Owen Sound Sun Times

Outgoing city manager Wayne Ritchie began his tenure at city hall during a period of provincial downloading in the early 2000s and is departing amid the most disruptive global pandemic for Owen Sound in generations. But during both of those challenging times – and in the years in between – Ritchie has led with a […]

While Owen Sound police have scaled back their Police Week activities this year, there is one award that they felt couldn’t wait. On Friday, Patrick Pick was presented the Chief’s Certificate of Merit award for his bravery and quick judgment after his mother experienced a medical emergency. Pick, who is a client of Community Living […]

In the past two months the Owen Sound Hunger and Relief Effort has served about half as many meals as they did in all of 2019. In March and April, the first two months of COVID-19 measures, OSHaRE served about 11,000 meals, half of the just over 22,000 meals served in 2019, and May is […]

Planning is now underway to chart a path back to some form of normalcy two months after the Ontario Ministry of Health directed hospitals to decrease scheduled surgical and procedural work and increase capacity for COVID-19 patients. “It’s a complex process,” said Gary Sims, Grey Bruce Health Services president and CEO. “We’ve spent the last […]

As the province begins loosening restrictions on retail stores, Grey-Bruce’s medical officer of health is recommending patrons and employees of those businesses wear non-medical face coverings to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Dr. Ian Arra said masks and face coverings, when worn properly, can reduce the spread of infectious respiratory droplets and wearing them […]

All municipal beaches in Grey-Bruce have been ordered closed by the region’s medical officer of health just as the Victoria Day long weekend – normally considered the unofficial start of summer – is about to begin. Dr. Ian Arra issued the order to municipalities Thursday, with the goal of preventing short-term visitors, especially day-trippers, from […]

There were no new lab-test confirmed COVID-19 cases in Grey-Bruce Thursday, according to the Grey Bruce Health Unit’s daily situation report. Two long-term health care facilities remain in outbreak after at least one resident at each location tested positive for the disease, although Dr. Ian Arra, Grey-Bruce’s medical officer of health, is awaiting further testing […]

Grey County plans to guarantee close to $3 million in loan funding for its portion of Phase 3 of the Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology Inc. (SWIFT) project. With the federal and provincial governments requiring that SWIFT upfront all costs and payments to service providers before it can apply for an advance and reimbursement of project […]

A 23-year-old from Scarborough has been charged after being stopped driving at more than twice the speed limit in Northern Bruce Peninsula. Just after 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Grey Bruce OPP were patrolling Highway 6 north of Pike Bay Road when they stopped a white car travelling at over 160 kilometres per hour in an […]

For the first time in four days there has been a new case of COVID-19 confirmed in Grey-Bruce. The Grey Bruce Health Unit reported one new case of the virus in the 24-hour period prior to Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. It is the first confirmed case of the virus in Grey-Bruce since Saturday and just […]

Home sales in Grey-Bruce plunged in April with public health guidelines in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sales in the area covered by the Realtors Association of Grey Bruce Owen Sound declined just under 54 per cent in April compared to the same month a year ago. With a total of 119 units sold […]

Whether you’re working on the frontlines of a long-term care home or spending your days binge watching a staggering amount of streamed video, the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre wants your COVID-19 stories. “The role of the museum is to preserve the history of the community and our area, and we rely on the […]

Bremont Homes is moving closer to starting its planned 337-unit Telfer Creek subdivision in Owen Sound despite the COVID-19 pandemic, which has ground some projects in Ontario to a halt, the company’s president says. “One hundred per cent, absolutely. We have been working behind the scenes during these times making progress and getting us to […]

Owen Sound Housing Company is aiming to begin construction early this summer on its Odawa Heights development’s third phase, which will involve erecting the largest standalone building in the organization’s seven-decade history. Chair Ruth Lovell Stanners said the five-storey building, which is to include 43 “affordable” units and 16 units with market rental rates, will […]

Some Sauble Beach business owners want the public to know they’re open for business despite a push by local public officials to keep tourists at bay. The region’s medical officer of health has consulted local mayors and is considering an order closing all of Grey-Bruce’s beaches to the public in the coming days. On Monday, […]

Some Sauble Beach business owners want the public to know they’re open for business despite a push by local public officials to keep tourists at bay. The region’s medical officer of health has consulted local mayors and is considering an order closing all of Grey-Bruce’s beaches to the public in the coming days. On Monday, […]

All garbage bags will soon require a bag tag to be picked up in Owen Sound. Council voted Monday to end May 19 a temporary relaxation of the city’s mandatory bag tag policy, put in place in mid-March to encourage social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dennis Kefalas, director of public works and engineering, said […]

There were no new local cases of COVID-19 listed Tuesday in Grey Bruce Health Unit’s daily situation report. It’s the third straight day without a lab-test confirmed case of the disease in Grey-Bruce. Only two new positive cases have been identified over the past week. The region’s cumulative total of confirmed cases remains at 90, […]

A Windsor man was charged after police found more than two pounds of pot in a vehicle they stopped on May 9 in Saugeen First Nation. Police saw the marijuana in an unsealed container in plain view during a traffic stop. More searching found more dried cannabis, packaged for illegal distribution, Grey Bruce OPP said […]

City council has opted to delay voting on a staff recommendation to both cancel Canada Day and Harbourfest events this July due to COVID-19 and plan to hold a community event in late summer if restrictions on large gatherings are lifted. That vote is now set for May 25, after staff presents an updated forecast […]

The Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority will soon have a new general manager. Effective June 1, Jennifer Stephens will be the new general manager/secretary-treasurer for the conservation authority, taking over from Dick Hibma, who has been filling the position on an interim basis. Stephens joins the organization with more than 15 years experience, excelling in the […]

Social distancing has kept the Owen Sound Farmers’ Market closed to the public for the past few months, but its patrons can once again shop from some of their favourite vendors. On Monday, the market opened its online store, allowing the public to purchase products which will be available to be picked up at the […]

Police have identified remains found in Southgate on Christmas Eve as those of a Hamilton woman who died as a result of a homicide. The remains found in the area of Southgate Road 10 east of Highway 6 have been identified as belonging to Monica Chisar after a forensic examination. Members of the Grey-Bruce OPP […]

A public health order may soon fully close the region’s beaches to all comers. Dr. Ian Arra, Grey-Bruce’s medical officer of health, has been working with local municipal leaders to prevent an influx of short-term visitors as the weather warms. “The public health intervention we’re looking at is a complete closure of the beaches,” he […]

City council has decided to not increase its water and sewer rates in 2020 and to extend the deadlines to pay those bills as residents continue to deal with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Council approved a staff recommendation Monday night to maintain the water rates and waste water surcharge at current levels, rather […]

A Meaford man has been charged with murder in connection with the death of Emerson Sprung, also of Meaford. Matthew McQuarrie, 34, is charged with first-degree murder, the OPP said in a news release Monday evening Police said that a post-mortem examination confirmed remains found in their search for Sprung were those of the missing […]

There were no new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Grey-Bruce Monday, according to the Grey Bruce Health Unit’s daily situation report. The total number of cases in the region remained at 90 with 23 of those reported in health-care workers and 72 cases now recovered. Nobody in the region has died from the disease, and nobody […]

Owen Sound police charged a 27-year-old man with firearms, drugs and other offences after someone reported concerns he had guns. Police attended an eastside residence just before 1:30 p.m. Sunday and took the suspect into custody without incident. Police seized two firearms, ammunition, methamphetamine and cash. Charges against him include careless storage of a firearm […]

After an quiet weekend when just one new case of COVID-19 was reported the local medical officer of health congratulated everyone’s work for the “excellent results we have.” There were no new cases reported Sunday and one new case Saturday, bringing the total to 90 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Grey-Bruce. Now 71 people have […]

Mother’s Day was even more difficult at Chapman House hospice this year because each loved one could have just one visitor. This daily pandemic precaution was taken to limit the risk of infecting vulnerable residents or staff with the respiratory virus, as set out in provincial guidance for all hospices. In Ontario, of the 1,599 […]

While it’s still unclear when the doors can open to the public, the M’Wikwedong Native Cultural Resource Centre has officially relocated to its new home near Owen Sound’s downtown core. Executive director Renee Abram said the move marks an exciting time for the organization, which provides programming and services for the local urban Aboriginal population, […]

A single new case of COVID-19 reported in Grey-Bruce Friday broke the region’s streak of three straight days without a new case documented in the health unit’s situation report. The new case brings the total number of documented cases in Grey-Bruce to 89. Twenty-three of those cases have been reported in health-care workers, and 70 […]

For the third time since 2016, Meaford has been approved for a provincial Connecting Links grant to help upgrade a part of its main urban thoroughfare. The municipality learned this week that it will receive just over $1.3 million from the Ministry of Transportation funding program towards the $2.8-million cost to reconstruct Sykes Street North, […]

Lawn pirates and driveway dealers haven’t technically been ordered to stand down, but the region’s medical officer of health is strongly recommending against even small yard sales amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “We ask the public to bear with us. Re-opening stages, and going back to the normal lives we had before is not going to […]

An OPP canine unit found human remains in Meaford Wednesday while searching for missing 25-year-old Emerson Sprung, the OPP said in a news release Thursday. One person has been arrested and remains in police custody. The name of the arrested individual was not released and charges were not specified before deadline Friday. A post-mortem examination […]

Grey Highlands is working on a policy to support people who pick up discarded coffee cups, take-out containers and other trash that end up on roadsides and in ditches in the municipality. Council approved a motion by Mayor Paul McQueen Wednesday that directs staff to develop a plan for the municipality to remove filled garbage […]

For the third straight day, there were no new COVID-19 cases recorded in the Grey-Bruce region according to the health unit’s situation report Thursday. The total for Grey-Bruce remains at 88 reported COVID-19 cases, with 23 reported in health-care workers and 66 cases recovered. None of the active cases are currently hospitalized. Two long-term healthcare […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted organizers to cancel the region’s two high-profile powwows, which had been set for August at Saugeen First Nation and Neyaashiinigmiing on the Bruce Peninsula. Chippewas of Nawash Chief Greg Nadjiwon said the unceded First Nation’s band council is saddened about having to cancel the 36th annual traditional Nawash powwow, planned […]

Avid angler Brian Lang is itching to get back out on the water to launch into his favourite pastime. “If you put it on a scale of one to 10, it would be a 10. I can’t wait,” the Port Elgin-area resident said Wednesday. His 26-foot boat has been rigged up and ready to go […]

Another 24-hour period has passed with no new COVID-19 cases reported in Grey-Bruce according to the health unit’s situation report on Wednesday. It’s the second straight day without a lab-test confirmed case of the disease reported to the health unit. It also means the outbreak at Brucelea Haven in Walkerton should be declared over Thursday. […]

A 38-year-old Seaforth man has been charged with personating a police officer after a member of the Saugeen Shores Police Service stopped a 2016 Ford 150 truck outfitted with a police-lights package on May 5. The Saugeen Shores officer was on general patrol when they spotted the truck and conducted a vehicle stop on Concession […]

A London man was arrested just north of Durham after police received a report of someone operating a stolen vehicle while in possession of a loaded firearm. At about 2:40 p.m. Tuesday, West Grey Police Service was advised of a lone male operating a stolen vehicle with a loaded firearm and drugs inside and that […]

South Bruce Peninsula is hopeful that a new round of tendering for the planned Berford Street reconstruction in Wiarton will see costs come in closer to budget after past bids were almost double what was expected. The reissued tender for the project closes on Friday, after the town re-examined its budget, policies and the proposed […]

Members of the Grey County OPP Crime Unit, under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), continued to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Emerson Sprung Wednesday. The OPP were asking Meaford residents to stay away from the Lakeview Cemetery area, and blocked off the entrance to the 29-acre plot located at […]

The search for a missing Meaford man seemed to concentrate at Memorial Park Tuesday morning. Six Ontario Provincial Police vehicles were parked at the entrance of the Meaford park and officers wearing green fatigues were present just before noon. The park has been closed to the public since early April due to the COVID-19 pandemic. […]

If the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into the summer, South Bruce Peninsula officials expect a huge revenue hit unless measures are taken to offset its costs. Michael Humble, director of financial services, presented a report to council on Tuesday that showed the town could lose $720,000 if the current state of emergency and closures persist until […]

There were no new cases of COVID-19 reported in Grey-Bruce in the 24 hours before the Grey-Bruce Health Unit issued its daily situation report Tuesday afternoon. Sixty-one of 88 total cases in the region have now recovered. None of the people with lab-test confirmed COVID-19 are currently hospitalized. Two long-term health care facilities remain in […]

Endangered piping plovers are back for a 14th straight year at Sauble Beach, which has been temporarily closed to the public amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Norah Toth of the local Plover Lovers group said the first plover sighting of the season at Sauble was reported by a South Bruce Peninsula employee who spotted the tiny […]

Construction of the proposed Georgian Landing luxury apartment building in Owen Sound has been at a standstill since last fall, but the developer behind the project says the work should be able to resume sometime this month. Giorgio Heidary, managing director of Burlington-based Wealth Management Strategy, said issues related to securing the additional funds required […]

In the midst of the pandemic, Keystone Child, Youth and Family Services is reminding people that they are just a phone call away as they mark Children’s Mental Health Week. The children’s mental health agency, which works with children and families across Grey-Bruce, wants the public to know that they are open for referrals from […]