The Creemore
EchO
Friday, February 26, 2016 Vol. 16 No. 9 www.creemore.com News and views in and around Creemore
Inside the Echo
School Spirit
WI has Them Covered
Public weighs in on Stayner ARC
Donating blankets for young victims
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Clearview to appeal wind turbine approval by Trina Berlo Clearview Township is not giving up the fight. Council met Wednesday night in a one-hour closed-door meeting to hear legal advice from lawyer Harold Elston and discuss strategy after the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) approved wpd’s request to build eight industrial wind turbines in the vicinity of the
Collingwood Regional Airport. The approval was issued on Feb. 11, the day before the judicial process to force a decision from the MOECC, the ministry approved the project. The township, and anyone else in Ontario, has 15 days to request an Environmental Review Tribunal hearing, to appeal the decision. Council instructed legal counsel to draft and file a notice of appeal to the
Environmental Review Tribunal and to further continue its review of the renewable energy approval. The first part of the resolution said the township “continues to express its fundamental concerns regarding wpd Fairview Wind Incorporated wind farm proposal and renewable energy approval no. 3948-9RDLRF”. Mayor Chris Vanderkruys faced a media scrum of two reporters after
the meeting. When asked if he has any doubts he said, “There is always that nagging doubt because, look at what they did last time where they just made the decision arbitrarily the day before the hearing and we had spent all that money on the impact study and they never gave us our day in court. I think that’s obviously what the Liberal (See “Council” on page 3)
Sponsored refugee family makes it into the hills by Trina Berlo Syrians Zakaria Nassan Alsawa, Rania Mallah and their young son Yahya are settling in at their new home in Mono, having successfully come out of a war zone and into the hills, the moniker adopted by the collective that made it all happen. MK Lynde, one of the volunteers working with the sponsorship committee said they were all smiles when the family met the collective for the first time on Sunday, a dream come true. This story started back in 2014, when Mulmur resident Debbie Ebanks Schlums began a campaign to sponsor a Syrian woman living in Turkey. She was among refugees who migrated to Germany, prompting a change of plans. During the process, Ebanks Schlums met Samar Mallah, a Syrian Canadian who was hoping to bring her niece and family to Canada. The family had been living as refugees in Lebanon, with the hope of coming to Canada. They are supported by six legal sponsors and a larger network of volunteers who are making sure the family has what it needs. The family will be supported by the sponsorship group for one year, receiving financial help and housing support. Trevor Hunt, one of the sponsors, has provided the main floor of his home to the family, during the year.
MK Lynde photo
Yahya plays with the piano at his new home in Mono with some encouragement from mom Rania and dad Zakaria. Lynde said upon arrival at the airport in Toronto the family was provided a two-night stay in a hotel and were provided winter coats and boots. They also had time to visit with Rania’s aunt, who lives in Toronto, although Zakaria spent some time in hospital and was treated for the flu. This past weekend, the aunt drove them north, into the hills, to their temporary home, where the welcoming
committee served tea, cookies and banana bread. At the initial meeting, the aunt was able to translate, but Lynde said the couple speaks limited English and their comprehension is even better but they are communicating using key words, hand gestures and translation apps. “They were very open”, said Ebanks Schlums. “The sponsorship group didn’t want to overwhelm the family
but they wanted to meet everyone.” They were limited to 20 kilos of luggage per person so the family was forced to leave much behind. Volunteers are making sure they have clothing and other necessities, and have been collecting furniture and household items to help them transition to a permanent home when they are ready. The priority now, is to help them improve their English and help them become independent. Until they are able to drive, volunteers are trying to coordinate rides to appointments and activities locally and in the city. Both adults have their international driver’s licences but they will need to take driving lessons to reduce insurance costs before they can use a vehicle that has been made available to them. More than 300 people have donated to the cause, in one form or another, and the community continues to support the effort. The Scratch dinner held last fall, raised quite a bit toward the sponsors’ $30,000 goal. For more information or if you would like to help, please contact Debbie Ebanks Schlums at debbie. ebanks@gmail.com. Donate online at outofawarzone.com. Cash donations will be accepted at The Creemore Echo office, located at 3 Caroline St. West. Cheques should be made out to Out of a War Zone. For updates, visit Out of a War Zone and Into the Hills on Facebook.
Taking care of buyers and sellers in Mulmur and the Creemore hills for 39 years
RCR Realty. Brokerage
Ginny MacEachern
B.A., Broker
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