Townsman, 1991-04, Page 9line," Tom Lemon had said in a 1987
interview" is that the three years (of
the Main Street programme) are really
just to put the ideas in place and get a
few things in place." Cathy Vida was
hired on a three-year contract to make
sure that happens.
She wears many hats, this young
Port Colborne native who had never
heard of Seaforth when she got her
Masters in Urban and Regional Plan-
ning and answered an ad for the
Seaforth job. Now she's fallen in love
with the town.
Part of her salary is paid by the
Huron Planning and Development
Department and she spends part of
her time trying to organize the depart-
ment's concept of four development
regions in the county to get munici-
palities pooling resources to promote
economic development. She's also
manager of the BIA and is economic
development co-ordinator for the
town. It makes her a unique resource
for a town Seaforth's size. Few have a
full-time person to work at imple-
menting economic development goals.
Having someone to co-ordinate
activities is a big boost to the town
says Jim Crocker, the town's clerk -
treasurer who has been involved since
the beginning of the Main Street pro-
gramme. There had been an economic
development committee in the past
but people would come to the meet-
ings with good ideas but everyone
was so busy running their own busi-
ness that there was no one to put the
ideas into action. Generally when peo-
ple thought something should be done
"they'd look down the table to the
clerk" who also didn't have the time to
put ideas into action.
Bob Fisher agrees the work of
Cathy Vida is a key. With her co-ordi-
nating activities, "there's somebody
who can take time, can spend the time
to make things work."
For Cathy Vida that means doing
everything from co-ordinating a big
promotional event for the main street
to providing educational seminars to
co-ordinating community advertising.
July 26, for instance, will see the sec-
ond annual Seaforth's Gone Looney .
Last year it was highlighted with
things like a pajama parade, a wet
sponge fight and a street dance. This
year the hope is to involve other com-
munity groups as well.
Last year, with the assistance of the
Cathy Vida: not so hard keeping
stores filled now.
TOWNSMAN/APRIL-MAY 1991 7
Indulge your taste....
We suggest our specially prepared
take-out Picnic Lunches
1
Now featured on �.•I , r W ,
Famous for fresh
our menu gluten- ��. -.'
baking, done on
��%„ !!
free pastas and pc--.47..,,,.
' the premises daily
1----1--- chicken pot pies! _411'r; x 7
• Breakfast • Lunch
• Dinner
and as always enjoy our wonderful
desserts!
4»z
L
82 Wellington St., Stratford, Ontario
273-4774
TOWNSMAN/APRIL-MAY 1991 7