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CLUBWEST, FEATURED ARTICLES (PREVIOUS EDITIONS)

Margaret Andrewes

(To view our September/October 2014 issue of ClubWEST online, click here.)

On opening doors and opportunities

Among Margaret Andrewes favourite quotes is one by Canadian poet, artist and historian Jon Whyte, “The ripples begin where I begin: they wash up on that larger circle, the world.”

It may well be that these words resonate with her because she herself has been known to cause and sustain a few ripples of her own. Through her leadership, she has helped others start ripples as well; each concentric circle marking another success achieved, another opportunity explored.

Andrewes served on Town of Lincoln Council for seven years from 2003-2010 but it is for her roles with the Lincoln libraries and her vast volunteer work for which she is better known – at least locally.

Her resume is extensive and impressive; her list of volunteer work and awards no less so.

Andrewes is the mother of two daughters and a son, and grandmother to twin boys, now age 3. She is married to Philip who served as an MPP from 1981-87.

Each of these roles has brought her much joy.

But if ever there was a watershed moment in her life it was when she became involved with libraries as a volunteer member of the Lincoln Library Board in 1980.

“I was blown away,” said Andrewes. “All of a sudden I was in a community of people passionate about libraries. These were some of the most dynamic and interesting people I would ever meet.”

…

See the full article in our online edition.

FEATURED ARTICLES (PREVIOUS EDITIONS)

Carruthers Printing

(To view our September/October 2014 issue of ClubWEST online, click here.)

For a retired fellow, Ivan Carruthers is one busy man.

Although he retired nearly two decades ago, Carruthers is still an active, connected cog in the West Lincoln community.

It was a long time ago when he broke into the community newspaper business with then-publisher of the Smithville Review George Adams at age 17 as a part-time employee. Then, in 1954, he became the youngest community newspaper publisher in Canada at age 23 when he bought the paper from Adams.

Carruthers said he may have gone into carpentry had Adams not given him his big break.

Although he had been pressed into leaving high school to earn money to help his family of 12 – his father had died and his brother was killed in WW II – Carruthers had been bitten by the
newspaper bug.

He loved his job and he greatly appreciated the opportunity afforded him by Adams, whom he looked upon as a father figure.

…

See the full article in our online edition.

CLUBWEST, FROM THE PUBLISHER (PREVIOUS EDITIONS)

From the Publisher September/October 2014

ClubWest(To view our September/October 2014 issue of ClubWEST online, click here.)

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”
  – Benjamin Franklin

ClubWest Cover Page Sept 4I got a ton of comments on my buddy Ben’s quote above, so I think I will leave it there for the first year.

Well, thanks one and all for the fine reception for Niagara West’s original lifestyle magazine.

There is no need to bore you with an overview of pleasantness, but we have run a smattering of some letters we received.

Much appreciated, by the way.

But, as Ivan Carruthers duly notes in this edition, what is happening in the future? Where are we going and how best do we get there?

I had a very long chat with Ivan, his stepson Steve Ecker and Steve’s wife Mary about all things Carruthers Printing and West Lincoln as a whole. I love history and Ivan has been there done that when it comes to the community for the last six-plus decades. What an impressive man.  It is great to see good things happen for good people. So many things about what Ivan said proved the old adage that one can achieve anything with a little elbow grease.

And if you happen to stop for a glass of wine while achieving those goals along life’s highway, who better to share a glass with than John Howard.

John’s business and life goals, while different, are very much centred in the exact same area as Ivan’s. Both men have an intense love for this area. John could live anywhere in the world.

He has business interest in France, yet, Vineland is the centre of his business universe as is Niagara in his personal life as it also houses his daughter and her child.

Her decision to return to Niagara after studies abroad was not lost on John, who has made a conscious effort to develop what he has right here in front of him in Niagara West.

Again, similarly, Ivan continues to do this same sort of thing taking on the role as West Lincoln Chamber of Commerce’s president for a fourth time, nearly two decades after he “retired”. He still invests in his community.

Not to be outdone by the boys, we have Margaret Andrewes, Lincoln’s own whirling dirvish. Having dealt with Margaret on many occasions over the years, when she was wearing one of her many hats, she lives the “if you need something done, give it to a busy person” adage.

These people, and their efforts over decades, do not magically appear like a rabbit which local magician extraordinaire Calvin Cutts can so consistently produce. Just as Calvin has crafted his reputation as the area’s premier children’s entertainer, these other story subjects have continued to do great things to make everything around them better.

We could use a dozen – or three – more just like them, wouldn’t you agree?

Publisher, ClubWEST Magazine
Mike Williscraft