The Creemore
Echo
Friday, May 26, 2017 Vol. 17
No. 22
www.creemore.com
News and views in and around Creemore
Inside the Echo
Centenarian
Worth 1,000 Words Dominican Picture Project
Kay Newell turns 100!
PAGE 7
PAGE 8
Publications Mail Agreement # 40024973
Clearview's trustee resigns
Staff photo: Trina Berlo
Cronos Group CEO Mike Gorenstein, COO David Hsu, Clearview Township Mayor Christopher Vanderkruys, County of Simcoe Deputy Warden Terry Dowdall and Warden Gerry Marshall dig in during a ground breaking ceremony May 23 announcing a large expansion at The Peace Naturals Project medical marijuana facility near Stayner.
Medical marijuana facility expands by Trina Berlo Officials at The Peace Naturals Project invited guests to celebrate a ground-breaking Tuesday marking the construction of a new large-scale cannabis production facility near Stayner. Cronos Group, the company behind The Peace Naturals Project, is following through on its plan to create a campus style environment to focus on research and innovation in the area of medical marijuana. Local dignitaries and investors joined in a gold shovel ceremony and champagne toast to announce a 315,000 square foot expansion to the facility on Concession 12 Sunnidale. The expansion includes a state-of-the-art 286,000 square foot production facility,
a 28,000 square foot greenhouse and a 1,200 square foot extraction laboratory. Upon completion, the new facility is expected to be the largest purpose-built indoor cannabis production facility in the world. “We don’t want to be the biggest in Canada, we want to be the best in the world,” said CEO Mike Gorenstein. He said they are building a centre of excellence, not just a cannabis facility, and they are already recruiting experts in the field. Construction is expected to be complete by November of this year and should be fully operational by next summer, bringing Peace Natural’s production to an estimated 40,000 kg per year. Cronos Group acquired Peace
Naturals Project last year and has continued to expand. Gorenstein said capital investments were needed to improve the operation, which was initially described to him as a box of broken crayons, but it had great people. “We chose to come to Canada from New York because we saw something was possible here what wasn’t possible anywhere else in the world,” he said. On the day of the groundbreaking ceremony, media and investors were offered tours of the facility’s two growing buildings and a third that was coming online this week. Fifty employees, most of whom are fully suited in coveralls and hairnets to reduce contaminants from the outside world, tend to the marijuana plants by (See “Campus” on page 3)
The Simcoe County District School Board trustee representing Clearview and Collingwood has resigned. On May 10, the board accepted the resignation of Annie Chandler, with regret and best wishes. “I have truly enjoyed my experience as an education trustee,” said Chandler in a statement. “I continue to be amazed by the innovative programs and supports in our schools. As I now take time with my family I plan to stay involved in an unofficial capacity and wish only the best for our teachers, administrators, students and their families. In our public education system, I encourage parents and communities to continue to advocate for what you believe is in the best interest of our students. It has been a pleasure to work with my fellow trustees and the administration at the SCDSB and I wish everyone all the best moving forward.” A replacement will be named through an appointment process. As outlined in the Education Act, applicants must meet all of the following requirements: a Canadian citizen; age 18 or over; a resident within Simcoe County; a public school elector; not legally prohibited from voting; and not disqualified by any legislation from holding school board office (e.g., an employee of any school board). Applications with full details regarding qualifications, experience and interests should be submitted to the Director’s Office c/o Deb Foster, Executive Assistant - Board by noon on Thursday, June 1. Applicants will be required to make a brief presentation to the Board before the appointment is made. Please direct inquiries to Deb Foster, 705-734-6363, ext. 11231 or at dfoster@scdsb.on.ca.
Taking care of buyers and sellers in Mulmur and the Creemore hills for over 40 years
RCR Realty. Brokerage
2 Scenic routes / Local Food & Drink / Après Hospitality
Saturday, May 27th / 10am-3pm
Ginny MacEachern
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