Front Page Photo

Richard Cook, president of the local St. Leonard's Society board of directors, is pictured on the front page of the February 23, 2010 edition of the BRANTFORD EXPOSITOR.

The page A3 story is under the headline "Agency gets top marks".

St. Leonard's Community Services has received the Children's Mental Health Ontario stamp of approval. The agency, which delivers a range of social services in the area, has received a four-year accreditation from the government agency.

St. Leonard's employs about 200 people and has an annual operating budget of about ten million dollars. It provides a range of social services including addictions counselling, youth employment services, youth homes and rehabilitation services in Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk Counties.

Richard Cook is the son of Joan Cook and the late Howard Cook.

March Birthdays

Happy birthday to you!

Christine Javidi (1)

Violet Baird (3)

Shayne King (7)

Fraser St. Amand (17)

Josiahs Cook (18)

Abby Flinders (22)

Martha Simpson (30)

Julie Middleton (30)

CURRIE

Strathroy area fans plan to honour

First World War hero with statue!

Fans working to erect a statue in honour of Strathroy-raised war hero General Sir Arthur Currie are approaching their task the same way Currie approached warring: methodically and with determination. "One thing Currie used to say was, "I'm not brilliant, but I'm determined," says John P. Sargeant, vice-chairperson of the Currie monument committee.

The committee's aim is to raise as much as $85,000 for a life-sized bronze or stone sculpture of Currie in the community where he was born and raised. Strathroy-Caradoc and the Sir Arthur Currie branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is Strathroy have each donated $1,000 to the cause, while several hundred dollars in private donations have come to the registered charity. The committee hopes to have the work done by November 11, 2010. Sargeant said 2010 is also the 150th anniversary of the founding of Strathroy.

Currie, who died in 1933, was the first Canadian commander in World War I. Considered one of the finest Canadian generals ever, Currie was pivotal in making Canadians a force to be reckoned with.

Renowned for his strategic approach to battle - he was first to make sure every soldier knew the objective, in an age when only officers were usually made privy to that information - Currie rose to NUMBER 24 on a recent poll of 100 most influential Canadians.

Currie wasn't a brilliant tactician, although he knew which battle strategies to adopt for which situations. He cared deeply about the welfare of the men under his command and they respected him in return, although he was not naturally charismatic. He deflected praise for First World War victory to his soldiers at Vimy Ridge and accepted his duty at Passchendaele - both battles where Canadians fought with nation-building distinction - even though he knew it would result in many deaths.

Organizers are planning a fund-raising dine-in mess dinner in Mt. Brydges on May 1, 2010, with Great War historian and author Tim Cook as guest speaker. Find more information at: http://curriememorialproject.tripod.com/

(EDITOR'S NOTES: On the DOCUMENTARY channel, I recently viewed a documentary on the U.S. army's contributions in World War I. According to the film, the US had more soldiers in the field than Canada; they took fewer prisoners; they had a higher rate of wounded and dead than Canada; they took part in fewer major battles.)

SICK BAY

Norma's MRI

On Friday, February 5, Norma had her MRI at hospital in London. Joan Cook, Anne & Digby Sargeant drove to London with Norma. Nick and Anne Sargeant accompanied Norma to the hospital, while Joan, Rose Reilly and Digby did some spot shopping.

Roseanne Baird joined the others at the Reilly home for a visit before Rose treated the group to supper at Huron House restaurant.

Results of the MRI are expected soon.