Times-Advocate, 1982-02-24, Page 24i
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r
Page 24 Times-Advocate,February 24, 19E2
Diplomat finds Exeter life bestof all
•In spite of 15 years over-
seas and the rich ex-
periences of five different
diplomatic postings around
the world with the federal
government as an im-
migration counsellor, John
M. "Gibby" Gibson finds
living in Exeter the best
possible location he could
ask for.
Gibson and his wife Zella
returned to their home on
Wellington St. in September
after finishing a four-year
term at the Canadian em-
bassy in Mexico City. Now
65, Gibson says the foreign
service has taught him the
value of being in Canada.
A native of Petrolia.
Gibson has been a school
teacher, a fighter pilot in
World.War Two, and finally
an immigration officer with
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Tenders will be received for
the obese until 11:00 a.m.
local time, Friday, March 19,
1982, by the Ontario Housing
Corporation, r/o Court House
and Registry Office, 80 Dun-
das 'Street, P.O. Sox 5600,
Terminal' "A", London, On-
tario. N6A_ 2P3 (519/679-
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specifications may be ob-
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specifications may also be ob-
tained from the Huron County
Housing Authority 48 The
Square, Goderich, ' Ontario.
N7A 1MS (519/524-2637)
quoting reference number as
above.
THE LOWEST OR ANY TENDER
NOT NECESSARILY
ACCEPTED.
•
•
the department of
Immigration and
Employment, where he saw
and learned much about the
outside world to a degree
unknown to the vast
majority of Canadians. It
also taught him of the status
of Canada in the world's
eyes.
Gibson, or "Gibby" as his
friends call him, began his
life in Petrolia but grew up in
Kingsville, near Kingston.
After completing his
education there he took up
teaching. His first assign-
ment was on Peelee Island,
the southernmost point in the
country. Sometime later he
moved to Windsor.
However, like many young
men of his time, the arrival
of World War II interrupted
his quiet civilian life as he
exchanged his shirt and tie
for a serviceman's uniform.
He piloted a Spitfire airplane
in a squadron based in
Egypt.
The end of the war brought
him back to Canada and he
was able to continue flying
as a photo pilot for the Air
Force. To this day, he can
remember his missions over
the Northwest Terrirorities,
taking pictures. Even Exeter
and the surrounding area
appears in his mind's eye
from an aerial perspective
from his days as an in-
structor in Centralia. It was
also in the Air Force that he
met his wife Zella, in
Ottawa, where she was an
officer. They were married
in 1946.
World events brought
Gibby back to the Air Force
in 1950. He was back
'teaching school in Windsor
when the Korean War
erupted, and , he enlisted,
hoping to fly once more. The
Air Force had different ideas
- instead of putting him in a
cockpit, it put him at the
head of a classroom as a
flying instructor.
A year later, Gibby had his
instructor's certificate and
was sent to Canada's
training center in Centralia,
where trainees of numerous
European nationalities had
been mustered. "Canada
had accepted from NATO the
task of training all . the
member nations' fighter
pilots," he said, and for the
next 15 years he and the
other instructors trained
thousands of young men how
to maneuver . and handle
warplanes. This was also the
time Gibby was first exposed
to Exeter, which he found he
liked very much. He bought
the house at 68 Wellington
Street, where he lives today.
His service with the Air
Force came to a troubled end
in 1966 when the federal
government moved to unite
the three independent
branches of the armed
forces. "I just didn't agree
with it," he said. "The Army
and Navy. are themselves
fine services, but there is a
?certain esprit de cot'ips'in all
of them, and to take away
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TAKE NOTICE
MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT!
Take notice that Huron County
Pork Producers are holding a Vote on
MONDAY, MARCH 8
BETWEEN 9 AM AND 6 PM
to find out lust what the Pork Producers of Huron Coun-
ty ere in favour of.
The ballot Is to be:
NO. 1 DO YOU WANT OPPMB TO DO NOTHING?
No. 2 MAKE NECESSARY REVISION TO
PRESENT SELLING SYSTEM?
No. 3 ARE YOU IN FAVOUR OF SUPPLY
MANAGEMENT?
THE VOTING PLACES Alt:
-The W.I. Hall In Selgrave
-Tho OMAF Office In Clinton
-Tho Arena In Hensall
This vote Is lust a straw vote • nothing binding.
JOHN ARTS LLOYD STEWART
PRESIDENT SECRETARY -TREASURER
To bo eligible to vote,one roust have a registration
number. Only one vote per family or partnership Is
allowed. '
1
their separate identities was
bad for that feeling. I
couldn't go along with it."
His objection thus
satisfied, Gibby applied to
the foreign service depart-
ment of the Ministry of
Manpower and
Employment. They required
a university degree, but he
had already taken a
bachelor's degree in
education from Wayne State
University in Detroit in 1950
after years of spare -time
evening study. Eventually,
he studied at the University
of Toronto and at Western in
London to finish his courses
because of his mobile life.
"Wayne State was good in
that it was a very open-
minded, liberal campus,
which was willing to
challenge cliches and
practise free thinking," he
said.
Gibby was never a " full-
time student but adjusted
his academic schedule to fit
into his busy working
schedule with the Air Force.
The foreign service was very
choosy about the people it i
hired. "It was fairly tough
getting in; of the hundreds
who applied, only about 60
were. accepted,". he
remembered. He wrote a
stiff examination and ap-
peared for, an intensive in-
terview before being. given
the nod.
After a training period,
Gibby got his first posting In
Munich in March 1967, where
he was . head of the im-
migration office of the_
Canadian embassy. • It was
here that he and his staff
handled the crowds of
tradesmen eager to im-
migrate to Canada.
"Some of these people
were highly trained and well
qualified in their field. They
wanted a better life, and they
saw Canada as the answer.
Canada actively recruited
them, too. Potential im-
migrants were carefully
screened before admission,
but I feel we got the best
workers. Their
qualifications were the
highest," he said. At that
time Munich was the center
of the car and aircraft
manufacturing industries.
Gibson. was moved to
Rome when Ottawa closed
the Munich office in 1968. He
deeply appreciated the
richness of the Itallett
capital's culture and history,`
as well as its food. "It was
easily the most interesting of
my posts," he admitted., "I
was close enough to the
Florence art gallery that I
could visit it. It's probably
the best gallery in the,
world." The Rome assign-
ment gave hirrl, much the
same work as did .Munich,
processing workers and
tradesmen wanting to start
life again in Canada. He also
granted visas to students
bound for campuses such as
McGill, University of
Toronto and Western.
In 1970 he and Zella once
again packelt their bags for
UKES UVING 1N EXETER — Even though he has seen much
of the world, Exeter's retired diplomat says he prefers living
here. The model is that of a Spitfire, the fighter .he piloted in
North Africa during World War II.
Plan for prayer day
By MRS. ROBERT LAING
CROMARTY
Mrs.Carter Kerslake
presided for the February
meeting of the Cromarty
Marian. Ritchie Evening
Auxiliary, held in the church
basement February 16 with
13 members and one', visitor
present. •
Mrs. Kerslake opened with
a poem and hymn 494 with
Mrs. Ivan Norris ac-
companing the hymns on the
piano.
Mrs. Frank Hamilton had
the devotions taking her
scripture reading from
Matthew 25, Mrs. Kerslake
led in prayer: For her topic,
Mrs. Jean Carey read an
article "That Darn Cat"
written by Rev. Wilson from
the Presbyterian Record.
Mrs. Robert Laing
presided for the business.
Shegave an interestingreport
of the Presbyterial Women's
annual meeting held earlier
this month in Knox church,
Stratford. A donation was
made to the piano fund and a
committee was named to
purchase flower
arrangements for the
church.
Members were reminded
of the World Day of Prayer
to be held in Cromarty
Church this year on Friday,
March 5. Hibbert United
Church Ladies will join the
Cromarty Ladies.
The roll call was answered
by giving a proverb. Mrs.
Lloyd Miller gave a
humorous reading, "The
Homesick City Slicker" for
her special number.
The Study Book was taken
by Mrs. Robert Laing and
Mrs. Ivan Norris. Mrs.
Norris conducted a quit on
Pluralizm. Mrs. Laing led in
the Bible study entitled
Sojourning in the Land, with
everyone going to groups for
discussion period.
Mrs. Laing had a map of
the world on which everyone
pin pointed where their
ancestors originated. Mrs.
Kerslake closed the meeting.
Personals
Mr. and Mrs. Wilfrid
Annis, : Mitchell, Mr. and
Mrs. Eldie McNicol, London,
Mr. and Mrs. John Tem-
pleman were Wednesday
dinner guests of Mr. and
Mrs. Alvin Cole, Hensel!.
Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Dow
and children Emily and
Keith, have arrived home on
leave from Nigeria, where
Ernest has been working
with the )Christian Blind
Mission International. They
are spending some time with
both their families.
their next move - this time to
arid, remote Islamabad, in
West Pakistan, where he was
also responsible for
Afghanistan. This placed a
huge area of jurisdiction on
his shoulders, but "there was
a genuine feeling of unity, a
team spirit among the
departments at t:.e embassy.
We also spoke to all levels of
Canadians," Gibby said.
During the Indo -Pakistani
war of 1970, Gibby stayed at
the office with a skeleton
staff while all other
Canadians . including staff
members' wives were
evacuated. Zella chose to
stay in Tehran because it
was the closest place of
safety, and she was the first
wife to return when peace
was restored. "We were in
nophysical danger, though,"
he said.
Gibby admits he has the
love of travel in his blood,
and he and Zella were able to
do• just that each year on
official leave. They went to
Asia, Indonesia, the Pacific
and the Indian subcontinent.
"The cost of travelling was
less than it is today, and we
used the special rates of,
fered to tourists," he said.
While on vacation, they
discovered and saved a
sickly puppy which they still
have today, whom they call
Kismet, or "fate". They also
have a second dog from West
Pakistan, called Teddy.
The Gibsons were in
Islamabad for four -and -a -
half years, about twice . the
normal tenure for diplomats.
Then, to his chagrin, Gibby
was recalled to Ottawa
where he was the assistant to
a senior bureaucrat in the
foreigg.service department.
After two unsatisfactory
years of this, he won his
request to be sent "back.into
the field" and was assigned
to Cairo. .
It was also here that he
was interviewed by Cam
McDougall, a former am-
bassador heading q team of
experts representing all
departments- in the foreign
service. They were doing an
exhaustive survey for a
report for the federal
government on the status of
the foreign' service, which
was released a few weeks
ago.
A highly critical and
outspoken report, it blames
poor official policies and
operating procedures for the
low morale • and
dissatisfaction which 'Gibby
knows very well in the
foreign service. He said he is
still trying to get his own
copy to read. As for his own
comments to McDougall,
Gibby cited the lack of help
in his office. "I had two
assistants, but it wasn't
enough. I then got a third,
but it was still inadequate.
It's a very common com-
plaint in our line of work," he
said. .
-While in Mexico City, he
wrote to Ottawa warning hir
superiors that he needed
more staff to handle the flood
of refugees wanting to leave
their troubled countries until
peace and order Is restored.
"Canada represents hope for
these people," he said.
With his work finally done,
Gibby can now reflect on his
memories of his travels and
juxtapose them with life as
lived here in small-town
Ontario. Things like open
spaces, no traffic, clean air,
clean streets and a neigh-
bourhood spirit are a part of
Exeter by its nature, he
feels. Canada as a whole is
Blue Mountain
SKIING
One Day Ski Trip
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Small World Travel
235-2000
or
Dashwood Hotel
237-3671
Five euchre winners
By ANNE WALPER
GREENWAY
Winners at the 'euchre
party in the Anglican Hall
Wednesday night were
men's high - Ken McLinchey,
men's low - Bruce Hodgins,
ladies high - Marilyn Rock,
ladies low - Marilyn
Thompson, lone' hands -
Clarke Hodgins.
A tasty lunch was served
and an hour of fellowship
followed.
Grace Anglican Church
held their Vestry Meeting
recently and the following
officers were elected. Vestry
Clerk - Jeannette Hodgins,
Rector's Warden - Ken
McFalls, Peoples' Warden -
Ken McLlnchey, Lay
Delegate to Synod - Marion
Hodginsi Alternate Delegate
- Olive (Ted) Hodgins,
Treasurer - Clarke Hodgins.
United Church
At the service in the United
Church on Sunday Rev.
Moore took for the topic of
his sermon "Saying and
Doing."
The junior choir sang,
"Spread a Little Love
Around," and the anthem
sung by the senior choir was
"Glory Filled My Soul."
Personals
In the Optimist Public
Speaking at Ailsa Craig
Wednesday Janet Eagleson
placed first and she also
came first at the Legion
Public Speaking Saturday.
Congratulations Janet!
Jan and Ruby Lagerwerf
have returned from a trip to
Texas.
The sympathy of the
community . is ilittended to
the Bullock family during
their recent bereavement.
Optimist Club
Stephen
Bookings available
for
HURON PARK
ANNEX
* Weddings
* Parties, Etc.
Air Conditioned
Annex/Rental
Ken Mason
?28-6765
safe and comfortable to live
in compared to some
countries.'
"1 had the chance to
mingle with some really
fascinating people - it's the
best part of the foreign
service. The contrast 'bet-
ween Mexico City and
Exeter is very sharp.",
Contrary to popular belief,
being a diplomat did not give
him a blank cheque to do as
he pleased in the host
country. "Embassy staff are
responsible for all actions in
whatever country they are
in. We have to live up to two
sets of laws all the time," he
said firmly.
Gibby saw much room for
Canada to move in and take
advantage ofeconomic
opportunities. "The third
world nations are becoming
big customers for almost
anything, including
technical education. Canada
is by definitions seller, so we
should go after that market
with determination. Our
products do have a good
reputation around the
world."
He acknowledged that
"the rich are getting richer
and the poor are getting
poorer, but most countries
are trying to stop ,that.
Agencies like the Canadian
International Development
Agency (CIDA) have done
much to help, and guest
workers in Britain and
Europe send home much of
their earnings to their
families."
Now that their time is their
own, Gibby and Zella are
trying to get their home in
some sort of order with all
their fine memorabilia,
furniture, books and clothes
still to be unpacked.
He said they are thinking
about a spring vacation to
Mexico, but their first
priority is to get their house
fixed up.
111111IIIIIIIIIIIIIII11111111n llllllIIl1IIII
Anyone interested in
the preaching and
teaching "Of. the Doc-
trines of Grace" contact
Bill at
236-4979,
Jim at
565-5341 or
Lawrence 482-9260.
1111111 •i
1;
ELMIRA
SYRUP
FESTIVAL
Sat.. April 3
CALL
Small World Travel
235-2000
11r` South
Huron
is
iliRec Centre
Activities
Huron Park
Brownie Pack
Betio
Drive
Sat., March 6
9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
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Happy i<
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Birthdthay
Jackie
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Your Pop
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Party.
for
Martin
VanRaay
Sat. Feb, - 27
For more Info -
Phone 235-0745
or 262-2207
• Wed., Mar. 24
High School 11:55-12:45
Minor Hockey 5.10:30 p.m.
Thurs., fab. 25
Moms & Tots 10-11 a.m.
Ice Rental -11:55 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Figure Skating 4-8 p.m.
Hawks vs Mitchell 8:30 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 26
ice Rental 11:55 o.m.-3:30 p.m.
Figure Skating 4.8 p.m.
Mohawks vs Hensall 8:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 27
'Figure Skating Carnival
Show 2 p.m. 8 7:30 p.m.
No public Skating
Sun., Feb. 28
Ice Rental from 11 a.m.•12 noon
Public Skate 2-4 p.m.
Minor Hockey 5-6:30 p.m.
Hawks vs Mitchell 8:30 p.m.
Mon., Mar. 1
Ice Rental 3-4 p.m.•
Figure Skating 4-9:30 p.m.
Ice Rental 9:30-10:30 p.m.
Tues., Mar. 2
Moms . Tots 10-11 a.m.
2-3 p.m.
Minor Hockey 5-6:30 p.m.
Mohawks vs. Hensall 8:30 p.m.
Wed., Mar. 3
Minor Hockey 5-10,30 p.m.
Thurs., Mar: 4
Moms & Tots' 10-11 a.m.
Ice Rental 3-4 p.m.
Figure Skating 4-8 p.m.
Rhc League 8-12 p.m.
Dance
March 6'
Kirkton
Woodham
Community Centre
Music by
Joe Overholt
$6.00 per couple
Proceeds for
K.W. Swimming
Pool Maintenance
McGillivray Athletic Assoc.
Parkhill Contaseati Caere
DANCE
Sat., March 6
Music by
CHAPPARALS
Dancing -9;1
$10.00 per couple
Lunch
Tickets Avilable from
' Barry Heaman
Stan Dixon
Jack Tweddle
Bob Robinson
Wes Hodgson
Jim Thompson
MOHAWK DANCE
Music By
TRACES
Sat., Feb. 27
at the
South Huron Rec Centre
8:30-1
• Lunch Provided
• Tickets at
Anstett Jewellers Jerry MacLean & Son
or any. Mohawk Player
LCD0/1191iotl (avenin
17 .Math St.. 3untch
presents
Direct from London
One Night Only
The Cavaliers
Sat. night February 27th
The original home of the BIG meal
We regret we cannot reserve tables that even-
ing due to the seating capacity in the lounge
A sincere thanks' for your patronage
David and Marie Gelinas
236-4371 Zurich
EASTER WEEKEND
Tour Of Washington
Friday, April 9th to
Monday, April 12, 1982
F
R
O Al all CDN.
• INCLUDES
- round trip transportation by air-conditioned motor coach
- 3 nights accommodation at the.beautiful•Tysons Corner Marriott
Hotel in Washington,
- hotel tips and taxes
- services of a,tour guide • -
- two half day escorted tours of the Washington area
- cruise on the Potomac River and visit to Historic Mount Vernon
- lour of the Smithsonian Institute •
- Tour of the White House
- Tour of Arlington National Cemetery
- Visits to JFK Memorial and Abraham Lin-
coln Memorial
., Cherry 8losson tour
- Visit to Alexandria and Georgetown
- John F. Kennedy Centre for Performing
Arts