Owen Sound Sun Times

Newly released statistics show the region’s unemployment rate in October was the lowest in the province, but still much higher than the pre-pandemic rate in late 2019. Four County Labour Market Planning Board numbers released Friday show the unemployment rate for the Stratford Bruce Peninsula Economic Region decreased by 1.5 per cent in October to […]

The Bluewater District School Board will add three new superintendents of education to replace three others who are to retire. The three appointees are Sheryl Elliott, who takes on her new role Nov. 11, Andrea Tang, who begins in the position on Nov. 30, and Keith Lefebvre, who starts his role as superintendent on Dec. […]

Saugeen Shores police continue to investigate the fire that injured an occupant of a Port Elgin apartment complex in September. “The fire investigation is still ongoing and Saugeen Shores Police with the Ontario Fire Marshal office are awaiting lab results from Health Canada and the Centre of Forensic Sciences,” Sgt. Andy Evans said by email […]

In Billy Bishop’s backyard, another storied Canadian fighter pilot has begun to settle into retirement. Billie Flynn is 62 years old and still looks like he could hop on the bike for a couple of hours each day and manage to chop a cord of firewood after. That’s exactly what he was doing Tuesday before […]

The Ontario Conservative government’s budget Thursday had money for businesses, tourist operators, municipalities, hospitals and long-term care homes, broadband expansion, agriculture and food, anti-domestic abuse and racism, seniors, parents and more. The needs addressed in Finance Minister Rod Phillips’ budget were presented as the government’s latest response to the COVID-19 pandemic: support for people and […]

The Women’s Centre Grey Bruce and Women’s House Serving Bruce & Grey are offering pandemic face masks for a donation this year instead of traditional purple scarves to raise funds to assist women and children who are victims of domestic abuse. November is Woman Abuse Prevention Month and wearing a black mask or purple scarf […]

There were no new cases of COVID-19 reported in the Grey Bruce Health Unit’s Thursday daily situation report. Seven known active cases of the virus remain in the region and 181 cases have been reported altogether. Three active cases reside in South Bruce Peninsula, two are in Owen Sound, while Southgate and Grey Highlands each […]

Erik Van Den Kieboom of Owen Sound District Secondary School has been awarded the 2020 Malcolm Kirk Environmental Scholarship. The annual $1,000 scholarship is awarded by the Grey Sauble Conservation Foundation to a graduating secondary school student entering a post-secondary program in an environmental or resource management related field. Van Den Kieboom is pursuing his […]

Work is continuing to establish the Grey-Bruce Ontario Health Team, an organization that will bring more coordination among local health-care providers, including hospitals, doctors and home and community care providers. The GB OHT announced it is hiring Jennifer Kehoe as its transformation lead, to support the organization through the application process to becoming an Ontario […]

A Winnipeg printing plant’s closure by Jan. 31 will mean more work for Transcontinental RBW Graphics in Owen Sound, but not more local jobs. Brian Reid, president of TC Transcontinental Printing, said in an interview Thursday that the work of Transcontinental LGM–Coronet — short-run magazine printing jobs for niche publications — will be moved to […]

Meaford has removed a closest hall response plan that was part of a proposal to dissolve its Inter Township Fire Department partnership with Georgian Bluffs. On Monday, Meaford council decided to remove the response principle that had been in development as part of the proposal that would see Meaford leave the ITFD partnership and enter […]

South Bruce Peninsula has announced it will reopen the Wiarton Arena, Sauble Beach Community Centre and Town Hall on a limited basis Friday. The facilities were closed Oct. 27 after a cluster of COVID-19 cases was discovered in the region. At the time, the closures were supposed to last for two weeks and were done […]

Neyaashiinigmiing Police Service and the Grey Bruce OPP are investigating the death of a 30-year-old Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation woman who was found dead by police Monday afternoon at a Nayaushing Road residence in Neyaashiinigmiing. The woman has been identified in a police media release as Ericka Ashkewe-Jones. She was pronounced dead at […]

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Festival of Northern Lights has developed a “more sustainable” operating model that will require significantly less annual funding from Owen Sound. Board chair Jamie Walpole said the organization’s proposed budgets for 2020 and 2021, which he presented to city council this week, will see the requested contribution […]

A waterfront property across from the Grey Bruce Health Unit has been largely cleared of trees and brush due to concerns about a homeless encampment on the site, according to a spokesperson for the company that owns the lot in Owen Sound. Jay Harding of White Owl said the company doesn’t have any development plans […]

Saugeen Shores Police Service has new, four-year collective agreements with its uniformed and civilian staff. A joint news release from the heads of the police association and police board Sunday said both groups ratified the agreements. Specific details of the agreements weren’t shared but the release said the contract contains “significant improvements for the efficient […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit reported two new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday. Both of the new cases were found in Owen Sound, which has now seen 65 cases of the virus since the start of the pandemic. There are currently seven known active cases of COVID-19 in Grey-Bruce. One case is a patient at a […]

Northern Bruce Peninsula winters may be a little less threatening thanks to emergency kits prepared by retired teachers, Lion’s Head legion members and distributed by a Lion’s Head food bank volunteer. When roads are closed or the power is knocked out, emergency provisions and supplies will be available should they be needed to help people […]

Olivia Duwyn’s struggles with severe depression and anxiety have her wanting to help other youth who may be facing similar challenges of their own. So the Owen Sound woman is raising funds for local child and youth mental health services by doing something that has benefitted her – getting active. Duwyn is completing her own […]

South Bruce OPP announced a missing Kincardine woman has been found. Police asked for the public’s help to locate the 43-year-old woman Wednesday but later in the day announced she was located shortly after 4 p.m. in the municipality. Jessica Thompson was reported missing Wednesday and had been last seen Tuesday at 9 p.m. on […]

One new case of COVID-19 was reported in Grey Highlands Tuesday by the Grey Bruce Health Unit and an investigation into the potential fallout of a Halloween party in Dundalk is now underway. A person who was likely shedding the virus attended the party on Halloween night, according to a health unit media release issued […]

Owen Sound council is asking staff to see if there’s a way for the city to reopen the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre’s concourse to walkers while the temporary COVID-19 field hospital remains in place on the arena floor. Staff and the city’s community services committee recommended that council vote to keep the walking track […]

An Owen Sound judge sentenced a First Nations man in the Ontario Court of Justice Tuesday to three years in prison after he was found guilty of childhood sexual abuse of his nephew in 1998. Justice Julia Morneau, who delivered her sentence during an audio hearing, banned publication of the identity of the victim. Given […]

Police are investigating after spray paint was used to write racially motivated text and homophobic slurs on structures in Port Elgin. Saugeen Shores police and members of their criminal investigations and drugs branch began investigating what is being called a hate motivated crime on Monday at 3:30 p.m. Anyone with information that would help identify […]

The Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre’s A Time to Remember presentation series will look at the history of local First World War soldiers on Thursday. Local historian Bill Streeter will give a Facebook Live presentation featuring the stories of Bruce County soldiers who were the first to arrive in France with the 1st Contingent […]

Mayor Ian Boddy cast the lone vote opposing a motion made Monday for the city to donate $5,000 to the Owen Sound Legion’s poppy campaign. Boddy, who left the mayor’s chair to speak against the resolution, said the city decided years ago to no longer provide grants to organizations or charities and it wouldn’t be […]

Mission Zimbabwe will hold its annual harvest dinner this weekend, but with some changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, three sittings will be held with a limit of 50 tickets available for each one. Takeout meals are also available at each sitting. The three sittings will be Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at […]

While city officials say the situation has improved at an address declared by Owen Sound in September as a hotspot – due to ongoing complaints about criminal activity and bylaw issues – council agreed Monday that it’s not yet time to end proactive enforcement in the neighbourhood. Council approved a recommendation from city manager Tim […]

REACH Centre Grey Bruce is selling the former Grey Granite Club property, which it received as a donation, to buy another more suitable downtown building to make that its first permanent home. By Dec. 17 the charitable organization, which serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, will have to leave its latest temporary quarters, the […]

Owen Sound is seeking federal funding to help cover nearly $1 million in proposed upgrades to Kelso Beach that city officials say are aimed at addressing climate change impacts on the waterfront park and enabling the site to stage large events. Council endorsed a community services committee recommendation Monday to apply for Canada Cultural Spaces […]

Kevin Zettel has been named the permanent Chief of Police for the Saugeen Shores Police Service. Zettel, who had been serving as interim chief since the resignation of Mike Bellai in late August, was appointed to the job permanently on Monday. A formal swearing in will be held on Nov. 18 at 4 p.m. at […]

There were no new cases of COVID-19 reported by the Grey Bruce Health Unit Monday. It has now been three-straight days without a reported case after six cases were found in three different areas of the region Friday. Three of those cases have now been linked to an ongoing cluster in South Bruce Peninsula. As […]

With the arrival of November came the month’s infamous winds, hitting Grey-Bruce with its first taste of wintry weather and battering shoreline areas with high waves. While many areas inland experienced the season’s first blanket of snowfall, along Lake Huron and Georgian Bay residents and municipalities were left cleaning up debris and assessing shorelines after […]

Emergency responders succeeded in reversing a suspected fentanyl overdose during an emergency medical call recently. A person was in medical distress on Dawson Street in Wiarton, a Grey Bruce OPP news release issued Monday. Naloxone was administered, the victim revived and was taken by ambulance to hospital on Oct. 27. Police also remind everyone that […]

The Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre’s model train exhibit, approximately 8,000 hours in the making, has been recognized by the Ontario Museum Association Awards of Excellence. The Riding the Rails exhibit received an honourable mention in the category of community engagement during the annual award ceremony, held virtually this year amid the global COVID-19 […]

Organizers of the Gitche Namewikwedong Reconciliation Garden have issued a call to artists interested in creating a sturgeon sculpture for the project at Kelso Beach Park. All artists who respond to the expression of interest request will receive a full description of the project on Nov. 15. Expressions of interest can be e-mailed to Thomas […]

Grey Roots Museum & Archives has received a provincial award for its original exhibit that showcases stories of local fire and rescue and features a fully restored 1923 LaFrance pumper truck. The Grey County-owned museum south of Owen Sound is the recipient of the Ontario Museums Association’s award of excellence for community engagement for Facing […]

The three cases of COVID-19 in South Bruce Peninsula that were reported Friday to the Grey Bruce Health Unit have now been linked to the cluster in the town, according to public health. They bring to 10 the number of confirmed cases associated with the cluster. Dr. Ian Arra, Grey-Bruce’s medical officer of health, said […]

For nearly 35 years, the clang of an old cowbell greeted customers as they “stepped back in time” into quaint Harrigan’s stores in downtown Southampton. The brass bell, which hung by a chain from the ceiling, had been a fixture at Harrigan’s Red & White 100-Mile Food Market on High Street for the past 15 […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit reported six new cases of COVID-19 in the region Friday, the most in a 24-hour period since the second wave of the pandemic took hold in Ontario. According to the health unit’s daily situation report, three of the cases were found in South Bruce Peninsula but are not associated with […]

Relief is on the way for a St. Mary’s High School in Owen Sound that is bursting at the seams. Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker was at the school on Friday along with other local officials for the announcement of close to $20 million for an addition at the school, which would more than double […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit is reminding people that the flu vaccine is available at 48 local pharmacies across the region to those ages five and older. “The high demand for flu shots this year may result in pharmacies running out before their next shipment but they are constantly being resupplied. Check with your local […]

A group in South Bruce opposed to a proposed underground nuclear waste storage facility is saying that someone has destroyed some of the signs they have erected in the area. Protect Our Waterways – No Nuclear Waste said Friday that said someone has used chainsaws to damage their signs located on private property, including some […]

The Grey Sauble Conservation Authority is advising residents that a cold front and low-pressure system forecast to move across Lake Huron and Georgian Bay Sunday night and into Monday could cause increased wave height and minor flooding of low-lying shoreline areas. Strong northwest winds are expected to develop late Sunday night gusting up to 80 […]

The Owen Sound and Grey-Bruce area’s artistic riches will be on full display at the Tom Thomson Art Gallery in the coming days and months. The gallery has recently launched two exhibitions – one made up of works from the gallery’s permanent collection and another highlighting a talented Owen Sound artist – while an online […]

For the third straight day, the Grey Bruce Health Unit reported no new cases of COVID-19 in the region. Of the 172 cases confirmed in Grey-Bruce to date, five remain active, according to the daily situation report released by the Health Unit on Thursday. There have been 155 cases that have recovered, while 12 cases […]

The Ontario Hockey League announced Thursday it will push back its “return to play” timeline at least another two months as the COVID-19 pandemic ramps back up in the province. OHL teams originally slated to start a shortened regular season on Dec. 1 will now pencil in a Feb. 4 puck drop with training camps […]

The Ontario Hockey League announced Thursday it will push back its “return to play” timeline at least another two months as the COVID-19 pandemic ramps back up in the province. OHL teams originally slated to start a shortened regular season on Dec. 1 will now pencil in a Feb. 4 puck drop with training camps […]

The provincial government is spending $26.4 million for a new senior school for more than 880 students in Kincardine. Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson made the announcement Thursday morning “as part of the province’s 2020-2021 Capital Priorities Program to support the growing community in and around Kincardine and to provide students with a modern learning environment.” […]

Georgina McKelvie carried on with a lifetime of generosity and community building by making an $80,000 donation to the Owen Sound Regional Hospital Foundation for a piece of technology that will one day help local doctors save the lives of people in Grey and Bruce counties. The money will help the hospital buy a portable […]