Creemore Echo founder Sylvia Wiggins dies at 84
Although Sylvia Wiggins left Creemore in 2011, it was her home, said husband John, and where friends and family will gather to mourn her death this week.
Born in 1933, Sylvia grew up in Ottawa where she graduated top of her class and played the violin.
“She was a very bright gal,” said John.
He said they were wed before Sylvia finished a psychology degree at Queen’s University but she went on to earn a teaching degree, which turned out to be one of several careers.
Sylvia made several contributions to Creemore. She had a clothing shop called the Purple Frog in the building that is now home to Creemore Springs Brewery, founded by John, where she sat on the board of directors and served as secretary and treasurer.
John said once arthritis forced him to stop working as a graphic designer, Sylvia became certified as a financial planner and worked in the city but after he got the brewery up and running, he encouraged her to scale back on work and come back to the farm so she could enjoy her horses.
Sylvia had a lifelong love of horses but had her first opportunity to own them once they moved to the farm. John said at the age of 60 she was competing in dressage.
Sylvia was also the founder of The Creemore Echo newspaper. When the Creemore Star shut down, Sylvia decided to fill the void left in the community – especially with a local election on the horizon. John supported the effort by designing the masthead and drawing the cartoon. Sylvia launched The Creemore Echo in 1997 and was owner/publisher for a few years before turning it over to Craig Simpson and Phil Stevenson.
“I think she was relieved when the boys came along,” said John.
He said she felt she wasn’t putting the time in and was happy to see someone else take the reigns.
Sylvia was also a strong opponent of the wpd wind turbine project, which has since been cancelled. She and John initiated action against the installation of wind turbines near their farm in 2012.
John said Sylvia was a dedicated volunteer, a great bridge player, career woman but she really lived for her three children; Christopher, Sheralie and Lisa.
“She lived for her children. She was a wonderful mom,” said John.
In their retirement they did a lot of travelling, exploring China, Australia New Zealand, Europe and many other places.
“She had a very open mind and an inquisitive mind,” said John.
“She was a wonderful support to me and that was a difficult job because I made a lot of zany moves in life and she was with me all the way.”
Sylvia, who had dementia and spent the last years of her life in care, died on Dec. 8.
Visitation is at Fawcett Funeral Home’s Creemore Chapel from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 13. The Funeral service will take place at St. Luke’s Anglican Church, located at 22 Caroline St. W, at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Alzheimer Society.
