The Creemore
EchO
Friday, October 5, 2018
Vol. 18 No. 40
www.creemore.com
News and views in and around Creemore
inside the echo
Artistic Flair
Get Schooled
Creemore Festival of the Arts
The roll of school trustees
PAGE 10-11
PAGE 14
Publications Mail Agreement # 40024973
Plan tabled to convert bank to park land by Trina Berlo Behind the scenes, a plan has been brewing that would result in a community foundation taking possession of the TD Bank building in Creemore, and razing it to make room for the expansion of the Hort Park. Tony Arrell and Stuart Lazier have met with officials at TD Bank and although a deal had not yet been inked, they say there are assurances that the bank is willing to gift the building to the community. The TD Bank building on Mill Street has been sitting vacant since the Creemore branch closed in May, but the building is still used to house the bank machine. The proposal is in its infancy and many details – including where to locate the bank machine – have yet to be sorted. The idea is to incorporate the bank property into a landscaped central park or town square with design features to encourage public use. Meetings between the proponents
Staff photo: Trina Berlo
A resident strolls past the vacant TD Bank building on Mill Street in Creemore. and members of the Creemore Horticultural Society have taken place and there is some consensus that with financial support for maintenance, the
Hort Society can get behind the plan. This all came out at a public meeting hosted by the Creemore BIA Sept. 28, when about 30 people from the business community, and a few from the community-at-large, gathered at Station on the Green to weigh the pros and cons of removing a commercial building from Creemore’s main street in order to increase park space. Arrell, who divides his time between Toronto and his Mulmur farm, said the proposal came about because of his connection to both the Creemore community and TD Bank. He said he tried to save the bank but when that wasn’t possible he looked at the bank and thought, “It doesn’t fit with the ambiance the town has.” “We wanted to make something special out of the whole space, to reimagine it,” said Arrell. So they asked TD Bank officials and they have agreed in principle to donate the property and share resources for tree planting and that they are working on an agreement for gifting the land to
a foundation, which is in the process of being set up. “I could tell him we don’t want his gift but it would seem to me not too good of a decision,” said Arrell. The Hort Society has been told they would direct the expansion project. “We all love our garden but we know it’s a bit of a walk-through space,” said president Judi Parker. “It’s not a place to linger and socialize.” She said the membership supports removing the less aesthetically pleasing building and enhance the garden to create a heart for the community. “We can’t speak for the whole community but we can do what The Hort does best, beautify space,” said Parker. She said it would create a new buzz, new excitement and of the members present at their last meeting, there was unanimous support for the project. “We went back to Tony and Stuart and said, go for it guys,” said Parker, adding that it fits with Hort Society (See “Foundation” on page 3)
Mulmur candidates face voters at all-candidates meeting by Trina Berlo Mulmur council candidates faced electors at a Sept. 30 all candidates meeting hosted by Mono Mulmur Citizens’ Coalition, or MC2. Moderator Don MacFarlane said the organization hosts the event to increase awareness saying, “Tough decisions need to be made and they are not always popular.” On one side of the room, four new candidates running for three council seats had a chance to introduce themselves to voters and share their thoughts on local governance. On the other side, there’s a two-way race for mayor and deputy mayor. Each candidate was given time for opening and closing remarks, and in between they took questions from the crowd of
about 75 people. Janet Horner, who is running against incumbent Paul Mills for the mayor’s chair, was first to the microphone, commenting that it wasn’t how she thought she would be spending her 40th anniversary. “I want to be your mayor. I will protect our natural assets – our land, our water and our people. I will speak in a loud voice to represent Mulmur’s interests at county and provincial levels. I will work with our new council to ensure we have a robust strategy for our future,” said Horner. “Paul Mills has stated his fear of change in leadership. We have very strong council candidates running this year. That is positive change we all (See “To change” on page 3)
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Staff photo: Trina Berlo
Mulmur Township voter poses a question to candidates at an all-candidates meeting Sept. 29 hosted by MC2.
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