Representatives of Creemore Minor Baseball teams appeared before Clearview Council this week to request the waiving of fees for use of township baseball diamonds. With council’s decision last February to eliminate use of Indigenous symbols, team names and logos by non-Indigenous groups at township facilities, the teams formerly known as Creemore Braves were forced to re-brand.
Spokesperson Marc Dupuis explained that patches have been ordered which will be sewn on over top of screened logos for the minor team but new jerseys with stitched-on logos which were ordered last fall for the junior team will have to be replaced.
The teams have already applied for a Community Assistance Grant to help defray the costs, but in the meantime, they are asking the township to forego just over $600 in fees for use of the baseball diamonds.
Councillor Robert Walker worried that waiving fees for the Creemore teams would set a dangerous precedent, and pointed out that the township relies on those fees to help prepare and maintain the diamonds.
Council approved the request, with Deputy Mayor Barry Burton saying community groups have made many sacrifices during COVID, and the township should be doing its best to invest and get life back to normal.
In other business at the July 12 meeting, council approved updated Parks and Recreation user fees with increases of two per cent in most categories to take effect in September 2021. The basic cost for ice rental in Stayner and Creemore will move to $129.08 for minor sports teams. Council voted to maintain pool fees for the summer of 2021 with no increase.