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Times Advocate, 1999-06-16, Page 15Wednesday, June 16, 1999 Business 15 Japanese exchange program looking for host families in Huron By Kate Monk TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER -- A cultural exchange program com- ing to the London -Huron County region this sum- mer could be a win-win situation for everyone involved. NIKKA Consulting is looking for host families for 10 recent Japanese university graduates who will be visiting Canada this -mer. In t.ieir et, hey have been re Aired by Yazaki Corporauon for technical and managerial positions and are participating in Classroom Without Walls, an innovative training program to foster cross- cultural understanding. Program co-ordinator David Parkinson is looking for host families and said Huron County offers an ideal environment because it is outside Toronto giving the partici- pants a more representa- tive view of Canadian life. "The Exeter area pro- vides an opportunity for genuine contact," Parkinson said. Parkinson said NIKKA wants the participants to get out in the community rather than being insulat- ed in a packaged tour. He stresses the partici- pants understand they are not going to Club Med and will be immersed in family life. He said they are not asking the host family to entertain the Japanese but are asking them to include them in family activities such as house- hold and farm chores, pic- Granton breakfast Granton's Jacob Toll was just one of more than 400 people who attended a community breakfast at the fire hall in Granton last Sunday. The event was sponsored by the Biddulph-Blanshard Volunteer Firefighters_ and held in conjunction with the (for- mer)Township of Bidduiph's sesquicentennial com- mittee. Proceeds from the event went towards funding the township's history book entitled "Pioneers to the Present." Population targets set By Joe Thompson Sept. 1 has been set for the SPECIAL TO THE T -A receipt of local restructur- ing proposals by the coun- GODERICH — The coun- ty restructuring debate rages on. At the June Huron County council meeting, three motions were carried that would affect any restructuring of government. Under these new propos- als, a total of 6,000 elec- tors has been set as a tar- get for each lower -tier municpality. For every 3,000 electors a municipal- ity has, one representative will sit on county council. For example, a munici- pality with 3,000 electors would have one represen- tative, while a municipality with 3,001 to 6,000 would get two. Also, a target date of After this date the county will put together a restruc- turing proposal, that encompasses the entire county. The third motion ensures that no boundary adjustments among municipalities will be accepted except by mutual agreement. Single tier option Still with restructuring Turnberry Township Reeve Brian McBurney made a motion at county. council that it still consid- er a single -tier municipali- ty consisting of 27 munici- palities. At request from several councillors this motion was put off until the next meeting, July 8. LA nics, trips to ball gamed or other excursions. On an exchange trip to Canada last year, Japanese engineers served as volunteer helpers at daycare cen- tres, made presentations about Japan to elemen- tary school students and visited senior citizen homes. The Japanese partici- pants have formal English training and the exchange will help them improve their language skills. They also have health and acci- dent insurance. Each host family will bil- let one Japanese partici- pant. NIKKA will be based in London during the two- week homestay and will provide 24-hour supervi- sion via the telephone. Parkinson doesn't antici- pate any problems. "The Japanese are cus- tomarily shy and reserved which makes them trou- ble-free homestay guests," Parkinson said. "But once the barriers come down and they have experi- enced the hospitality of a Canadian family, they warm up very quickly." Household rules will be explained to the partici- pants in Japanese ensur- ing there are no misun- derstandings, Parkinson said. Host families are screened and receive ori- entation prior to their guest arriving and will also receive a $2o. per day honorarium. The program has a budget to cover extra expenses for visits to attractions. Parkinson said the host Playhouse now a heritage building GRAND BEND — One of the area's most distin- guishable landmarks has been officially designated a heritage building. The former century -old barn that has housed sum- mer theatre at the Huron Country Playhouse for the past 28 year was desig- nated last month in a municipal bylaw adopted by Stephen Township council. The bylaw designation will be registered on the title of the Playhouse prop- erty denoting no changes can be made to the exteri- or of the building that would detract from its original appearance. As the theatre gears up this week to launch their 1999 season with such plays as Dial `M' For Murder, The Odd, Cduple and Singin' In The Rain, they still image to oper- ate without government assistance. The successful playhouse relies totally on box office revenue, in addition to the support- of members, cor- porate sponsors and municipalities within the area. +_ .. This October they have planned a fund-raising event to pay down a capi- tal deficit created when the rehearsal hall was built. 1st 8 2nd Mo MONEY AVAILABLE at 6.5% interest or less Personal Loans Totally Unsecured if you quali- fy, monthly payments as low as Amt. App. Mthly Payt. $5,000 $27.68 $10,000 $54.16 $15,000 $81.25 Consolidate Your'Debtl 1(800) 387-1932 Astral Funding TOWNSHIP OF LUCAN-BIDDULPH OPMENT CHARGES BY - PUBLIC MEETING Y L The Township of Lucan-Biddulph is holding a Public Meeting to discuss a proposed Development Charges By -Law. This By -Law would replace the existing By -Law No. 10-92 and will; set out new Development Charge Rates and the manner in which they will be collected. The meeting will be held on: Thursday, July 8, 1999 7:30 p.m. Lucan Community Memorial Centre Leprechaun Hall, 263 Main Street, Lucan, Ontario Copies of the proposed By -Law and the supporting Background Study will be available for review at the Township Offices beginning on, June 24, 1999. Representatives of Council and B.M. Ross and Associates Consulting engineer will be . present at Lne meeting to present details of the. Background Study and answer questions. Any person who attends the meeting may make representations relating to the By -Law. This notice issued June 16, 1999. Ronald Reymer Clerk -Administrator Township of Lucan-Biddulph families will benefit from the experience too. "It's opening a big door for host families," he said. "It will get them to have contact with someone from a different culture." The homestay is .the exchange program's key component. They will arrive in London on July 12 and stay at the University of Western Ontario until they meet their families on July 17. The homestay officially ends July 31. This year's program is a pilot -project which Parkinson hopes to see grow in the future. Programs have also been conducted in New Zealand, Western Samoa, Mexico, British Columbia Town of Exeter Water Restrictions - in Effect from May 1 to October 31 EAST of Main Street ODD Numbered Days 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. WEST of Main Street EVEN Numbered Days 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Commercial entities ithin the boundaries of the Town of Exeter that are in business of selling lawn/garden plants are exempt from these restrictions Contravention of this By-law is an offense and on summary conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $300.00 exclusive of costs Exeter Hydro 235-1350 Let's be responsible and . not waste water v and Toronto. If interested in hosting a young Japanese business person, call NIKKA Consulting at 416-465- 4141. tr-J SUMMER DRIVING LESSONS Bud's Driving School. Register by July 12, 1999 and SAVE $30. 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