Just a memory sad and true Just the love and sweet devotion

The Collingwood Agricultural Society has announced that the 165th annual Great Northern Exhibition has been cancelled for 2020.

The decision was made on May 28 based on the direction from the Public Health Department, Government directives regarding COVID-19 and the projected reopening schedule.

“The decision to cancel our event is the right decision during this critical time. We are thinking of all our families and friends that have attended in the past. We look forward to safely gathering in 2021,” said president Joanne Gregson in an announcement last week. “Thank you all who have supported us in our decision to cancel the 2020 Great Northern Exhibition. Stay tuned for possible virtual competitions and demonstrations being considered for this year on our website.”

Robert Barnard submitted this photo of his 1951 Chevy, taken near Glen Huron.

Take out and ready made meals available from our takeout window.

Open 11 am to 7 pm daily

Grey County Road 124, Singhampton, ON Call for reservations(705) 445-1247

brighten someone’s day with a balloon bouquet we deliver in and around Creemore Phone: (705)-795-5733

8530 Concession 3, Glencairn

Choose from over 100 varieties of hardy, easy to grow perennials!

Open daily until Sunday June 7. Open by appointment only for sale of shrubs and perennials from Monday June 8 onwards. 705.424.9319 www.cutdriedflowerfarm.com

FANTASTIC TIMBER HOME ON PRIVATE 1.5 ACRE COUNTRY LOT Nestled in the Hamlet of Terra Nova. Features contemporary finishes including glass rail, 2-storey steel clad fireplace, wonderful Chef ’s kitchen with quartz counters, huge island with breakfast bar and a walk-in pantry. Great Room has soaring cathedral ceiling and light flooding in though the floor-to-ceiling windows. Master on mail level withglass shower and soaker tub. 2 other good sized bedrooms each with ensuite. $999,999

1910 RENOVATED FARMHOUSE ON 37.5 ACRES IN MULMUR Immaculately kept home with lots or character and charm, including original flooring, clawfoot tub, living room with bright southerly views, and a separate dining room. Roomy and warm family room addition with fireplace and a walkout to deck with ornamental pond and hot tub. Fantastic family home with over 30 workable acres for a mixed farm. $975,000

BEAUTIFUL FAMILY HOME IN EAST GARAFRAXA Great 5 bedroom family home with wrap-around verandah, mature trees and beautiful landscaping including firepit, rockery and perennial gardens. The house features hardwood floors throughout, generous open-concept kitchen with Corian counters and openconcept dining, and family room with fireplace and walk-out to a private patio. Immaculately kept and a wonderful place to raise your family in a fantastic area. $1,180,000

Town & Country Real Estate

by Anna Hobbs

Four years ago, three young women graduating from local high schools were awarded $20,000 scholarships to study at a Canadian university. They all excelled in their various programs and are now planning for further studies. Here are their stories and plans for the future.

Valerie Binder

In September 2016, Valerie Binder enrolled at Ottawa University to study French and Biology. She wanted to be a teacher.

“Ottawa U turned out to be a great choice,” she says. “The school had a good reputation. I enjoyed the small classes and being able to connect, not only with other students, but with our professors.”

At the end of first year, her French program helped her land a bilingual position as a community (i.e. residence) advisor. She held the job for the next three years and says residence life with its supportive group of friends was, for her, the most memorable part of college life.

Her biggest challenge was, “not so much the work load, but recognizing my limits and boundaries.”

Binder finished up her classes online and without a traditional convocation. She celebrated the four years with her family.

For the second summer, she is working at Lake Superior Provincial Park as a backcountry ranger. This work will add an outdoor education component to her dream career as a teacher. Thanks to being trilingual, she is going to pursue study in this field at Olomouc University in the Czech Republic.

Receiving both mentoring and financial support for four years from RAYS meant, “so much less stress for me,” she says.

Our best wishes go with her to the Czech Republic.

Rylee McGregor

When Rylee McGregor headed to the University of Guelph for the biological sciences program, she dreamed of being a veterinarian.

Along the way she became more interested in biomedical sciences and the human side of medicine.

Contributed photo

RAYS scholar Valerie Binder, a recent Ottawa Universitygraduate, is working at Lake Superior Provincial Park as a backcountry ranger.

Her interest was piqued when she volunteered to shadow a naturopathic doctor at a Collingwood clinic – something she did on her day off in the summer while working at Chez Michel and Heirloom 142.

“It was a great experience,” she says and as a result, she applied to and has been accepted for the four-year degree course at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in North York.

U of G was not just about the classroom for McGregor – she was a member of the figure skating

team for four years. This involved practicing from 6 a.m. 8 a.m., five days a week, as well as running a learn-to-skate program. Managing her time, finding a balance and what worked for her were among her biggest challenges.

Although graduation ceremonies are uncertain at this point, she feels certain that at some point, she and her classmates will be able to “walk across that stage.”

McGregor grew up in Creemore, graduating from Jean Vanier Catholic High School.

“I love this area,” she says and I could see myself working here. I am so grateful for the amazing support I have received from this community.”

Abby Ruppert

Abby Ruppert always had a passion for health and wellness.

She was at CCI, planning to study kinesiology at an Ontario university until she attended a presentation by a recruiter from Acadia University who convinced her she should come to Nova Scotia.

“I was a home body,” she says, “but my parents persuaded me that going farther afield was a really great opportunity.”

One of the most difficult things for her at the outset – being that far away from her family and not knowing a single person – turned out to be an amazing, maturing opportunity.

Ruppert excelled scholastically, graduating with a Bachelor of Kinesiology, with Honours. The Honours degree involved a two-year research project studying the biomechanics of concussions in rugby players.

COVID-19 meant that she defended her thesis from home via Zoom and missed saying goodbye to friends and professors.

She looks forward to celebrating her university years and graduation, whenever that may be. She has applied to the two-year Physician Assistant program at McMaster – a relatively new program in Canada – with a goal of working in sports medicine. With this training, she hopes to one day give back to her community as the RAYS program has supported her.

For more information about RAYS, visit www. RAYSScholarships.com.

Glencairn

705-424-6697

For Reliable Service Tank Truck Delivery of Furnace & Stove Oil

Friday 5 8 pm to

GRAB AND GO &

Come on in & order or call

www.creemore.com

The Creemore ECHO

News and views in and around Creemore Publications Mail Agreement # 40024973 Friday, February 7, 2020 Vol. 20 No. 06

INSIDE THE ECHO

With Gratitude Connecting givers and receivers

PAGE 8

Punching Out Longtime Ham Bros employee retires

PAGE 3 NEWS

ETFO members begin province-wide strikes Kindergarten registration open

by Trina Berlo

Creemore educators joined their New Lowell colleagues on the picket line

Kindergarten registration is open for Simcoe County District School once again this week during two strike days that impacted local schools. Board (SCDSB) elementary schools.

Children turning four in 2020 are

Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) members were on strike Wednesday during a rotating strike, and Thursday for a province-wide strike when all 83,000 members were on the eligible to start school in September.

The registration process can be initiated on the registration page on the SCDSB website, and is then completed at the child’s school. If picket lines.

Across the province, almost one unsure, parents and guardians can use the home school locator tool to find million students were affected by the strikes. In Creemore, parents had to make alternative arrangements for childcare. Clearview Community Church was able to pull off a Strike Day Camp on Thursday and the same their local public elementary school.

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o n registration and required documents, visit www.scdsb.on.ca/elementary/ planning_for_school/kindergarten or call the local school. AT THE CREEMORE ECHO is planned for the next Thursday.

ETFO has announced its intention to hold another province-wide walkout on Tuesday, Feb. 11 and a one-day rotating walkout for Simcoe County schools on Thursday, Feb. 13. If parties return to the bargaining table, and a

Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts' Robert G. Kemp Arts Award Committee is seeking proposals for Call to artists PRINTER PAPER & FINE STATIONERY tentative agreement is reached, returning educators to the classroom, those schools would open.

ETFO president Sam Hammond said after three days of central bargaining talks, a deal had been within reachlast Friday, until in the eleventh hour, the government abruptly tabled impossible options that ended talks.

“ETFO, school board associations and the government were close to an agreement on Friday that would have been good for students, educators and public education. It would have ensured stability in public elementary schools this week,” said Hammond. “Then, late that day, the government’s negotiators changed course and tabled impossible options they knew ETFO could not accept.”

“I want to set the record straight,” continued Hammond. “Unlike the a letter of commitment to maintain the Kindergarten model.”

ETFO said the issues were around special education funding, which remained less than half the priority, and special education funding negotiated in 2017.

Hammond said in a press conference Tuesday that the union is defending its most vulnerable students.

“An agreement was also within reach on maintaining a long-standing regulation that ensures fair and transparent hiring processes for teachers. Government negotiators then introduced voluntary agreement. As part of that commitment, and to further underscore my public statements, we have affirmed in writing that we will be maintaining Ontario’s world-class kindergarten program.”

“I have long said that compensation, pay, and benefits, remain a top priority for teachers’ union leaders, and that remains true today... The government has continued to signal reasonableness on issues from special education supports to efforts to counter violence in schools. Yet, the teachers’ union leadership push for compensation that a project that benefits the community.

The award winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize.

The award was created in 1989 to encourage and recognize an individual or group residing in the South Georgian Bay area, which includes Collingwood, Creemore, Town of Blue Mountains, Stayner, Thornbury, Meaford and Wasaga Beach. It also includes the Townships of Clearview, Osprey, Sunnidale and St. Vincent Euphrasia.

The deadline for submission of applications is March 25 at 5 p.m.

Applications are available at the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts, located at 65 Simcoe St., Studio 4, Collingwood, online at w.w.w.bmfa.ca or at various locations throughout the area. Staff photo: Trina Berlo Nottawasaga and Creemore Public School staff joined forces with New Lowell Central Public School this week for two days on the picket line.

OFFICE SUPPLIES INK JET CARTRIDGES LOCALLY MADE CARDS & GIFTS FAX & COPY SERVICES CUSTOM DESIGN & PRINTING Minister of Education, I was at the bargaining table last week so I know what was discussed. Despite what Minister demands for major concessions around fair hiring,” said Hammond.

Lecce said in a Jan. 31 statement, comes with a substantial cost to the taxpayer,” said Lecce.

“While the mediator has called off Free skating Sundays PHONE ORDERS AND CURBSIDE PICK UP AVAILABLE [Stephen] Lecce is claiming, salary was “Over the past few days, the government discussions for now, the government The Stayner Lions Club hosts free not addressed during those negotiations, has further demonstrated our focus stands ready to meet at any time, to public skating at the Creemore Arena and government negotiators did not sign on keeping kids in class through a reach a deal that keeps students in class.” every Sunday from noon to 1:50 p.m.

Collingwood Fuels Ltd. PROPANE

• residential • commercial • farm

CYLINDER REFILLS FUEL DELIVERY

• furnace oil • diesel fuel • gasoline

OIL FURNACE SALES & SERVICE 705-445-4430 • 1-800-553-5571 15 Stewart Road, P.O. Box 321, Collingwood, ON L9Y 3Z7 Taking care of buyers and sellers in Mulmur and the Creemore hills for over 45 years

Ginny MacEachern B.A., Broker 1-800-360-5821• 705-466-2607 • maceachern.ginny@gmail.com www.ginnymaceachern.com RCR Realty. Brokerage

The Town & Country Agent with the City Connections

705-466-9906 • info@creemore.com 3 Caroline St. W. www.creemore.com OPEN MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9 AM TO 5 PM SATURDAY 9 AM TO 1:30 PM ALL OTHER TIMES BY CHANCE OR APPOINTMENT