The Citizen, 2002-04-03, Page 1Inside this week
pa Q Blyth Minor Hockey
.1 8* presents award
Pg. 10 Brussels Local
teams end season
11 St. John donates to
Pg. IL fire department
.Minister takes a
Pg. 13 lithe off the top
New business in
Pg.
2
Brussels
e Citizen
Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County
Volume 18 No. 13
Wednesday, April 3, 2002
75 Cents (70c + 5c GST)
Brussels
Pee Wees
Ontario
champs
-UPON PUBLISHING C OMPANY INC I
Championship huddle
The Brussels PeeWee Rep team celebrates its All-Ontario championship win after a three-
game sweep of Deseronto which culminated in a 6-1 victory in Brussels on Good Friday. There
were over 600 paid adult admissions at the game. (Vicky Bremner photo)
Huron E.
launches
legal
challenge
By Stew Slater
Special to The Citizen
The municipality bf -Huron East
heads up a list of five named parties • which -have launched a legal
challenge to the Avon Maitland
District School Board's Feb. 26
decision to close Seaforth District
High School (SDHS).
Hamilton-based lawyer Fred
Leitch, a resident of Seaforth, strode
to the table at the beginning of the
hoard's March 26 regular meeting
and placed thick binders in front of
Director of Education Lorne Rachlis
and East/Central Huron trustee
Charles Smith. Nothing was said
about the binders until just prior to
adjournment, under the "New
Business" section, when Smith
stated the document included a
"summons to witness" an
examination for discovery in the
challenge, scheduled for April 8.
Interviewed the following day,
Leitch explained the April 8 meeting
will not be a public hearing. Instead,
it represents an opportunity for
information about the action to be
brought forward to lawyers
representing each party.
Under the current schedule, the
challenge will first go before a judge
on April 18 in Stratford. At that
judicial review, the judge will either
decide to hear the case or refer it to a
panel of Ontario's Divisional Court.
Leitch noted he will argue "on the
basis of urgency" that the challenge
proceed as quickly as possible.
Divisional court is where Leitch
notched his previous success on
behalf of SDHS supporters. On May
19, 2000, a three-judge panel struck
down a three-month-old trustee vote
to close the high school, on the
grounds the Seaforth community
had not been accorded the same
level of pre-closure public
consultation as some other Huron-
Perth communities.
Continued on page 6
By David Blaney
Citizen staff
After 25 years of service the Blyth
and District Community Centre
began its journey into the 21st
century this weekend. Over 100
volunteers descended on the centre
to tear down much of the old
building.
The volunteers, all attired in
hardhats and safety boots, set to
work with a will, and by Monday
little remained but the roof and its
supporting ironwork. Dwight
Chalmers, who was instrumental in
organizing the work of the
volunteers said, "I am overwhelmed
with the unbelievable turnout and
want to acknowledge the people who
came out to assist and support this
project."
Gary Courtney, volunteer co-
ordinator for the construction,
campaign said that he had contacted
over 18 groups. As well as Blyth
residents volunteers came from
groups in Auburn, Belgrave,
Londesboro and most of the
countryside in between.
Chalmers said that things have
moved ahead swiftly and he believes
that a work-bee scheduled for 8 a.m.
this coming Saturday, will finish the
few things left to do.
The list of changes to the building
is extensive. The lobby, dressing
rooms and ice surface will all be
significantly changed when the
building reopens in the autumn.
The new building will be
approximately 19 feet longer and 29
feet wider than the old. The new pad
will accommodate an ice surface
expanded to 190 feet in length and
80 feet in width. This adds 20 feet
end to end and 10 feet in width.
Four new dressing rooms will be
placed in the 29-foot extension on
the south wall. The skate room,
referee's room, refrigeration plant
and ice surfacer will also be located
in this area. The new dressing rooms
will be accessible from the outside of
the building.
The rink area itself will see two
new features. A raised and heated
area for wheelchairs will be located
in the north-west corner.
The north-east corner will see a
new area of seats called the 'Dog
pound'.
The lobby area will be completely
changed. The main doors will be
located on the west wall with an
interior entrance to the upstairs
community events room. This area
will be more easily reached with
extended stairs and a centre hand-
rail.
Only two of the former dressing
rooms will remain. The other two
will become the new concession
booth area.
The former equipment room is
slated to become a food court with
seating. The current skate, referee's
and manager's _rooms will all be
displaced by the new public
washrooms.
The remaining space near the main
doors will be used for a manager's
office on one side of the entrance
corridor and a special events room
on the other. Storage areas have been
located in numerous locations in the
new building.
The complete project is slated to
cost $2.5 million. The federal and
provincial governments have
contributed a total of $1.4 million.
North Huron has committed
$265,000 and Morris-Turnberry has
pledged $20,000. Central Huron is
also expected to contribute to the
project.
Local groups have come forward
with pledges of $100,000 from Blyth
Minor Hockey, $65,000 from the
Blyth Lions, $5,000 from broomball
as well as several smaller amounts.
Despite these impressive amounts
local organizers point out more help
is still needed.
The next phase of the campaign is
in the hands of volunteer canvassers
who are visiting residents in the area.
These volunteers will answer
questions and collect donations.
The committee members wish to
stress that any donation is
appreciated and will help advance
the cause.
Various donation programs are
available to make things as easy as
possible. Just $4.81 a week means
that in four years
an individual would be a $1,000
donor.
To keep everyone up-to-date and
answer any questions the committee
will be holding a public information
meeting at the arena auditorium, on
April 19 at 8 p.m..
Anyone seeking further
information should contact Fran
Cook at 523-9040 or Diane Ferguson
at 523-4563. (See photos of the tear
down on page 22)
It was a clean sweep for the
Brussels PeeWee Reps as they
defeated Deseronto in three games
to claim the All-Ontario D final at
home on Friday night.
The hosts were relentless in game
three defeating the visitors by a
score of 6-1, spurred on by a
standing-room only crowd at the
BMG arena.
Brussels took an early lead in the
first period with three goals. Matt
McClinchey led the way with two,
while Greg Bowers scored a single.
Assists went to Matt White, Chris
Corbett with two and Christopher
Jutzi.
In the second period, Brussels was
pumped and fired in two more goals.
Adam McClure scored unassisted,
while White bulged the twine off a
helper from McClinchey.
Deseronto got on the board before
the period ended.
Despite the solid lead in the third,
Brussels never let up, and neither
did McClinchey who nailed the
hattrick off a pass from White.
Goalie Kyle Gibson made some
timely saves to help his team to this
monumental victory.
spring
ahead
While the spring-like weather
may be slow in arriving, things are
going to get a little brighter this
weekend.
Sunday, April 7 at 2 a.m. Daylight
Savings Time returns. Don't forget
to set your clock ahead so you're
not late for church.
And while you may regret losing
that hour of sleep at least you can
enjoy that extra bit of daylight.
Citizens needed
There is still time to nominate
someone worthy in your community
as this year's Citizen of the Year.
To date, there has only been a
handful of nominations received for
Brussels and area, while even fewer
have come in for Blyth. There are
dozens of people who, in one way or
another have contributed positively
to the community, whether through
volunteering, leadership, or as one
of those who somehow manage to
make everyone's day a little
brighter. Here is the opportunity to
honour them, and let them know
that their attributes or
accomplishments are appreciated.
The award, sponsored by The
Citizen, is presented annually. Last
year's recipients were Charlie Shaw
in Blyth and Nelva and the late
Spence Scott in Brussels.
Nomination forms are included in
this issue of The Citizen or can be
picked up at either of our offices.
100 help in arena tear down Time to