The Citizen, 2015-06-18, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015.
Continued from page 1
the same about the issue.
“I share the same comments and
concerns that the landowners have,”
he said. “We haven’t seen, as a
council, since October, one
document from G2G Inc. other than
that press release that would provide
me any comfort that [the presented
problems are] going to be resolved.
“We’ve talked about it before and
I’m not going to support anything
until we get firm information and
guidance,” he said. “They haven’t
changed my opinion. I want to see
what the group’s plans are, what
mitigation they are going to do for
the landowners and the liability of
the municipality and all those
concerns.”
Seip said he felt the entire project
was a far “bigger monster” than
what G2G Inc. thinks it is and he
can’t support it.
Deputy-Reeve James Campbell
asked members of the group what
they felt council should do, since the
official opening of the trail is so
close, but no answer could be
provided. The group said they were
going to talk to Huron County
Council, but their presentation isn’t
scheduled until after the trail has
opened.
Seip asked what the leases meant
for people on the trail. He said that,
if the leases are still owned by
people like North Huron and the
landowners, the users would be
trespassing and they should be aware
of that.
Neil stated that he called Del
Management Company, who
administers the leases, and was told
in no uncertain terms his lease on the
land he uses to travel between his
farms is still valid. Reeve Neil
Vincent stated the municipality’s
lease, which is the Greenway Trail,
is also still valid.
“How can anyone say it’s open
then?” Seip asked.
Marie stated that, due to the
announcement of the trail being
open, she and her husband have seen
many people using the trail they
have leased, despite the fact that they
have it fenced off for safety. She said
that ATV use, which is illegal, has
increased on the trail and that they
go through their crops to get around
the barricades set up.
Neil had called his insurance
company and found out that, if users
of this trail interfere with his farming
operation by letting the cattle out, he
and his wife will be responsible for it
and therefore will not be able to
make a claim.
“We get to pay more insurance and
have less security,” Marie said.
She said that there had been talk
about planting milkweed near
Goderich, a plant which farmers
consider a weed due to the problems
it can cause for seeds and crops. Neil
added that he has been told he will
lose contracts for speciality crops if
weeds like milkweed become
prevalent. He added that there are
groups, like the Maitland Valley
Conservation Authority, who could
use the money that is being spent on
the trail to better ends and that
should be what happens.
Director of Recreation and
Facilities Pat Newson said that the
township is in a very challenging
position, as staff aren’t being
informed and aren’t allowed to
speak to concerns people may have
though she did suggest inviting G2G
Inc. representatives to talk to
council, a presentation that has not
yet happened.
She also suggested that the
provincial government is pushing for
the trail.
“It would be good to get
information from our MPP [Lisa
Thompson] as to what the province’s
desire is,” she said.
Grant Sparling, founder of
Sparling’s Propane in Blyth, has
been named the posthumous
recipient of the 2015 Canadian
Propane Association (CPA) Lifetime
Achievement Award.
The announcement was made at
the CPA’s Ontario Seminar on June
4, which was held in King City. The
award was accepted on Grant’s
behalf by his son Steven, former
Sparling’s CEO and current Director
of Business Development.
According to a press release from
the CPA, the award “recognizes
individuals who have made
significant or consistent outstanding
contributions to the betterment of
the Canadian Propane Association
and its membership. This award
recognizes an individual who is
regarded as possessing integrity,
honesty and the respect of their
peers. The award is for lifetime
achievement rather than for a single
contribution.”
Steven says it was an honour to
accept the award on behalf of his
father, as well as his brother David
and all who have contributed to the
business’s success over the years.
What he found to be truly
touching, however, was after the
announcement when the room full of
propane industry leaders gave Grant
a standing ovation.
To see that kind of a spontaneous
reaction, Steven said, in a room full
of competitors, was truly a tribute to
what Grant had accomplished.
Grant quietly and significantly to
become one of the largest propane
retailers in Canada by the time the
company was purchased by
Parkland Fuel Corporation, Calgary,
in 2013.
Founded in 1951, Sparling’s is
Canada’s oldest propane company
and was twice named “One of the 50
Best Places to Work in Canada” by
the Globe & Mail. The company
supports over 350 groups,
organizations and events annually,
across Ontario.
Sparling’s employees are active in
the community, in service clubs and
organizations, agencies, sports and
churches, and through financial
support provided by the Sparling's
Employee Fund.
In the release, the CPA cited a
1977 memo from Grant, which was
recalled in his nomination.
At Sparling’s: “It’s about service.
Not propane. It’s about a friendly,
co-operative voice on the phone. It’s
a knowledgeable service man, who
shows up on time and takes his boots
off at the door. It’s a clean shave, a
clean uniform and a clean truck. It’s
a fair price. It’s a smile at the door.
It’s saying, ‘thank you’ to our
customers – for being our
customers. That’s what we sell
around here.”
Grant was active in the United
Church and his community, and
served 32 years as
firefighter/Captain with the Blyth
and District Fire Department. After a
lifetime of service and
accomplishments as a banker,
soldier, entrepreneur and
community champion, Grant retired
just three years ago, at 88 years of
age, and was also awarded the
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee
Medal and the first Lifetime
Achievement Award presented by
the Ontario Propane Association.
Grant Sparling passed away on
May 13 at the age of 91.
Landowners list trail issues
Sparling honoured by CPA for lifetime achievement
A tremendous honour
Blyth’s Steven Sparling, right, was on hand earlier this
month to receive a lifetime achievement award from the
Canadian Propane Association on behalf of his late father
Grant, the founder of Sparling’s Propane. The
announcement ellicited a standing ovation from those in
attendance. Presenting the award was Guy Marchand, left,
chair of the association’s board. (Photo submitted)
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