The Creemore
ECHO
Friday, June 5, 2020 Vol. 20 No. 23
www.creemore.com
News and views in and around Creemore
INSIDE THE ECHO
Birds of a Feather
Resident spots Bobolinks in Creemore PAGE 5
Class of 2020
RAYS scholars graduate virtually PAGE 8
Publications Mail Agreement # 40024973
Catholic school community pushes for name change by Trina Berlo Members of the Jean Vanier Catholic High School community held a rally Monday urging school board trustees to reconsider the renaming of their school, before graduation. Students in the graduating class are hoping that a new school name will appear on their graduation diplomas, rather than that of the school’s disgraced namesake. Vanier, was a Canadian philosopher and theologian, who founded L’Arche International, a network of care communities and projects that support people with intellectual disabilities around the world. In February, less than a year after his death, it came to light that the late Vanier had initiated abusive sexual relationships with women (without disabilities) usually in the context of spiritual accompaniment. Students and parents in attendance said a proper process was followed, landing on the community-preferred name of Our Lady of the Bay Catholic High School, in honour of The Virgin Mary. They were dismayed when trustees defeated the new name in a tie vote at their April meeting. They were further dismayed when trustees
shut down their May meeting so they wouldn’t have to hear a scheduled delegation. At Monday’s rally, students smiled and waved from a parade of honking vehicles, baring signs and balloons, that threaded through a Collingwood neighbourhood towards the school on Collins Street. Grade 12 student Fiona McMaster was at the head of the parade. Her sign read, “We want to be graduates of Our Lady of the Bay.” “It’s kind of unfair,” she said. “They asked us for the vote and we gave it to them and then they shut it down.” She said the rally was a way of trying to have the voices of the graduating class heard by trustees. “I don’t want to graduate from a nameless school, or worse, one with the current name.” “It has been very discouraging,” said Marcel Charlebois, whose daughter Izabelle is graduating from the school this month. He said a proper process was followed, people voted, but he feels that trustees brought their personal views to the table. “We are trying to some together as a (See “ Trustee” on page 3)
Staff photo: Trina Berlo
Grade 12 Jean Vanier Catholic High School student Fiona McMaster participates in a rally Monday, asking Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board trustees to reconsider approving the name Our Lady of the Bay Catholic High School
Council blocks controls on industrial land by Trina Berlo A council decision has bought a Creemore mechanic some more time to satisfy Clearview Township’s planning department that the business is operating legally. Clearview council has voted against a staff recommendation to reconsider the industrial designation on Edward Street East lands as part of an Official Plan review and to set aside an interim control bylaw at this time. The bylaw would put a hold on any development of the subject lands until the review is complete.
The lands, totaling 9.55 acres, are zoned general industrial and waste disposal industrial, due to a former landfill being located there. One parcel is owned by the County of Simcoe, and is the location of a former public works yard. It is also home to AutoSolve, a shop owned by Matt Playne. “The use of these lands for industrial purposes is a concern for the planning department, particularly given the relatively small size of the properties and that they are surrounded by residential lands, creating a high probability of conflicting land uses,” reported director
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of community services Mara Burton. The subject lands are located on the north side of Edward Street East, south of the Alliance residential subdivision; east of the McIntosh (now Granite Group) residential condominium project; north of the residentially designated lands directly across also fronting onto Edward Street East; and west of residentially designated lands. The land designation is being looked at as part of an Official Plan review but the area is not serviced and the municipality is facing a costly expansion of the sewage treatment plant in order
to accommodate all of the growth on the books. Officially, the AutoSolve properties contain a legal non-conforming residential dwelling and a garage, which is also in the industrial zone and permits motor vehicle repair garages. Deputy Mayor Barry Burton said he would not support the bylaw because it would stop the business from being able to get the permits in order to become conforming. “It puts them in precarious position if we do that, in my opinion. As a result (See “Type” on page 2)
