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The Citizen, 2008-05-08, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2008. Sports events, particularly for elementary students, will now take on a more standardized tone within the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board. Todd Chisholm, the board’s acting co-ordinator for physical education, outlined recent efforts to create a Coaches Information and Guide Book for extra-curricular sports activities. Speaking to trustees during a regular meeting Monday, April 28, he explained the Guide Book came about due to suggestions received by the board’s sports council. “There had been different traditions at different schools,” he said. Some were carried through; others were dropped over the years. Gradually, the sports council – which consists of two elementary principals, four elementary teacher/coaches and two high school phys-ed teachers – developed an organized system for tournaments and competitions on a board-wide basis, with standardized awards and plaques handed out at each. Chisholm says a standardized code of conduct and operating procedure for tournaments was a natural progression. “I think this smooths out a lot of directions that, in the past, have not been consistent from school to school,” noted education superintendent Martha Dutrizac, who introduced Chisholm’s presentation. The manual is geared mainly towards elementary coaches and tournament convenors. At the high school level, sports teams generally compete against schools from other school boards and must comply with guidelines set out by regional and provincial athletics organizations. Elementary sports, meanwhile, tend to stick within particular school boards, without needing to comply with over-arching standards. Chisholm credited sports council member Dan Peters for researching similar manuals in other school boards. The new Huron-Perth document is modeled largely on one from the St. Clair Catholic District School Board. Included in the guide book are codes of conduct for players, coaches and spectators, first aid guidelines, a Must Do List for the Start of the Season and a Team Player Prayer. Chisholm says a Convenor Checklist should make it easier to recruit volunteers to organize athletic competitions. Goderich/Northwest Huron trustee Jim McDade suggested stronger language should be included to ensure the Guide Book is distributed to all non-teaching “outside” coaches. Chisholm offered an assurance that would take place, and added the sports council hopes to gather input from coaches over the next few months and revisit the document to discuss possible fine- tuning. “I think the vision of the sports council is that this is a working document,” Chisholm said. North Huron council is sending amessage to Canada Post.At Monday night’s meeting council passed a resolution expressing their strong disapproval for any reduction to rural mail service. “Let them know that we believe this would be inappropriate action,” said councillor Greg McClinchey. The issue first came up at council’s April 21 meeting when there was healthy skepticismexpressed regarding a letter fromCanada Post. The letter explained that CanadaPost is conducting safetyassessments on roadside rural mailboxes. On the list are 180 mailboxes on RRs 1, 2, and 3 of Blyth. The process will involve data gathering, followed by physical assessments. “While the first priority for our investigating teams is safety, we also place a high priority on maintaining delivery to the customers’ mailboxes. When a mailbox fails asafety assessment, the investigatingteam looks for another locationnearby where the box can be placedand the rural mail carrier cancontinue delivery to that mailbox.” The letter stated that only if wasn’t possible would the customer be offered the options of receiving mail in a community mail box located near their home or at a local post office. Despite the assurances that “Canada Post is committed to rural mail delivery”, McClinchey said then that the township should viewthis information with caution.“There is a belief in some quartersthat this is a façade for somethingelse. We need to make clear that anyreduction of rural service will not be supported.” Public works director Ralph Campbell shared McClinchey’s concerns. “They do this every other year, but like Greg I’m a little suspicious.” McClinchey said initiatives are being undertaken nationally by Canada Post to cut costs. “And it says right in the letter that they mayoffer other options.“If ending rural mail delivering isnot what they’re doing then fine. Butif that’s what they’re up to we needto say it’s not alright. They have done assessments here before, so unless Ralph’s mailbox slid down the road it’s in the same place they said was fine before.” Prior to his Monday night motion, McClinchey said he had looked into the situation more closely and urged council to send a letter stating their feelings. NH council sends strong message to Canada Post School sports events to take on standardized tone North Huron council, at its Monday night meeting, approved a proposal to conduct a policing study for the township. The proposed cost submitted by Maurice Hodgson of Hodgson Associates is $8,500, about $500 more than the budgetted amount, according to clerk-administrator Kriss Snell. He explained that the study is to determine terms of reference for policing in North Huron. Hodgson proposes the study be done in five phases. The first will be the gathering of information to provide an objective evaluation of what is now in place with the Wingham Police Services and the level of service provided by the OPP in Blyth and East Wawanosh. A key component of the second phase will be current and future policing needs in East Wawanosh and Blyth. Phase three will involve the analyzing of information and making preliminary findings. There will be meetings with officials to ensure compliance with the core functions of policing. Once the final municipal proposal has been developed, it will be presented to council. Hodgson hopes to begin the study this month with the anticipated month for the final report being September. There’s always room Tyler Rabak, seven, helped himself to more than one scoop of Jell-o last Sunday at the Ethel United Church’s ham and turkey supper at Grey Central Public School. With the parking lot full, there was a hallway of hungry patrons while the gym stood full, making the dinner a clear success. (Shawn Loughlin photo) Notice of Public Meeting Regarding the Draft Proposed Terms of Reference The Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Committee would like to receive your input on their draft proposed Terms of Reference at a public meeting on Wednesday, May 28, 2008. The Terms of Reference is a work plan to guide the creation of an Assessment Report and the Source Protection Plans; it includes municipal, Source Protection Committee and Source Protection Authority responsibilities, timelines, costs and lists which drinking water systems will be included in the plans. To find out if you live in the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection region visit sourcewaterinfo.on.ca and click on the ‘Maps’ tab or contact us at 519-335-3557 or toll-free at 1-888-286-2610. Copies of the Draft Proposed ToR are available for viewing at the following County and Municipal Offices: Huron-Kinloss, Ripley Lambton Shores, Forest County of Perth, Stratford North Middlesex, Parkhill Town of Minto, Harriston County of Huron, Goderich The document is also available online at www.sourcewaterinfo.on.ca. If you would like to make a presentation at the public meeting call Chris Van Esbroeck at 519-335-3557 or toll-free at 1-888-286-2610 by May 26 to schedule a time. The public is welcome to submit written comments regarding the draft proposed ToR during a 35-day comment period which ends June 10, at 4:00 p.m. local time. Feel free to mail your comments to: ABMV Source Protection Region c/o Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority 71108 Morrison Line R.R. #3 Exeter, Ontario N0M 1S5 Made possible through funding support from the Government of Ontario. Formal Public Meeting Location: The White Carnation Restaurant and Banquet Hall, south edge of Holmesville on Cty. Rd. #31 (R.R.#3 Clinton, Ontario, N0M 1L0) Date: Wednesday, May 28 Time:6:00 p.m. Public Open Houses In advance of the public meeting there will be three open houses held across the region. These open houses will give local residents a chance to learn about the Source Protection Planning process. Wingham Location: The Hot Stove Lounge, Wingham, North Huron Wescast Community Complex Date:Wednesday, May 21 Time:4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Parkhill Location: Parkhill Community Centre Date:Thursday, May 22 Time:4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Varna Location: Stanley Complex (Varna Hall) Date:Saturday, May 24 Time:10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Questions? Contact:Chris Van Esbroeck at 519-335-3557 or cvanesbroeck@mvca.on.ca or phone toll-free at 1-888-286-2610 THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2008 AT 7:00 P.M. MITCHELL GOLFAND COUNTRY CLUB Members who pay their fees annually shall not be entitled to vote at any meetings of the Corporation unless their membership fees were paid in full at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the meeting. A person is eligible to be an Annual Member where he or she pays to the Corporation the annual membership fee of $10.00 and where he or she meets the conditions outlined in the By-laws. Annual Memberships in the Corporation are effective from April 1 in one year to March 31 in the following year. Annual Memberships can be purchased from the Business Offices at the hospitals no later than May 16, 2008. Andrew Williams Secretary, Board of Directors ANNUAL MEETINGS Clinton Public Hospital St. Marys Memorial Hospital Seaforth Community Hospital Stratford General Hospital By Bonnie GroppThe Citizen By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen Council approves policing study By Bonnie Gropp The Citizen