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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-09-14, Page 4PAGE 4—GODERICH*0 it AIAT.AR, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1983 DAVE SYKES row > r - Shock waves reverberated around the world last week as the details of the cue cunostances surrounding the shooting of Korean 747 jetliner unfolded. The Soviets have admitted shooting down the passenger plane killing all 269 people on board. The plane intruded on Soviet air- space and the Kremlin has warned that it would take the same action under similar circumstances. Moscow insists the pilots did not know the Jet was a civilian plane but that entire responsibility for the incident lies with the United States for allegedly sending the plane on a spy mission in communist territory. Many questions over the incident have been left unanswered and while the Soviets have at least finally admitted guilt in the shooting down of the Korean Jetliner, they feel had adequate grounds to act. "Boy, that's a horrendous situation," a newsroom colleague offered in disbelief while scanning grey bits on the. matter in the daily press. "Its scary when you think aobut it. A war could start just like that." He snapped his fingers for emphasis. "You're absolutely right,`' I countered. "It just proves that nothing in this world is sacred anymore. You're never safe, even at 30,000 feet. The Soviets can track you down," "The world surely can't sit idly by and let the Russians get away with such a blatant deviant act. There must be retaliation for the wretched deed," he said getting angry. "They must accept culpability. They must atone, they must pay ...the swines." "I can understand your feelings, " I countered. "They are reactionary. But we can't just nuke 'em. That's not responsible action. Are you merely seeking vin- dication." "The innocent deaths of those 269 people must be vindicated," the colleague screamed with conviction. "Vindication at all costs." "So just what do you propose we do to the Russians that would be suitable retribution for the deaths," I inquired. "Our govern - moat has already banned Soviet planes from using Mirabel Airport. The fact that nobody uses Mirabel Airport b beside the point. Positive action has been taken. And the Moscow Circus, bas been banned from its Canadian tour this -fail. Now that's gonna teach them Russians to shoot innocent people down from the sky." "Well, whoopee," my colleague offered in response while making a circular motion with an extended index finger. "Let's really get 'em where it hurts. Why don't we make then listen to a collection of Joe Clark's most famous speeches, or we could send Harold Ballard over to manage their hockey team. Wouldn't they scream for mercy." You're right. There is much more drastic action that could have been taken. We should bit them in the old Jock strap, the sports department. Cancel all Canada Cup and other echibitton games with the Russians and you'll get them right in the pocket book. They make great sums of money in those international matches," I said. "We'll ban them from all international sporting events and also place an import ban on Lades and vodka," my colleague suggested. "That will effectively voice our displeasure over that despicable act." "Well, we will just have to encourage our government to take stiffer measures to express our opposition to their action. There is so much we could do. In the meantime, however, I am buying a pair of binoculars and watching the beach along Goderich in case one of those Soviet subs surfaces." Second clas: moil registration numbe 0716 SINCE 1848 THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT Founded h 1410 and published every Wednesday at Ooderlch, Ontario. Member of the CCN* and OWNA. *dyer. timing rates on request. Subscriptions payable In advance '10.001n Canada, °30.00 to U.S.A.. '50.00 to all other count• t tries, single copies 50c. (Display advertising rates available on request. please ask Dor Rate Card No.13 effective Oc. lobe. 1, 19$2. Second class moll Registration Number 0890. Advertising Is accepted on the condition that in the event of typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous Item, together with reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for but that balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the ap- plicable rate. h the event of a typographical error advertising goods or services of a wrong price, goods ar services may not be sold. Advertising Is merely on offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time. She Signal -Star is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsollcIted manuscripts, photon or other materials used for reproducing pur- poses. PUBLISHED BY: SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED ROBERT G.. SHRIER-President and Publisher DONALD M. HUBICK-Advertising Manager DAVID SYKES-Editor P.O. BOX 220, HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK GODERICH N7A 4B6 FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES please phone (519) 524-8331 Centre's closure destroys old industr When Provincial Secretary for Justice, Gordon Walker boldly intimates that the creation of the new regional detention centre for young offenders is in effect creating a "new industry" in the area, the statement sadly overlooks the destruction of the previotiS itidii0tfy'. •'. ' i • •1 The Bluewater Centre for the Developmentally Han- dicapped, one of six such regional centres in the province, will be closed November 15. Revered as one of the finest, if not the best, facilities of its kind in the province and North America, the centre was hone to hundreds of retarded adults since its creation in 1975. The centre has seen many changes since Premier John Robarts opened the Ontario Hospital 21 years ago. The community has simply adjusted to the changes, at times unwillingly, but the Provincial Government always got a good fight from local residents. Walker was only a messenger in this case, here to an- nounce that the centre would be reopened as a regional detention centre. It cold employ as many as 200 people in 1985. But for the government to appear on the scene and act as a benevolent saviour for creating a new industry and the accompanying 200 jobs is incomprehensible and borders on arrogant. But the man who pretends to un- derstand the vagaries of government is himself, a politician. To suggest that the loss of jobs was not an issue is ludicrous but the entire closure has far reaching im- plications for many people in the Goderich area. The loss of jobs was an important factor. In a small community, the loss of over 100 jobs has a great impact on the social and economic fabric. The closure announced last fall created anxiety and uncertainty in the lives of employees, residents and their families and relatives. For months, employees worked under pressure, simply waiting for the provincial promulgation that would terminate employment. They knew they were beat, but they didn't know when. There were efforts to save the centre, but they the government's five-year plan was heralded as the new beginning for the developmentally handicapped in Ontario. Nobody shared that optimism. It's somewhat paradoxical to hear Walker state at a press conference that the Bluewater Centre was one of the finest facilities of its kind in North America. Why then, was it closed? The five-year plan announced by the Ministry of Community and Social Services invites many questions. In theory, it is an admirable and bold plan, one that at- tempts to provide the developmentally handicapped with a more normalized' suburban life. But the plan raised concerns for the well being of the developmentally handicapped. There were no assurances, despite pleas to the contrary by the Hon. Frank Drea, that adequate support services would be in place in the community in time to accept the residents. That was the crux of the problem. The future of the residents. Some of the developmentally handicapped, it must be conceded, would benefit greatly from a move into the community. Others, however, would be incapable of such a move and they are destined for a life in a large in- stitution, away from family and friends. It is a shame, in humanitarian terms, that the families who followed their sons and daughters to Huron County, may have to move to be with their children. They will make that decision but governments rarely deal with matters on compassionate grounds. The employees have had their lives turned upside down too. The uncertainty of employment undoubtedly con- tributed to anxiety and frustrations. Many of those em- ployees have found jobs elsewhere with the ministry. They have moved from a job they loved, from a com- munity they called home. Some of those people could have found jobs with the new facility but the provincial and federal governments hadn't hammered out a cost-sharing agreement on the Young Offenders Act. The delay forced people to seek what alternate employment was available. Others, still working at the centre, may be fortunate enough to fit the retraining mould and secure employment at the regional detention centre. The closure of the Bluewater Centre has caused enough anxiety to last for a long time and the issue isn't settled yet. Not all the residents have been placed. Not all the employees have jobs. So when Gord Walker talks of a "new industry" for Goderich and Goderich Township, the phrase must cer- tainly provoke a smile. We liked our "old industry" just fine, thank you. But the government giveth and the gov ernment taketh away. One last surf and dip by Dave Sykes DEAR READERS SHIRLEY KELLER Last week I enjoyed a jaunt along the St. Lawrence River to Morrisburg before cutting north to Ottawa and Pembroke and finally heading across Eastern Ontario via Highway 41 and Highway 7 back into Southwestern Ontario. It was too early for the colours of fall and too late for the bevy of summer ... but it had to be one of the most relaxing holidays I've had in a while: I can't deny it. I'm an Ontario lover through and through. While having dinner in a quiet little spot at Brockville, I discovered why I'm in love with Ontario. There on the table was Facts About Southern Ontario ... a map of the province jam- packed with things of which I could be peacock proud. Did you know that the first electrically cooked meal in history was served in Ottawa in 1892? Or that the first Macintosh red apples were grown at Dundela in Eastern Ontario? The Right Honourable John A. MacDonald, Canada's first prime minister, grew up in Hay Bay. His body is buried in the area too ... and the spot is clearly marked as one drives along High- way 2. The Griffin was the first vessel to sail the Great Lakes. She was built in 1679 at Niagara Falls and plied the waters of our area until she ran aground near the tip of the Bruce Peninsula and sank. The first steamer to sail on Lake Ontario was built at Bath, Ontario ... quite close to Brockville, named for Sir Isaac Brock, the hero of Queenston Heights. The first ship sunk in the war of 1812 by the Americans was the Nancy, the wreckage at Wasaga Beach. The first Canadian book was published in 1824 at Kingston and five -pin bowling was invented by Thomas J. Ryan in 1909 near Oshawa. The first electric street railway was in St. Catharines in 1;;7. There were reminders of Laura Secord of Chippawa, the heroine of the war of 1812, whose courageous journey on foot through enemy lines to warn the Canadian forces of an impending attack, changed sure defeat into a major vic- tory; of Uncle Tom's Cabin at Dresden where runaway slaves from the southern United States were sheltered; of Tom Longboat, Canada's greatest distance runner, born on the Grand River Reserve here in Ontario; of Alexander Graham Bell who invented the principle of the telephone at his home in Brantford.. There were tributes to Ontario engineering feats: The world's largest hydraulic lift lock at Peterborough; the St. Lawrence Seaway built in 1954 through 1959 to link the ocean with the inland lakes; the Rideau Canal system built between 1826 and 1832; the first oil well in North America drilled at Oil Springs by J. M. Williams in 1857. There were facts about Ontario's teeming wildlife: the bear and moose of the Algonquin Provincial Park; the ducks of the Kawartha Lakes; the hunting and fishing in the Huntsville - Parry Sound district; Jack Miner's Bird San- ctuary near Kingsville. For Rock Hounds, there's the fascinating rock formations near Tobermory where Flower Pot Island is a landmark or The Kettles of Kettle Point just south of Grand Bend. And then there were the heavy-duty facts that just blew my mind. Check this out if you aren't impressed with Ontario. FACT:Ontario as 2,362 miles of fresh water shoreline, 680 milles of salt water shoreline on Hudson's Bay and James Bay, and is 412,000 square miles in area of which 20 million acres is virgin farmland. Did someone say we're going to starve to death in this country for lack of agricultural land? It just needs some thought and ingenuity to put it to use. FACT:Ontario attracts the largest percentage of immigrants to Canada and now boasts a population of seven million people. That sounds to me like about one-quarter of the country's population lives, plays and works in Ontario and that fully one in every four newcomers picks Ontario ahead of any of the other nine provinces. Fact:Ontario's modern toll-free highways cover over 80,000 miles carrying residents and visitors easily and safely into all parts of the province. It's easy to believe, because we travelled mile after scenic mile of uncrowded, excellent high- way that wound in, through, around, by and over acre upon acre of beautiful countryside. As we drove, we stopped from time to browse through many little antique shops. It's a great way to get to know your Province .. and the people whe !'vee here when things first took shape. One proprietor told us that Canadians living in Ontario are finally getting wise to the fact we are a people with an exciting heritage. Many of us sold away our past to interlopers who bought up those precious pieces from our birth and development. But now, he said, at last we're beginning to value these things ... and to hunt them down and restore them to our own nation for our own lasting enjoyment. I would heartily encourage each of you to get out there and experience Ontario as often as possible; to delve into her past; to have faith in her future. It really is a place to stand ... and to grow ,.. and to preserve for many, many generations to come. ,,Recently a rather interesting publication was lent to me. There is now also a framed copy of a couple of its pages in the municipal office in Goderich Town Hall. It is The Saturday Globe, dated "Toronto, Saturday July 20, 1895". The price is mark- ed "five cents". Under the heading "Pen and Camera" a visit to Goderich is vividly described at great length, with many pic- tures on several pages. The yellowed pages offer comforting comparisons. Many Observations are just as valid today, some have faded into memories when the times and conditions changed, others again are in- vitations to follow up on long -forgotten am- bitions. The town's solid planning is mentioned with appreciation. "Its growth had not been left, as it is in many towns, to accident", but "had been provided for by forethought and a plan specially adapted to the peculiar piece of ground upon which it stands". In that heritage there is an obligation. About Harbour Park it says that it "is the most attractive of all the places in this beautiful town." It appears that already then it was the gathering place for family reunions and "numerous excursion par- ties". It mentions "church spires, public edifices, pretty priVate residences, enriched with the bright green foliage of abundant trees". There are pal .graphs about the excellent roads in the area, about manufacturing, banking and mercantile, farming, amusements. The town had two newspapers at the time - The Star ( "exponent of Con- servative principles, published every Thursday") and The Daily Signal about which the article says that it is "the expo- nent of Liberal principles, but is subservient to no party or clique". A good tradition to follow. The Board of Trade is said to be "in hear- ty sympathy with the work of putting the tfdwn in its proper place as the leading sum- mer resort on the lakes". There is also The Committee of Seven (a parent of our Tourism Committee?) with the same aim of "bringing the town before the world as a summer resort". This point intrigues me most. The features which made Goderich a great sum- mer resort then, are still here - the potential to be not just a tourist area where visitors come, look and go, but a place to spend one's summer holidays and to form closer ties and allegiances. The paper quotes from several' letters from as far away as St. Louis, Missouri, expressing appreciation of the town as a healthy, clean and attractive resort for "people in need of a quiet, cool and invigorating watering place". There is also an extensive description of two mineral springs at the foot of the hill and praises for the "medicinal qualities" of their water. Does anyone know where the second well was and what happened to it? When asked about these artesian wells the town's Commissioner of Works, Ken Hunter, said that his department will get the spring water tested for mineral contents and added that the well is an "exciting feature, never properly capitalized, but the revamping of the area is included in the next 1 phase of the Ontario Neighbourhood Im- provement Program". The Director of Public Health Inspections, Edward Harrison, replied from Huron County Health Office in Clinton that his department tests the well water weekly for bacteriological qualities only and it is clean and safe drinking water. When questioned about the "medicinal qualities" of our spring water, Dr. H. R. Cieslar, head of Huron County Health Unit, pointed out that in our usual water supply "treatment takes away minerals and adds chlorine. Sure, drinking three glasses of nice clean mineral water daily is good for one's health". Why has the town turned its face away from that type of potential? Have we been influenced by the increasingly rigid attitude in general that "growth and progress" can mean only one thing - industrial expansion in factories? Perhaps there is room and need for a more imaginative approach for realizing some of our potential for people - oriented service industries. It is worth thinking about. ELSA HAYDON .rte.,.•