The Citizen, 2010-02-18, Page 1Go!
It was a tough job, but somebody had to play the role of the rock in human curling last
weekend as part of North Huron’s Luge-a-thon. Human curling was one of the main events in
Belgrave on Saturday, where people on saucers were thrown, pushed and slid towards the
other end of the ice in hopes of making points for their team. In addition to human curling, there
was a hockey skills competition, toilet bowl races and a tug-of-war that kept people in Belgrave
busy, while Blyth and Wingham all hosted activities for Family Day as well. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
If school closures are unavoidable,
municipal politicians from Huron
County would prefer that emphasis
be placed on keeping in-town
facilities open. That was a dominant
theme of a delegation, delivered by
warden Bert Dykstra, to the Avon
Maitland District School Board on
Tuesday, Feb. 9.
“These folks, they’re in a tough
situation,” Dykstra told reporters
after the meeting, referring to Avon
Maitland trustees. “They’re looking
at decreasing dollars; they’re
looking at declining enrolment. And
I think the board is looking at it in as
open-minded a fashion as possible.”
Still, with the board currently
collecting public input into possible
closures in two separate clusters of
schools – Bluewater/South Huron;
and Huron East/North Perth – it’s
clear municipal politicians within
Huron County would like trustees to
consider their opinions.
Through December and January,
board administrators received a
series of letters calling for a
postponement of closure decisions
until after a review of Ontario’s
educational funding formula. The
letters stemmed from a resolution
from the Municipality of Bluewater,
and included letters of support from
Morris-Turnberry, Central Huron,
South Huron, Huron East, and the
County of Huron.
Responses from the board were
generally the same: “While there
had been, some years ago, a
legislative requirement for a review
of the funding formula . . . no such
reference exists in the Education Act
today. (Instead), additional reforms
to the funding formula, developed
with help and support of the sector,
were implemented in fiscal
2007/08.”
Then, at the Feb. 9 meeting,
Dykstra – who is reeve of Central
Huron – was joined in the audience
gallery by County councillors Ken
Oke of South Huron, Neil Vincent of
North Huron, Bernie McLellan of
Huron East, and Bill Dowson of
Bluewater. Also in attendance was
Huron County CAO Larry Adams.
Stepping to the microphone for a
five-minute public delegation,
Dykstra informed trustees he was
“representing all the students,
parents and the schools across
Huron County.” He began by
emphasizing the value of schools to
communities across the county,
noting, “our communities are built
on the foundations of our schools”
as well as other institutions.
“It’s one of the components of a
healthy community,” he said, and is
also a major consideration for
people and businesses that are
thinking about relocating into the
county.
In the event of a decision by the
Avon Maitland District School
Board to close Grey Central Public
School in Ethel, it now appears
unlikely that the school board and
the Maitland Valley Conservation
Authority (MVCA) will join forces
to maintain outdoor education
programs at an adjacent natural area.
With Grey Central’s future now
being considered by a community-
represented Accommodation
Review Committee (ARC) – which
is scheduled to provide
recommendations to Avon Maitland
administrators at its final public
meeting March 4 – officials from the
board and the MVCA met Jan. 12.
According to a report delivered to
Avon Maitland trustees at a regular
meeting Tuesday, Feb. 9, “it is the
conclusion (of the two agencies) that
engaging in a partnership on the
Grey Central Public School site is
not viable at this time.”
According to information
provided in the “school profile”
section of the Huron East/North
Perth ARC’s website, the Grey
Central Learning Grounds have
essentially been an evolving project
since the school was constructed in
1967.
“Much of the area has been
reforested as a result of school
projects over the last 30 years,” the
ARC website states. Encompassing
about 20 acres, the riverside
property includes “Carolinian
species, maples, spruce, pine and
European larch,” along with
butterfly gardens, ponds,
“substantial trails” and a picnic
shelter area with several tables.
Originally, a partnership with the
MVCA – as well as Ontario’s
Ministry of Natural Resources
(MNR) – was established to assist in
the creation of a strategic plan for
the area. That resulted in the
formation of the Grey Central
environmental steering committee,
which included representatives from
the student body, teachers, parents,
the MVCA and MNR – and, in later
years, retired teachers who had
participated in the Learning
Grounds during their teaching
careers.
Over the years, according to a
report delivered to Avon Maitland
trustees at their Feb. 9 meeting,
MVCA has also been involved in
landscape design services and
staffing support for tree-planting
days.
And, perhaps most importantly,
MVCA has helped develop
programming to allow Grey Central
to be transformed into an
environmental education hub for
other Avon Maitland schools.
The ARC website describes the
Grey Central Learning Grounds as
“perhaps the most unique
environmental learning grounds in
Southwest Ontario.”
“The school provides an
environmental hub for the board,”
the ARC website enthuses. “Schools
within the Avon Maitland board
could utilize this space given the
future direction of the (Education)
Ministry in regards to environmental
issues.”
Unfortunately, according to the
Feb. 9 report to trustees, reality has
not fulfilled the hopes of those who
once envisioned growth in outdoor
education at Grey Central.
“Since 2004, only two schools –
Listowel Central and Mornington –
have participated in programs at
Grey Central,” the report notes.
“Three programs, involving 80
students, have been delivered.
Trustees hear county’s views
CitizenTh
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$1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010
Volume 26 No. 7EDUCATION- Pg. 11East Wawanosh speakersmove on to next level SPECIAL - Pg. 12 A salute to the Scouts andGuides beginsSPORTS- Pg. 9Wingham curling teamsadvancePublications 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:
Arrests made in
Wingham murder
No partnership
for Grey CPS
By Stew Slater
Special to The Citizen
Two men have now been charged in the death of Scott Hayes, 22, of
Wingham.
Chris Ward, 25, of the Wingham area and Ronald Ward, 26, of Culross
Twp. have both been charged with second degree murder and were to appear
in Goderich court on Feb. 16 by video.
The former was formally charged Feb. 13, while Ronald Ward was
charged Feb. 15.
Hayes was found at approximately 9 p.m. on Feb. 12, in a parking lot
behind Josephine Street in Wingham.
The investigation is ongoing into the official cause of death.
Wingham Police Services will be working with the Ontario Provincial
Police Criminal Investigation Branch throughout the investigation.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Criminal Investigation
Branch at 1-888-310-1122 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Visitation for Hayes, the son of former Brussels resident Jackie Bridge and
George Kingyens and George Hayes and Maryanne McCreight, all of
Wingham, was held at McBurney Funeral Home in Wingham. Hayes was
also the grandson of former Brussels resident Kay Bridge, now of Goderich.
The funeral service will be held today (Feb. 18) at 11 a.m.
Continued on page 6
By Stew Slater
Special to The Citizen
Continued on page 6