County would be
appreciated as expressions of
sympathy and can be placed through
McBurney Funeral Home Ltd.,
Wingham.
Online condolences may be left at
www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com
A nice route
There was a good turnout as far as decorated bikes were concerned at last week’s Brussels
Fall Fair, making their presence known in the fair’s parade. (Denny Scott photo)
Midway is a hit at Brussels Fair
Vincent upset by
funding denial
North St. West, Wingham
Mac & Donna Anderson
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