Welcome to the latest issue of Business & Work in Huron County.

Employment counsellors, business

advisors, and adult education teachers have expressed the need for information on the local labour market
as a resource for their clients. This newsletter is a collaborative effort between The Centre for Employment
and Learning of the Avon Maitland District School Board, Service Canada and the Huron Business
Development Corporation.
June 2009

Inside This Issue:

 Business News and Notes ................................................................ Page 2

Check out highlights of local businesses and organizations in the news.

 Employment Services Huron County .............................................. Page 4

New case-managed client visits, registrations, and closures are tracked on a
monthly basis.

 Huron County Ontario Works ......................................................... Page 5

Business & Work in Huron County

The caseload for Ontario Works is tracked and documented on a monthly basis.

 July 2009 Coming Events ................................................................. Page 5

 Huron County Advertised Job Vacancies ....................................... Page 6

Local newspaper Help Wanted ads are tracked and coded monthly.
Understanding the Changing Nature of the Huron Economy

 spokes Paves the Way for Successful Launch of elearnnetwork.ca ......

............................................................................................................. Page 7

In B&W...

“A customer is the most important visitor on our premises,

he is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is
not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. He
is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not
doing him a favor by serving him. He is doing us a favor by
giving us an opportunity to do so.”

- Mahatma Gandhi

Newsletter Sponsors
Page 2 Business and Work in Huron County - June 2009

Business News and Notes

Business News and Notes is compiled from a review of articles in Huron County’s community newspapers on a
monthlybasis.
 Jamie Durnin, SEB Program Participant, has recently opened his own business. Durnin Kitchens, located near
Dungannon, specializes in kitchen design, building and installation.

 Exeter’s Huron Motor Products (HMP) has been spared from the General Motors (GM) closure of one-third
of its Canadian dealerships. Franchise co-owner, Tim Hamather, stated in an interview that HMP has been
assured its sales and service agreement will be renewed, meaning it will continue business as a GM dealer.
HMP employs as many as 55 employees during the summer in a variety of positions.

 A grand opening celebration was held on June 25, 2009 for the new Exeter Farmers’ Market. Located at
588 Main Street, South (Gary Bean Securities), the market will run on Thursdays from 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm. It
features vendors with products grown within a 60 km radius of Exeter.

 Dukes BBQ is now open in Exeter. Located at 267 Main Street, Dukes offer a wide array of BBQ’d food
and meal deals available for dine-in or take-out.

 On Thursday, May 28, 2009, the Seaforth and District Community Centre was the site of the 5th Girls
Unlimited event that saw close to 120 girls, aged 13 to 16, gathered together to learn about the unlimited
possibilities available to them as young women within the County. The morning held several structured
workshops, as well as key-note speaker Melissa Schenk, a young entrepreneur from Stratford. The afternoon
opened up in to a giant career marketplace. Those speaking to the girls included engineers, designers, skilled
tradespersons, child and youth workers, and entrepreneurs.

 The basement quarters of the Clinton Medical Centre has been transformed in to a suite for doctors visiting
the area. On May 23, 2009, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to celebrate the grand opening of the suite
which will be open for use by visiting or on-call doctors at the Clinton Public Hospital. The completion of the
suite would not have
been possible without
the help of Gene The Engaging Huron’s Youth in Arts and Culture Project will offer local
Logel, owner of the teens the opportunity to explore their creativity and work alongside
Kildonan House B&B experienced Huron County artists through a series of three workshops:
in Clinton, as well as music, visual arts, and film. These FREE workshops will take place in
the many donations, venues across Huron County and will run for an eight-week period over
both in supplies and the length of the upcoming summer months. Spaces are still available in
man-hours, from local all three workshops. For more information, or to register, contact Melina
businesses and Hussey at 519.482.5457, ext. 8, or mhussey@huroncounty.ca
professionals.

 Rumorz is now open

on the Main Street of Clinton in the former Clinton Family Restaurant location. OwnersAnge Rivett and Peter
Zembashi, are offering classic dinner staples including a hearty breakfast special, and a variety of soups, salads,
sandwiches and wraps, as well as gyros, and chicken and pork souvlaki. The pair hope keep local diners in
town, while attracting new ones to the Main Street.

Continued on Page 3...

Page 3 Business & Work in Huron County - June 2009

Business News and Notes Continued from Page 2...

 Home Please is a designated driver service that has opened up in the Grand Bend area. Jean Ross and John
O’Handley came up with the concept which enables people who have been drinking to arrive home safely in
their own vehicles. When you call their number, two people in one vehicle are sent to your location. One of the
two will drive your vehicle to your home and the other will follow behind. The service is available from 4:00 pm
to 3:00 am, Thursday to Monday with a minimum charge of $20. You can reach Home Please at 519.476.2442.

 Joe Dewartz, SEB Program Participant, has opened Upper Canada Sporting Goods on the Main Street of
Seaforth. The store will be concentrating on fishing, hockey, golf and baseball equipment, as well as anything
that encourages families to be active together. With a wide selection of bicycles and skatenboards, a repair
shop is planned for the basement.

 With the theme of the importance of supporting the local economy and its sustainability its focus, the first annual
Bayfield and Area Chamber of Commerce’s Mayor’s Breakfast was held at the Bayfield Town Hall in
May. All foods and services were provided by such local businesses as the Albion Hotel, Metzger Meats, Te-
em Farms, and H.O. Jerry. MP Ben Lobb, and MPP Carol Mitchell were both on hand to extend kudos and
congratulations to our local business owners and entrepreneurs for their hard work. Awards were presented to
local business owners including MaryWolfe, The Village Bookshop owner, in honour of her recent nomination
for a Libris award for being among the top booksellers nationwide, and Jenn Wallace, Bare Bum Studio as the
community’s new young entrepreneur. The event wrapped up with guest speaker Dan Gieruszak, of the
Southwest EconomicAlliance (SWEA) which seeks to engage communities throughout Southwest Ontario in
the promotion and development of the region’s economic potential.

 The Clinton Chiropractic and Wellness Centre recently celebrated its 50th anniversary of serving the
community with an open house on May, 23, 2009. Dr. Carolyn Wood operates the clinic in partnership with
Drs. Scott McAulay and Kevin Dunlop. The open house featured a number of demonstrations including ones
by the site’s resident
massage therapist, EXI-PLAST Custom Moulding Inc. will be hosting its 4th Annual Demo
naturopath and Day on Saturday, July 4, 2009 at the Morrison Dam Conversation Area
iridologist. from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Admission is FREE, as are display spaces.
The days events include family fishing, guided hikes, angling, canoe and
 Trish MacQueen, kayak demonstrations, jetfloat displays, EXI-PLAST and JAMMWELD
artist and CEO of a displays, and so much more! For more information contact Marianne
freelance ghost writing Benson at 519.228.6421, or visit www.exiplast.on.ca.
service, has relocated
her talent, career and
personal life to the Belgrave Women’s Institute Hall. MacQueen plans to refinish the floor, paint and make some
alterations the kitchen. She plans to keep an open floor plan in the main part of the hall for her living and dining
area as well as her business. Her studio will be at the front of the building.

 In an attempt to encourage travellers to stop in Seaforth, sixteen banners having varied photographs of a
different elements of Seaforth, will be installed along Goderich Street (Highway 8) on every other lamp post
from Adam Street on the west end of Seaforth to Centennial Drive on the east end. Huron East Economic
Development Officer, Jan Hawley, stated that the banners will have a word or two on them such as “shopping”,
“park”, “recreation”, or “heritage”. The $17,000 project is being funded by the Seaforth Community
Development Trust. Continued on Page 8...
Page 4 Business and Work in Huron County- June 2009

Employment Services Huron County

• The Employment Services Huron County statistics below are tracked on a monthly basis and are contributed by
The Centre For Employment & Learning and HBDC Employment Services.
• In Chart 1, the number of new clients case managed across the five sites increased when comparing both year-
over year (May 2008 to May 2009) and month-over-month (April 2009 to May 2009) - 11, or 14%, and 1, or
1% respectively. The number of client case closures due to clients finding employment increased as well during
the same time periods - year-over-year, 19, or 28%, month-over-month, 34, or 63%. Client case closures due
to other reasons remained unchanged during both time periods - an increase of 9, or 60%.

• In Chart 2, the total number of in-person visits, across the 5 CEL sites increased when comparing both year-
over-year, and month-over-month. From May 2008 to May 2009, there was a total increase of 1,367 or 46%.
From April 2009 to May 2009, there was a much smaller increase of 112, or 3%.

Employment Services Huron County - New Clients Case-Managed

160
147
New Clients Case Managed

140 New CM Clients Closed Due Employment

New CM Clients Closed To Other

120 114
108 109

100
100
# of c lients

88
Chart 1

87 88 88

77
80 71
70
69
57
60 54
47 52
48 46
43 46 44

40 33 34
29 28
24
21
20 15 15 15 14 14 15 15
12 12
9 10

0
May-08 Jun-08 Jul-08 Aug-08 Sep-08 Oct-08 Nov-08 Dec-08 Jan-09 Feb-09 Mar-09 Apr-09 May-09

Total Number of Client In-Person Vi sits (5 site total )

Employment Services Huron County - Client In-Person Visits
Average Number of Client In-Person Visits Per Site

6,000

5,355

5,000
4,530
4,345
4,233

4,000
3,502
# of clients
Chart 2

3,142 3,232
2,978 3,065 3,039
2,927
3,000 2,728 2,751

2,000

906 1,071
847 869
1,000 700
596 628 613 608 585 646 550
546

0
May-08 Jun-08 Jul-08 Aug-08 Sep-08 Oct-08 Nov-08 Dec-08 Jan-09 Feb-09 Mar-09 Apr-09 May-09

(Information contributed by: Wendy Cornish, Exeter Centre For Employment & Learning &
Deb Williamson, HBDC Employment Services Assistant.)
Page 5 Business and Work in Huron County - June 2009

Huron County Ontario Works

• The total Ontario Works caseload number for May 2009 was 504. When comparing month-over-month (April
2009 to May 2009 ) we see a negligible increase of 3, or 0.6%.

• When comparing year-over-year (May 2008 to May 2009) we see a more substantial increase of 130, or 35%.

Huron County Ontario Works Caseload

550
501 504

493
483 483
500

441

450
Caseload #

406
390
372 377
400 374 367
358

350

300

250
May-08 Jun-08 Jul-08 Aug-08 Sep-08 Oct-08 Nov-08 Dec-08 Jan-09 Feb-09 Mar-09 Apr-09 May-09

(Information contributed by: Janet Priebe, Huron County Ontario Works.)

July 2009 Coming Events

Title of Seminar/Workshop Date and Time Place

Starting Point July 09, 2009
Huron Business Centre
9:30am - 1:00pm

Resume Workshop July 13, 2009 Huron Business Centre

9:00am - 4:00pm
July 21, 2009
Interview Workshop Huron Business Centre
9:00am - 4:00pm
July 23, 2009
Reading Minds 101: Why People Buy (BB) Clinton OMAFRA Office
7:00pm - 9:30pm

Clinton Centre for

July 31, 2009
HBDC's "Business By Design" Workshop Employment & Learning
10:00am - 3:30pm
(60 Mary Street)

Day I Only This Month!

Starting A Small Business
July 28, 2009 Huron Business Centre
Workshop (SEB Program)
9:30am - 12:00pm
Page 6 Business and Work in Huron County - June 2009

Huron County Advertised Job Vacancies - May 2009

• In Chart 1, when comparing month-over-month (April 200 to May 2009), we see a decrease in numbers in 7
out of 10 categories and 3 categories with decreases. The most notable decrease happened in the Business/
Finance/Admin category (4, or 61%) and the most notable increase happened in the Processing/Manufacturing
category (4 or 400%).

• In Chart 2, when comparing year-over-year (May 2008 to May 2009), we see decreases in 7 categories,
increases in 2 and 1 remained unchanged. The biggest decrease happened in the Trades/Transport/Equipment
Operator category (30, or 50%), while the biggest increase happened in the Health category (7, or 50%). The
Management category remained unchanged at 9 advertised vacancies.

Advertised Job Vacancies in Huron County - April 2009 and May 2009

45 43

40
34 36
Chart 1

35 Ap r-09
# of a dver tsie d va ca ncies

30 May-09
30

25 23

20

15 13 14 13
9 9 10
10 8 8
6 4 5 5 6 5
5
1
0
Busi ness/F inance/Admi n

Pr ocessing/Manufacturi ng

Na tural & Appl ied Science

Trades/Transport/Equip ment

Management

Art/Culture/Rec/Sport
Educatio n/Gov't/So cial
Sa les & Se rvice

Health

Primary/Agr iculture
Science
Op erator

Advertised Job Vacancies in Huron County - May 2008 vs. May 2009
60
60

50
50
# of advertsied vacancies

40
34 May-08
Chart 2

30 May-09
30
25

19
20 16
14
9 9 9
7 7 8 8
10 5 5 5
4
1

0
Trades/Transp ort/Equip men t

Art/Cul ture/Rec/Sp ort

Ed uca tion/Go v' t/So cial
Sal es & Se rvice

He alth

Primary/Ag riculture

Bu sine ss/Finan ce/Admin

P ro cessin g/Ma nufactu ring

N atu ra l & Ap pl ied Sci ence

Man agement
Scie nce
Operator
Page 7 Business and Work in Huron County - June 2009

spokes Paves the Way for Successful Launch of elearnnetwork.ca

Over the course of the last 5 years, The Centre for Employment & Learning of theAvon Maitland District School
Board, Fanshawe College, Huron Business Development Corporation and countless other local organizations, have
worked together to provide our community with access to flexible, on-line training options.

Through the creation of the spokes on-line learning community, students and employers in Huron, Perth, Bruce and
Grey counties have been able to access local and on-line training opportunities and receive in-person support with
program research and course registrations. Through spokes, we have helped many students engage in and successfully
complete on-line courses and post secondary programs.

In order to reach a wider audience, maintain more sustainable funding and to avoid a duplication of service, spokes will
be transitioning into elearnnetwork.ca. Spokes has been developing a relationship with elearnnetwork.ca since its
origin, partnering on a number of projects in Bruce County and sharing our expertise on on-line learning in rural
communities.

Spokes is thrilled to be passing the torch on to such a like-minded and progressive organization. Elearnnetwork.ca will
provide the same service and support as spokes for on-line learners in rural communities, but with many more
advantages. With 17 locations across Southern and Eastern Ontario, including two new centres in Huron and Perth
counties and an existing centre in Bruce county, they are able to service learners on a much larger scale.

Elearnnetwork.ca has partnerships with 34 educational institutions and there are more than 7,500 courses and hundreds
of certificate, college diploma and university degree programs to choose from in their on-line database. They offer
beginning to end learner support including program research, registrations and tech help. Their facilities are free to use
and are comfortable, private and quiet. Elearnnetwork.ca offers flexible hours and are equipped with high speed
internet and state of the art computers and equipment.

As of June 30, 2009, thewww.myspokes.ca website will no longer be active. If you are looking for assistance with
on-line learning options, please visit www.elearnnetwork.ca or contact The Centre for Employment & Learning nearest
you. Should you have anyspokes brochures in your possession, we ask that you kindly discard of them or replace
them with elearnnetwork.ca promotional material.

We would like to thank everyone who has helped make spokes such a success over the years and encourage you to
show elearnnetwork.ca the same support in the future.

The Centre for Employment & Learning www.elearnnetwork.ca

www.thecentreforemploymentandlearning.ca Kincardine (519) 396-5212
(519) 524-2515 Exeter (519) 235-1232
Stratford (519) 271-1894

ATTENTION!

SPOKES STUDENTS
Now you can continue your studies via
www.elearnnetwork.ca
Page 8 Business and Work in Huron County - June 2009

Business News and Notes Continued from Page 3...

 The Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) will eliminating 10 teaching positions for the 2009/2010
school year. For the first time in many years, the number of teacher retirements and leaves of absence will not be
adequate for the AMDSB to avoid these job losses. At a trustee meeting in May, a series of motions were
approved that are designed to allow the board to fulfill its contract obligations while eliminating these 10 positions.
The board currently employs 485 secondary school teachers and 589 elementary teachers.

 Thanks to a partnership between the Huron County Library and the Huron ManufacturingAssociation
(HMA), local residents looking for manufacturing specific reading materials need only contact their local library.
John Feeney, HMAWorkforce Development Coordinator, stated that the concept came about as a result of a series
of educational seminars hosted by the HMA. Many of the books available focus on the concept of Lean
Manufacturing which is a concept that helps companies eliminate wasteful steps and practices, and are available in a
variety of formats.

 The John Cullen Chevrolet General Motors dealer in Wingham is 1 of the 290 dealerships that have received
notification that its contract will not be renewed. Owner, John Cullen, stated that the dealership won’t be going
anywhere, as he will change to selling used vehicles and serve existing and future customers. None of the 10 jobs at
the dealership will be lost during the changes.

 It’s business as usual for McGee Motors in Goderich as they have received notice that their contract will be
renewed. For McGee Motors, celebrating 80 years of service in Goderich, the prospect of a 4th generation of the
McGee family running the operation has grown considerably.

 Discovery Week (June 1 to June 5) saw 147 medical first-year medical students from the Schulich School of
Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Western Ontario fan out across 33 communities in southwestern Ontario
to experience first-hand all that rural/regional medicine has to offer. The goal of DiscoveryWeek is to inspire
medical students to practice in rural, small and mid-sized communities in Southwestern Ontario upon completion of
their studies and to provide them with an understanding of rural/regional medicine.

 On June 6, 2009, a grand Lambton comes to Wingham! Lambton College is bringing its
opening was held at the
programs and services to Wingham. Two information sessions will be
Bayfield Chiropractic held on Thursday July 9, 2009 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in
Centre, located at 2 Main
Wingham - 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm, and 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Join them and
Street, South in Bayfield. speak with staff, faculty and students, and visit some of their interactive
Those attending met with the displays. For more information call 519.541.2403, or
doctors and had a tour of the
visit www.lambton.on.ca
clinic.

 The BluewaterArea Family Health Team is one step closer to having a home of its own. James Fryett
Architect Inc. of Elora is working on the site, located at 43 Main Street in Zurich, while Stratford’s Feltz Design
Build will put the finishing touches on the building. Once complete, the Zurich Health Centre will accommodate Dr.
Michael Hurley, nurse practitionerAnnie Morris, administrative assistant Brenda Schilbe, medical office assistant
Lorri Morley, and administrative leadAnn Brabender.

 On May 30, 2009, the new Suncoast Drive Salvation Army Store opened its doors in Goderich. A concert was
held that evening to help celebrate the opening at the Bethel Pentecostal Church.
Continued on Page 9...
Page 9 Business and Work in Huron County - June 2009

Business News and Notes Continued from Page 8...

 Suncoast Mall in Goderich recently saw the opening of two new stores. Ardene and Rader’s Homestyle
Market are both open for business. Ardene offers a variety of accessories such as jewellery, footwear, belts,
scarves, sunglasses and much more. Rader’s Homestyle Market offers products from Metzger Meat Products and
Hayter’s Turkey Products, and Jerry Rader’s Homestyle Catering Products, as well as unique giftware and take out
lunches.

 The site of the former Darling’s Food Market, at the corner of Main and Sanders Streets in Exeter, has been
sold. The new owner, according to South Huron CAO Roy Hardy, is a company that owns a chain of stores, but
completed details are not available at this time.

 Both the federal and provincial governments have announced nearly $5.5 million in funding for two infrastructure
projects in South Huron. Amajor $6.8 million project in South Huron that will include the replacement of the
infrastructure on Canada Avenue andAirport Line to the end of the road in the industrial park at Saf-T-Cab, will
receive $2,266,666 from both the province and Ottawa. The municipality also received a Building Canada Fund
grant of $462,550 each from the province and Ottawa for the approximately $1.5 million Exeter Diversion Drain at
the end of town. The Huron Park and Exeter projects amount to over $8.1 million in projects for South Huron.

 Residents of Huron-Bruce will benefit from federal and provincial infrastructure funding to replace, upgrade, and
rehabilitate numerous projects. North Huron will be revamping the Blyth Campground which will get new
washrooms, showers, and laundry facilities. This project is estimated to cost $137,000, funded two-thirds by the
federal and provincial governments. Howick has received grants for three projects totalling $562,000. These
include Gough and Spencetown road construction, and an addition for the public works garage.
(Additional information contributed by: Carol Leeming, Self Employment Benefit Program Coordinator.)

Questions or comments? Please contact us:

Lisa Harper
Information Manager
Huron Business Development Corp.
Phone: 519.527.0305, ext. 25
Email: lharper@smallbusinesshuron.ca