The Creemore
Echo
Friday, July 22, 2011 Vol. 11 No. 29
News and views in and around Creemore
WPD CALLS OPEN HOUSE A SUCCESS by Brad Holden Wpd Canada, the company aiming to erect eight wind turbines in the vicinity of Fairgrounds Road and County Road 91, released a press release regarding last week’s Open House in Stayner, which the company stated drew a crowd of about 300 individuals. “We’re glad that so many members of the community took the opportunity to come to our Open House,” said Ian MacRae, president of wpd Canada, a Mississauga-based subsidiary of a German company. “We know there are those in the community who are opposed to our project. But we also know that there is support for our project as well. We are pleased that, regardless of their opinions, people were able to come to the Open House and get information about our project for themselves.” MacRae did not mention the fact that a great number of the meeting’s attendees arrived en masse, parading in protest from Kevin Elwood’s Clearview Nursery to the Stayner Community Centre. Also not mentioned was the rally staged in the parking lot, during which several local and provincial antiwind protesters spoke to a large crowd
from a haywagon. The release did say that wpd and their aviation expert had the opportunity to speak with representatives from the Collingwood Airport who attended the event. Both sides, according to the release, agreed it was important to share information, and have agreed to discuss the issue further. Wpd must follow a very prescriptive process to develop the Fairview Wind Project. Various site studies and impact assessments must be submitted to provincial Ministries, which will then be evaluated to determine whether or not wpd receives permission to proceed with construction and operation. “We view this Open House as an important step in the Renewable Energy Approval process,” MacRae continued. “We welcome the opportunity to provide information on our project and to listen to the concerns of the community.” Wpd says its eight turbines would feed an estimated 40,000 MWh annually into the grid, the equivalent to the average annual power use of 2,276 homes. wpd anticipates another Open House will take place sometime in the fall.
Erica Thompson Photo
A New Festival on the Block
The face of Dunedin’s Evening Martin, above, is the face of last Saturday’s hugely successful inaugural Creemore Children’s Festival. Organized by Laurie Copeland and pulled off by a team of friends and volunteers, the festival brought Copeland’s original concept to life beautifully – it was an event purely for children, an event where kids could engage in activities
and use their imaginations. Here, Evie (as she’s known) is diligently designing her own cookie. Up and down Mill Street between Caroline and Elizabeth, and at the Market as well, hundreds of children from far and wide took part in activities like this – hands-on, interactive and just plain fun. For more pictures of this great new event, see pages 6 and 7.
Inside the ECHO
Bryan Davies Photo
BIG GREEN Creemore’s Bob Ransier was one of 70 tractor drivers whotook part in last Saturday’s annual Dunedin Tractor Rally. Organizer Jamie Adam took a tally of the tractors involved – apparently John Deeres where the most populous, at 20. The others where split between 12 different makes.
Flowers, Books and ‘Celebs’
Saturday’s Hort Show is bigger and better PAGE 3
She’s Got Talent
Winner of the Kid’s Festival talent show. PAGE 8
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