Pubdate: Mon, 13 May 2013
Source: Daily Press, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2013 Sun Media
Contact: http://www.timminspress.com/letters
Website: http://www.timminspress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1001
Author: Joe Warmington

ORR BECOMES A WEED-WHACKER

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: Jay Bergstrom