Owen Sound Sun Times

Grey-Bruce Provincial Offences courts are addressing a “huge” backlog of charges by adopting audio hearings amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, one of the few POA courts in the province to do so, a local court manager said. Provincial Offences court manager Amanda Kokas also said this is “just the beginning of the technology side of […]

A $150,000 project to build a wall to protect Kelso Beach’s shoreline comes during a year in which record-high water levels and wave activity caused erosion, trail washouts and flooding at the Owen Sound park. The new armour stone wall begins at the stormwater outflow channel at the west-side park and stretches along about 60 […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit reported two new cases of COVID-19 Friday, both in Kincardine. The region’s cumulative case total is now 152 with 138 recovered cases and eight cases referred to other health units. There are currently six active confirmed cases in the region. None of the active cases are hospitalized and no local […]

Volunteer firefighters with the Inter Township Fire Department have a new three-year collective agreement with the municipalities of Meaford and Georgian Bluffs. On Wednesday, Georgian Bluffs council authorized the new collective agreement with the firefighters, which are represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 175 and 633. Among the highlights of the […]

Launch Pad Youth Activity and Technology Centre in Hanover is launching a new podcast series that aims to put a local focus on national issues and will feature interviews with leaders and personalities from Grey-Bruce. The podcast titled Whats Your 9 to 5 is a project created by youth and intended for a youthful local […]

Georgian Bluffs has agreed to the formation of committee to address climate change issues in the municipality. On Wednesday, council approved the appointment of Deputy-mayor Sue Carleton and Coun. Cathy Moore Coburn to the Georgian Bluffs Climate Change Committee, an initiative spearheaded by the Georgian Bluffs Climate Change Action Team. Five members of the action […]

Georgian Bluffs will block all-terrain vehicle access to a pair of trails in the northern part of the municipality. Council voted to amend its bylaw that regulates off-road vehicles on municipal roads to prohibit the use of ATVs on both the Curley Harnden Side Trail and the Len Holley Side Trail in the Gleason Lake […]

The U.S. election isn’t about making America great again, but whether it will be nice again. That’s one view among many held by a few expatriate Americans in Grey-Bruce, surveyed weeks before the Nov. 3 vote. There was despair over the decline of American decency led by U.S. President Donald Trump, as the first presidential […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit reported three new cases of COVID-19 in the region Friday, all in Arran-Elderslie, according to the the health unit’s data. Dr. Ian Arra, Grey Bruce’s medical officer of health, said the three cases are related to each other but unrelated to a recent cluster of cases in Grey-Bruce in which […]

Police are seeking the public’s help after a pedestrian was struck by a car on Owen Sound’s east side. It happened late afternoon Thursday at the intersection of 5th Avenue and 10th Street East, according to an Owen Sound Police Service news release. A black Honda Civic was stopped at the stop sign on 5th […]

The Owen Sound Salvation Army food bank’s annual Thanksgiving drive is taking place this year as demand for the service surges again amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Family services co-ordinator Alice Wannan said the number of individuals and families receiving food assistance has “skyrocketed” over the past three weeks – something that also happened at the […]

The demand for COVID-19 tests in Grey-Bruce has increased at a potentially unsustainable rate, and people travelling to the area from larger city centres hoping to avoid longer wait times are part of the reason for the surge. “Certainly from our side of it, when we’re trying to maintain surgical services and trying to maintain […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit reported two new COVID-19 cases for the second straight day Thursday. The region’s cumulative case count now stands at 143 with seven active cases, 129 recovered cases and seven cases referred to other health units. The newest cases were found in Meaford and Kincardine, according to the health unit’s data. […]

The United Way of Bruce Grey is bracing for a tough winter ahead amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to impact low-income residents and the organization’s fundraising efforts. Executive director Francesca Dobbyn said she anticipates demand for the local United Way’s utility assistance program will be higher than usual this winter due to job losses […]

Owen Sound police arrested a 40-year-old Owen Sound man in the city’s downtown core with approximately $6,000 worth of powder fentanyl Monday night. The city cop’s drug enforcement unit arrested the man on 8th Avenue East and allege he possessed the fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking. The man was also arrested on an outstanding […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit reported two more cases of COVID-19 in the region Wednesday. The pair of newly confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus raises the local cumulative case count to 141 with seven cases currently active. The cases were reported in Owen Sound and Arran-Elderslie, according to the health unit’s data. One of […]

Saugeen Wesley United Church was a community gathering place, in addition to a place of worship, which needs to be replaced in some form. That’s the feeling of Janice Mason, treasurer of the church council and one of two people chosen by that council to publicly speak on behalf of the church. “We can’t get […]

The COVID-19 assessment centre in Owen Sound will offer weekend appointments temporarily to help address a high number of patients. Grey Bruce Health Services will offer appointments this Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the testing centre just outside the Owen Sound hospital. To book an appointment go to www.gbhs.on.ca or […]

Owen Sound issued building permits in September for a new long-term care home and retirement residence – both valued at about $20 million – as well as for more than a dozen homes. In all, the total construction value of major projects issued permits last month topped $44.4 million. The banner month for the city’s […]

Police have made an arrest in connection with church fires at Saugeen First Nation early this morning. Wesley United Church, on Highway 21 near the community’s landmark amphitheatre, was heavily damaged. Police were called to Wesley United Church at about 1:30 a.m. Monday, where Saugeen First Nations firefighters were assisted by firefighters from the Port […]

An increase in COVID-19 cases in younger residents of Grey County has the local medical officer of health urging everyone to remain vigilant. On Sunday, the Grey Bruce Health Unit confirmed a sixth case of the virus in Grey-Bruce over the past three days, after two cases were confirmed on Saturday and three were confirmed […]

Each September Victoria Park comes alive as thousands descend on the grounds in the heart of Owen Sound for the city’s annual fall fair. But this year the park remained silent as the fair, like so many other events, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On Saturday, there was again some activity at the […]

Synonymous with winter in Owen Sound for more than three decades, the Festival of Northern Lights will shine bright once again despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The 33rd festival will start on Nov. 21 and run nightly until Jan. 3 along the Sydenham River in downtown Owen Sound and at Harrison Park. “The lights will go […]

A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at the Errinrung long-term care and retirement home in Thornbury after a staff member tested positive for the virus. In a statement on the home’s website, it confirmed the case involving the staff member, who is currently isolating and recovering at home. “We are testing our staff members every […]

A Ferndale man faces an attempted murder charge after driving directly at a West Grey police officer on Friday. The 43-year-old man has also been charged with assault with a weapon, dangerous driving, two counts of uttering threats and two counts of flight from a peace officer following incidents in West Grey and Hanover on […]

Grey County is trying to get a sense of how many people are choosing to make the move to Grey County due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On Thursday, Grey County council passed a motion that an analysis of the effects the pandemic has had on growth in the county be included as part of a […]

Saugeen Shores police responded to a pair of collisions in recent days that left people with injuries. On Friday morning, just before 2 a.m., police responded to a report of a rollover on Goderich Street in Port Elgin. Witnesses reported seeing a vehicle travelling northbound on Goderich Street at a high rate of speed and […]

There were no new COVID-19 cases reported in Grey-Bruce Wednesday, according to the health unit’s daily situation report. One case has recovered, leaving three known active cases in the region. There have been 133 people to date who have been infected with the virus locally, and five people who were referred to other health units. […]

Grey County’s new transit service running from Owen Sound east to Meaford and The Blue Mountains began Wednesday morning, in large part in hopes of helping with chronic labour shortages there. Adult fare aboard an orange Grey Transit Route (GTR) Driverseat bus from Owen Sound to Blue Mountain Resort is $5, with a stopover in […]

Ontario’s controversial new fall hunt for the double-crested cormorant has pitted outdoors’ and sportsmen’s groups against naturalist and birding organizations. Those who support it are applauding the province for finally recognizing and addressing the problems caused by overabundant cormorant populations, noting the fish-gobbling aquatic birds are significantly impacting terrestrial habitats, fish populations and angling opportunities. […]

Owen Sound police are asking for the public’s help to locate Bruce McCartney, 62, who was last seen at his residence on the evening of Sept. 21. He’s 5’ 6’’ tall, 180 pounds, with grey hair and wears prescription eyeglasses. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call police at 519-376-1234.

After checking on a business previously broken into, an Owen Sound police officer ended up charging a man in a vehicle parked outside the business. About midnight Tuesday, a police officer saw a parked vehicle outside the business, where everything was found to be in order, Owen Sound police said in a news release Wednesday. […]

Police with using an infrared camera in a helicopter found a missing six-year-old boy early Wednesday morning. Grey Bruce OPP was dispatched at 6:36 p.m. Tuesday after the boy walked away from a residence on Mapleport Crescent in Sauble Beach. Police searched the area to no avail. Just after midnight Tuesday officers in an OPP […]

The man who suffered burns in his Port Elgin apartment Sunday was listed in fair condition Tuesday. A spokeswoman at London Health Sciences Centre confirmed the man’s condition after an acquaintance identified him as Trevor Keating. Saugeen Shores police have said the fire was reported at 6:54 p.m. Sunday at 560 Ivings Dr. Emergency crews […]

There were no new cases of COVID-19 reported in Grey-Bruce Tuesday, according to the Grey Bruce Health Unit’s daily situation report. There are four active and confirmed COVID-19 cases in the region. None of those cases is hospitalized, and no local deaths have been attributed to the disease. A total of 133 Grey-Bruce residents have […]

The downtown Wiarton construction zone that blocked traffic on Highway 6 all summer will reopen, likely by the end of November. But the $11-million, two-block Berford Street project to replace underground services won’t be completed until sometime next year, said Lara Widdifield, South Bruce Peninsula’s director of public works, in an interview Tuesday. “Currently we […]

September 22, 2020

Since a city fire inspection revealed a suspected synthetic drug lab in downtown Owen Sound Monday, police are considering whether to lay criminal charges. The Owen Sound fire department inspection which discovered the drug production operation then got city police drug enforcement involved, an Owen Sound police news release said Tuesday. Police got a search […]

Fire marshal investigators, local firefighters and police remained near the scene of an apartment fire in Port Elgin that police said left a man in critical condition in a London hospital with severe burns. A Saugeen Shores police news release issued early Monday said the fire was reported at 6:54 p.m. Sunday at 560 Ivings […]

No new COVID-19 cases were reported in Grey-Bruce Monday, according to the Grey Bruce Health Unit’s daily situation report. Four active confirmed cases remain in the region, including a case in Meaford that was reported Sunday. There have been 133 COVID-19 cases in Grey-Bruce to date with 124 recovered cases and five referred to other […]

Lion’s Head has rallied to ensure a storm last January didn’t spell the end of the story for the community’s iconic lighthouse. Since the landmark was destroyed by gusty winds and high waves, the community has raised about $15,000 in donations and materials to rebuild the red-and-white structure. A small team of volunteers, led by […]

Two Saugeen Shores men, 18 and 19 years old, have been charged with mischief under $5,000 for damaging the PRIDE rainbow crosswalk in Port Elgin Aug. 26, Saugeen Shores police said in a media release issued Sunday. The rainbow crosswalk located on Gustavus Street near Saugeen District Senior School was damaged when drivers intentionally spun […]

A Port Elgin man was airlifted to a London hospital after sustaining severe injuries in a fire at 560 Ivings Drive in Port Elgin Sunday evening. Police, fire and ambulance responded to the multi-unit structure fire at 6:54 p.m. Sunday night and found one unit fully engulfed in smoke and flames. A male occupant of […]

One new local case of COVID-19 was reported to the Grey Bruce Health Unit over the weekend, according to public health’s daily situation reports. The case was reported Sunday. There are now four known active cases of the novel coronavirus in Grey-Bruce. The lone local case was reported during a weekend in which Ontario saw […]

Jim Merriam – former editor of The Sun Times and other local papers, Funny Farm columnist and supporter of many local causes – is being remembered as a person who cared deeply about the community and the people in it. The Tara-area resident died Saturday at the Chesley hospital following a 22-year battle with cancer. […]

A 54-year-old Chatsworth man has died in a single-vehicle crash south of Tara. The South Bruce OPP says Robert Thomson was pronounced dead at the scene late Saturday afternoon. A post-mortem examination will be conducted. Police, along with Bruce County paramedics and Tara firefighters, were called to the collision on Bruce County Road 10 south […]

A hidden, lone original 1876 window at Christ Church Anglican in Meaford discovered during masonry and window repairs was uncovered Friday. The last time the window may have been seen was in 1963 but it could have been more than 100 years ago. Church members say a church neighbour recalls a fallen branch damaged the […]

Ontario Hockey League fans can pencil a few more dates into their calendars ahead of a potential 2020-21 season set to start Dec. 1. But with COVID-19 numbers rising in Ontario cautious optimism is still the baseline for any plans moving forward. In a media release distributed Thursday, the OHL said it is still working […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit reported two new cases of COVID-19 on Friday. Both are residents of Owen Sound and bring the cumulative number of confirmed cases for the two counties to 132. Owen Sound now has had 56 confirmed cases. Grey-Bruce Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra said that the two cases are […]

The Saugeen Shores Attainable Housing Task Force is seeking public feedback on attainable housing in the community through a survey. The survey, which runs until Oct. 8 at noon, will help the task force understand the current needs and desires from the community, with the information garnered to be used to make recommendations to the […]