The Schumacher Arts, Culture & Heritage Association (SACHA) has called a “community meeting” that will take place in Schumacher, Ontario on Saturday February 4th from 1:30 to 4:30 pm at the Croatian Hall. Municipal, provincial and federal elected officials that represent the people in Schumacher will be in attendance. We have also invited and are awaiting a response from officials with the Ontario and Canadian government’s.

This meeting was precipitated when Schumacher Public School, which opened in 1918 and the oldest publicly owed facility in the community, was recently placed on a list of schools to be considered for closure. Because of this the people of Schumacher have now reached a “crisis point” due to the loss of numerous community assets.

Over the past 45 years Schumacher has lost the following community assets – Schumacher High School, Schumacher Lions Club Indoor Swimming Pool, Schumacher Train Station, Schumacher Library, McIntyre Park, Municipal buildings and services, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic elementary school, Trinity United Church, St. Chad’s Anglican Church, St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Timmins Extendicare nursing home, and the closure of over 40 businesses located in its downtown.

The historical document, “Schumacher, Ontario: 60 Years of Ups and 45 Years of Downs!” will explain what has happened to Schumacher over the last 105 years and makes recommendations to move the people and community of Schumacher forward in a new direction.

The focus of the community meeting will be to discuss the future of Schumacher. Tom Laughren, who grew up in Schumacher and was the Mayor of Timmins from 2006 to 2014 will be moderating the community meeting.

Filed under: Local News