Creemore
Echo
News and views in and around Creemore
Welcome to Spring!
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Friday, March 20, 2009
Vol. 09 No. 12
New Priorities for G&M Hospital
Echo wins 2nd national award
by Brad Holden Sometimes, the best way to find a solution to whatever quandary you’re in is to enlist some outside opinions from friends. That’s what the Collingwood General & Marine Hospital has done, and the result is a list of nine priorities for the organization as it moves forward. The hospital’s quandary, in essence, is the phenomenal growth of Collingwood, Clearview, the Blue Mountains and Wasaga Beach, both real and projected. That growth, as well as the demographics of the people moving here and the status of the Collingwood area as a true four-season tourist destination, is putting a major strain on the hospital’s resources. About 85 per cent of the G&M’s $40 million budget comes in lump-sum form from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, rising at a rate of about two or three per cent a year. The other 15 per cent – around $6 million, is generated by the hospital itself through opportunities to charge for items such as private beds (with payment coming from insurance companies), parking, crutches and service for foreign patients. That money can only go toward operating costs, and it’s all that can be used for that purpose. For capital investments, the hospital relies on the generous fundraising efforts of the G&M Hospital Foundation. The lump-sum funding from the provincial government comes with a few rules, the basics “if you want to hang out your shingle as a ‘big H’” according to G&M CEO Linda Davis. (See “Public” on page 5)
The Creemore Echo won a national award this week, placing second in the “In-House Promotion, Circulation Under 9,999” category at the 2009 Canadian Community Newspaper Association (CCNA) Better Newspaper Awards. The award honours last spring’s subscription drive campaign, which over the course of six weeks asked several well-known residents – Alex Hargrave, Jack Heslip, Gayle Millsap, Judith Crawford and Murray Lackie – why they chose to support the Echo even though they receive it free in their mailbox. “I’m particularly pleased with the Echo being recognized for this promotion, because it really represented what we’re all about,” said Sara Hershoff, who created the campaign. “I think it also shows how capable we are at coming up with imaginative, attention-getting ads and marketing plans.” Also placing in the category were the Powell River Peak of Powell River, British Columbia, winning first place, and the Grand Bend Strip of Grand Bend, Ontario, winning third place. The Echo was the only local paper to show up among CCNA finalists this year. It’s the second time in recent years that the newspaper has won an award at the competition – in 2007, Brad Holden won third place in the “Best Feature Story, Circulation Under 9,999” category. The awards will be handed out on Thursday, May 21 at the annual CCNA National Convention in Montreal. The Echo welcomes any donations toward the trip (Just kidding!).
ATOMS CLOSE IN ON OMHA TITLE The Creemore Atom Rep team opened their best of five OMHA championship series in front of a packed and noisy home crowd Saturday night and came away with 2-1 win. The teams then travelled to Sunderland for Game 2, which produced the same 2-1 victorious result. This team has demonstrated a consistent ability to play under pressure and to win the close ones. The next and potentially deciding game will be played back in Creemore on Saturday night at 6 pm. Game 6, if necessary, will be back in Sunderland on Sunday afternoon at 5 pm.
March Break Fun Four-year-old Jade McKee was proud to show off her dragon creation during darci-que’s arts and crafts session at the Sunnidale Branch of the New Lowell Library last week. For more March Break pictures, see page 6.
Echo Briefs
Sanctuary Dedication
The Future of Stayner Collegiate The Accomodation Review Committee which has been given the difficult task of assessing the facility needs of highschool students from Penetang, Midland, Elmvale, Stayner, Collingwood and Wasaga Beach will bring forward their final recomendations on Monday, March 23 at 5 pm. This final Public Meeting will take place at Stayner Collegiate Institute. The public is welcome to attend and encouraged to ask questions, make comments and raise concerns they may have with regards to high school facilities and the servicing to students in the area. To be an acknowledged delegation at this meeting contact Superintendent Janis Medysky through Charleen Croft at (705) 734-6363.
A dedication of the recently renovated Sanctuary at St. Luke's Anglican Church will take place this Sunday at 4 pm. The event will feature special music and the Rt. Rev. George Elliott, Bishop of YorkSimcoe Area will preach. A Potluck Supper will follow in the Hall. Everyone is welcome.
Older Yes, But Wiser? The Creemore Echo will be eight years old at the start of April. Creemore.com is a little younger, but it’s in a partying mood as well. Please join us for our annual birthday party at 3 Caroline Street West on Friday, April 3 from 10 am to 4 pm. As always, there will be cake, coffee, and good company. All are, of course, welcome.
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