The Times Advocate, 2007-09-19, Page 21Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Times—Advocate
21
Van Mierlo set
for new job
Aaron Jacklin
SPECIAL FROM HURON EXPOSITOR
SEAFORTH — Students
all over the county are
having brushes with the
law, but they're not in
trouble.
They're meeting Huron
OPP's new media rela-
tions and community ser-
vices officer, Joanna Van
Mierlo, as she comes to
their schools for every-
thing from bus safety to
drug education to talks
about drinking and dri-
ving.
"My former partner calls
me the kiddy cop now,"
Const. Van Mierlo said in
a recent interview.
Van Mierlo has been
with the Huron OPP since
becoming a police officer
in 1995.
Until recently, she's
been a technical -collision
investigator.
"For lack of a better
term, we're the CSI of col-
lision investigation," she
said.
She found the work fas-
cinating, though grue-
some.
"You see the worst of
the worst," she said of try-
ing to piece together what
happened in serious acci-
dents.
While she's still consid-
ered a technical -collision
investigator, her priority
now is media relations
and community services.
She recently took over
the role from Const. Jeff
Walraven.
"I needed a change," she
said of her decision to
compete for the position,
noting that being a police
officer is often a thankless
job.
"People don't always
like us," she said. "We're
not firefighters. The
names you get called in
this business over the
years would curl your
hair."
She's looking forward to
the new role, especially
working with kids.
"I'm responsible for
assisting school staff with
any (safety) training they
request," she said, noting
that she handles those
responsibilities for every
school in the county,
including both the public
and separate school
boards and one
Mennonite school — 35 in
all.
She started bus -evacua-
tion training this week.
"I'm going into every
school in the county,
except for one school in
Goderich," she said.
"They haven't any buses."
The other part of Van
Mierlo's new job is media
relations.
"I'm the main
spokesperson for the
Huron OPP for any news -
related item," she said,
noting that media she'll
work with include news-
papers, radio, TV and the
Internet.
That role isn't just about
reporting incidents, but
also public education.
Next month, she'll be
attending a week-long
media course in Orillia on
how to deal with
reporters, which she said
will include instruction in
what she can disclose and
what she can't.
"It's supposed to be
intense. I hear they really
try to rock your world,"
she said, noting that the
instructors apparently do
their best to make them
feel the pressure of hav-
ing to do things like
answer questions with a
camera trained on them.
Before becoming a
police officer, Van Mierlo
worked in the auto indus-
try while attending GMI
Engineering and
Management Institute in
Flint, Mich., where she
earned a BSc in Industrial
Administration.
After that, she worked
in Human Relations at
Victoria Hospital in
London prior to the amal-
gamation of the three hos-
pitals.
While working there,
she decided to become a
police officer.
"It was a growing
process, deciding what I
wanted to be when I
'grew up,— she said. "I
didn't 'grow up,' unfortu-
nately, until I was about
30."
After training, she
requested and received
Huron County as her post-
ing because her husband
Tony works here for
Hydro One.
They have two daugh-
ters, Carly, 17, and Emily,
11.
When asked why she
became an officer, Van
Mierlo answered, "It was
the desire to make a dif-
ference. I know it sounds
hokey, but it really was."
"That and the lights and
sirens," she added with a
laugh.
New job — OPP Const.
JoannaVan Mierlo is the
Huron OPP's new media
relations and community
services officer. (photo/sub-
mitted)
In memory of — A $1,600 cheque presentation was held after the Red Dog Classic Tri-athlawn wrapped
up Saturday afternoon in Zurich.The event, in memory of Zurich resident Cliff Gingerich, was successful, fea-
turing several outdoor events, an auction and food and drinks.The $1,600 donation was split between two
organizations, the Bluewater Community Development Foundation (BCDF) and Hockey Ministries
International (HMI).Above from left are BCDF chairman Steve Haberer, tournament organizer and host Jim
Ramer, Cliff's son Corey Gingerich and Jamie Ramer of HMI.A trophy in memory of Cliff was also on hand at
the event and medals were presented to participants. (photo/Nina Van Lieshout)
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519-235-0471
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LIWASIPAVITVO
THE MUNICIPALITY OF
SOUTH HURON WARD 1
(STEPHEN TOWNSHIP) "" n'7"7"7;
WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM MASTER PLAN
CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
NOTICE OF STUDY COMPLETION
The purpose of this notice is to inform local
residents and property and business owners that the
Municipality of South Huron has completed a Class
Environmental Assessment to evaluate water
servicing requirements for Ward 1 (former Stephen
Township). Four alternative solutions were identified
and evaluated during the planning process. Based on
this evaluation, alternative solution No. 4, "Selected
Water Distribution System Upgrades", was selected as
the preferred solution. Proposed Water Distribution
System upgrades include reconfiguring the Gore Road
connection to the LHPWSS, servicing the Dashwood
area from the Exeter-Hensall Feedermain, and
construction of a new water tower in Huron Park.
The study was completed in accordance with the
Municipal Class Environmental Assessment planning
process document as a Schedule "B" activity. A
Master Plan Report has been prepared to document
the planning and decision-making process followed by
this study. By this notice, the Master Plan Report is
being placed on public record for a 30 -day review
period.
The Master Plan Report will be available for public
review from September 12, 2007 until October 12,
2007 at the following locations:
Municipality of South Huron
Olde Town Hall
322 Main Street South, Exeter, ON NOM 1S6
Mon. - Fri.: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Exeter Library
330 Main St South, Exeter, ON NOM 1S0
Mon. to Fri.: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Interested persons should provide written comment
to the Municipality within 30 calendar days from the
date of this notice. Comments should be directed to
either of the following individuals:
Don Giberson
Manager of Operations, Water & Sewer
Municipality of South Huron
322 Main Street South, Box 759
Exeter, ON NOM 1S6
Tel: (519) 235-0310 ext. 226
Fax: (519) 235-3304
email: d.giberson@town.southhuron.on.ca
Paul McLennan, P. Eng
Project Manager
Gamsby and Mannerow Limited
Suite 210, 255 Woodlawn Road West
Guelph, ON NTH 8J1
Tel: (519) 824-8150 ext. 246
Fax: (519) 824-8089
email: pmclennan@gamsby.com
If concerns arise during the prescribed Review
Period that cannot be resolved through discussions
with the Municipality of South Huron, a person or
party may request that the Minister of Environment
make an order for the project to comply with Part II
of the Environmental Assessment Act. This request
(commonly referred to as a Part II Order) must be
received within the above prescribed 30 calendar day
review period by the Minister, at the address listed
below and copied to Mr. Don Giberson at the
Municipality of South Huron. If no request is received
on or before October 12, 2007, the Municipality may
proceed with detailed design and construction of the
project.
The Honourable Laurel C. Broten
Minister of the Environment
135 St. Clair Ave. W, 12th Fl.
Toronto, ON M4V 1P5