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Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 45 Issue 31
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 2.06% 3 Year GIC - 2.36% 5 Year GIC - 2.67% Daily Interest 1.75%
Friday, August 3, 2012
Drayton Fair ambassador heads to CNE TORONTO - Mapleton resident Jackie Shaw will be competing in the 41st annual Ambassador of the Fairs Competition at the 2012 Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) in Toronto. More than 70 fair winners from across Ontario, men and women aged 18 to 25, will showcase their knowledge of Ontario agriculture and be judged on poise, self-confidence and public speaking. As the Ambassador of the Fairs, the winning competitor participates in a series of official duties during the 18-day run of Canada’s largest fair, while simultaneously representing their individual fair and community. “A long standing tradition, this is one of our most established events at the CNE,” said CNE general manager David Bednar. “It’s a great way to bring together individuals and communities from across the
Hometown pride - Jackie Shaw of Mapleton will represent the community in the Ambassador of the Fairs competition during the 41st Canadian National Exhibition. submitted photo province over the course of three days.” The final round of the Ambassador of the Fairs com-
petition will be held on Aug. 19 at 2pm in the Queen Elizabeth Building. The CNE is Canada’s largest fair and one of the top 10 fairs in North America. Founded in 1879, the CNE celebrates its 134th year in 2012, when it takes place from Aug. 17 to Sept. 3. Each year over the course of its late-summer run, the CNE attracts approximately 1.3 million people. On average, it generates an economic impact of $58.6 million on the Greater Toronto Area and $80 million on the province of Ontario each year. For the past two consecutive fairs, the CNE has been awarded Eco Logo certification, confirming it as the “greenest” fair in North America, and the most “environmentally friendly” large scale event on the continent. To learn more visit www. theex.com.
Pulling ahead - Bill Richardson of Allenford was among the competitors in the 3,500-pound class at the Palmerston Agricultural Society’s 34th annual Tractor Pull on July 28. The pull is a lead-up event for the Palmerston Fall Fair, which is set for Aug. 24 to 26. photo by Patrick Raftis
Trip to New Zealand ‘life changing’ for young volunteer from Drayton By Patrick Raftis DRAYTON - Michelle Cuomo recently returned from what she calls a “life changing” experience, as part of a team of young volunteers working to restore a fragile ecosystem in New Zealand. For the 20-year-old Drayton resident, who will enter her second year of environment and resource studies at the University of Waterloo this fall, the New Zealand project offered by International Student Volunteers (ISV) seemed tailor-made to provide a summer of educational experience and adventure. While the volunteer project fit well with her field of study, Cuomo had other reasons for
selecting New Zealand from among the various international experiences offered by ISV. “I’ve heard it’s a good place to visit - that it’s so beautiful,” she said. “Also, it’s called the adrenalin capital of the world, so why not do it when you’re young, with a bunch of other young people?” On June 21, Cuomo set out for New Zealand along with 39 other ISV volunteers, including nine others from various Canadian locales, and the rest from across the United States. Upon arrival in New Zealand after a marathon flight (from Toronto via Los Angeles and Australia - 30 hours including layovers), they were divided into smaller groups, with
Cuomo and six others assigned to Motuihe Island. Located in the Haruiki Gulf, a 30-minute boat ride from the New Zealand capital of Auckland, the island was once used for farming and was the site of a military base during the Second World War. ISV has been helping to plant thousands of trees since 2006 to assist with efforts to return the island to its natural state. “It’s not a big island, so it’s a very achievable goal,” notes Cuomo. For the first two weeks of the trip, her group worked at planting about 150 native trees and plants. “We also did a lot of prepa-
ration for community groups, who come out and plant on the island.” Motuihe evolved free of pests such as rats, mice and other rodents, and is a land without predatory mammals, making it an ideal habitat for some of New Zealand’s flightless birds, such as the Kiwi and the Little Blue Penguin. The ISV volunteers work included putting up nesting boxes for various types of birds to encourage them to populate the island. Clearing of invasive weeds, cleaning up beaches, painting fences and installing informational signs along the island’s walking trails were among the other tasks in which the volun-
teers engaged. The ISV group was housed in a cottage on the island, where they cooked their own meals and rested after their work. The cottage was solarpowered, meaning the group had limited time to charge batteries for their cameras and other devices. A wood stove provided a welcome source of heat as the group was there during the New Zealand winter. Temperatures through the days, which were mostly rainy, ran from about 13 to 17 degrees. Darkness arrived around 6pm and nighttime temperatures were about four or five degrees. Cuomo said the work, while physical, was not overly
demanding. “The project leaders were very good about keeping it fun and educational and not slave labour - we were paying to be there after all,” she said. ISV participants pay their own expenses for the trip, but Cuomo said the group discount pricing available to the organization makes it a less expensive way to visit an exotic location than would otherwise be possible. The nature of the projects also made the work very satisfying, she notes. “You basically did feel - at the end of the day - like you accomplished something,” she said. Continued on page 3
Underground Railroad Music Festival returns to Centennial Park on Aug. 18 by Patrick Raftis
DRAYTON The Underground Railroad Music Festival returns to Drayton this year, with new acts and a new angle on the history of the early black pioneers of the region. The fourth annual festival will be held on Aug. 18 at Centennial Park. Organizer Diana Braithwaite says last summer’s event, the first held in Drayton, was the largest so far. “Every year the festival is growing in numbers,” said Braithwaite, who estimates between 500 and 600 people attended over the course of the day-long event in 2011. The first two festivals were held in nearby Glen Allen, which was considered a main
terminus of the Underground Railroad, the term for a series of safe houses and individuals who helped black slaves reach Canada from the United States in the early 1800s. Braithwaite says the Drayton location provides several advantages. “We have more parking and it’s just such a nice park. It also helps that we’re close to the shops in town,” said Braithwaite, who adds the festival is continuing to evolve. “Each year we try to add a bit of different entertainment and also a bit of interesting history.” Guest speaker Timothy Epp will provide this year’s historical element, with a talk on the connection between the
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early African-American pioneers and the local Mennonite community. Braithwaite said the area Mennonite community played a part in helping the former slaves and freed blacks who came to this area get settled. “They shared their farming expertise and techniques and eventually quite a few of them became friends,” said Braithwaite. The line-up for the 2012 festival features several returning musical acts, including North Carolina soul artist Curley Bridges, acoustic blues master Harrison Kennedy, crooner Donavan Locke and Braithwaite, based out of Toronto, and her partner Chris Whiteley.
“This year we have a really exciting new group, an electric blues band called Blackburn,” said Braithwaite, adding the Toronto-based group has performed across Canada and internationally. “They’re a really rockin, up-tempo band.” Definitely new for the festival is an old-time country bluegrass “jamboree,” featuring two-time Juno Award-winner Jenny Whiteley, along with Juno-nominee Amy Milan, Dan Whiteley and Joey Wright. “We felt that since we were in the country, we should celebrate that type of music too,” said Braithwaite. The rest of the line-up for the 2012 show includes Melissa Adamson and the Continued on page 7
Weekly Wag
ke risks. Be brave. Ta experience. te tu ti s b u s Nothing can o- Paulo Coelh
Festival favourites - Organizer Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whiteley will return for the fourth annual Underground Railroad Music Festival in Drayton on Aug. 18. Community News file photo
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