3 • Agriculture 8 • Sports 10 • Remembrance Day 15 • Obituaries
The
THIS WEEK
Citizen
Huron County’s most trusted independent news source
Friday, November 8, 2024
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Volume 40 No. 45
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, ON N0M 1H0
Broomball tourney in Blyth this wknd.
Tunes for a cause On Friday night, Trinity Anglican Church in Blyth hosted a special concert to benefit the Huron Residential Hospice near Clinton with Velvet and Ivory. However, it was Jellybean Blue - the local trio of Cappy Onn, Chris Johnston and Kevin Carney - who warmed up the audience ahead of a great night of music and fundraising, all for a great cause. (John Stephenson photo)
This weekend, it’s all about broomball at the Blyth and District and Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centres, as dozens of broomball games will be played as part of Blyth Junior Broomball’s annual tournament in the region. Action begins with four U12 games on Friday night. First, Blyth Silver plays Palmerston, followed by the Mildmay Hawks taking on the Mildmay Falcons, Keady playing the Mildmay Moose and the Blyth Bullets playing Seaforth. Next, the Blyth U14 Boys will play Mildmay, followed by games between the Young Guns and Terminators and Twisted Sisters and Typhoons in U20 Girls action and then the Moose and Seaforth and the Renegades and the Flyers in the U20 Boys division. On Saturday, the Blyth U14 Girls will open play with a game against Mildmay, followed by Seaforth playing Palmerston in the U14 Boys division, Keady playing Palmerston in U9 action, the U12 Blyth Silver team playing the Mildmay Hawks, the U12 Blyth Bullets playing the Mildmay Moose, Palmerston taking on the Mildmay Falcons and Seaforth playing Keady, also in the U12 division. Keady will play the Mildmay Farmers in U9 action as the morning turns to afternoon, followed by a game between the
U14 Girls Mildmay and Palmerston teams. U12 action continues between Blyth Silver and the Mildmay Falcons, Palmerston and the Mildmay Hawks and the Blyth Bullets and Keady. The Blyth U16 Boys will then play Seaforth, followed by a game between Blyth’s U14 Girls and Palmerston. The Blyth U16 Girls will play Seaforth and Palmerston will play Kilsyth, also in the U16 Girls division. The Twisted Sisters will play the Young Guns in U20 Girls action, followed by a U12 game between Seaforth and the Mildmay Moose. The Typhoons and Terminators will play in U20 Girls action, followed by U16 Girls games between Blyth and Kilsyth and Seaforth and Palmerston and U20 Girls games between the Twisted Sisters and Terminators and the Typhoons and the Young Guns. On Saturday night, at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre, the U14 Blyth Boys will play Palmerston and the U14 Boys Seaforth and Mildmay teams will face off. The U9 Mildmay Roosters will play Seaforth, followed by a U20 Boys game between the Mildmay Moose and the Flyers. Blyth and Seaforth and Palmerston and Mildmay will then Continued on page 2
Stewart, Fritz, Dodds named Citizens of the Year By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Linda Stewart, Dan Fritz and Don Dodds are the winners of the 2024 Citizen of the Year Awards for their hard work, dedication and tireless efforts to improve their communities. Linda Stewart is being honoured as the Blyth Citizen of the Year, while Dan Fritz has been named the Brussels Citizen of the Year and Don Dodds is the third-ever Huron County Citizen of the Year. When contacted by The Citizen to inform her of her win, Stewart said that her supportive team is who should be recognized for their
blythnow.ca
efforts and that she is merely working with them to make the community better. She has, over the years, worked hard as a member of Blyth Community Betterment, the group that has spearheaded popular events like the recently-resurrected Rutabaga Festival, New Year’s Eve fireworks and the Santa Claus parade. Furthermore, she volunteers extensively with the Blyth Lions Club, despite not being a member, though her husband Don “Barney” Stewart is. In fact, Barney won the award in 2005 and this makes Barney and Linda the only husband and wife, in the history of the award, to win independently of one
another (several couples have won together in the same year). Stewart also volunteers with the Blyth Festival and the Blyth Kids Club and spent many years helping with the Blyth Minor Hockey Association when her children were young. In Brussels, Fritz, who is only in his twenties, is being recognized for his extensive work in recreation in Brussels and beyond. First, Fritz has been involved with Lucknow’s Music in the Fields, a tremendously successful event, for a number of years. He has been a member of the Brussels Optimist Club for a number of years, remaining very
to Steve Dawe new owner of Blyth Printing
active as a volunteer, the club’s treasurer and part of the organizing team that runs the spring auction, the men’s harvest stag and the recreational hockey tournament. He served, alongside Mike Thomas, as co-chair of Brussels’ 150th Homecoming in 2022, which was another tremendous success, while also serving as a divisional chair for the Inspiring our Futures campaign that raised millions of dollars to renovate and expand the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. He had served as a member of the Brussels Recreation Board before it was dissolved and with the Blyth Brussels Hockey Association on its
executive, while also dedicating his time as a trainer and assistant coach behind the bench. Following in the footsteps of Karen Webster and the late Wayne Clausius, Don Dodds will be honoured for his Huron Countywide work. For generations, Dodds and his family were based in the Seaforth area, but he now lives in Goderich. Dodds has been volunteering with Huron County 4-H for more than 65 years, predominantly serving with the Swine and Sodbusters Clubs, but also leading other clubs over the years. In 2006, he won the 4-H Ontario Continued on page 2
PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024.
‘Citizen’ Awards night set for Dec. 4 in Brussels Continued from page 1 Arbor Award, which is the highest honour that can be presented to a 4H Ontario volunteer and yet, even at his advanced age, he continues to volunteer extensively to this day. Furthermore, Dodds remains an active volunteer within the Huron County Plowmen’s Association, an organization with which he has served for over 70 years. Dodds has been a plowing match judge for many, many years and was awarded the hallowed Golden Clipboard at the 2017 International Plowing Match in Walton. He has served as a plowing match judge in every level in Canada. He has also volunteered his time with the Seaforth Agricultural Society and at his church, in past years serving as the Clerk of
Session and a Sunday school teacher. This year’s winners will be honoured at a special Citizen of the Year Awards night scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. at the Brussels Legion. Since The Citizen began publishing in 1985, the year the newspaper was founded, North Huron Publishing has been handing out Citizen of the Year Awards for outstanding volunteers from both the Blyth and Brussels communities. However, as the newspaper’s coverage area has continued to grow, the editorial department has received an increased number of nominations and inquiries about honouring volunteers who don’t live in Blyth, Brussels or the immediate
surrounding communities. To honour one of these individuals each year, North Huron Publishing created a third Citizen of the Year Award to honour Huron County’s Citizen of the Year. The annual Citizen of the Year Award winners are chosen from among reader nominations. Readers nominate residents who make a difference in their communities. Those nominations are then considered by a panel of past Citizen of the Year Award winners, who then choose the year’s winners. Past winners of the award in the Brussels area are: Cal Krauter, 1985; Wayne Lowe, 1986; Jack Bryans, 1987; Ida Evans, 1989; Bessie Johnston, 1990; Betty Graber, 1991; George Langlois, 1992; Howard Bernard, 1993; Joanne King, 1994;
Frank Thompson, 1995; Audrey Cardiff, 1996; Leona Armstrong, 1997; Neil McGavin, 1998; Beth Earl, 1999; Lyle and Alice Brothers, 2000; Nelva and Spence Scott, 2001; Jo-Ann McDonald, 2002; Kathy Bridge, 2003; Jeff and Cathy Cardiff, 2004; Clara Blake, 2005; Phyllis Mitchell, 2006; Doug McArter, 2007; Nora Stephenson and Fran Bremner, 2008; Rene Richmond, 2009; Jim Prior, 2010; Cathrine Campbell, 2011; Jim and Lois Lee, 2012; Yvonne Knight, 2013; Dave Stephenson, 2014; Sandra Cable, 2015; Jean Davidson, 2016; Elaine Armstrong, 2017; Doug Sholdice, 2018; Mary Douma, 2019; Bob Kellington (posthumous), 2020; Zoellyn Onn in 2021, Margaret McInroy in 2022 and Roxane Nicholson in 2023. Past winners of the award in the Blyth area are: Evalena Webster, 1985; Frank and Cenetta Bainton, 1986; Winona McDougall, 1987; Margaret Whyte, 1989; Simon Hallahan, 1990; Dr. Richard Street, 1991; Bill and Maxine Seers, 1992;
Margaret Caldwell, 1993; Helen Gowing, 1994; Don Scrimgeour, 1995; John Stewart, 1996; Janet Amos, 1997; Betty Battye, 1998; Robb Finch, Dave Cook, Brent Scrimgeour and Doug Walker, 1999; Murray Siertsema, 2000; Charlie Shaw, 2001; Lavern Clark, 2002; Bev Blair and Thelma Johnston, 2003; Steven Sparling, 2004; Don “Barney” Stewart, 2005; Lois van Vliet, 2006; Janice Henry, 2007; Joe Hallahan, 2008; Brock and Janis Vodden, 2009; Jean Nethery, 2010; Kay Hesselwood, 2011; Steve Howson, 2012; Barbara Bosman, 2013; Marian Hallahan, 2014; Nellie Mason, 2015; Ernie Phillips, 2016; Ric McBurney, 2017; Carl Nesbitt, 2018; Jane Smyth, 2019; Annie Sparling, 2020; David Cartwright (posthumous) in 2021, Lissa Kolkman in 2022 and Joe Gahan and Meaghan Lee-Gahan in 2023. Karen Webster was the first Huron County Citizen of the Year Award winner, honoured in 2022, followed by the late Wayne Clausius, who won last year.
Tournament action to last all weekend Sweater Day On Sunday, the Blyth United Church Choir and local trio Jellybean Blue took to the stage at the church for a concert to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House. However, it was some of Blyth native Cappy Onn’s violin students who stole the show, performing for those in attendance and impressing with their skills. (John Stephenson photo)
Continued from page 1 play each other in the U14 Boys division, followed by a game between the Blyth U16 Boys and Seaforth and two U20 Boys games between the Renegades and Mildmay Moose and Seaforth and the Flyers. On Sunday morning, action continues in Brussels, with the U16 Blyth Boys playing Seaforth, the U9 Seaforth and Blyth teams taking one another on, followed by a game
between Palmerston and the Mildmay Roosters, also in the U9 tournament. Action in Brussels that day will wrap up with the U20 Boys Renegades playing Seaforth. In Blyth on Sunday morning, the U16 Girls Blyth team will play Palmerston and Seaforth will play Kilsyth, also in the U16 Girls division. Then, at 8:30 a.m. the championship games will begin and run into the early afternoon.
THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024. PAGE 3.
Neil, Joan Vincent honoured by HC Fed. of Ag.
A legacy in agriculture Erica Murray presented Neil and Joan Vincent with the Huron County Federation of Agriculture’s Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture Award at last Friday’s annual general meeting. (Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot photo)
By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot The Rural Voice It is really easy to pave over a farm for development and that’s why rural planning is crucial to protect farmland, said Sara Epp at the Huron County Federation of Agriculture’s annual general meeting, held on Nov. 1 at the Clinton Legion. “Farmland is really easy to develop,” admitted Epp, an Assistant Professor of Rural Planning and Development at the University of Guelph. “Rural research is so important because rural and urban areas are so intrinsically linked. We cannot separate them.” As cities grow, they need room to expand, but changes to the rural base affects food, water and air, which are “huge long-term impacts,” said Epp. It’s not uncommon to see the sold sign put up by developers on farmland, but the land loss actually happened years earlier when the local council changed its planning policies and allowed that land to be redesignated for other purposes. “A lot of these planning decisions were made in the 1970s and 1980s and once those decisions were made, that land was lost,” said Epp. Growing up on a farm near Niagara-on-the-Lake, where her parents grew concord grapes for juice, she remembers how fragile owning land was back then. When the Cadbury Schweppes factory in nearby St. Catharines closed in 2007, it forced her family to redefine its farm. They switched to tender fruit, growing peaches, until the factory processing their peaches closed. Their land is now rented out to a winery and grapes thrive on the land once again. “My grandparents’ goal was to be farmers and it has since become political and emotional,” says Epp, which is her driving force behind being a rural planner. “You can’t zone for people, but we do need to consider land impacts on farmers and their families.” She shared a slide revealing redesignations in southwestern Ontario between 2000 and 2017. During those years, Huron County approved two official plan amendments (OPAs) related to the loss of prime agricultural land
resulting in 25 hectares being developed. In comparison, Grey had 15 OPAs, contributing to 107 hectares in development; Perth had 72 OPAs, leading to 254 hectares of developed land; Bruce had 35 OPAs, leading to 43 acres of development and Oxford had 16 OPAs, leading to 843 acres of farmland being developed. Ultimately, farmland needs to be protected and planning decisions need to be made judiciously so that “we don’t erode the agriculture industry by 1,000 cuts,” she said. Epp also discussed data and the availability of historical information of planning decisions from municipalities. There was a time when all that data was available online, but since many counties have revised their official plans, this older data was removed. “Now I have to send an e-mail to each municipality
to access the data,” said Epp. This is time-taxing, but doable, yet the lack of data online limits accessibility to the public and Epp believes this is a concern. Having access to data is necessary to track, record and analyze rising farmland values, farm consolidation, rural estates, severances and retirement lots. Epp shared a few unattributed quotes highlighting the necessity of planning and data management: “While southern Ontario contained the majority of Canada’s best soil and may appear abundant to some, it simply cannot be replaced elsewhere. We won’t understand the true cost of this until we reach a crisis point.” Another quote stated: “I never liked the retirement lot idea. I was against that all the time because you would give a farmer a retirement lot, he would live there for a short time, move out
Our religion must cost us something! (George Everard, “Shine as Lights!”) "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." Luke 9:23 Every Christian must be a cross-bearer. There is no escaping this. "Whoever does not carry his cross and come after Me, cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:27 We must be willing to suffer for Christ's sake we must crucify self and the flesh we must be willing to perform unpleasant duties, and make sacrifices of things we might like to retain. Our religion must cost us something! Sloth, and ease, and self-indulgence, and a worldly spirit must be cut up by the roots! We must be most careful over the employment of our time. It is our greatest talent, and we must throw none of it away. Every hour, every moment must be spent as under the eye of our gracious Master. We are told the gold sweepings at the mint last year amounted in value to many thousands of dollars. Our fragments of time are gold dust and we must not throw them aside as worthless, but gather them up that none may be lost.
or pass away, an urbanite would move in and now I have a headache.” During the question period, one federation member said that the way to save farmland is to save the farmers. Farmers who are profitable aren’t forced to sell land to developers to make a living, so saving the farmer will save the land, he said. Epp said many business people outside the rural community, “don’t really see the value of farm and farmers,” which makes them push harder to develop farmland. Current research by Epp in rural planning includes measuring farmland loss, urban-to-rural migration, veterinary capacity, cannabis production, agrienvironmental stewardship and increasing local food purchasing. “All of this will contribute to a viable, resilient and successful agriculture sector,” she concluded. Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture Award After Epp’s presentation, President Murray Workman announced the winner of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture Outstanding Contribution to Agricultural Annual Award as Neil and Joan Vincent. Erica Murray stood up with a list a mile long of all the volunteer positions both Neil and Joan have held, including positions in 4-H, on Huron County Council as Reeve, Warden and councillor, the Huron County Plowmen’s Association and, of course, many, many years with the Huron County Federation of Agriculture. “We’ve always been pleased to work and volunteer and make this a better place for our children and neighbours,” said Joan, accepting the award. Neil added that, “it’s fun to do things,” and he commended all volunteers who, “dig in to do things to make our communities thrive.” Personally, he said, “it’s been to our benefit to make friends with so many people,”
in the years they’ve been active. Update from MP Huron-Bruce Ben Lobb, MP for Huron-Bruce, also attended the meeting and provided an update on Bill C-234, an Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, his private member’s bill. “After the senators made amendments, it was sent back to the House of Commons, where it still is,” he said. “But it will soon come to a vote and hopefully, lower the cost of food for people who go to the grocery store everyday.” Ethan Wallace, OFA Director Ethan Wallace, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) Zone 7 Director for Huron-Perth, also took to the floor to share how much he enjoyed being part of government relations work in Ottawa through Premier Day on April 1 and the annual Queen’s Park Advocacy Day, held April 16 this year. “I met with three different downtown Toronto MPPs to discuss agriculture,” said Wallace. He feels the OFA has also built a “fantastic relationship” with the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA). He was also excited to report on the OFA’s commitment to training future leaders by engaging future farm leaders at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture annual meeting and participation at the Queen’s Park Advocacy Day. Locally, he cited the Revive Fund with enhancing rural projects, such as the slow-moving vehicle signs put up in Huron County. Mental health awareness and promoting the phrase, “It’s okay not be okay,” have been successful locally and across the province as well. He encouraged those in attendance to chat with neighbours and ask them to sign the OFA’s HomeGrown petition. HomeGrown is a public awareness initiative showcasing the threat to rural lands from urban sprawl and development. “We now have over 85,000 signatures to protect Ontario farmland,” he said.
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PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024.
Editorials & Opinions
Founding Publisher: Keith Roulston Publisher & President: Deb Sholdice • Editor: Shawn Loughlin Reporter: Scott Stephenson • Photographer: John Stephenson Advertising Sales: Brenda Nyveld
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Good money after bad Critics of the plan to give out $200 to every Ontarian that was recently announced by Premier Doug Ford have called it a stunt and a gimmick to curry favour with voters in the lead-up to the expected early election announcement. The proposal would cost taxpayers around $3.2 billion, and what would it accomplish? Yes, there are families who are struggling with the high cost of rent and the ever-increasing grocery bill, but would a single cheque even make much of a dent in their budget? If the government has billions of dollars at its disposal, perhaps it could be looking at an infusion into rural emergency departments. Maybe the excess funds that Ford’s government seems to need to throw about could go toward some affordable housing units. Since Ford has more money than he knows what to do with, can we fund some more rehabilitation programs in an effort to save the lives of addicts before their addiction kills them? Throwing money around in the run-up to an election is to be expected, but let’s take that money and put it where it would do the most good. A voter is more apt to vote Conservative if their emergency room reopens than if Ford buys them dinner. – DS
The best of us If you read this page of the newspaper last, you will already know that Linda Stewart, Dan Fritz and Don Dodds have been named the 2024 Citizens of the Year for Blyth, Brussels and Huron County, respectively. If you read this page first, well, now you know. The first two citizenship awards are as old as this newspaper, while the latter award has only been added in recent years as The Citizen’s coverage area has continued to expand over time. These three are great additions to the pantheon of community-minded winners who have been honoured over the course of the newspaper’s near-40-year history. When The Citizen filled the gaps left by the closure of The Blyth Standard and Brussels Post, founder Keith Roulston felt it was of the utmost importance to recognize and honour the people who made the communities The Citizen serves great. Now, as The Citizen’s reach has extended into regions like Clinton, Seaforth, Wingham and beyond, the Huron County award will serve the same function, honouring the hardworking, dedicated volunteers with awards whose winners are chosen by readers and voted on by past winners. This is truly the community choosing to recognize its best - The Citizen is just the middle man. While some recent democratic processes - no need to name names may elicit everything from a somber shake of the head to a sense of existential dread, the Citizen of the Year process is a joyful one; a time to recognize those who go above and beyond and, unfortunately, turn away many, many worthy nominees. Every nominee could be a winner, which makes the process tough, but, ultimately, worthwhile. Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate someone and thank you to the past Citizen of the Year Award winners for taking the time to review the submissions and to make a considerate decision. Congratulations to Linda, Dan and Don; your communities are all that they are because of the work you and countless others do. – SL
The distance between As Remembrance Day approaches, the quiet echo of past conflicts reverberates louder than ever. There are fewer than 10,000 Canadian veterans remaining who served in the Second World War and the Korean War. They’ve been, for so many decades, the living testimonies to the darkest chapters of our shared history, their presence a reminder of the unacceptable costs of war. Today, as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East rage on and tensions mount across the globe, we find ourselves with fewer first-hand witnesses to the past century’s chaos and disarray. We must ask if this shifting international landscape is, in some way, tied to the dwindling presence of those who fought and suffered in that era. The global order built in the wake of World War II, upheld by international co-operation, stability and democratic principles, was not crafted by accident. It was shaped by the men and women who knew war personally. For decades, their presence helped fortify an international resolve against the horror of large-scale war. But now, as their memories pass into history, we see the cracks emerging. Escalating violence in Ukraine and the Middle East reflects the risks of a world where past lessons have faded. In a time of shifting allegiances and heightened instability, we must question whether we have absorbed enough of our veterans’ wisdom to carry it forward. Have we internalized the lessons of sacrifice and resilience deeply enough to steer us away from the same devastating mistakes? Let this Remembrance Day serve as a reminder that peace is not simply the absence of war, but the continual, intentional act of building a fairer and more just world. Let it also remind us that as we lose our last World War II-era veterans, we must work harder to ensure their stories resonate within our collective consciousness. – SBS
Looking Back Through the Years November 12, 1969 Former neighbours and friends of Mr. and Mrs. William Dalrymple gathered at the Blyth District Conservation Club House on Saturday, Nov. 1, to celebrate their departure from the neighbourhood as they embarked on a relocation to Blyth. The evening was spent enjoying games of euchre and crokinole. Winners were as follows: top gentleman, William Carter; lowest score, Robert Charter; top lady, Mrs. Ralph Caldwell; and lowest score, Mrs. Robert Charter. The Dalrymples were invited to the front, where Reg Schultz and Mrs. Margaret McVittie presented them with a lovely set of table lamps. Provincial Police and Blyth firefighters joined forces to unravel the mystery of the Halloween night barn fire. Several young men from the area were taken into custody in connection with the incident. The Blyth Standard hoped that this would serve as a reminder, not only to those involved but to everyone in the community, that Halloween pranks are all in good fun when they remain harmless but getting carried away simply isn’t worth it! While plowing his farm last Friday, Hebo Siertsema uncovered a nest containing 11 turtle eggs. He accidentally broke one of the eggs and was astonished to discover a fully developed turtle inside, which, as of this writing, was still alive and well. November 9, 1977 Ontario bean growers would recall 1977 as the year of the “worst crop disaster in over half a century,” according to the Ontario Bean Producers Marketing Board.
A newsletter issued by the board this week reported that this year’s crop yields would fall far below 700 pounds per acre, marking the lowest levels in the 55 years that detailed crop records had been maintained in the province. As part of the Commencement program at F.E. Madill Secondary School on Friday, Nov. 4, the seventh annual George Menzies Endowment Fund Awards were presented. This year’s awards were given by Miss Colleen Raymond, granddaughter of the award donor, to Judy Adams, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Adams, who was attending Georgian College in Owen Sound; Brenda McCutcheon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence McCutcheon, who was studying law enforcement at Sheridan College in Oakville; Bob Bryans, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Bryans, enrolled in Business Administration at Conestoga College in Kitchener; and Steve Pletch, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Pletch, studying at Fanshawe College in London for construction technology. Beth Vallance, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Vallance of London, received her award at her Commencement in London. Around midnight last Wednesday, a window at Ray and Helen’s Family Centre on Main Street in Brussels was broken. The Wingham OPP reported that a 17-year-old from Grey Township had been charged with willful damage in connection with the incident. November 8, 1989 For the past 19 years, the George Menzies Endowment Fund had been awarded to graduates of Brussels Public School who were pursuing post-secondary education.
During F.E. Madill’s commencement ceremonies on Friday night, the fund was awarded to Cindy Bernard, Gary Martin, Katrina Somers, Marjorie Campbell, Cherida Garniss, Michelle McNeil and an absent Jody Boynton. Carol Glitz, granddaughter of Mr. Menzies, presented the awards. The Huron County Library Board approved relocating the Blyth branch to expanded space in Blyth Memorial Hall once renovations there were finished. The new library was to be set up in the former box office and art gallery located in the north wing of Memorial Hall, once the south wing - with a new box office and gallery - was completed. This relocation would nearly triple the library’s space, bringing it up to 900 square feet. Two teenagers from Brussels sustained injuries in a singlevehicle accident in Morris Township on Saturday evening at 10 minutes to midnight. November 11, 2004 On Nov. 1 at 9:15 a.m., the OPP were called to a residence on McDonald Line in Huron East regarding vehicle damage. During the night, someone had thrown an acidic chemical on a vehicle parked in the driveway, causing significant damage to the paint. The same individual also placed a two-byfour with nails embedded in it across the driveway. The Huron County Library Board voted to maintain funding for the operation of two libraries in Howick until a new facility was completed and operational in 2005. Members of the Blyth Legion and its Ladies Auxiliary paraded to Huron Chapel on Sunday.
THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024. PAGE 5.
Other Views
Will we pay the price for freedom?
T
he early Christmas advertising is on TV these days, and the movie channels are already promoting Christmas, while we haven’t even marked Nov. 11, Remembrance Day. There’s no money to be made in Remembrance Day for stores or TV channels. With the passing of the last of the World War II veterans, it gets harder for each generation to recall the importance of the men and women who served the country to save us from the insanity that Germany’s Adolf Hitler was promoting. I have a son-in-law who served in Afghanistan and he often attends local services to remember his army buddies who were wounded or even killed in serving their country, but other than that, we have few Canadians who have experienced war. Except on Remembrance Day, I suspect few people take a moment to look on the cenotaphs for the names of men from their community who lost their lives. Thousands of people go to performances in Blyth Memorial Community Hall for the Blyth Festival every year or for concerts during the fall, winter or spring, but I doubt many spare a moment to see the names of those who died in two World Wars. I salute communities that hang banners from light poles that feature the faces of those who died, helping us remember these heroes. I was born the son of a veteran who served in Italy, Holland and Germany in World War II, but I came along after he returned in peace to Canada. Since my father hardly ever mentioned his experience, I was distanced from it. My children and grandchildren are even more removed. How fortunate we are! Other than a few cases like Korea or Afghanistan, we’ve lived in
Keith Roulston
From the cluttered desk peace for nearly 80 years. Few countries in the world have been as blessed. At most local Remembrance Day services in this area, there will be a piper, if not an entire pipe band, a reminder of a different part of our heritage: the Scottish pioneers who established the farming communities and the towns and villages that served them. Also a big part of the more recent development of our communities was the arrival of Dutch immigrants after World War II. The first of these, in the early 1950s, were a tribute to the Canadian soldiers who liberated Holland from the Nazis. Later immigrants came because early Dutch settlers told them of the opportunities they felt were here. In responding to those opportunities, and through their hard work and vision, they created a richer Canada. This is the Canadian reality: thousands of young Canadians gave their lives to liberate Europe, but in doing so, they opened our country to millions of immigrants who made Canada a richer place. Few of those who died in World War II, let alone World War I, would recognize the Canada of today. Our population has surged to more than 40 million, far greater than even I could have imagined as a post-war baby. What back then was a primarily British population now embraces people who have come here
from virtually every portion of the globe, seeking a better life. And most have found it. Though we complain incessantly, we have been blessed. Certainly our prosperity has made it hard for thousands even to afford an apartment, let alone a house, but the majority of us live in more comfort than the veterans of World War II could have imagined. Certainly I live far beyond the lives of Canadians who survived during the post-war – so far that they couldn’t even have imagined it. But those veterans who died in World War II couldn’t have imagined, either, the trouble we have caused with our rush to a “better life”. Forest fires, spurred on by a changing climate, have devastated much of northern Canada in recent years, causing smoke across southern parts of the country that has, in turn, caused breathing problems that shortened many lives. But on some TV channels I recently watched that obviously originated in Alberta, families are shown having to put food back on the shelves of supermarkets because they have to pay the extra cost of the federal fuel tax, designed to encourage us to reduce our use of polluting carbon dioxide. There is no mention of the rebate most us receive that exceeds the tax we pay – although it is not enough to buy the groceries, as the carbon tax isn’t, either. On Remembrance Day, we need to remember not only the men who gave their lives in past wars, but also the civilians who changed Canada here at home. My mother worked in a factory making parts for airplanes to fight in that war. We, the people who live in Canada today, must also pay a price for the good life we live. We must pay the small price to keep the environment safe that we’re blessed to share by reducing our carbon emissions.
Learn a long-winded, meandering history
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ather ‘round, if you dare, and prepare for a journey so convoluted, so absolutely drenched in centuries-old triviality and tangled lore, that one may ask, “Did anyone actually ask for this?” Well, such is the spirit of Werewolf Chaff! We’ve asked ourselves this very question, and each time, we’ve answered with a resounding howl of defiance, unperturbed by petty concepts like relevance or brevity. Werewolf Chaff did not begin in the ordinary sense, as most columns or newsletters do. No, it began, as all proper mysteries should, on a fog-draped night, somewhere on land that was neither here nor entirely there - a threshold zone, if you will, which may or may not have been in the vicinity of what would eventually, and with considerable patience, become Huron County. It was a mystical, mist-swirled eve, the likes of which Werewolf Chaff would come to insist upon for all significant occasions. The first unofficial edition of Werewolf Chaff wasn’t written, you see - it was bellowed. Lonny Grimbald, a man renowned for his loud and frequent declarations on all manner of irrelevant subjects, gathered woodland creatures under the light of a suspiciously bloated moon and began the now-hallowed tradition of speaking on topics on which no one had asked him to speak. Thus, Werewolf Chaff was born as a spoken word event, a sort of primal oratory news medium in which we were the sole arbiters of what was worth announcing, a legacy that we hold close to our heart and continue in spades to this very day. Generations passed, and Werewolf Chaff mutated. One such mutation occurred in the hands of Boudica Grimapolline, a great-niece of Grimbald himself, who adored the spoken
Scott Stephenson
Werewolf Chaff tradition, but was exhausted by it. Grimapolline’s contribution was groundbreaking: she gave Werewolf Chaff its first written editions, if you can call a stack of birch shards written in berry juice an edition. Ah, the bark issues! Some of our staff (those with questionable taste and a fondness for erect oaks, willows and bimbleberry mahoganies) still long for the days when editions were pieced together from erratically-carved pieces of tree, circulated to whomever found them first and inscribed with news ranging from the vital to the nonsensical to the downright baffling. The editors back then, as now, took an intense pride in their handiwork, often to the point of self-congratulation, which, in turn, became another enduring tradition of Werewolf Chaff. One era’s whim, however, is another’s mandate, and as the 1500s rolled around, Werewolf Chaff had become rather determined to outdo itself. Grethelda, the self-appointed “patron lupine” of the publication, took to running it singlepawedly. While circulation was somewhat limited to a handful of wolves and a particularly loyal beaver, Werewolf Chaff’s legacy was in good paws. Our ethos of selfaggrandizement, verbosity and fierce independence was cemented under Grethelda’s regime. Werewolf Chaff would no longer cater to mere mortals, but instead aimed to cater to the “werewolf within”, a
guiding principle that remains poorly understood and inexplicably essential. Fast-forward to the age of print! While Werewolf Chaff is quick to boast of its history as the longest-running, semi-unintelligible column in the known universe, the actual “printing press era” has been, to put it delicately, a series of noble failures. The mysterious ghostly editor Ezekiel Peabody, in his spectral wisdom, thought it prudent to print issues that could only be read under certain moon phases, thereby ensuring their incomprehensibility to all but the most dedicated, supernaturally-attuned readers. It was Peabody, that translucent tyrant of typesetting, who coined the phrase, “If you don’t understand it, Werewolf Chaff has done its job.” Our mission of delightful opacity continues unabated by neither man nor ghost. Yes, Werewolf Chaff has taken many forms over its storied life: from bark scrolls to wolf songs, from spectral etchings on dewy leaves to the current ink-laden format you hold before you. And yet, through each change, we have held fast to our one timeless principle: no one must truly understand Werewolf Chaff, for it is not comprehension we seek but communion in confusion. Now, dear readers, as we embark on the next chapter of our saga, let us not overlook the lesser-known figures who shaped the grand tapestry of Werewolf Chaff. For every illustrious Grimbald or Grimapolline, there creepily lurked an array of eccentrics - a rogues’ gallery of oddballs, if you will - each leaving their mark in ways that would confound even the most astute of historians. So, while the world may seek clarity and coherence, we stand as proud sentinels of the obscure, custodians of a legacy that revels in the delightful disarray of existence. WEREWOLF CHAFF FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!
Shawn Loughlin Shawn’s Sense
When you were near
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ecently, I saw a headline from Sports Illustrated that I found a bit jarring. To say that it didn’t quite give me the sports news I’ve come to expect from Sports Illustrated would be an understatement. As a child, my Oma gifted me a subscription for many years, so it is through a lens of reverence that I view Sports Illustrated content. So, it is thanks to this absolute institution the bedrock upon which all sports journalism is built - that I know that “Travis Kelce stood near Caitlin Clark during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Indianapolis.” That’s the headline. Kelce (a football player and Swift’s beau) and Clark (a basketball player who has found success in both the college and professional levels in recent years) are both athletes, it’s true. And they stood closely to one another at a concert. That’s also true. (They have the video to prove it!) And yet I wonder how this bit of news will move the needle in my life. This news item is far from alone in being utterly irrelevant and laughably desperate by tying together three popular people and hoping that the kiddos out there might give it a click. I mean, we’ve all seen the links that are almost a thing of the past now because we’ve made so much fun of them over the years. You know the ones: 13 reasons to visit Huron County right now! (Number seven will shock you!) Then there are just the basic news links that are now commonplace, probably thanks to early adopters like TMZ, that just show a celebrity doing something. But, then again, I suppose there were always pages dedicated to such things in magazines like People and US. So yes, we’ve all seen Amy Adams shopping for fruit, Jeremy Allan White smoking a cigarette and Millie Bobby Brown getting an iced coffee, but this one seems even worse than all of those examples. Two people stood near (not together, mind you) one another at a concert. Earth-shattering stuff. Just last weekend, I attended a conference in the Huntsville area. Seated among independent publishers and editors, there was some griping about getting clicks these days - what will or will not get them and whether real, hard-hitting news is falling by the wayside. I have been indifferent to this discussion, in a way, knowing that the work we do here at The Citizen is good and that we have the firm support of our community, but this headline and the fact that it even exists gave me pause. Should I be applying this winning strategy to our work here in Huron County? Am I missing out on some valuable clicks here? I mean there was this one time that I saw Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan and MorrisTurnberry Mayor Jamie Heffer standing near one another at something and I’ve always thought that was a story that begged to be told. It’s hard to tell. Journalism is such a moving target these days. At once people want more in-depth, hard-hitting stories, but they hate the media now more than ever, accusing reporters of prying, injecting their opinions into everything and making life inconvenient for people in positions of power (who a certain sect of people have really come to love in recent years). Hell, just the other day, Donald Trump - convicted felon and hero to the braindead - said that he “wouldn’t mind so much” if reporters were shot at his rallies. How dare you, Donny! We’ve got stories to write about people standing near other people at concerts. If you can’t see the importance in that, I don’t know what else I can do for you. Then again, it maybe sounds like an onlineonly project for The Citizen. Click here to see who’s been standing next to whom recently.
PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024.
At the Branch
Monday is Remembrance Day
By Jo-Ann McDonald The week at the Branch began with a double-header on Monday. The catering crew gathered in the morning to prepare for the funeral lunch for the late Stephen Bernard. Our sympathies are extended to the Bernard family. The crew in the morning consisted of Jo-Ann, Judy Lee, Linda Bird and were joined later by Deb Seili, Rhonda Fischer and then by Julie Pearce and Brenda Linton.
Feast mode Ethel Community Harvest Supper serves up 300 meals at the Ethel Hall on Sunday, Nov. 3, with sittings at 4 p.m., 5 p.m. (takeout) and 6 p.m. (John Stephenson photos)
Clean-up followed the luncheon to prepare for the arrival of the Lions Club. The nearly-30 Lions enjoyed a roast beef dinner. Comrades helping included JoAnn, Judy, Marni Knight, John Lowe and Nanci Ducharme. Another job well done. Friday night pub grub was chili and a good crowd was on hand. The Catch the Ace draw was held with Brenda Nicholls being the weekly winner. She won $312. Her envelope of choice was the number one and the seven of clubs was revealed. The draw will continue with the estimated jackpot of over $10,000. Comrade Deb Ross has been busy putting away the “look” of fall. She also was busy putting up new handrails at the stairwells. The Thursday night blind mixed darts begins on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. and The Citizen should be in mailboxes by Thursday afternoon. It’s just a toonie to play and teams are drawn up just before play begins. Hopefully there will be a good crowd. Remember that Monday is Nov. 11 and we observe Remembrance Day. The service at Brussels Legion will begin at about 10:30 a.m. Many will not be able to attend a service, but we ask that you take the time to stand in silence at 11 a.m. wherever you are. The Brussels area had well over 500 men and women serve overseas in World Wars I and II. The Brussels area had 62 men make the ultimate sacrifice for their country in that time. The cenotaph has the names of those men inscribed on it; never to be forgotten, but always to be remembered. And for the many men who
survived and came home, remember them. Many of us cannot envision the horror of what these men saw, did and survived. Family members will tell you, the returning men did not talk much about the war. They lived with those memories themselves and carried on with their lives. We remember those who returned wounded and changed, but carried on with their lives. Their families are now into the second, third and fourth generations. Attending a Remembrance Day service is a way to show respect for your loved ones. Another way is to have them memorialized in the Military Service Recognition Books produced by the Royal Canadian Legion. A picture and a short story about them is needed. The story can be about their service or about the lives they lived on their return. This is a project in which the Brussels Legion is involved. We have submitted many stories and photos and have spent time contacting family members for the information or pictures. We are asking for your help to contribute the information required before it is lost. Future generations will be able to read and be proud of their relatives. Call the Legion if you have your loved one’s information. We appreciate your help.
Columnist says it’s ‘time to hunker down’ A NOTE FROM BETTY By Betty Graber Watson Call 887-9231 November has arrived; the month of dull days, chilly days and general nothing days. It’s the month to take stock for the winter, make plans for the upcoming festive season and start thinking about a new year. The blandness of the month makes it a good time to hunker down. Depending on your community involvement, it seems that November is now the month to host events. This first weekend was full of music. Friday was booked for Huron Hospice at the Anglican Church in Blyth, Saturday had Clinton United Church ready to soothe your soul and Sunday afternoon the Ronald McDonald House gained, when the Blyth United Church people offered good music to the public. So, if you find November depressing, this was a start to a great antidote. November is also known as a great opportunity for the sharing of viruses and bacteria with your favourite people. We’re indoors more, sharing air in confined spaces, kids are back in school and meetings have returned in full force. Our general health is challenged and we share the infected
antibodies with everyone. It is better understood since the pandemic that we all have a role in the spread of disease. If you’re unwell, stay home! From unknown sources, this house acquired one nasty bug that challenged several bodily functions. It hit hard and fast and only lessened in severity as days passed. A week seemed to be a safe time to return to outside life. Breathing was easier, coughing was disappearing and energy was improving. Until then, the interest and inclination were absent. Now, the big deal is to get back into circulation knowing your immune system really would rather stay home. Remembrance Day is next week. It’s a time to pause and consider what our lives would be like if the leaders of the British Empire in 1938 and 1939 decided to do
nothing. Communication as we know it today did not exist. Reports were few and far between, but cruelty and chaos were increasing in specific spots in Europe in the 1930s. Freedom was being threatened. A young, serious, calm, charismatic leader in Germany was causing alarm. Winston Churchill saw the threat and, with the King and Family on side, war was declared. We were part of the British Empire and so took our stand for democracy and freedom. We need to be ever grateful to all who saw freedom as a very good thing. And may we hope that today we remember history and the fragility of true democracy. We shall remember them! Does it bug you when we have public people spouting about getting our freedom back? Where do they say it went? Oh no, they
Brussels Curling Club needs YOU! Starting in November Whether you are new to curling or are already enjoying the sport, we would love to have you join us! For more information contact: Steve at 519-887-6670 or George at 519-527-1873 Jo-Ann McDonald at 519-525-6570
don’t fill in the blanks - just more blither. Especially at this time of year, we need to seriously think about all the freedom that is ours, only because we had leaders who were ready to fight for the common good. That means the good is for all of us. Take care of yourself. Bye now Betty GW
NEWS FROM BRUSSELS
Catch the Ace Weekly Winner Branch 218 Brussels, ON
Winning Ticket: Brenda Nicholls, $312. Envelope #1 found the 7 of Clubs. Estimated jackpot for the next draw is $10,000.
HEY SNOWBIRDS! Stay up-to-date on the news at home by switching your regular subscription to our E-edition while you are away Call or email us today 519-523-4792 info@northhuron.on.ca
THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024. PAGE 7.
Blyth Legion hosts Remembrance Day service at CRC
Lest we forget The Blyth Legion held its annual Remembrance Day service at Blyth Christian Reformed Church on Sunday, Nov. 3, honouring the sacrifices of veterans and fallen soldiers. (John Stephenson photo)
emembrance. Lest we forget. Children hear this every November, but what does it mean to them? How can we make this meaningful to them not only in November, but constantly? After all, we enjoy the freedoms we have 12 months a year, don’t we? For this question, I turned to an article I found at Canadiannanny.ca entitled, “How to Explain the Importance of Remembrance Day to Kids” (2016). According to the
article, “Teaching kids about the significance of Remembrance Day is very important. Not only will children be inquisitive about all the poppies they see at this time of year, but also because it is one of the most important days in our history. Depending on your family history, you may have had a family member or two serve your country and defend our freedom. Obviously, considering the graphic nature of war, it’s also important to teach kids
about Remembrance Day in an ageappropriate manner.” A great disservice, in my opinion, is not teaching it to the very young. It seems that many students, though not all, think history is boring. “What’s the point?” or “This doesn’t matter to me now,” you might hear a student say. These are valid, and I like to answer, “It is crucial that we study history to see where we’ve been, where we are now, and which direction we should go.”
In a conversation with older children, I would ask, “Tell me what you know about Remembrance Day?” You might be surprised by their answer, either positively or negatively. That is a good conversation piece around the dinner table not only at this particular time, but for any time of year. You could also begin a conversation with, “Courage. What do you think courage means?” Then, have a conversation about the word while incorporating Remembrance Day into it. Our reading choice is a brand new book titled, Bertie’s Poppy: A Remembrance Day Story by Inez Bunclark (2024). According to Amazon, “This delightfully
By Deb Hakkers The weather was not really great for the trick-or-treaters to make their rounds on Halloween night. It is always fun to see the kids dressed up, going from door to door. We only saw about 75 of the usual 100 over the course of the night, but the heavy rain early in the evening discouraged the smaller ones. Be sure to remember those who served and are serving on Nov. 11. Show your support by attending your local Remembrance Day service if you can. In Blyth, it starts at 10:45 a.m. We are very lucky because, no matter what the weather outside, our memorial is the Memorial Hall, so it is an indoor service. On our trip to the Netherlands last year, we visited the Canadian War Cemetery, which is cared for by the schoolchildren to ensure that the next generation carries on the gratitude for those who paid the ultimate price for their freedom. We also visited one of the internment camps where the Jews were taken before they were moved on to concentration camps in Germany. Kamp Westerbork is where Anne Frank and her family were taken when they were arrested. I found this very interesting having read her diary as a student. We also searched for more information about the wooden shoes that my great-uncle Harvey Edgar brought home from the war. Apparently they were made and handed to the soldiers as they paraded through, liberating the Netherlands. The one man we talked to said that, by the shape of them, he knew that they were not from that area of the Netherlands. While interest in Remembrance Day has dwindled over the years here, it is very much a part of their lives there.
We have reached the drab part of autumn with all the beautiful colour gone and only the bare trees remaining. This weekend, we dumped the flowers that remained, so our house will look so dead until after Remembrance Day, when we will start adding decorations for Christmas. Mom continues to rehab at Huronlea. She continues to build strength, standing and still working slowly toward her goal of walking. Her next task is to be able to shift weight from one foot to the other. We wish Dana Weber a speedy recovery after her wrist surgery and congratulate her on the sale of her business. We will miss her on main street, but we wish her well as she recovers and moves on to whatever comes next for her. This week, we wish a happy birthday to Jeff Nesbitt on Nov. 8, Gary Clark and Troy Smith on Nov. 10, Linda Pease on Nov. 11, Ameera Pawitch on Nov. 12, Liam Fraser on Nov. 13 and Irvin Pease
on Nov. 14. We hope everyone enjoys their special day! This week, we wish Happy Anniversary to Dave and Belinda Marshall on Nov. 11. We hope they enjoy their special day! Results from Legion euchre on Nov. 4 were as follows: ladies, first prize, Jim Weiler (76); second prize, Pat Chatham (73); lone hands, Shirley Wood (four); men’s, first prize, Gord Haggitt (78); second prize, Steve Haysj (71); lone hands, Sharon Freeman (three). Share the Wealth was won by Jeanette Buker, Dianne Clarke and Susan Van Sickle.
The next euchre at the Legion is on Nov. 18. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. and the game starts at 1 p.m. The cost $5, which includes a light lunch. If there is anything special you would like to see mentioned in this column, please e-mail me at mcraig1@tcc.on.ca or call me at 519-525-8640. Until next week, take care of yourselves and each other. Remember that we have much to be thankful for! We have not seen snow yet, but all too soon, winter will be here and it will be a long time until spring reappears!
The Reading Web with Cindy Norgate
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Nov. 11 service to begin at 10:45
NEWS FROM BLYTH
illustrated story will take young children gently through the explanation of why we celebrate Remembrance Day each year, in a relatable way. Textless pages during the two-minute silence offer young readers a chance for quiet reflection, as they join Bertie whilst he thinks back on everything he has found out.” This book was written for children between the ages of two and seven. As I leave you here, I want to encourage the dinner time conversation to continue. I do hope you have taken my advice, in the past, and developed a pattern of having at least one meal per week during which you sit down as a family to catch up. I truly can’t express how crucial this is to the wholeness of the family unit. “All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.” - Winston Churchill
Leadership in energy and environmental design
Devon Henry 84772 McDonald Line • Box 616 • Brussels
devonjhenry@hotmail.com 519-505-2473
MAITLAND VALLEY CAMERA CLUB
Photography by Gail Jaycock
PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024.
Sports
Two Heat teams make Fall Challenge Cup semifinals
Big victory On Friday night, the U11 HL Huron Heat played the West Oxford Inferno at the Blyth and District Community Centre and it proved to be a great night for the locals. They found the back of the net 14 times on the way to a 14-1 victory over the visitors. (John Stephenson photo)
This weekend, the U15 C Huron Heat will head to Fergus to play in the annual Remembrance Day Classic, beginning on Friday with games scheduled against the Kincardine Kinucks and South Huron/Lucan. On Saturday, tournament play will continue for the team, with a mid-afternoon game scheduled with the Upper Maitland Mustangs
before championship play, which is scheduled for the next day. Also on Saturday, the U9 C Heat will play the Lambton Attack, the U13 B Heat will play the Owen Sound Ice Hawks, the U13 C Heat will play the Wilmot Wolverines, the U15 A Heat will play the London Devilettes and the Senior team will play the Lucknow Sepoys, all on the road. Meanwhile, at home, the U18 BB Heat will host the Ayr Rockets in Clinton, the U9 B Heat will play the Kincardine
Kinucks in Seaforth and the U9 HL team will play the South Huron Sabres, also in Seaforth. On Sunday, the U13 A Heat will play the Sarnia Sting, the U15 B team will play the Kitchener Lady Rangers, the U15 A team will play the Chatham Crush and the U11 A team will play the Sarnia Lady Sting, all at home in Clinton, while the U13 B Heat will host the Saugeen Shores Storm in Brussels. The Senior C team will play the Wilmot Wolverines, also in
This weekend, the U21 Blyth Brussels Crusaders will head to Mildmay to take part in the Greg Dietz Memorial Tournament. Meanwhile, on Saturday, nine Crusader teams will head north to play exhibition games as part of Wingham Minor Hockey Day with one team, the U18 LL Crusaders, playing a regular season game against the Ironmen that day. On Friday, the U11 Rep Crusaders will play the South Bruce Blades and the U13 LL team will play the Kincardine Kinucks, both in Brussels. On Saturday, in regular season action, the U7 Burgundy team will play the Wallace Sabres on the road and the U7 White team will play South Bruce in Teeswater. On Sunday, Nov. 10, the U18 Rep Crusaders will begin their Wingham Regional Silver Stick Tournament with a game with the Shelburne Wolves in Wingham. Also that day, the U8 White team will play the Sailors in Goderich and the U9 LL team will play the Defenders in Drayton. On Nov. 12, the U18 Rep team will play its second Silver Stick game, taking on the Walkerton Capitals in Wingham. Also that day, the U9 LL team will play the Goderich Sailors White team on the road, the U11 Rep team will play the Listowel Cyclones on the road and the U15 Rep team will play the Drayton Defenders in Brussels. The next day, the U11 LL team
will play the Listowel Cyclones, the U15 Rep team will play the Mount Forest Rams, and the U9 MD team will play the Mid-Huron Huskies, all on the road, while the U18 LL Crusaders will host the Wingham Ironmen in Blyth. On Nov. 14, the U15 LL Crusaders will play the Central Perth Predators on the road and then, the next night, the U18 Rep team will be at it again with a Silver Stick game against the Tavistock Junior Braves in Wingham. Also that weekend, the U13 Rep team will play in the Lucknow Legion Tournament. Then, on Saturday, 10 Crusaders teams will play exhibition games over the course of the day in Brussels as part of the grand opening of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. Looking back, on Monday night, the U11 Rep team lost to the AEMHA Ice Dogs in Paisley by a score of 9-2, the U15 LL team beat the Kincardine Kinucks in Blyth by a score of 5-4 and the U18 LL Crusaders lost to the Mid-Huron Huskies in Seaforth 2-1. Last Sunday, the U18 Rep team beat the Listowel Cyclones by a score of 2-0 on the road and the U8 Burgundy team played the Goderich Sailors in Blyth, though a score was not kept for that game. On Saturday, the U13 LL Crusaders lost to the Mitchell Meteors White team in Brussels by a score of 2-0, the U21 team lost by
a score of 6-0 to the Saugeen Valley Steelheads in Blyth and the U18 LL team lost to the Kincardine Kinucks in Tiverton by a score of 6-2. Also that day, the U6 team played the Thunder in Zurich, the U9 MD team played the Kincardine Kinucks in Brussels, the U9 LL team played the Central Perth Predators, also in Brussels, and the U7 Burgundy and White teams played a pair of Listowel Cyclones teams on the road, but scores were not kept for those games. On Friday, Nov. 1, the U11 Rep team lost to the Shallow Lake Lakers in Brussels by a score of 62, the U15 LL team lost to the Huron-Bruce Blizzard in Lucknow by a score of 2-1 and the U21 team beat the Huron-Bruce Blizzard in Ripley by a score of 3-2. Also that day, the U8 Burgundy team hosted the Mid-Huron Huskies in Brussels, but a score wasn’t kept. On Oct. 30, the U11 Rep team beat the Mitchell Meteors on the road by a score of 2-1 and, on Oct. 28, the U13 Rep team lost to the Mid-Huron Huskies in Hensall by a score of 6-2 and the U15 LL Crusaders lost to the Mid-Huron Huskies in Blyth by a score of 7-3. On Nov. 5, the U15 Rep team welcomed the Huron-Bruce Blizzard to Brussels, followed by a Nov. 6 game between the U11 LL Crusaders and the Huron-Bruce Blizzard Grey team in Lucknow, but scores for those games were unavailable at press time.
By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen
Wingham Silver Stick begins
Brussels, while the U18 C Heat will welcome the B.A.D. Blazers in Seaforth that night. On the road, the U9 B Heat will be in Woolwich to play the Wild, the U11 C Heat will play the Twin Centre Hericanes, the U18 BB Heat will play the Guelph Junior Gryphons and the U13 C Heat will play the Stratford Aces. The following weekend, Nov. 1517, six Huron Heat teams will play in the Stratford Festival Cup tournament (U13 B, U13 C, U15 A, U15 B, U18 C and U9 B), while the U18 BB Heat will be in Barrie for Sharkfest. Looking back, the U11 A Heat made it to the semifinals of the Waterloo Fall Challenge Cup, hosted by the Waterloo Ravens, but the team fell to the Lambeth Lancers by a score of 2-1, stopping them just short of playing in the final game of the tournament. The team opened its tournament play with a 5-1 win over the Woolwich Wild on Friday morning, followed by a 2-1 win over the Lambeth Lancers that afternoon. The team then continued its winning ways on Saturday morning, beating the Brampton Canadettes by a score of 5-0, followed by a 3-2 win over the host Waterloo Ravens that afternoon in the quarterfinals, sending them into the semifinals on Sunday. The U13 A Huron Heat also saw Sunday action in their bracket at the Fall Challenge Cup, beginning with a 5-0 win over the Grand River Mustangs on Friday morning. That evening, the team tied the Napanee Crunch at two. The Heat then lost by a score of 1-0 to the Toronto Leaside Wildcats on Saturday morning, followed by a 3-1 over the host Waterloo Ravens that afternoon in the quarterfinals. It was an all-Huron County affair in the first semifinal game with the Heat taking on the South Huron Sabres, but losing to their local counterparts by a score of 5-0. In regular season action over the weekend, the U15 B Heat lost to the Mount Forest Rams on Sunday in
Clinton by a score of 7-2. Also that day, the U11 HL Heat lost to the Lucan Irish on the road by a score of 2-1, the U13 B Heat lost to the Walkerton Capitals by a score of 40 in Brussels, the U13 HL Heat beat the Bluewater Hawks on the road by a score of 2-0, the U15 C Heat ended their game with Lucan/South Huron on the road in a scoreless tie and the U18 C Heat lost to the Central Perth Predators on the road by a score of 3-1. The U13 C Heat won their exhibition game with the Lambeth Lancers in Brussels that day by a score of 2-0, while the Senior team played the Lucknow/Wingham 86ers in Hensall, but a score for that game was unavailable at press time. The U9 B Heat played the Woolwich Wild in Clinton and the U9 C Heat played the Lucan Irish on the road, but scores were not kept for those games. On Saturday, the U9 B Heat played the Cambridge Roadrunners in Seaforth, but a score wasn’t kept for that game. Also that day, the U15 A Heat played the Devilettes in London and lost by a score of 6-1. The U13 C Heat beat the St. Marys Rock in Blyth by a score of 2-0, the U11 C Heat lost to the Woodstock Wildcats in Seaforth by a score of 9-2 and the U15 B Heat lost to the Saugeen Shores Storm in Southampton by a score of 2-0. The U9 C and U9 HL teams played a pair of Ilderton Jets teams in Seaforth, but scores were not kept for those games. On Friday, the U11 HL Heat trounced the West Oxford Inferno in Blyth by a score of 14-1 and the U13 HL Heat beat the St. Thomas Panthers in Seaforth by a score of 1-0. On Wednesday, Oct. 30, the U15 C Heat lost by a score of 3-1 to the Mitchell Meteors on the road. On Nov. 6, the U11 A Heat played the St. Thomas Panthers on the road and on Nov. 7, the U18 C Heat played the South Huron Sabres in Blyth, but scores for those games were not available at press time.
THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024. PAGE 9.
THE FORGOTTEN LEGEND This book tells the story of forgotten legend John Wilson (Jack) McLaren from his birth in Scotland to his early years in Canada, becoming a soldier in WWI, his business career after the war and his eventual retirement to the community of Benmiller, ON where he passed away in 1988. $59.95
LYDIA Join Lydia the lamb as she journeys through life, learning what it means to be different, and that the truest friends love you just as you are. $13.00
BARNYARD BATH! This bath book and washcloth set from bestselling and beloved Sandra Boynton is the perfect tub time diversion for little ones who love barnyard animals! $12.99
PLUMBING THE MEMORIES Join the author as he leafs through an album of anecdotes from his life as a farm boy through to his life as a farmer/plumber. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes funny, sometimes heartwarming the pictures painted of childhood and siblings give the reader a personal look at growing up in a rural Ontario farm family. $20.00
BENNY AND THE BUZZARD Follow the adventures of Benny the chicken as he struggles to find his place in nature without becoming a part of the food chain. A story about life, learning and a surprising friendship. $12.00
CHRISTMAS SEASONINGS Enjoy an uplifting trek through fourteen short stories about life, love, and the miracle of Christmas. $17.00
TALES FROM THE TOWNSHIP The latest edition of humorous short stories by Arnold Mathers. This book contains 28 short stories as well as 2 plays. All are comedies with some deeper meaning. $20.00
The Old Farmer’s 2025 Almanac This 233rd edition aims once again to fulfill your expectations with its fun facts and forecasts. Also includes news, novelties and a little nonsense to carry you through another year. $9.99
THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC GARDENING CALENDAR 2025 The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Calendar spreads gardening joy at every turn of the page. Each month of this 2025 edition features the stunning illustration of an edible or ornamental accompanied by mini-feature captions that include growing guidance and fun facts about the plant shown. $12.99
HELLO FARM! Lift-a-Sound Lift the big flaps! Push the big buttons! Listen to the farm animals say HELLO! Perfect for the little ones. $25.50
HOMEMADE & HAND-ME-DOWNS Arnold Mathers’ stories have been entertaining Rural Voice readers for years. This new collection of 46 stories includes 17 which haven’t been published in previous books. Mathers sees the humour in the way we were. $24.00
MY LIFE’S CENTERPIECE There are many moments in each person’s life, when there seems to be no explanation of why or how something took place. Peter Nijp writes about these “God Moments” times and how God has allowed him to be a part of His kingdom here on earth. $15.00
The Citizen 405 Queen St., Blyth ~ 519-523-4792
CHRISTMAS SEASONINGS Book Two In the spirit of sharinghomemade gifts, meals, snowy roads and starry skies, O’Neill’s stories invite readers to reflect on the mysterious and the miraculous-with a dash or rural humour. $20.00
SAM Sam Johnstone is a pretty, talented girl who has been troubled by her name since the day she started kindergarten. Sam falls in love, but her name and the things she learns in a secret letter prevent her from accepting the proposal. $24.00
ON THE WRIGHT TRACK Memories from C.P.R. School Car #2. William “Bill” Wright, was a teacher hired by the Department of Education and he and his wife Helen, raised four children on the C.P.R. School Car #2. These are their memories. $25.00
PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024.
REMEMBRANCE DAY 2024
Adams looks back
Now in his mid-90s, George Adams of Brussels remains one of the Brussels Legion’s most dedicated and supportive members, though he’ll be the first to admit that he doesn’t quite get out to as many events as he used to. Adams was born and raised in Howick Township and enlisted as a reservist when he was just 15 years old, sneaking in under the radar and biding his time for the few weeks until he turned 16. (He celebrated his 16th birthday at the base in Petawawa after dropping out of school to keep up his spot in the reserves.) He was part of the Reserve Class C and the 99th Field Battery from 1944 to 1945 when World War II ended. Adams then worked as a beef farmer for years and lived his life as an avid woodworker and fisherman whose trove of stories is overflowing. His creations are now the stuff of legends, with nearly 1,000 handmade birdhouses being
The Rural Voice Magazine
Lest We Forget
installed personally by Adams on light standards and hydro poles all over Huron County. He has also sold them to people for $10 each for many, many years, with all the money going to benefit prostate cancer research. That figure now exceeds $16,000 and Adams figures he’s built somewhere between 25,000 and 30,000 birdhouses over the course of his life. He has also crafted plenty of other creations for the Legion over the years for their fundraising activities. As far as his career with the Legion, Adams joined the service organization in December of 2001. He has been an active member ever since. However, when he first joined, he began working with the members on their regular meals, Remembrance Day services and any other fundraising activities that the Branch would be carrying out. He also did odd jobs at the Branch
W We eme
as they were needed, while he was still physically able to do so. He also spoke with local school children about his experience in the reserves and assisted the Branch with its annual Poppy campaign. He was also part of the Property and House Committee for the local Branch for a time and has constructed many of the frames for the Branch that now contain valuable items or displays that have come into the Branch’s collection over the years. He said he joined the Legion because of all the good it did both in the community and with veterans of World Wars I and II and still thinks of himself as one of its newer members, only joining when he and his wife Maxine moved to Brussels when George retired. He still gets to the Branch for a meal when he can and has been awarded a Life Membership to the organization for all of his hard work and dedication over nearly 25 years.
Thank You Veterans!
Blyth 519-523-4311
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Honouring those who fought for our freedom
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AUTOMOBILE • HOME • FARM • COTTTAAGE • BUSINESS • MARINE COMMERCIAL • LIFE • INVESTMENTS • GROUPP BENEFITS
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Remembering those who served.
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McBurney Funeral Home Ltd. Funeral Director: Dayna Deans
Todd Wheeler Insurance Inc.
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Brussels Lions Club Remembering those who fought for our Freedom
Box 394, 75 Sports Dr., Brussels, ON N0G 1H0
Serving the funeral service needs of North Huron since 1979.
35 Patrick Street West, Wingham
Certified General Accountant • Personal & Corporate Tax • Accounting & Bookkeeping • Agricultural Services
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519-887-6122 1-800-667-8399
Remembering those who Fire Department fought for our freedom of Brian E. Wightman North Huron
Lest We Forget
McDonald
Brussels, Ontario
Brussels 519-887-6 6289
Used Car & Truck Sales Repairs to all makes & models of cars & trucks
twheeler@mutualone.ca
OFFICE: 519-357-0155
Located 2 miles south of Blyth Corner of London Rd. & Hullett-McKillop Rd. Jack Van Dorp 519-523-9308
THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024. PAGE 13.
BLYTH Y 519-523-4244
+XURQ7UDFWRU FRP
519-523-4311
www.ruralvoice e.ca
R2R session explores differences through discussions
Breaking it down Jordan McDonald, Meagan Tamming and Chelsi Bovingdon were among those who took part in the Appreciative Inquiry Story Trios exercise at last month’s Rural Talks to Rural conference, held at Memorial Hall in Blyth. (Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot photo)
By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot The Rural Voice When a gay pride parade was being organized for Goderich in rural Huron County, it raised consternation among some vendors at the farmers’ market who were concerned their proximity to the event would denote a connection.
“They were worried if they were beside it, they would be associated with it,” remembers Meagan Tamming, now a research assistant at the Gateway Centre for Excellence in Rural Health, who was then working for the Town of Goderich in the tourist booth. Some of these vendors staged a protest. To help solve the issue, Tamming
said a casual meeting was organized, during which both sides could have coffee and engage in a “civil conversation”, which helped the concerned farmers’ market vendors understand their personal space did not correlate to supporting something that they said was against their belief system. Tamming was sharing this
situation in her role as “storyteller” while Jordan McDonald, with Develop West Prince in Prince Edward Island, served as the “harvester” and Chelsi Bovingdon, a student at Wilfrid Laurier University was the “witness”. The trio was engaging in Appreciative Inquiry Story Trios at the fifth biennial Rural Talks to Rural (R2R) conference, held in Blyth on Oct. 16-18. The theme of the event was “Exploring Our Differences Together” and the appreciative inquiry practice, which is designed to help delegates identify the “best of what is and pursue the possibility of what could be,” facilitated discussion within the trios. “Appreciative inquiry is based on the premise that all of us are stronger and smarter together and the solutions are already in our rural communities,” said event coorganizer Casandra Bryant. “It fosters and stimulates growth and celebrates the positive in the community.” Tamming, McDonald and Bovingdon did not know each other prior to this workshop and came together at one table, allowing me to listen in as a reporter as each one took turns being the storyteller, witness and harvester. The question they had to work with was, “When were you part of a conversation that crossed the divides in our rural communities that went well? What conditions made it possible.” Tamming’s situation with the gay
pride parade and the farmers’ market vendors was solved by taking the conversation away from the protest to a calmer place and time, being patient, listening to concerns, encouraging conversation and reaching agreement so both events could go on without conflict. “Having that meeting was phenomenal because that doesn’t always happen,” said McDonald. Bovingdon was the next storyteller and she shared that, between attaining her degrees, she worked at Grey Roots Museum and Archives in Owen Sound on an exhibit called “Arctic Voices”. The exhibit was part of the museum’s commitment to work through repatriation of stolen artifacts and the decolonization process within the museum’s archives. As part of the “Arctic Voices” exhibit, Bovingdon created a short video compilation of movies made by First Nations people. “I spent a lot of time curating a short film playlist and, one night, the advisory committee was there (comprised of Indigenous members) and they saw the films playing and they noted it was a positive move forward towards reconciliation.” It was a happy moment for Bovingdon, who had poured a lot of energy into the project out of respect for Indigenous people. “I was proud to bring a different perspective to the museum,” she said. “As part of colonial violence, Continued on page 19
BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK REPORT For the week ending November 1, 2024 Total Receipts: 1,358 cattle, 800 lambs, sheep and goats. Tuesday – Fed cattle sold steady. Cows sold easier. Thursday – Veal sold on a strong steady trade at higher prices. Lambs, sheep and goats sold steady. Friday – All classes of cattle sold on a strong trade with calves selling steady. Yearlings sold $5 - $6 higher prices. Fed Cattle: There were 118 fed cattle on offer: Choice Fed Cattle: $248 – $262 Second Cut Fed Cattle: $235 – $247 Aged and Medium Fed Cattle: $210 – $225 Holstein Fed Cattle: $185 – $228 Joseph Oscar Brubacher of Desboro, consigned five head. Three black fed steers averaged 1,672 lbs. and sold for a price of $261.50. Bill Finlay of Durham, consigned 29 head. Two grey fed steers averaged 1,655 lbs. and sold for a price of $261. Cows: There were 300 cows on offer. Beef Cows: $135 – $164 Good Holstein Cows: $145 – $163 Medium Holstein Cows: $132 – $146 Bulls: $190 – $235
Geert Geene of Goderich, consigned one black cow that weighed 1,495 lbs. and sold for a price of $164. Bruggert Farms Ltd. of Clinton, consigned three head. One holstein cow weighed 1,125 lbs. and sold for a price of $167. Greg Davidson of Monkton, consigned one limousin bull weighed 2,055 lbs. and brought $235. Veal: There were 115 veal and 25 bob calves on offer. Beef Veal: $260 – $295 Good Holsteins: $275 – $285 SL Heavy Holsteins: $270 – $284 Heavy Holsteins: $235 – $265 Medium Holsteins: $255 – $270 Plain Holsteins: $220 – $245 Holstein Drop Calves: $650 – $1,175 / HEAD Larry Graul of Walkerton, consigned three head. One holstein veal weighed 715 lbs. and sold for a price of $288. John Martin of Lucknow, consigned four head. One holstein veal weighed 730 lbs. and sold for a price of $284. Brian Hess of Ayton, consigned four head. One blue veal weighed 860 lbs. and sold for a price of $284.
Lambs: Under 50 lbs.: Too few to establish a market 50-64 lbs.: $370 – $400 65-79 lbs.: $322 – $385 80-94 lbs.: $280 – $365 95-109 lbs.: $275 – $320 110 lbs. and over: $260 – $290 Sheep: $260 – $290 Ashtyn Bruton of Belgrave, consigned 30 head. Twelve lambs averaged 103 lbs. and sold for an average price of $320. Goats: Meat Kids: $440 – $531 Dairy Kids: $390 – $460 Mature Bucks: $350 – $460 Mature Does: $130 – $280 Dennis Dietz of Mildmay, consigned four head. Three kid goats averaged 59 lbs. and sold for a price of $531. Woodbridge Goats Ltd. of Kerwood, consigned 11 head. Eleven kid goats averaged 61 lbs. and sold for a price of $529. Erica Walden of Paisley, consigned eight head. Two kid goats averaged 61 lbs. and sold for a price of $522.
Stockers: There were 800 stockers on offer.
Eldon W. Martin of Listowel, consigned 23 head. Ten charolais steers averaged 1,008 lbs. and sold for a price of $328.25.
Top Quality Steers: Under 400 lbs.: $375 – $475 400 – 499 lbs.: $325 – $479 500 – 599 lbs.: $350 – $460 600 – 699 lbs.: $355 – $393 700 – 799 lbs.: $300 – $360 800 – 899 lbs.: $300 – $350 900 – 999 lbs.: $316.50 – $344 1,000 lbs. and over: $303.50 – $329 Top Quality Heifers: Under 400 lbs.: Too few to establish a market 400 – 499 lbs.: $340 – $415 500 – 599 lbs.: $300 – $422.50 600 – 699 lbs.: $310 – $382 700 – 799 lbs.: $285 – $335 800 – 899 lbs.: $307 – $345 900 lbs. and over: $277.50 – $313 Jayme Reid of Tiverton, consigned 24 head. Seven limousin steers averaged 886 lbs. and sold for a price of $350. Ahrens Bros Farms Ltd. of Mitchell, consigned 13 head. Four black steers averaged 941 lbs. and sold for a price of $344. Greg McCarthy of Dublin, consigned 23 head. Six charolais steers averaged 1,037 lbs. and sold for a price of $326.
Steve Pastoor of Kerwood, consigned 19 head. Fifteen charolais heifers averaged 838 lbs. and sold for a price of $344. Jim Stewart of Kenilworth, consigned 18 head. 4 red heifers averaged 906 lbs. and sold for a price of $313. Klaas Jorritsma of Brussels consigned 14 head. Two black heifers averaged 933 lbs. and sold for a price of $312.50.
BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd.
UPCOMING SALES TUESDAYS 10:00 a.m. Fed Cattle, Bulls & Cows
THURSDAYS
9:00 a.m. Drop Calves 10:00 a.m.Veal 11:30 a.m. Lambs, Goats & Sheep
FRIDAYS
10:00 a.m. Stockers Visit our webpage at: www.brusselslivestock.ca email us at: info@brusselslivestock.ca
Call us 519-887-6461
PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024.
Classified Advertising – RATES – 20 words or less only $9.00 + HST Additional words 25¢ ea. + HST
DEADLINE 2 p.m. Tuesday Phone 519-523-4792 e-mail: info@northhuron.on.ca
Articles for sale TEDDY BEAR AND FIGURINE COLLECTION - I have a collection of approximately 150 teddy bears and figurines looking for a new home. For expediency and efficiency, I would prefer to sell the collection in sizable lots. Most of the collection was purchased in the 1980s and consists of a wide variety of "plush" bears, as well as an assortment of resin and stoneware bears and non-bear figurines. The assembly features a varied representation of items from a broad spectrum, including Gund, Bearinton, Ty, Boyd's and Pendelfin. For more info phone 519-357-9062, or email turner.det@gmail.com ------------------------------------------GERBERS FIREWOOD SERVING you for over 15 years. Your number one source of quality slabwood and bodywood. Delivery available. No Sunday calls. 519-274-1236, 519441-2085. ------------------------------------------HOME-BAKED PIES!! Order your favourites by Monday! Pick up on Wednesday or Thursday at Maitside Orchards, Brussels. Also apples, fresh cider, preserves, meats. 519-835-0327 ------------------------------------------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 ------------------------------------------THE CITIZEN IS AVAILABLE TO purchase at these locations - Auburn Esso, Belgrave Variety, Blyth Food Market, Blyth Variety, Blyth Ultramar, Brussels Foodland, Brussels Variety, Clinton Convenience, Clinton Foodland, Fogal's YIG (Wingham), Seaforth Foodland, Fincher's (Goderich), Goderich Victoria St Shell, Goderich Petro-Canada Gas Bar, and The Citizen office in Blyth. -------------------------------------------
Card of thanks TO EVERYONE WHO purchased tickets for our annual Ethel Community Centre Turkey supper, helped out in any way, donated their time, and or money - a Huge Thank You! It was a great success, with well over 300 people served! Hope to see you all next year. If you would like to rent our hall, call or text Brenda at 519-887-6153. ------------------------------------------STEFFLER - Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to my friends, family and neighbours for your phone calls, flowers, cards, visits and transportation. Special thanks to my neighbour Sam for rescuing me and calling for the ambulance. To my dear friend, Marj, for staying and looking after me. Friends in need certainly are friends indeed. Verna
Card of thanks Card of thanks For rent WORKMAN - Thank-you to the staff of Alexandra Marine and General Hospital, community home and health services, family, friends and neighbours who helped enhance the quality of life for our mom, Muriel Blaney. Thank you! The Workman Family. ------------------------------------------STILES - Marilyn “Jean” (Steiss) Stiles, March 14, 1936 - September 23, 2024. Terry and Donelda (Stiles) Schwartzentruber would like to send a sincere thank you to our family, friends and neighbours for the acts of kindness shown to us with cards, text messages, emails, phone calls, your presence at the visitations, floral tributes, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society - multiple myeloma unit and the breast cancer unit, Alexandra Marine & General Hospital Foundation and the Bassethound Rescue of Ontario and food brought to our home in the recent passing of our mother and mother-in-law, Jean. Thank you to the pallbearers and flower bearers. Mom would be so pleased that five of her nephews, Allan & John Mann, Robert & Steven Steiss, Michael Stiles & her friend & neighbour Chris Evans carried her to her final resting place. Carrying Mom’s floral tributes were her nieces Sandra Smith & Sharon Pharazyn. Thank you to Rev. Harry Disher of Lakeshore United Church in Goderich for giving Mom a beautiful service and his visits with her. Thank you to Mary Douma, organist, for her gift of music including some of Mom’s favourite pieces. Thank you to Zoellyn Onn of Riverside Funeral Home in Brussels. You attended to every detail in a thoughtful, professional way. You made everything easier to process at such a difficult time. Thank you to Melville Presbyterian Church ladies for the lovely lunch they prepared following the Interment. Mom was so well taken care of by Dr. Barghi, LHSC Cancer Clinic; Doctors Daters, Krishna, Noel, Nikolai, Peel, Spacek, Steinman, Watson, the wonderful nurses on 1st and 2nd floors and the dedicated Emergency Department Staff of Alexandra Marine & General Hospital, Goderich. Thank you for taking care of Mom. She always enjoyed her visits and chats with her medical team. To all of Mom’s friends at Harbour Hills of Goderich, thank you for your friendship. Mom enjoyed her euchre and pepper card games, having meals with you, and just being sociable. Mom is certainly missed. Mom, you’ll never be forgotten. ------------------------------------------HAKKERS - Our sincere thanks to family, friends, neighbours and the community for the heartfelt hugs, cards, food, flowers, go fund me donations, trust fund donations, phone calls, texts, visits and support show to us since the sudden passing of Jud. Special thank you to Erica Baxter for the painting raffle, the Blyth Kids Club for donations from the Halloween dance, and the Clinton Co-operative Childcare Centre and Hullett Public School for their support with the girls. Thanks also to Zoey Onn from Riverside Funeral Home for your professional guidance during this difficult time. Jen, Brooklyn, McKenzie and families.
WATSON - Louise, wife of recently deceased Bert Watson, and daughter Marina would like to thank the community of Brussels and especially the staff of Huronlea Home for the Aged for their warm welcome of Bert and Louise back into the community of Brussels where Bert grew up on his parent's farm. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude and a big thank you to Ralph and Betty Watson for hosting a beautiful Celebration of Life where friends and family shared many stories and memories, which we cherish and hold dear. The Celebration was held in the United Church of Brussels and we wish to thank the United Church and their volunteers for providing a warm and welcoming place for our celebration of Bert's life. We would also like to extend our gratitude to Riverside Funeral Home for their support in making this difficult time easier to navigate. Zoey's personable approach is much appreciated, thank you for your kindness. Lastly we wish to thank the Wingham and District Hospital ER doctor and Dr. VanDerKlippe as well the nurses, particularly Maggie, for their gracious care of my father. Their concern for his comfort was touching, many thanks to you for all you do. ------------------------------------------McCLINCHEY - A big thank you to our family for dinner, cards and gifts on our 70th anniversary. Also, thanks to friends, relatives and neighbours. We were truly blessed. Thanks to all. Harold and Doris -------------------------------------------
Coming events Everyone is welcome to an afternoon Concert on Sunday, November 17 at 2:00 p.m. in the Central Huron Secondary School Gymnasium. Featuring The Blyth Festival Orchestra and the Huron Honour Band. Free will offering in support of Canadian Foodgrains Bank. ------------------------------------------KARATE! CLASSES BEGIN NOV. 20. SCHWEITZER'S MARTIAL ARTS. Self-defense, Self-discipline, Self-confidence. GROUP CLASSES FOR AGES 4 TO ADULT. Taught by Renshi Becky Schweitzer, 4th Degree Black Belt and 12X World Karate Champion. Location Hutton Heights Community Church, 21 Lloyd Street, Wingham. EARLY BIRD SPECIAL ONLY $105 + HST FOR 9 WEEKS. Uniform extra. Special ends Nov. 13. Regular price $125 + HST.Call 519-580-1418 or e-mail becky_schweitzer@hotmail.com www.schweitzersmartialarts.com ------------------------------------------NOVEMBER TAKE-OUT LUNCH, Tuesday, November 19, 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Trinity Anglican Church, Blyth. Ham & scalloped potatoes with dessert, $12 per person. Ordering deadline: Monday, November 18. To order call 519-523-9396 or email: mcgregor@ezlink.ca -------------------------------------------
Advertise in the Classifieds
Covered outdoor camper storage site. Would fit a large RV. In Blyth. 519-523-9241 -------------------------------------------
Swap shop Citizen-To-Citizen
Locals pass in Belgrave PEOPLE AROUND BELGRAVE By Linda Campbell Call 357-2188
“SWAP SHOP” ad Call 519-523-4792 or email: info@northhuron.on.ca
• Free ad up to 25 words, person to person only (no businesses), items valued at $1,000 or less. Price must be included in your ad.Your ad will run three times unless it sells faster! • The Citizen reserves the right to limit the number of items or ads per person. FOR SALE - Exercise bicycle in excellent, clean condition. Has a 12” wide seat. $150. Call 226-523-2580 after 6:00 p.m. 45-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - European rabbit cages. $5 per cage. Ten rows of five available. 7” x 40’ auger. $950. 519-395-4211. 44-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Large wire kennel 27” high x 36” long x 24” wide, $25; Vitamaster treadmill, older model, variable speeds, works good, $25; utility trailer, lights, new tires, box 50” wide x 74” long x 9” deep, $300. 519-529-7619. 44-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Vintage 8” Beaver table saw, great condition, moveable base, fence, mitre gauge and long 18 ft. heavy cord. $100 or best offer. Please text 519887-9577. 44-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Collector-type, licensed memorabilia Blue Jay players-style shirt. Tags still attached, never worn, player number 19 Bautista, $75; Great Christmas gift for a Blue Jay’s team fan. Call 519887-8046. 43-3 -------------------------------------------------FREE - Used kitchen cupboards, suitable for shed or garage. 519-524-7891. 43-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Sunbeam vaporizer with new filter; computer cabinet; two sets dirt bike gear youth XS; Moen shower head (new); four shrub covers. Moving. Must go. Make an offer. 519-357-2768. 43-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Honeywell Cool Mist humidifier, $15; Pond pump 800 gal/hr. $50. 519-345-0446. 43-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - 1,000 piece puzzles, many to choose from. Mostly Cobblehill puzzles; 2 for $15. Call 519-482-5762. 43-3 -------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Yardworks Snowblower 10.5 HP / 29” 6 speed / 2 speed, has reverse, electric start, used very little, asking $725. 519-525-1863. 43-3 --------------------------------------------------
Sincere sympathy is extended to Karen and Dan Gagne with the loss of a loving mother, Arlyn Montgomery, who passed away on Oct. 29 at Wingham and District Hospital. She will be dearly missed by her grandchildren Alessandra and Colton. Sympathy is extended to Georgie Campbell in the sudden loss of her husband Allan Campbell and to Dean and Nancy Campbell, Cindy and Dave Thompson, Craig Campbell, Shawn and Hannah Campbell and Jason and Caroline Campbell in the loss of a dear father, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren and to brothers John Campbell (Linda) and Gordon Campbell (Maureen). May your thoughts and prayers be with these families in this their time of sorrow. Rev. Colin Snyder welcomed the congregation at Knox United Church, Belgrave on Sunday, Nov. 3. Colin lit the Christ Candle and the congregation sang “Though I May Speak”, accompanied on the piano by Mary Vair who also played prelude and postlude music. Scripture readings were read from Deuteronomy 6:1-9, Leviticus 19:18 and Mark 12:28-34. Rev. Colin’s reflection was entitled “The Great Commandments”. There will be cards on Friday, November 8 at 1 p.m. at the Belgrave Community Centre. Everyone is welcome. On Tuesday, Nov. 12 there is Community Coffee Break from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Community Centre. Birthday greetings are extended to Jonathan VanCamp on November 12. Have a super day.
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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024. PAGE 15.
Obituaries
CAROL MCDOWELL It is with profound sadness that the family of Carol McDowell share her passing on Nov. 1, 2024. Surrounded by her loving family, Carol had a peaceful transition. She joins her parents Elva (2015) and Jack (2006) on his 107th heavenly birthday. Her business has been renamed Carol’s Celestial Cakes, now based in the kitchens of the great heavens above. Carol was born on Sept. 25, 1941. She had her first baking lessons on her parents’ farm, where she practised her cooking skills on brother Fred (Ruth). It wasn’t long before she was able to tempt the sweet-tooth of beau Gerald McDowell, whom she met at a church young people’s group. Though Gerald kidded that Carol flirted with him first, we’re convinced that once he sampled her baking, he had eyes for nobody else! The sweethearts married on Sept. 12, 1959, and shared 65 happy years together. Initially living on the McDowell home farm, Carol focused her love and energy on her family, raising four children: Wayne, Ron, Kim and Patti. Carol always put the needs of others first; packing lunches for Gerald when he went to shear sheep, getting up early to get the children off to school, getting everyone to hockey, baton, piano and baseball. She gave back to the community as a UCW member of the Auburn United Church, fed “the men” during threshing season and baked an endless number of pies for the Fowl Supper in Belgrave. For many years, the happy couple enjoyed round and square dancing, and often camped at Point Farms with their friends. Carol modeled for her children the importance of being present for others, that memories are the most valuable treasure and that real wealth is not measured monetarily. Carol always had an entrepreneurial spirit and was an Avon rep for many years before starting with Tupperware, where she did so well that she was an area manager with a car that was provided! Carol’s engaging personality and genuine interest in others ensured that she was successful in all that she did. Over time, the children grew and started their own families; Wayne and Claire, Chatham; Ron and Alice, Belgrave; Kim and Allen (Walker), Belgrave, and Patti and Pat (Cronin), Blyth. Carol and Gerald moved to Auburn and Carol expanded her horizons, working for many years at the Zehrs store, first in Wingham and later in Goderich. She enjoyed interacting with the customers and was highly regarded by her coworkers. It was during this time that “Carol’s Cakes” began. Carol’s
knack for knowing how to create the “perfect something sweet” quickly established her as “the” place to order cakes. Carol’s customers came from far and wide, she never wanted to turn anyone away, even when it meant she had several special orders on the same day. Carol’s birthday cakes, cupcakes, special occasion cakes and wedding cakes were all made with love, especially her famous carrot cake; the stuff from which legends are made! No matter how busy Carol was, she always had time for her family. She took great pride in all nine of her grandchildren: Michelle (Ronnie), Paige (Elise), Johnathon (Tori), Michael (Kaitlyn), Caroline (Dennis), Adel (Jason), Greg (Bree), Adam (Emilie) and Lauren (Sjoerd). The family continues to grow, Carol has 10 greatgrandchildren, with two more on the way. Photographs of the family adorn the walls of her home, and their activities and achievements were the focus of her attention and conversation. Carol played countless roles with her grandchildren over the years, such as, “Grandma’s sleepaway Camp”, emergency baby-sitter, driver to and from events and appointments, teacher of the secrets of the kitchen and more. Every moment, every conversation and every little hug was woven into the beautiful relationships between the grandchildren and their very special grandma. Carol showed each one that being “present” is the most valuable gift, that unconditional love transcends distance and that the ties that bind family together are a legacy to carry on into the future. Sadly, Carol’s cancer diagnosis in 2023 made us realize that time is a limited commodity. Carol fought valiantly up to the day of her passing. We were blessed with the love of a wife, mother, sister, grandmother and greatgrandmother so special that she can’t really be quantified, or summarized in a few short paragraphs. Over decades, the most significant cake Carol baked is the one that you cannot see; she blended loyalty, forgiveness, hope, respect, understanding, patience, laughter and, most of all, love. She sprinkled the mix with hugs and kisses, distributed equally amongst the family. As long as we remember the recipe, the cake is never finished. At the end of life what really matters is not what we bought, but what we built; not what we got, but what we shared; not our competence but our character; and not our success, but our significance. Carol lived a life of love; she lived a life that mattered. We love you, we miss you and we will carry you in our hearts forever. The family would like to thank the team at the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre in London, Dr. Treasurywala, the nurses and entire care team from Care Partners and the entire staff and volunteers at Huron Hospice Bender House for the excellent care and support provided during Carol’s journey. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider donations to Huron Hospice Bender House. Online condolences can be left at www.mccallumpalla.ca A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 2-4 p.m. at the McDowell Family Farm, 84359 Hoover Line, Belgrave.
ARLYN MARY MONTGOMERY It is with heavy hearts that we announce Arlyn Montgomery died on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024 at Wingham and District Hospital in her 83rd year after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She will be greatly missed by her daughter Karen and son-in-law Daniel Gagné of Wichita Falls, Texas. Arlyn will be lovingly remembered as grandma to Alessandra and Colton. She was predeceased by her husband of 55 years, Glenn Montgomery (2021), and her parents George and Dorothy Powell. Arlyn was a passionate educator and enjoyed a 35-year career as a full-time and, in later years while helping Glenn on the farms, a supply teacher in various area elementary schools. She was an active volunteer, leading 4-H homemaking clubs for over 10 years. Arlyn held various board positions in the Huron County Branch - Ontario Genealogical Society and conducted research for people wishing to better connect with their ancestry. Arlyn was a patient and humble servant of God. She was a devoted member of the Hutton Heights Community Church, where she served in various capacities on the board of directors, was active in the women’s group, and enjoyed playing the keyboard on the worship team. She was grateful for the friendship, love and support provided by her church family. Arlyn was always able to create “teachable” moments, whether it be in a school lesson, crafting, sewing projects, working on musical celebrations at church or helping to encourage someone to start their journey into family research. She enjoyed gardening, taking pride in her beautiful flowers and bountiful vegetable harvest. Arlyn will be dearly missed by her brother Jack (Joan) Powell of St. Joseph; sister-in-law Joy (Gordon) Heiser of Chapin, SC; nieces and nephews: Jason (Maggie) Powell, Trowbridge; John (Kate) Powell, London; Jenine (Steve) Hurst, Listowel; Fay (Ken) Rate, Seaforth; Renee (Nick) Lanthier, Pittsford, New York; Shelly (Herbie) Reeves, Chapin, South Carolina; and many Driscoll, Powell and Montgomery cousins. The family received visitors at the McBurney Funeral Home, Wingham on Nov. 1 and a funeral service was held on Nov. 2 at Hutton Heights Community Church, followed by a graveside burial at Clinton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Arlyn’s honour may be directed to the Hutton Heights Community Church, the Canadian Cancer Society or the charity of your choice. Online condolences at www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com
JAMES MICHAEL “Leo” DEITNER June 8, 1935 - Nov. 5, 2024 James Michael “Leo” Deitner passed peacefully, with his wife by his side, at Listowel Memorial Hospital on Nov. 5, 2024 in his 90th year. The beloved husband of Rita (Graf) Deitner for 66 years, Leo was the loving father of Brian and Candace Deitner (Brussels) Cathy and Jean-Marc Beneteau (Belle River) Kevin and Alicia Deitner (Brussels). He was the cherished grandfather of Kiley and Jonas Whytock, Trista and Devon MacDonald, Julie Beneteau, Paul and Amy Beneteau, Marc Beneteau, Tyler and Jessica Deitner, Morgan and Remi Zoccolante, and Tiffany and Bryce Fletcher and the proud great-grandfather of 13. Leo is survived by his sisters Marie Blake and Nora Kraemer and in-laws Sr. Madeleine Graf and Irene and Joe Sergi. He will be fondly remembered by many nieces and nephews. Leo was predeceased by his parents James and Cecelia Deitner, father- and mother in-law Alex and Clara Graf, son Alan Francis Deitner in infancy, sister Margaret and brother-in-law Louis Phelan, sister Kathleen and brother-in-law John McFadden, brothers-in-law George Blake and Bob Kraemer, sisters-in-law Sr. Margaret Graf, Sr. Barbara Graf, Mary Taziar and brothers-in-law Joe Taziar and Willie Graf. Leo was born and raised on the home farm on the 6th of Grey Township. The only son of five children. He attended SS#3 until the age of 14 when he began farming and didn’t stop until he was in his mid-80s. He married the love of his life and farming companion on Sept. 6, 1958 and then they raised their family through hard work and determination. He spent his later retirement years immersing himself into the lost art of handwoodworking; carving and whittling for hours on end, creating over 300 finished pieces of tool handles and other projects. He will always be remembered for his love of Allis Chalmers tractors and his fond companionship of dogs. Dad, the chores are done, walk tall. Friends and family are invited for visitation at Riverside Funeral Home (Brussels Chapel) on Friday, Nov. 8 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. with prayers at 1:30 p.m. Funeral Mass will take place at St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. with Father Tom Donohue officiating. Interment in St. Ambrose Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Listowel Memorial Hospital (palliative care) or the St. Ambrose Cemetery Board. Condolences may be left at riversidefuneralhome.ca
GISÈLE LAMONT At her home in Brussels on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, Gisèle Lamont passed away at the age of 53. The cherished daughter of Gisèle Kelly and the late Peter Kelly, Gisèle was the loving mom of Michelle Kelly and Chris Sheppard, Melissa Bell and Taylor Forrester and Drayden Diemert and Tiffany Hunter. She was the adored granny of Aleigha, Boden, Colten and Myah, with a new grandchild expected at the end of December and the dearly loved sister of Lisa Kelly and Greg Cullen, David Kelly, Sarah Kelly and Dave Morse and Laura Kelly and Dan Dwyer. Gisèle will be remembered by her many nieces and nephews, who will miss their Aunt Zow dearly. Gisèle was predeceased by her father Alexander Lamont and sister Babette Lamont. For many years, Gisèle had been a proud owner of her hair shop, Shear Inspirations. She poured her heart into her work, always making her clients feel special. Her passion for music, especially the timeless hits of Rod Stewart and Elvis Presley, always lifted her spirits and filled her home with joy. Above all, Gisèle cherished her role as a granny. Her love for her family was evident in everything she did, and she found immense happiness in spending time with her loved ones. Despite facing challenges and pain, Gisèle never let it define her. Her resilience and vibrant spirit inspired those around her, and she approached life with creativity and zest. She will be deeply missed by her cherished dog, CarlE, her loyal companion. Visitation was held at McBurney Funeral Home, Wingham on Wednesday, Nov. 6 and the funeral service was held at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, Nov. 7. Interment at St. Michael’s Cemetery, Blyth. Flowers are gratefully declined due to allergies, instead, consider a memorial donation to Huron County Food Bank, the Salvation Army or St. Vincent de Paul. Online condolences may be left at mcburneyfuneralhome.com
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PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024.
North Huron renews motocross bylaw By Scott Stephenson The Citizen
Off-road enthusiasts of East Wawanosh rejoice! North Huron Council has voted to renew an existing temporary use bylaw that will allow motocross racing at an Auburn property to continue for the next three years. Huron County Planner Hanna Holman presented an overview of the renewal application for the property on Glen’s Hill Road, as well as a recommendation that the application be approved, pending some revisions to the temporary use bylaw. The revisions would clarify that events and associated activities are to occur between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., and that both the township and surrounding property owners must be notified of any events or rescheduled event activities. “The Planning Act does allow councils to pass a bylaw for a period up to three years for a temporary use. So this is a specific type of zoning bylaw amendment,” she explained. “There is currently a temporary use bylaw on the property that was passed three years prior, in 2021, to permit motocross-
related events and races for three years... the current application is a request to renew the temporary use bylaw for another three years.” Holman also pointed out that the same lands had been used for similar events from 2008 to 2011 under a temporary use bylaw. “It is proposed to be used for motocross racing, motorcycle riding, and allterrain vehicle riding as part of events. The previous bylaw was for four motocross events per year, which were to occur over two days, on weekends, with only one of those events being on a holiday or long weekend.” The current proposal requests an increase to five events per year. The motocross track is located on a 100-acre parcel of land, zoned Agricultural and Natural Environment. The motorcycle racing and trail driving may only occur on the existing track, which is situated across 60 acres. The proposed bylaw states that existing crop land to the north, areas of natural environment and existing ponds shall not be affected by the use of the motocross track. No permanent buildings are allowed, other than those permitted
for an agricultural operation. Holman noted that the township had received two comments from nearby property owners in regards to loud noise and music, as well as a comment from a neighbour requesting notification about events. There is also a conservation area and campground adjacent to the property that is owned and operated by the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA). As neighbouring landowners, the MVCA has expressed concern about the potential increase in events, particularly ones that occur on long weekends. “They also have concerns with training, and the using of the facilities outside of event times.” Holman explained, as it can affect the enjoyment of seasonal campers. “They also have concerns about event attendees entering the MVCA property on motor vehicles... they prohibit motorized vehicles on their properties. And then they just had a question raised about overnight camping, and whether that has been permitted, with concerns about water and sewage.” Holman told council and staff that overnight
camping was not one of the permitted uses allowed under the temporary use bylaw. Applicant and property owner Tyson Hawkins was in attendance at the meeting, and he also spoke in support of the proposed renewal. “We think it’s very good for the community,” he said. “It brings people from all over Ontario, and the States, and Quebec - all over the place - to this area, and they spend money and ride this track. It’s actually known as one of the best tracks in Canada. A lot of people enjoy this track and love coming to it.” Council discussed the proposal for some time. Deputy-Reeve Kevin Falconer asked Holman what would need to be done in order to eliminate the three-year time limit and make the outdoor sport venue a permanent fixture. Holman pointed to the example of the nearby Walton Raceway, saying, “That property’s zoning is some kind of recreation zoning - that could be an option. It would just be a higher planning test, in that case.” Councillor Chris Palmer had concerns about the effect of the motocross events on the
conservation area. “I want to commend Mr. Hawkins for developing or building a Class A track - that’s good!... the concerns of the Maitland Valley about folks just getting onto their property? That’s serious to me. I know a sign means diddly, really. And there’s other properties having trouble keeping people out as well. Is there anything that can be done - more barriers, or something?” Councillor Anita van Hittersum was also concerned about noise and notifications. “Auburn Hills is on a hill, and the noise carries very, very, far away. If you’re two kilometres away, it is as if it’s very close - in your backyard. So, I would like a wider area to be sent out the notifications, and also, if you change dates for the races, that people will be notified. That will help with a lot of the grievances from the neighbours.” Council took Holman’s presentation and all comments into account before voting to approve the application for the temporary use bylaw renewal with the proposed changes.
Farmers wrapping up 2024 season PEOPLE AROUND WALTON By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570
It was a little cooler weather on the weekend, but there was lots of sunshine. There are many farmers who have completed harvest and are in the process of washing up the machinery to put away for the winter. It’s very unusual to be done by the first of November. Some plowing, for some, is yet to be finished, but, as you drive, the fields are, on the majority, worked and resting for the winter. Our condolences to the Dilworth family on the passing of Dorothy Dilworth. She will be missed by her daughter Karen, husband Dave and son Roger and his wife Mary. She was the grandmother of five and great-grandmother of seven. Dorothy was a long-serving teacher in Grey Township for her entire career. She often spoke of her
experiences over the years and how she coped with the many changes. A lover of music, cards, gardening, canning and a good joke, she was a very lovely lady. A longtime resident of Ethel, she loved to sit out in the summer and watch the ball games. I had the pleasure of her company weekly for about 14 years until she moved to Listowel and later to Fordwich Nursing Home. Our sympathies to the family. The Alexander family enjoyed a family trip to Canton, Michigan to watch Nicole Alexander play her first university game for the University of Michigan. It was a great game for Nicole, who is a goaltender, to play her first game, have her first shutout and win her first game. Making the trip to
Historic DNA found On Oct. 22, 1967, the Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), received a missing person’s report involving two men who had departed for a fishing excursion from the Port of Goderich and were never seen again. Neil Wormsbecker and Hank
Obituaries
ALLAN DAVIES STOKES Allan Davies Stokes passed away
Canton were Mike and Susan, Brent, Sarah, Bob and Joyce Alexander. Congratulations to Ron McCallum on his 70th birthday. Ron and Betty were joined by their two children, Chad and Janice, and their four grandchildren. Happy birthday Ron! Dave and Karen Bowles are very happy for their daughter this week. Paula Elliott has been recognized for her community service in Mitchell. Paula was the recipient of the livewell4life Community Character Award for the Mitchell Ringette organization. She has contributed in many ways to help ringette grow and has given her time with the organization and the greater Mitchell Community. Congratulations to Paula.
at his home in Ethel on Nov. 2, 2024, in his 81st year. He is survived by children Liz, Krista and Robert. He was the grandpa of Tavi and the brother of Carol (Murray) Goodman. Allan will be missed by many nieces and nephews and he is also loved by furry friends Thelma and Louise. He was predeceased by his sister Tess. Allan was a spicy guy. He loved his pets and brought a “je ne sais quoi” to every situation. As per Allan’s wishes, cremation has taken place, and no funeral service will be held. Condolences may be left at riversidefuneralhome.ca
Englebertus Halff were 29 and 30, respectively, when they went missing in Lake Huron. Both men resided in the Stratford area at the time. On Oct. 2 of this year, the OPP requested the public’s help in locating biological family members for the two men. Several tips were received, which resulted in a biological family member being located for Halff. Then, on Oct. 15, a second public appeal was made for biological family members of Wormsbecker. The Huron OPP now says that biological family members for both men have been located. These family members have provided DNA samples, which will be analyzed and compared. Investigators were contacted by several members of the public who provided information that led to family members for both men. The Ontario Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains (ONCMPUR), along with the National Missing Persons DNA Program (NMDP), continue to work toward solving historical cases and providing closure for families of missing loved ones.
A reminder that the fall leaf collection is in Brussels on Mondays until Nov. 18, weatherpermitting. The leaves must be bagged in biodegradable bags with a weight limit of 50 pounds. Do not rake leaves onto the road, as they become a hazard. Mulching is a great way to get rid of your leaves. Celebrating birthdays this past week are: Judy Lee, Marvin Bachert, Peggy Humphries, Johnny Ryan, Kevin Coleman, Bruce Blake, Alexis Terpstra, Lila Olson, Darryl Hoegy,Chris Stevenson, Steven Huether, Justin Morrison, Rita Bowers, Terry Sloan, and Jane Zwep. Happy birthday to all.
NEWS FROM WALTON
Home Cooking for the Holidays Do your friends come to you for cooking advice and ask (or beg) you for your delicious recipes? Well, we want your recipe too! Send in recipes for your favourite holiday meals, desserts, appetizers, sides or cocktails, and be featured in The Citizen’s upcoming special section on November 29, Home Cooking for the Holidays. This section will feature tons of delicious recipes from talented readers like yourself, just in time for holiday entertaining!
Mail your recipe(s) to:
The Citizen PO Box 429 Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 or email them to info@northhuron.on.ca Be sure to include your name with your recipe. Deadline for submissions is November 15
THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024. PAGE 17.
From the Minister’s Study
There are no politics in God’s Kingdom says Todd By Rev. JoAnn Todd of the Anglican Churches of Blyth, Wingham and Seaforth James and John, the sons of Zebedee, said to Jesus: “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” Mark 10:35 Whenever I read this piece of scripture, I think the same thing, how childishly cheeky these two brothers come across; like a child asking for a special treat or favour from an adult, which they know they probably won’t get or maybe isn’t quite appropriate. Reminds me a bit of when my granddaughters were little girls and would say: “Oma, say yes first, then we’ll tell you what we want.” What I also find interesting is that Mark goes into so much detail with this story. Matthew, written years after Mark, is maybe uncomfortable with the two disciples’ blatant request so, instead, Matthew has their mother asking Jesus for her boys to sit at Jesus’ left and right in the Kingdom (Matt 20:20). Sure, blame the mom for being overly ambitious for her sons! And Luke, well, he waters down the story even more, simply calling it a dispute among the disciples about which of them might be regarded as the greatest. Whenever I get an immediate emotional response to a scripture, I need to look into it more deeply and figure out why. Well, then, what we need to do for starters is put this in the context of the bigger story. Because, with Mark, the order in which his stories are written is important, often with one building upon the other. Sometimes we can get clues from the previous story as to what the message is or the theological point Mark is trying to make. This particular request comes right on the heels of Jesus telling his followers how hard it is for wealthy people to enter the Kingdom of God; that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. Peter is perturbed by this, reminding Jesus that the 12 of them have left everything they had to follow him. Jesus reassures them that those who leave everything for the sake of the gospel will be rewarded 100 times over and receive eternal life. But then he also warns them that those who feel they should be first to get there will be last, and the last will be first. Mark tells us that after Jesus’ followers heard this, some were amazed and others afraid. And then Jesus tells them again, and now for
Evangelical Missionary Church
Sunday, November 10, 10:30 a.m. Pastor Mike Stanley will be preaching "Those Who Are Weary" Pt 2 1 King 19:1-18
the third time, and this time in detail, about the fate that awaits him, that he will be handed over to the Gentiles, condemned, mocked, flogged, killed and then three days later rise again. Jesus has told the disciples twice before this about his death and resurrection and each time they just don’t get it. Nor do they fully comprehend it this third time either. And you know, I can understand that. He was the Messiah, and that part they had come to appreciate. And a Messiah was supposed to save his people, kind of like David did. But the Messiah wasn’t expected to allow himself to be killed... on purpose! No one expects that from their King, their leader. And the resurrection part, well, that was unprecedented, they would have had no frame of reference for that; they couldn’t possibly understand what that could mean, for Jesus or for them - they could only imagine! So, with all this information floating in their heads, the two brothers, James and John, step forward, and ask Jesus for their favour. Now, knowing what’s happened before their request for prime seating, what do you think might have been going through the minds of these two sons of Thunder, as they were nicknamed? Maybe they were afraid of what would happen to them if Jesus really was killed; afraid for Jesus, afraid for themselves, maybe worried what life without Jesus would be like? Were they looking for security in the afterlife, a spot closer to Jesus? That is so very human, when we feel frightened or
afraid, we look for closeness with others, look for places and people in whom we feel secure. We hold onto the ways we’ve always done things, try to hang on to the familiar, because it’s comfortable, which assuages our fears and anxiety. Or maybe when they heard Jesus talking about how he was going to die, they were concerned that, as his followers, they would die too, so maybe they were trying to get to the best spots in the afterlife? If Jesus was going to glory and they had given everything up for him, well, why not try for the best spot? After all, they were among the first of the disciples Jesus called to be his followers! And if you don’t ask, you don’t get, so why not ask? Looking at it like this, it really does kind of sound like they were asking for preferential treatment, or spots of privilege, jockeying for position, as it were! I suspect maybe that was the case, given how the other disciples became quite angry with the two brothers for asking for those special places at the table of heaven. How very human these two brothers were! We really don’t know their motivation; maybe they weren’t even sure of it themselves, we can but surmise. At minimum, they sound a bit insensitive, if not out and out self-serving. Jesus tells them of the horrid death that he is to undergo, and they’re more concerned with their own places in eternity. Jesus knows what they’re after, and he knows only too well that no matter how many times he tries to tell them - explain to them, warn them - he knows that they really
The Anglican Churches of Blyth, Seaforth and Wingham
To talk to Pastor Mike please email pastormike@huronchapel.com
119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship invites you to worship with us 10:00 a.m. Worship Service 11:00 a.m. Co ee Time The peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard you hearts & minds. ~ Philippians 4:7 Interim Pastor Elwin Garland 250 Princess St., Brussels • 519 887 6388
BRUSSELS S
U United Chu ur urch Worship with Us W s This Sunday Nove vember 10 0, 11:00 a.m. Monday November 11 Brussels B United hosts the Community Remem mberance Day service following the Legion Cenotaph Service “Messy Churcch” Wednesday November 13, 4:45 to 7 p.m. Come C see what we are all about!
Trinity: 9:00 a.m. Parish of the Holy Spirit: 9:30 a.m. St. Paul’s-Trinity: 11:00 a.m.
Contact Alex at ministter.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.co y @g om Website: brusselsandblythuc.ca b brusselsandblythuc ca P.O. Box 359, Brussels ~ 519-887-6259 P.
66 Dinsley St. W, Blyth
21 Jarvis St. Seaforth 519-527-1522
revjoann@hurontel.on.ca
holyspirit@tcc.on.ca
stpauls@hurontel.on.ca
www.holyspiritseaforth.ca
www.regionalministryof hope.com
The Regional Ministry of Hope
23 John St E Wingham 519-357-4883
Service Livestreamed Sundays at 11 a.m. on our facebook page
Join J Jo oin o oi in n us us Sun S nday, No N vember 10 0 Pastor Pastor as Harry Zantingh a Z will be leading us in th the e 10:00 am service The T There ere will be no evening service.
The Regional Ministry of
Services S ervices a are re llive-streamed ive-streamed a and nd c can an b be e ffound ound b by ys searching earching ““Blyth Blyth C Christian hristian R Reformed effo ormed C Church” hurrc ch”
Sunday, November 10 at 10 a.m. BMG Community Centre (upstairs room) 800 Sports Drive, Brussels Childcare and Sunday School provided for children 0 to 8 during the sermon
Worship and Prayer Time Loving Fellowship Expository Preaching
Free supper and Bible study! 6 p.m. on Wednesday nights starting Oct. 16th More details at: brusselscommunitybiblechapel.ca
Blyth United Church at 9:30 a.m.
On-site and online - live.huronchapel.com
actually doing the job! Jesus tells them, in essence, they’ve got the job, but it’s God’s decision to choose who will sit where in the afterlife. Then Jesus calls all the disciples together and tells them what it means to be a true leader in God’s Kingdom. “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.” So, there’s no jockeying for positions of power, or sitting at the best spots at the table, or sidling up to sit closest to the boss, or even a fat pay cheque. This is the opposite of the Gentiles, the non-believing rulers in the world, who flaunt authority and lord it over those for whom they are supposed to be working. The true leader is not the one who is being waited on by the servants, but the Continued on page 18
Welcome You to Sunday Service!
Sunday, November 10 Nursery & Sunday School during worship
didn’t understand what was to come! So, Jesus, playing into their tactics, asks them: “What is it you want me to do for you?” And they tell him they want the seats of honour at his right and left, when Jesus goes to his glory. Jesus tries once again to get them to understand what was to come. So, turning the question back on them, he asks James and John if they would be able to drink from his bitter cup of suffering or be baptized with the baptism of suffering that he was baptized into. Yet they both say they are able, I’m pretty sure they don’t really understand all the repercussions of that either at this point in time. A bit like going for a promotion at work, thinking you know what you’re getting into, but not really knowing the full extent of the difficulties of the new position until you’re
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 The outreach program for November is the Lions sports pad.
Contact Alex at: minister.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches blythunited@tcc.on.ca ~ 519-523-4224
B YT BLYT BL TH H CHRISTIAN CH HRISTIAN REFO R REF EFORM RMED MED D CHURCH CHURCH Hwy. 4, B Hwy Blyth lyth 51 519-523-4743 -523-474 www.blyt .blythcr hcrc.c .ca
MEL LV VILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS
Sunday, November 10, 2024 11:00 a.m. (Please note time change)
Melville is celebrating our 170th Anniversary! Please plan to join us: Sat. Nov. 9 @ 5:30 p.m. - Dinner by Cardiff Cateringg. Aft dinner After di e t t i entertainment t by b P Paull McLaren M L Sunday Nov. 10 @ 11 a.m. - Our former minister, Rev. Carolyyn McAvoy, will lead us in worship, and there will be lots of special praisee music too! A luncheon will follow the service, s and all are most welcomee to attend! S 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 v working together to serve our ccommunity. All are welcome! For pastoral care co oncerns please call 519-524-7512 2
PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024.
Fundraiser nabs $2,334 for Hullett snack prog.
Fire has destroyed another home in the village. I tracked Jackie Lantinga down late last week and learned that her dog is a hero. Around 5 a.m. on Monday, Oct, 28 Jackie was awakened by her dog. When she investigated, she realized her house was on fire. Although she had made changes to her home and made it quite comfortable, she recognized the house was very old. As a result, it burnt quickly and she was lucky to get out. Jackie commended the firefighters for their quick action and the efforts made to save a few keepsakes and pictures. She is grateful for the kindness of neighbours and others who have been generous with gifts of clothing, etc. Jackie is staying with her daughter in the Bayfield area, but loves Londesborough and hopes to return. It turns out that one of the really neat things about living in town rather than on the farm is Halloween! On our walks we have
enjoyed the spooky and imaginative decorations homeowners have displayed. And it has been such fun opening the door to the kids and seeing their excitement. Some of the costumes are quite ingenious. Others look like they came right out of, and I am dating myself here, Mr. Dressup’s “Tickle Trunk”. I found all of the 100 plus young folk who came to our door this year polite and chatty. Last year’s burst of snow that evening didn’t dampen any spirits (pun intended), but the warmth this year made for lots of fun. I look forward to next year! With the economy being difficult in the world today, schools find it necessary to provide snacks for those children who may come to classes hungry and/or without lunch. Hullett Central Public School does maintain a snack program, knowing a well-nourished child learns better. Funds for this program come from a variety of sources, and, in October, to boost funds for the program, the school held a Little Caesar’s Pizza fundraiser. It was a great success, netting the school $2,334. Appropriately, the virtue receiving attention in November at Hullett Central is “courage”. The children will learn that courage is sometimes doing the right thing even if it is hard or scary; trying new things and learning from mistakes. The example of the courage
displayed by men and women going off to war to fight for our freedom will most likely be talked about. The school will hold a Remembrance Day service for students from Kindergarten through Grade 6 on the morning of Nov. 11. Grade 7 and 8 students will attend the Remembrance Day service in Blyth at the Memorial Hall. Licensed Worship Lay Leader Sue Barnett led the morning worship at Londesborough United Church on Sunday, Nov. 3. Her reflection was based on Mark 12:28-34. In those verses, Jesus
Be sure to wear your poppy. The faith community of Londesborough United learned of the passing of Jane Swan on Oct. 28. Jane was the wife of former Londesborough United Church minister Rev. Colin Swan. Her funeral was held on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Comber United Church.
answers the question, “Which commandment is the first of all?” In Sue’s message, she reminded everyone of His answer, “To love the Lord with all your heart and your neighbour as yourself.” Londesborough United will mark Remembrance Day in its service on Sunday, Nov. 10.
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NEWS FROM LONDESBORO
Review your self-righteousness Continued from page 17 one who is doing the serving, working for the good of others and not for their own good fortune. The ultimate goal, as Jesus’ life showed us, was God’s will for us, working for the coming of God’s Kingdom. That was Jesus’ baptism and his cup, the servant master who gave his life that we might live. And that is the baptism we are all called to, it is the cup we all drink from as Christians. And we do not need to be afraid and look for our security
in places of power or seats of privilege. Our security comes from knowing that we are disciples of Jesus, the living God, who walked this path before us, and walks this same path with us. And that Christ also gives us the strength and love to live a Christian life of service; a life that may well put us at odds with the society at large. The joys of the kingdom come to those who work as servants for the kingdom. At a minimum, this story will make us review our own sense of
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self-righteousness as we consider our own efforts as the people of God, working for God’s Kingdom. We may have more of James’ and John’s ambitious side in us than we’re comfortable admitting. “Among you it will be different. [Jesus told them] Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.” (v.44 nlt) It seems there really are no politics in God’s Kingdom!
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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024. PAGE 19.
System glitches impact data By Scott Stephenson The Citizen North Huron Council convened on Nov. 4, when Director of Recreation and Children’s Services Kelly Steiss presented a report on the township’s 2024 recreation fees and recent issues with the registration system. Steiss outlined how ongoing issues with the recreation registration system, first noticed in January, led to widespread data inaccuracies. According to her report, system errors included recording single-day passes as monthly memberships and doublecounting individuals who entered the facility more than once in a day. Further complications arose when rescheduled bookings failed to transfer associated revenue, resulting in incorrect records showing these bookings as unpaid. Steiss’ report explains that these repeated failures have made it difficult for staff to rely on the data generated by the system. To mitigate this, she said staff implemented an alternative system used by the accounting department, which has shown more reliable results, despite still requiring some adjustment. Councillor Chris Palmer pressed for an update on the system’s current functionality, asking if the new setup was “going tickety-boo”. Steiss acknowledged that while the new system is promising, challenges remain, especially with online registration, which differs from what residents are accustomed to. She explained that staff are adapting to the new system while focusing on delivering strong
customer service and ensuring accurate data collection. Palmer referenced resident complaints raised during an Oct. 10 town hall meeting in Blyth, where some community members reported delays in receiving bills for ball diamond rentals. Steiss responded by saying that following the town hall, she addressed the matter with staff, resulting in the overdue bills being sent the next day. She attributed the delay to the timing of staff training, which coincided with the fall’s high-volume registration period. In her report, Steiss also highlighted feedback from recent satisfaction surveys conducted with current fitness and aquatics users and the broader community. The results, presented to council in September, revealed overall
satisfaction with the availability of programs and the proximity of recreation resources. Residents expressed particular appreciation for the accessible aquatic and fitness classes, while also noting concerns with program costs, class availability and cleanliness. Steiss reassured council that recent efforts to improve facility cleanliness and communication have already had a positive effect and that the department is planning to expand fitness class offerings based on the survey insights. Looking toward the upcoming budget review, Steiss informed that her team has conducted a comparative analysis of recreation fees charged by neighbouring municipalities. This analysis will be presented during the annual fees and charges bylaw process.
Ministering United Church Minister Alex Jebson speaks at a fundraising concert for the Ronald McDonald House at Blyth United Church on Sunday, Nov. 3. (John Stephenson photo)
NH shares pre-budget survey results By Scott Stephenson The Citizen On Nov. 4, North Huron Council received a report on a pre-budget survey. The survey was made available on the township’s website and social media pages on Aug. 12 and could also be accessed by scanning QR codes placed on advertisements within property tax notices and utility billings. Those seeking paper copies could find them at the North Huron municipal office. The survey closed on Oct. 11 with 82 responses received. Of those responses, 80.5 per cent were submitted by residents, and 19.5 were submitted by local business owners who are also residents.
Nearly 54 per cent of respondents are between the ages of 45 and 64, and 67 per cent are at least somewhat familiar with the annual budget process. The survey solicited ratepayers’ opinions on North Huron’s current service levels, and asked if the township’s various service levels should be increased, maintained or decreased. It also sought citizen input on how their tax dollars should be spent, and asked what challenges the 2025 budget should address. The survey also requested feedback regarding the increasing cost of maintaining service levels and infrastructure. Of the 82 surveys submitted, 58.5 per cent expressed support for maintaining service levels at arenas
and other community centres, and 28 per cent supported an increase to arena and community centre service levels. Almost 44 per cent of the survey results supported maintaining the current service levels of North Huron’s community and recreation programs, and 39 per cent would like to see service levels increase. When it comes to bylaw enforcement, 34.1 per cent of respondents would like to see service levels decrease, while 48.8 per cent supported maintaining them. Nearly 66 per cent of survey results indicate maintaining police service levels as is, while 18.3 per cent support an increase in police service levels, and 15.9 per cent suggest
a decrease to service levels. Almost 44 per cent of respondents supported an increase in physician recruitment service, while 25.6 per cent desire an increase to daycare service levels. Just over 40 per cent of survey results indicate property tax levels should remain the same, even if it means reducing tax-funded service levels. Almost 38 per cent would prefer it if property taxes are decreased by reducing tax/funded service levels. Only 13.4 per cent of surveys indicate property taxes should increase to maintain tax-funded service levels, and just 8.5 per cent want property taxes to increase enough to expand and/or enhance tax-funded service levels.
Rural leaders share stories to bridge divide Continued from page 13 we are the ones who told all the stories and kept marginalized voices quiet. This was a chance to give them a voice.” There were several conditions that made this “crossing of the divide” possible, she said. First, the museum staff was eager for the process; an elder from the local Indigenous community came forward to share stories of her culture. “She was open and honest, blunt, but not angry. She was willing to have the conversation,” explained Bovingdon. Furthermore, there was government funding for the process, including payment for the Indigenous members on the advisory board. “We should not expect them to do it for free,” she said. As the witness, McDonald said he “applauded the courage to have these conversations” and to take action instead of getting stuck in the narrative. “Like, I am gay, and I don’t want to go to a meeting where I am the subject being debated.” Harvester Tamming was able to summarize the story by noting the museum is committed to having Indigenous voices heard, and places their version above the westernized version. The last storyteller of the group was McDonald and his rural community divide centered on the closure of churches and all the emotions, regulations, financial considerations and church culture that creates in rural towns. McDonald explained he was a member of a pastoral charge consisting of multiple churches. Post-COVID, church numbers had
dropped and the congregation was aging. “It seemed like we were in ‘let’s-just-survive-another-year’ mode,” he remembers. There were concerns about maintenance, as the aging congregation wasn’t able to keep up. “If everyone is over 70, age becomes a barrier and as they retire from an active role and become a receiver, then the church has all receivers and no givers.” McDonald was asked to help the ministry with administration, as that was his skill set, gained as executive director of Develop West Prince in Prince Edward Island. The congregation knew a decision had to be made, “but they did not want to make a decision.” Furthermore, very few knew the United Church’s rules of governance for merging or closing churches. Also, there had to be separate discussions regarding how to take care of the people, while also taking care of the actual building. There was conflict, as some members didn’t want to accept the church closure. They didn’t want to join another church within the pastoral charge, even though it was only 15 minutes away. “Lots of people had opinions, even if they hadn’t made a church offering for the past 20 years. A big part of leading the conversation was directing people to think about what the future could look like, said McDonald. “That this wasn’t all loss; it was evolving. We had to change the narrative of the conversation.” This trio, along with all other trios in the workshop, were then asked to summarize what conditions made crossing the
divides possible. Tamming, McDonald and Bovingdon came up with these conditions: acknowledge change; embrace discomfort and have the courage to deal with it; practise patience, communication and listening; have a willingness to understand differences, and educate and inform. To end the workshop, Bryant then asked other groups to share what they learned. Huron County Warden Glen McNeil had several comments to share. “In these trios and in life, witnesses need to listen to understand, rather than to respond,” he said. “When people feel listened to, it breaks down barriers,” he added before commenting that we need to, “remove our silos and collaborate as we are stronger together then when we are separate.” Lastly, as the voice of his group, he said, “support the greater good. For instance, at the municipal level, we make the best decision not just for today, but for future generations,” added McNeil.
Other points made during the summary included: • The simplicity and nature in rural areas and the lack of hustle and bustle helps ease the conversation • People feel more respected and safe in rural communities, which allows them to seek out help • Communication is the key to everything you do • Have a willingness to learn • If you want to be successful, you have to find a champion • Recognition of a collective benefit builds partnerships toward a common community goal so that everyone feels they are on the same team • There needs to be a leader to create action plans and monitor progress • You need kinetic energy. If you have a ball and throw it, for example, it has to move in that
direction. Plus, someone has to throw it back. It creates energy. • Foresight and planning are needed • There needs to be a willingness to share skills and knowledge with each other. Rural Talks to Rural (R2R) conferences have been held every two years since 2016 with the goal of contributing to a strong rural voice through collaboration, dialogue and building collective wisdom. As co-organizer, Peter Smith, explained, “The gathering in Blyth brings a crowd to the same place to share ideas, to discuss our directions of travel, to hopefully realize that disagreement can be the beginning of a conversation. Also, to understand, as Mark Kingwell suggests, that civility isn’t a luxury good, it’s the lifeblood of our democratic citizenship.”
You are invited to
Lena Nesbitt’s Sudoku Solution
80th Birthday
Open House Come & Go Saturday, November 16, 2024 Londesborough Community Hall 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Best Wishes Only No Gifts Please
PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024
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