The Creemore
ECHO
Friday, May 13, 2022 Vol. 22
No. 19
www.creemore.com
News and views in and around Creemore
INSIDE RURAL SINGHAMPTON
94 acre farm at the top of the Glen Offered for $3,500,000 - MLS 40215959
Charting a New Course MoD advances strategic planning PAGE 8
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Local helping in Ukraine any way he can by Trina Berlo A Canadian man who made great personal sacrifices to relocate to Ukraine says he is not about to leave now. David Cleary says he would rather stay in Kyiv to support Ukrainian soldiers and his community in his adopted homeland in any way he can. Cleary, who grew up in Creemore, moved to Ukraine three years ago to start a new life as an English-as-asecond-language (ESL) teacher at a private school, and make a home in the apartment he had purchased. “Before the war everything was good, even right up to the 23rd of February. Nobody thought anything and then all of a sudden the bombs started,” said Cleary. That night, the invasion began. It was 4 a.m. when the first bomb went off, and then the air raid sirens starting blaring. “It was actually very close. Not close-close but it was close enough. We felt it,” said Cleary. “It was like the world came to an end. Everything just stopped.” Many residents were fleeing. Cleary said he watched from his apartment window as people packed up and left, saying it was like a movie playing out before his eyes. “It was freaky,” he said. “Right after that explosion people were in their cars heading to Lviv, heading to Poland,
Contributed photo
David Cleary (front, left) is presented a certificate from the Ukrainian military for volunteering at a shelter for soldiers. Originally from Creemore, Cleary has been living in Kyiv for three years. they were heading west.” He said people were not expecting the scale and boldness of the attack, it was worse than what they thought was possible. “I’m still very positive Ukraine will win this,” said Cleary, who has no intention to leave. “I could have left long ago, but why? I’ve even had the military ask me that question… I feel I can do more here, helping in whatever
way I can.” Since Feb. 25 he was spending long hours volunteering at a shelter set up to feed the military, feeding about 1,000 meals to soldiers on a typical day, and about 3,500 at Easter. The long hours combined with the curfew made it easier for Cleary to bunk at the shelter, retuning home every few days to shower and check in with neighbours. (See “Cleary” on page 3)
GreenPAC endorses PC candidate GreenPAC is endorsing SimcoeGrey candidate Brian Saunderson as one of 13 candidates across all parties who it believes will put the environment first if elected to Ontario’s legislature. GreenPAC is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization working to elect and support environmental leaders of all major parties running for office. S a u n d e r s o n , C o l l i n g w o o d ’s mayor, is the local candidate for the PC Party.
GreenPAC gave the following reasons for endorsing Saunderson: Under his leadership, Collingwood introduced a single-use plastics ban in municipal facilities, declared a climate emergency, completed the town's first greenhouse gas emissions inventory as a member of the Partners in Climate Protection Program. He has spoken up for smart growth and the protection of Simcoe Grey’s green spaces through sound planning, including by
championing stormwater harvesting in new developments to conserve water and improve ecosystem health. Saunderson has also advocated for stewardship of the Great Lakes as a member of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Cities organization. The list also includes Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman who is running for the Liberals in the Barrie-SpringwaterOro-Medonte riding, and Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner, who is running in Guelph.
Vicki Bell, Broker 154 Mill St.Creemore 705-446-4539
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PERSONAL I PROFESSIONAL I PROGRESSIVE REAL ESTATE SERVICES
Trespassers told to vacate The owners of a property north of the Jardine subdivision in Creemore have circulated a letter to residents asking people to vacate the property. “On a recent visit to our property in Creemore, we discovered that people have been using our land without our consent,” writes the owner. The Echo was able to identify the owners of the property identified only as a numbered company but we have not heard back from the author of the letter. The letter says that trailers, construction debris, picnic tables, fire pits, stacked firewood, a portable toilet, and lights were all discovered on the property during a recent visit. “On the advice of our counsel, we require anyone who has items on our property to vacate immediately,” says the letter, which was circulated to the police. “We will be installing a gate at the entrance on Fairgrounds Road.”
Rollover claims life of driver
Huronia West OPP are currently investigating a fatal single-vehicle rollover collision in Clearview Township. At about 9:30 p.m. on May 8 police, along with emergency services, responded to a single-vehicle collision on Concession Road 6 North, north of Sideroad 30-31 Nottawasaga in Clearview Township. The initial investigation revealed that a passenger vehicle struck a hydro pole and rolled. The lone driver was pronounced deceased at the scene. Their identity will be withheld until family is notified. O P P Te c h n i c a l C o l l i s i o n Investigators and Reconstructionists attended the scene to assist with the investigation. Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage and has not yet spoken with police is asked to call Huronia West OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
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