The Creemore
ECHO
Friday, February 5, 2021 Vol. 21 No. 06
www.creemore.com
News and views in and around Creemore
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In Solidarity Black History Month PAGE 6
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Public meeting connects ski club, community by Trina Berlo More than 70 people participated in a virtual public meeting about the proposed development at Mansfield Ski Club Wednesday. The meeting was hosted by Mulmur Township council and staff as a courtesy to the community in response to growing opposition to a proposed development project that is meant to ensure the vitality of the private ski club, and to meet the needs of current and future members. “It was our intention that this meeting would allay some of the fears, clarify information and make sure that you have the questions that were burning for you answered in an open forum,” said Mulmur Mayor Janet Horner at the close of the two-hour meeting. “We will… work carefully with Mansfield Ski Club to make sure that this project will not be passed until all requirements are satisfied.” Speaking on behalf of Mansfield Ski Club, Finley McEwen was allotted time at the top of the meeting to make an introduction. “Residential development has been permitted on the site and in the area
Mulmur Mayor Janet Horner opens a public meeting Wednesday connecting Mansfield Ski Club officials with more than 70 members of the public in attendance who wanted to find out more about a proposed accommodation development at the base of the ski hill. for decades. About 150 homes have been built around the club since it was founded in 1962. Much development happens without site plan approval. The club’s application is going through site plan so it may appear different or incremental but at 93 units it’s obviously smaller scale than the
existing 150 and it’s less impactful than the future non site plan density that’s approved for the area,” said McEwen. He said it occupies far less land and is subject to more environmental study than development that is not subject to site plan approval. “Incorrect information has been
widely broadcast about the application. Inaccurate statements or petitions with misleading information may get attention and they might be a call to action but they don’t help people’s understanding of the facts,” said McEwen… “Ultimately truth matters and science based approach will govern.” He said there are three main components to the application: a snowmaking pond, a 25-metre elevation change to top of the hill to meet international slalom course standards, and a cluster of residences. It is the latter that drew the most comments and questions from people participating in the public meeting, specifically about how the leases will work and how the development will impact the Pine River. McEwen said the snow-making pond will not impact the watercourse, there will be no change to drainage and minimize impact on existing trees. He said the cluster of accommodation, which they hope to build in the parking lot area, is designed to preserve open space and encourage pedestrian (See “Units” on page 3)
Students head back to school once again Elementary and secondary school students in Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit will have the option of returning to school on Monday, Feb. 8 “Following the best medical advice, with the clear support of both Ontario’s and the local Medical Officers of Health, we are reopening schools across the province knowing that we have taken additional steps and made additional investments to better protect our students and staff,” said Minister Stephen Lecce. “Nothing is more important than returning kids to school safely because it is crucial for their development, mental health, and future success.”
Lecce said Wednesday that if class sizes are to be capped at 15 more hiring will be necessary and hiring is already underway to make up for a large shortfall of teachers, a situation that is exacerbated by an already high absentee rates. He said the provincial government is already committed to the hiring of 3,400 teachers (with an additional 890 projected to be hired). The strategy includes temporary certification of eligible teacher candidates who are set to graduate in 2021 to stabilize staffing levels, following high levels of absenteeism, the hiring of over 500 principals, vice-principals and admin
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staff to support new virtual schools; and the hiring of up to 650 educational assistants, mental health workers and professionals to provide special education and mental health supports. In an effort to keep everyone in schools safe, the province is supporting the hiring of 1,400 custodians (with an additional 400 projected to be hired); and over 23,000 HEPA filters and 20,000 portable HEPA units, and nearly 3,000 other ventilation devices. Lecce is also promising provincewide access to targeted asymptomatic testing for students and staff, using a combination of lab-processed
PCR and rapid antigen tests; mandatory masking for students in Grades 1-3, enhanced screening of secondary students and staff; and new guidance discouraging students from congregating before and after school. Beginning this month, Simcoe County District School Board is moving to a hybrid learning model for secondary school students which will allow them to go between the classroom and home learning through an online platform. Teachers will provide instruction to students who are in class as well as those who are at home through the use of video technology.