Owen Sound Sun Times

Years-long renewal and expansion plans for Kincardine hospital made a recent step forward. Plans begun in 2017 were firmed up and information endorsed by the hospital board for the second of a five-step process which, if things go as hoped, will see construction begin in 2023-24 and take two years to complete. That’s the latest […]

Problems are now fixed with Ontario’s online and phone-in COVID vaccine booking system, which left some seniors 80 and older in Grey-Bruce and elsewhere unable to book appointments, the health unit said. Grey Bruce Health Unit’s phone lines were being overwhelmed as a result of the problems, a health unit news release said Monday, the […]

Three active cases of a COVID-19 variant of concern were added to the Grey Bruce Health Unit’s case totals over the weekend. On Sunday, the Grey Bruce Health Unit reported one new case of the virus in a resident of Grey Highlands. But it also added five cases – four in residents of the Blue […]

There may be a glimmer of hope for wave-weary landowners and municipalities along the shores of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. After Lake Huron set high water records over the first eight months of 2020, lake water levels have been on a significant decline thanks to below average precipitation and more evaporation because of a […]

An investigation has been launched into the finances of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation Financial Corporation. The Saugeen First Nation in conjunction with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation posted a news release on the SFN website on Friday where it revealed that an independent third-party forensic financial investigation had been launched into the corporation. The matter has […]

Whether you love mathematics or delicious homemade pie, March 14 is a day to celebrate. And three local organizations have banded together to have a little fun, dish out pies, promote the benefits of exercise and the outdoors and raise some funds for the community’s most vulnerable. The Owen Sound Hunger and Relief Effort, Canadian […]

For the second straight day, the Grey Bruce Health Unit was reporting no new cases of COVID-19. As of 11:59 p.m. on Friday there were 721 confirmed cases of the virus in Grey-Bruce, after one new case was referred from another health unit, according to the health unit’s daily situation report. There were 12 active […]

A Hanover man has been arrested and police were looking for a second suspect following a chase overnight Friday that saw a decommissioned ambulance collide with multiple police cruisers. Blake Tisdale, 34, remained in custody Saturday on several criminal charges following the chase that took place between Kincardine in Bruce County and Kintail in Huron […]

Next stop: Owen Sound? After a feasibility study showed Little Tub Harbour in Tobermory would be too small and too busy to host the historic M.S. Norgoma, an ambitious plan to tow the 71-year-old ship to Owen Sound from Sault Ste. Marie is now in the early stages. Mike Goman of Tobermory Real Estate Investors […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit didn’t report any new cases of COVID-19 on Friday. There remain 11 active cases of the virus in the two counties, according to the daily situation report from the health unit, which includes testing and case counts reported up until midnight on Thursday. There were a total of 720 confirmed […]

Owen Sound police have named the victim in an apartment fire in downtown Owen Sound Wednesday morning. Eric Treleaven, 61, was pronounced dead in his apartment, where Owen Sound Fire Chief Doug Barfoot has said the fire started. Investigation by police, the fire marshal, coroner and the local fire department concluded the cause of the […]

After taking root in Grey County a decade ago, the Bluewater Wood Alliance is branching out to encompass all of Ontario. Executive director Mike Baker said the Hanover-based cluster organization of advanced wood product manufacturers will be changing its name and rebranding March 22 to become the Wood Manufacturing Cluster of Ontario. “We represent the […]

Service sector jobs were hit hard by the most recent pandemic lockdown, figures from the Four County Labour Market Planning Board show. “The services-producing sector continues to be battered by the closures due to the pandemic at the same time some industries in the goods-producing sector are on a rebound,” said Gemma Mendez-Smith, the board’s […]

The Grey Bruce Heath Unit’s Hockey Hub mass immunization model has been receiving a standing ovation. All three of the COVID-19 mass immunization hubs are now up and running smoothly in Grey-Bruce. During a tour of the hub at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community on Friday, Grey-Bruce Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra said […]

During Friday’s announcement that Grey County’s community paramedicine program will be expanding, paramedic Rick Trombley shared a story illustrating how the initiative achieves its goal of helping patients remain in their homes and avoid a trip to hospital. An 82-year-old patient, who lives in a farmhouse about 20 kilometres from the nearest hospital, called Trombley, […]

Green apparently meant “go” for a swarm of travellers who descended on Grey-Bruce as lockdown restrictions lifted last month. Grey-Bruce’s top-doctor is concerned, but not rushing to make any wide-sweeping changes to how locals should go about their business. Speaking in response to a Toronto Star article that accessed cell phone data and showed over […]

A developer has changed his plans for a proposed attainable-housing development in Meaford after negotiating with neighbours. More than 40 lots have been stripped from the original plan to make way for larger properties along the eastern boundary of the property, which is west of town off Highway 26 – known by some as Kennedy […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit reminded parents of school-age children Thursday that its advice now is the same as before — only get tested if directed to by the health unit or when experiencing COVID-19-related symptoms. A recent initiative to provide voluntary in-school asymptomatic testing spearheaded by the Ministry of Education has gone against those […]

The operator of a quarry near Hope Bay, where a December 2019 blast shook homes and was recorded by instruments that detect earthquakes, has pleaded guilty to an Aggregate Resource Act offence. On Feb. 8 in a virtual Provincial Offences court hearing in Owen Sound, Hunter Haulage & Excavating Inc., of Lion’s Head, pleaded guilty […]

Some lot owners along an unopened section of Finden Street just west of Owen Sound have expressed an interest in having the street extended to access their landlocked properties. On Wednesday, during its committee of the whole meeting, council directed staff to survey the nine applicants and other abutting property owners who would benefit from […]

West Grey Police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a suspect accused of breaking into two Durham-area homes before threatening the owners with a machete, stealing items and fleeing the scene in the residents’ vehicles in January. The West Grey Police Criminal Investigation section members have obtained an arrest warrant for Randal Connell, […]

Grey Bruce OPP charged a 26-year-old Owen Sound woman with stunt driving for speeding over 130 km/h in a posted 80 km/h zone in Georgian Bluffs. Police stopped the driver Sunday morning just after 9 a.m. on Highway 21 near Jackson Road. According to a police news release, the vehicle was travelling at speeds over […]

Grey-Bruce’s first-ever virtual regional job fair is being heralded as a success. Jacinda Rudolph, an economic development officer with Grey County, said about 700 job seekers participated in the online Grey Bruce Regional Job Fair Wednesday, along with 125 employers, which was the maximum number of “virtual booths” available for the event. Job seekers and […]

Strong, gusting winds from the southwest across Grey-Bruce prompted a special weather statement from Environment Canada this afternoon. Watch for loose objects being tossed around and beware of falling tree branches, the statement says. Wind gusts of 70- to 80-kilometres per hour are forecast this afternoon and through the early evening. Strong winds are coming […]

Grey County will receive up to $3.25 million in provincial funding over the next four years to run an expanded community paramedicine initiative. The new Community Paramedicine Long-Term Care (CPLTC) program, which will be entirely funded by the Ministry of Long-term Care, will focus exclusively on seniors who are on a waiting list for a […]

The Grey Bruce OPP are investigating a hit-and-run collision between a motorist and cyclist Wednesday night north of Wiarton. Police were called shortly after 9 p.m. to Rouse Road near Bruce Road 9 where a cyclist was struck by a car. The car failed to stop and offer assistance or wait for police to arrive […]

Georgian Bluffs council is moving forward with closing the Cole’s Sideroad trail to motorized vehicles. The decision to continue the process of closing the unopened road allowance to vehicles such as ATVs and mud trucks passed in a 4-3 vote during Georgian Bluffs’ online committee of the whole meeting on Wednesday. The decision, which was […]

A Woodstock man with addiction problems and a knack for taking other people’s stuff, as well as evading police, pleaded guilty to a slew of charges and was sentenced to 28 months behind bars. Randy Rae, 41, entered pleas in a virtual court hearing held Wednesday in Owen Sound to a break-in, 10 charges for […]

COVID-19 cases associated with the Walker House Restaurant in Southampton are being investigated by the Grey Bruce Health Unit. The health unit is advising anyone who visited the Walker House on Feb. 23 to seek testing at the nearest COVID-19 assessment centre. The health unit said there is evidence of COVID-19 transmission between patrons at […]

As Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues, Grey and Bruce counties have received an injection of funding to assist the most vulnerable people during the pandemic. Grey County will receive $1.77 million in new Social Services Relief Fund money, while Bruce County will get nearly $871,000, local MPPs Bill Walker and Lisa Thompson announced Wednesday. The […]

A 26-year-old Kincardine woman was charged with impaired driving at the scene of a three-vehicle crash Tuesday night. South Bruce OPP responded to a report of a collision in Kincardine just before 9 p.m. Tuesday. Three vehicles were involved in the crash at the intersection of Queen Street and St. Albert Street, according to a […]

Applications are now open for Georgian College’s accelerated personal support worker program, which will be offered at the Owen Sound campus starting May 10. Offers will be granted to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the college, which is encouraging interested candidates to apply immediately. “PSWs are an integral part of the […]

MPP Lisa Thompson says one of her main goals as head of a national woman parliamentarians committee is to inspire more women – both locally and around the globe – to become involved in their communities and politics. The Huron-Bruce Progressive Conservative cabinet minister has been appointed chair of the Commonwealth Woman Parliamentarians (CWP) Canada […]

One person died in an apartment fire above the former Norma Jean’s restaurant early Wednesday morning, Owen Sound Fire Chief Doug Barfoot said. “We got one individual out and unfortunately, he didn’t make it,” Barfoot said in a morning interview. Later Wednesday, he confirmed the “there was no foul play, it was accidental.” The male […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit said more than 30 vaccine clinics were operating in the region last week and a similar number will be carried out this week. Dr. Ian Arra, Grey-Bruce’s medical officer of health, said he’s received good feedback from the clinics as First Nations adults, high-priority health care workers and adults 80 […]

An Owen Sound judge has upheld convictions against South Bruce Peninsula for violating the Endangered Species Act by its 2017 spring and fall raking and flattening of endangered piping plover beach habitat. Ontario Court Justice Julia Morneau, in a written 12-page decision, dismissed the town’s grounds for appeal, but she agreed the justice of the […]

Residents and staff at long-term care homes in Grey-Bruce are nearing the end of the COVID-19 vaccination process and receiving second doses across the region. However, according to the data both regionally and provincially, just over half of the staff at some long-term care homes have volunteered to be vaccinated. A Bruce County news release […]

A new peer advisory committee of people living with addictions and family of loved ones lost to addiction are hoping to improve addiction services in Grey-Bruce with their input. “How can you improve services and community response to addiction if the people who have experienced addiction aren’t part of the conversation?” asked Alison Govier, who […]

The average home price in Grey-Bruce has blown past the $600,000 mark for the first time. The average price of homes sold in Grey-Bruce reached $613,373 in February, up almost 55 per cent from February 2020, according to the Realtors Association of Grey Bruce Owen Sound. It was by far the highest monthly average price […]

March 08, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed many of society’s most urgent issues. And that includes gender inequities, which have resulted in women – particularly those in rural communities – experiencing a greater impact than men from the pandemic, said Ashleigh Weeden, the keynote speaker during a Women’s Centre Grey-Bruce virtual event to honour International Women’s Day […]

What is essential to you? Answers to this question by local youth – in the form of drawings and photographs – will guide a #myessential community mural project that will be created by Durham artist JP Morel inside Owen Sound’s Tom Thomson Art Gallery. “We’ve really only been using this word ‘essential’ because we’re hearing […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit has issued another opioid overdose alert. This time, the alert comes after two overdoses that took place within a short time period Friday in Hanover. In both cases, Hanover Police Service officers administered Naloxone and saved both lives, allowing paramedics to intervene, the health unit says. “This is in addition […]

For the second straight day, the Grey Bruce Health Unit is reporting a single new case of COVID-19 in the two counties Sunday. The lone case was from Arran-Elderslie, according to public health’s daily situation report. The health unit also reported a single new case of the virus Saturday. That lone case was from Saugeen […]

Friends Shannon Bryant and Sarah MacLeod say the past year of pandemic-related restrictions has been a challenge for their sons, particularly when COVID-19 forced school closures and lockdowns that kept them apart from their buddies. But one thing that’s made it easier for Bryant’s seven-year-old son Emerson and MacLeod’s nine-year-old son Nelson has been online […]

Owen Sound country music legend and arguably the city’s greatest entertainer Alfie Fromager has died. Mr. Fromager, who packed southern Ontario music venues for decades, was 87 when he passed away on Thursday. He is being remembered by friends and family as a great entertainer, family man and all-around amazing person. That is exactly how […]

Ontario updated its COVID-19 vaccination plan and is now targeting older citizens and hotspots in the GTA and elsewhere with a goal of offering first shots to everyone over 60 by the end of May. At a news conference Friday, provincial officials said the province will delay second vaccine doses for up to four months […]

A remote-controlled rescue board could help reduce drownings at Kincardine’s south pier at Station Beach, a citizens’ committee suggested to Kincardine town council Monday. Five people have drowned on the south side of the south pier at Station Beach since 2008, including Aleem Ramji, who died trying to rescue his two cousins after a wave […]

An Owen Sound man faces drug trafficking charges after police followed him as he parked his car at a plaza on the city’s west side on Wednesday afternoon. Members of the Owen Sound Police Service Drug Enforcement Unit and Uniform Branch searched the 46-year-old man, which resulted in them locating crystal methamphetamine, purple fentanyl, illicit […]

Owen Sound spent nearly $20,000 last year on additional enforcement in a neighbourhood declared by council as a “hotspot.” City manager Tim Simmonds said about 95 per cent of the $19,200 cost was labour-related – for things like overnight monitoring and overtime expenses. The proactive enforcement and monitoring has “helped the situation,” he said, resulting […]