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Huron Expositor, 2017-02-22, Page 1414 Huron Expositor • Wednesday. February 22. 2017 Goderich YMCA informs council user numbers, they "are exceeding 3000 members" Shaun Gregory Huron Expositor YMCA representatives presented Goderich Council with statistics of their cus- tomer demographics, show- ing that their facility has sur- passed the goats set 11 years prior. The YMCA came to council to present a 2016 report, which will help guide their 2017 budget. There have already been two budget discussions, and the budget will be finalized in March. In 2003, council prepared a model, which predicted 1800-2400 members, during a recent interview with Larry J. McCabe, Goderich Chief Administrative Officer, he said they "are exceeding 3000 members." "It's an unbelievable oper- ation," McCabe commented. "The programs and quality of programs and how they operate is a partnership that's been toted all over the province." Currently there are 334 members in the 13-17 age group, 709 people who are 18-29 years of age, between 30-54 there are 1172 users, 494 members are 55 -years - old to 64 years of age and 587 long distance'1 -800-265-3438 ATTENTION READERS Take advantage of our pricing for Actual Size: Pre -Payment is Required Just bring in your photo & write-up and we'll do the rest. Other Sizes & Prices available upon request. 8 Main Street Seaforth, ON (519) 527-0240 nancy.degans®sunmedia.ca members are 65 -plus. "A job well done at the YMCA and everyone involved (getting) those members in t7here and active to enjoy that facil- ity," Goderich Coun. Tre- vor Bazinet said Feb. 6. "There are some struggles obviously, but from what I've seen since I've been on council, a lot of nega- tives become a lot of positives." He continued, "I hear it when I'm walking around the streets." According to Bazinet, Goderich's YMCA operates in a way that is unique; it is distinct from other recrea- tional facilities. For example, Bazinet indicated most municipalities run their local ice arena; instead in Goder- ich the YMCA takes on this responsibility. "YMCA goes above and beyond, for the call of duty," stated Bazinet. Jim Donnelly, Goderich Deputy Mayor, did not share the same optimistic opinion as his fellow politi- cal assemblage, he told council he's frustrated with the potential fee increase, from it's current fee of 7 per cent to 9 per cent. . "They are now asking us to increase their fee, this isn't the cost of recreation, this is the fee that goes to them," said Donnelly about the pro- vision which states they can Jim Donnelly, Goderich Deputy Mayor is not a fan of the potential fee increase for the town's YMCA. ask for increases every so often. McCabe told Postmedia most facilities are at about 8-9 per cent. "Although the 7 per cent hasn't changed, the opera- tional cost changes every year," said Donnelly. "They go up $100,000-$200,000 and it's $600,000 or $700,000 now, every time that goes up, the fee goes up." The next Goderich Coun- cil meeting is Feb. 21 at 4:30 p.m. Dutch Princess Margriet invited to Goderich Ilk Group is "positively optimistic" about if princess visiting, but either way, commemoration event is in store Justine Alkema Postmedia Goderich has invited a special visitor for their Dutch Liberation Com- memoration - the Nether- -lands's Princess Margriet. The event is being organ- ized by locals Jim Rutledge and Sid Bruinsma. They have been working on the event for almost four years. More recently, Patrick Nagle from the Rural Busi- ness Network in Clinton joined to work on the website. Nagle said that, "Princess Margriet, over the years, has been at the forefront of remembrance, and has maintained a presence that continues today." Princess Margriet was born in Ottawa and was regarded by Canadian troops in the war as "Cana- da's Princess': "Her passion is the veter- ans and youth," said Rutledge. Although no such visit has been confirmed at this time, organizers say they are in touch with the embassy and are "positively optimistic" about it. Although the event will likely be in May, no date has been set at this point. "There's a lot of moving parts in this thing," they said. When a date is set, they will let the community know. Regardless of if there is a royal visit or not, the event will be a very special day of commemoration. Veterans from all over Ontario will be invited. The 7,600 • • • • • • • • • • • Brodhagen Chamber of Commerce MEN'S NIGHT BBQ Ribs & Pigtails Friday, March 3, 2017 Social 6 pm Dinner 6:30 pm For Tickets: $25 each 519-348-0940 519-345-2209 519-345-2248 Brodhagen Community Centre www.brodhagencommunitycentre.com • • • • • • • • • ea orth uronex 1 ositor.co Canadians who lost their lives in the push to liberate the Netherlands will be honoured and especially the 20 men from Huron County. "I have 396 contacts with veteran organizations where we might [be able to invite] some veterans that liberated Holland, said Jim. The event is also about the deep-rooted Cana- dian -Dutch friendship. "There's that goodwill that has been a lasting element here and a last- ing connection to Hol- land." There is a local goodwill because "10% of the population in Huron County is Dutch," said Nagle. The organizers pointed out that MPP Lisa Thomp- son and MP Ben Lobb have been very supportive along the way as well. Lobb took the organizers to Global Affairs Canada to be inter- viewed by people there. The event will take place at Liberation Memorial . Park in Goderich on High- way 21 and Nelson Street. A press release said the event will "include the unveiling of a commemo- rative/memorial plaque, the unveiling of new sig- nage at the park, the re- dedication of Liberation Memorial Park, a parade that will include many military vehicles of the WWII era, a Canadian mil- itary presence and a reception with our veter- ans and youth to close out the day. In addition, we are planning to have a concert involving the Royal Regiment of Canada with members of the 48th Highlanders of Canada performing their Libera- tion of the Netherlands concert." The event also involves students from the Huron Perth Catholic District School Board partnering with classrooms in the Netherlands. The program is to develop friendships and ultimately result in stu- dent exchange programs. The website taken on by Nagel is an evolving piece of the event. It describes what has happened in the past in Goderich (an "interactive community history" said Nagle), petitions Princess Margriet to come and the gives a broader narrative of the Canadian role in the war. When soldiers came back from the war, many didn't want to talk about their experiences. "We're sort of missing out on what did happen as this generation passes on," said Nagle. "We are encouraging, and will be encouraging with the website, these military units to start publishing some of this content." The URL of that site is dutch-canadiansremem- ber.ca.