The Citizen, 2010-01-21, Page 1The good part of winter
There may not be enough snow for snowmobilers, but the thin blanket covering the area is
sufficient for cross-country skiing on some trails. Brett Bean and Nicole Brindley headed out
in East Wawanosh on Sunday to enjoy the fresh air and nature. (Vicky Bremner photo)
A group of beneficent locals will
not be making a mission trip to Haiti
as planned because of the recent
earthquake.
Gaye Datema is one of 16 people
who were set to leave for Haiti as
part of an earlier scheduled Mission
to Haiti project.
Mission to Haiti Canada is a non-
profit charitable organization that
works year round to create and
nurture opportunities for Haitian
people. The local workers were part
of a Presbyterian camp, consisting
this time of about 45 people from
across southern Ontario, said
Datema.
“You become really close to the
people you work with. Once you’re
there you are friends.”
MTH Canada has a strong focus
on helping the children of Haiti and
to that end, Datema said, that many
of the volunteers sponsor children
there. “They get schooling, a meal
and clothing for going to school for
$420 a year.”
For many of the local group this
trip would have been one of many.
“Nine of us have been there before,
some at least seven times,” said
Datema, who has been to Haiti twice
before. “We go again and again for
the love of the people there.”
Most of the group ( including with
Datema, Hans Boonstoppel, Lisa
Pot, Jane, John and Ryan Klasen,
Susan, Cheryl and Emma Wilts,
Jacob Nonkes, Joanne Van
Amersfoort, Jeremy Hessels,
Herman and Josh Thalen, Jaret
Bjorkman and Mike Siertsema) are
committed to helping the people of
this impoverished country however
they are needed.
Datema said in addition to
physical labour, there are a number
of ways they are able to contribute.
“The first year I was a dental
assistant and last year I worked in a
pharmacy.”
That time, Datema said, a lot of
the work was done in an area they
had concentrated efforts on the
previous year. It had been washed
away when an eight-foot wall of
water came through during a
storm.
“The ones who have gone before
know the need for help. Now it’s
needed more than ever.”
Datema learned Thursday
afternoon that her flight, which was
to depart Jan. 18 was not going to be
allowed into Haiti. But she’s ready
to go as soon as they receive word
they can.
Datema admits that returning to
the country and witnessing the
devastation will be extremely
difficult. “We know this place, and
the buildings. It’s going to be sad
going back. Some of the things we
have done in the past will be gone
now.”
Mission trip to Haiti on hold
The Huron County Health Unit
says high rates of absenteeism right
now in schools is likely caused by
norovirus infections – commonly
known as stomach flu.
Other regions of Ontario have
reported an increase in similar
outbreaks in the community
including healthcare facilities,
retirement homes and daycares.
Noroviruses are a group of viruses
that causes gastrointestinal illness.
The illness usually has symptoms of
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
abdominal cramps, tiredness, and/or
low grade fever lasting 24-48 hours.
Public health inspector Roxana
Nassiri says although there is no
specific treatment, it is important for
people who are sick to stay home
and keep up their fluid intake to
prevent dehydration.
Nassiri says it’s also important to
stop the spread of the infection. “The
virus is primarily spread person-to-
person by unwashed hands
contaminated with stool or vomit
from infected persons. Airborne
transmission is also possible. The
Huron-Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell
has been named Minister of
Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs,
taking over from
Leona Dombrowsky,
who will be taking on
the position of
Minister of Education.
This comes just
three weeks into the
new year where
Premier Dalton
McGuinty promised to
shuffle his cabinet.
Four new ministers are
in, while three are out
and eight have
received new posts.
Mitchell says she’s
“absolutely delighted”
with her new position
and that she looks
forward to the work
ahead.
Mitchell who just returned from
vacation in Antigua said after being
named to her new post that her
vacation was over and that it was
“time to get back to work.”
“It’s a privilege to work with such
dynamic people representing all the
different sectors of Ontario.”
Mitchell says her riding has
helped her in understanding what
will be expected of her in her new
post and looks forward to continuing
the lines of communication with
farmers and rural residents that have
always treated her well.
“Members of the commodities
sector have always been wonderful
to work with,” she said. “They have
always been quick to tell me if a
program is working well for them or
not and I’m looking forward to a
continuation in those lines of
communication.”
Born in Goderich Twp., Huron
County, Mitchell attended Clinton’s
Central Huron Secondary School
then completed her studies at
Fanshawe College in London. After
graduation she worked in retailing
and started her own business
specializing in children’s clothing
and opened stores in Clinton and
Bayfield. She ran her own business
for 10 years.
She ran for Clinton town council
and after sitting for
one term as a
councillor,
successfully won the
post of reeve. She
retained that
position when the
amalgamated
municipality of
Central Huron was
formed. She served
as warden of Huron
County in 1999.
In August 2002
she won the
nomination to
represent the Huron-
Bruce Liberal Party
over four other
candidates. The
following year she
was elected as Member of Provincial
Parliament.
In 2007, Mitchell was appointed
as the Parliamentary Assistant to the
Minister of Agriculture and Food
shortly after being re-elected to her
second term as Huron-Bruce MPP.
She has held other posts since,
unrelated to agriculture.
Mitchell says that coming from
one of the most rural ridings in
Ontario can’t help but be a benefit to
her in her new position.
She is hoping to realize a
sustainable plan with Ontario
farmers and get away from
inefficient ad hoc programs and
focus on things like the Buy Local
initiative, rural economic
development and food production
within the province.
Mitchell feels the marriage
between the ministries of agriculture
and rural affairs are important to her
and the Liberal party, pointing out
that they were not connected when
they came into power.
“I think they’re a good fit
together,” she said.
Stomach bug in Huron
CitizenTh
e
$1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010
Volume 26 No. 3SPORTS- Pg. 8Local teams beginplayoffs AGRICULTURE - Pg. 11 Beef producers hear fromOCA presidentCOMMUNITY- Pg. 6Belgrave Kinsmen celebrateproject’s completionPublications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 PAP Registration No. 09244 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0INSIDE THIS WEEK:
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen
Mitchell named
new ag minister
HURON-BRUCE MPP
gets Cabinet post
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
Continued on page 6