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2 • The Creemore eCho • Friday, December 31, 2010 The Creemore eCho • Friday, December 31, 2010 • 3

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other mechanical skill known to man. As activity at the Shipyards wound down in the early 1980s, Ferguson made sure to move around from department to department, staying employed and learning new skills as he went. And when he saw the writing on the wall, he took a sabbatical to build a house and a shop on a 15-acre piece of property he’d bought across from his father’s farm.

The sabbatical never ended, so to speak, because the Shipyards shut down in 1986. By that time, Ferguson was on his way to making Ken Ferguson Enterprises the successful business it is today, a place where you can get your snowmobile or your tractor repaired, along with just about anything else you can imagine.

By 2002 he was out of debt, and when he came into a bit of money after selling a Collingwood condo he had invested in years earlier, he decided to get back into farming. He bought his uncle’s farm, just down the hill, and later in the decade he bought his father’s farm, where his father and mother still live, in between the two properties.

“I bought combines, I bought tractors, I’ve been buying for eight years,” he said with a grin. “But because of that, my sons have been able to get into farming, and my daughters are able to work and live in Clearview Township.”

Indeed, Ferguson’s 19-year-old twin sons Kent and Kyle, still living at home, are integral to his ability to keep the farms going, and his daughters – 29-year-old Kendra and 25-year-old Sara – are living in the house on the farm down the hill. And Kendra has started a daycare business there as well, where area kids are not only taken care of during the day, they’re also given an early education in the wonders of farm life.

“They learn that beans squeak, and they get to see sheep being born,” explained Ken, who is proud of what’s happening on his road.

“I’ve made this economy on the Jardine, by creating opportunities for my children. And that’s what we have to do in Clearview – we have to create opportunities here so people will come, and young people can stay.”

Ferguson fell into politics in 1994, when his confusion about the amalgamation that had just been forced on the communities of Nottawasaga, Stayner, Creemore and Sunnidale led him to run in the first Clearview Township election. He’d joined the Nottawasaga Township Fire Department two years earlier, and he’d been encouraged to run by its members, as well as many of the people who were by then visiting his shop frequently, people who saw him as an honest businessman who cared about his community.

“In my job, I get up every morning with the attitude to help people, so this wasn’t much different,” explained Ken. “That said, I never thought I’d end up Mayor.”

Eventually, though, he became Deputy Mayor and realized how much bigger the political picture is at the County level, and saw how many important decisions were going to made there in the near future. In 2006, he won a tough three-way fight for Mayor, found his footing quickly, and governed for an eventful three years and three months until that fateful day when Cheryl’s tumour was found.

“You gain respect for life in a situation like that, you realize that it’s precious,” said Ken. “You realize that anything could happen at any time.”

The Fergusons were lucky this time. Two months after that fateful day, Cheryl received notice that her tumour had been benign. And not long after that, it came time for Ken to make a decision about the next four years.

“My Council waited for me, I’ll never forget that,” he said. “And when the time came, my family all sat down at the table together, and they told me to go forward, to finish what I started.”

So he threw his name in the hat again, and he claims he worked the hardest he’s ever worked in a campaign, because he really believes that “Clearview’s time is now.” And whatever he said must have resonated, because he won three times as many votes as his competitor, and a large majority of his Council, who with the exception of one were basically running on Ferguson’s platform, were also returned.

So Ken will continue with his nose to the grindstone for the next four years, trying hard put 40 hours a week

Friday, December 31• New Year’s Eve Skating at Creemore Arena from

6:30 to 8:30 pm. Free. Sponsored by mSPEC.• New Years Eve Dance at the Nottawasaga

Community Hall in Duntroon from 8 pm to midnight. Live country band. $50/couple, New Year’s Eve treats, midnight buffet and more. Call (705) 445-4828.

• New Year’s Eve at New Lowell Legion featuring live band Vertigo from 9 pm to 1 am. Buffet and prizes. $20 per adult. Tickets available at Legion.

Saturday, January 1• Happy New Year’s!

Sunday, January 2• Dunedin Knox Presbyterian Church Service at 10

am. Rev. Jim McVeigh. All welcome. • St. John’s United Church Service at 10:15 am. No

services at Avening & New Lowell United today.

Thursday, January 6• Deadline to submit your CreemoreCentric work of

art. Submit to Mad & Noisy Gallery by 5 pm today. Purchase a canvas for $20 and create your view of life in & around Creemore. Show runs from Saturday, January 8 to Sunday, January 30 and is open to the community to enter their artwork. Artwork will be sold by silent auction at the end of month as a fundraiser for the Mad & Noisy Gallery. Sponsored by Purple Hills Arts & Heritage Society & The Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Saturday, January 8• Curiosity House Artist’s Opening Reception

from 2 to 4 pm. Steve McDonald presents ‘More Views From the Valley’ featuring delightful bold coloured illustrations of Creemore and surrounding landscapes. Come to our opening reception to meet the artist and enjoy some refreshments.

• Curiosity House Monthly Story Hour from 10:30 to 11:15 am. Children from 18 months to 6 years of age are invited to join Miriam to listen to captivating stories, share the love of reading and complete a small craft activity.

• Opening Reception for CreemoreCentric from 2 to 5 pm at Mad & Noisy Gallery.

Monday, January 10• Clearview Township’s Rescheduled Council

Meeting from Monday, December 13 starts at 5:30 pm at the Council Chambers. Everyone welcome.

Thursday, January 20• Georgian Triangle Humane Society’s Tips ‘n Tails

Ski Day at Alpine. Tickets are $55 for a ski lift ticket that includes lessons and a race as well as $20 ticket for the snowshoe only. Call (705) 445-5204 for information or for tickets.

In Memoriam

Glencairn 705-424-6697

For Reliable ServiceTank Truck Delivery of Furnace & Stove Oil

in at his shop, doing two hours of chores morning and night on the farm and spending at least 30 hours a week performing his Mayoral duties, whether at meetings, at social functions, researching and preparing for meetings, or talking to his public in the front room of his shop.

He says he felt a different attitude about the Township during his electioneering this time around, a more cohesive feeling that amalgamation is becoming ancient history and Clearview is becoming a community as a whole. And he’s happy with his team moving forward.

“We have the opportunity to be the best Council ever,” he said. “And this will be a landmark term for Clearview.” And with that, he went back to work.

(Continued from page 1)Newsmaker of the Year: Mayor Ken Ferguson

Ielene Kirkpatrick Joseph Godin Stanley Valliere Paul Mortell John Winchester Monna Holm Edward Hornsby Laverne Barker Barbara Ciach Edith Veale Bonnie Penelton

Jessie Stainton Gary Marlatt Corry-Lynn Kutchaw David Pickering Sam Kinghan Elwood Royal Lyle Scott Bruce Kidd John Winchester Peggy Bradfield

James Sinclair James Reycraft Hazel Barnard James Lindsay Stanley Edwards Alena Alexander Ron Chunik Charlie Bailey Gordon Lewis Audrey Joslin

Donald Wilson Mary Robertson Rosa Matyaszczyk Jesse Pearce Lynn Brown John Lindsay Ralph MacDonald Frances Hough Peter Johne Nelda Lageer

George Winchester Elvis Royal Lilo Moore Harold Meek Grace Gowan Claude Pardy Edna Thornton Lilian Allen Keith Hutchinson James Sammy

George Ransier George Price Reg Cooksey Christian Affolter Albert Jackson Frances Oakes Ron Robertson Peggy Simpson Paula Duff Tom Hesslegrave

The Creemore eCho • Friday, December 31, 2010 • 7

FOR THE LOVE OF TRACTORS We’re never sure if the Dunedin Tractor Rally is a genuine community event or just an excuse for organizer Jamie Adam to get together with a bunch of his antique tractor-crazed buddies (such as the two at left). Regardless, it is a growing concern (with 70 tractors this year!) and a colourful event that always signals the height of summer.

COPPER KETTLE CATCH-UP The Creemore Springs Copper Kettle Festival always offers a great opportunity to catch up with friends and relatives from both near and far. Here, Creemore residents and event volunteers Judy and Robin Boyce (centre) spent some time with their guests of the day – Robin’s brother Dave and his wife Connie, visiting from Orangeville.

HALLOWEEN IN CREEMORE The Creemore BIA’s Halloween celebrations were chilly this year, but that didn’t stop Creemore Scouts Obi Page and Phil Jones from having a good time running the pumpkin decorating contest.

SEPTEMBER TRADITIONS September saw a couple of accomplishments at two major area events, with 4-H member Emmett Swanton one of many locals winning prizes at the Great Northern Exhibition and Paul Vorstermans picking up two Mocksies, including First Prize, at the 5th annual Creemore Mocks Film Festival.

LEST WE FORGET As always, Creemore showed up in great numbers to honour its veterans on Remembrance Day. Unfortunately, November 11, 2010 will be the last Remembrance Day for George Ransier (below left, with his son Bob), who passed away in December at age 87. George was known, among many things, for never growing out of his World War II uniform. SANTA CAME TO TOWN Old Saint Nick always makes a great

appearance at the end of the Creemore Santa Claus Parade, and this year was no different. Kudos to John, Marie and Katherine Blohm for organizing a wonderful parade.