the
Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 47 Issue 32
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 2.09% 3 Year GIC - 2.26% 5 Year GIC - 2.80% Daily Interest 1.55%
638-3328
Friday, August 8, 2014
www.jackfinancial.ca
Report: Business climate positive but workforce, internet are concerns
Donor clinic in Drayton exceeds goal GIFT OF LIFE - Canadian Blood Services exceeded the local goal, collecting a total of 59 units at a blood donor clinic at Community Christian School in Drayton on July 28. Among those giving the gift of life were: Dan Gallina, of Drayton, above, who has been giving regularly for the past year, and Eden Kinzel of Rothsay, left, who conquered her fear of needles because she wanted to help others. photos by Caroline Sealey
Firefighters respond to nine fire calls during ‘pretty normal’ second quarter MAPLETON The Mapleton Fire Department responded to 30 calls for assistance from the beginning of April to the end of June. Fire Chief Rick Richardson on July 22 presented his quarterly report to Mapleton council covering the period. The calls were fairly evenly split, with 10 coming in April, 11 in May and nine in June. Mapleton firefighters responded to nine fires during the three-month period. They also responded to five medical aid calls, one call for downed power lines, four calls for mutual aid from other communities, nine vehicle collisions and two false alarms. Richardson described the level of activity as “pretty normal� compared to last December and January, when ice storms and severe winter weather increased call volume. Richardson also reported that during the months of April, May and June firefighters
received training in: off road rescue, self-contained breathing apparatus, personal protection equipment, fire behaviour, firefighter health and safety, medical assistance, water rescue and driver training. The department also completed annual fitness and agility testing. In April, the Moorefield station hosted the monthly mutual aid association meeting with a presentation from the OPP. Members attended the Drayton Farm Show for two days to hand out fire prevention messages. Firefighters also attended the OAFC Zone 3 meeting and seven officers completed the provincial evaluators seminar in Fergus. The fire safety trailer and two firefighters assisted at a farm safety day at Maco Enterprises and the chief and deputies attended the Wellington County Fire Chief’s Association quarterly meeting.
Main St. W. Palmerston
22 Jump Rated 14A and Street 114 minutes long
SHOWTIMES: Friday and Saturday 8pm and Sunday 7pm
For more info call 519-343-3640 or visit www.norgantheatre.com
In May, Mapleton firefighters organized and conducted the first Safe Kids Day for Mapleton involving local OPP, Guelph-Wellington Emergency Medical Services and Wellington County Farm Safety Association and local public health and county emergency management personnel. About 300 students bussed to the PMD Arena Complex for the event. The Wellington County Safe Communities leadership table met in Aboyne and Drayton pre-schoolers toured the Drayton station. In June, more pre-schoolers toured the fire station, the Joint Health and Safety Committee held a quarterly meeting, and officers attended the Interoperability Day in Aboyne with the OPP and EMS supervisors. Fire department representatives also attended the grand opening of the Wellington County OPP station in Teviotdale on June 20.
by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - While the overall business climate in Mapleton is considered “very positive,� local owners are concerned about access to a skilled workforce and to high speed internet service, a local business retention and expansion report reveals. “The overall business climate in the Township of Mapleton is very positive, with 92 per cent of participating businesses stating that the community was good or excellent as a place to do business,� the report states. Over the past three years, it notes, the attitudes of most businesses have remained the same (80%), while 16% have become more positive and 4% have become more negative. In the past year, the County of Wellington and its seven lower tier municipalities undertook a county-wide Business Retention and Expansion project (BRE), focusing on four sectors: agriculture, health care, manufacturing and the creative economy. The local results, as well as results of the county-wide survey, were presented to Mapleton council on July 22. “When the Mapleton data was reviewed by staff and the Mapleton Economic Development Committee, it was found that as municipalities we need to find ways to
better promote, support and strengthen our local businesses,� Mapleton business development and marketing coordinator Crystal Ellis stated in her report. “It is also important for the municipality to take a lead in promoting Mapleton, and finding new ways to communicate with our businesses and residents.� On a county-wide basis, 77% of survey respondents consider Wellington a good to excellent place to do business. “In terms of what we heard, it’s a very good report card,� said county economic development officer Jana Reichert Ellis said the results from the BRE project reinforced the goals developed by Mapleton through its corporate strategic plan and economic development strategy. Those goals include: - long-term planning for sustainable infrastructure; - promote a healthy and vibrant community; - sustain local economy – agriculture activities and business opportunities; - retain existing businesses and help business grow; - ensure the township has the IT capabilities for businesses to operate now and in the future; - develop a marketing and communication plan; - promote artistic and cul-
tural diversity within the township; - develop a strategy to retain youth in Mapleton; and - develop an agriculture and local food strategy. “Mapleton businesses expressed that they were extremely satisfied with the quality of life and services provided in Mapleton,� the report states. “In addition to the overall Wellington County findings, priorities such as infrastructure, networking, learning opportunities and communication were highlighted.� The report notes use of the internet was described as “very important� for local businesses for promotion, buying and selling of products and services, research and administrative needs. It indicates 40% of businesses did not feel there were any barriers with access to internet, but 33% found internet speed was a concern. The report points out that 46% of the businesses surveyed indicated they have difficulty hiring. “Recruitment was primarily done through personal networks, local media, referrals from friends or current employee, and unsolicited resumes. However, retention of employees was not a concern with 88% not having difficulty retaining employees.� Survey participants indicated the hiring challenges were Continued on page 3
Tiffany Lenselink new FFAO ambassador All in the family - New Firefighters Association of Ontario (FFAO) ambassador Tiffany Lenselink, who represented the Minto Fire Department this past weekend at the FFAO Convention in Sturgeon Falls, is taking over the title from her sister, Brittany, the 2013-14 FFAO ambassador. The win was a history-making victory, as John Lenselink, father of the two Palmerston-area youths, said FFAO officials told him it was definitely the first time two sisters from the same community had captured the title in back-toback years. From left: 201415 FFAO ambassador Tiffany Lenselink, Minto firefighter Todd Boyne and 201314 ambassador Brittany Lenselink. The competition judging involves interviews with contest officials and a two to three minute speech on fire safety by each contestant. submitted photo
Weekly Wag
tator sport. c e p s a t o n Life is inson - Jackie Rob
'5$<7216725$*( FRP ,QGLYLGXDO 6WRUDJH 8QLWV Individual Storage Units [ [ [ [ 5x10 10x10 10x15 10x20 6HDVRQDO ERDWV FDUV 59V ODZQ WUDFWRUV Seasonal VXPPHU ZLQWHU WLUH VWRUDJH boats, cars, RVs, lawn tractors, summer/winter tire storage