Owen Sound Sun Times

The Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week conference is going fully virtual for its 55th anniversary in January. “With a new look and format – delivered right to producers’ farms, offices, kitchen tables or tractors,” said a press release confirming the move to the online world. Plans to move the conference online on a temporary basis have […]

Police charged a 26-year-old Owen Sound man on Monday with mischief after five places of worship were vandalized with spray paint this weekend. Owen Sound police said in a news release that he faces five charges of mischief to religious property and an additional mischief under $5,000 count, after police identified him as the suspect […]

After admitting he offered cannabis-infused edibles for sale at an ice cream shop in Dornoch before doing so was legal, a man was sentenced this week in the Superior Court of Justice to an eight-month conditional sentence. Ahmad Maqsood, 65, of West Grey pleaded guilty in Walkerton Monday to possession for the purpose of trafficking […]

Three new cases of COVID-19 were reported to the Grey Bruce Health Unit Monday, bringing to 50 the number of active cases in the two counties. Two of the new cases were from Southgate, with the third from The Blue Mountains. On the weekend, five new cases of COVID-19 were reported to the local health […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit reported three new cases of COVID-19 Monday. Two of the newest cases were reported in Southgate and one was found in The Blue Mountains. A preliminary positive case and indeterminate case were also listed in the Health Unit’s report, as were eight probable cases of COVID-19. There are now 50 […]

Some work is to begin at Sauble Beach this week to widen a section of the parking area along Lakeshore Boulevard. On Nov. 17, South Bruce Peninsula council approved the project, which will see the dune sands cut back and a concrete block retaining wall installed along a section of the roadway from the area […]

Grey Bruce OPP charged a 24-year-old Toronto man with stunt driving on Highway 6 on Nov. 15. Grey Bruce OPP said in a news release Monday he was driving more than 140 kilometres per hour in an 80 km/h zone. A stunt driving charge may be laid when speeds are 50 km/h or more above […]

A 24-year-old man from the Greater Toronto Area has been charged after the deaths of two passengers in a car that hit a tree in The Blue Mountains Sept. 3. Collingwood and The Blue Mountains OPP issued a news release Monday to announce it charged Venoth Jeyaruban, of Whitchurch-Stouffville. He faces two counts each of […]

Organizers are confident this year’s Christmas toy drive will fill the increased need brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The local food bank has served 144 new and first-time families since March, said the Salvation Army’s Alice Wannan. Wannan expects most if not all of those families have children who would appreciate a brand-new toy […]

Police say an Arran-Elderslie man defecated on a restaurant floor and threatened an employee after the customer entered the closed dining area and was asked to leave. Grey Bruce OPP said in a news release Monday the incident happened at a restaurant on Highway 6/21 in Georgian Bluffs at 6:04 a.m. on Nov. 20. “The […]

With the arrival of winter weather, Safe ‘n Sound Grey-Bruce will soon be extending the hours of its downtown Owen Sound drop-in centre. Executive director Toni McGregor Callaghan said the non-profit organization – which offers homelessness prevention, harm reduction and system navigation services – will be launching a pilot project Nov. 30 that will see […]

Grey Bruce OPP charged a driver with firearm and drug offences after responding to a possible vehicle fire at Saugeen First Nation last week. Police were dispatched at 12:16 p.m. to a possible fire involving a car stuck in a swamp on Nawash Drive on Nov. 18. Police said they found several illegal items in […]

A man who police said threw a claw hammer through the windshield of a vehicle behind his vehicle was held for bail on assault and mischief charges last week. Kyle Todd, 29, of Allenford faces three counts of assault with a weapon and two mischief charges. According to a Grey Bruce OPP news release Monday, […]

Owen Sound police are investigating vandalism at all four limestone churches at “Salvation Corners” and the nearby synagogue, committed sometime over the weekend. St. George’s Anglican Church, Church of Nazarene, Georgian Shores United Church, and First Baptist Church and Beth Ezekiel Synagogue, 313 11thSt. E., all were defaced by a spray painted “X,” police said. […]

Public health reported five new cases of COVID-19 in Grey-Bruce Sunday, a day after reporting 16 new local cases in the two counties. The 21 new weekend cases bring to 53 the number of active cases in Grey-Bruce. The number of high-risk contacts associated with active cases also jumped by 20 per cent over the […]

Public health says it’s working the Bluewater District School Board to address a case of COVID-19 associated with Hillcrest Elementary School in Owen Sound. The family of the person who tested positive has been contacted by the Grey Bruce Health Unit’s COVID-19 case and contact management team, which is working with the family and school […]

The clowns, stilt walkers, elves and others who participated in Saturday’s Kiwanis Owen Sound Santa Claus parade continued waving and spreading Christmas cheer to passing vehicles long after the drive-through event was scheduled to end. Parade chair Tim Brown estimated 1,000 vehicles came through the static parade, which was to end at 9 p.m. but […]

Grey County’s former warden is challenging the incumbent for the seat at the head of county council. Hanover Deputy-mayor Selwyn Hicks, who was warden in 2019, and Grey Highlands Mayor Paul McQueen, who has served in the role for the past year, have both declared their intention to seek the position for a second time […]

Public health reported 16 new cases of COVID-19 in Grey-Bruce Saturday, bringing the number of active local cases to 56 – the highest active count since the pandemic began. The number of high-risk contacts associated with active cases also climbed, from 234 Friday to 257. Dr. Ian Arra, Grey-Bruce’s medical officer of health, said this […]

South Bruce Peninsula now has a stack of quantitative data to use when courting hotel developers. A recently commissioned market feasibility study conducted by the consultant firm RevPar International has confirmed the market would support an upscale, full-service hotel in Wiarton. The study recommended an 80-unit resort-style hotel be built in Wiarton’s Bluewater Park alongside […]

Local conservation authorities have joined the chorus of calls from others around the province against proposed changes to the Conservation Authorities Act. The changes, brought forward by Ontario’s Conservative government last month as part of their 2020 budget bill, Bill 229, are being criticized by the province’s 36 conservation authorities, including the Grey Sauble Conservation […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit reported three new cases of COVID-19 Friday, in Southgate, Kincardine and Grey Highlands. The two counties are also set to move into the yellow “protect” level of the province’s restriction framework on Monday from the current green “prevent” level. There were 41 confirmed active cases in the area as of […]

The province has approved Grey County’s application for 62 new long-term care beds for Grey Gables in Markdale, part of a proposed county project to create a 128-bed facility in the Grey Highlands community. Grey County Warden and Grey Highlands Mayor Paul McQueen said the announcement Friday comes nearly a year after he and long-term […]

Local Black Lives Matter march organizer Jill Lyman is the 2020 Owen Sound Grey Bruce YMCA Peace Medal recipient. Hundreds of people marched through downtown Owen Sound June 10 and on to the Black History Cairn in Harrison Park to attend a rally Lyman organized against racism, police brutality and injustice. Participants collectively knelt for […]

Meaford councillors will discuss what to do about its relationship with the Inter Township Fire Department when they meet as committee of the whole on Nov. 30. Council will consider opinions gathered at a public meeting Tuesday in Woodford and ultimately whether to proceed with a plan to dissolve the Inter Township Fire Department partnership […]

Twelve new cases of COVID-19 were reported by the Grey Bruce Health Unit Thursday as public health officials implored residents to get back to the basics of fighting the virus. According to Thursday’s report, there are 17 probable cases and 211 high-risk contacts to go along with the 53 confirmed active COVID-19 cases now in […]

While it is still early to say what the future holds for the Mountain Lake property now under the ownership of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, it is expected to remain in its natural state for the foreseeable future. Chiefs Greg Nadjiwon of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation and Lester Anoquot of the Saugeen […]

COVID-19 won’t be preventing Santa Claus and the magic of Christmas from coming to town this weekend. While the traditional opening celebration has been cancelled because of the pandemic, the Festival of Northern Lights will still be turned on at 5 p.m. Saturday to kick off the 33rd annual display-and-lights spectacle along the Sydenham River […]

Georgian Bluffs council is looking for ideas for projects to spend up to $100,000 the municipality is eligible for through a federal and provincial funding program designed to encourage infrastructure work during the COVID-19 pandemic. The municipality would receive the funds through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program’s COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream. Interim chief administrative […]

Georgian Bluffs is preparing to adopt a new bylaw regulating off-road vehicle use in the township. On Wednesday, council passed a motion to repeal and replace its current bylaw with a new one, which could be presented at the next council meeting on Nov. 25. Off-road vehicle use has been a regular subject of discussion […]

The Brampton Excelsiors move to Owen Sound will likely be approved by the Ontario Lacrosse Association board of directors in December. Newly acclaimed OLA President Jim Bomhof said Thursday that he has now received three letters of support from the North Stars’ senior B, junior B and minor lacrosse programs. That, along with unanimous support […]

Owen Sound intends to brand itself as the “working from home capital of Canada” in hopes of taking advantage of a growing shift in workplace arrangements caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mayor Ian Boddy said the marketing recruitment campaign, which he mentioned Wednesday during an Owen Sound & District Chamber of Commerce Leadership Q&A, will […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit reported 17 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday, the most in a single day since the start of the pandemic. There were nine cases reported in Kincardine alone with another five reported in Southgate and one each in Grey Highlands, Arran-Elderslie and West Grey. The health unit also included 10 probable […]

A man police arrested in a downtown Owen Sound apartment building on Tuesday afternoon was found to be concealing a loaded sawed-off rifle. The 21-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested by members of the Owen Sound Police Service after a brief struggle in the apartment building. Upon his arrest, officers found the man […]

A mobile crisis response program has expanded throughout the region as mental health workers and regional police services team up to deal with calls for service involving mental health and addictions. In late 2019, CMHA Grey Bruce teamed up with the Owen Sound Police Service to launch the Mobile Mental Health and Addiction Response Team […]

The historic Brampton Excelsiors senior A lacrosse club is moving to Owen Sound. Joe Norton, a Detriot-based businessman and founder of Bug Juice, who purchased both the Owen Sound North Stars senior B team and Brampton Excelsiors senior A team in 2018, confirmed the news Wednesday. Norton said the market in Brampton has changed, and […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit reported three new cases of COVID-19 in its daily situation report Tuesday. It’s the second straight day three new cases have been reported. There have been 36 cases reported in the past week in Grey-Bruce. One of the new cases was reported in Grey Highlands while a pair of cases […]

Owen Sound will be lighting up the night sky with fireworks Dec. 5 to honour the 100th anniversary of its incorporation as a city. Owen Sound Celebrates will feature a five- to seven-minute fireworks display at 7 p.m. from Victoria Park. The cost will be covered by money the city set aside in its 2020 […]

The first residential customers have started to receive natural gas from EPCOR’s Southern Bruce natural gas expansion project. EPCOR recently announced that it had connected its first residential customer on the natural gas distribution system in Kincardine. The project is to eventually supply gas to a number of communities, including Kincardine, Tiverton, Inverhuron, Paisley, Chesley, […]

Underserviced communities across Grey-Bruce will see improved internet access in the next few years after more than $33 million in broadband upgrades were announced by Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technologies on Tuesday. More than 5,200 homes and businesses in Bruce County and close to 4,000 in Grey County will see broadband internet improvements from the series […]

Owen Sound intends to reopen the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre’s upper concourse for walking in early December, but with procedures aimed at safeguarding the field hospital on the arena’s floor and other pandemic-related health and safety protocols in place. Council directed staff Monday to implement the modified walking program after learning that a group […]

South Bruce Peninsula went to court Monday to argue it shouldn’t have been convicted of twice violating the Endangered Species Act by its 2017 raking and reshaping endangered piping plover beach habitat. Ontario Court Justice Julia Morneau in Owen Sound heard the appeal of the October 2019 convictions in a hearing conducted by audio and […]

A small private school east of Mount Forest has been closed for 14 days because of a probable associated case of COVID-19. According to a Grey Bruce Health Unit media release, Cedarville Breezes Parochial School, at Grey Road 14 in Conn, will close for 14 days out of an abundance of caution. “While there is […]

Firefighters quickly knocked down a fire in an apartment in downtown Owen Sound on Monday. Nobody was home at the time of the fire in an apartment unit above the former Norma Jean’s Bistro in the 200 block of 8th Street East. Owen Sound Fire Chief Doug Barfoot said firefighters were called just before 11:40 […]

The Bells of Christmas are quickly becoming the hottest-ticket holiday item in Owen Sound. This year the crocheted bells were first made available at 9 a.m. Friday morning at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre, and they were gone in under two hours. “It’s just wonderful,” said a Bells of Christmas organizer who wishes to […]

Thousands in Grey-Bruce were still without power Monday afternoon after a cold front blew through southern Ontario on Sunday, bringing with it high winds that continued into Monday. Westario Power announced just before noon that power had been restored to all of its customers in Southampton, while all customers in Port Elgin had their power […]

Mayors reacted cautiously to the recent provincial budget provision allowing them to reduce property taxes for small businesses next year, if they choose to. While some acknowledged the depths of difficulty many small business owners are facing amid the pandemic, they also worried about shifting those tax dollars to others. Others declined to comment, saying […]

A whopping 10 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded Sunday in Grey-Bruce – the most added in a single day since a record 14 cases were added in April, during the first wave of the pandemic. “We have been seeing a deeply concerning trend of a significant increase in the number of cases locally, and […]

A smoke detector alarm prevented more damage and injury after fire started in a clothes dryer early Sunday morning in Owen Sound, city Fire Chief Doug Barfoot said. Firefighters were called to 1645 6thAve. E. at 3:35 a.m. and left the scene 5:15 a.m. The alarm sounded minutes after someone living in the home had […]

A student at Bruce Peninsula District School in Lion’s Head tested positive for COVID-19 but the region’s medical officer of health says no transmission in the school has been found and no outbreak has been declared there. As Dr. Ian Arra spoke late Saturday afternoon, public health contact tracers were making their way through a […]