The Creemore
Echo
Friday, January 16, 2015 Vol. 15 No. 03 thecreemoreecho.com News and views in and around Creemore
Inside the Echo
At home at The Glen
Heads for business
PAGE 7
PAGE 12
Pat McConville was born to race
New BIA gets to work
Publications Mail Agreement # 40024973
Collingwood man killed in crash
A 57-year-old man was killed in a car crash in Clearview Township on Saturday, Jan. 10. Deceased is Edouard Bakissa, of Collingwood. The crash happened on Highway 26 near 30/31 Sideroad Nottawasaga at about 5:30 p.m. Police say a grey Chevrolet Cavalier, operated by Bakissa, was northbound on Highway 26 when it veered into the southbound lane striking a southbound black Ford F150 pickup, operated by a 29-year-old man from New Tecumseth. All four occupants of the Ford F150 were transported to hospital with serious injuries. A 34-year-old Ottawa woman, who was in the backseat of the Ford F150, was later airlifted to hospital in Toronto. A post mortem was scheduled for Monday, Jan. 12. A police investigation is ongoing with the assistance of the Central Region Technical Traffic Collision Investigation Unit.
Staff photo: Trina Berlo
Cool under pressure Highlands Nordic, near Duntroon, hosted hundreds of cross-country skiers from across
the country last weekend during the Haywood NorAm World Junior Trials/Under 23. Young skiers were competing for spots in national and international level competitions. For more photos, see page 6.
Mulmur council puts off gravel pit decision by Trina Berlo Mulmur Township council members deferred a decision on the Arbour Farms gravel pit Wednesday. Council was compelled to wait on a decision to allow the proposed gravel pit, now in the review process for 15 years, to proceed after a deputation of school bus safety on Airport Road. Natalie Kotyck, speaking as a member of Community Safety and Business Preservation Association, asked council to deny the Arbour Farms application until issues of public safety, specifically bus routes on Airport Road, are addressed. She raised the concern that if something were to happen, the
township could be found liable, at least in part. Kotyck said the county road is not safe due to its typography and driver speed and adding more gravel trucks will only add to the problem while hindering tourism. She is asking the township for support in her request that the province address the issues of liability. “In the interest of Ontario property taxpayers who deserve greater equity in liability law and lower insurance premiums, we request that the province completes the reform of joint and several liability prior to granting a license to applicants who intend to use
County Road 18 as their haul route,” said Kotyck. “Should the province still decide to approve licenses for applicants who use County Road 18 as their haul route then we request that the province issue indemnities to the lower tier municipalities and their taxpayers who have, in effect, had no choice in the approval process.” Kotyck was scheduled to make the same presentation to Dufferin County councillors Thursday and to Clearview Township later this month. After an in camera session to hear legal advice, Mulmur Mayor Paul Mills said, given the new information,
council decided to defer a decision to give Kotyck a chance to make the presentations and allow further discussion on the matter. Adam Krehm, the proponent, said the deferral is forcing the proposal to the next level and he is taking it to the Ontario Municipal Board. “I think no comment is the best reaction,” said Krehm after the decision to defer. “The process continues.” Councillor Keith Lowry acknowledged that Arbour Farms has done everything that Mulmur has asked throughout the planning process. Arbour Farms planner Brian Zeman, (See “Mulmur” on page 3)
Taking care of buyers and sellers in Mulmur and the Creemore hills for 38 years
RCR Realty. Brokerage
Ginny MacEachern
(705) 444-1414 10230 Highway 26 East, Collingwood E-mail info@collingwood.toyota.ca
B.A., Broker
The Town & Country Agent with the City Connections 1-800-360-5821• 705-466-2607 • maceachern.ginny@gmail.com www.ginnymaceachern.com