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Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 47 Issue 42
Drayton, Ontario
Straight shooter - Terry Davidson of Alma has qualified to compete in at the World Amateur Snooker Championships in Banglore, India from Nov. 18 to 29. Here Davidson lines up a shot in his basement snooker room. photo by Caroline Sealey receive some funding from the Canadian snooker association, something normally unheard of for this sport in Canada. “At the World Championships 72 to 75 countries will be represented,� Davidson noted. “Canada will have three
participants. Approximately 350 million people around the world will be tuned into the championships.� From its introduction as croquet on tables in the 1650s, to a sport for only the wealthy, snooker has evolved into the game it is today.
Daily Interest 1.45%
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Friday, October 17, 2014
Davidson off to India for global competition by Caroline Sealey ALMA - Terry Davidson holds the distinction of being the only International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) Certified Master Coach in Canada. He is also a certified examiner. Davidson spends three or four hours a day in his snooker room at home in Alma perfecting his skills. He plays in tournaments every two to three weeks in various locations around Ontario. “To qualify for the Ontario championships, a snooker player must participate in at least five tournaments,� he said. In September Davidson was ranked third in Canada in the Masters Division (age 40+) by virtue of beating the other men’s semi-finalist in a playoff for third place. Davidson has earned the honour of representing Canada at the 2014 IBSF World Amateur Snooker Championships in Banglore, India from Nov. 18 to 29. With a third-place finish last month, Davidson will
1 Year GIC - 2.08% 3 Year GIC - 2.27% 5 Year GIC - 2.70%
With the introduction of colour television to the modern world, snooker increased in popularity. Although not as popular today as it once was in Canada and the United States, snooker has become part of the school curriculum in China.
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Youth centre celebrates 15th anniversary Oct. 17 DRAYTON - Roughly 55% of charities in Canada are entirely volunteer driven. According to Imagine Canada, a successful volunteer-led organization meets “a real community need for service or engagement [and] maintain[s] the support and trust of their key supporters.� As the Drayton Youth Centre celebrates its 15th anniversary, the centre’s board of directors realizes how integral this community support has been to the success of the organization in providing a safe, positive space for local youth three nights a week. A small group of volunteers were inspired to start this work, and years later other community members have carried it forward, the organization states in a press release. On Oct. 17, the centre will host an open house at the drop-in starting at 4pm,
featuring a free barbecue and wagon rides. “We encourage the community to come out and celebrate and see how they have contributed to this success,� centre officials state. For those interested in becoming involved as part of the Drayton Youth Centre team, opportunities are currently available on the board or for volunteering one Friday or Saturday night each month. Contact volunteer voordinator Brian Kamm at brian.kamm@gmail.com or at 519-638-3875 for more details. Hockey tournament The centre’s annual hockey tournament is set for Nov. 14 and 15 - more details to come. Visit DYC on the web and social media: draytonyouthcentre.ca; Twitter @DYCentre; Facebook Drayton Youth Centre.
Mapleton candidates address communication, spending, recreation by Chris Daponte MAPLETON - Mayoral candidate Neil Driscoll says if elected his first priority is very simple. “I want a person answering the phone,� Driscoll told over 100 people who gathered for an all candidates meeting at the Alma Community Centre on Oct. 9. “That answering service is going,� he said of the automated system currently in place at the township office. “And it shouldn’t take 180 days.� Driscoll, responding to a question about candidates’ top priority in their first six months on council, noted township communication must be improved. His opponent for mayor, Jim Curry, said training for the four new members of council will be crucial. He added it can take up to a year for someone new to the position to get up to speed. “It’s going to take time,� said Curry, who added teamwork “is key� and “communication to taxpayers is very important.� Nine councillor candidates also offered their top priority for their first half-year in office (the 10th, Richard Molenaar, was absent). Martin Tamlyn said council and staff need to work together better to create a more “healthy, sustainable community,� to keep people informed
and to take into consideration the economic and environmental wellbeing of the township. Paul Douglas said the township’s top priority should be getting its sewage capacity issues resolved to allow developments to continue, noting, “those developments grow the tax base.� Michael Martin said he will work to bridge the divide he feels currently exists between council and the public, suggesting the township should record and post online all its council meetings. Nadia Sommerville went one step further, stating documents, reports and “protocols� should also be made more readily available for the public. She said people need to know their issues are “going to be resolved, instead of swept under the rug.� Angie Culp also suggested communication at the township needs to be improved. She championed a “24-hour turnaround� for returning phone calls and said if there are delays or if the answer is not satisfactory, “questions need to be asked.� Lori Woodham said she has witnessed firsthand what she feels is inadequate communication from the township. She stressed the need for “teamwork between [taxpayers], staff and council,� stating people should be able to come to the office with concerns and feel Main St. W. Palmerston
The Maze Runner SHOWTIMES: Friday and Saturday 8pm and Sunday 7pm. Rated PG. 113 minutes long.
Big Film Fest: Mon., Oct. 20 at 7:15pm, Featuring “Magic in the Moonlight� $10
For more info call 519-343-3640 or visit www.norgantheatre.com
Candidates speak - Twelve of the 14 candidates for Mapleton Township council and Ward 2 county councillor addressed a sizeable crowd at the Alma Community Centre on Oct. 9. It was the final Mapleton candidates meeting before the Oct. 27 election. photo by Chris Daponte confident they are addressed. Dennis Craven said he will not accept calls or issues not being addressed by staff. However, he noted the township’s top priority should be solving its wastewater discharge problems. Albert Runstedler said the township needs to review government grant opportunities every six months to ensure it is capitalizing on all possible sources of revenue. “I think that is critical moving forward� and to balancing the township’s books, he said. Marlene Ottens agreed with Curry that new councillors will need training, but she
also highlighted resolving the township’s sewage issues as a top priority, as it will lead to development and growth. Ward 2 county councillor candidate Gregg Davidson, jumping off comments made by Curry, suggested if it takes a new councillor a year to get up to speed “they shouldn’t be there.� He added, “I know what it’s like to hit the ground running and that’s what I plan on doing.� Fellow county councillor candidate John Green was absent at the Alma meeting, though he had moderator Jim de Bock read an opening statement on his behalf.
Weekly Wag
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Green counted the Alma hall and the development of Wallace Cumming Park among his accomplishments during previous terms on township council, and pledged to continue to work for Mapleton - specifically noting its biggest industry: agriculture - at the county level. Wages and spending Candidates were asked what they would do to curb “out of control� wages, spending and taxes in Mapleton. Woodham noted that a large portion of overall taxes goes to the county, but said she would not be opposed to a reviews of township wages. She added
that like a lot of things, the job of a councillor, is “a balance.� Craven said he is also open to a wage review, but stressed it is not so much the amount employees are paid that upsets people, but the fact they seem to always receive larger annual increases than the general public. He also noted the township needs to expand its tax base to keep taxes lower. Runstedler said “taxes should be kept in check,� and said the township needs to compare its wages to those in other municipalities to see where it stands. He added debt retirement - “how much and Continued on page 8
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