上海花千坊mm

Collingwood Council won’t be financially backing The Blue Mountain’s bid to be an event host for the 2015 Pan American Games. At council on Monday evening, a request came forward asking the municipality to be a co-guarantor, along with TBM, for $1.8 million in funds for improvements to the Thornbury Horse Park, which would be used for the equestrian events. Counc. Ian Chadwick felt the event would not only be a great thing for the area but it might also get the municipality on board with the Collingwood Regional Airport. Collingwood has been asking TBM to become a member of the airport services board. Chadwick also felt this was a good chance to participate in a regional event. “Every hotel will be full. Every restaurant will be full,” he said. “I just think we need to look at the regional impact. It will be huge.” Counc. Tim McNabb disagreed and said if they aren’t going to support the Collingwood Airport, he wasn’t going to support their bid for the games. McNabb didn’t feel it was a smart move for the town to “go into debt,” for a piece of property that isn’t in Collingwood. “I’m against this for the airport reason,” he said. “I don’t think it’s appropriate.” Counc. Kathy Jeffery was in favour of offering moral support for the bid but not financial support. Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier said dealing with Wasaga Beach and Clearview Township on the airport services board gives the municipality a greater comfort level in supporting the bid. “If this was Clearview Township or Wasaga Beach, it might give us more comfort,” he said. Council defeated the motion by a vote of 5-1. Grey County council, however,  endorsed the bid to attract the 2015 Pan Am Games equestrian event to the local area. The Blue Mountains has agreed to support a bid to hold the equestrian event at the Thornbury Horse Park, which is being developed by the Cedar Run Corporation. At county council’s regular meeting last Tuesday, The Blue Mountains Mayor Ellen Anderson updated county council about the bid and asked for an endorsement from county council. “Your support shows the bid committee that the County of Grey is behind the bid. They regard partnerships as very healthy,” Anderson explained. “This is a wonderful opportunity for us and your support does not tie the county into anything specifically,” said Mayor Anderson, who has also invited the Town of Collingwood and the County of Simcoe to offer their support to the bid. Grey County Warden Kevin Eccles met with Mayor Anderson extensively prior to the meeting last Tuesday to discuss the bid proposal. Anderson also brought several pictures of the proposed equestrian centre to the meeting for councillors to take look at. Warden Eccles gave his complete support to the proposal. “If this does go forward it will create a facility that is world renowned,” said the Warden. “There are no financial impacts (for the county) on this going forward,” said Eccles. The Blue Mountains Deputy Mayor Duncan McKinlay said the equestrian centre would create enormous spin-off benefits for the entire region. “The creation of that facility will provide work for local contractors. It will be a permanent, high calibre facility to host a number of events each year that will provide employment in the tourism and agricultural industries,” said McKinlay. Owen Sound Mayor Ruth Lovell-Stanners said the bid could lead to a great opportunity to let the world see the local area. “It sounds like something that would be huge for Grey County and would showcase our area,” she said. County council unanimously voted in favour of supporting the equestrian bid. The Cedar Run big is currently up for consideration by the Toronto bid committee, which is responsible for choosing the various event locations across Ontario for the games. Once the locations are selected the overall Toronto bid committee submits an application to the Pan American Sports Organization for consideration. With files from Chris Fell and Erika Engel