The Wingham Advance-Times, 1979-02-28, Page 15■
grew with t wn
Rec, pr gra s
Recreation in Wingham is as old as the to",�
itself. The Maitland River was always handy
for summer swimming or winter skating and
any*iacant lot would save for a pickup ball
game.
However the elaborate facilities and
organised programs for both children and
adults were not always available. They came
into being as the town grew and providing
recreation came to be accepted as a
responsibility of the community.
Even following the building of the arm& in
1924 --an earlier one stood on Josephine Street
where Crawford Motors is now—it was many
years before there was any sort of organized
recreation program, apart from the team
sports, in Wingham.
Harold Wild, who with his wife, Vipki, has
long been a part of the recreation scene here,
recalls that a Wingham recreation coil.
was born around 1900, shortly after the
war. The Lions Club was instrumental in
getting the group started and the first
recreation director, Sam Burton, was hired at
chat time.
Up until then there had been no organized
recreation program in town, Mr. Wild said. If
you wanted to teach your kids to swim you
took them down to the river yourself or sent
them with a neighbor.
Mr. Burton stayed for about three years
and then left, to be succeeded by Ernie Miller.
Following his departure a year later, town
council decided its money would be better
spent on other things than paying a recreation
director's salary, so for the next dozen years
the recreation programs depended entirely on
volunteers, such as the Wilds and Audrey
Tiffin who conducted a swimming program in
the Maitland River north of town.
7?w ehairman of the recreation council
carried much of the burden, with students
occasionally hired during the summer to help
out.
In 1965 the town was convinced to again hire
a f *dme rec diredoc and Ivan Kersell was
cog god, at a salary of $4,200 Per ypar, to
assist with all the existing programs such as
minor spotts and to institute broader summer
programs -
sen stayed for about a year and a
half before moving on to be replaced by Ken
Benjamin. When Mr. Benjamin left at the and
of a. year Jim Ward was hired to run the
town's recreation programs. He stayed until
1977, when Rennie Alexander, the present
r$creatlon director, was hired.
BIG BUSINESS
As its programs and responsibilities have
multiplied, spending on recreation has also
grown tq the point where it now ranks fourth
(behind the police, general government and
property, and roads) on the town budget,
after the education and county levies have
been deducted. .
The total budget for the recreation board
last year was more than $92,000, with slightly
over $52,000 coming out of tax revenues. The
remainder, more than $40,000, was raised
through fees, ice rental at, the arena and
revenue from other recreational activities.
About half the budget—=45,000-is devoted
to operating the arena for one year; salaries,
office supplies and other administrative costs
account for about $26,000; operation of the
swimming pool for the summer costs $17,500
and the ballparks cost about $6,000 to
maintain and operate.
The budget is set and administered by the
13 -member Wingham Recreation and
Community Centres Board, with the approval
of council. The board comprises two coun-
cillors and 11 members appointed from the
community by council. A chairperson is
chosen from within the board; for 1979 this is
Dianne Simpson.
In addition to Mr. Lhe re^_
director, Richard Boxwell is employed
fulltime to look after the arena and the
ballparks: Bob Armstrong is employed during
3 S. ' ' �•
1 t~ � S. N I 1►.
•� N 1
It's a greaseless, stainless medication, with a
cold cream base. And it goes to work fast.
Massage White Rubor•
tatives could be covered by the
township's public liability in-
over the painful area.
other benefits in order to
maintain the size of the orchestra
It stimulates circulation_ .Y
B��,
Y S-,
Helps break up
J
congestion. And
called on Annie Kennedy of
soothes your pain.
WHITE
Frankly, your medicine;
and
imposed by tightening govern-
chest shouldn't be
Wingham on their way home
without it. Buckley's
ACHES, PAINS
White Rub. Fast relief
.,�.�.s,..�u<.,�� ;
in a jar.
-
�ere's the story
of the classified ad
that could.. .
7
...add up to big
• benefits
for you.. .
c , If you have an
attic, garage, or
4 closet full of things
Z you don't use—and
probably never will
— the classified
can turn -those
things into
instant cash.
the winter to help with the area&. Sylvia
Ricker and Judy Nevery ate employed part
time as secretary and treasurdr for the board.
Thew are the only regular employees, but
during the summer 10 people are hired to run
the aquatics program at the pool and another
three for the playground and dayeamp
program. These are usually high school or
university students.
LOTS OF PROGRAMS
Although the arena, the pool and the
ballparks might be considered the centres of
recreation in Wingham, the recreation board
isn't involved in all the activities held there.
On the other hand, it is involved in lots of
programs which don't involve chasing a puck,
swimming or hitting a baseball.
The res department handles scheduling at.,
the arena and directly runs the ringette and
'various public skating programs. It has taken
over running the Wingham Midget Hockey
Tournament, but isn't directly involved in
minor hockey otherwise.
At the pool it offers the Royal Lifesaving
Society and Red Cross programs as well as its
own prebeginner programs for the
youngsters, parent and tot swimming and
adult fitness swimming.
It handles field maintenance and
scheduling of games at the two ballparks. The
various ball associations have taken over
other aspects of the program.
The rec department also offers a daycamp
program for 6-14 year olds during the summer
and a general playground program for
children aged 5-12. No programs are offered
at the schools during the summer, but during
the winter the department offers a wide
variety of ...,t,.,, ms including judo, bad-
minton, girls' gymnastics, disco dancing and
children's live theatre. During the past couple
of years it has also offered cross country ski
clinics. Many of these programs are con-
dtrtpd by volunteers.
This being centennial year; the department
has added a number of special programs,
including the cross country ski meet in
January fluid the curling bonspiel last
weekend. Upeoasing events include an old-
timers' holm► ]thatch April 7, a jogfest June
2, a golf tournament Aug. 1, a bicycle parade
and penttp carnival Aug. 3 and airplane rides
over Wingbam Aug. 4.
In addition to residents of the town quite a
number of persons from the surrounding
townships make use of the recreational
facilities here. Statistics from last summer
show that about 40 people from East
Wawanosh, 34 from Turnberry and 27 from
Morris registered in programs at the pool.
Others took part in minor hockey or ball.
These residents from outside the town must
pay a surcharge to cover the portion of ex-
penses otherwise covered by the municipal
taxes, although in some cases, such as in East
Wawanosh, the township picks up the sur-
charge. There is a $10 surcharge for swim-
ming and minor hockey ($20 per family),
while for figure skating or minor ball the
surcharge is $5 and for anything else, such as
children's theatre, it is $2.50.
PLANS FOR FUTURE
The rec department is now working on five
and 10 year plans for the future and hopes to
get together with town council and the service
clubs to work on a master plan for recreation,
Mr. Alexander said.
He noted the new policy of the ministry of
culture and recreation requires that a .
municipality must have such a master plan
before it can apply for any more capital
grants. An independent organization must be
hired to do the study, which is 50 per cent
funded by the ministry with the other half
coming from tax dollars or private funding.
In,the near future Mr. Alexander said he
plans to start a social calendar for Wingham
and ahhea, listing all the activities going on
around the area. Any group planning an
activity can call in and have it listed as well
as chmk what else is going on at the same
time. He hopes to get it off the ground this
month., he said.
Turnberry investigates possibility
.fpropertyof debentur- es.to apY nor into nto alternatives for the first
Thhe W!NiNyts Advance-Tiuses, February 28, IM ---16
MISCELLANEOUS—Ian Morton, costumed as a railroad
man, took first prize in the miscellaneous costume class at
the Belgrave winter carnival. Kim McDowell and Judy
h
Turnberry Township council is . reports from its representatives COUNCIL REVIEWS draft plan of a new bridge to Morton ad to hoist him back onto the tracks as he tempor-
investigating the cost of on area boards and groups. PEWNNEL REGULATIONS arily de -railed on the way up for his prize.
debenturing much of the cost of Aart de Vos started the reports Council reviewed personnel replace the Eadie Bridge. s
the 142 -acre property the with his review of the Huron regulations at the meeting and
township plans to buy. County Farm Safety Associa- decided to change the date of
Council may be able to borrow tion's work in the last year. wage negotiations to April i from
the money less expensively The association is presently Jan. 1.
through` debenturing than workie8`on a*oject to have 811 Council as concerned that
through a mortgage. liquid manure tanks located -negotiati wages in mid winter
Larry Conn 'of Bell and under barns and all silos in the leaves the township vulnerable if
Gouinlock brokers in Toronto told county posted with signs warning a road employee refuses a wage
council at its Feb. 20 meeting how farmers of the dangers to offer and quits.
a debenture is put together. humans and animals of silo and "If they want to quit they can
Council is considering using a liquid manure gas. do it then (in April) and it's not as
$90,000 debenture to help offset The association also is bad as in the middle of a
the $160,000 cost of the purchase promoting the use of smoke snowstorm in January," Coun.
of the Allen McGill property at detectors in farm homes. Ben Malda said.
Lot 15, Cone. 9 and Lot 15, Conc. Some council members Council rescinded a 1977 s
10. suggested that the farm safety motion that allowed council to
In other business council heard association might be more ef- pay Road Superintendent Len
festive if it showed safety films at, Baird Shoo a year for doing the
meetings of farm groups like the road bookkeeping. Council
federation of agriculture and decided that because Mr. Baird"
_ junior farmers. was doing they road books on
township time and was getting
Bert Morin, Huron County paid an hourly rate for the work
Board of Education trustee, gave he shouldn't receive the 5600.E
^Iq,
his report on his first few months The personnel regulations will
as trustee. The biggest problem go to Turnberry's solicitor and • t
encountered by the school board the ministry of labor for ap-
. is probably not declining proval. a
. . .give you enrolment but inflation, he said. In other business council • '
Proposed child abuse laws
• Po decided to let engineer Ken Dunn
great ideas could have a large effect on the
on saving School system because under the
proposals a person, including
money. . . teachers or other school staff, Citizenship A
r could be fined up to $1,000 if he \ �
has knowledge that a child is meeting held
The classifieds are full of g 9
bei abused and doesn't report ' a
merchandise and items b Institute
that you can save a lot of it 1
money on. So, next time Mary Eadie reported the:;<.
Belmore Arena Board, with the BELGRAVE — The citizenship
you have a need for Q
anything, check the great help from the community, meeting of the -Belgrave W0_
classifieds firsti has paid off the new community men's Institute was held on Tues- "
1 centre. The Belmore area day Feb. 20, in the WI Hall.
community raised $218,000 for Business was conducted by the er a y
the centre. president, Mrs. Leonard James, tl�'
buying "It's completely free of debt Mrs. Gar:.cr Nicholson was
and sellin now, she said. "That's pretty nominated as Belgrave's dele-
TV CHARACTERS Ilse up for the judging at the winter carnival put on by the Belgrave
g exciting to the community." gate to the Officers' Conference
a Hi -C Saturday night. Jeff anti Corey McKee won first prize, Michael Fraser took second
real snap... In.its first year of operation no at University of Waterloo May 1-
wages 'have been paid for 3. and David McKee came thl'rd.
Whether buying or maintenance or caretaking. The needlecraft course was
selling,People from each of the four announced and it is expected that
you can townships, Belmore is in take approximately 40 ladies will be
A all your shopping turns supplying volunteers to participating.
conveniently at home! keep the ice and the rest of the Musicians tighten belts ��
w
..help y building operating smoothly. 'The quilt made by the Belgrave
Jack Searson of the Bluevale Institute for the 1978 plowing to h e I p LSO meat budget Visitors on Saturday with Mrs.
Community R e c r e a t i g n match is for sale. Anyone in Gershom Johnston were Mr. and
Association reviewed the groups forested should contact Mrs. Mrs. Jim Robinson of Kitchener
fl*nd almost ai u projects of thee last year and James Hunter 357-1420 as soon as The musicians of the London regional concert travel ; and a and, also on the weekend, Mr.
g asked if association represen- possible. Symphony Orchestra have reduction in paid vacation to one and Mrs. Stewart Smith of Kit -
agreed to take cuts in pay and week from two for this season chener
A
tatives could be covered by the
township's public liability in-
Mrs. Alice Scott was the
featured speaker for the meeting.
Her most interesting speech on
other benefits in order to
maintain the size of the orchestra
and next.
The association had originally
Mrs. Annie Scattery of Harrow
and Kay McIntosh of Lucknow
under ^
surance.
help it meet restrictions
proposed to reduce the size of the
called on Annie Kennedy of
Coun. Doug Fortune reported
the officers' conference included
and
imposed by tightening govern-
fulltime nucleus of the orchestra
Wingham on their way home
�-
,
on the Maitland Valley Con-
servation annual
its history, theme highlights and
her personal glimpses of pro
menu rants.
g
while paying the increased fee to
However
from the Wingham hospital,
g p
slan.1 ��
.Authority's
meeting and the large overex-
eeedings and personalities in-
'The proposal, which was put
by the
the -remaining players.
the musicians offered to forfeit
where Mrs. Scattery had been
on her sister, Mrs.
penditure in 1978.
"There Wasn't a single com-
volved. A sing -song was con-
ducted by Mrs. Norman Coultes
forward musicians
themsellves, was hailed last
the increases to enable the full
calling
Maggie McIntosh, and Kay had
s
ment about that; in.fact some of
and Mrs. Glenn Coultes.
month by visiting conductor
complement of 30 members to be
been calling on her mother.
them got a chuckle out of it."
Mitch Miller as "rare among
maintained.
Eight new mtiinbers were
Deputy -Reeve Harold Elliott
The next meeting, March 20,
symphony orchestras in North
Estimated net savings from
received into St. Andrew's
*
he Mlingham
gave some of Wingham and
was announced and it is to be a
Americrl".
these changes will be in excess of
Presbyterian Church Sunday.
District Hospital's operating
communitymeeting with a
g
In brief it includes a reduction
$70.000 and will enable the
Received on profession of faith
I
Advance -Times
statistics for 1978 and said the
speaker and film from the Cana-
in paid weeks of service to 32
association to live within budges
were Blair Bushell, Wendy
titles
planned bed cuts seem unfair to
than Cancer Society.
from 38 for 1979-80; no increase in
restrictions imposed by the
England, Christine MacDonald,
him because the Wingham
The meeting closed with lunch
service fees, despite a contracted
tightening of government grants.
Sally MacDonald, Caryn Marro,
hospital beds were cut severely
served by the committee of Mrs.
rate increase that would have
The musiciaim also asked for and
Stephan Nicholls and Mrs.
h
because the hospital had been
Stanley Black, Mrs. Gordon
been paid next season;
*,pre granted a closer role in the
Ronald ,Shave, and by transfer,
°
operating relatively efficiently.
Higgins and Mrs. Cora McGill.
elimination of the special fee for
deliberations of the association.,
Ronald'Aaw.
A