Pubdate: Mon, 13 May 2013
Source: Kingston Whig-Standard (CN ON)
Copyright: 2013 Sun Media
Contact: http://www.thewhig.com/letters
Website: http://www.thewhig.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/224
Author: Joe Warmington
Page: 9

ORR AGAINST TURNING ARENA INTO LEGAL GROW-OP

If those behind the idea of turning the arena in MacTier into a legal
marijuana grow-op thought they had a fight on their hands before, No.
4 has just jumped over the boards.

Bobby Orr was famous for scoring big goals and, if necessary, dropping
the gloves, too.

This time he's prepared to do both.

In his more than half century of celebrity, Orr rarely speaks out or
steps into controversy.

However, when it comes to closing down an arena and community centre
on his home turf to rent out to a company so they can grow medicinal
marijuana, it brings out the anger in the Hockey Hall of Famer.

When he first heard of it, the two-time Stanley Cup winner who also
led Canada to the 1976 Canada Cup, thought somebody must be smoking
something.

But it turns out, there really is a move to shut the MacTier Community
Centre and lease the space out it to grow pot.

"Its outrageous," Orr said in an exclusive interview.

Somebody must be smoking the strong stuff up there on Hwy. 69 if they
thought they were going to sneak this one by without reaction.

But it seems, that is exactly what has happened.

And Monday at 9 a.m. the council is expected to discuss a letter of
understanding they have struck with the medical marijuana company
Mettrum Ltd.

It will be a heated debate for the people who live there, some of whom
have formed Save the Community Centre Committee led in part by Steven
Schell.

Orr said to add his name to the cause.

"Shame, shame, shame. Shame on those decision makers," said the Boston
Bruin's legend and Canadian icon. "What are they thinking?"

The whole thing is upsetting for the pride of Parry Sound, Ont. since,
although he grew up 20 minutes north, Orr considers himself hailing
from MacTier too.

"I love MacTier. I spent a lot of my youth there," said Orr. "My
sister Penny married Ron Blanchard from MacTier. These are very good
people."

The community centre was built in the 1970s and although Orr never
played in it, he played baseball at the diamond nearby. In fact he was
on the 1964 MacTier Legionnaires championship team which is displayed
in a picture in the arena.

Cheryl Ward, general manager of the Stockey Centre and Bobby Orr Hall
of Fame, said Orr also played minor hockey on outdoor rinks in MacTier.

"Where would I be if not for the hockey rink," asked Orr. "Where would
any Canadian kid be?"

The local connection aside, Orr said, he would have taken the rare
approach of speaking out if this was being done in any Canadian arena.

"Does it seem right to you?" asked Orr. "Who would close down a
community centre to grow marijuana? Who would close a community centre
down for any reason?"

Township of Georgian Bay Mayor Larry Braid told QMI Agency's Roberta
Bell "the annual cost of operating the community centre is about
$250,000" and it only "generates about $30,000 in revenue for the township."

Orr said he had never heard of such an argument before in his decades
around hockey.

"It doesn't make enough money? Give me a break," said Orr. "Are these
community arenas supposed to make money? When did they ever make
money? That's not what they are for."

And the one in MacTier is so vital to the community, the irony is it
was there 300 of the 800 residents gathered last week for a meeting
with the company about this proposal.

Many stormed out in disgust.

Orr said he understands how they felt and agrees with them
wholeheartedly.

"They are going to haul the marijuana out of the old arena right past
the kids in the school across the street and right through the
downtown?" asked Orr.

"It's disgraceful. I can't believe this. It's a community centre. A
community place. They have weddings there. Seniors gather there and
play cards. There are birthday parties, funerals. I just don't
understand this."

Braid told QMI Agency this new operation could create 35 jobs and
provide a better return on investment in the ledger book.

"But where are the kids going to play hockey and figure skate?" asked
Orr. "They just put money into this arena last year to fix it up and
now the kids will have to drive to Midland 40 minutes away and the
seniors will have nowhere to go."

Others Orr has talked to about this have nothing against the company
or growing pot for medical use but wonder "is this the only place in
the Georgian Bay region where they could put it?"

The hockey legend said his involvement in this fight will continue
when he comes up for his annual visit this summer. "This is just not
right," said Orr.

Time will tell how it turns out but history shows when Bobby Orr is in
the game, his team usually wins.
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MAP posted-by: Matt