Grand Bend, Ontario community newspaper and entertainment events guide. Also serves Zurich, Dashwood, Port Franks, Exeter, Parkhill. Casey Lessard photos.
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February 4 Hensall Public School February 25 Stephen Central Public School March 4 ARC makes recommendations to board
2008-09 school populations Source: AMDSB.ca Zurich – 148 (110% of capacity of 135) Exeter – 303 (74% of capacity of 409) Stephen – 171 (68% of capacity of 250) Hensall – 152 (58% of capacity of 262) Usborne – 117 (52% of capacity of 227) Avon-Maitland District School Board superintendent of operations Mike Ash is [...]
Joan Bradley is the vice-chair of the Hensall Public School parent council. All three of her daughters attend the school. As told to Casey Lessard With my children, part of the deal when we moved here was that they did not want somewhere they would have to ride the bus. They wanted to have a [...]
Laurie Russell is the chair of the Exeter Public School parent council. As told to Casey Lessard Emotions are running rampant. No one wants their school closed. The reality is one or two schools have to close. It’s just the reality. To come up with a decision that everyone agrees with is not an easy [...]
Trustee Randy Wagler has unenviable task of deciding schools’ fate Randy Wagler is one of nine trustees who will make the final decision about which school(s) to close. He is a chemical engineer and product manager for Honeywell, and his five children attended Exeter PS and South Huron DHS. As told to Casey Lessard I [...]
Richard Webb wins second Canadian Poker Tour title Story and file photo by Casey Lessard Canadian Poker Tour champion Richard Webb will retain his crown after winning the championship this weekend in Calgary, Alberta. The Grand Bend resident beat the tour’s 50 best players, and wins a second $100,000 contract that pays for his travel [...]
Summer resident Carla Johnston set to spend winter, spring in central India A summer resident of Grand Bend, Carla Johnston is known to many in the area as the daughter of Chris Bregman, manager of the Grand Bend Chamber of Commerce. Johnston is finishing her last semester at F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham before [...]
Alternative View By Lance Crossley In George Orwell’s 1984, the ruling party’s three slogans were “War is Peace; Freedom is Slavery; Ignorance is Strength.” If you need any evidence that an Orwellian world is already upon us, you need to look no further that the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to US President Barack [...]
Keeping the Peace By Tom Lessard, C.D. “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” Those were the words that came out of my mouth the day I slipped and fell on the ice next door. I had been to town in the morning and walked in and out of a number of stores with no [...]
Advice from Mom By Rita Lessard Christmas has come and gone and, on the whole, I imagine most people were pleased with the presents they received. Some people are hard to please, resulting in the regifting concept. Every year, my mother disliked the presents my brother Richard and I gave her, which I thought was [...]
It was one year ago this month that it was decided that the Grand Bend Home & School Association would start fundraising for a new wheelchair accessible playground for the children of Grand Bend Public School and the youth of the community. The goal was $70,000, daunting to say the least. It was through grant [...]
Living in Balance By Jenipher Appleton What’s wrong with a little memory work anyway? In past decades, a requirement of learning English in Canadian elementary schools was a certain amount of memory work. It usually was in the form of poetry. One would be asked to choose a poem and commit it to memory; the [...]
Fido… Come… Sit By Yvonne Passmore http://www.FidoComeSit.com Well, apparently not. Over the holidays my youngest dog, Chiclet, had what most people would consider a bad encounter with another dog. While we were visiting with my parents, a friend stopped by with her dog. Now, I’m not sure what exactly happened to create the fireworks but [...]
Friday, February 5 6 to 9 p.m. – GB Public School Sobey’s Drive-in Movie Night. Build your own car and come to the movies. Ages 12 and under. 8 p.m. – Various Locations Opening Ceremonies. Torch Relay beginning at Municipal Parking Lot across from FINE A Restaurant. Lighting of the Flame at Paddington’s. Saturday, February [...]
Sunday, January 31 1 to 3 p.m. – Morrison Dam, Exeter Winter Wonderland snowshoeing event ABCA education staff will be leading a guided hike on snowshoes. Participants will travel by snowshoe on the South Huron Trail while learning about trees and animal life in winter. The cost is $5 per adult to join in on [...]
Drayton Entertainment is looking for area teens to be members of the chorus for Disney’s High School Musical, which runs from May 19 to June 5 at the Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend. Open auditions will be held on Sunday, February 21 at South Huron District High School in Exeter from 10 a.m. to [...]
You don’t need much to fill their bellies with this affordable – yet gourmet – dish Recipe by James Eddington Eddington’s of Exeter 527 Main Street, Exeter 519-235-3030 http://www.eddingtons.ca Photo by Casey Lessard Looking for something more romantic? “Take a flight this Valentine’s Day” from our February 2008 issue. This recipe is intended for a [...]
I traveled to Haiti in 2005 with Baptist Haiti Mission Canada, the Canadian arm of the largest mission based in Haiti. If you are interested in helping people recover there, I encourage you to donate to Baptist Haiti Mission. They are currently accepting donations to their The House That Jack Built fund for rebuilding homes, [...]
Just a brief mention that South Huron District High School is hosting a Grade 8 night Wednesday, January 13 (snow date Jan. 14). The event takes place at 6:45 p.m. in the large gym.
Police seek driver, family seeks closure after Jason Pearson’s death near Grand Bend during Not So Pro volleyball weekend Originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, Jason Pearson of Waterloo was an avid volleyball player, and serious about taking part in Grand Bend’s Not So Pro tournament each year. After the first day of competition at this year’s [...]
Accommodation Review Committee community representative Tom Roes tells Casey Lessard that Zurich Public School should stay open. And that Hensall and Usborne should, too. Will the school board listen? Recognizing declining enrolment in area schools, Avon-Maitland District School Board is currently reviewing the need to close schools, including Usborne Public School near Exeter, and Zurich [...]
Public policy and regulation among subjects of winter Partners in Learning discussions The winter season of Partners in Learning, a discussion group that meets at the Southcott Pines clubhouse, runs Wednesdays from Jan. 13 to Feb. 10 and then March 3 to 31. This season’s topics include Science, Serving the Public Interest?; Has Big Brother [...]
View from the Strip By Casey Lessard With the mediocre weather and mediocre economy we experienced this year, it’s tough not to feel glum. I’m happy, though, (for the most part) with how 2009 went here. No health problems this year. Missed the swine flu this time around. Anjhela is almost done school. Well, for [...]
Alternative View By Lance Crossley My wife always makes fun of me after reading my columns because, as she says, “they are always such downers”. I can’t really argue with her on that one. But in my defence, I really am trying to call it as I see it. Anyway, she’s going to love this [...]
