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Goderich Signal Star, 2017-01-18, Page 22 Signal Sitar • Wednesday, January 18, 2017 Dutch -Canadian One Committee hoping to locate Huron veterans who fought to liberate Netherlands in WWII Submitted The Dutch - Canadians - Remember as One Com- mittee is in the process of planning events to be held in Goderich during the month of May, 2017, dur- ing Canada's 150th anni- versary year. These cele- brations and ceremonies will be especially focused upon the 20 men from Huron County and the 7,600 Canadians who paid the supreme sacrifice dur- ing the push to liberate the Netherlands in 1944-1945. These events in May 2017 will involve our veterans, youth, military and, of course, the citizens of Huron County. The objective of these cel- ebrations and ceremonies is commemoration, honour, remembrance and respect, and this will take place at Liberation Memorial Park in Goderich. The events planned include unveiling a new commemorative/memorial plaque, new signage, the re -dedication of Liberation Memorial Park and a parade involving military vehicles of \Vorld kVar 11. There will he a Cana- dian military presence as well as a reception to close the event for our veterans, honoured dignitaries and guests. Another initiative that we have started involves the Huron Perth Catholic Dis- trict School Board and schools in the Netherlands. The goal is to partner schools and classrooms in Huron County with schools and classrooms in the Netherlands. The beginning steps would be to make contact via Skype and encourage classes to com- municate in that fashion, then have students com- munication with one another and establish.a bond and then perhaps in the future to be able to offer an exchange program where Huron County stu- dents could go to the Neth- erlands and have Dutch students visit Huron County. In the near future we will be making an announce- ment as to the exact date a s t o when our celebrations and ceremonies will take place and who will be par- ticipating in these events. Listed below are the names of the 20 inen from Huron County who paid the supreme sacrifice during the liberation of the Netherlands campaign in 1944-1945. We are asking for your help in finding any relatives of these men who may be still in this part of Ontario so we may speak to them to obtain photos and informa- tion that will allow us to tell you their stories. Your assistance is very much appreciated and should you be able to assist this committee you can con- tact Jim Rutledge, co-chair and secretary of Veterans of the Dutch - Canadians - Remember as One Commit- tee, at 519-524-1808 or at bookofhonour3946@ gmail.com The Canadian sacrifices took place at the following: Lower Maas in Septem- ber 1944, Moerbruge, Arn- hem, Oosterbeek, Wolf- heze, Driel and surrounding areas, South Beveland, The Scheldt, Breskens Pocket, Woendre- chet, Savojaards Plaat, Wal- charen Causeway, Roer, Kapelsche Veer, Reich- swald, Twente Canal, Deventer, Zytphen, Apeldoorn, Gronigen, Ijsselmeer, Wagenborgen, and at the I)elfzijl Pocket ending on May 2, 1945. Huron County Residents who fought in the liberation of the Netherlands: Surname Given Names ELUOTT Robert James EVANS Lyle Alexander FAWCETT Clifford Roy FINLAYSON Roderick Alexander FRASER James HART Wilburt Carl HOFFMAN Leonard Theodore HOOD Lloyd JAMIESON James JOHNSTON Kelso James KELLY George Francis McSPADDEN John Earl MONTGOMERY Robert James MUGFORD Earl Robert MURRAY Donald McLennan RYAN Thomas Joseph SAU.OWS Robert Henry STRAUGHAN George Melville TAYLOR Melvin YOUNG Richard Kenneth Regiment Sherbrooke Fusiliers South Alberta Regiment Lincoln and Welland Regiment Govemor General's Foot Guards RCAF 424 "Tiger" Squadron Black Watch Royal Highland Regiment Highland Light Infantry of Canada Lincoln and Welland Regiment Carleton and York Regiment Royal Canadian Army Pay Corps Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Royal Winnipeg Rifles Lincoln and Welland Regiment Royal Canadian Regiment Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Highland Light Infantry of Canada Essex Scottish Regiment Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Calgary Highlanders Regiment County withholds promised funding for arts centre until obligations are met Darryl Coote Editor Huron County council has put a hold on money it had promised for the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity until its umbrella organization Blyth 14/19 meets its obligations. The county signed off on the county's economic develop- ment board's decision in sum- mer 2016 to give Blyth 14/19 $100,000 a year for the next five years to fund the development of a centre the organization says will make Blyth a multi- disciplinary arts and innova- tion hub. However; Huron County CAO Brenda Orchard told council Jan. 4 that staff did not have the "authority" to release the first allotment of money to 14/19 because conditions in the origi- nal agreement weren't met To dole out the monies, Byith 14/19 needed to give county staff a comprehensive business plan on how the centre would be financially sustainable as well as show proof of partnerships it has made with arts organizations throughout Canada to show that it will be a centre of Canadian arts. "The business plan that we are looking for is the business 30 The square •- GODERICH 524-7811 Fri & Sat 8:00 Sun - Thur 7:30 00 woo hIslure Theme IG lanou.o. wy Mend MItoirw vow - HIDDEN FIGURES Jan. 20 -26 4 Fri & Sat 8:00 Sun - Thur 7:30 Some Scary Sous 'o www.movielinks.ca d 5tanc01-800-265-3438 plan on how this building, this creative world institute, will be successful and sustainable. How they would keep the lights on, what kind of pro- grams they would offer, the revenue they would get from that programing, how they would be sustainable, and develop a functioning busi- ness;' CAO Orchard said. What staff received was a cash flow report detailing how money would be spent Huron staff met with the organization in December 2016 and suggested best prac- tices on developing a business plan and suggested it adopt a memorandum of understand- ing process to secure partner- ships as a way to prove ties have been made. Orchard said staff's sugges- tion is for council to release the money this time as this is a project about growing the community and they do want it to succeed. "However, they have taken steps assuming that money was in place, so to not give them money would cost them some hardship," she said. Councillor Bernie MacLel- lan, who also attended that meeting with the CAO in December, said he told Blyth THE Historic theatre and home of culture & the arms LIVERY FILM FEST with TIFF Film Circuit presents JEAN OF THE JONESES A smart -as -a -whip comedy concerning three generations of vibrant, vociferous, unforgettable women in the Brooklyn - based Jones family. THURSDAY JAN 19 at 7 pm at Park Theatre $10 Livery members/$12 general 519 524 6262 • www.thelivery.ca • 35 South St Goderich 14/19 that since they hadn't met its obligations he doesn't see why council should give them the money. However, he, too, had con- • cerns about handicapping the project before it even gets going. "We do have some concerns that, yes they have started to move forward, they are doing some work -- What happens if we cut them off now when they thought they had a com- mitment?" he said. He then asked if there is "merit" in dispersing the money now while "in the very near future we need the rest of the financial statements and are brought up to speed on the situation and believe in the sit- uation before there's ever going to be any more money:' He added that no 11th hour assurances to council next year would be acceptable. The Huron East mayor then suggested that they offer Blyth 14/19 a 30-daywindow to sub- mit a financial plan following the release of the cash. Orchard said 30 days wouldn't cut it. And she reminded council that its not just the spreadsheets that 14/19 is missing but the part- nerships with arts organizations. Many councillors voiced con- cern over releasing the funds Submitted Liberation Park in Goderich where celebrations of Huron County's military involvement in the liberation of the Netherlands will take place this May. Nome Blyth / Teeswater Brussels Dublin Localsh / Luclwo Clinton / Goderich Wingham Zurich Brussels Goderich Walton Dungannon Aubum Seaford) Corbett / Grand Bend Goderich Auburn Kippen Goderich including Councillor Maureen Cole who said "I don't see how we can give money if they are not fulfilling their obligations" and Councillor Paul Gowing who instructed council to be "cautious" going forward with this organization. The issue with holding back the money, though, is that will it doom the centre before it gets built, said Councillor Art Versteeg, mirroring CAO Orchards thoughts. "If we pull the money now that ensures their failure later I don't think that was our origi- nal intent," he said. However, council can't just disperse the cash, said Coun- cillor Tyler Hesse!. But if 14/19 needs money to meet its obli- gations to the county, then it can come and ask for it. Council then decided that it would not disperse any fund- ing until the original condi- tions were met but that it would consider releasing a portion of it to assist in the ful- fillment of those conditions upon request and presentation to the county. "If they need to hire a con- sultant to finish up some of the stuff they have requested, come back and ask but at this point 1 do not see any merit fin releasing the money]; said Hessel.