the
Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 46 Issue 04
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 2.00% 3 Year GIC - 2.40% 5 Year GIC - 2.56% Daily Interest 1.65%
Friday, January 25, 2013
Alma Optimists donate $5,000 for obstetrical giraffe at Groves hospital by Patrick Raftis ALMA – The local Optimist Club has donated $5,000 toward the purchase of a giraffe for the obstetrical unit at Groves Memorial Community Hospital (GMHC). The equipment serves as an incubator, temperature-controlled bed, vital signs monitor and X-ray machine for infants. Alma Optimist Club officials presented hospital representatives with the donation at a club meeting on Jan. 15, following an update on plans for the new Groves hospital and fundraising efforts designed to make it happen. Gord Feniak, a past chair of the GMHC board and chair of the building committee for the new hospital, told club members the donation is especially welcome as fundraising is the only source of cash for new equipment. “The government expects that all equipment for a hospital will be provided by private donations,” he explained. Feniak said there are several reasons the new hospital is needed, including a “vastly undersized” emergency room. He pointed out the hospital’s approximately 25,000 annual emergency room visits call for an ER with roughly four times the current space under existing standards. Better patient separation and ventilation systems to prevent illness from spreading and a lack of accessible washrooms are other key reasons for the push for a new hospital. Feniak also said the extent
Optimists aid hospital - The Alma Optimist Club has made a $5,000 donation to Groves Memorial Community Hospital toward the purchase of a giraffe for the obstetrics unit. From left: Optimist president Jeremy Morton, vice president Rob McKay and treasurer Mark Reynolds present the donation to hospital building fund chair Gord Feniak, GMHC foundation director Jackie Ranahan and executive director Sherry Sutherland. photo by Patrick Raftis of renovations that would be necessary to bring the existing building up to current standards would cost just as much as building a new facility and take six or seven years due to the need to continue operating during renovations. On target Feniak said the hospital project is on target to reach the tender stage by April 2014, despite provincial funding cuts that have affected health care
facilities around the province. “We are really very fortunate that we have made it through two rounds of government cuts and the project is still there,” noted Jackie Ranahan, a GMCH director and past chair of the hospital foundation. Despite receiving provincial approval for the project and compiling a trust fund with about $9 million in reserves and another $4 million in inkind pledges toward the proj-
ect, Feniak noted local officials still have to work through a process to make it a reality. “We don’t have hope that that we will get a new hospital, we have faith,” he said, adding, “You hit the home run, but you still have to touch all the bases.” Question session During a question period following the presentation, the hospital representatives were asked about the fate of the
existing Groves building. Feniak said the reality is that former hospital sites generally “have absolutely no value,” due to potential costs of demolition or site remediation. However, he pointed out the local hospital is in a unique position, as “the only hospital in Ontario that is not owned by the province.” The municipality of Centre Wellington holds the deed to the property. “We’re dealing with the
legal possibilities of what we can do,” he said. Another questioner wanted to know if the hospital would be charging for parking at the new facility. “We certainly expect that we will,” said Feniak, although he added, “I’m not happy about it.” Ranahan explained, “it’s almost a requirement” of the province that hospitals charge for parking. “They look at that as revenue,” she said, noting the province does not provide funding for parking lots, so hospitals are expected to generate the funds to operate them. “If we don’t charge for parking, that’s not coming out of the province, that’s coming out of donations,” she pointed out. Questions on the potential impact of the hospital on the local trail system were also raised. While stating, “We’ll do our best to be good neighbours to the trail,” Feniak added, “We can’t develop 105 acres of land with institutional uses and ambulances and say we are not going to impact the trail.” A member of the audience stated, “the trail can be moved” more easily than ambulances can be re-routed to access the hospital. Feniak said hospital officials want good access to the hospital for ambulances coming from all directions, including the north. “We’re looking at several options,” he stated.
Drayton, Moorefield drinking water systems get perfect score from MOE by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON – Drayton and Moorefield residents can raise a glass of clear, clean water to toast the safety of their local supply. Municipal drinking water systems in both communities recently received a 100 per cent compliance rating in an inspection report from the Ministry of Environment (MOE). At the Jan. 9 Mapleton council meeting, public works director Larry Lynch explained that, under the province’s Safe Drinking Water Act, the Ministry of the Environment is required to perform a detailed inspection of both the Drayton and Moorefield drinking water systems annually. The primary focus of these inspections is to confirm compliance with Ministry of Environment legislation and authorizing documents such as Orders and
Certificates of Approvals, as well as evaluating conformance with ministry drinking water related policies and guidelines during the inspection period. In a written report, Lynch noted the 2012 MOE inspections are based on a “focused” inspection of local systems. Although such inspections involved fewer activities then those normally undertaken by a “detailed” inspection, it contained most of the elements required to assess key compliance issues. Focused inspection “Our systems were chosen for a ‘focused’ inspection during the inspection cycle because inspection findings over the past three years were such that the number of violations were minimal or nonexistent,” Lynch explained. “I am very happy to advise council that after three con-
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secutive years of operational improvements, our system operator, Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA), has achieved a 100% inspection rating in both our Drayton and Moorefield drinking water system operations for 2012,” Lynch reported. To put this into perspective, he continued, of the 454 inspection modules reviewed for Drayton there were zero non-compliance ratings, and of the 429 modules reviewed in Moorefield there were again zero non-compliance issues. “I have been here five years and this is the first time we’ve ever received 100%. I think that speaks very highly of the way we’re doing business,” stated Lynch. However, he added, “Our water systems our are in excellent shape, but we can’t afford to be complacent about drinking water safety.”
Gift of life - Drayton resident and clinic regular, Cathy Choma donated for her 18th time at the Drayton Blood Donor Clinic held at Community Christian School in Drayton on Jan. 21. Phlebotomist Emily Paguntalan, of Canadian Blood Services Mobile Clinics, Hamilton, assisted in collecting donations throughout the day. photo by Wilma Mol
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PAGE TWO The Community News, Friday, January 25, 2013
Fibre optic technology will soon be available to Alma residents
by Patrick Raftis ALMA – Alma residents will soon have the option of receiving internet, telephone and television services via fibre optics. Packet-Tel Corp president John Fagg attended the Jan. 8 Mapleton council meeting to advise council of his company’s plans to bring the communications technology to the village. The company has been working in the community since 2002, providing data communications to Alma Public School for the Upper Grand District School Board. In 2010, the company expanded the service, making it available to all businesses
and residents. Fagg explained the company plans to connect approximately 238 buildings to a fibre optic, in-ground service running from the gas station in the south to the residences in the north-end of the community. “This will be done over the next year depending on conditions and service up-take. The telecommunications engineering is completed and we are prepared to start this project.” Council gave approval in principal to a draft agreement allowing the company to access highways within the township for the purposes of installation, and directed staff to prepare a bylaw to authorize the agreement.
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Promoting literacy - Siblings Sara and John Harder of Drayton discovered a “Winter Wonderland” of crafting and word searches at the Drayton Branch of the Wellington County Library on Jan. 21. The local branch offers a variety of children’s programs designed to improve family literacy. photo by Wilma Mol
Family Literacy Day to be celebrated on Jan. 27 TORONTO - Family Literacy Day will celebrate 15 years of learning together on Jan. 27. The initiative, first celebrated by ABC Life Literacy Canada in 1999, has since been embraced by schools and libraries in communities across Canada. This year, in honour of the 15th anniversary, ABC Life Literacy Canada is encouraging families to take 15 minutes a day to learn together. “Learning opportunities occur at home every day,” says Anthony Alfred, interim president of ABC Life Literacy Canada. “The benefits of learning as a family outside the classroom are significant; not only are children exposed to a culture of lifelong learning, but the bond between parent and child can grow with each teachable mo-
ment.” Even time spent doing the dishes, eating dinner or having a bath can have a focus on learning in a fun way. Officials say it’s important to embrace these teachable moments at home, even if it’s just 15 minutes a day. Here are some great ways to get started: - create a comic strip about your family; - invent two new endings to a favourite book; - make up a new recipe together and post it online; - tell knock-knock jokes together while doing the dishes; - sing five songs really, really loud; - invent a new game while playing at the park; - read a story to a pet (or favourite toy); - make a paper fortuneteller
with eight fortunes; - write a silly poem and tell it to your family at dinner; - log on to a favourite word game and try to beat your best score; - create your family tree; - play rhyming “I Spy” “I spy something that rhymes with...”; - play a board game together; - text your friend and tell them about your holiday; and - find 15 things that begin with the letter “S”. For more great ways to have 15 minutes of fun together, or to find a Family Literacy Day event, visitwww.FamilyLiteracyDay.ca. Family Literacy Day, held annually on Jan. 27, was developed by ABC Life Literacy Canada in 1999 to celebrate
adults and children reading and learning together, and to encourage Canadians to spend at least 15 minutes enjoying a learning activity as a family every day. ABC Life Literacy Canada is a non-profit organization that inspires Canadians to increase their literacy skills. They mobilize business, government and communities to support lifelong learning and achieve goals through leadership in programs, communications and partnerships. ABC Life Literacy Canada envisions a Canada where everyone has the skills they need to live a fully engaged life. For the latest news and information on adult literacy visit www.abclifeliteracy.ca, follow them on Twitter @Life_Literacy or join them on Facebook.
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WednesDAY, January 30 Parent and Tot Skating, 11:00am Adult Skating, 12:00pm-1:20pm Atom LL vs. Falcons, 6:30pm
January 26 - All you can eat Lasagna Supper, 5pm, Drayton Legion Br. 416, 15 Elm St. Drayton. Adults: $10, Child 6-12yrs: $5, Under 5: Free.
ThursDAY, January 31 Parent and Tot Skating, 11:00am-11:50am Adult Skating, 12:00pm-1:00pm
February 12 - All you can eat Pancake and Sausage Supper, 5-7pm at the St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Alma. Adults: $9, Children 6-12yrs: $4, Under 6yrs: free, Family Price: $22.
Mapleton Minto Eighty Ones Home Game Schedule
Drayton Youth Centre: Wednesday from 7pm to 9:30pm and Friday and Saturday from 7pm to 11pm.
Palmerston Arena Fri., January 25th, 8:30pm vs. Lucknow
The Community News, Friday, January 25, 2013 PAGE THREE
Construction up 50 % in Mapleton Township
South American visitor - Drayton United Church played host to a visitor from Casa de Paz orphanage in Peru, where church members have made annual mission trips for several years, from Dec. 18 to Jan. 18. Milagros Rojas, right, is pictured with Heather Clemmer of Drayton, left, and her daughters Emma, 2, and Bella, 7. photo by Patrick Raftis
Snow place like Drayton, visitor discovers by Patrick Raftis DRAYTON – Experiencing snow and a chance to go tobogganing were among the firsts for a young Peruvian woman during a recent visit here. Milagros Rojas, grew up in the Casa de Paz orphanage, located about a 12-hour drive south of the Peruvian capital of Lima. Now 21, she works in the orphanage, while raising her seven-year-old son, Angel. For the past seven years a group of Mapleton residents, members of Drayton United Church, have been making annual visits to Casa de Paz to build relationships with the residents and staff of the orphanage and the surrounding community. Heather and Dean Clemmer are among those who have
made the trip; Heather four times, while Dean joined the mission, generally for 10 days over the March break, for the first time last year. Heather says the Clemmers elected to invite Milagros to visit them in Canada because “we thought if she could come here and experience the church and the way we live up here, that would be good. “She’s been there (at Casa de Paz) the longest and she’s one of the older ones,” she added, noting that Milagros’ proficiency in English made the trip easier for her. Milagros took extra schooling on weekends to learn English and hopes to attend university to study psychology. She was quick to accept when offered the chance to come
to Canada, “because Heather invited me and I wanted to see the snow.” See it she did. Snow fell overnight on the day of her arrival. “I couldn’t wait for her to wake up on her first morning here,” said Heather. Despite the mild weather (by Canadian standards) this region has experienced during her month-long visit, from Dec. 18 to Jan. 18, Milagros says it’s the coldest she’s ever experienced. “We have cold, but not like here,” she notes. During her stay, various church members have taken Milagros on sightseeing trips, including a visit to Niagara Falls and an elevator ride up the CN Tower in Toronto.
For Milagros, her visit here was her first trip outside Peru, where the government is very strict about granting visas to its citizens. “We were very excited when she Facbooked us and said she got her visa,” notes Heather. Heather said a date has not been determined for the next mission trip, but that a team is making preparations to return to the Peru. Generally about 23 church members participate in the trip, providing a Vacation Bible School at the orphanage and missions on the street. They also offer a food program in the community and sometimes run a spa day, giving local women a chance to get their hair cut and their nails done.
Council ponders source water risk management options by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON – Council here is considering options for handling risk management provisions of the township’s new responsibilities for source water protection, including a proposal to share a risk management official with other municipalities in Wellington County. At the Jan. 8 meeting council discussed a report from Wellington County planning director Gary Cousins that notes that provincial requirements for municipalities to have Source Water Protection Plans in place will take effect sometime in 2013 and “municipalities will begin incurring new costs to implement the plans.” Since lower tier municipalities in Wellington have the authority for the production, treatment and storage of water, they will become the enforcement authority under the source water protection legislation. The legislation requires both risk management officials and risk management inspectors be appointed. Officials will be responsible for working with landowners to ensure compliance with the source water plan and entering into risk management plans, while inspectors will conduct inspections to ensure compliance. Both positions require specialized training. Municipalities have a choice between implementing their source water plans themselves, working with other
municipalities or delegating to a conservation authority or health unit. They cannot delegate to the county, Cousins noted. “While we have not formally sought local municipal input on implementation, a number of county councillors and local councillors have indicated that they would like the county to provide some assistance. There are clearly financial concerns being expressed,” stated Cousins in the report. He suggested the county could consider funding a risk management official, who would be an employee of a local municipality but would deliver the service to all seven Wellington municipalities. The system would be similar to the way the county funds a fire training officer, who
is an employee of one local municipality but is shared by all seven. Cousins also suggested local municipalities could assign the risk management inspection responsibilities to local building officials. “While local building officials often face heavy workloads, this would likely be the most cost-effective way to provide this service,” the report states. Councillor Mike Downey suggested delegating the responsibility to the Grand River Conservation Authority might be the best option as “they do most of the work on source water as it is.” Mayor Bruce Whale pointed out “if the conservation authority does it, we would still end up paying for that ser-
vice. The feeling of the county at the time was we could do it as effectively, or more effectively.” Whale also stated, “the health unit is not interested in providing the service and I’m not sure the conservation authorities are either.” “This is old now,” Downey said of the county report, dated Oct. 31. “We should have an updated report.” Councillor Andy Knetsch said, “When I look at the effectiveness of the fire training officer, I support the recommendation to enter into an agreement to put a risk management officer in place.” Council indicated general support for the recommendations. Whale was directed to obtain more information about the township’s options.
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struction in the township was responsible for much of the increase over 2011 numbers. Construction of the 10-turbine Conestoga Wind Energy Centre also accounted for some of the increase in building activity, Kopp confirmed. In 2012 there were 15 permits issued under the classification of “designated structures.” Construction value of those permits was $7,480,000, generating building fees of $75,300. Kopp said the wind farm construction accounted for 90 per cent of those totals, with roof-mounted solar panels making up the balance in that category. However, he said building activity was “fairly spread out” among various categories. “Even if you pull those turbines out of the mix, it was quite a good year dollar-wise for values,” said Kopp.
Township agrees to higher cap on medical leave coverage for staff by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON – Council here has agreed to raise the upper limit on what employees may receive while on medical leave, in order to allow all employees to get the same percentage of their salary should they be forced to miss work. Under current coverage levels, an employee receiving weekly indemnity or long-term disability payments would receive 75 per cent of normal weekly earnings, up to a maximum of $700. In a Jan. 8 report, CAO Patty Sinnamon recommended the amount be capped at $1,400 per week for weekly indemnity and $5,600 per month for those on long-term disability. “The purpose of the benefit plan is to provide an insurance or ‘assurance’ or ‘peace of mind’ that employees would not face a financial hardship due to an illness. The proposal ensures that the weekly
indemnity is proportional to the employee’s earnings,” the CAO explained in her report. “The current plan essentially penalizes employees at (pay grid) Level 7 and above and, in fact, department heads would receive less than half of their weekly earnings when on medical leave.” Sinnamon reported the annual cost to the municipality to increase the cap limit for weekly indemnity is $1,224 and the cost to up the cap on long-term disability is $1,154. Councillor Mike Downey opposed raising the cap, stating that employees who are on leave don’t have work-related expenses. “If they are off on leave then they are not going to incur these cost and if they feel this would be of value to them then they can pay for it themselves,” he said. Downey also said, “most Continued on page 6
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by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON – Building activity in the municipality in 2012 was up by nearly 50 per cent over the previous year in terms of the value of new construction projects. A year-end report by chief building official David Kopp presented to Mapleton council on Jan. 8 indicates building permits were issued for construction valued at $39,230,169 in 2013, up by just over $13 million from total permit values of $26,213,176 in 2011. The township collected building permit fees of $354,146 in 2012, compared to $219,020 in 2011, a difference of $135,126. A total of 344 building permits were issued in 2012, 66 more than the 2011 total of 278. Kopp said residential building held steady in 2012, but a strong year in agricultural con-
In Recognition of
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On behalf of the management team and all employees, Mar-Span appreciates your contribution and commitment to the company, and looks forward to many more years of service.
PAGE FOUR The Community News, Friday, January 25, 2013
Crime Stoppers’ success celebrated in January
the
Community News Published by W.H.A. Publications Limited P.O. Box 189, Drayton, Ontario, N0G 1P0 24 Wood St., Unit A, Drayton (inside Studio Factor) Telephone 519-638-3066 Fax 519-638-2875 drayton@wellingtonadvertiser.com Published on Fridays Deadline: Monday at 10am Subscriptions $52 plus HST in Canada W.H. Adsett, Publisher Chris Daponte, Editor Patrick Raftis, Reporter Wilma Mol, Office Manager Alicia Roza, Graphic Designer
GENERAL POLICY
Persons wishing information regarding circulation, rates and additional service, etc. should feel free to contact the staff. The Publisher accepts responsibility for claims and honours agreements made by himself or by regular staff on his behalf. No responsibility is accepted for actions of persons not in the employ of the paper, or otherwise over whom the Publisher has no control. All advertising accepted is done so in good faith. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of typographical error, that portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowances for signatures, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisements will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time.
Ontario Community Newspaper Association
WELLINGTON CTY. Each year Crime Stoppers programs around the world celebrate Crime Stoppers Month in January to highlight successes and promote their crime fighting initiatives. Crime Stoppers is a civilian community organization devised to acquire information to assists law enforcement agencies in solving crime. Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest of criminals, recovery of stolen property and/or seizure of illegal drugs while maintaining total anonymity to the tipster
and complete confidentiality of the tip. The Crime Stoppers program is made up of three essential elements: the media, the community, and law enforcement. The media publicizes case re-enactments or details about a case not yet solved or a person wanted on a warrant and highlights the program to further heighten awareness. The community, through its local volunteer Board of Directors, through those community members who provide tip information and others who provide funds and donations
community. To become a board member or assist in volunteering at an event call 519-846-5371 or visit www.crimestoppersguelphwellington.com. Local statistics Since its inception in 1988, Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington has received 15,182 calls, approved $140,760 in rewards, and been involved in clearing 2,145 cases, including 1,426 arrests. Local Crime Stoppers tips have led to nearly $9.9 million in recovered property and $2.5 million worth of seized narcotics.
TOWNSHIP OF MAPLETON
Community Information Page
7275 Sideroad 16, P.O. Box 160, Drayton, ON N0G 1P0 Phone: 519-638-3313, Fax: 519-638-5113, Toll Free: 1-800-385-7248 www.mapleton.ca
Canadian Community Newspaper Association
STAFF Office Manager: Wilma Mol Office Hours: Monday and Tuesday 9am-12pm, Thursday 9am-3pm
ATTENTION ALL MAPLETON TOWNSHIP BUSINESSES
DEADLINE: MONDAY 10AM
YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER
EDITORIAL
Here we go again... Ontarians can only hope that provincial Conservative Party Leader Tim Hudak’s comments on welfare reform last week aren’t a signal his party is planning to push policy debate in Ontario all the way down to Mike Harris-era lows in time for the next election. There are just too many important issues on the agenda, and Ontario’s economy is too precarious, to allow the next campaign to be sidetracked in this fashion. Surely Hudak can’t believe today’s Ontario electorate is unsophisticated enough to be whipped again into a frenzy over the spectre of “able-bodied” citizens living the high life on welfare, while spending their ample stipends on booze and cigarettes? And yet, there he was last week, releasing a policy paper promoting the idea of diminishing payments for longer-term welfare recipients. This despite reports showing roughly 50 per cent of welfare claimants get off the system within a year in a recessionravaged economy, which sees skilled, educated and eager workers often go much longer than that between full-time jobs. The Tory policy paper also suggests issuing a portion of social assistance payments though a debit card restricted for the purchase of food. This ignores that some recipients are forced to cope by relying on food banks and help from family members to eat, while spending their entire welfare stipend on accommodations. A single person on Ontario Works benefits receives about $600 per month, while the least expensive apartment advertised in last week’s Wellington Advertiser was $535 per month, plus utilities. Sobering math indeed. “For those who have been on welfare for a long time but are able to work, we want to decrease the incentives to remain on welfare, so they should see their benefits steadily decline,” Hudak stated as he released the policy paper last week. A single parent, under the program receives just over $1,000 a month, hardly enough to sustain a lifestyle that would inspire many to turn down a job with a decent wage. Cutting these meagre benefits to the majority who are struggling to get off the system, in an effort to force off the few who aren’t, is hardly progressive social policy; in fact it’s both simplistic and mean-spirited. Nearly 40 per cent of those who receive support through Ontario Works are children, who aren’t likely to land a good paying job, no matter how much their benefits are cut. The promising elements of the Tory policy paper Paths to Prosperity: Welfare to Work, seem to echo off the pages of a report released last fall by Ontario’s social assistance review commission. One such idea is a monthly earnings exemption of $200 instead of the current 50-cent claw back on every dollar earned. Being allowed to keep more earned income would help provide a bridge to regular employment better than an arbitrary time limit on benefits. Hudak says Ontario’s current system for social assistance under the governing Liberals is “an abject failure,” yet it remains virtually unchanged since the last major overhaul, when it was re-named Ontario Works and benefits were slashed by 22 per cent by the Harris government, which he was part of. Even with occasional modest increases since then, benefits have still not gotten all the way back to their pre-1993 levels, so welfare recipients, in inflation-adjusted terms, are already living on far less than they did two decades ago. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the idea of taking measures to ensure people aren’t bilking the system. But it is wrong to create the perception of widespread abuse in an attempt to push the right hot buttons to get yourself elected. If Hudak truly believes “the best social program is a job” (a frequently co-opted Ronald Reganism), hopefully he will spend the coming election campaign outlining what he will do to encourage the creation of employment, not vilifying those struggling to secure it. Patrick Raftis
for the maintenance of the program. Law enforcement receives the anonymous tip information from our office staff and follows the information through to its conclusion. Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington is a non-profit charitable corporation which was incorporated in August of 1988. Money to pay tipsters is raised through donations and fundraising activities held by the organization’s board of directors, comprised of a group of volunteer, dedicated and concerned citizens from the
LET US HELP YOU ADVERTISE!
The Township of Mapleton continues to update its’ Municipal Web Site. The web site includes business listings and contact information. If you have your own web site, we can provide a link.
Please contact Kym Drinkwater for the “2013 Business Directory Form”. You can fax it back to us at 519-638-5113, email it to kdrinkwater@town.mapleton.on.ca or drop it off at the office or mail it to Township of Mapleton, PO Box 160, Drayton, ON N0G 1P0.
Taxation Rebates NOTICE TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS Under Section 357 of the Municipal Act, 2001 the local municipality may cancel, reduce or refund all or part of taxes levied on land in the year in respect of which the application is made if the property:
• • • • •
Ceased to be liable to be taxed at rate it was taxed Became exempt Was razed by fire, demolition or otherwise Damaged by fire, demolition or otherwise – (substantially unusable) Mobile unit removed
Please note that Section 357(3) states that an application under this section must be filed with the treasurer on or before February 28 of the year following the year in respect of which the application is made. 2001, c. 25 s. 357(3). If you require additional information please contact the municipal office at 519-638-3313 ext 22.
VACANCY REBATE Vacancy Rebates are available for eligible properties within the Commercial and Industrial property tax classes. Properties with these classes must have vacant units. A rebate is provided based on the period of time the unit was vacant, subject to eligibility requirements. Application forms are available at the Township office. Deadline to apply for a rebate for the 2012 taxation year is February 28, 2013. Please note that such properties are subject to inspection. If you require additional information please contact the municipal office at 519-638-3313 Ext. 22.
COUNCIL DATES Tuesday, February 12, 2013 7:00 p.m. – Regular Meeting of Council Tuesday, February 26, 2013 No Council Meeting Tuesday, March 12, 2013 7:00 p.m. – Regular Meeting of Council
The Community News, Friday, January 25, 2013 PAGE FIVE
Drayton Entertainment season tickets now on sale
Mapleton Musings Column courtesy of Mapleton Historical Society An influential educator After passing their entrance exams (equivalent to Grade 8) the students from the rural schools in Peel and Maryborough Townships and the Drayton village school went to Drayton Continuation School. This two-storey, white-brick building was on Main Street East adjacent to St. Martin’s Catholic Church. In January 1913, George A. Clark was hired as principal for the school. He had taught for 13 years in schools in southwestern and northern Ontario prior to his appointment here. In September 1913, he started agriculture classes at Drayton Continuation School, which was one of the first schools in Ontario to have agriculture classes. It was noted in a news article in 1945 that Clark was recognized as one of the founders of the present agricultural course in Ontario schools.
Clark organized the first School Fair in Wellington County, held at Drayton on Oct. 9, 1914. To promote interest in the school fair, Clark organized and supervised a large school garden in Drayton. This garden was located behind the school, on the south side of Spring Street, between the St. Martin’s horse shed (now the church’s parking lot) and the United Church manse (the house on the south east corner of Spring and Edward Streets). The garden was divided into plots assigned to each agricultural class, where all manner of vegetables and flowers were grown. Students from rural schools were encouraged to have a plot for their school garden either as a part of their family’s garden or in a field near the farm buildings. Seeds for the gardens were supplied. Clark inspected and judged
each garden, gave advice, and answered any agricultural questions from the pupils. In fact, in a July 1942 news article about his retirement, the local pupils were assured he would be doing his annual tour the school gardens in the fall. These school gardens continued to be a part of the agricultural curriculum even after Clark’s retirement. I remember madly pulling weeds and hoeing the rows of my school garden before it was to be inspected in the early 1950s. In connection with the school fairs Clark organized a district school concert each year. These concerts were the forerunner of the annual music festival. Music classes were introduced in the area schools and students competed at the annual music festival, where public speaking contests were a part of the program. For those of us who couldn’t
carry a tune, the public speaking contest was a chance to show that we did have another talent. Clark was a member and took an active part in the Ontario Education Association and in the Ontario Secondary School Teacher’s Federation. He served the community as a director of the Peel, Maryborough and Drayton Agricultural Society, on the board of the Drayton Library for twenty years, the local district of the Red Cross in both wars and took an active interest in lawn bowling and curling. Clark was a dedicated teacher, always willing to give time to the students needing a little extra instruction and help. He was respected and admired by his students. He encouraged his students and inspired them by his example. submitted by Jean Campbell
DRAYTON – With excitement building for the launch of the new Dunfield Theatre in Cambridge this March, Drayton Entertainment has unveiled the 2013 season consisting of blockbuster musicals, comedies, dramas, and three original productions. Eighteen productions will fill seven stages across the province, making this the most ambitious season in the Drayton Entertainment’s history. “This landmark season promises to be remembered for years to come,” says artistic director Alex Mustakas. “The array of programming in our 2013 season reflects our commitment to providing quality entertainment for theatregoers of all ages and we have kept ticket prices the same as last season, making theatre accessible to all, while offering many opportunities to save even more off the regular ticket price.” Dunfield Theatre, Cambridge Drayton Entertainment’s newest venture will launch in March with its production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins.
Theatregoers are invited to be a part of history in the making when this ‘practically perfect’ musical sweeps into Cambridge March 6 to April 28. Next up, audiences will be treated to Big Band Legends, the original Drayton Entertainment production that sold out in St. Jacobs and Grand Bend in 2012. Backed by an all-star orchestra, Big Band Legends is a high-octane show that honours the greatest crooners and songbirds of our time, from Bing Crosby to Michael Bublé, June 12 to June 22. Then, the unapologetic musical comedy Sorry…I’m Canadian will run from July 10 to Aug. 3. Reprising his popular character Constable Archibald F. Inkster, Neil Aitchison weaves a blend of humor and political satire with musical gems of the Great Canadian Song Book. The life of a true artistic pioneer is celebrated in the acclaimed musical Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story. The nostalgic production explodes into full-throttled joy through renditions of the legend’s greatest hits, on stage Aug. 7 to 31. Continued on page 8
Prohibition exhibition currently on display at Wellington museum
Paula Sauder and daughter, Amy, pause at the photo booth at Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope fundraiser Zeal for Teal 2012. photos by Jessika Sutton
WELLINGTON CTY. – Anyone suffering from the winter blues is encouraged to check out two new exhibitions which opened Jan. 12 at Wellington County Museum and Archives. Wellington County Collects showcases the private collections of Wellington County resSue Bauman and Donna Hirtle ham it up at Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope fundraiser - Zeal for Teal 2012 idents at the Museum throughout the year. The first collector, photos by Jessika Sutton Joyce Blyth highlights a selection of her lightning rod balls, car vases and Raggedy Ann Dolls. businesses continue to be very raising event, that this is hap“Collecting since the 1970s, generous in donating prizes, pening. No longer is ovarian these are few of my favourite food, beverages, monetary cancer always looked upon as pieces,” stated Blyth. Her colthe disease that whispers. Zeal lection will be on display in the gifts and more. Zeal for Teal is particu- for Teal helps ‘make a noise’ Archives until May 12. larly grateful for the support and increases the chances of “We are excited about the of Bloomingdales, which has a woman with ovarian cancer new display because now we been providing sunflowers, being detected early. have a space to work with the As an added highlight this public and display their special prize or decoration donations and balloon bouquets since the year to Zeal for Teal, organiz- collections to share with our very first event in June 2009 at ers have decided to help out visitors,” said Curatorial Assisthe Drayton Reformed Church. the Drayton Foodbank and are Ovarian cancer is the most encouraging participants who serious of all gynecological might like to earn an extra cancers. Over 2600 Canadian door prize ticket, to bring along women are diagnosed every a donation of non-perishable year; and every year 1750 food. Spaces for this great annuwomen succumb to this disDRAYTON - Do you like al Zeal for Teal event fill up to play euchre? While there are ease. Symptoms are varied, quickly, so potential partici- many other card games, euchre vague and easily missed. There pants are encouraged to take seems a favorite of many, inis no screening test to detect advantage of the Early Bird cluding a local group who have it. But when found early - and Deadline of Feb. 14. For details been meeting to play the game treated - ovarian cancer sur- see the ad in the Community weekly for the past 15 years. News or check out details at vival rate is 90 per cent. The group meets every http://zealforteal.blogspot.ca. Make a difference Monday morning at 9am at the Registration forms can be Drayton United Church baseThe goal of Zeal for Teal and the Sunflower Seeds obtained by contacting Glynis ment. Team, is to help make a dif- at 519-638-3215 or emailing ference. And it seems from the sunflower.seeds.team@gmail. response to this annual fund- com .
Zeal for Teal event reaches fifth anniversary by Glynis M. Belec Participants will be treated to a wonderful Alice in Wonderland-themed tea party at the 5th Annual Zeal for Teal fundraiser for the Sunflower Seeds Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope on April 27. Organizers are putting the kettle on and brewing up another delightful day for scrap-bookers and crafters of every variety at the Drayton Arena. Participants can share in the fun and excitement of the day, including a tea house, gift store, a flamingo croquet game, silent auction, penny table, door prizes, vendors and more. A special attraction this year will be the fancy-dress look-alike contest in which participants are invited to pick a favourite character from Lewis Caroll’s Alice in Wonderland tale and dress accordingly. As usual, the expert chefs will be creating a fanciful feast fit for a royal tea party. Snacks, treats, a photo-booth,
giveaways, make and takes, a special ‘Eat Me’ draw, a Grand Prize and more, will keep everyone happy and involved. The original intention of Zeal for Teal, when chairpersons, Amanda Belec Newton and Glynis Belec started it in 2009, was primarily to raise awareness and inform participants and others, especially susceptible women, about the signs and symptoms and the importance of detecting ovarian cancer in the early stages. The secondary purpose of Zeal for Teal is to raise funds for the Sunflower Seeds team as they participate, annually, in the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope in September. The response from the community and beyond has been phenomenal over the years. Local attendees have helped raise awareness and funds, along with others from as far away as Burlington and Hanover. Each year participation numbers increase and local
tant, Amy Dunlop. “From the weird to the wonderful, it doesn’t matter what the collection is. We are interested in the stories behind the objects. ” Prohibition exhibition Also on display is the exhibition The Noble Experiment. A story of crime and smuggling, of action and danger, of humour and morality, this travelling exhibition, from the Peterborough Museum and Archives, explores the temperance debate and prohibition era. It will be on display until June 23. The Wellington County Museum and Archives is located on Wellington Road 18 between Fergus and Elora. Admission is by donation. The museum is open weekdays from 9:30am to 4:30pm and 12 to pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
New players welcome to join local euchre
The group is always looking for new members and invites anyone who is interested to join in. Players of all ages, male or female are welcome. The $1 admission includes coffee and cookies. For more information call Sharon Naylor at 519-638-3857 or Jean Dobbin 519-638-2254.
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PAGE SIX The Community News, Friday, January 25, 2013
By Laurie Langdon
The Perfect Spot Chapter Four: God’s Idea (Continued from Jan. 11 Reflections column) There is a story in the Bible that goes like this: “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly, a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest
on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:1-4) The coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost was, without a doubt, a most significant and effectual event. That day, God came to live among his people in a way unlike any before. In essence, God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, came to dwell in his people, his body. Peter, still reeling from the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit that resulted from this event, at one point stood
up and declared, “Exalted to the right hand of God he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.” (Acts 2:1-4) What makes an impression on me about this event is this: that which Christ received from the Father, referred to here as the promised Holy Spirit, was, and is, in actual fact, God. Scripture teaches that He is. (See: Isa. 6:8; Acts 28:25; Isa. 6:8; Acts 28:25; Heb. 3:7-9; Ex. 17:7; Heb. 3:7-9; Ex. 17:7; Jer. 31:33; Heb. 10:15,16; Jer. 31:33; Heb. 10:15,16) Attributes such as omnipo-
Drayton moves into first place in church league hockey action DRAYTON 4 FLORADALE 1 Drayton got off to a quick start and built up a 2-0 lead by the middle of the first period. Brent Dekoning fed Eric Dekkers the puck at the left face-off circle. Dekkers blasted a shot off the inside of the post for the opening goal. Shortly after, Rob DeWeerd took a pass from behind the net and snapped a quick shot into the corner, assisted by Rich Robous and Scott Nieuwland. Drayton added another goal early in the second period. Dekkers and Nieuwland worked to fire a shot on net and Mark Timmerman tipped the puck up and over the shoulder of the netminder. Floradale finally solved the riddle and scored a goal midway through the third. Willis and Ryan Martin created a scramble at the net and Javon Martin flipped the puck over the shoulder of the goaltender. Floradale pulled their netminder for an extra skater late in the third. However a leading pass by Rich Robous sent Dekkers on a rush along the left boards. A quick pass by
Dekkers and Dekoning had a shot into the empty net. The win pulled Drayton into first place by one point with just three games left in the regular season. MISSIONARY 1 BETHEL 0 This game was kept scoreless until near the final minute of play. Then it was Brandon Bults and Matt Duff who sent a shot in on net. The Bethel defenceman cleared the puck from the crease but onto the stick of Curtis Bults. Bults drifted to the left and snapped a wrist shot into the corner for the game. Grant Brubacher earned his third shut out of the season for Missionary. COMMUNITY 6 LISTOWEL 2 Listowel struck first midway through the first period. Kyle Streicher sent Phil Shantz in on net. Shantz used his body to shield the puck and beat the netminder with a backhander on the blocker side. Community tied the game before the period ended. Cal Martin buried a rebound left by Gerald Martin and Tony Mar-
tin to even the score. Community then took the lead in the second. A late pass by Kevin Gingirch caught the netminder off the post and Joe Clemmer tucked the puck into the corner. Durrell Stacken also assisted. A powerplay late in the period gave Community an insurance goal. Nick Stevens and Terry Horst set up the play and Trent Lutz blasted the puck into the net. Community added three more goals in the third to put the game away. Josh Martin rifled a slap shot from the point, Sam Bauman tucked in a shot on the short side and Joe Clemmer snapped a wrist shot over the glove for the goals. Assists were earned by Durrell Stacken, Kevin Gingrich, Gerald Martin, Trent Lutz and Rick Brubacher. Listowel created a scramble at the net for a late goal, but the game had already been decided. Trevor Streicher scored the goal, assisted by Curtis Wagler and Travis Kuepfer. Frantic goaltending by Listowel’s Charlie Wagler kept the game from reaching double digits. Wagler faced 49 shots through three periods.
tence, omniscience, omnipresence and eternity are all part of the fundamental nature of the Holy Spirit. He performs works that can be attributed only to God such as creating, raising the dead, regenerating and convicting of sin. He is the principle of life, both physical and spiritual, and He conveys holiness. He is always and equally active in the Godhead, along with God the Father and God the Son. And, in the words of Jesus in John 15:26, “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father,
he will testify about me” His divine makeup is established and his obedient commitment to the Father is confirmed. So God, by coming and living in people, created a new place in which he could live, namely, and what we know today as, the body of Christ, the perfect spot. Matthew says, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them,” (Matthew18:20) the writer of Ephesians says, “We are his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way,” (Ephesians 1:23) the writer of 1 Corinthians says, “Now you are the body
of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it,” (1 Corinthians 12:27) and the author of Romans says, “We are many parts ... so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Romans 12:5) So, it is an incredible truth that whenever his people come together in his name, God himself is there. Oh yes, whenever and wherever his followers gather, God himself is present, and he is present in all his fullness. The implications of this are outstanding. To be continued …
Initiative helps Ontario farmers find sustainable water management solutions GUELPH - The federal and provincial government of Ontario are making a joint investment to help producers adopt innovative and sustainable on-farm water management practices. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Ted McMeekin recently announced a new initiative that will focus on finding innovative technologies and solutions to water conservation and water use efficiency problems for Ontario farmers. “This Economic Action Plan investment will help Ontario farmers make better use of available water supplies and irrigation systems, and ultimately lower their costs,” said Ritz. McMeekin said, “Managing water more effectively is an important part of mitigating and adapting to climate change and the extreme weather it brings.” This joint Canada-Ontario investment of up to $1.5 million will go toward the Water Resource Adaptation and Management Initiative. Up to
“If you want to go quickly, go alone... ...if you want to go far, go together.”
$1 million will be available for projects through Farm & Food Care Ontario on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Applications are now available on the Farm and Food Care Ontario website (http:// farmfoodcare.org). The balance of the funding will be used to draft guidelines for drainage design, benchmarking studies on water use/ water efficiency, and informing farmers about best management practices on water efficiency. Projects and communication The call for proposals will include the following two components: - projects or research studies on innovative water conservation and efficiency equipment, technologies, and practices. These projects could include the use of innovative equipment for irrigation, recommendations for water conservation in livestock operations, good soil management practices, and developing drought-tolerant crops; and - the communication of
project results through workshops, presentations, outreach, and education materials designed to highlight technologies related to water conservation. “Farm & Food Care Ontario is pleased to be involved in this environmental initiative on behalf of our members,” said John Maaskant, chair, Farm and Food Care Ontario. “This initiative will provide practical examples of water conservation technologies that can help farmers adopt their water use practices to the impacts of climate change. Given that 2012 was a dry year across most of the province, this project has even greater relevance to Ontario farmers.” The federal portion of this investment is being made through the Agricultural Flexibility Fund, part of the Economic Action Plan. The five-year (2009–14) program was created to help reduce production costs, improve environmental sustainability, promote innovation, and respond to emerging opportunities and market challenges for the sector.
Township agrees to raise cap on medical leave coverage FROM PAGE THREE people would be covered under the $700 limit.” Sinnamon disagreed, stating that half the township’s full-time staff would receive less than 75 per cent of their wages while on leave under the current plan. “I believe the proposal is fair because it does bring everyone up to 75 per cent,” said councillor Jim Curry. Sinnamon stated that employee benefits, as part of a compensation package, are
important in terms of retaining current employees and attracting new employees. “This has certainly been evidenced by the recent attempts to hire a new director of finance, as our current benefit plan has been a concern for more than one candidate in this process,” she noted in her report. Council voted in favor of the recommendation to raise the capped limits, with only Downey opposed.
Christian Reformed Church 88 Main Street East, Drayton www.draytoncrc.org
A place where students are nurtured within a community of faith, love and excellence. Come and see for yourself. Open Houses and Registration (9:00am -12noon) February 1, March 1, April 5, May 3
www.ccsdrayton.org
Call to discover how your first year can be half price!
Join us in worshipping God on Sunday, January 27 10:00am: Pastor Les will lead our service 1 Timothy 4 – Our Strategic Ministry
7:30pm: Pastor Les will lead our service 1 Samuel 16:1ff – Samuel: The Lord’s Anointed
A SPECIAL INVITATION Please join us for evening worship every 2nd, 4th, & 5th Sundays.
The Community News, Friday, January 25, 2013 PAGE SEVEN
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PAGE EIGHT The Community News, Friday, January 25, 2013
Local Plunger Toss event flush with history
by Kelly Waterhouse ALMA - When Jim de Bock was flushing out ideas for a fundraiser to support the Alma Optimist Club, he wanted to create something that was spot on. The original concept, a Tin Can Curling bonspiel, had begun to circle the drain (pardon the pun). It was time for something fresh and new. The idea came to him late one night, on his way to the loo - and the Alma Plunger Toss was born. “The tin can curling was a cultural kind of thing. It was a fun community celebration,” said de Bock, adding its demise was a “pivotal point” for the impetus to replace it with something unique. “We needed something different,” recalls de Bock. “I thought to myself - what’s the one thing everybody finds funny?” After 35 years as a public school teacher, de Bock knew the answer: toilet humour. “Toilet humour has always been toilet humour,” he shrugs. “Ultimately, I created the event as a fundraiser for the Alma Optimists. My motivation for doing this was to bring some flavour to the community,” de Bock added. With a little help from fellow Mapleton resident and local politician Carl Hall, who just happened to know a building contractor renovating an apartment building with toilets to recycle, fate was on a roll. Hall and de Bock loaded a pick-up truck full of disposed potties and headed home. Now in its 31st year, it is fair to say the plunger toss has hit its mark not only as a fundraiser for the Alma Optimist Club, but as the cultural event of the winter season for the people of Mapleton Township, and beyond. Played on a sheet of ice, if the weather cooperates, the game has elements of curling, only players slide the plunger into the house, as opposed to sweeping it in. There are 14 sheets, with a toilet at each end, set approximately 35 feet apart. The centre of the toilet bowl is “the house,” and players can actually curl their plunger into the house, but the plunger must be
Plunging in - The Alma Plunger Toss, a fundraiser for the Alma Optimist Club, is a tradition of smalltown community spirit and good, clean fun. The above crowd enjoyed the friendly competition in 2012. Community News file photo
airborne when it goes across the centre ice. Each player gets two plungers per round. Like stones in curling, plungers can cancel each other out. There is one point awarded for a plunger that goes in the house, 10 points if the force-up (or rubber end) lands in the toilet. In the event of a tie, closest plunger to the toilet wins. A total of 56 teams compete on two sheets of ice, broken into 28 teams at a time. Each
team plays four games in the morning before the knockout tournament in the afternoon. Teams are ranked in their final positions, with top trophies for the gold, silver and bronze winners, with prizes for each of the 226 participants. The event takes place at the Alma Cow Palace, an outdoor ice rink located in the heart of the village. All money raised will go to support Alma Optimist projects for youths, such as T-ball teams, swim-
ming events, school projects and sports. “I believe if you teach a child then [they] will teach more children and that is the circle. I believe in the circle,” said de Bock. The Alma Optimist Plunger Toss begins at 9am on Feb. 2 at the Cow Palace, located on the corners of King Street North and Graham Street East. For more information contact Jim de Bock at 519-8465124.
Drayton Entertainment season tickets now on sale FROM PAGE FIVE Backstage hijinks take centre stage in the uproarious comedy Lend Me A Tenor, Sept. 25 to Oct. 12. The holidays will shine with Peter Pan, the beloved tale about the boy who never grew up, Nov. 20 to Dec.22. In the British Panto tradition where audiences cheer the hero and boo the villain, this lively production boasts a winning combination of incredible musical numbers, slapstick comedy, outrageous costumes, audience participation, and of course, a dash of theatrical magic. Drayton Festival Theatre The Songs of Sinatra offers an incredible salute to “Ol’ Blue Eyes,” May 8 to June 1. Male singers present the celebrated songbook of Frank Sinatra, with soul-stirring renditions of his classic hits. Based on the acclaimed best-selling book, Tuesdays with Morrie is the uplifting autobiographical journey of a sports writer who develops a life-altering friendship with his old college professor. This heartwarming production is on stage June 5 to 22. The hilarious farce Too Many Cooks promises to leave audiences in hysterics, July 10 to July 27, as an unemployed drifter is persuaded to step in at the last minute and impersonate the master chef who has failed to arrive and open a classy French restaurant. The season ends with Oliver!. Follow the adventures of the plucky young orphan in the venerable Broadway hit that poignantly captures the bonds of love – in all its remarkable forms. Charles Dickens’ classic tale of Oliver Twist will captivate audiences young and old, Aug. 14 to 31. St. Jacobs Country Playhouse The St. Jacobs Country Playhouse will undergo a major renovation during the first part of the 2013 season. A new fly tower will be installed, enabling set pieces to move seamlessly during rapid scene changes, improving the overall quality of the theatre experi-
ence. The first production to land in St. Jacobs is Monty Python’s smash-hitmusical Spamalot, the Tony Award-winning comedy that raises silliness to an art form, on stage July 17 to Aug. 3. Next up is the fun-filled wilderness adventure, Weekend Comedy, Aug. 7 to Aug. 24. When two couples inadvertently double-book a secluded onebedroom cabin in the Catskills for a weekend of romance, the decision to share the tiny quarters is a formula for disaster – and laughs – as youthful exuberance collides with middleaged stodginess. Based on the Gospel according to St. Matthew, Godspell is a contemporary retelling of the life of Jesus. At once humorous, dramatic, and deeply compelling Godspell tells the enduring story in a fresh new way; on stage Oct. 2 to 20. Irving Berlin’s musical White Christmas, takes the stage Nov. 20 to Dec. 22. St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre Three, four, and even five part-harmonies are on display in Legends of Harmony, an energetic, fun-filled musical revue featuring classic songs by The Four Aces, The Four Seasons, The Beach Boys, The Platters, The Four Tops, The Bee Gees and many more. The production runs for five months, July 31 to Dec. 22. Regular performance tickets are $40 for adults; $20 for youth under 20 years of age. Tickets for preview performances scheduled before the official opening and groups of 20 or more are $32. HST is applicable to all ticket prices. When patrons buy tickets to four, five, six, or even seven different productions as part of a subscription package, they can save close to 30% off the regular ticket price. Subscriptions can be used for tickets to any performance, at any theatre, for any date. For ticket information, visit www.draytonentertainment.com or call toll free to 1-855-drayton (372-9866).
Big Brothers Big Sisters launches 100th anniversary with mentoring study TORONTO - Canada’s largest mentoring organization is turning 100 and is celebrating with a year-long public education campaign to give Canadians fresh insights into the societal value of youth mentoring. To mark the launch of this national effort, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBSC) and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) are releasing the first results of one of the largest mentoring studies ever conducted. The five-year study, which tracks the experiences of almost 1,000 children and teenagers registered with Big Brother Big Sisters agencies across Canada, found that those with a mentor are significantly more confident in their academic abilities and considerably less likely to display behavioural problems. One notable finding is that girls in the study with a Big Sister were four times less likely to bully, fight, lie or express anger than girls without a mentor. “This ground-breaking research confirms that mentoring changes the trajectory of young lives,” said Bruce MacDonald, president and
CEO of BBBSC. “The findings will have a profoundly beneficial impact on our mentoring programs.” The study’s findings are expected to bring about significant advances in how the agencies of BBBSC deliver mentoring services. Expected outcomes are more specialized pre-match training for the child, parents and mentor; more effective match support for all three participants to better manage expectations and earlier detection of special needs among children and teenagers. BBBSC believes that this landmark study’s legacy will be longer and more successful matches and mentoring that is more closely tailored to individual needs. The study was conducted by a team of academics led by Dr. David DeWit, a senior research scientist CAMH in London, Ontario, and Dr. Ellen Lipman, a psychiatrist and Professor at McMaster University in Hamilton. The research was made possible by a $1.7 million grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). “We showed that the posi-
tive findings held regardless of the children’s age, personal history, family circumstances or cultural identity,” explained DeWit. “Over time, Big Brother Big Sisters agencies will be able to counsel mentors on how best to engage with their ‘Little’ and will make it easier to identify the children most likely to benefit from having a mentor.” Key findings include: - girls with a Big Sister are two and a half times more likely than girls without a mentor to be confident in their ability to be successful at school; - boys with a Big Brother are three times less likely than boys without a mentor to suffer peer pressure related anxiety, such as worrying about what other children think or say about them; - mentored boys are two times more likely to believe that school is fun and that doing well academically is important; and - mentored boys are also two times less likely than nonmentored boys to develop negative conducts like bullying, fighting, lying, cheating, losing their temper or expressing anger.
The breadth aof this study is such that these current findings are just a small sample of what will be released in the months and years to come. Over time, BBBSC agencies will actually be able to counsel mentors on how best to engage with their “Little” based on their, age, personal history, family circumstances and cultural identity. During the pre-match screening process, the study’s conclusions are also expected to make it easier to identify the children most likely to benefit from having a mentor. “When the findings of this research are fully understood, we expect that virtually every aspect of how we approach, design and maintain our mentoring relationships will be impacted,” said MacDonald. “The work of the project’s outstanding team, so ably led by Dr. DeWit and Dr. Lipman, will benefit children and teenagers in every region of Canada for generations.” “We recognize that the work of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada has played a crucial role in the lives of many young Canadians,” said Dr. Anthony Phillips, scientific
director of the CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction. Beyond public awareness campaigns focused on youth mentoring, BBBSC and its agencies will also be hosting special events across Canada. These celebrations will pay tribute to the contributions of past and present Big Brother and Big Sister volunteers to the well-being of children and communities over the past 100 years. Canadians can participate in BBBSC’s 100th birthday celebrations through social media by giving a “big shout out” to the special people who made a difference in their lives – be they parents, extended family members, coaches, teachers, employers or a volunteer Big Brother or Big Sister. People can tell their mentoring story to the BBBSC community by visiting www.thebigshout.ca. About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada For 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has been making a positive difference in the lives of Canada’s youth by developing and implementing a wide range of mentoring programs. BBBSC volunteer mentors
teach by example the importance of giving back, of staying in school, and of respecting family, peers and community. BBBSC provides quality mentoring services for more than 33,000 children and teenagers. The community-based youth mentoring organization currently has over 25,000 volunteer mentors working at 123 agencies that serve children in over 1,000 communities across the country. Locally, the Mount Forest branch of BBBSC is hosting its annual Bowl for Kids Sake at the Mount Forest Bowling Lanes on Feb. 10. The theme of the day is “sports over a hundred years.” BBBSC of Centre Wellington is hosting Bowl for Kids Sake on Nintendo Wii on Feb. 21 at St. Joseph’s Church, in Fergus from 12pm to 9pm, or Feb. 22 at Victoria Park Senior Centre from 9:30am to 1 :30pm. The classic Bowl for Kids Sake takes place on Feb. 24 at Woodlawn Bowl, Woodlawn Rd., Guelph, from 9:30 to 6pm. To learn more about BBBSC, visit www.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca.