Funding sought for electric vehicle charging station

The Town of Erin is applying for funding to get a high speed charging station for electric vehicles at Centre 2000.

Wellington County already has plans to install a charging station at the new Hillsburgh Library, which is expected to open this spring.

Erin town council is hoping for 50 per cent funding from the federal government, and that the Upper Grand District School Board will cover half of the remaining cost, since the station would be a benefit to Erin District High School.

The fast charging (Level 3) stations cost about $85,000 each. If the federal and school board funding comes through, the town would pay the balance up to $25,000 out of the 2017 Nestlé voluntary levy. The water bottling company makes payments to the town based on the volume of water pumped at its Hillsburgh well.

Natural Resources Canada has a funding program designed to create a Canadian network of Level 3 stations. These can charge two electric vehicles (EVs) to 80 per cent of battery capacity in about 30 minutes, with a travel range of about 250 km per hour of charging.

These are expected to be common in public places and along major highways. Users would pay about 28 cents per Kw or $12 per hour pro-rated by the minute, with a $2.50 flat fee per session.

The non-profit group Plug’n Drive says less expensive Level 2 stations are expected to be installed by many employers and commercial building owners, taking four to six hours for an 80 per cent charge, with a range of about 30 km per hour of charging.

EVs can also be charged at Level 1 through a regular wall socket, providing only about 8 km of travel range per hour of charging.

Station Street project gets green light

The Town of Erin has received approval to reconstruct the Station Street bridge, rehabilitate the dam and preserve the Hillsburgh millpond.

Chris Ballard, Ontario Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, announced the decision on Feb. 2, more than a year after the project was put on hold. Credit Valley Conservation and several residents had appealed the results of an Environmental Assessment, claiming the town followed a “flawed process”.

Wellington County owns the water control structure in the 

Hillsburgh millpond dam, while the Town of Erin owns the 

earthen berm that supports Station Street.

The minister dismissed all of the objections, but did order the town to monitor and mitigate the impact on local groundwater and wildlife. The town must ensure the bridge can withstand a major regional storm and make contingency plans for extreme weather events.

 “I am pleased that the minister agreed with the town’s position,” said Mayor Al Alls. “This structure is important to the successful movement of people. The added benefit of the province allowing the pond to stay is that we will continue to maintain an important cultural amenity that is a landmark of our community.”

Gooderham and Worts built the dam that created the Hillsburgh 

millpond in the early 1850s, with a new mill that shipped 

grain to what is now Toronto’s Distillery District. 

The Station Street bridge was built in 1917.

The $2.5 million project will now proceed, but will not be complete before the early summer opening of the new Hillsburgh Library next to the pond. Draining the pond would have cost an extra $700,000.

Credit Valley Conservation had wanted full consideration of decommissioning the dam and possibly creating a smaller “off-line” pond next to the river, to improve fish habitat. The town said it could not consider those options since Wellington County owns the pond and is committed to preserving it.

The minister said the town had “no obligation to carry forward alternatives that are not reasonable, practical or implementable”.

The 101-year-old bridge was first identified in 1971 as being in need of replacement. The road on the dam was closed in 2011 after a section subsided due to a failing outlet pipe. Temporary work was done in 2012 to make the road safe for traffic, and steel reinforcements installed to protect the earthen berm that holds back the water.

County wants ideas for new Hillsburgh Library

As published in The Erin Advocate

Libraries have done a good job of moving beyond books in the services they offer, but with a new library complex opening in Hillsburgh next year, there is an opportunity to do even better.

Wellington County staff and +VG Architects are seeking input on what features people would like to see. Pick up a comment card at existing local branches or the Town office, send an email to HillsburghLibrarycomments@wellington.ca or visit the library section of the county website.

Libraries are all about sharing, learning, community engagement and culture. So what can we share in that physical space that is not readily available on the internet?

How about the work of local artists? Of course, the library foyer should be filled with a series of art exhibits. But what if you could borrow a piece of art for free, with the option to buy it?

How about face-to-face conversation? An enclosed veranda overlooking the pond, with a café and comfortable seating, would be an attractive social meeting space.

How about seeds? A seed library would allow patrons to take home a variety of seeds for their gardens and flowerpots, and later in the season, contribute seeds from their plants back to the community stock.

How about tools, and toys, and musical instruments? A co-op for sharing these would require some initial investment, and perhaps a membership fee, but it could start small and be built up with fundraising and item donations.

How about garden plots? We’re long overdue for a community garden, which would allow apartment dwellers or owners of small properties to work a borrowed patch of fertile soil. It could be a secure, supervised facility, one of many outdoor features on the spacious site.

How about a trails welcome centre? This is a unique, beautiful public space. We need to promote it and take advantage of the opportunity for nature education. The library could be a hub for use of an around-the-pond trail, the Elora Cataract Trailway (owned by Credit Valley Conservation) and the nearby Nestlé parklands.

How about a stage overlooking the grounds, for outdoor concerts? How about canoe and bicycle rentals? How about permanent chess board tables on a patio? Once the ideas start flowing, there’s no telling what could be considered.

The Library has made a good effort to use new technologies, with services such as its e-book system and 3D printers. It should remain vigilant for opportunities to add on to what people can already do at home.

Within the structure, dedicated spaces are needed for functions such as children’s programming, workstations that can be reserved by business people and older students, and perhaps a magazine lounge. There should be a small meeting room, and a larger room for lectures, small-scale performances or travelling exhibits.

Perhaps the treasures of the Museum and Archives could be displayed more throughout the county. How about a local history corner, instead of just a couple of shelves?

When I was a kid, our school did not have a proper library, but the public library arrived in the school parking lot once a week in the form of a Bookmobile. It was a converted bus filled with bookshelves.

Now that schools do have adequate libraries, county staff should think about what unique services they might be able to deliver to the public outside the library buildings, either at schools, special events or other community facilities.

And then of course there’s the book collection. DVDs may be following videotapes into oblivion, but books are not going away. So we’ll need a good selection of those too.

Warden George Bridge says the Hillsburgh Library will be “a showpiece of our library system, and indeed the envy of library systems throughout the Province.” The building needs to be attractive, complimenting the 1892 house that will be part of it, but its form must be driven primarily by the needs of its users.

Hillsburgh pond options to be presented next year

As published in The Erin Advocate

The first Public Information Centre in the Environment Assessment of the Station Street dam and bridge in Hillsburgh will not be held until early next year.

The Town of Erin must decide on rebuilding the bridge, which is now 98 years old, and was identified as in need of replacement as early as 1973. Pond preservation is also a major issue, both in Hillsburgh and Erin village, since the dams not longer meet provincial safety standards.

Just a few miles downstream on the West Credit River, there are similar issues as Credit Valley Conservation studies what to do with the popular dam and pond at the Belfountain Conservation Area. A Public Information Centre on their EA and Management Plan was held last week, with local residents concerned more about visitor flow than stream flow.

The Hillsburgh EA is a $190,000 project, with future work on the bridge, dam and road expected to cost well over $2 million, whether the pond is saved or not. Part of that would include installing infrastructure to service future housing west of the pond, with development fees possibly offsetting the cost.

The road was closed in 2011 due to a failing outlet pipe and emergency work was done in 2012 to make the road safe for traffic.

The start of the EA was announced in November 2014, and a full cycle of seasons was needed to study the plants and wildlife in the pond ecosystem. Triton Engineering is assembling a Background Information Statement, and will prepare an outline of possible options for the Public Information Centre.

The EA is actually the product of a series of studies on factors such as the cultural and heritage value of the pond. The Elora Cataract Trailway runs by it, but recreational usage is very limited since the pond and most of the adjacent land is privately held.

All of the options will be costly, but it will be interesting to see if there is any political support for innovative solutions that benefit fish and the river environment. Or will the Town be content to simply maintain safety and a scenic view?

Construction of a narrow channel to handle the main flow
of the West Credit River is one of several options in a study
of the pond and dam at Belfountain Conservation Area.    

There are some differences with the Belfountain situation, but both have sub-standard dams and sediment-filled ponds. The Belfountain study, available on the CVC website, could provide a preview of some of the issues to be debated here.

What will be the impact on local wells? Are we willing to alter the man-made pond ecosystems that have developed over the past 190 years? Is it better to leave the sediment, dredge it or let it wash downstream? Should we create more usable land by partially filling in ponds? Do we preserve ponds as valuable assets, or let the river gradually return to its natural state, including wetlands.

One of the most interesting options outlined in the Belfountain EA is construction of a by-pass channel that would handle most of the stream flow. The pond would be preserved with a new dam, but it would be “off-line” from the main river – the same concept as at Stanley Park, or the new channel around Wolf Lake at Terra Cotta Conservation Area.

Such a system would provide the colder water temperatures that fish need, and a route for them to swim past the dam. It won’t be the cheapest option, but it might satisfy some of the local concerns while improving the environment.

Council rejects bid for new Centre 2000 deal

As published in The Erin Advocate

Mayor Lou Maieron’s attempt to have the Centre 2000 agreement changed to a leasing deal was defeated by Town Council at its March 18 meeting.

Maieron has been a critic of the agreement for many years, saying the Town is a victim in “an unfair situation”, and that he has “a fiduciary duty to the taxpayers” to correct the Town’s spending on Centre 2000.

Others on council argued that problems can be worked out with the Upper Grand District School Board, within the current shared-use model.

Councillor John Brennan chaired that section of the meeting while Maieron made his presentation. When the question was called, Councillors Tocher, Callaghan and Wintersinger were opposed, with Maieron in favour and Brennan abstaining. The chair normally only votes in the event of a tie.

Brennan said he was open to either a shared-use or leasing arrangement, as long as service is maintained to residents.

The mayor said invoices from the Town totalling over $20,000 over several years remain unpaid, and he urged that these be resolved by June.

School Trustee Kathryn Cooper, who sits on the Centre 2000 board, was surprised at the mayor’s notice of motion.

“It’s disappointing, since we are well on our way to resolving these issues,” she said prior to the meeting.

She acknowledged that there are unpaid invoices from the Town, and she has recommended that the school board pay them. But she said there are also invoices from the school board that the Town has not paid.

Cooper said while it is costly, for example, for the Town to install a $40,000 sewage meter, it is “an investment in only paying for what they use”.

“A lease model makes sense to me,” said Maieron, claiming the existing deal is too complex. He is suggesting that each party own and maintain certain sections, and lease them to the other party as needed for an agreed fee.

He is particularly concerned about costs of the Shamrock Room, which was intended as the cafeteria in the original plan. He says the town is paying all of the heat, electrical, water and sewage costs for the room and the commercial kitchen, but is “stuck with” the less desirable rental hours.

Maieron is also concerned that the Town borrowed over $2 million for the Centre 2000 project. The bulk of it was for the theatre, he said, but while the Town generates little revenue by renting it out (about 30-40 nights a year), the school is making significant use of it.

Questions about the capital and operating costs of the on-site sewage treatment are also unresolved, he said.

County Councillor Ken Chapman has also been a harsh critic of the agreement. He had been on the board, representing the county’s role as the library operator. He was serving as chair of the board, but recently resigned without explanation.

Councillor Barb Tocher, who was mayor during the planning of Centre 2000, defended the shared-use concept.

“Neither party owns the shared-use portion. It’s not draw a line down the middle of the building. It’s a very unique facility – there are very few in Ontario,” she said. 

“It really doesn’t matter if the Upper Grand District School Board paid for the entire facility, if the Town of Erin paid for the cost of the entire facility. Guess what? It’s the same taxpayer.

“It’s the town of Erin that uses that facility. Very few outsiders use that facility. It’s only our children that go to that school. It’s our citizenship that uses the library. It’s our seniors in the seniors room. It’s our toddlers in the pre-school. It’s ours, all of ours.”

In a letter to the Town, Trustee Cooper praised municipal and school staff for their excellent day-to-day cooperation in running the building.

“We need to have objective measurement systems and transparency on the full costs of operations and upcoming capital needs,” she said.

“We do need to make sure the agreement is fair. But first, we must do the objective analysis to determine if it is or not. Let’s allow staff the priority time to work together to sort out the invoices and the measurement systems before deciding on next steps.”

Mayor wants new deal at Centre 2000

As published in The Erin Advocate

Mayor Lou Maieron wants to rip up the deal that controls the shared areas at Centre 2000, and start fresh negotiations with the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB).

In a Notice of Motion last week, he asks “that the Town of Erin consider rescinding the current shared use agreement with the UGDSB regarding Centre 2000 and that the Town work with the UGDSB to establish a new agreement based on a lease agreement based on fair market value for the facilities utilized by the UGDSB.”

His initiative could be brought forward at a future meeting. It would not be debated unless there is a seconder to the motion, and it would not take effect unless approved by a majority of councillors.

The facility is shared by the Town, Erin District High School and Wellington County, which operates the school library. Each has representatives on a Management Board, but the board is not empowered to re-write the shared use agreement. That would have to be done at a higher level among the participating entities.

County Councillor Ken Chapman was the county representative on the board and served as chair, but resigned as a member recently with no public explanation. Both he and Maieron have been critical of the agreement and how it has been implemented.

The property line between the municipal and school board lands runs right through Centre 2000, but the use and costs are shared. Critics of the deal say the Town is paying too much, because the school has become the primary user of areas like the theatre, and the Shamrock Room which serves as the cafeteria.

Lack of agreement has resulted in invoices remaining unpaid for a number of years.

The board has been in the process of trying to measure the usage and costs more precisely, in hopes of resolving issues under the terms of the existing agreement.

Chapman resigns from Centre 2000 Board

As published in The Erin Advocate

County Councillor Ken Chapman has resigned from the Centre 2000 Management Board, where he was serving as the chairperson.

Contacted by The Advocate, Councillor Chapman declined to offer any explanation for the decision or to discuss events leading up to it.

The draft minutes of the January meeting of County Council show that councillors went into a closed session. Upon returning to the public session, Warden Chris White announced that Councillor Chapman had tendered his resignation from the Board.

With Town Councillor Barb Tocher running for the county seat in this October’s election, Councillor Chapman said he has not made a decision on whether he will seek re-election.

The Centre 2000 board administers a shared use agreement for certain areas of the facility, with representatives of the School Board and the Town, plus one representative from the county since it shares the library with the school.

Library offers free access to magazines

As published in The Erin Advocate

There may be nothing truly free under the sun, but when it comes to services for which we have already paid, it does make sense to use them when it is convenient.

That is the case with an on-line magazine service called Zinio, now offered to the public at no charge by the Wellington County Library.

It fits well with the library’s mandate to making interesting material freely available. Assistant Chief Librarian Chanda Gilpin said they knew there would be a demand for a magazine service because of the popularity of their other digital services.

You can access eBooks and eAudiobooks, as well as catalogue searches and research tools, and manage your personal account, without actually going to a library.

“We’re always trying to anticipate and adapt to the needs of the community,” said Gilpin.

You can still get paper copies of magazines at library branches, which is better than paying $5 for one issue at your local drug store. But if you can get used to reading them on your computer, tablet or smartphone, it is very efficient for both users and the library system.

“We can put a print magazine in each of our 14 branches and provide access to one person at a time at each location,” said Gilpin. “Or we can pay approximately half that cost and make the same magazine available through Zinio to every single library member in the County, all at the same time. Zinio also comes with all-hours access, no worries about fines, and no damaged materials.”

Wellington currently offers access to 44 magazines through Zinio, which is not a lot in the competitive magazine market, but it is a good start. They cover some of the most popular sectors, with titles for women, men, teens and kids.

You can learn how to age well with Zoomer, absorb some Canadian culture with The Walrus, read a tribute to Lou Reed in Rolling Stone, make cookies with Canadian Living, check out the 2015 Mustang with Car and Driver, discover dinosaurs with Chirp or read up on 38 naughty holiday games with Cosmopolitan.

There is no due date, and back issues are available for many titles. Notably missing from the Zinio line-up are magazines including Macleans and other products from Rogers Media, Canada’s largest publisher. They are launching their own paid service and app called Next Issue.

Zinio is also a paid service, and you can subscribe to a much wider selection of digital magazines by going directly to their retail website. When you are viewing your library selections, you will have the opportunity, but no obligation, to buy other subscriptions.

To access the free ones, you will need a library card, which is good idea in any case. At www.wellington.ca, go to Library under Resident Services, click Online Resources, then on eBooks and More, then on Zinio to sign up. There’s a tutorial video, and branch staff can answer your questions.

The minor inconvenience to the process is that you set up a Zinio account with the library, but after you choose some magazines, you end up at www.zino.com where you have to set up another account with the exact same user name and password.

Once you set it up, it works smoothly – picking titles at the library site, and seeing your current batch and reading them through the Zinio site. You don’t actually download the magazine files. You just stream the view as needed to your computer.

You flip through the pages, ads and all, and the Table of Contents will have links for quick navigation. There’s full-screen viewing, bookmarking and an option for printing pages.

You can also download free Zinio reader apps for PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire/HD, Win 8, Blackberry and Nook HD/HCD+. You still have to use the website to check out new issues of magazines. Once that is done, your accounts will sync on a wireless connection and the issue will be ready to read on your mobile device.

Courier pay is great, but is it too much?

As published in The Erin Advocate

Is there anyone out there who would be willing to work as a Library Courier for, say, $24,000 a year? How about $34,000?  Any takers at $44,000?

I recently saw a Help Wanted ad from Wellington County for a Temporary Full Time Courier, at a salary range of $46,429 to $54,327. That is $23.80 to $27.86 per hour, for a 37.5 hour week.

Obviously, not everyone would qualify for such a job. One would need a high school diploma, be familiar with libraries, have a satisfactory driving record and have 1-2 years of courier experience.

The successful candidate will have to work unsupervised, lifting loads of at least 55 pounds, multiple times per day, including “pushing and maneuvering a cart full of library bins, and carrying bins up flights of stairs” and driving a van in all weather conditions.

It’s too late to apply for that job, but I mention it because I could not help but notice the contrast with another recent ad from our library system, seeking Casual Part Time Assistant Branch Supervisors, at a rate of $21.72 to $25.39 per hour.

For 10 per cent less pay than the courier, the assistant supervisor candidates are required to have a Diploma in Library Techniques, a year of work experience in a public library, strong computer, organizational and communication skills and experience planning and delivering programs to all ages.

They must be willing to work at different branches throughout the county, and can only expect about 20 hours of work every two weeks, including day, evening and weekend shifts. Both positions are on Wellington’s Non-Union Compensation Grid.

I asked Chief Administrative Officer Scott Wilson about the pay discrepancy. He said jobs are rated according to 13 criteria, which include the conditions of work.

“Assistant Branch Supervisors work in better conditions, while the courier is out driving in all sorts of weather,” he said. The pay for a job such as the courier’s can be bumped higher if the job is repetitive in nature.

The relative ratings are part of the Pay Equity system the county has used for many years, based on provincial guidelines.

“That’s the system that we have, though the results may seem a little out of whack,” said Wilson.

Many people these days have given up on staying informed about what the public sector is trying to accomplish, simply viewing it with scorn and resentment. They see it as separate world where the norms of common sense do not apply.

Personally, I do not paying a bit extra for public services, as long as they are of good quality. But we all live in a highly competitive marketplace, which should at least influence the public sector. Every employer, whether private or public, needs to be on the lookout for opportunities to save money.

It is not, however, just about the money. If our governments cannot at least maintain the appearance of careful spending, it undermines confidence in the entire system, and that is a dangerous slope for all of us.

Free e-book downloads popular at libraries

As published in The Erin Advocate

Wellington County libraries are reaching out to an increasingly on-line public with an expanding selection of audiobooks and e-books that can be downloaded at no cost.

"In 2011 the library circulated approximately 10,000 e‐book titles and that number will increase in 2012 as e‐readers become more prevalent and collections of e‐titles are increased," said Chief Librarian Murray McCabe in a report to the County Information, Heritage and Seniors’ Committee.

He said the current level of e‐book technology is still far from user friendly, but that e-book vendors are working to simplify downloading procedures.

"The public library continues to fulfill its role as a guide to the use of information technology, a service much valued by the public."

Many patrons, especially seniors, are not familiar with installing software, setting up on-line search criteria or downloading files.

"Lots of people got e-readers at Christmas," said librarian Janine Morin, who has been teaching people how to use their devices with seminars at the Erin branch. "Kobo seems to be the most popular."


In January, there were 2,157 e-books borrowed county-wide, compared to 85,135 physical items such as books, magazines, DVDs and CDs. But the e-book total is almost six times the total for January 2011, and up about 54 per cent from December 2011.

There are some restrictions compared to a regular book: when your 7 or 14-day borrowing period is over, your copy of the material goes dormant and is unusable. There are never any late fines, and if no one else has reserved it, you can download it again. You cannot lend your library files to someone else. Some e-book publishers allow you to burn a copy of their digital files to a CD to keep, while others do not.

Wellington has only 150 titles of its own, but through a partnership with the Southern Ontario Library Service, local residents have access to 18,000 titles. Libraries buy the rights to a limited number of materials, so if someone else has "borrowed" the digital item you want, you have to wait – just as with a regular book.

The category of e-books includes not only downloadable books, but also audiobooks, newspapers, videos and music. Audiobooks were originally in cassette tape format, and can still be borrowed on CDs instead of downloading.

A new audio product available free at the Erin library is the Playaway book, with selections for both children and adults. It is a small, battery-powered, plastic device weighing only two ounces, with only one book on it. Just plug in headphones or link it to a car audio system, then push buttons to play, pause, skip chapters or change the speed of narration. Essentially, it saves you the trouble of using a CD player or loading book files onto an MP3 player. There are also video productions loaded into Playbook View devices – only five ounces, with a small screen that looks like a smart phone.


To download library materials, go to the library website, which is a section of www.wellington.ca, and click on the download icon. Click on Getting Started for advice. You'll need to install Adobe Digital Editions on your computer, to manage books like iTunes manages music. You may need to install Overdrive Media Console to enable reading on various devices.

Log in to the Overdrive system of the Ontario Library Service with a valid library card (they expire every two years), browse the material, put items in your cart, then check out (download) up to five of them. You can read them on your computer, or transfer material to devices ranging from an under-$100 e-reader to and over-$500 iPad. Some devices, especially the Kindle, are not compatible with Canadian library e-books. Call or visit the library if you need help.

Wellington is also researching the 3m Cloud Library, which will compete with the Overdrive system. It includes in-library discovery stations, lendable e-reader units, a simplified set-up and log-in process and an option to either check out or buy an e-book. You could start reading a book on one device, then add bookmarks and continue reading on other devices, including computers, smart phones, tablets and some e-readers. Your digital "bookshelf" would reside in the internet "cloud", instead of on your computer.

A new Wellington County website will be launched this year, including a new base page for the library. It will have links to the on-line catalogue, advanced search features and improved navigation. The library subscribes to various databases that are especially valuable for students.
They provide reliable and reputable information not available through Google or Wikipedia, all available for free with a library card.

The current website provides access to the main iBistro catalogue, allowing you to search and to manage your own account. It also has branch details, the LINK newsletter, and information on book clubs and programs for pre-schoolers, older kids and teens.

Learning to communicate should stay in fashion

As published in The Erin Advocate

I was reading some on-line forums, in which people post comments in response to news stories, and was surprised at the poor spelling and grammar displayed by many contributors.

Not that I think the comments should be edited or censored – poor spellers have every right to engage in public debate. But if you are going to present your words to thousands of people, why wouldn't you read them over, or at least use the spell-checker before submitting?

When I encounter poor spelling, it alters my view of the writer. Do they lack education or they are too lazy to express themselves well? This is undoubtedly unfair, since intelligence can be quite independent of communication skills, and everyone makes mistakes, but that is my reflex reaction. Today, when I see people with poor writing skills rise to positions of influence and authority, I wonder if I am just old-fashioned and out-of-touch.

Still, I think all parents want their children to be competent at writing, because they want them to be confident, persuasive and have many choices for study and work. There are many things parents can do improve kids' literacy, especially during the summer when the regular academic stimulation is missing.

I encountered a new word last week: palaver. It was used in reference to my column, so I had to look it up. I was shocked to discover that it means "prolonged and idle discussion". Well, at least the columns are short.

The point is not that people should learn lots of obscure words, in hopes of impressing others. But if kids see their parents using a dictionary or computer to check on a word, it sends a strong message: the accurate meaning and spelling of words really matters.

Parents act as role models when kids see them reading books, or the local newspaper. Literacy involves many things, from reading maps while on vacation, to navigating with signs and billboards.

"Reading is like a muscle – if you don't use it, you lose it," says Margaret Eaton, President of ABC Life Literacy Canada. "It's important for parents to encourage children to read over the summer to keep their minds sharp. All it takes is 15 minutes a day of reading or engaging in a fun literacy activity."

Other ideas include writing postcards to friends and family while on vacation, or playing word games while on the road. Outings to places like the zoo can lead to useful reading. So can following a recipe or playing a board game.
Naturally, local libraries have many books and events to stimulate young minds.

There's the Bug Safari, a mix of bug games, crafts, collecting and identifying, in Hillsburgh July 15, at 10:30 am, and in Erin August 11, at 2 pm. The African Drumming workshop will be a boost to musical literacy, today (July 14) at the Erin Branch, at 2 pm. There are Jungle Family Storytimes, Toronto Zoo presentations, clay mask-making sessions and a model tree house building contest.

Call or visit a branch to register for events, or for the TD Summer Reading Club – this year with a jungle theme. Last summer, more than 2,000 Wellington kids read over 33,400 books through the club. There is also the Teen Summer Reading Challenge, with some nifty prizes.

Now there's a word you don't hear much any more – "nifty". My on-line dictionary tells me it means skillful, as in "nifty footwork", or stylish as in "a nifty black shirt". After 150 years, the word has fallen out of fashion. Perhaps it is just as well.

Sports groups launch registration blitz

As published in The Erin Advocate

On Erin's smorgasbord of organized fun, perhaps the most eccentric option is Rocketry. On two Saturdays this summer, Erin Hoops offers budding scientists the chance to build and fly their own rockets, for just $30.

Erin Hoops has expanded its selection of summer camps to 32 this year, with a different mix of activities every week. Most are $45 for the whole week, 9 am to 4 pm, with choices that include basketball, baseball, soccer, skateboarding, tennis, floor hockey, badminton, lazer tag, dance, archery, kites, golf and crafts.

"It offers a broader range for kids," said organizer Patrick Suessmuth, at the February 27 sign-up fair hosted by the Town of Erin Recreation and Culture Committee. Erin Hoops also has a March Break Variety Sports Camp, with supervision from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm. Go to erinhoops.ca or call 519-833-2058.

Many children now get into organized sports even before they get into kindergarten. The Hillsburgh Minor Softball Association has their Peanuts group (for kids born in 2006) or T-Ball (2004-2005) for just $40. "It is set up to be fun, and the kids learn together," said Peanut and T-Ball Convenor Doug Todd.

Registration fees range up to $115 for teens. There will also be a Pitching Clinic, April 26-28, with separate sessions for beginners, intermediates and seniors. For more details, go to hillsburghminorsoftball.ca.

Hillsburgh Erin And District Soccer (HEADS) had more than 800 players last year. Early bird registration rates are in effect until March 15, ranging from $90 for the Under 5s to $155 for older groups (family maximum $420). Regular rates are $120 to $200 (family maximum $550). There is a Let Our Kids Play fund to help families who cannot afford the fees.

Debby Gear of HEADS has been impressed with the number of adults willing to coach and take on other duties. "It's nice when you live in a town where everyone works together," she said.

There will be another soccer sign-up session on Saturday, March 20, 10 am to 1 pm in the Centre 2000 lobby. For forms and more details, got to headsoccer.ca or call their office line, 519-855-4431.

The Erin Tennis Club is expanding its schedule of events and training. The membership cost is the same as last year: $140 per family, or $85 for adults and $50 for juniors (17 and under).

Members do not have to pay additional fees for regular court use or club activities, such as the summer junior program on Tuesday mornings. Membership also includes four free lessons (for both adults and kids), but there are fees for additional lessons.

Junior Spring After School Clinics are $80 for eight one-hour sessions. Half-day summer camp sessions (1-4 pm) are $115 per week, but families can apply to have the cost waived. There will also be a Competitive Player Development Program.

Everyone is invited to a free Try Tennis Day on April 17 at the courts, located behind Centre 2000. For more information on the club, call Brian Gentles, 519-833-9715.

New club pro Doug Ing of No Limits Coaching is starting a Munchkin Tennis class for ages 5 and 6, emphasizing fundamental movement skills. Using smaller racquets, smaller courts and slower balls at first, players progress in stages to regular tennis.

"There is no better way to ensure proper tennis development," said Ing, in his newsletter. "The focus is on physical activity, safety and tennis FUNdamentals. We don't emphasize competition for small children."

About 100 families registered for one thing or another at the fair. While it was mostly for sports, though there were two booths dedicated to reading, one from the Wellington County Library (www.wclib.ca) promoting their pirate-themed events for March Break and one from Barbara McKee of Tutor in the Hills, 519-927-01010. There was also a display on Erin's walking trails – call Steve Revell at 519-833-2571 for more information.

If music be the food of literacy, sing on

As published in The Erin Advocate

One of the best ways for children to develop their language skills is an activity that ranks high on the fun scale. Our brains are programmed to respond to music and our voices are voices are built to sing it out – when we get the right opportunity.

Family Literacy Day is coming up on January 27. The theme this year is Sing for Literacy, and there are several Erin events designed to promote better communication skills. Research has shown that music can be an effective tool for developing reading and writing ability, according to the ABC Canada Literacy Foundation.

"Singing together is a fun way to strengthen language skills, and an easy way to involve every family member," said ABC President Margaret Eaton.

Getting people to feel comfortable singing is a specialty for Betty Wise of Erin, a former teacher-librarian who is hosting Sing for Literacy sessions, for people of all ages. She starts out with simple chants and familiar snippets of melody that make it easy for everyone to chime in.

"It doesn't matter what your voice is like," she said. "Music is stimulating, it gets you energized – it gets more of your brain active."

Call to register for the events, to be held at the Erin Library this Saturday, January 23 at 10:30 am (519-833-9762), and at the Hillsburgh Library, January 30 at 10 am (519-855-4010). The libraries are also running the annual Family Literacy Bingo game, in which children complete various activities on the squares of a bingo card to win a prize.

The Bookends used book store, operated by East Wellington Community Services (EWCS) at 45 Main Street, is having a half-price sale on all books, January 23-30. Any child who comes to the store on January 27 will be allowed to choose a free book to take home.

Parents should read to their children from the day they are born, as one of the ways to stimulate their imagination. People develop as communicators, not only by speaking, reading and writing, but through touch, spirituality, visual art, music, academics, theatre and sports. Learning to play a musical instrument helps develop math skills through the study of structure and rhythm.

Music education in the school system is quite variable. It can be good, depending on the school budget, the priorities of the principal and the talents of teachers, but it often falls short of parents' hopes.

EWCS will present the eight-week program, The Moon is Round and Other Rhymes, at the Hillsburgh Library starting March 25. Caregivers will learn songs, rhymes, finger plays and lullabies for babies, birth to twelve months only. Call Marlene MacNevin at 519-833-9696, ext. 223 to register. There is no fee.

School-aged children are invited to the Paws for Literacy event at the Hillsburgh Library this Saturday, January 23, 1-3 pm. With the help of Spirit Ridge K9 Training and Rescue, young people read stories to dogs that have chosen for their calm temperament. Animals, of course, are a non-judgemental audience.

"It is amazing how kids take to the dogs," said Librarian Donna Revell. "It is the only program where boys outnumber the girls."

Boys the world over are slower than girls in improving their language ability, but there is debate about the nature of the problem. Are parents and schools overly concerned with promoting higher levels of skill at younger ages, possibly taking the fun out the process and setting kids up for frustration?

Is it beneficial to make kids sit still for long periods of time, when they might learn more by moving and doing things? Is there an over-emphasis on reading, at the expense of other forms of literacy? Maybe young boys need more things to read that match their interests, like comics, science fiction, sports and adventure.

For more information, try these websites:
familyliteracyday.ca
county.wellington.on.ca (libraries)
eastwellingtoncommunityservices.com
spiritridge.net

Reading skills essential for well-rounded citizens

As published in The Erin Advocate

Is it not wonderful that children these days are text messaging their friends and using the Internet to learn about the world? Will this modern digital literacy mould new generations of responsible cyber-citizens? If it comes at the expense of traditional reading skills, the answer is probably no.

The ability to do web research may be useful, but perhaps it is too easy. When what you think you need is served up to you, less thinking is needed. Reading a good novel, allowing yourself to be guided and entertained by a skilled author, is more likely to expand the mind.

With a little web surfing, I found this quote from Sunil Iyengar, a researcher at the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts: “We can no longer take the presence of books in the home for granted. Reading on one’s own – not in a required sense, but doing it because you want to read – that skill has to be cultivated at an early age.”

The NEA found that regular readers are more likely to vote, join community organizations, support the arts and be employed. Family Literacy Day (January 27 annually) reminds us that developing a love of reading, writing, and math at home is crucial for our economy and culture.

The Erin library is running a Family Literacy Bingo game. Children can fill in squares on a bingo card by completing literacy activities such as: writing a letter to the editor, making up a joke, Googling their name, designing a birthday card, following a recipe or reading a book. Pick up a card at the library and return it by January 31 to win a small prize.

The ability to read well, and enjoy it, does not always come easily, despite the efforts of teachers and parents. About half of Canadian adults have literacy skills that are poor, or barely adequate for their jobs.

The Wellington County Learning Centre offers help to children and adults who want to improve their reading and other basic skills. It is free and confidential. Some of the teaching is done at their facility in Arthur, but a network of about 80 volunteer tutors does much of the work at local centres such as the library, or students’ homes.

Consider becoming a tutor. I did it many years ago (not for WCLC) and it was a great experience for both the student and me. The WCLC provides training, and needs people who can commit three hours per week. Get more information on becoming a student or tutor by calling – 1-888-368-7889, emailing – literacy@thewclc.ca or visiting their website – www.thewclc.ca. They also refer people to similar agencies in Guelph and Acton when needed.

The WCLC website has a newsletter section with very specific advice for tutors and parents. There are techniques to improve spelling, pronunciation, story writing, comprehension, vocabulary and reading aloud with expression, plus information on different learning styles.

Funding from the Guelph-Wellington United Way supports a program for children, and teens up to 18 who are still in school, providing one-to-one teaching to upgrade basic skills. This benefits up to 60 students per year.

Adult programs for literacy, numeracy, resume development, basic computer use and workplace communication are funded by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

“We have funding for 68 adult students, but we serviced 148 last year, so we’re feeling the crunch,” said Executive Director Elizabeth Debergh.

“The main reasons people join are for independence and helping their children learn to read, for further education and for employment needs.”

Relatively new is a college preparation program at the Centre, in partnership with Conestoga College, allowing people to earn prerequisite college admission credits they did not get in high school. There is also a General Education Development program that is recognized by colleges, apprenticeship programs and employers as equivalent to an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

For programs in Arthur, there is a transportation subsidy available. Publications on sale through the WCLC include a Skills Level Checklist, a Budget Workbook for money management and The Road Ahead, an easy to read driver’s handbook.

Low literacy a stubborn problem

As published in The Erin Advocate

The news was discouraging to folks who write for a living.

A report last month from the Canadian Council on Learning says that 48 per cent of Canadian adults have low literacy skills. That does not mean they are illiterate (cannot read or write), but that their abilities fall below internationally-accepted standards for coping in a modern society.

The study, Reading the Future, contradicts the idea that literacy is improving in Canada. As the population grows, the proportion of people in the low literacy categories is expected remain the same, with the total rising from 12 million to 15 million by 2031.

This is in spite of the serious efforts of parents and teachers to instill a love of reading and writing in young people. While these efforts are worthwhile, they are only partially successful.

The low literacy group spans all age groups, English and French speakers, immigrants and those born in Canada, and includes some with high school diplomas and post-secondary education. Most are employed, have a strong dislike of computers and believe their skills are “adequate” for their work. Most are relatively close to meeting the international standard.

At the lowest level, a person may, for example, be unable to determine from a package label the correct amount of medicine to give a child. Those at the next level are literate enough to get by from day to day, but their poor literacy makes it hard to conquer challenges such as learning new job skills.

“Millions of our fellow citizens may learn to read, but they cannot read to learn,” said Dr. Paul Cappon, President of the Canadian Council on Learning. Adult literacy levels have been shown to have a profound influence on the growth or decline of a country’s economy, according to the report.

"The Canadian economy will suffer as the number of Canadians with low literacy skills increases, so we need to prepare workers for shifts in their industry and new technologies," said Margaret Eaton, president of the private-sector ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation.

“The issue of literacy in Canada cannot be solved by any one group,” said Dr. Cappon. “Achieving success will require concerted effort from all levels of government, educators, employers, workers, community groups, families and individuals.”

Reading tends to be a quiet, inexpensive activity. Flashy entertainment on television / internet and a whirlwind of activities outside the home don’t foster a reading environment.

“In our busy world, it is hard for people to sit down and read a book,” said Beverley Picken, Supervisor of the Erin branch of the Wellington County Library. “It is important for children to see their parents reading.”

The library runs programs like the Summer Reading Club for children, using posters, stickers, activity books and prizes to make reading more fun. In the Summer Reading Challenge, teens can get a ballot for every book they read, in hopes of winning an iPod. Adults can read from a list of 10 nominated books and vote to choose the winner in the Evergreen Reading Award Programme. Check www.wclib for more library information.

Word literacy is not an end in itself. It is about having the skill and confidence to be a communicator, which can include physical touch, speech, spirituality, music, theatre, visual arts, academic learning and athletics. The school system is dedicated to helping kids reach their potential as well-rounded citizens, but the process starts at birth.

“Early infant reading develops an attitude towards books and print that is vitally important for reading later on,” says Paul Kropp, in his book How to Make your Child a Reader for Life (available at the Erin library).

“We encourage parents to read to their children right from birth,” said Marlene MacNevin, Children’s Services Manager at EWAG (East Wellington Advisory Group) in Erin.

“Each time they help their child connect books to their own experiences – their toys, friends and activities – they are introducing them to literacy by allowing their children to use their imagination.”

EWAG runs provincially-funded “Ontario Early Years” programs in Erin and Rockwood for children up to six years old. Activities include crafts, songs, finger plays, games and stories. Call 519-833-9696 for details.

At the other end of the spectrum are the program offered by agencies like the Wellington County Learning Centre (see www.thewclc.ca) for adults who want to improve their skills. But that is a topic for another day.

As a society, we are right to set high goals for literacy. People should not, however, pass negative judgment on those with lower (or higher) skills than their own. No one should be afraid to expand his or her horizons.

The important thing is to provide opportunities for everyone to improve, at every age. It is a basic democratic right.