Owen Sound Sun Times

Owen Sound’s average household income is among the lowest in Ontario, while the city’s homeowners are spending a higher percentage of their paycheques on property taxes than ratepayers in nearly every other community in the province. That’s according to the latest BMA Management Consulting municipal study, received by the city Nov. 16 and presented to […]

Northern Bruce Peninsula municipal councillor James Mielhausen breached provincial conflict-of-interest rules and the municipal code of conduct by advancing a zoning amendment for a large, private parking lot project proposed by his daughter’s employer. That was the finding of the municipality’s integrity commissioner, Harold Elston, who recommended a reprimand in his Nov. 9 report. Mielhausen […]

Georgian Bluffs council has asked staff for a report and draft bylaw aimed at protecting trees in the municipality. At its meeting on Wednesday, council passed a motion calling for the report after it was brought forward by the township’s climate action committee. Committee chair Coun. Cathy Moore Coburn said there have been instances in […]

Owen Sound’s transit costs are expected to jump by nearly 50 per cent — or about $500,000 — in 2022 due to higher fuel, contract and winter maintenance costs and declining ridership. Corporate services director Kate Allan said the increase — by far the largest in the city’s draft operating budget for next year — […]

An increased volume of groundwater has been penetrating the basement of the city-owned former Canadian National Railway station, causing mould contamination on the lower level and on stored items and elevated spore counts on both levels of the waterfront building. City council was informed of those issues during a budget session Wednesday before approving a […]

A wet and mild fall has presented some challenges for clubs preparing local snowmobile trails, but that hasn’t stopped them from working on many across Grey-Bruce. Karen Buratynski, manager of Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs District 9, said Wednesday that the local clubs have been out and about for about six weeks doing preparatory work […]

Owen Sound and Owen Sound Minor Soccer are splitting the cost of a $20,000 study to explore the feasibility of an artificial turf field and dome in the city. Each is investing $10,000 for the study by national consulting firm RC Strategies, a group specializing in recreation, parks, trails and cultural planning. Owen Sound Minor […]

Marcie Riegling is available to help small businesses on the peninsula with digital marketing and e-commerce projects for free until February. Riegling, who operates a social media and marketing company, is part of Digital Main Street’s Digital Service Squad. The program is funded through provincial and federal grants, including investment from the Ontario Ministry of […]

The documentary filmmaker who gave us Queen’s Hotel Blues, about the demise of a downtown Owen Sound landmark, has taken a long look at a little known former rural Black community near his home on the Niagara Peninsula. Graeme Bachiu’s latest effort is the six-part series, Canfield Roots, about the tiny community of Canfield’s importance […]

One person died and another suffered life-threatening injuries after a collision in Georgian Bluffs on Tuesday morning. At about 8:30 a.m., Grey Bruce OPP responded to the two vehicle crash on Grey Road 17 in the area of Copper Kettle. Police attended along with members of the Inter Township Fire Department and Grey County EMS […]

The CFOS Sun Times Christmas Fund Broadcast is back for its 82nd year, and organizers are hoping for another big year as local charities continue to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The broadcast had a record year in 2020 with about $48,000 raised for 22 local charities and organizations, and the hope is […]

Owen Sound plans to spend $10,000 next year to landscape a new natural burials section at Greenwood Cemetery. City council approved Monday a community services committee recommendation to include a stone garden as the central feature of the section. It also directed staff to develop a detailed plan for construction. A conceptual plan, designed by […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit was awaiting results after hundreds of people were tested in relation to an outbreak at Holland Chatsworth Central School. Grey-Bruce Medical Officer of Health Ian Arra said Tuesday morning that the situation remained very much under control with just two cases related to the actual outbreak at the school. A […]

As the COVID-19 pandemic maintains its grip on Canada and the world, experts say a “shadow epidemic” of violence against women has intensified. “In times of crisis, the number of women being abused rises and we see it in the news every day. We see the rise in violence against women during the COVID-19 pandemic […]

City council has received its first detailed look at a company’s plan to create an 829-unit residential subdivision across the street from Georgian College and East Ridge Community School in Owen Sound. Staff presented a technical report Monday night on Flato Owen Sound’s Greystone Village mixed-use subdivision proposal. It included information on the project, such […]

Team John Epping, Team Glenn Howard and Team Pat Ferris have confirmed their participation in the upcoming Port Elgin Chrysler ’22 Ontario Tankard Presented by Bruce Power. The tankard is set for Feb. 9 to 12 at The Plex in Port Elgin. The tankard is the annual provincial curling championship that determines the Ontario men’s […]

The Sacred Heart Crusaders won a bronze medal at the OFSAA ‘AA’ boys volleyball championship in North Bay this past weekend. The Crusaders beat Kingston’s Frontenac Secondary School in four sets (25-22, 25-19, 17-25, 25-17) to earn the bronze medal. Head coach Mike Ballagh said it’s the team’s first OFSAA medal for boys volleyball. “Before […]

Hanover Fire Chief Jeff Dentinger said a person who reported a glow in the dark early morning sky Monday morning likely saved further damage at a property just east of town. A three-bay vehicle shop with an attached office was completely destroyed in a fire that crews from Hanover, Walkerton and Elmwood battled for hours. […]

Oxenden’s Julian Smith raced earlier this month in Canmore for the first time after being sidelined for 19 months amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Smith skied in two early-season training races at the Canmore Nordic Centre on Frozen Thunder. The Frozen Thunder track is a two-kilometre ski track made with snow stored under sawdust from the […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit reported three more cases of COVID-19 on Monday, as the health unit works with the Bluewater District School Board to control an outbreak at Holland Chatsworth Central School. The new cases included one each in Meaford, Saugeen Shores and West Grey, according to the health unit’s Situation Report, which includes […]

Police have identified one of the victims after two fatal house fires in the Owen Sound area over the weekend each resulted in the death of a person. Patricia Waters, 74, of Georgian Bluffs was pronounced dead at the scene of a fire that occurred at a home on Girl Guide Road early Saturday morning. […]

Elwood Moore was honoured on Thursday for the work he did planting the seeds of conservation in Grey County almost 65 years ago. It was the foresight of Moore and other founding members of the North Grey Region Conservation Authority that led to the protection of thousands of acres and countless landscape and features unique […]

Eight more COVID-19 cases were reported by the Grey Bruce Health Unit Sunday, on top of seven new cases the day before. Sunday’s confirmed cases included two in Chatsworth, two in Meaford and one each in Arran-Elderslie, Grey Highlands, South Bruce Peninsula, and Southgate. Now 42 active cases and 396 high-risk contacts of known cases […]

One person died after a house fire east of Rockford in rural Meaford Saturday night, the second fatal house fire in Grey County this weekend. Someone was removed from the residence and pronounced dead at the scene, a Grey Bruce OPP news release said. The name of the victim will be released once family are […]

A long-time Southampton foxhound hunter’s death inspired his fellow hunters to raise money for the hospice in Owen Sound. After Bob Mahon died in March 2019, Don Bannerman and others organized their first local hunting field trial in his honour later that year. It raised $3,500 that yea and $4,500 the next. This year, $6,005 […]

The London Knights are quickly becoming a mythical villain this season for Owen Sound Attack players, coaches and fans. On Saturday night, they were a hydra. Just when the Owen Sound Attack thought they had finally slain the beast another head popped out. Brett Brochu with an incredible save. Luke Evangelista with another highlight-reel goal. […]

The driver of an ATV died in a collision at Neyaashiinigmiing Saturday morning. Papasai-Daisy Johnston-Jones, 20, of Neyaashiinigmiing was pronounced dead at the scene along Lakeshore Boulevard, Grey Bruce OPP said in a news release Saturday night. Police said it was about 5 a.m. that Neyaashiinigmiing First Nation Police, the OPP, Bruce County paramedics and […]

One person is dead following a house fire in Georgian Bluffs early Saturday morning. A Grey Bruce OPP news release said the fire along Girl Guide Road was reported to emergency responders about 5 a.m. The house remains standing, with little sign of damage on the outside. “One individual was removed from the residence and […]

Grey Bruce Health Unit reported seven new cases of COVID-19 and 36 associated high-risk contacts Saturday. These cases were found across Grey-Bruce: Kincardine, 2; Saugeen Shores, 2; and one each in Chatsworth, Grey Highlands and Meaford. Now 34 active cases are being followed by health unit staff, on top of 350 high-risk contacts of known […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit reported 10 new cases of COVID-19 Friday for the second straight day. Five of the newly reported cases were in Hanover while three new cases were identified in Kincardine residents. Arran-Elderslie and Chatsworth each had a single new case reported Friday. A COVID-19 outbreak was declared at Holland Chatsworth Central […]

Georgian Bluff’s new chief administrative officer, Cynthia Fletcher, will bring continuity to staff leadership and will have to help boost morale, Mayor Dwight Burley said. “We’ve been without a permanent CAO for a long, long time. Almost four years,” Burley said in an interview. “Her biggest challenge for us will be to bring some kind […]

Big Brothers Big Sisters Grey Bruce is looking for people to donate money to buy a Christmas gift for a local child or youth. The Christmas gift fund will be gathering $20 donations from anyone who would like to be a “Secret Santa.” To donate, visit greybruce.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca.

Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week will be fully virtual again this year after pivoting to the digital space in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The popular ag-industry conference heads into its 56th year in operation and will run from Jan. 4 to Jan. 11. GBFW coordinator Lorie Smith said the committee thought long and hard about […]

The Owen Sound Attack scored four goals in four minutes at the end of the first period en route to a win over the Barrie Colts Thursday night. It was a rude reunion from Mack Guzda’s former teammates in their first game opposite the longtime Attack netminder inside the Sadlon Arena. The Colts and Attack […]

Grey-Bruce saw 10 new COVID cases reported Thursday, which included an outbreak declaration at Holland Chatsworth Central School and an increase of dismissed school cohorts and high-risk contacts. It serves as a reminder to parents to look closely at vaccinating their kids, said Dr. Ian Arra, the local medical officer of health, in an interview. […]

Owen Sound is gearing up for its time to shine as the centre of the hockey universe when Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada comes to the city in January. Organizers, sponsors and others gathered at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre on Thursday where they released more details on the four-day festival that will take […]

South Bruce Peninsula announced Thursday that it purchased the Sauble Beach Medical Centre building and plans to add an ambulance bay there. Bruce County Paramedic Services has intended to put an ambulance station in Sauble and had been in talks with the private owner of the health centre building, said Steve Schaus, director of paramedic […]

Flags at city hall and Owen Sound and Emergency Services were lowered to half-mast Wednesday in honour of a city firefighter who died unexpectedly while off duty. Paul Materiuk, 41, died Tuesday. He was a city firefighter for five years. He was active in supporting local veterans, including providing leadership in the city’s Remembrance Day […]

Two companies are taking legal action against Owen Sound in connection to the 10th Street bridge replacement project. Looby Builders (Dublin) Ltd., contractor for the $9.7-million project, filed a statement of claim Oct. 29 at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto. It is seeking $539,000 for additional, unforeseen costs related to high water […]

Bruce County plans to hold a public meeting early next year to gather feedback on possible changes to its official plan for the consideration of smaller agricultural lots and to update policies on industrial and commercial uses on agricultural land. County councillors gave staff the go-ahead during a planning and development committee meeting last Thursday […]

The Walkerton District Riverhawks are the No. 1 seed headed into the 2021 OFSAA Girl’s A Basketball championship in Smithville this weekend. The ten-team tournament is set to begin Thursday with the championship game scheduled for Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The teams are divided into two pools of five teams with the first and second […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit has announced it will offer vaccination clinics at arenas, community centres and schools during non-school hours specifically for children ages five to 11. A vaccine clinic only for children ages five to 11 will be held Saturday at St. Teresa of Calcutta School in Walkerton from 10 a.m. to 3 […]

Billy Bishop Museum will hold a free Christmas open house Saturday and Sunday, then it will present Victorian Christmas teas every Wednesday until mid-December at the museum. The Christmas open houses will take place between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day this weekend, in the First World War flying ace’s boyhood home, an 1884 […]

The Grey Sauble Conservation Authority has presented a draft budget that includes a proposed 5.64 per cent levy increase for its eight member municipalities. Chief administrative officer Tim Lanthier said Tuesday that the conservation authority runs a lean operation and he thinks the budget is a responsible one. “We have limited the increases just to […]

Belle Hoggard of Hepworth is the region’s newest millionaire after the seven numbers selected on the Encore portion of her Lotto Max ticket were drawn earlier this month. Her $1 Encore option quickly turned into the $1 million jackpot after the Nov. 9 Lotto Max draw. Hoggard told OLG she is a regular lottery player […]

Opening submissions in a trial over who owns a large piece of beach at Sauble Beach revealed Ontario disagrees with Saugeen First Nation’s claim to 1.4 miles of the north beach, while Canada supports its claim. South Bruce Peninsula declined a 2014 mediated settlement proposal that would have kept public access but turned over ownership […]

The Inter Township Fire Department has started collecting toys and funds for its annual toy drive, which ensures that children who may otherwise go without are assured a gift under the tree on Christmas morning. Jason Hellyer, who co-chairs the toy drive with Andy Redmond, said Tuesday that toy collection boxes were placed at a […]

No new local cases of COVID-19 were reported Tuesday by the Grey Bruce Health Unit. There are now 19 confirmed active cases of the virus in Grey-Bruce and 127 active high-risk contacts. One Grey-Bruce resident is currently in a local hospital with a case of COVID-19. Public health says there have been 2,494 confirmed cases […]

The Owen Sound and Inter Township fire departments have received 180 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, which they plan to distribute over the next few weeks. The fire services received the alarms through Safe Community Project Zero, a public education campaign. “This donation of combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms will help our residents […]