The Citizen - June 28, 2024

4 • Editorials 9 • Sports 10 • Barn Dance 19 • Theatre

The

THIS WEEK

Citizen

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Friday, June 28, 2024

Volume 40 No. 26

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, ON N0M 1H0

New pool proposal scrapped in Clinton

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

The last dance The Barn Dance Historical Society said farewell in style on Sunday with a special farewell concert at the Wingham Town Hall Theatre that has been sold out for weeks. Barn Dance legends like Jim Swan, Larry Mercey and more were in attendance and paid tribute to

an institution and a way of life they have so greatly admired over the years. Above, Jay Riehl was one of the afternoon’s performers, playing to the sold-out audience. See pages 10 and 11 for a full story and many more pictures from that historic day. (Scott Stephenson photo)

ACW rejects proposed mapping changes

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen At the most recent AshfieldColborne-Wawanosh (ACW) planning meeting, members of the Huron County Planning and Development Department presented a staff report to council on the ongoing update to the township’s zoning maps.

ACW finished a review and update of its official plan in 2022, which necessitated an update to its zoning maps and bylaws. ACW Council then voted to pass the text portion of the bylaw, while deferring a decision on the mapping portion, as there were a number of landowners who had outstanding objections to proposed zoning changes on their parcel of land.

Council directed staff to have further conversations with landowners to see if a resolution could be met in regards to the mapping changes.

Zoning bylaws designate the permissible land use within ACW, in accordance with the

municipality’s official plan, which outlines ACW’s general policies for future land use. The plan is intended to minimize land use conflicts, address emergent needs like increased housing and environmental concerns, and continuing to support the robust agricultural and existing communities of the area.

The zoning bylaws are the tool by which the plan is put into effect.

The bylaws provide for the day-today administration of the plan, and contain legally-enforceable requirements. They also define what types of buildings are allowed on a property, what street setbacks are required, and determine the size lots need to be, among other things.

The zoning maps divide the municipality into zones with specific standards and uses, such as AG1 for General Agriculture, NE1 for Natural Environment, FD for Future Development, LR2 for Lakeshore Residential, RG1 for Recreational Golf Course, and so forth.

Construction and development that does not comply

with a zoning bylaw is not permitted. This prevents lands zoned as agricultural from being developed into a recreational golf course, for example. The zoning bylaws and maps also consider environmental concerns like lakeshore erosion hazards and conservation areas, as well as issues that could affect the health and well-being of the public. The purpose of the mapping update is to accurately reflect the features that currently exist on the landscape.

The majority of the objections involve changes involving the designation of Natural Environment (NE) features. The report states that landowners have objected to having parts of their property, such as woodlots, rezoned as NE, not because they wish to develop those areas, but because they feel NE zoning is a “punishment” for having undertaken stewardship activities.

Others fear that NE zoning comes with increased regulations that could have a negative impact on farming operations. The report also

clarifies that nothing in any policy would limit the agricultural use of land adjacent to natural features.

Huron County Manager of Planning Denise Van Amersfoort presented the staff report containing their recommendations and supporting documentation. She began by offering an update on the process so far. “We have done consultation with all of the landowners, through open houses last fall, and that culminated in the public meeting in February. At that time, there were outstanding objections - since that time, we have received additional outstanding objections. We’ve also had the opportunity to meet with many members of the public. I really did appreciate those members who sat down with us since the time of the public meeting that had the opportunity to share their perspective. I think that was really important for staff, to be able to reevaluate some of the recommendations, and make adjustments.” She offered some Continued on page 8

Faced with a price tag in excess of $5 million for a new pool and renovations to the pool house in Clinton, Central Huron Council decided on Tuesday night to excavate and fill in the pool and convert the area to green space.

This comes as the municipality entered the third season with the pool closed. The estimated cost to decommission the pool, return it to green space and renovate the existing pool house building for seasonal storage is $200,000.

Council held a special meeting on Tuesday night in Clinton after their June 17 meeting was cancelled.

Several members of the public attended the meeting, both inperson and virtually, to express their support for keeping a pool in Clinton and encouraging council to support replacing the amenity.

To spur on conversation, Facilities Manager Steve Duizer presented a report with three options. The first was to move ahead with the pool replacement and pool house renovations at an estimated cost of $5,072,800, the second was to excavate and fill in the pool, return the space to grass and renovate the building for seasonal storage at an estimated cost of $200,000 and the third was to excavate and fill in the pools once again, but construct a fencedin, multi-purpose sports pad and renovate the building for seasonal storage at an estimated cost of $350,000.

The issue has been on council’s agenda for several years since the deterioration of the cement was first noticed in 2019. Since then, problems only continued to worsen and it was closed in 2022 The first person to speak was Shawn Bruinsma of Blue Horizon Pools and Spas near Goderich. He spoke to council as someone who has been in the industry for a while, but also as a resident of the area. He said that while he had no interest in taking the project on, he felt that costs could be shaved and the project could be simplified in order to create a more basic pool at a far reduced price, adding that he would be happy to meet with anyone who takes on the project to discuss the informal proposals.

Hillary Springer, a relatively new resident, said she moved to the community in part because of access to an outdoor pool, only to find out that it was closed when Continued on page 12

PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024.

Have you heard of Reg and Mentie DuVal? Glimpses of the Past with Karen Webster

S

ome of the readers of this column may already be aware of a most remarkable couple who made Wingham their home for several decades. For the rest of the readers, please make your acquaintance with Reg and Mentie DuVal. Formentie (Mentie) Elizabeth Reid, the daughter of John Reid and Emily Stapleton, was born on Aug. 22, 1903 in Wingham. Although it is no longer known why, Mentie, as a young child, went to live with Henry and Formentie Allen and, in census reports, is recorded as their adopted daughter, even though her parents were still living. Mentie achieved average marks at school, as reported in the local newspaper, and was a successful piano student, passing the Ontario Conservatory exams. Her chosen career was that of a doctor of chiropractic and she headed to Toronto to be among the earliest students to attend the Canadian Chiropractic College. In the Wingham Advance newspaper in March of 1923, it was reported that Dr. Mentie Reid Allen had returned from Toronto where she was engaged in further studies at the Canadian Chiropractic College.

At that time, chiropractic care was in an emerging stage. Anyone who wished to pursue this career line had to move to the United States for instruction. In fact, in 1907, Almeda Haldeman of Saskatchewan, is believed to be the first chiropractor to practise in Canada. Dr. Ernst Duval, originally from Quebec and Hamilton, was teaching in Davenport, Iowa, when he was selected to be the first leader of the Canadian Chiropractic College in Hamilton in 1914, and then in Toronto in 1919. Not only did Ernst’s two sons, Reg and Robert, also teach there, but his wife and nine other family members were also engaged in the field.

So it was here around 1920 that Mentie met her future husband, Reg

DuVal. He had been born in Hamilton in 1898 and enlisted in the army there in October of 1918, listing his occupations as shipper, clerk and motorcyclist. He was one of the 4,192 soldiers in the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force who were sent to Vladivostok, Russia in October of 1918. Their mission was mostly to protect the Allies’ military stockpiles there, policing and drills and also to facilitate the safe removal of the Czechoslovak Army that was trapped between the Bolsheviks and the White Russian Army.

Upon Reg’s return home in 1919, he undertook studies in the Chicago National College before enrolling in the Canadian Chiropractic College in Toronto, from which he graduated in 1921.

Reg and Mentie were wed in December of 1923 in a lavish affair in Wingham before heading to Ashtabula, Ohio, where the groom was in practice. The following year, they settled in Wingham, where both doctors set up their chiropractic practice using several locations in downtown Wingham before Reg established an office in their home on the B Line.

As well as being a chiropractor, Reg was a fox and mink breeder. In 1937, he attended a veterinarian short course in Guelph and, as well, attended a meeting of the Fur Farmers of Ontario. In the Fur Farmers of Ontario Directory of 1952, he advertised Wingham Fox Pearl Platinum, Mink Royal Pastels, Breath-of-Spring Pastels and several other hues of furs. One current Wingham resident remembers that Mentie usually wore a fox fur collar, which was unusual at the time, as that was a luxury few in Wingham could afford. Both Duvals were avid hockey fans and often walked to and from their home on the B Line to the arena on Victoria Street to cheer on the home team. Reg was a golfer both at the Alps and the Wingham

Golf Courses. In addition, he enjoyed bowling, curling and was an avid bridge player.

Mentie DuVal was a woman with many hobbies, one of which was lawn bowling. In her honour, for a number of years, the lawn bowlers held a Mentie Duval Memorial Tournament. Golf and bridge were also some of her pastimes, but the one that secured

her place in history was writing poetry.

By 1947, some of her sacred poems had been set to music and were broadcast over national radio.

In 1952, she was feted in Ottawa by the Canadian Authors’ Association, where she gave readings of several of her poems and also was the guest of honour at a reception where many diplomatic dignitaries were present.

Every year she had Christmas cards printed up that contained some of her poetry.

Leading up to Canada’s 100th year, there was a competition for a Centennial Hymn and Mentie’s poem, “Canadian Prayer”, was chosen. The music was composed by S. B. Hains. All throughout Canada in 1967, the stirring words of this Wingham poetess, sung by choirs

such as the Carl Tapscott Singers and the St. Michaels’ Boys Choir of Toronto, helped celebrate 100 years of nationhood. The intention for the Centennial Hymn was that it would be available for any choir to use in helping celebrate Canada’s special year.

Canadian Prayer “With humble hearts we thank Thee God, that Canada is free O may we ever in Thy sight deserve our liberty.

Chorus: May we Canadians seek and find Thy wisdom in our need And strive for peace and not for power; the rights of all to heed, The rights of all to heed.”

And the words of Mentie’s poem are as relevant today as they were in 1967.

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024. PAGE 3.

Hullett students hold year-end track and field meet PEOPLE AROUND LONDESBORO

By BRENDA RADFORD Call 523-4296

At a recent meeting I attended, the comment was made that people don’t have much disposable income anymore for extras. We hear about increased use of food banks, more people experiencing homelessness and having to choose between paying housing bills and being sure kids have breakfast before school and/or have a lunch to take and needing to make sanitary products accessible and free. The list of needs goes on.

And then we turn on professional hockey and baseball games and it must be some other world. The games for the Stanley Cup playoffs are sold out each and every night, no matter the location. Reportedly, seats for the Edmonton Oilers’ home games were selling out at $1,000 for the cheapest seats and $16,000 for the best seats. Wow! We are all aware of the expensive changes happening at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. A meal of two hot dogs, a beer and a soft drink rings in at about $50. Not much wonder they have free giveaways regularly!

The other thing that strikes me when watching the games is that a huge proportion of the spectators are wearing team gear, sometimes all family members. And that doesn’t come cheap. Where does that kind of money come from in what we hear every day is a tight economy for families? Is it really a world of haves and have-nots? If only the country could find some equality or moderation.

Then there is the realization that a huge portion of the world’s population is living in tented encampments. I might be able to rationalize the aforementioned excesses if I knew those same people were donating an equal amount of money to charitable enterprises.

Be sure to see Saving Graceland at the Blyth Festival main stage at Memorial Hall. The most recent offering from Artistic Director Gil Garratt lives up to its promise of finding “heart, humour, humanity and hope” in life. Huron County’s own Cameron Laurie, as well as Gil’s daughter Goldie, are part of the small cast. It truly reflects the theatre’s mandate of stories from the area, but

the situation is quite universal.

The Londesborough United Church Women (UCW) held their monthly meeting at the church on June 17. The group in charge of the program/meditation celebrated Father’s Day. Laura Scott, Crystal Whyte, Kerri Whyte and Brenda Radford wore ties as a symbol of the fathers who strengthened their faith. The story of the prodigal son, from Luke 15: 11-32, was the scripture reading that evening.

Many ladies shared a story of their father and his influence on their life/faith. It became obvious through these reminiscences that, although fathers tend to stay somewhat in the background in families, their influence has a lasting effect on children’s lives.

Children watch, listen and learn from dads.

It seems the father’s influence is strong as well in elephant families.

Who would have thought? Through some news items and a video, the women learned that the world’s largest land animals are the most intelligent, social and empathetic animals on earth. They are known to reassure the young calves by wrapping their trunks around them.

Elephants greet each other by twining their trunks together.

Mature elephants break off tree branches so the young can feed more easily. Elephants help injured members of their herd and openly grieve the dead members.

Female elephants travel in groups of about 15 with their calves.

Calves stay with their mothers until they are 12 to 15 years old. The male elephants form groups of their own and, although they stay separate from the female groups, their presence is always near and they receive male calves as they age out. Fathers in the herd provide

protection, security and teaching to the young. It was interesting to learn these facts about elephants.

Everyone enjoyed trying to name the fathers in the pictures the ladies brought to the meeting. President Kim Roetsicoender led a short business meeting to end the gathering.

As another school year comes to a close, there have been lots of extras happening at Hullett Central Public School to keep everyone busy, learning and making memories. Towards the end of May and into the early days of June, annual track and field meets were happening.

Hullett held its own in-school competition and here are those results. In the 2013-2014 grouping, the top three finishers overall were Erica Lee, Lauren Wharton and Ashley Greidanus, along with Winston Greydanus, Casey Bolinger and Kaleb Nurse.

Likewise for the 2012 age group, the top finishers were Brooke MacKenzie, Summer Shannon and Aubrie Kerr along with Joel Fleet, Trace Boven and Lukas HubbardBuffinga.

Then, for pupils born in 2011, these pupils came to the top of the scoring: Macy Smith, Rileigh Cox and Reese DeBoer, along with Clay Hoggart, Spencer Hutala and Miles Adams. The top finishers in the oldest pupils, those born in 2010,

Alena Riley

Jack Gahan, Felix Archer, Eric Vandereijk, Luke Dalton (Photos by Scott Stephenson)

There can be no true progress in vital and practical godliness without it!

(Arthur Pink) "But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." Psalm 1:2-3 Meditation upon the Word of God is one of the most important of all the means of grace and growth in spirituality. There can be no true progress in vital and practical godliness without it! Meditation on Divine things is not optional but obligatory, for it is something which God has commanded us to attend unto.

"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful!" Joshua 1:8

NEWS FROM LONDESBORO

Spurgeon: To get the nourishment out of a text, turn it over and over in your mind, meditate upon it, pull it to pieces word by word! Scripture meditation is the strong meat on which holy men are nourished. Oh, to be bathed in a text of Scripture, and to let it be sucked up into your very soul, until it saturates your heart! The more you read the Bible, and the more you meditate on it--the !more you will be astonished with it A Grace Gem Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church Listowel.on 519-291-3887

were Hailynn Greidanus, Carali Hugill and Brooklyn Lammerant, and Rodney Ansley, Damon Shannon and Justin Fleet.

Any student who finished in the top three in any event at their school level qualified to compete at the regional level, which was held in Goderich. Twenty-five Hullett athletes had a top-four finish in their events that day. For the girls in the 2012 grouping, Aubrie Kerr finished first overall. Miles Adams tied for first overall in the 2011 group of male athletes.

The district meet, which then included schools from Perth as well as Huron Counties, which meant tougher competition from larger schools, was held in Stratford.

Eleven Hullett athletes finished in the top six of at least one of their events that day. Miles Adams again did well, finishing fourth overall.

In preparation for future years of track and field, the primary children held their in-school meet last week.

In the youngest group, those born in 2017, these were the top scorers:

Mila Lee, Kinsley James and Saoirse along with these boys, Barrett Nurse, Riley Poynton and Leroy McNichol. Following are the top scorers in the 2016 age group: Genevieve Garrity, Ireland Nurse and Georgie Garrity, and Jack Gahan, Logan Gross and Bowey Nurse. The 2015 group top scorers were: Anna Lapp, Gracelyn Howson and Kiarra Hugill and Henk Brennan, Edward Neeb and Bennett Regier-Johnson.

Congratulations to all the athletes!

Mila Lee Kinsey James

PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024.

Editorials & Opinions

Founding Publisher: Keith Roulston Publisher & President: Deb Sholdice Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Scott Stephenson Advertising Sales: Brenda Nyveld

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A new home for tornadoes Residents of southwestern Ontario may have had an inkling that tornado seasons in this area are worse than they used to be, but now there is research to back it up. Over the past 30 years, according to Canadian research organization Northern Tornadoes Project, Ontario has become the Tornado Capital of Canada, a post previously held by Saskatchewan.

The shift in tornado activity from the sparsely populated prairies to the more settled provinces to the east is troubling, but not surprising.

Climate change is warming the Gulf of Mexico, increasing the amount of water vapour rising above the southern half of the continent and the path of the jet stream is in flux. Researchers in the United States have documented that “tornado alley”, traditionally a swath from northeastern Texas to eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas and Missouri, has shifted about 500 miles east over the past 20 years and now takes in western Kentucky and Tennessee, northern Mississippi and Alabama.

While the central states have long dealt with tornadoes and are prepared with tornado shelters and strengthened building codes, the eastern half of North America is less prepared, and studies have shown that moist air from the gulf is more likely to spawn thunderstorms after dark in the east, creating even more danger.

While Environment Canada’s warnings and watches, as well as the cellphone push alerts, could stand a little fine-tuning to give more details on the nature and location of the danger, the early warning system will save lives as tornado seasons continue to lengthen and intensify. – DS

Behind closed doors The Ontario Science Centre is now closed. The abrupt decision was made by Premier Doug Ford’s provincial government after an engineering report, paid for by said government, said the roof could collapse. The building’s architect disputed the claim, saying it was constructed to last far more than 250 years if properly maintained.

Supporters of the centre are now rallying to save it - in one form or another - but, as it stands, the centre is closed indefinitely and will not be open, regardless of its location, until at least 2028. Opposing politicians and Ford critics are pointing to this as blatant corruption in Ford’s government that reminds them of, oh, the Greenbelt situation, the selling off of Ontario Place, expropriation of land in Wilmot, etc.

It’s easy to suspect that our Premier is up to something, but what?

No journalist has yet to shake the right tree and Ford is as skilled as a magician in terms of misdirection. And yet, he leads the Liberals and NDP in the polls, despite seemingly selling off the province right out from under us. If a vote were to be called now, he would win.

And while Ford is being criticized by small protest groups and leftleaning politicians and their supporters, he has proven to be largely immune to the kind of corruption accusations and visceral hate that so many have for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. While Trudeau has had his share of scandals, what really raised the ire of his harshest critics was suggesting that an unlawful occupation of the nation’s capital with an eye on overthrowing the government wasn’t awesome. Meanwhile, real, concrete (shoddy or otherwise) corruption could well be taking place in Ontario and most seem to shrug it off as inconsequential.

The Ontario Science Centre did so much to make education fun and entertaining for generations of people both young and old. Don’t let our Premier dismantle this province piece by piece. – SL

Better luck next year On the one hand, the Edmonton Oilers lost game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals on Monday night. But on the other, the Edmonton Oilers made it to game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals on Monday night. Not only did they make it to game seven, they made game seven happen by clawing their way back from the edge of elimination with some truly thrilling games of exciting hockey. They may not have come home with the cup, but the Oilers gave Canada everything else a country could possibly want from a sports story. In a quest to end a decades-long, national losing streak, this team battled unlikely odds with class.

The team is full of memorable characters, from charismatic captain Connor McDavid to stoic netminder Stuart Skinner. Losing the first three games cast Edmonton firmly into the role of the scrappy underdogs.

Being down and out made it exciting when the Oilers rallied together as a team to win three games in a row, forcing a seventh game. It is a far, far better thing to come from behind like that and lose in game seven than it is to trounce one’s opponent by sweeping the first four games.

Game seven is the best part of any playoff series, in any sport, because it is the most rare, the most exciting and the most memorable game of the year. Having a Canadian hockey team make it to game seven of the Stanley Cup meant that our country enjoyed watching more of the game we love, together, for just a little bit longer.

The Edmonton Oilers may not have won on Monday night, but it was still a game seven that is absolutely worth remembering. – SBS

Looking Back Through the Years July 2, 1969 Mrs. Bob Davies was at The Blyth Standard office on Monday, showing off an 1858 large penny she found while digging in the garden. The coin was in new condition and must have been dropped by its owner 111 years prior. The coin would apparently have been worth a considerable amount in cash if not for the fact that it was punctured with a hole, leading one to believe that the original owner was using it for a necklace or pendant of some kind.

Members of the Blyth Lions Club were a busy group last Thursday evening following their regular dinner meeting in the Memorial Hall. The night was spent in a thorough cleanup and paint up of the Lions Park, getting everything shipshape for the coming summer holiday season. The wading pool was painted and filled with water.

The swings and teeters were overhauled and painted and the picnic tables were freshened up.

A tragic early Monday morning fire claimed the lives of two Blyth area residents, Mr. and Mrs. William Hunking of the 13th Concession, Hullett Township.

William was in his 80th year, and his wife, the former Rosella Lyon, was in her 83rd year. The fire occurred when their residence was struck by lightning during a severe electrical storm at approximately 4 a.m.

June 29, 1977 Huron County Council accepted the resignations of two of the county’s top administrators at Friday’s council session and instructed clerk Bill Hanley to advertise for their replacements.

County engineer Jim Britnell announced his departure from

county work, and Huron medical officer of health Dr. Frank Mills left to go to Sudbury to head the health unit there.

The Higgins clan met at the Belgrave Institute Hall on Sunday, June 26, with 70 present. In the afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. John Wilson and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hunter conducted games for both children and adults. A delicious supper was enjoyed and all were welcomed by Roy Pattison. The group signed two get-well cards, which were mailed to the sick.

Liberal Leader Stuart Smith announced Monday that HuronBruce MPP Murray Gaunt would split the post of environment critic with Jim McGuigan, a farmer and businessman from Kent Elgin.

Gaunt, who had been a member of Provincial Parliament for 15 years, held the post of agriculture critic before he took over the environment post.

June 28, 1989 Margaret Whyte, a woman with a lifetime of service to groups in Londesborough and Hullett Township, was chosen as the “Citizen of the Year” for Blyth and the surrounding area. A panel of judges made the selection from among nominations sent in by Citizen readers. A lifelong resident of Hullett Township, Whyte was the daughter of the late Thomas McMillan, who was a member of parliament for Huron. She graduated with a degree in home economics from the Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph and for many years put that training to work teaching 4H homemaking clubs.

A successor to Bill Hanley, clerkadministrator of Huron County, was named subject to ratification by the

full county council the following week. Nigel Bellchamber, then employed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, was selected at a meeting of the Huron County Executive Committee on Monday in Goderich.

The Citizen’s visitors guide to North Huron became available through the Citizen offices and at various spots around the North Huron area. Called Stops Along the Way, the special section contained stories about many interesting places to visit in the northern part of the county. The copies were distributed for free to residents within the area.

July 1, 2004 After months of anticipation, the completion of the outdoor pavilion at East Wawanosh Public School was celebrated with an official grand opening on June 23. It had been built by parent volunteers and was surrounded by native shrubs and trees that had been purchased through a grant. The special education technology class at F.E. Madill Secondary School had built and donated eight picnic tables for the students to use in the next year or for the community to use during summer holidays.

During the Belgrave “Show and Shine” held on the previous Saturday in anticipation of Canada Day, Jim Hunter of Belgrave showcased his team of Percheron mares as part of the festivities. The event, which was a prelude to the upcoming national celebration, saw Hunter elegantly maneuvering his team of mares through the town, drawing admiration from onlookers.

Their graceful movements and impressive stature added a touch of charm to the day.

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024. PAGE 5.

Other Views

What’s essential gets lost every day

A

s we approach the celebration of the occasion of the founding of confederation, I look out the window of my farmhouse and see more than 200 acres of soybeans, contrasting with pasture and hay fields at my neighbours’ across the road and next door, and I think we’ve come so far from the days when the first settlers arrived and the entire land was covered by trees.

But we’ve moved so far that sometimes we forget how precious the rich farmland discovered by the desperate immigrants of 170 years ago is. I saw on the television news recently that the mayor of the Town of Caledon (once a tiny village) has moved to make hundreds of acres of farmland into a potential housing development. In a country where our federal government has added millions to our population in recent years in an attempt to fill jobs at local factories, the move makes sense.

Fortunately, and unfortunately, much of the growing population has come to southern Ontario where new factories are rising every day. Those people need homes, and so more land is used for housing. The Greenbelt was designated around Toronto to concentrate that growth, but the Doug Ford government has attempted to eat away at that, but has been beaten back.

The irony is that those millions of people coming to Canada need to eat. At the same time, we are using up land that produces food.

In the past 35 years, Ontario has lost 2.8 million acres (18 per cent) of its farmland to non-agricultural land uses like urbanization and aggregate mining. Ontario is losing 319 acres of food-producing land every day. Obviously you can’t keep feeding more people on less farmland forever.

And once land is used for development it

Keith Roulston

From the cluttered desk will not produce food because it is degraded.

Once, we knew the value of food-producing land. When I first started writing, a third of urbanites had relatives with roots in the farmland. As we have added people, those ties have been weakened.

If urban-based politicians go to the supermarket, they see full shelves at the meat counter or the produce section and don’t see any problem. If we keep growing, with more people to be fed on fewer acres, that’s bound to change, but, by then, it will be irreversible. The gift of our rich farmland unveiled by desperate pioneers will be gone.

Of course there are those (nearly always urbanites) who don’t see a problem. We don’t need acres of pasture and hay fields because we shouldn’t eat meat. Vegetarians can eat food grown hydroponically in tall buildings right in the city (at what cost?).

We think we are so much smarter today than the barely-educated settlers. Most of them were forced from their land by other, preferred, uses of that land. They fled hunger, faced hunger again in Canada where there was hardly any land open enough to grow food, then, little by little, cleared more land for food production and fed the growing, often better-educated, urban population.

But we forgot the importance and value of

food. People may have full shelves in their grocery stores, but they grumble that it’s too expensive. They take food for granted and dream instead of trips to exotic locations.

(Meanwhile, thousands who can’t afford our inflated rents, live in tents in parks, endangered by heat in summer and cold in winter.)

Because we will lose 319 acres of foodproducing land today, tomorrow and the day after that, we need to catch on quickly and change, but I don’t see that happening. More and more we have become dependent on cities, not the countryside. This newspaper is one of the few newspapers controlled by local people.

Most weeklies, even important dailies like the London Free Press, which once employed bureaus through the rural areas, are parts of chains owned by companies based in expanding cities.

We used to have a strong television station run by local ownership with Doc Cruikshank, but he sold it to a London owner whose family in turn sold it to a chain.

We are facing a crisis and we don’t even know it. Without being reminded by local media of the importance of food production, even urbanites in rural communities take food for granted. They dream of growth so their community can have an urban-based grocery or clothing store. And hundreds of acres of land to produce food are covered by asphalt and concrete.

We could be building cities farther north, where the land isn’t so good for food production, but our political leaders, based in cities, don’t understand the crisis. As long as the shelves are full in the grocery stores, they don’t see the importance of food production.

We need to care! Food is essential. We can’t afford to lose 319 acres today.

Step aside, Zorro; there’s a new ‘zed’ guy

Z

aps, zings and zips are happening. Zigs are too. We’ve all seen the zines, zeroed-in on the zones and ZZ Top’d “La Grange”. Welcome to The Chaff - your weekly Zen-ending zoom into zaniness, zestiness, zealotry and zip-a-zi-zoo-za, zipzizzy-zay!

It’s zummer time again and with the onzet of “Hot Hot Heat” zeason, we here at The Chaff are zelebrating! We attended a zany zale of a sale on letter “zeds” and we just couldn’t rezist! The zalesman who zold us the zeds said that the letters need to be uzed up A.Z.A.P. or they might get gross.

ZzzzzzzzZzzzzzzzzZzzzzzzzzzzZzzzzzzzz So zorry! Just fell azleep there for a zecond.

Z’anyway. We need to uze up all theze exztra letter zeds, zo zhank zou zery zuch for underzanding the pozitioz we zre iz.

ZzzzzzzzzzzzZzzzzzzzzZzzzzzzzZzzzzzzz Oops! We just spilled the rest of the “final letter of the alphabet” surplus we’d acquired and now we don’t have any left to use.

Whoopsies!

Anyway, this The Chaff is about visiting the *oo to see all of our favourite animals, from aardvarks to *ebras. We interviewed a *oologist to learn more about the “dos” and “don’ts” of visiting the *oo.

After that we review the 1991 classic film sequel - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Oo*e. Cowabunga!

Then we will discuss three different axes: the x-axis, the y-axis and the *-axis. All terrific axes but our favourite is definitely the *-axis. Up and away!

Thinking about visiting Africa? Well, make sure to check out our The Chaff Travel Guide entries on *imbabwe, *ambia, Tan*ania, Mo*ambique, Swa*iland and Kenya.

Going to Europe? Check out our The Chaff Travel Guide entries on France, Bosnia and

Scott Stephenson The Chaff Her*egovina, C*ech Republic (go Gabby and Alyssa!), Italy and Portugal.

Western and Central Asia capturing your imagination? Learn more about this captivating region in our The Chaff Travel Guide entries on A*erbaijan, Ka*akhstan, Kyrgy*stan, U*bekistan and Iraq.

Wondering about what really goes on with our commonwealth cousins in New *ealand and Australia? Check out our entries on them in the The Chaff Travel Guide!

From “A to *” The Chaff Travel Guide covers all of the world’s great nations, including South American destinations like Bra*il, Vene*uela, Chile and Colombia.

Travel the world without leaving the comfort of your own medically-induced coma that is The Chaff Travel Guide!

We now need to take a moment to share a message from our sponsor - The Store That Sells Letters: ZipZapZop everyone! It’s me: the Zipity Zap Zazou Zazz man himself - Dervid Hamson.

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Well, the ha*y, la*y day* of summer are back and we are here for it. We’re going to go surfing like a real life Beach Boys song. By that, we mean we are going to surf the internet looking for obscure facts about the Beach Boys. Did you know that the actual beach on which the real Beach Boys originally formed is called Boy Beach? It’s true! Their official name is the Boy Beach Beach Boys but they shortened it to broaden their appeal.

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Shawn Loughlin Shawn’s Sense

A look in the mirror

F

or those of you who read my review of The Farm Show: Then and Now last week, you’ll know that I took a bit of a “meta” approach to it. The actors said they were actors playing actors playing farmers, so I thought it fitting that I be an editor serving as a reporter pretending to be a theatre critic.

So, I did what any narcissistic writer would do, which is write himself into his own review.

Have you seen the movie Adaptation? Nic Cage was nominated for an Oscar for playing twin brothers Charlie (a somewhat fictional portrayal of the actual screenwriter and the man behind Being John Malkovich) and (his non-existent twin brother) Donald Kaufman.

The former is working to adapt The Orchid Thief, a real book written by Susan Orlean, into a movie, and struggling to find the story.

After a number of false starts, he takes one step back at a time to craft his story, including him adapting the book and then Orlean writing the book, the story in the book itself and then eventually to the beginning of time.

At first he thinks he’s getting somewhere but then confesses to Donald how badly he’s failed along with some choice words for himself.

“I’ve written myself into my screenplay,” Charlie tells Donald. “It’s self-indulgent. It’s narcissistic. It’s solipsistic. It’s pathetic. I’m pathetic. I’m fat and pathetic.” I only wish I had someone like Donald to support me as I was writing my review. “I’m sure you had your reasons, Charles. You’re an artist.”

Indeed, I violated that most sacred of rules of journalism - at least in most contexts - and used the word “I” to refer to myself.

I think there’s a bit of wiggle room within community journalism for such a transgression - you see, most people who read The Citizen know me and the other members of the staff in at least one way or another. In my case, a lot of you have watched me grow into the role. I’ve been here for 18 years now. I started with The Citizen when I was just 24 years old. As a man who is now in his forties with a wife, two children and a house, I’ve been on the street talking to you, running into you at events and working with you on stories for a long time.

That’s why I’ve been a bit more liberal than I ever thought I would be about including pictures of my kids in the paper. Not only are they proper members of the community attending local events, but I always hear positive stuff from you all when they’re included. It gives readers a chance to keep up with them. And, frankly, I’m proud to see them growing up in this community and taking part in all of the things that I enjoyed covering before they came along, like Blyth Festival Art Gallery shows, local sports, homecoming celebrations, and the list goes on and on.

Anyway, back to me making a review about a seminal work of Canadian theatre as much about the original creators and the current Blyth Festival cast as I did myself.

It happens, you know. It happens.

It felt like the right way to document my experience of seeing a show whose reputation certainly preceded it - at least in my life as a young man trying to learn about life in Blyth and the story of a small community that could support its very own, unique theatre. Honestly, I never thought I’d get a chance to see The Farm Show performed live, so that was a real treat. And to experience it in such a unique forum, in the company of the people who created it all of those years ago, was special.

Was the review self-indulgent, narcissistic, solipsistic and pathetic? Perhaps you could look at it that way. I certainly do, but I hope that you liked it anyway!

PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024.

Vroom, vroom The Brussels Optimist Club held its first-ever car show on June 22, which showcased 150 vehicles, with proceeds benefiting the Optimist Club. (John Stephenson photo)

Grey firefighters serve community breakfast A NOTE FROM BETTY

By Betty Graber Watson Call 887-9231 There was another big breakfast on Sunday; the Grey firefighters were in top form in the egg-andtrimmings department. Good job, good food, good cause - a winner for everyone. I spoke with several who were unsure about serving times - perhaps a mention in The Citizen, like an advertisement, could help the forgetful and add some new customers. Another great community gathering.

Education and appreciation were the goals of The Maitland Foundation last Wednesday with lunch at the Four Winds Barn.

Several projects were updated and Erin Gouthro shared the realities of the streams in our area and how attention and assistance can make a significant difference in the health of our Maitland River. Like so many things we take for granted, water quality needs monitoring and then help - that is where the money of the foundation is able to assist. Thanks to the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority for all of the unsung work on our behalf.

It seems life is a circle. In your circle are people who are there for a short time and others for a long time. The older you get, the more folks have been in and out of your days. Spike Bronson died last week.

He was part of my high school memories when names like Carl, Don, Doug, Barry, Bill and others were known to have humour, creativity and energy to spare.

Remembering the antics in the halls of Wingham High remains memorable.

Many years later, Pearl McCallum was part of my life as she tried to teach me how to make a joyful noise with a harmonica. Her humour, energy, patience and cookies are my memories. She just seemed to breathe and songs would sail out. I guess she enjoyed my humour, as she kept inviting me back, despite my losing more notes than I found.

Like so many people in our lives, both Ray and Pearl popped in and out, but they left me with smiles and memories. We learn and grow with each person we encounter,

At the Branch

Over 20 attend roast beef dinner

By Jo-Ann McDonald It was a quiet week at the Branch with both Cadets and darts over for their respective seasons.

The Brussels Birthday Ladies group met on Wednesday at noon to celebrate the June birthdays. The birthday girls were Bessie Johnston and Edna McLellan. Helping the ladies celebrate were Esther McCutcheon, Dale Chesher, Merle Cousins, Audrey Cardiff with daughters Colleen and Janet, Nora Stephenson, Betty McCutcheon, Bev Palmer, Mabel Glanville, Donna Knight, Janet Hook, Alice Marks, Isabel Wheeler, Rene Richmond, Joan Bernard, Betty Cardiff, Betty Campbell and daughter Julie.

There were 21 ladies on hand to enjoy the roast beef dinner.

Comrades of the Branch serving up the meal included Judy Lee, Jo-Ann McDonald and Rhonda Fischer.

The Friday night pub grub of burgers and fries was a hit again this week, with many of the vendors of the farmers’ market dropping over for a bite.

The Catch the Ace draw was conducted by the trio of Kathy, Nanci and Deb. The lucky weekly winner was Velma Rabey, who won $161. Her envelope of choice was number 16 and the seven of diamonds was revealed. The jackpot will now grow again with the estimated

prize of $3,600 for this week.

Congratulations to Caleb Koch for his good results at the district track and field meet held in Kincardine by the Royal Canadian Legion last week. He finished first in shot put, second in discus and second in the hammer throw.

Congratulations.

The inclement weather on Sunday forced the cancellation of

never knowing their effect on us and we on them. Funerals then are the time when we stop and realize how important different people are in our lives and their effect over the years. When I’m missing Pearl, I may just get the music bag out and see if I can improve.

A high school reunion is set for next Saturday as part of the Wingham homecoming festivities it might be worth a check to see who is out and about.

Get your red and white out ready for July 1. Sing proudly and loudly and appreciate the best country.

Take time to think of all the blessings that we have and, when you start to complain, think of the many who wished they called Canada home!

Bye now. Betty GW

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS

Brussels Legion 218 Catch the Ace Weekly Winner Winning Ticket: Velma Rabey, $161.

Envelope #16 found the 7 of Diamonds.

Next estimated jackpot is $3,600.

the Brussels Cemetery Service.

We hope to find an alternate date sometime in the future.

It is the last Friday night of the month, so the Branch will welcome Stubby D. Come out with your friends and your voice and have some fun!

Don’t forget that July 1 is Canada Day and the Legion is hosting a fish fry. See you there!

The Citizen office will be closed on

Monday, July 1 Brussels Legion 218

for Canada Day

Fish Fry

The deadline for the July 5 paper will remain the same July 2 by 2:00 pm

Monday, July 1 from 4:30-6:30 pm

Fish and all the fixin’s Adults $20.00 ~ Children 6-12 $10.00 ~ 5 and under free

Celebrate Canada Day with us!

Drop in, call or email ads 519-523-4792 email: info@northhuron.on.ca 405 Queen St., Blyth ~ 519-523-4792

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024. PAGE 7.

The Reading Web with Cindy Norgate

S

ummer reading - let’s face it, these are not two words that are sure to get children excited. However, and I’ve shared this with you before, this is crucial.

The website readingpartners.org shares several reasons why.

“Students who read at least five books during the summer can maintain important literacy skills, research shows students can maintain or improve reading skills over the summer if they continue to read, and access to books over the summer increases reading opportunities and helps students be ready for next school year.”

You might be thinking, “There is no way I’m going to ‘make’ my child read during summer break.” I’m sure you want your child to get the best start for next school year. I don’t know anyone who would answer me negatively on that, so, then, we have a dilemma. How do you help your child to learn but not make it unbearable? The first thing I want to encourage you to do is to not make reading a chore (scholastic.ca).

Listen carefully. Don’t do it. If you do, it could really sour their interest and even have the opposite of the desired effect.

Why not try going outside under a tree and set at least 20 minutes of reading time? Spread out a blanket,

take a little snack and have a few moments of special reading time.

Not only does this incorporate reading into your child’s schedule, but it also gives you a few moments of time that can make him or her feel special. Also, being outside during summer reading time will be free of distractions such as the TV or computer.

In addition, readingpartners.org suggests allowing your child to pick out a journal from the dollar store that is just for them. It doesn’t have to cost much. Let them decorate it however they want, and when they go to grandma’s, create a summer craft, or swim at the beach, they can write about it, then share their story with the family at the end of the day.

Make it exciting with plenty of craft material where they can even decorate the journal page for the day with stickers, etc.

The “Read Everything, Everywhere” section, from the same website, was my favourite. Have some sort of challenge in which your child reads road signs, door signs, pamphlets and billboards. You could even go as far as giving them a treat if they read a certain number of signs or items through the week. Make sure, though, you let them know they must read the sign out loud to you or another caregiver to earn their prize.

There is something I want you not to do, though. I don’t want you to leave a book with your child and never discuss it. This is one of the most important parts of what I’m trying to relay in this week’s article.

If you are reading with your child, try a little prediction when you see the cover of the book. Remember there is no right or wrong answer here. It is only a prediction. Also, please don’t read through the book and let that be the end of the activity.

As you listen to them read or read aloud to them, ask higher order thinking questions such as, “Why do you think?” or “What do you think?” and allow them to have some “think time” to answer. This is crucial.

I could mention many more ideas, but the last idea I want to share this week is to make plans to visit your local library on a regular basis this summer. A library card is free, and your child can take the adventure of a lifetime in a book. Our local Huron County library branches have a fabulous summer reading program, and they are very excited to be hosting this event.

On a similar note, our Saturday reading time at the Blyth Library will be this week, June 29, at 10 a.m.

Our theme this month is outer space.

It is sure to be a fun time for all, including crafting. Our friend,

Dinsley Street hosts party

By Deb Hakkers Happy Canada Day, everyone!

It’s the first official long weekend of the summer - the kids are excited and school is done for another year!

There is so much to celebrate!

This week, we wish a happy birthday to Ben Hakkers on June 30, Karen Webster on July 2, and Larry Blake, Eileen Barrie and Stephen Thompson, all on July 3.

We also wish a happy anniversary to Lorie and Kevin Falconer on June 28, as well as Helen and Keith Lapp, and Evelyn and Ron Smith, both on June 30. We hope everyone enjoys their special day!

The Dinsley Street “Annual Street Party” was held on Sunday, despite the weather, between the home of Gayle Poore and Jason and Erin Cressman. Even though it rained off and on all day while Brian Garnet and Jason Cressman tended the smoker to get the pork loins ready for supper, by the time we were ready to eat, the sun was out and even some of the jackets were shed.

There was a smaller group than usual, but those who came had a great time guessing how many candies were in the jar. Mother and son, Becky and Elijah, proved to be the best guessers, taking home both prizes. Hopefully next year we will

have better weather and a larger group.

We hope everyone can get out and enjoy some of the Canada Day events around the area!

If there is anything special you would like mentioned in this column, please e-mail mcraig1@tcc.on.ca, or call 519525-8640 (evenings only please).

Until next week, take care of yourselves and each other!

NEWS FROM BLYTH

Getting in the market The Brussels’ market was up and running on Friday, June 21. Shoppers compared the wares of several local vendors while enjoying the beautiful weather.

(John Stephenson photo)

Hemmingway, is excited to see you.

My reading choice for this week is a book that was shared during the summer school training I attended this week at the school board office in Seaforth called, Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev (2017).

According to Amazon, “In this bestselling and internationally beloved picture book, the local Pet Club won’t admit a boy’s tiny pet elephant, so he finds a solution—one that involves all kinds of unusual animals.” This book is appropriate for children between the ages of four and eight.

As I leave it here for this week, I said farewell to my time at Hullett Central Public School this week. I reflected on the many hard-working teachers and staff I was able to meet along the way. I want to give a special shout-out to Principal Lori Stevens, who was a dynamite

administrator to work for and who has the best interest of children in her heart, Shelley Kirkconnell, the school secretary, who is a treasure and always supported me, laughed with me, and encouraged me when days were difficult, and Larry Dalton, the school caretaker who kept it all going. I have a very tender heart, and I am always emotional to say goodbye, so I will say “so long”.

In September, I am off to teach Grade 6 at Huron Christian School full-time, and I am excited about this opportunity. I look forward to still sharing with you here at The Reading Web, too. I attended the final school assembly of the year last Friday and was able to visit a little while during the ice cream social.

Until next week, keep reading!

“Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.” - Voltaire

Wingham & Surrounding Area Railways Including Building of the Transcontinental Railway Ontario to the Pacific

Sunday, June 30, 2024 1 & 3 p.m.

A verbal and video presentation at the Grand Trunk Station, Wingham A “Wingham Homecoming Event” by V. Gedcke & Robert Brown

MAITLAND VALLEY CAMERA CLUB

Photography by Deb Griffey

PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024.

Natural environment changes denied in ACW Continued from page 1 examples of mapping changes that staff had made since the public meeting. “They are changes that can be made on a technical basis.... if an error had occurred in the aerial interpretation of a natural area, if there was significant ash that was impacted by the emerald ash-borer such that the area had been cleared, or was about to be cleared, if there were substantial invasive species that needed to be addressed, if agricultural practices had been established - then those areas were removed from Natural Environment (NE).”

Staff also removed any proposed NE zoning designation to areas near municipal drains after a number of residents brought up the possibility that it could restrict the necessary dredging of the drains. “There was no suggestion that the NE zoning was going to impede that, but because there was such a concern from landowners, we removed it,” Van Amersfoort explained.

She also clarified that staff is unable to override the provincial government and other agencies when it comes to non-technical objections to zoning changes. “In Ontario, we have a provincial-led planning system, which means that the province of Ontario directs through the Planning Act, and the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS).... What are the provincial interests?” Once the province outlines its policies, the county planners follow them. “From a staff

perspective, we look at the PPS, we develop official plan policies. That is what the zoning bylaws are based on. We also have to take into consideration things like conservation authority regulations.

So staff have some degree of discretion when looking at technical considerations, but there are other considerations that staff cannot consider.” Proper stewardship of the land is one of those “other things” that staff is not allowed to consider. “I wholeheartedly concur that there are incredible stewards in ACW - there’s no question of that.

What I have had to explain to landowners is that, as staff, I am not able to consider stewardship as a factor in evaluating zoning. That is a factor that staff cannot consider council can.”

The report contained a list of all the objections that had been resolved since the public meeting, as well as all the documents pertaining to those that were still outstanding. Van Amersfoort suggested they walk through each of these objections, take into account the perspective of the landowner and consider why the recommendation was being made.

“We seek council’s direction,” she said. “We’re not asking council to make any decisions this evening, we’re asking for you to provide us direction. Following tonight’s meeting, we will go back to change the mapping as per council’s direction.”

The first objection was in regards

Former ED denies any wrongdoing The Stratford Beacon Herald is reporting that Laura Pethick of Stratford has been charged with one count of fraud with a value of more than $5,000, one count of forged document use and one count of mischief to data.

The charges - Pethick denies any wrongdoing - claim that the accused defrauded the Foundation of Education of Perth Huron, of which she was the executive director at the time, of more than $5,000 between Nov. 1, 2022 and March 27, 2024.

In his story for the Beacon Herald, Bill Atwood wrote that police have accused Pethick of buying more than $11,000 in gift cards with fraudulent cheques.

Court documents also allege, according to Atwood, that Pethick “knowingly used a forged document” in between the dates of Nov. 1, 2022 and March 27, 2024 and that she reformatted and changed an account password for a laptop that belonged to the foundation between March 7 and May 1, 2024.

Colleen Schenk, chair of the foundation, which is based in Seaforth, said to the Beacon Herald that she was unable to answer specific questions about the matter, as it is before the courts, however, she told the newspaper that “irregularities” were discovered, which led to “an investigation and the subsequent charges.” Pethick was dismissed by the foundation, without cause, in March.

In a story published just a few days later by the Beacon Herald again, Pethick’s lawyer, Andrew Porter of Toronto’s Porter Litigation provided a statement on

to a section of deciduous woodland along Lake Huron that is currently zoned Lakeshore Residential Seasonal (LR1). The vacant lands are largely within the 25-year erosion zone hazard, and entirely within the 100-year erosion zone hazard. Staff consulted with the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA), who cited Ontario Regulation 41/24, which states that, “In general, development activity within the shoreline erosion hazard on vacant lots of record shall not be permitted”. As this provincial regulation bars the construction of any new residences, seasonal or not, staff recommended that the lots be rezoned to NE1.

Van Amersfoort went on to further the case for rezoning based on her personal observations. “I’ve been to the site, I’ve taken a look it’s incredibly steep, and there’s an active hazard there. We can see it, and from our perspective, it’s somewhat misleading to leave a LR1 zone on this property.” Earlier in the meeting, she had reminded council that members of the community choose to spend money on property based on the way they intend to use it. Were a person to purchase vacant land zoned LR1, they would likely do that in order to develop seasonal residences, which, by order of the province and the MVCA, is not permitted.

Huron County Planner Celina McIntosh also presented a proposed change in the zoning of a property

containing a mixed woodlot within the lakeshore’s 100-year erosion zone, meaning that it is also regulated by the MVCA. The land is currently zoned as a Recreational Campground (RC1), but staff recommended that the forested, hazardous section be rezoned to NE1.

Council chose not to support either of these recommendations from staff, choosing instead to direct staff to leave the zonings as they are. This does not mean that any development will ever be permitted in these hazard zones.

Councillor Jennifer Miltenberg questioned why other members of council chose not to support the staff recommendation when it came to areas within the erosion hazard zone. “I’d be far more comfortable doing these individually, and being able to question why. Maybe I’m voting incorrectly? I have no idea what just happened, and I’d like to know, going forward, what is happening... clearly, there’s a different thought process I am completely unaware of. If anyone who is voting ‘no’ can tell me why, I can be educated.”

The rezoning of small sections of agricultural lands was discussed next. Most of the land in question is zoned either AG1 or AG4, and contains one or more features that have been proposed for the NE1 designation - such as rivers, woodlots, wetlands, and Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI). Many of these features are

also already protected by forest conservation bylaws and various conservation authorities. Councillor Wayne Forster asked if these landowners were now happy with what was happening, or if the complaints were still outstanding.

He also asked if staff could find a way to resolve the remaining issues.

Van Amersfoort reiterated that these objections were all the ones that could not be resolved by staff, and required direction from council.

After the first few agricultural properties were presented, DeputyMayor Bill Vanstone commented that he preferred to side with the landowners. “I would like to see these stay the way they are. I don’t want to see them go to NE1. That’s my opinion.”

Van Amersfoort offered council some edification on the purpose of accurate mapping. “It’s important to note that, from a zoning bylaw standpoint, we want to be clear about if there is building activity permitted in an area or not. If we leave it zoned AG4, it gives the impression that there would be something permitted there, when, in fact, based on the conservation authority’s regulations and the forest conservation bylaw, there may not be. So I think that’s the difficulty. It becomes confusing for the landowners to understand what is permitted in different parts of the property.”

Mayor Glen McNeil agreed Van Amersfoort made sense. Miltenberg Continued on page 13

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behalf of his client in which she “categorically denies these allegations of impropriety and looks forward to the opportunity to respond to these charges in full.”

He added that, “Laura Pethick has faithfully worked with the Stratford community to help those in need for 17 years.”

Pethick was arrested in May and appeared in court for the first time on June 17. Her next court appearance is set for September.

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024. PAGE 9.

Sports Stingers now sole undefeated team after Tigers loss

A banner day In their relatively limited time in the Huron County Fastball League, the Brussels Bangers have often trailed their Brussels brothers, the Tigers, in the standings.

However, last Friday night the Bangers made a statement, handing the Tigers their first loss of the season by a score of 9-8. (John Stephenson photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen The Belmore Stingers are now the only undefeated team left in the Huron County Fastball League standings, with a record of 5-0 and 10 points, while the Milverton Millwrights remain the only winless team in the league, with a record of 0-2.

The Brussels Tigers, with a record of 5-1 and 10 points, suffered their first loss of the season as the victims of some Brussels-onBrussels crime, as the Bangers defeated the Tigers on Friday night by the slim score of 9-8.

The Walton Brewers remain in third place in the standings with a record of 3-3-1 and seven points, followed by the Goderich Grizzlies

Turning the page With dreams of an undefeated season now behind them after a loss to the Brussels Bangers last Friday, the Brussels Tigers will next play the Milverton Millwrights on Wednesday, July 3 in Brussels. (John Stephenson photo)

and Monkton Muskrats, who have identical 3-2 records and six points each.

In sixth place in the standings are the Wingham Hitmen with a record

of 3-1 and six points, followed by the Brussels Bangers (2-3 and four points) and the Fullarton A’s and Mitchell Mets, who have identical 2-4 records with four points each.

The Sebringville Sting is in 10th place with a record of 2-1 and four points, followed by the 2-4 Wroxeter Rippers (four points) and the Elmira U20 team, which won its first game of the season over the aforementioned Rippers on June 23 by a score of 9-6. The team now has a record of 1-5-1 and three points.

That leaves Milverton as the lone winless team in the league with a record of 0-2 and no points.

On Sunday, aside from Elmira’s win over Wroxeter, the Mitchell Mets were scheduled to play the Sebringville Sting in St. Marys and the Milverton Millwrights were due to play the A’s in Fullarton, but those games were postponed due to weather.

On June 22, the Wingham Hitmen played the Muskrats in Monkton and came away with a 9-1 win.

The night before, June 21, as mentioned, the Bangers beat the Tigers in the Battle of Brussels, while the Grizzlies beat the Sebringville Sting in Goderich by a score of 7-0 and the Monkton Muskrats beat the Rippers in Wroxeter by a score of 14-10.

On June 19, the Goderich Grizzlies beat Elmira in Linwood by a score of 7-0 in a game originally scheduled to be played on June 5. Also that night, the Wingham Hitmen beat the Mets in Mitchell by a score of 6-2 and the Brussels Tigers beat the Fullarton A’s at home in Brussels by a score of 10-3.

On June 17, the Belmore Stingers

beat the Grizzlies in Goderich by a score of 11-1 in a game that had originally been set to be played on July 12 and, on June 16, the Fullarton A’s hosted Elmira and beat the visitors by a score of 6-1.

Tonight, June 28, the Milverton Millwrights will look for their first win of the season in Goderich over the Grizzlies.

Then, after a short break for the Canada Day long weekend, the Walton Brewers will travel to Mitchell to play the Mets and the Brussels Tigers will host the Milverton Millwrights, both on July 3.

There is a trio of games scheduled for Friday, July 5 - the Fullarton A’s will travel to Wroxeter to play the Rippers, the Wingham Hitmen will head to Goderich to play the Grizzlies and the Monkton Muskrats will host the Mitchell Mets. Then, on Sunday, July 7, the Brussels Bangers will play the Grizzlies in Goderich and the Belmore Stingers will host a double-header, playing the Fullarton A’s at 1 p.m. and the Wroxeter Rippers at 3 p.m.

On June 25, the Fullarton A’s were scheduled to play the Brewers in Walton and the Monkton Muskrats were due to play the Grizzlies in Goderich. The next night, the Wingham Hitmen were to host the Wroxeter Rippers, the Sebringville Sting were scheduled to play Elmira in Linwood and the Brussels Tigers were set to play the Belmore Stingers in Mitchell. And on June 27, the Brussels Bangers were scheduled to play the Millwrights in Milverton. Scores for those games, however, were unavailable at press time.

PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024.

Stellar final Barn Dance show in Wingham Jim Otterbein

Randy Satchell

Betty Beer Vanrooy

Sandra Weber Bell

Resort to Murder Written by Birgitte Solem

Al Widmeyer Paul Weber

Linda Elder Marie Bottrell

Lance Russwurm Larry Mercey Harold MacIntyre

Gerald Davidson

Live from Wingham Canada’s Largest Travelling Barn Dance bid farewell with a sold-out show at the Wingham Town Hall Theatre on Sunday, June 23. The Barn Dance Historical Society is disbanding following this special send-off performance.

Artwork by Autumn Ducharme

(Scott Stephenson photo)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen Canada’s Largest Travelling Barn Dance had its farewell show on Sunday afternoon, and a fine farewell it was. The sold-out performance was fittingly held at the Wingham Town Hall Theatre on Josephine Street, which has hosted many a Barn Dance show over the decades.

Sunday’s spectacle witnessed the Barn Dance Show Band backing up a veritable “who’s who” of old-time country music, many of whom had their start right there in Wingham.

Inventor W.T. Cruickshank’s first live Barn Dance broadcast happened in his hometown of Wingham in 1937. He soon devised a way by which he could transmit

the audio from live shows anywhere that had access to long distance telephone lines back to his transmitter at the CKNX radio station, and Canada’s Largest Travelling Barn Dance was born.

CKNX expanded to include a television station that broadcast shows like Circle 8 Ranch. In its heyday, Barn Dance not only attracted big name talents from across Canada and the United States - it created stars like Earl Heywood and Ernie King, while also fostering creativity.

Barn Dance grew into a musical phenomenon that saw families all over Southwestern Ontario spending their Saturday night indoors, gathered around the radio, listening to old-time country music being performed all over Ontario.

The live shows themselves were the social event of the week every Saturday night - to find out what town the next show was going to be in, music fans had to check their local newspaper for the announcement.

The Barn Dance radio program went off the air in 1963, and CKNX eventually ceased broadcasting independent television and radio programs entirely. The Barn Dance Historical Society (BDHS) was formed in the 1990s with a mandate to not only memorialize Wingham’s musical past through projects like the Barn Dance Museum, but to keep the music thriving by putting on incredible live shows featuring talented musicians of all ages. The BDHS hosted an annual Jamboree Continued on page 11

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024. PAGE 11.

Bittersweet afternoon of old-time music pleases crowd Gord Baxter

Jim Swan

North Huron Reeve Paul Heffer

Ruth Baxter Continued from page 10 Weekend in Blyth that ended in 2023. The Barn Dance Museum also closed permanently last year.

Following Sunday’s extravaganza, the BDHS will be dissolved.

For its farewell performance, an impressive percentage of the Barn Dance family was there to say goodbye like they’ve always said hello - in a friendly kind of way.

The current iteration of the Barn Dance Show Band, led by Doug Dietrich, gave a powerhouse performance, backing up regulars like Paul Weber and Randy Satchell, as well as legendary country artists like Larry Mercey and Marie Bottrell, who came to offer songs as a tribute to the place CKNX Barn Dance holds in their hearts.

The earlier generations of Barn Dance artists have inspired many young rural people to pick up a fiddle, or just feel confident in their ability to carry a tune. Some of those carrying the old-time torch are family members, like Earl’s son, Grant Heywood, who grew up with Barn Dance and went on to become

Doug Dietrich

a professional musician. Some, like yodeling sensation Naomi Bristow, were given an early chance to show off their skills on stage at the Barn Dance Jamboree.

Throughout Sunday’s show, Jim Swan truly earned the title as Master of Ceremonies by transporting the whole audience back to the golden days of radio. He started the show by counting in the band to coincide with the moment the radio broadcast would begin, to avoid any dead air, even though it was a live show. Swan’s trademark sense of humour and seemingly bottomless well of practiced patter would be right at home on any radio program.

Swan didn’t just introduce the musicians and special guests - he regaled audiences with tales of Barn Dance history, shared the lore of days gone by, and drew attention to the familial threads that have kept this beloved rural musical style alive for generations. The audience was populated with Barn Dance fans, friends and family members who were more than happy to engage in little games of “I

remember when” during intermission.

There’s no question that each and every artist in attendance contributed their own brand of world-class talent to the goings-on, but they all also brought with them a unique piece of local history that they carry within themselves everywhere they go. Families no longer gather around the radio, and the Barn Dance Museum may now stand empty, but the true legacy of Barn Dance will continue to live on.

During a break in the show, BDHS President Ruth Baxter and treasurer Gord Baxter announced that, as the Society’s final act, it would use its remaining funds to set up five sizeable scholarships at as many Huron County schools to further the musical education of local students, and to keep the spirit of old-time music alive.

At the end of the show, all the performers took to the stage to perform the Hank Williams’ classic “I Saw the Light” one last time.

Until the first Barn Dance reunion show, of course.

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PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024.

CH votes down pool replacement, sports pad Continued from page 1 she arrived. She too felt the design and cost was elaborate and encouraged council to seek a more pared-down, affordable option.

Chief Administrative Officer Steve Dougherty reminded council and those in attendance that the first round of design work cost the municipality about $35,000 and that getting it redone would come at a price and, furthermore, there is no guarantee that it would come back at a lower cost.

Others at the meeting agreed with the other speakers, suggesting that council seek a simplified pool at a lower price.

To begin council’s conversation, Councillor Adam Robinson moved a version of Option 1, asking for a

more detailed report from staff on how the pool could be funded and possible avenues for relief, such as upper-tier government grants, corporate partnerships, fundraising and work with local service clubs.

Notably, passing the motion would not have committed the municipality to building a new pool - council would simply be asking staff to prepare more information on the possibility.

On that topic, Councillor Jennifer Cox said she’s been asked by residents if the municipality could be taking a bigger cut of the Clinton casino’s revenue.

However, Councillor Dan Colquhoun bristled at that suggestion, saying the casino has injected over $13 million directly into the municipality since

it opened and that was more than generous.

Councillor Michael Russo agreed that the price for a new pool was “way out of line” for what he was expecting and asked about making the pool house much less elaborate.

However, Mayor Jim Ginn reminded him that most of the renovations will be to make it accessible, which would be required.

Doherty also chimed in, reminded council of other issues with keeping a pool open that Central Huron had been encountering in recent years, including finding enough lifeguards to staff the pool. So, even if it were to be rebuilt, there’s no guarantee that the municipality would be

able to keep it open for as long as it would hope.

Council asked that a report be ready for the Sept. 16 meeting.

However, when it came time to vote, council voted down the motion, leading to further discussion.

Cox then suggested Option 3 to council, finding a bit of support.

However, Colquhoun quickly spoke against it. He said that training and races at the nearby raceway already had a hard enough time coexisting with the pool when it was open. To install a sports pad for basketball, pickle ball and more would be even more of a disruption, so he wasn’t in favour of it.

Council quickly abandoned a proposed motion to support Option

3 and Russo said he could support Option 2.

Doherty also noted that, comments made at the meeting notwithstanding, none of the research conducted by the municipality pointed to an appetite for a new pool. In 2023, just 42 per cent of the 308 respondents to a municipal survey were in favour of pool replacement and that was when costs were anticipated to $1.6 million.

Councillor Alison Lobb said she really wanted to see a way forward for a pool in Clinton, but, at the costs being presented, she couldn’t support spending the money.

Council passed Option 2, putting an end to the current pool in Clinton without a proposed replacement.

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Proposed changes would not impact farming: planners Continued from page 8 also agreed with her, saying, “The onus, then, would be upon the landowner, and the danger would be for resale value, where someone thinks it’s AG4 and maybe they’re not aware of the layers. Can they see those layers if they do due diligence on the property?” Van Amersfoort confirmed that potential property buyers could find the information without including it in the actual zoning designation, but they would have to already know what they were looking for.

“Technically, the area of natural and scientific mapping is all public information, but I wouldn’t say that’s a normal due diligence exercise,” she explained. Council chose not to support staff’s recommendation that these areas be rezoned to realistically reflect the permitted land use. This does not mean that these areas are no longer protected by conservation authorities and forestry bylaws.

The report also contained NE rezoning recommendations for wetlands located on ACW properties. Some of these wetlands have already been designated as provincially significant wetlands, while others were deemed locally significant by Huron County staff.

When the zoning map update began, locally significant wetlands were protected by the MVCA, but a recent change in provincial policy has left these features unprotected and unregulated. Despite this change, staff still believes that the NE1 designation is an accurate representation of the locally significant natural wetland features on these properties. Council chose not to support the recommendation.

Classifying a natural feature as provincially significant is done by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). Staff’s recommendation is to rezone all of these wetlands from either NE1 or AG to NE5. Under the PPS, these wetlands are not available for development under any circumstances, which would be reflected through ACW’s NE5 designation. Both NE1 and NE5 zoning reflect the fact that existing structures and agricultural uses are allowed to continue, but any further development that could negatively affect the environment is subject to some restrictions. NE1 lands can potentially be developed, provided that an environmental impact study shows that the proposed development will do no harm. No development is allowed on

provincially significant wetlands, and the NE5 designation is intended to inform landowners of that fact.

“It’s simply an area that the province has deemed that there’s no development permitted here. That’s the difference... they’re the most protected spaces, from the province’s standpoint.” The NE5 designation would not prevent sustainable tree removal, trailcutting, or any existing activities.

Van Amersfoort offered several reasons as to why the NE5 designation would be advantageous to landowners. “Many of these spaces have been designated as provincially significant wetlands going back a number of years in the township,” she said. “Provincially significant wetlands are the most protected space within the township. They are also an area where landowners are eligible for 100 per cent property tax exemption through what is known as the Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program (CLTIP).”

CLTIP is a provincial program that recognizes, encourages and supports the long-term private stewardship of Ontario’s important natural heritage features. ACW’s NE5 zoning is intended to be applied to natural features that are

already designated as provincially significant. If a landowner is willing to commit to continuing to protect and steward the natural feature, and allow it to be inspected if requested, they can qualify for the CLTIP tax exemption.

“So we want to very clearly identify, for both staff and landowners, where the provincially significant wetlands are throughout the township,” Van Amersfoort stated. “I think the point of provincially significant wetlands is that there’s a sense of recognition from the province that these are the most protected spaces, and the landowners don’t have the ability to yield an income or use those properties, which is why the CLTIP program exists... These are spaces that you can’t do much with, and so we’re not going to charge any taxes for that portion of your property.”

Miltenberg was reluctant to rezone these wetlands to reflect their protected status. “Can you get something out of NE5 back to NE1, or are we there forever?” She pointed out that she and the province have different ideas about what makes a wetland significant.

Van Amersfoort explained that it is entirely the province’s decision as

to whether or not a wetland is deemed worthy of protection. “We at the local level are unable to make that call, neither at the township level nor the county level. That is strictly done by the MNRF. They do reevaluate the wetlands now and again, and the boundaries do change... there is no notification, there is no consultation process - it is done strictly by the province.

This is an exercise of us essentially taking that database from the province where they say, ‘This is where the significant wetlands are’, and reflecting that on our mapping.

We’re not making any interpretation.”

There was still confusion amongst council as to the difference between the NE5 designation and the provincial designation. “The NE5 is the local approach to identifying where the provincially significant wetlands are. We don’t determine where they are, we’re just saying ‘let’s zone them NE5 so everyone’s clear on what is a provincially significant wetland, and what is otherwise a natural environment feature.’” Clerk Florence Witherspoon added that there is nothing the township or the county can do to change the Continued on page 15

BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK REPORT For the week ending June 21, 2024 Total Receipts: 990 cattle; 445 lambs, sheep and goats.

Tuesday – Fed cattle sold easier. Cows sold actively at prices $8 - $12 higher.

High yielding bulls sold $10 - $15 higher.

Thursday – Choice veal sold steady.

Second cut and drop calves sold easier.

Lambs, sheep and goats sold steady to the week’s decline.

Friday – Calves sold fully steady.

Yearling steers sold steady. Yearling heifers sold barely steady.

Fed Cattle: There were 75 fed cattle on offer: Choice Fed Cattle: $229 – $240 Second Cut Fed Cattle: $214 – $228 Aged and Medium Fed Cattle: Too few to establish a market Holstein Fed Cattle: $175 – $225 K/C McAlpine Farms of Ailsa Craig, consigned seven head. Three fats averaged 1,587 lbs. and sold for $236.

Jeffery Becker of Ayton, consigned three head. Two fats averaged 1,618 lbs. and sold for an average price of $234.

Cows: There were 200 cows on offer:

Lambs:

Beef Cows: $150 – $172 up to $185 Good Holstein Cows: $151 – $176 up to $188 Medium Holstein Cows: $139 – $150 Bulls: $192 – $208

Under 50 lbs.: $210 – $305 up to $355 50-64 lbs.: $302.50 – $332.50 65-79 lbs.: $305 – $339 80-94 lbs.: $315 – $339 95-109 lbs.: $315 – $330 110 lbs. and over: $250 – $275

Rundle Farms of Woodham, consigned three head. One red cow weighed 1,390 lbs. and sold for $185.

Cranbrook Farms of Brussels, consigned one holstein cow that weighed 1,560 lbs. and sold for $188.

Veal: There were 185 veal and 30 bob calves on offer: Beef Veal: $240 – $264 Good Holsteins: $230 – $238 Sl. Heavy Holsteins: $210 – $225 Heavy Holsteins: $200 – $215 Medium Holsteins: $210 – $220 Plain Holsteins: $185 – $200 Holstein Drop Calves: $300 – $1,135 / HEAD Vlo Valley Farms Ltd. of Parkham, consigned seven head. One black veal weighed 765 lbs. and sold for $264.

Larry Graul of Walkerton, consigned six head. One holstein veal weighed 850 lbs. and sold for $235.

Van Nuland Holsteins Ltd. of Monkton, consigned eight head. One holstein bob calf brought $1,135 per head.

Sheep: $140 – $195 up to $205 Jesse B. Sherk of Wingham, consigned 10 head. Ten lambs averaged 99 lbs. and sold for an average price of $330.

Peter Shantz of Listowel, consigned six head. Six lambs averaged 82 lbs. and sold for an average price of $339.

Stockers: There were 500 stockers on offer: Top Quality Steers: Under 400 lbs.: Too few to establish a market 400 – 499 lbs.:Too few to establish a market 500 – 599 lbs.: $350 – $420 600 – 699 lbs.: $312.50 – $423.50 700 – 799 lbs.: $282.50 – $337 up to $400 800 – 899 lbs.: $334 – $360.50 900 – 999 lbs.: $287 – $338 1,000 lbs. and over: $285.50 – $315.25 Top Quality Heifers:

Meat Kids: $400 – $525 Dairy Kids: $400 – $500 Mature Bucks: $300 – $400 Mature Does: $135 – $280

Under 400 lbs.: Too few to establish a market 400 – 499 lbs.: $406 – $410 500 – 599 lbs.: $257.50 – $377 600 – 699 lbs.: $292.50 – $369 700 – 799 lbs.: $279 – $330 800 – 899 lbs.: $276 – $322 900 lbs. and over: $248 – $275

Alvin Davey and Sons Ltd. of Paisley, consigned 13 head. Five kid goats averaged 55 lbs. and sold for an average price of $525.

Dickson Farms of Clifford, consigned six head. Five charolais steers averaged 681 lbs. and sold for an average price of $423.50.

Cornelia Gulutzen of Listowel, consigned 27 head. Five kid goats averaged 61 lbs. and sold for an average price of $475.50.

Ben Kuepfer of Tiverton, consigned 14 head. Nine charolais steers averaged 908 lbs. and sold for an average price of $338.

Goats:

Norman B. Martin of Clifford, consigned 18 head. Nine black steers averaged 1,001 lbs. and sold for an average price of $315.25.

Lloyd McNaughton of Hagersville, consigned 12 head. Two charolais heifers averaged 625 lbs. and sold for an average price of $367.50.

A-J Acres of New Liskeard, consigned 74 head. Twenty-five charolais heifers averaged 820 lbs. and sold for an average price of $322.

Amos B. Brubacher of Holyrood, consigned 21 head. Nine charolais heifers averaged 930 lbs. and sold for an average price of $275.

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PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024.

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------------------------------------------THE CITIZEN IS AV VA AILABLE TO purchase at these locations - Auburn Esso, Belgrave V Vaariety, Blyth Food Market, Blyth V Vaariety, Blyth Ultramar, Brussels Foodland, B Brussels l Vaariety V i t , Cli t Clinton Convenience, Clinton Foodland, Fogal's YIG (W Wiingham), Wingham Mini Mart, Seaforth Foodland, Fincher's (Goderich), Goderich Victoria St Shell, Canadian Tire Gas Vi Bar, Goderich and The Citizen offffice in Blyth.

------------------------------------------REPRINTS OF PHOTOS taken by Citizen photographers are available to purchase. All are in colour. 4x6 $5.00, 5x7 - $6.00, 8x10 - $10.00.

Phone to order 519-523-4792 or email info@northhuron.on.ca

for

Reverend Randy y Banks Saturday y,, July 27 7, 2024

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm p Presentation at 3:000 pm Brucefield Community Un nited Church 10 London Road, Bruucefield

In memoriaam CALDWELL L - In memo ory of a dear father, grandfather and greatgrandfather, Ralph Caaldwell who passed away twenty-fivve years ago J June 30 30, 1999 1999.

Love is a smile, A tear and a touch, Love says little, But means so much. w give it to Love is forever and we you, From your family who thought the world of you.

Love, your family --------------------------------------------

BALL’S CEMETER RY Y DECORA AT TION SER RV VICE Sunday, July 7, 2024 at 3 pm at Ball’s Cemetery, 82228 Base Line

Special music during the service by a Men’s choir.

Everyone is welcome at the Historical Ball’’ss Church

For life The Wingham Hospital Auxiliary handed out two life memberships (awarded after 25 years of membership) at its annual general meeting, which was held earlier this month. Co-Chair Trudy Thomson, above right and below left, presented Gwen Laidlaw, above left, and Ann Hawkins, below right, with certificates to mark their years of dedication. (Photos submitted)

Brandon Cemetery service set for July 7 PEOPLE AROUND BELGRAVE

M Sarah Aileen Mann Remembering with lovve our Sarah who passed away July 4, 2006.

It’s in the photograph of love.

Weeezer W Loving and missing you y always Sarah Sarah.

Mom, Dad, Jessie, Shawn, Taallulah and Coopper XO T

(between Clinton and Auburn)

Guest minister Rev. Jan Aylward of Londesboro United Churcch

---------------------------------------------FOR SALE - T Teen n inch table saw 2HP, can be wired 1110 or 220, currently wired for 110. IIncludes small parts 26-3 jig. $150. 226-880-1689 ---------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Alllied 660 loader was on 4600 Ford. $8800. 519-368-7778.

25-3 ---------------------------------------------FOR SALE - New Holland 479 Haybine parts. A Also fits 469, 488.

519-395-2225 24-3 ---------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Pro Form CR610 Heavy duty, Treadmill. programmable, digital display, personal training programs. Displays heart rate, distancce and time, multiple incline settings. To Top folds down for storage or movving. 519-887-8046 24-3 $200. or best offffeer.

---------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Ligght weight cart/dolly, $25; Kool a T Trro on cooler - has 12 ug in, $60; computer volt/120 volt plu d k (52” wide desk id x 26” deep) d ) will ill fit in i a corner and chair, $100; all prices are negotiable. Pickup in Blyth. Call 519525-1863 or 519-441-7217.

24-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Radley self propelled push mower, rear wheel drive, 170 cc engine, 21” cut. Bought last year, only used once, Pickup in Wingham.

Asking $275. Call 905-571-3415 leave a message and I’ll get back to you.

24-3

Local Coverage Where Yo You W Woork, Play & Live

Coming events BRANDON CEMETER RY Y Memorial Service will be held July 7th at 2:00 p.m.

------------------------------------------DUNGANNON CEMETER RY Y Annual Memorial Service, Sunnday y,, ments June 30 at 2 pm. Refreshm served.

-------------------------------------------

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By Linda Campbell Call 357-2188

Worship Leader Rev. Colin Snyder welcomed the congregation at Knox United Church on Sunday, June 23. “Why Are You Afraid?” was the title of Rev. Colin’s reflection.

On Sunday, July 7, the Brandon Cemetery Memorial Service will go ahead at 2 p.m.

The Coffee Group, which was well attended, met on Tuesday, June 25. They will meet again on July 9.

Cards will be held on Friday, June 28 at 1 p.m. at the Community Centre. Everyone is welcome.

Birthday greetings are extended to Mary McIntosh (July 2). Enjoy your day.

On Tuesday, as I prepared my news, we experienced gusty winds with a chance of thunderstorms. It

was only 19°C with a low of 14°C. We did get quite a bit of rain over the weekend, which was welcomed.

It will help the gardens as well as the farmers’ crops.

Enjoy your Canada Day weekend. We’ll be hoping the weatherman co-operates for outdoor activities, as well as the fireworks in many places.

NEWS FROM BELGRAVE

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024. PAGE 15.

Zoning maps will return this July

What’ll it be?

The Londesborough Lions Club held its annual Father’s Day breakfast earlier this month and nearly 350 people came through the gates for the most important meal of the day, (John Stephenson served up by the likes of MacKenzie Nesbitt, left, and Don McGregor. photo)

Continued from page 13 provincially protected status of the wetlands.

McIntosh reiterated that the provincial designation already prevents the land from being developed. “We are just reflecting that through our NE5 zoning.”

Vanstone advocated for leaving the zoning as is. “I don’t think we have to listen to the province at all on this. If we decide to take this to NE5, it’s almost impossible for those people to do anything with that... I would far sooner see it left at NE1.” Council chose not to support staff’s remaining NE5 rezoning recommendations. They also chose not to support the majority of the remaining staff recommendations regarding NE1 designations.

Obituaries

PEARL MARJORIE (REGELE) MCCALLUM Surrounded by the love of her family, Pearl Marjorie (Regele) McCallum passed away on Friday, June 21, 2024 at Maitland Manor in Goderich.

In her 91-and-a-half years among us, Pearl was a source of love, care and kindness to anyone fortunate enough to know her. Pearl always approached everyone with a smile on her face and some home-baked cookies, sticky buns or her many canned preservatives, including chili sauce, pickled beets and many kinds of jam.

She enjoyed her countless trips to the cottage, out west, out east and

many Caribbean Islands with her husband Harold.

Pearl will be lovingly remembered by her children: Paul and Dianne McCallum of Walton, Ron and Betty McCallum of Walton, Marion McCallum and Merv Soleski of Stratford, Joyce and Jeff “Jake” Brown of Goderich, and Carl McCallum and Suzanne Jessome of Walton.

Memories of a fun and loving grandma will always be cherished by her grandchildren: Cindy, Colleen, Ken; Chad, Janice; Angeline, Carrie, Corey; Luke, Curtis and many great and greatgreat grandchildren whom she loved deeply.

Pearl was predeceased by her beloved husband and best friend Harold McCallum (2011), son-inlaw Wayne Hartman (2011), greatgrandson Travis (2018), sister Shirley Preszcator (2015), brother Lloyd Regele (2015), and parents Edward Regele and Idella Regele Hubley.

Visitation was held at Haskett Funeral Home, Exeter, on Monday, June 24, followed by Pearl’s funeral service that afternoon. Interment Brussels Cemetery.

Donations to the Seaforth Community Hospital Foundation or

Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters would be appreciated by the family.

Condolences may be forwarded through www.haskettfh.com.

CHARLES “ROSS” WILSON Surrounded by his family on June 20, 2024, at his home, Charles “Ross” Wilson passed away peacefully at the age of 73.

The proud father of Wes (Sherri), Tara (Chad) and predeceased by son Tyler (1998), Ross is survived by his sister Linda (Len) Wilson, nephew Jason and grandchildren Brett (Taylor), Braedan (Carissa), Andrew (Regan) Fleming, Gavin Lane, Hailey,

Kelly-Cora and Marley Wilson.

Ross was predeceased by parents, John and Cora Wilson, and his brother Michael.

Ross was a long-haul truck driver for more than 50 years. He loved to read and enjoyed watching the birds in the front yard. Ross was honest and straight to the point, but had a great sense of humour and was always up for a good time. He loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them. They will miss his witty remarks and laughter.

Close friends and family celebrated Ross on Sunday, June 23 at 488 Gypsy Lane in Blyth.

In lieu of flowers and as expressions of sympathy, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated.

Condolences may be left at riversidefuneralhome.ca

After they finished voting, Miltenberg asked if council would get in trouble down the road for going against provincial policy. Van Amersfoort explained how the mapping process works. “First of all, I’ve been with the department for 15 years, and I’ve never had anyone propose a development in a provincially significant wetland.

Those areas are simply not conducive to development.

Secondly, if they proposed development, we would not be able to issue them a permit, as they are also regulated by the conservation authority, and they have that provincial classification. So, ‘will you get in trouble?’ is the question I mean, ultimately, no. I think transparency was what the staff perspective was. We clearly understand the direction from council and we will move forward on that basis.”

Staff will now complete the zoning maps and present them to ACW Council for the final time in one of council’s meetings in July.

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SUDOKU Fun By The Numbers Like puzzles?

Then you’ll love sudoku. This mindbending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test!

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024.

From the Minister’s Study

The importance of encouraging everyone to ‘shine’

By Rev. Alex Jebson, Blyth and Brussels United Churches “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”

Even if you don’t find yourself in a church too often, chances are you know this little diddy from summer camp, music class or somewhere else. And there’s a really nice message to it - we’re not to hide away, but shine in our little corner of the world as best we can. At least at the start.

But once people discover that your light shines a little bit differently than the rest of the little lights, some aren’t too keen for you to shine out. This would have been the experience, in one way or another, of many who had gathered on the mountainside in Galilee to hear Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7). From the top of the mount, they heard Jesus start with a series of statements that we have come to know as the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor in spirit; blessed are those who mourn; Blessed are the meek….”

A lot of them would be listening to the words of Jesus while keeping an eye out for the crowds around them. They wanted to make sure that they were blending in, not taking up too much space, not wanting to react to the words of this hillside preacher too differently from the rest of the crowd.

There was good reason for this concern and this desire to hide away and not shine too bright on the mountain. To stand out too much meant risking the attention of the Roman occupiers, who often treated anyone who stood out with suspicion and violence. In their own local communities, those who shone differently were often shunned by their neighbours and faith communities, not fitting into the more rigid interpretations of holiness and properness.

And for others there, they simply never got the chance to shine because they were on the lowest rungs of society, whether due to poverty, a lack of family connections, who they loved, or what have you. The down and out and the out of the ordinary, both on that rugged hillside, would have been questioning how God’s love could possibly shine on them, if they themselves felt unable to shine

Evangelical Missionary Church

Sunday June 30, 10:30 a.m.

Pastor Mike preaching on “Uh-Oh Threatened and Mocked” Nehemiah 4

as themselves in their own surroundings.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” We can certainly appreciate those who are meek in our lives, those who embody gentleness and quietness.

I’m sure that there are many of you who read my contributions to this column regularly who wish that I would be a bit more meek and quiet once in a while (haha!).

However, this isn’t the kind of meekness that Jesus is likely referring to here. He’s drawing from the inspiration of Psalm 37:11, where it is “the anawim will inherit the land”. Anawim - there’s your $5 word for today. This Hebrew word has the meaning “stooped, bowed down, outcast”. In the words of the minister and 2SLGBTQIA+ activist Donald Schmidt, in his study “The Beatitudes for Progressive Christians”, “This is not about, or not just about, those who are quiet and unassuming, who politely don’t make waves and never push to the front of the line. Anawim refers to those who are not allowed into the line in the first place.”

Today, our society still fears the “other”, choosing to prioritize status and power instead of compassion and community. As a result, many of our siblings near and far are forced into a position of meekness. Those who profit from oppression and marginalization and those who just don’t want to rock the boat alike create the conditions in our community to outcast and step on people. Those who are marginalized, including those in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, are

forced to bow down, kept out of the light and the conversation. They are forced to be meek. They are the anawim.

I’m sure there are many reading this article that have experienced this, particularly if you grew up in a community where everyone often looked and acted the same. I certainly had that experience being one of the only out kids in high school. One of the things I was told most, both by those who bullied me and those who tried to be supportive, was to not shine too bright. Don’t run for student council, don’t go to prom, don’t sing like a little girl, don’t hold your boyfriend’s hand in the hallway, don’t put yourself out there. If you were just meek and mild, just hid in the corner, you would get out of there in one piece. Yet all that does is just make it easier for those who use their voices and faith to hate, to do so unchallenged. It makes it more difficult for the anawim, the othered and marginalized, to shine.

Back in Jesus’ time, those forcibly meekened on the hillside were still slumping their heads and glancing nervously around them, when from the top of the mountain, a voice started singing: “This little light of mine. God’s gonna let you shine.

This little light of mine. God’s gonna let you shine.

This little light of mine. God’s gonna let you shine.

Let you shine, let you shine, let you shine.”

“Blessed are the meek”, Jesus was saying. Blessed are those who had been forced down or hidden

BRUSSELS S

On-site and online - live.huronchapel.com Register for Vacation Bible Camp July 8-12! www.huronchapel.com 119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden.

No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others….”

You - you who are different and outcasted and feel like you’re not enough and can’t be who you are, you are called to shine before others. You - you are called to inherit the earth, an earth that in Christ’s salvation and the work of the Holy Spirit, is challenging the attitudes and structures and institutions that exclude and marginalize. You - you who are part of and stand with the queer community, you are called to queer up God’s world, to break down the boundaries and to love and call blessed all those around you – those who are poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who are anawim, those who are persecuted and reviled because of God’s boundless love, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, those who make Continued on page 17

The Regional Ministry of Hope Come Worship with Us! Trinity Anglican BLYTH 9:00 AM

St. Paul’s-Trinity Anglican WINGHAM 11:00 AM

519-357-7781 • email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca www.regionalministryofhope.com Weekly service live-streamed at 11:00 a.m. on our Facebook page or on youtube @St. Paul’s-Trinity Anglican Church Wingham.

Brussels Mennonite Fellowship

U United Chu ur urch Sunday, Sunday y,, Jun J June un ne 30 at at 11:00 a.m.

Joint Worship Service S with Blyth United at Blyth Lion’s Park followed by picnic lunch (supplied) Worship at Brussels United resumes, July 7 at 11 a.m. ex xt 12 months is 11 a.m. our regular worship tiime for the ne

Contact Alex at ministter.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com y @g Website: b brusselsandblythuc.ca P.O. Box 359,, Brussels ~ 519-887-6259 P.

Come Worship with us

GOD CARES OU! FOR Y

Sundays at 10:00 a.m.

All Are Welcome Interim Pastor Elwin Garland 250 Princess St., Brussels • 519 887 6388

30 Mr

the he 10:0 10:00 :00 0 am service se erv e rvic v ce Services S ervices a are re llive-streamed ive and can nb be e ffo found o by b ys searching earching ““Blyth Bly Christian Reformed rrm med Church” rch”

Sunday, June 30 at 10 a.m.

RIS R ISTIA AN N CH R RC CH C H

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5 99-5 3-4 -47 474 7743 43 43 cr .ca .ca

Childcare and Sunday School provided for children 0 to 8 during the sermon

Vacation Bible Camp C Mon.-Fri. July 8-12, 2024, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. noon, for ch hildren ages 5-12 (finished JK - finisshed gr 6) At the Huron Chapel Evangeliccal Missionary Church , 119 John’s Av Ave, Auburn

Blyth y United Churrch

JJoin i us Sunday, June 30th Service at the Blyth Lions Park Nursery & Sunday School during worship

away by society and communities, because God sees you. God sees you not through the lens of hate or misunderstanding. God sees you not by the status that those around you have assigned you. God sees that you are wondrously made by God, and that you are just as worthy and capable and included to shine God’s love and care through you as anyone else on this hillside and in the whole world.

Jesus showed in word and deed how blessed the meek truly were.

Everywhere he went and taught and healed and stood in solidarity, he was doing so with those whom society didn’t deem proper or important enough. Widows, tax collectors, sex workers, foreigners, a Roman soldier and his servant who many interpret to be his male lover. Jesus dared to include, uplift, and inspire them to shine as God made and loved them. They would no longer have meekness, anawim, forced upon them.

Jesus makes this clear in the passage that comes right after the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:14-16:

11:00 a.m.

Lunch to follow Join us We Wednesday mornings for conversation in the garden startin ng at 10 am The outreach pproject j ffor June is the Lions Guide Dog gT Trrainingg Program Contact Alex at: minister.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churche es blythunited@tcc.on.ca ~ 519-523-4224

Worship and Prayer Time Loving Fellowship Expository Preaching

Coming Soon! Vacation Bible School, July 8 - 12th, Ages 5-12 For additional details please visit: brusselscommunitybiblechapel.ca

MEL LV VILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS

Sunday, June 30, 2024 11:00 am - 12 noon We extend a loving welcome to all to join us as Doug Sargennt leads us in worship, prayer, and praise to God. A pot luck lunch will be served after the service.

Soup & More 2 Join us every Friday from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. for lunch. This free meal is made possible by the Brussels churches and many volunteers working together to serve our community. c All are welcome!

For pastoral care concerns please call 519-524-7512 2

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024. PAGE 17.

Excessive heat becomes hot topic for conversations PEOPLE AROUND WALTON

By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570

There have been quite a few good news stories this week.

Congratulations to Kristen Pipe and partner Jeremy on the birth of a son - another grandson for Gary and Lori Pipe to love and his name is William Reid. Congratulations to the new parents.

Congratulations to Brian and Marlene Rutledge on becoming great-grandparents again. The happy parents of a son, named Ethan, are Matt and Jayln Rutledge of St. Marys. Big sister Amelia is very happy to have a little brother.

Marty and Cathy are the happy grandparents. Congratulations to all.

Congratulations to Joe Steffler on celebrating his 80th birthday with a great get-together at the Seaforth Legion on Saturday. Friends, former colleagues, councillors and family members enjoyed a lovely social afternoon reminiscing Congratulations to grandmother

Audrey Cardiff, who attended the wedding of her granddaughter Dana on Sunday at Niagara-onthe-Lake. Dana is the daughter of Stuart and Allison Cardiff.

Dana and her new husband Kevin will reside in Thorndale.

It was a beautiful day and

ceremony. Congratulations to all.

Welcome home to Bill and Tammy King from a wedding and Mediterranean Cruise. They went to Italy to attend the wedding of nephew Lukas and new wife Alexandria. Lukas is the son of Bill’s sister Carla and husband

Staying cool The Seaforth Lions Club celebrated its 100th anniversary at the Seaforth Lions Park on Saturday, June 22. Swimmers took advantage of the pool being open and several dedications were made.

(John Stephenson photo)

Paul, who reside in California. The wedding was held in Tuscany and it was beautiful.

After the festivities of the wedding concluded and a visit with family, Bill and Tammy went on a nine-day cruise of the Mediterranean. They enjoyed many beautiful spots, the hospitality, the great food and weather. Welcome home folks!

There was a verse I saw the other day that all should live by. What do the letters in the word THINK stand for? T is for “is it true?”, H is for “is it helpful?”, I is for “is it inspiring?”, N is for “is it necessary?” and K is for “is it kind?”

We are happy to hear that Thys DeJong is improving and is in the process of attending rehab. We hope that, in another few weeks, he will be home. Positive thinking is directed his way.

It is only 10 days until the fundraising barbecue of smoked pork chops for the Walton Brewers and their trip to the International Softball Congress’ World Softball Championship. Tickets are selling well, but if you’re interested, call Scott or Jo-Ann McDonald. Look for the advertisement in last week’s paper.

Members of the Walton Ball Park Committee and the Walton Hall Board and members of the Brewers

ball team are all working together to raise funds to help out the team.

They appreciate the community support.

Celebrating birthdays this past week are Elle Braecker, Dianne Godkin, Wenda Humphries, Carolyn Sullivan, Craig Ellis, Kevin Flaxbard, Kelly Godkin, Fletcher Delay, Loga Ellis, Noah Gillis, Jill Fritz, Kendra Wilts, Nora Humphries, Stephen Todd and Norah Schlosser. Happy birthday to all.

and rejected has a gospel pedigree.

It’s called resurrection.

You are the pride of the earth.

If pride loses its spine, it slumps for everyone.

You are the rainbow of the world.

People will turn to your bright spectrum and say - this is holy.”

Friends, let us be sure that the earth we are inheriting is the one that uplifts and lives out the inclusive, radical, wondrous love of God, the allyship and discipleship of Christ, and the inspiration and wonder of the Holy Spirit. “Blessed are the meek” -

those bowed down, counted out, or left on the outside looking in, for God is with you and for you. Shine out assured that nothing separates you from God’s love, and that your light is holy and needed in the world.

“This little Pride of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.

This little Pride of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.

This little Pride of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”

Thanks be to God. Amen.

NEWS FROM WALTON

‘Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.’

Continued from page 16 peace and seek justice. You - shine!

I hope that this message can really shine through with the words of the minister and writer Maren C. Tirabassi. This is her “Improv on the Beatitudes of Matthew”: “Blessed are the queer in spirit for theirs is the home and harbor of God. Blessed is anyone who mourns one single friend or a whole family turn away, for there is comfort in, through, and after the tears.

Blessed are those who are coming out tomorrow, for they will inherit themselves.

Blessed are those starved for security parched for equal rights, terrified of a rollback of gains achieved - for every call, e-mail, rally, parade, information table, knock on the door, will be satisfied.

Blessed are the open and affirming, reconciling, more-light, room - or - all… places, where folks feel safe to come in to scuffed pews, worn carpet, an old hymn or a praise song … and sanctuary.

Blessed are the purely gay,

lesbian, transgender, bisexual, queer, questioning, gender nonconforming - the pure in heart, in the old and the next word, in every language. God sees them and they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, even tentative ones, long ago, today, and always, they are the children of God. Blessed are all those who lose a job, or see a smile freeze, those slapped by unexpected insult in the ‘name of Jesus,’ or wondering where they can use a bathroom.

Rejoice and be glad - for reviled

Busin ness Director ry Dave Frranken F ra k

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PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024.

On August 27, 1902 Bainton Brothers shipped 4,000 pounds of wool to Toronto.

Read more in the Blyth Repository of History

Fridays

405 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4792 blythrepositoryofhistory.ca

The Citizen, June 12, 2014

Leadership in energy and environmental design

Devon Henry 84772 McDonald Line • Box 616 • Brussels

devonjhenry@hotmail.com 519-505-2473

The Citizen, June 11, 2009

The Citizen, June 6, 2019

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024. PAGE 19.

Entertainment & Leisure

Young Garratt shines in father’s ‘Saving Graceland’

The next generation Goldie Garratt, left, and J.D. Nicholsen are perfectly matched in Blyth Festival Artistic Director Gil Garratt’s Saving Graceland, a tale about kincare in Huron County and a couple obsessed with Elvis Presley. The show opened the Festival’s 50th anniversary season in Memorial Hall and is Garratt’s first solo playwrighting effort at the Festival since 2014’s St. Anne’s Reel, which starred David Fox, who passed away in 2021, and the aforementioned Nicholsen. (Gemma James Smith photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen It has been 10 years on the calendar since Blyth Festival Artistic Director Gil Garratt put the stories in his head onto the Memorial Hall stage. He wasn’t even the head honcho for that season, Marion de Vries was.

Garratt took the reins the next year after the successful production of St. Anne’s Reel in the 2014 season. Since then, Garratt has been part of the company that created collectives like Wing Night at The Boot and The Pigeon King and cowritten stories torn from the headlines or the history books like The Last Donnelly Standing with Paul Thompson or In the Wake of Wettlaufer with Kelly McIntosh, but, until last weekend, St. Anne’s Reel stood as his lone solo main stage writing credit at the Festival.

(He did pen Wireless for the Festival’s Young Company in 2007.)

That is until the curtain went up on Saving Graceland last Friday night. No doubt there were numerous reasons for it to be an emotional night for Garratt - a 50th anniversary season for a beloved

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Festival, another opening night as the clouds of the pandemic lift, a 10th season at the helm in Blyth but to see his young daughter Goldie tread the same boards he has so many times before must have been a proud moment.

In Saving Graceland, Garratt attempts to tackle two issues of increasing urgency in this country, and especially in rural Ontario: the opioid crisis and the rise of kincare as children are left, for one reason or another, to be raised by grandparents, uncles and aunts or other members of their more extended families.

It’s an attempt to engage in the lineage of the very best work that the Festival has done over the years, holding a mirror up to the community and reflecting its members’ stories back at them.

Some of those stories have come after decades of space, like Beverley Cooper’s Innocence Lost: A Play About Steven Truscott or The Outdoor Donnellys by Paul Thompson, Janet Amos and others, while others have picked at a fresh wound without nearly as much

Happy 70th Birthday Chris Beck

hindsight, like the aforementioned In the Wake of Wettlaufer, The Pigeon King or Ipperwash.

It’s a valiant attempt to put on stage a situation that is affecting so many families these days. And while its dramatic heft will no doubt make it a tough sit for some, others will surely appreciate seeing a version of their own struggle portrayed for them. Whether it’s the parent whose child has struggled with substance abuse or the grandparent who’s seen their grandchild turned away by a parent, there is a lot to identify with in the story Garratt is telling.

Levity in the story comes - as it always does, though notably not for the fans of Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla - from Elvis Presley. J.D

Nicholsen’s Gord is obsessed with Elvis and has been for the better part of his life. His wife, Orillia, played by Caroline Gillis, likes Elvis just fine, thank you very much, but is more of an ally to Gord for his obsession than she is a fullblown fan herself.

The Elvis aspect of the story regardless of your personal feelings about The King - provides some genuinely moving moments, however, as Gord’s enthusiasm as a rabid Elvis fan and burgeoning Elvis tribute artist can be infectious.

The story begins with Gord and Orillia about to leave for their inconvenient, yet cheap, middle-ofthe-night flight to Hawaii when their granddaughter, Dylan, played

by Garratt’s daughter Goldie, presents herself, alone, at their door.

It quickly becomes abundantly clear that Dylan’s mother is fighting debilitating drug addiction and has jettisoned her daughter in favour of a bender. How long the bender will last, however, is anyone’s guess.

Dylan’s mother Lauren, played

by Amy Keating, does eventually return, but only after Gord and Orillia begin to come to terms with the fact that they may have to return to the world of parenting emotionally, practically and financially.

Gillis embodies an older Huron County woman searching for direction in the later stages of her life, while Keating presents her take on a heavily conflicted parent to Dylan and area native Cam Laurie brings us a bridge from Lauren to her parents. As Ben, he’s both a long-time friend of Lauren’s but the man who Gord has treated like a son for years, down to selling him his auto shop upon retiring.

The play’s best scenes are between Nicholsen and Goldie; their relationship is genuine and casual (no doubt helped by their real-life relationship - Gil and Goldie’s “Uncle Jack” have been collaborators and friends since before Goldie was born). As a child who’s new to the professional stage, Goldie isn’t overloaded with lengthy monologues or chatty

exchanges, but she steals the show when it’s her time to shine.

Furthermore - and perhaps this is a relatively new father speaking the presence of a real-life child on the stage adds an emotional heft to scenes of conflict among the adults.

While it’s easy to get wrapped up in the emotionality of the day-to-day doings of a complicated custody situation, remembering that a living, breathing, growing person hangs in the balance can become back-burner stuff, but Gil and director James MacDonald work to ensure Dylan is always part of the conversation.

Saving Graceland tells the story of a very specific fractured family, so it may not be for everyone, but, as a family drama to which many can relate, it’s quite possible that the story could be seen as being universal in its specificity.

Saving Graceland is on the Memorial Hall stage until Saturday, Aug. 3.

Happy 50th Birthday Robb Finch Best son ever!

June 27th

Love Dad & Mom

LEAH WALKER F.E. Madill Elementary June 25, 2024

Congratulations

“We are so very proud of the beautiful young lady you have become.

We look forward to celebrating your accomplishments and watching you spread your wings in High School.”

Go confidently in the Direction Of Your Dreams and Live the Life You ve Imagined!

June 30

Dream BIG Dreams Always “Believe” in yourself and all that you can be!

Love your family

The family of William Stevenson are proud to announce that he has been called to the bar by the Law Society of Ontario at a ceremony in London on June 14, 2024.

Proud parents are Steve and Veronica, siblings Wyatt and Aspen, and fiancé Sarah Rothwell Proud grandma Carol Stevenson and extended family are over the moon proud!

Congratulations on your Grade 8 Graduation!

Our love always, Mom & Dad xoxo

PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024.

Caldwells mark 50th anniversary in Auburn

A golden anniversary Leslie and Evelyn Caldwell, back centre, marked their 50th wedding anniversary at the Auburn Hall on Saturday, 50 years to the day that they were married back in 1974. They celebrated with many friends and their family, seen above. (John Stephenson photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen On Saturday at the Auburn Community Hall, Les and Evelyn Caldwell celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with many of their family members and friends.

Evelyn was born Evelyn May Norman at Wingham and District Hospital. She lived with her parents, John and Elda (Ballagh) Norman, on their home farm on RR3, Wingham.

Meanwhile, Leslie Ralph Caldwell was born in Clinton Public Hospital and lived with his parents, Ralph and Gladys (Webster) Caldwell, on their home farm at RR3, Blyth -

an Ontario Century Farm.

On June 22, 1974, Les and Evelyn were married at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Wingham by Rev. Robert Armstrong. Evelyn’s Maid of Honour was her sister Mary and her bridesmaids were her best friend Darlene (Stamper) Fear, sister-inlaw Anne Cottel, cousin Mary Anne (Alton) Lemm - who also served as the soloist for the day - and cousin Ruth Higgins, who served as the flower girl.

Les’s brother Wayne was his best man and his ushers were Evelyn’s brothers Wallace and James Norman and David Cottel, Les’s brother-in-law. Allan Cottel, the groom’s nephew, was the ring bearer.

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The Grey Firefighters Association held its annual breakfast on Sunday, welcoming hundreds to Ethel to partake in their version of the most important meal of the day. (John Stephenson photo)

he does a lot of research at the beef barn at the Elora Research Farm.

Tim and Jen have twin daughters, Hannah and Natalie.

Mark lives in Seaforth and works as a civil engineer for B.M. Ross and Associates in Goderich. Mark and Sarah have two children, Callie and Ethan.

Over the years, Evelyn has remained a “farmer’s daughter” and still enjoys feeding the livestock, including her bunnies. She also enjoys gardening, growing things in her greenhouse and, above all, spending as much time as possible with her grandchildren. Les enjoys doing jigsaw puzzles, reading and running the farm.

The anniversary celebration took place at the Auburn Hall 50 years to the day they were married on June 22 from 2-4 p.m., followed by a social gathering of family and friends at Les and Evelyn’s farm, where home-grown beef was served. Everyone in attendance was a special guest.

Furthermore, in-laws Anne (Caldwell) and Dave Cottel were also celebrating their 56th wedding anniversary on the same day.

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Following a honeymoon to Niagara Falls and Northern Ontario, Les and Evelyn returned to the groom’s farm, Maplehurst Farm, at RR3, Blyth, where they have lived for the past 50 years. While Les has worked as a farmer for his entire life, Evelyn has enjoyed numerous jobs until she earned her personal support worker certification. She would then be employed by Huron County for 20 years until she retired in 2020.

Les continues to farm, however, claiming that retirement is “just for old folks”.

Les and Evelyn have four children: Ian John, Kristy May, Timothy (Tim) Ralph and Mark Leslie.

Ian now farms near Belgrave, where he runs a large feedlot backgrounding cattle and owns a large pig operation near Teeswater.

He has four children: Grace, Amy, Garrett and Sadie.

Kristy lives in Paris, Ontario and teaches public school. Kristy and Derrick have three boys: Christopher, Elliot and Jacob.

Tim lives in Guelph and worked at the University of Guelph where

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