The Citizen, 2004-06-24, Page 1e Citizen
Serving the communities of Blyt d Brussels and northern Hurpilcsuniy ,
Volume 20 No. 25
Thursday, June 24, 2004
$1 (93c + 7c GST)
Inside this week.
Da Girl gives of herself • 6 to cause
Pg.
Local Cub gets
rg. IL recognition
P a 12 Brussels Lions
•-7 present cheque
Pg. 21 HPCDSB releases
budget
23 'Donnelly& opens Pg. 30th season
BIG event
for Blyth
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
It's a BIG event this weekend as
the Blyth Idea Group (BIG) unveils
the new Blyth."
On Friday, June 24 at 5 p.m. there
will be an unveiling,ceremony of the
new Blyth signage at the Memorial
Hail entrance. It will be followed by
a community barbecue in the
municipal parking lot at Queen and
Drummond Streets.
Steve Sparling, one of the event
co-ordinators, said the idea was
initiated by Bev Elliott. "The plan
was to give credit to this large group
of volunteers and to council who
gave us absolute autonomy with
regards to the project."
The project, Sparling explains had
a modest beginning. "It was
essentially a street sign program.."
Since the hiring of a consultant,
however, it is „now the first phase of
a multi-phase image development
for Blyth. "The project has grown
and I believe the impact has grown,"
said Sparling.
The idea for the signs originated
with BIG, which pledged $3,000 to
the project. Then the business group,
Communities in Bloom and BIG
jointly pledge to fundraise through
the many groups and churches, etc.
that will be promoted on the signs.
"As these types of things usually
work in Blyth, support has been
there from the beginning."
Friday's event, said Sparling is a
celebration of that, but also in
recognition of the launch of the first
phase. "The most important thing
from my perspective is the
opportunity to say thanks and roll
this out as phase one. The signage is
just the beginning. It's very
exciting."
The signs on all the existing posts
were in place for the 30th season
opening of Blyth Festival last Friday
night.
"We wanted to send a signal that
something's happening and raise
awareness. It's for people who come
here year after year, but aren't aware
of what's beyond Queen Street."
By Elyse DeBruyn
Citizen staff
Elections Canada has tried to
change low-voter turn outs by
encouraging more citizens,
especially young adults, to vote in
the upcoming federal election. But
some just don't feel informed
enough to vote.
Graeme Craig, Huron-Bruce
returning officer, said while some
regions may have a low-voter turn
out, "western Ontario is one of the
higher areas for a voter turn-out."
"Elections Canada has a lot of
advertising to make people aware of
the election and the- importance of
their vote. We also have mechanisms
in place to accommodate people to
help them vote," said Craig.
Michelle DeWit, a 19-year-old
student from Brussels, will be voting
for the first time, but she isn't quite
sure who to vote for yet.
She said she doesn't feel informed
enough and although she watched
some of the televised debate, it "was
too much information" and she
"doesn't know who to go with."
Craig said the "younger voters are
very informed" regarding election
campaign issues and the returning
office "has had many inquiries from
all ages, asking where they can vote.
It's been good."
He also said Elections Canada has
been encouraging young voters to
participate in the election and
election representatives have gone to
various high schools to inform the
students how to get on the voters'
list, the importance of their votes
and a brief outline of what each
party represents.
"You have a vote, why not
participate in the process," said
Craig.
Mark Hunter, a 20-year-old
Brussels resident, said he won't be
voting on June 28.
"I think it's pointless because the,
government doesn't listen to you
anyway. They say they'll do things
for us and then when they get in they
change it anyways," said Hunter.
DeWit said, although she has been
getting campaign calls, she feels that
politician are "targeting more
Continued on page 6
McKenna
steps in
to launch
season
By Sarah Mann
Special to The Citizen
When John Neville couldn't be
guest speaker at Blyth Festival's
opening night dinner Friday, as
scheduled, actor Seana McKenna
stepped in as a replacement -
something she's no stranger to doing
in Blyth.
"I've been a last minute
replacement twice [in Blyth] and the
other two proved to be fortuitous in
my professional and personal life so
how could I say no," McKenna said
at the gala on Friday night.
Her first replacement gig was
when James Roy asked McKenna to
work in Blyth on the collective
creation This Foreign Land for the
1979 season. She accepted, she said
because, "the thought of a new
theatre in southern Ontario doing
new Canadian work was exciting."
That was when, as McKenna
described, "the change rooms were
trailers down the road...seriously."
McKenna's professional career
started off with a bang on the
opening night of This Foreign Land.
It was the exit before intermission
when McKenna realized they had
never rehearsed it in the dark.
Confident she could navigate her
way with the help of markers on the
floor, McKenna made her move but
it was right into the pit band area.
Wanting to continue the show
after intermission, •McKenna, blood
running down her face, was
reluctant to go to the hospital but she
did.
The second time McKenna came
to Blyth as a replacement was to
perform in a play that Ted Johns
wrote about nuclear power plants.
which Miles Potter was directing.
When she arrived, everyone else had
already gone to the nuclear plant in
Tiverton to do some research.
McKenna thought she should too
and Potter offered to drive.
During the field trip, Potter asked
McKenna if she would like to go for
dinner at his farmhouse and their
Continued on page 6
Next
`Citizen'
arrives Fri.
As a result of Canada Day, and the
fact that the post office will be
closed, your July 1 issue of The
Citizen will not reach you until
Friday, July 2.
The Citizen staff will also be
celebrating the nation's birthday.
Both offices will be closet en
Thursday. July 1.
Injured
Blyth firefighters responded to a multi-vehicle crash at the corner of Blyth and London Roads
shortly before 5 p.m. June 17. OPP Const. Russ Nesbitt, who is also a member of the fire
department assists paramedics as they prepare to transport a passenger in one of the
vehicles to hospital. Also pictured is firefighter Dean Wilson. No names or the victim's
condition were available at press time. (Bonrne Gropp photo)
Young voters still unsure