Subsurface wastewater option rejected

Erin Town Councillors still want to explore alternative technologies for Erin’s future wastewater system, but discharging treated effluent into the ground instead of the river will not be one of them.

They received a detailed technical report last week by engineer Gary Scott of Ainley Associates that says a subsurface disposal system would be impractical, risky and more costly than surface disposal. The analysis is backed up by Credit Valley Conservation and the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.

“It’s not competitive with surface water disposal and doesn’t give any cost advantage,” said Scott. Council authorized the investigation last year.

“The Master Plan had mentioned it, but subsurface disposal hadn’t been looked at in detail, so we have plugged that hole.”

This will avoid the possibility that the overall study could be challenged and delayed for failing to have studied sufficient options.

The projections are based on the possibility of “full build-out”, meaning that homes could be built over a 20-30 year period on all of the lands within the urban areas of Hillsburgh and Erin village that are already designated for that use in the Official Plan.

Current homes in Erin village would generate wastewater of 2,244 cubic metres per day (m³/d), but that could more than double to 4,767 m³/d. The Hillsburgh flow could quadruple, from 600 to 2,400 m³/d.

For a subsurface discharge bed, Erin village would need 40 hectares (98 acres), set back at least 300 metres from any creek or wetland. Such lands do not exist near Erin village, even if they could be purchased.

“The MOECC would likely require a spare bed,” said Scott. “There is a history of failure for subsurface systems in North America and Europe. The ministry is cautious in approving them.”

Hillsburgh would require a 19.5 hectare (48 acre) lot, which Scott say may be possible. But he said the costs of building and maintaining subsurface disposal in Hillsburgh, plus traditional river disposal in Erin village, are 10-20 per cent higher than pumping Hillsburgh sewage to a single treatment plant in Erin village.

Preliminary estimates (at full build-out) show the cost of treating waste at two separate areas at $71 million, compared to $61.7 million at a single Erin village site. That does not include the huge separate cost of building the collection pipe system throughout the villages.

Previously, new growth was expected to be limited to 6,000 residents. But a strategy suggested last year (but not yet approved by council) could see well over 10,000 new residents. Some existing neighbourhoods could be exempt from having sewers, and intensive treatment of sewage could allow for more effluent being allowed in the river.

Full details of the strategy are to be presented at a Public Information Centre (PIC). This has been delayed, and is expected this spring. The current phase of the Environmental Assessment is intended to research various practical options for collection and treatment of wastewater. 

With fewer children, Erin is stuck in the middle ages

The number of children living in the Town of Erin is at its lowest point in more than 20 years, according to 2016 census data released last week by Statistics Canada.

Although the town’s population rose 6.2 per cent to 11,439 from 2011 to 2016, the proportion of children aged 0-14 continued a long-term decline.

Back in 1996, Erin had 2,558 children, making up 24 per cent of the population. Now, we’re down to 1,750 children, making up only 15.3 per cent of the population.

By comparison, the national average for the proportion of children 0-14 is 16.6 per cent, while in nearby Georgetown, the proportion is 19.4 per cent.

The total number of children in Erin is down 6 per cent in the last five years, but it’s not as drastic as in the previous 5 years (2006-2011) when the decline was 15 per cent.

Within the 0-14 age group, Statistics Canada reports 450 Erin kids aged 0-4, 595 aged 5 to 9 years and 705 aged 10-14. If these numbers were to stay consistent, it would mean a substantially lower number of elementary school age children, since fewer young children would be entering the school system.

Among adults, Erin’s lowest population groups are ages 25-29 (490 people) and ages 30-34 (450 people). In contrast, the age 50-54 group has 1,275 people and the 55-59 group has 1,105 people.

The population is heavily weighted in the middle groups, with the number aged 35-64 totalling 5,475, almost half the total population.

The number of people in Erin aged 65 and older is 1,725, or 15.1 per cent of the population, which is also lower than the national average of 19.9 per cent.

Population growth in the urban areas of Erin village and Hillburgh is lower than the Town average of 6.2 per cent, meaning that most growth has been in the rural areas.

Erin village up is up 4.9 per cent to 2,647 people, in 1,011 private dwellings (845 being single detached homes). Hillsburgh is up 5.5 per cent to 1,124 people, in 430 private dwellings (365 being single detached homes).

Overall the Town of Erin including rural areas has some 4,100 dwellings, with 3,770 as single-detached homes, 80 attached homes, 150 apartments and 100 moveable homes.

The average household size is 2.8 persons. The breakdown is 635 dwellings with one person, 1,525 with two people, 725 with three people, 795 with four people, and 415 with five or more.

While the census has Erin’s 2016 population at 11,439, the actual number of people living in the Town is probably higher. Some people are normally missed in the census. For the 2011 census, Statistics Canada estimated the “undercount” at 4.1 per cent.

Erin population up

Erin’s population has rebounded after a drop reported five years ago, growing by 6.2 per cent to 11,439, according to figures released last week by Statistics Canada.

The growth rate is higher than the provincial average of 4.6 per cent and the national average of 5 per cent. The 2016 census counted 13.5 million people in Ontario and 35.2 million in Canada.

Initial figures show there were 4,108 private dwellings occupied in Erin, an increase of 9.8% from 2011.

When the 2011 census reported Erin with 10,770 residents, a decline of 378 (-3.4%) since 2006, it was the first population drop for village and township since the Great Depression.

More detailed statistics have not been released yet, but the trend in Erin has been a low number of seniors and families with young children, partly due to high real estate prices and relatively few new homes being constructed.

While the census has Erin’s 2016 population at 11,439, the actual number of people living in the Town is probably higher. Recently the County’s estimate for Erin’s population has been 12,365.

Some people are normally missed in the census. Statistics Canada has not yet published an estimate of the “undercount” for 2016, but for the 2011 census it was 4.1 per cent.

Wellington County is responsible for population forecasts, as part of the Province’s Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe area. After adding the undercount, the County and Province use a Census Adjusted Population for their forecasts.

Since census statistics only come out every five years, the County tries to keep a more accurate estimate of the number of residents. In addition to the undercount, they have an in-house tracking system that includes building permit data to estimate the number of occupied dwellings.

 “A census release does not typically result in changes to an existing forecast,” said Mark Paoli, Manager of Policy Planning for Wellington County. “It is used as an input to the next forecast update, once all the information is released and our economists Watson Associates have reviewed and analysed all of the new data.”

The newly-published census population for all of Wellington County is 90,932, up 6.9%, while the County’s recent estimate of its own population is 95,805.

As part of the StatsCan website, the Focus on Geography feature compares Erin’s population growth to that of other municipalities.

Caledon’s published population has grown by 11.8% to 66,502. Orangeville is up 3.3% to 28,900, East Garafraxa down .6% to 2,579, Guelph/Eramosa up 3.8% to 12,854, Centre Wellington up 5.6% to 28,191, Halton Hills up 3.6% to 61,161 and Shelburne up 39% to 8,126.

Erin to remain small despite nearby growth

The Wellington County population is expected to rise by 38% and hit 132,000 within 20 years – an increase of 36,195 residents. The Town of Erin, however, will only have to absorb a small share of the influx.

Figures in a report from Wellington County about proposed changes to the Official Plan (contained in the agenda of the April 5 agenda of Erin Town Council) show that the Town population is currently estimated at 12,365.

Even with possible wastewater servicing, the Erin population is expected to rise by only 2,995 residents (up 24%) by 2036. Total households would increase by 1,070 to a total of 5,185 (up 26%) and total local jobs would rise by 1,450 (up 38%)

Projections for rural growth have been scaled back in recent years, and now only 910 new residents are expected outside of Erin village and Hillsburgh, up 11% by 2036. Rural residents would still be the majority at 8,860.

The urban areas will have higher growth, with 2,850 new residents, up 47% to a total of 6,500. This is in spite of an Assimilative Capacity Study (ACS) on the West Credit River that currently limits the number of urban residents on sewers to 6,000.

 “We’re not talking about a massive amount of growth,” said Councillor Jeff Duncan at the April 19 Council meeting.

“Erin is still going to be a small municipality, surrounded by larger municipalities. It is more or less the same sort of community that we have now, that is growing, but the surrounding municipalities are growing at a much larger rate. We’re still going to be a smaller, rural service centre.”

Milton provides the most extreme comparison, with a population that has tripled in 15 years to over 100,000, and is expected to hit 230,000 in the next 15 years (up 130%). Halton Hills could go from 59,000 in 2011 to over 92,000 (up 56%) in the same period.

In Wellington, by 2036, Rockwood is expected to grow by only 1,125 (up 22%), but Fergus is expected to add 13,805 residents (up 92%) and Elora to add 4,515 residents (up 60%).

“We don’t want to grow like a Milton or a Caledon, but those numbers might be light, so I’m hoping these things can be reassessed every five years,” said Councillor Matt Sammut.

“We may get some [wastewater] technology that says all of a sudden our growth can actually double, so we could go up five or six thousand, which is potentially good – we have a lot of land mass, plus we can have a lot of severances. Obviously it helps our tax base over time. So as long as the flexibility is there, hopefully we’ll find the right mix for the community.”

Mayor Al Alls said, “These are numbers they throw against the wall. They are sort of fixed, but it doesn’t take a whole lot to modify them.”

Erin’s growth is partially limited by the ability of the West Credit River to absorb treated effluent from a proposed wastewater treatment plant. The current Environmental Assessment is studying treatment technologies.

The County will not provide separate population projections for Erin Village and Hillsburgh “until the Town of Erin Council determines how much growth will go to each community and how much growth will be serviced by municipal water and wastewater and/or partial services [Town water with private septics].”

New signs will boost Wellington County identity

As published in The Erin Advocate

Erin will be getting some fancy new signs at its borders, as Wellington County tries to offer a friendlier welcome to visitors.

A new signage strategy called This Way to Wellington was approved by County Council last month. It was developed with local focus groups and a public survey by Stempski Kelly Associates, the same consulting firm that is doing Erin’s Riverwalk Feasibility Study.

The Wellington County Coat of Arms

The signage is expected to cost at least $200,000 over the next three years.

New “gateway” welcome signs will replace the simple blue ones, informing drivers on major roads that they are entering Wellington County. They will be 2.7 metres (9 feet) wide with a curved top, and Welcome to Wellington County in large letters. The background is blue, with images of growing grain, and the County Coat of Arms inset.

In case you have not paid much attention to the Coat of Arms, which is at the centre of the County logo, it features Arthur Wellesley, the First Duke of Wellington, holding a sword and riding a white horse. Below that is a red cross dividing a blue background with five white dots in each quadrant, surrounded by golden sheaves of wheat. The motto is VISION VALOUR.

The welcome signs will have the name of the local municipality, such as Erin, in the lower right corner on a grey background. They are intended to complement existing local welcome signs.

Erin will get two primary signs, which means they will be mounted in an attractive rock landscaping. One will be on County Road 124 as drivers enter from Caledon, and the other will be on Trafalgar Road as drivers from Halton Hills cross the county line in Ballinafad. Each installation will cost about $6,000.

Secondary welcome signs will be the same size and design, but simply mounted on posts, and will cost $3,500 each. When the project is complete, Erin will have one of these on County Road 125 just north of Acton at the Halton Hills border, and another on Trafalgar Road north of Hillsburgh, at the East Garafraxa Township border.

There are 62 roads entering the county, but the smaller ones will not get signs. There will be 13 primary signs and 18 secondary ones.

There will also be directional signs of the same style near Erin village and Ballinafad, pointing towards other destinations. There would only be 18 of these throughout the county.

Another type of sign is called “Pay-to-Play”, meaning that businesses will pay a proposed annual fee of $250 to have their attraction featured. The number of these has not been determined, but each will cost $2,500. They provide classy-looking tourism promotion to local towns, without cluttering up the countryside with a wide variety of signs.

Refugee group launched to sponsor a Syrian family

As published in The Erin Advocate

The Erin Refugee Action group was launched on March 3, with the goal of bringing a Syrian family of four to live in the community.

A fundraising target of $40,000 has been set, to provide for various needs during the family’s first year in Canada. That’s more than the minimum of $27,000, since the group wants to have a contingency fund for unexpected costs.

“We’ve raised $9,500 so far, and have an anonymous donor matching funds – we’re almost halfway there,” said Chair Barbara Harrison. “We have heard that many of the Syrian refugees are from rural areas. We hope to be matched with one of those families.”

The timing is still uncertain. The family could arrive within three months of a match being made, or it could take up to a year, said Harrison.

Support for the project has been provided by Transition Erin and local churches. The application for the sponsorship is being done through the Anglican Diocese of Niagara with local charitable donations processed by All Saints Church in Erin.

The money raised so far is in addition to about $10,000 raised in December with an event at Erin United Church, mainly to support the First Line for Syria sponsorship in Mono. That group has now welcomed a Syrian family of three. Khaleel Huseyin Alos, his wife Sabah Abdulkadir, and their seventeen-year-old daughter Helin had to move from their home city of Damascus to a refugee camp in Turkey. Now they have moved into an apartment in Shelburne.

Erin Refugee Action has set up a steering committee and has a broader group of volunteers. Drivers will be needed to help a family get to shopping, employment, appointments and English language classes.

“We'd love to get the service groups involved as well as other churches, local businesses and any community groups,” said Harrison. “One of our goals is to create community connections. We are hoping that other groups will take on some of the fundraising.”

The plan is to start off with temporary housing in Erin, then arrange longer-term accommodation either in the Town or within a practical distance, depending on the needs and preferences of the family.

Anyone who wants to volunteer, or find out what is happening, is welcome at the next meeting on April 6, from 7 to 9 pm (or come at 6 pm to be part of the fundraising team meeting). The location is All Saints Anglican Church Hall, on Main Street, Erin. Two immigrants from Syria will be leading a discussion on Syrian culture and resettlement.

Donation cheques should be made out to All Saints Anglican Church (with Erin Refugees in the memo line). Tax receipts will be issued for donations $10 and over. Donations can be mailed to Erin Refugee Action, PO Box 308, Erin, N0B 1T0. On-line giving options are being arranged, and donations of furniture, clothes and food will eventually be needed.

“We'll keep fundraising even after reaching our $40,000 goal,” said Harrison. “We may end up being matched with a family larger than 4 members (and therefore need more money) or might even consider sponsoring a second family, perhaps related to the first.”

More information is available on the Erin Refugee Action Facebook page. Email contact can be made at erinrefugeeaction@gmail.com.

In addition to the 25,000 Syrians the Canadian government had committed to resettling, it has announced a plan to increase the number of privately sponsored refugees this year. The number had previously been about 6,000 per year, but now they are setting aside up to 18,000 spaces for them.

Immigration officials have told private sponsorship groups that Syrian refugees who arrive after March 1 will have to pay back the costs of their airfares and medical exams — about $1,000 for each plane ticket and several hundred dollars per person for health screening. Sponsorship groups would not be obligated to cover that cost, but they could end up doing so.

However, Syrians being sponsored through the government-assisted “Blended Visa Office Referred” program – the joint sponsorship that the Erin group hopes to be part of – will continue to have those expenses paid by the government.

Overall, Canada plans to admit between 280,000 and 305,000 new permanent residents this year, the highest projected level in decades. There will be a priority on reuniting families. Those coming primarily to seek work in Canada will make up the largest block of the 2016 immigrants, estimated at 162,400 people.

What are the top things you’d like to see in Erin?

As published in The Erin Advocate

The list could be quite long, but let’s start with the top three. What things would you like to see in Erin? The question is being asked by Robyn Mulder, the Town’s Economic Development Officer.

Of course, we already have some great stores, restaurants and services, but more economic activity is clearly needed. There has been some gloom and doom talk lately due to a number of vacant storefronts, especially Mundell Lumber.

We’ve been suffering from a lack of new population and affordable housing, which is impacting businesses, schools and non-profit organizations. The community remains very attractive and resilient, though and I believe that moderate growth will resume in the next few years.

Some new businesses are moving into downtown Erin village. Mejores Foods is selling meats, cheeses, baking supplies and bulk foods. Brighten Up Toys and Games has expanded its educational camp facilities.

A Benjamin Moore Paints outlet has opened at Decor Solutions. The Busholme Inn is being renovated and will reopen soon. Snowberry Botanicals has moved in beside Treehaven Natural Foods, offering floral arrangements and bouquets, plus event planning and rentals.

The former Renaissance location will soon have a store called Epiphany – a second location for Laura Demers who has operated the Epiphany store in Elora for the last five years. It is a boutique specializing in affordable clothing, plus accessories, books, cards and gifts.

I’ve been hearing rumours of new developments at the old Guardian Fiberglass plant, and the old elementary school, so some good news would be welcome at those locations.

Erin needs a full-fledged trail system to help attract visitors and residents to our stores and natural areas. We have some good trails now, but a riverside boardwalk in Erin village and a trail around the Hillsburgh pond would be huge steps forward.

A retirement home would be a perfect fit, and more children in the community would be a welcome boost to the daycare / nursery school sector.

There have been efforts to create an outlet for reusable household goods (similar to Wastewise in Georgetown), and I remain hopeful that it will happen some day. It would be nice to have electronics and sporting goods stores, but we need the right population and market conditions to make them financially viable.

In 2012, I proposed building a Big Shamrock, a huge, green icon of our identity that could be known around the world – in the same way that the Big Nickel has put Sudbury on the map. Read more by Googling: erin “big shamrock”.

Revitalizing our commercial areas with more of what people want and need all year round will add value to the “buy local” proposition. Progress will be built on confidence in the town’s future, so it is in everyone’s interest to be salespeople for the community – building it up and talking it up.

“I’m focusing on small, independent businesses,” said Mulder. “The biggest part of my job is connecting with people.” You can call her with your comments at 519-855-4407 ext. 241, email robyn.mulder@erin.ca, or drop in for a chat at the Town office.

It was a big step for the Town to hire someone with the expertise to help retain existing businesses and recruit new ones. The least we can do is tell her what we want.

Local boys self-publish science fiction adventure

As published in The Erin Advocate

When I was 12, I thought that I could write a novel. I’ve now been procrastinating for 47 years. Despite earning a degree in English literature and writing thousands of newspaper articles, there is still no novel in sight.

So I was a bit envious when I met Henri Clark from Hillsburgh, who just went ahead and did it. His 13th birthday party was also a book launching.

The Adventures of Zeppron features a hero in another universe whose space ship is shot down, far from his home planet. He makes alliances with mysterious characters and does high-tech battle with an even more mysterious enemy. 

Author Henri Clark and Illustrator George Wilson

“Zeppron is young and small, but with the knowledge of an adult,” said Henri. “He uses technology to his advantage, like MacGyver.” Angus MacGyver was a TV secret agent (1985-1992) known for solving complex problems by making devices out of ordinary objects.

Science fiction is a good way for a novelist to start out, since there is plenty of inspiration in popular movies and TV shows, and it permits a wide range of possibilities.

“I can invent technology for whatever I need,” said Henri, who wrote the book in about 4 months. It started out as a short story, but with so many ideas floating around, it expanding to a 169-page novel, and a plan to write five more as a series.

Adventures include the use of a glowing golden device called the Staff of Zepronas that can restore things that have been damaged. Then there is the amazing suit that enables Zeppron to fly and control weapon systems.

The story focuses on the friendship among the good guys, with many narrow escapes as they try to stop the evil Blackhat from succeeding.

“It’s not supposed to be happy or sad – it is a series of cliffhangers, getting the reader to the next section,” said Henri.

His partner in the publishing project is his friend George Wilson, who created the illustrations that appear on the title pages for each part. He is also working on promotion.

They have their own business card and postcard to advertise the book, and they’ve been interviewed by a columnist from Metroland Media.

The book looks cool with its glossy cover, and though it was done for fun, they are selling it for $9.59 US ($13+ CAN) on Amazon.com. Just Google the words Zeppron and Clark and you’ll find a number of websites from different countries selling the book.

It was done through the website blurb.com, which for a very low cost enabled them to set the book up, get a small number of copies and make it available to the public.

With the “print-on-demand” system, customers get the book in just a few days, and there is no need for an expensive inventory.

Spring is in the air at Erin Garden Club

As published in The Erin Advocate

In the middle of winter, when the great outdoors is looking a bit dreary, a meeting of the Erin Garden Club is just the thing to stir up hopes of springtime.

The group normally meets in the Wellington Room at Centre 2000, providing an opportunity each month for education and inspiration on all aspects of gardening.

“We are a service group and we need new volunteers to help in planting and maintaining gardens in the village of Erin,” said President Jenny Frankland, at the January meeting.

Birdhouse Building was the topic for speaker JoAnne Howes, but not the traditional style of construction. She took on the creative challenge of making birdhouses out of natural material such as gourds, or household objects just waiting to be re-used.

“We went to Wastewise and got all kinds of junk,” said Howes, showing off a series of unique creations. “We had fun making these, and I think we spent $10.”

Howes showed off several bird shelters made from unlikely items, such as a teapot, a jelly mould, an olive oil can and children’s rubber boots. You can even make a birdhouse out of a 2-litre plastic pop bottle, painted to suit your garden décor. Step-by-step instructions for various projects are readily available on-line.

Nest-friendly enclosures will normally have a hole of 1 to 1.5 inches, and an interior area of 4 to 5 inches square, depending on the type of bird you want to attract. An outside perch is needed, and some ventilation and drainage holes inside are a good idea.

Instead of creating complete birdhouses, some gardeners simply like to create sheltered nooks for birds that are willing to build more open nests. Just make sure that cats can’t get at them.

Birds will use a wide variety of materials for nests, including sticks, moss, grasses, leaves, feathers, dog hair, dryer lint, pine needles, bits of string and cedar chips. Providing a nearby supply could encourage a building project.

The Garden Club has a series of flower shows with different themes, where members can compete with entries that they have grown or designed.

There are various guest speakers throughout the year, with Garden Ergonomics featured at the February 24 meeting. Other topics include the growing of cacti and other succulents, plant spirit medicine and home landscape principles.

Some sessions provide hands-on workshops, such as Fairy Garden Planting, Garden Hedgehogs and Seasonal Decorations.

Other events are field trips to special gardens, and there’s the Garden House Tour on July 16, which is open to the public. On September 9-10, the club will have their Plant Sale at McMillan Park in Erin village. The Annual Meeting in October features a Photography Show.

Members are entitled to discounts at Country Crops, Country Garden Concrete, the Dufferin Garden Centre, Greenscape Nursery and Meadowville Garden Centre.

More information about the club, also known as the Erin Horticultural Society, is available at eringardenclub.ca.

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.