Creemore
Echo
News and views in and around Creemore
Welcome Figure Skaters! See the Huronia Funskate Schedule on Page 8.
Publications Mail Agreement # 40024973
Friday, January 23, 2009
Vol 9 No. 04
GROWTH RESULTS ARE IN Though small number of responses disappointing by Brad Holden The numbers are in, but they aren’t as plentiful as hoped. Clearview Councillors were given the results of last fall’s growth management exercise Monday night, and while most seemed happy to have the information in their hands, a few seemed disappointed at the small number of people who actually participated in the survey. In total, 59 Growth Management Workbooks were returned during a five-week period that saw the Township host four public information meetings, one in each of its settlement areas. A total of 158 people attended the four meetings. “I have to say, 59 is a rather small number,” said Councillor Doug Measures upon receiving the information. “Can this be considered scientific?” No, it couldn’t, answered Planning Director Michael Wynia. “This was
a public input exercise,” he said. “But while small, it’s actually a fairly large number of responses for a high-level planning exercise such as this one.” Of the 59 respondents, 44 per cent did not live in one of Clearview Township’s settlement areas. The rest broke down as follows: 10 from Creemore, one from Dunedin, three from New Lowell, six from Nottawa, one from Singhampton, six from Stayner and one from Brentwood. When asked to list the positive impacts of growth, respondents included things such as added recreational facilities, a growing population to support local business, increased opportunities for young people to remain here and thriving arts and culture. As for the negative impacts, things like noise, loss of community, pollution, crime and increased taxes were mentioned. (See “Growth” on page 7)
BIA ELECTION DRAMA Vote now scheduled for February 4 after confusion at AGM by Brad Holden The Creemore BIA will spend the next week-and-a-half preparing to elect three new officers after an election expected to be held during its Annual General Meeting Tuesday night was deferred. Resigning their positions immediately before the “election” came up on the agenda were president Craig Simpson of the Creemore Echo, vice president Laurie Copeland of Cardboard Castles and treasurer Steve Martin of Creemore Foodland. The deferral came after a confusing discussion during which it was revealed that the BIA’s traditional manner of electing people directly to the executive does not exactly adhere
to the 1987 bylaw that governs the way the organization is supposed to run. Thom Paterson, who sits on the BIA executive as the representative from Clearview Council, brought this up after being asked to chair the election portion of the agenda by Simpson. Paterson suggested that the 35 BIA members present had to choose between voting the way the organization has traditionally voted or voting in a manner that would adhere to the bylaw (the bylaw requires members to appoint a larger number of directors, who in turn vote among themselves to choose who will serve in the executive positions). All of this turned the meeting into a momentary free-for-all, with several members complaining that they weren’t aware of the resignations before they were announced during the meeting, others expressing dismay at the prospect (See “BIA” on page 5)
Walking to Beat Alzheimer’s Imagine growing increasingly unaware of your surroundings. Imagine asking the same questions over and over again, with just a few moments separating each repetition. Imagine struggling with lifelong tasks such as cleaning, laundry, and meal preparation. Imagine gradually deteriorating from a content, confident, industrious individual to an unhappy, passive invalid, having your sense of time and place become so distorted that you are unable to locate the bathroom in time and as a result, suffer from incontinence. Imagine failing to recognize familiar faces so that eventually friends, family members and even your loved ones seem like total strangers who may cause you serious harm. These are the kinds of debilitating changes that befell Creemore resident Matthew Vorstermans’ grandmother Jean (pictured here with
Echo Briefs
him in 2003) throughout her last years. Her fate was caused by one of the ugliest illnesses of our time – Alzheimer Disease – and if left alone, the number of people afflicted by this disease will rise dramatically over the next few decades. Vorstermans first decided to do something about this situation in 2006, when he participated in the Alzheimer Society’s Annual Walk for Memories and raised just over $900. The next year, he did the same, raising $2,175. Last year, he raised $2,000. If for any reason you can relate to this story and would like to support Matthew in this year’s walk, which takes place locally in Collingwood on Sunday, February 1, contact Vorstermans at pachma@rogers.com or 466-2756, or click on “Sponsor a Walker” at www.walkformemories. ca and search for his name.
Volunteer Opportunity
Bid On Your Favourite Creemore-centric Art
The NVCA is looking for volunteers to help run its maple syrup operation at the Tiffin Centre. The season runs from March 23 until April 9 and includes the Spring Tonic Maple Syrup Festival, which attracts about 2,500 people. Responsibilities include collecting sap, operating the evaporator and addressing the public. Please contact Byron Wesson at (705) 424-1479, ext. 224.
Purple Hills Arts and Heritage Society invites members, prospective members and friends to enjoy a special viewing of the Creemore-centric Show and Silent Auction at the Mad and Noisy Gallery on Saturday, January 31 from 5 to 7 pm. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the Society. And don’t forget, the Creemore-centric show and auction continues every day until February 2.
Serving Mulmur & The Creemore Hills for 32 years
The Town & Country Agent with the City Connections
(705)
444-1414 E-mail
info@collingwood.toyota.ca
10230 Highway 26 East, Collingwood
RCR Realty. Brokerage
Drop by, pay us a visit and you’ll see why we are ranked #1 in customer satisfaction... in both sales and service!
Ginny MacEachern
B.A.
Broker
e-mail: gmmulmur@bconnex.net Toll free: 1-800-360-5821 Mulmur: 705-466-2607 Visit My Website: www.ginnymaceachern.com