A 32-year-old resident of Dundalk was charged by Perth OPP after fleeing the scene of a vehicle collision in Gowanstown over the weekend after a motor vehicle collided with two vehicles One of the drivers sustained non-life threatening injuries The accused is charged with dangerous operation and failure to stop after an accident Anyone with information is asked to contact Perth OPP Sign in Join now, it's FREE! NORTH PERTH — Perth County Ontario Provincial Police have charged a driver with nine criminal offences after a stolen vehicle collided with a police vehicle Tuesday in North Perth police responded to a call for a suspicious vehicle in Listowel the vehicle reversed into a police vehicle before attempting to flee 22, of Listowel was charged with the following Criminal Code of Canada offences: Raithby was also charged with the following Highway Traffic Act offence: The accused was held in custody for a bail hearing April 30 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford None of the allegations have been tested in court and Raithby is considered innocent unless proven guilty The Perth County OPP is asking anyone with information on the incident to call 1-888-310-1122.  To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a secure web-tip at www.cstip.ca where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000 The Municipality of North Perth has recognized outstanding local people with a series of awards At a ceremony at the Elma Memorial Community Centre in Atwood on April 30 numerous awards were handed out to people for a variety of designations Lucille Wittnebel was honoured as the 2024 Norm Stirling Citizen of the Year Award recipient She moved to Listowel in the 1990s and began volunteering at Listowel Memorial Hospital more than 30 years ago Visitors and patients have seen Lucille in the hospital's Gift Shop she was a driving force behind the hospital’s Breast Assessment Center Other award recipients include Joan MacDonald who were all given 2024 Celebrate North Perth – Inspiration Awards who earned the 2024 Celebrate North Perth - Youth Impact Award A full breakdown of each award winner and their contributions to North Perth can be seen here: https://www.northperth.ca/news/posts/citizen-of-the-year-and-celebrate-north-perth-award-recipients/ Corn, Soybeans and Wheat all finished lower to begin the week. On May 8, thousands of students in grades 5 to 8 from across the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) will gather for an unforgettable day of motivation, inspiration, and excitement at this year’s Empowerment Day. Owen Sound City Council will formally address the province’s Strong Mayor powers at its upcoming May 12 council meeting. 100 Women Who Care Grey Bruce proudly launched their 2025 giving season by presenting their largest donation to date — an impressive $33,200 — to Victim Services Bruce Grey. The township is encouraging residents to join the "no mow May" movement, which leaves dandelions and clover for pollinators to feast on while other food sources are low. Over $300,000 is being shared among five different festivals and events in Perth-Wellington. North Perth’s mayor is pushing for more representation at the county table We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentAt Perth County’s Thursday council meeting Todd Kasenberg introduced a motion for staff to review the number of representatives for each lower-tier municipality noting the makeup of council hasn’t been updated since amalgamation took place in the late 1990s “We have seen a spike in growth in North Perth that started about two years before I came may became mayor in 2016 and has continued relatively unabated This growth in population has created a disproportion between North Perth’s representation at this table versus other lower-tier friends in our county system,” Kasenberg said That population growth will likely lead to North Perth becoming a city within the next 15 years while hinting at the possibility of the municipality breaking away into its own single-tier government “And I cannot fully foresee what those outcomes could be but to ignore the population changes and disadvantage in our in representation at this table would be a signal that our systems aren’t attuned to these changes leave open to discussion concerns about whether North Perth is receiving fairness,.” Robert Wilhelm agreed that North Perth likely deserved an extra vote which would mean an additional representative on council he said county staff already have too much on their plate to shoulder this type of review While Kasenberg indicated he would like to see a review done before the 2026 municipal elections he also noted he did not provide a specific timeline “I trust that my colleagues realize that I we should perhaps speak to the CAO and ask for that input as opposed to X-raying the wallet ahead of understanding the reality of staff workload,” he said council received a letter from the Perth County Federation of Agriculture asking the county to enact a bylaw banning kite fighting – a game where participants fly kites while trying to cut the string of their opponent’s kite – as some Greater Toronto Area municipalities have already done “The concern to Perth County farmers is that the large abandoned kite structures and glass-coated lines are sharp and could cause damage to livestock in fields or end up in animal feed The long lines allow these kites to be flown over the airspace of farms neighbouring public area,” the letter stated The letter described an incident in Linwood last July were police were called but officers were unable to lay any charges The Township of Wellesey is now working on a bylaw to ban kite fighting Deputy Warden Dean Trentowsky said kite fighting has been a concern for farmers that was raised to the federation at an open forum last summer people from the urban centres want to engage in this but because there’s not enough open space in the urban centres And so the result is that the kite debris gets tangled up in farm fields that could be either be ingested by livestock grazing or get caught up in the hay field or corn silage and end up being consumed by the animals and causing problems,” he said County council decided to send a letter to all lower tiers to look into the issue watwood@postmedia.com transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy When Perth OPP located a suspicious vehicle on Wednesday in Listowel the driver backed the stolen vehicle into the police cruiser and then attempted to flee OPP caught up with the 22-year-old and he faces charges that include dangerous operation impaired operation and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 also facing probation violation charges and two counts of driving while under suspension was held in custody at Ontario Court of Justice for a bail hearing Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Perth OPP Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae announced Friday that the North Perth detachment of the OPP will receive a nearly $13,000 grant to expand its video surveillance systems Launched in August 2020, the CCTV Grant program is part of Ontario’s Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy, which is investing $2 million in 14 projects in 2024-2025. “Our law enforcement officers’ work day and night to ensure our rural communities are safe,” Rae said in the release. “Our provincial government will be there to provide them with the resources and tools they need to continue to protect Ontario.” CCTV, used in what OPP media relations officer Const. Evan Polini described as “Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design,” or CPTED, is used as both a deterrent and a tool to help identify suspects, Polini said. “One of the things that we look for on those assessments is video surveillance because it has been proven to deter criminals from property type crimes or any other type crime that may be caught on video. . . . The fact that we have money to put into cameras around the detachment in the community is something that can definitely help with crime prevention,” he said.  However, Polini did not have the exact numbers readily available for how many cameras this funding would potentially purchase. “CCTV surveillance systems are an important part of local police work to detect, prevent and deter criminal activity, especially in areas of gun and gang violence and other serious crimes,” Solicitor General Michael Kerzner said in the release  “Through this grant program, our government led by Premier Ford is ensuring police services have the tools and resources they need to help protect their communities and keep Ontarians safe,” Kerzner said the OPP were called to a break and enter at a local business in the Town of Listowel This investigation remains ongoing. The Perth County OPP is requesting anyone with information related to this investigation or video footage of persons of interest to call 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a secure web-tip online where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2000 Your browser is too old. To use this website, please use Chrome or Firefox April 24, 2025 @ 7:49 amListowel Banner, News LISTOWEL – The North Perth Community Hospice Spring Social was held at the Listowel Golf Course on April 10 with organizers describing it as a very busy but successful and fun night 185 Wallace Ave., Listowel, ON N4W 1K8. © All materials copyright Midwestern Newspapers, 2006-2025. Photographs and text found here may not be used for any purpose whatsoever without express permission. If you need something, please ask. Your feedback is welcome. Please direct comments, questions or suggestions to mwilson@midwesternnewspapers.com A motorcycle driver was airlifted to a local trauma centre by Ornge Air Ambulance in North Perth on Saturday night Perth OPP and other first responders arrived shortly after 10 p.m. after a single vehicle collision on Perth Line 77 The 29-year-old has life-threatening injuries West Region OPP Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement Team and Perth County OPP are still investigating Anyone with information is asked to contact police April 24, 2025 @ 7:44 amNews LISTOWEL – The North Perth Board Gamers meet on the third Sunday of each month at Steve Kerr C.C to try new games and play favourites ages 18 plus unless accompanied by a supervising adult A passenger was killed Tuesday morning after a collision between a commercial motor vehicle and a passenger vehicle We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentPerth County OPP officers along with North Perth firefighters and county paramedics to reports of a collision at the intersection of Perth Line 86 and Perth Road 140 roughly four kilometres southwest of Listowel a 35-year-old passenger was pronounced dead while both drivers suffered injuries that were not deemed life threatening Officers with the West Region OPP traffic incident management and enforcement team were on the scene to help their Perth County colleagues with the investigation Provincial police also temporarily closed Perth Line 86 between Perth Road 131 and Perth Road 147 and Perth Road 140 between Perth Line 84 and Perth Line 87 while officers continued to investigation the collision The roadway was expected to be closed until the early evening Three suspects were arrested earlier this month after allegedly trying to flee from a Listowel store with unpaid merchandise. On March 9, officers reportedly saw two men exit the Listowel business with this merchandise before trying to leave the area in a red Dodge pickup truck. After officers pulled over the pickup and arrested the driver, the other two suspects allegedly tried to escape on foot, police said. Officers caught and arrested the two suspects after a short foot pursuit, police said. Three Toronto-area men were arrested and charged with theft with a value less than $5,000 and possession of stolen property All three suspects – a 31-year-old East York man, a 32-year-old East York man and a 28-year-old East York man – were released from custody with an April 14 court date in Stratford. April 3, 2025 @ 7:28 amListowel Banner, News LISTOWEL – Heading in the opposite direction from Perth County North Perth signed a Community Transportation Service Agreement Extension with the City of Stratford and Town of St Marys to allow for the continuation of public transportation services provided through Voyago until the end of the year On March 31 the PC Connect Rural Route,… Kelsey Bent is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter with Midwestern Newspapers he reflected on the past while also looking to the future As Doug Kellum accepted the role of Perth County warden We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle content“I appreciate the trust you place in me as I step into this important role,” Kellum said to the rest of county council after being acclaimed at Thursday’s meeting Kellum has served on county council for the past 10 years including the last two under former warden Rhonda Ehgoetz Kellum has also been a member of North Perth council for more than 16 years including eight as deputy mayor under Mayor Todd Kasenberg who becomes the 154th warden in the history of Perth County who was acclaimed as the county’s deputy warden “I look forward to working alongside the Deputy Warden Trentowsky I also look forward to making my way across the county throughout this year and working alongside our local municipal partners and beyond,” Kellum said Trentowsky has been a municipal councillor for 10 years and has served on county council for the past two years “I look forward to stepping into this new role at county council,”  Trentowsky said in a press release “I have enjoyed my time on county council and look forward to learning from and working alongside Warden Kellum over the next year.” Kellum also acknowledged late Perth South mayor Jim Aitcheson who served as county warden from 2019 to 2022 Aitcheson died last month after taking a leave of absence from Perth South council “Jim was a wonderful colleague to have on council and he will be deeply missed by all he served in this role as warden of Perth County for three years during the pandemic which were some of the most challenging times we’ve seen in our region,” Kellum said and I hope I can live up to the hard work of Jim and all the past wardens who have served in this role before me.” Kellum highlighted some of the recent work that Perth County has accomplished including the recent adoption of its new official plan “This is a big step forward for the county and once approved by the (Municipal Affairs Ministry) it will mean great things for the future growth and development of our region This year has also seen great progress in continuation of work on the historic renovation expansion of the county’s office at the courthouse campus This renovated space will provide a new and expanded home for county staff,” the new warden said manager of legislative services and county clerk described the county warden as having “a prominent and highly public profile.” “The citizens that we serve have high and sometimes varied expectations for their head of council Part of the role of warden is to find a way to balance these expectations while being also mindful that the decisions of the municipality are made by council as a whole,” he said Kellum acknowledged the need to work with other levels of government “It is vital that we continue to work together ensuring that our constituents see the ongoing shared services they so well deserve,” Kellum said December 5, 2024 @ 7:00 amListowel Banner, News NORTH PERTH – Further details of a subdivision to expand Listowel’s urban area to the north east were discussed by council at its Dec According to a report by Perth County Planner Nathan Garland the residential development is adjacent to an industrial/commercial development fronting on the east side of Highway 23 on the… names new chair and vice-chairThe Avon Maitland District school board has launched another boundary review focusing this time on possible enrolment pressures in the North Perth area The Avon Maitland District school board has launched another boundary review We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentThis review will involve examining the schools in Listowel and the surrounding area to determine how the present boundaries might be adjusted to ease enrolment pressures “It is important that we try to balance and equalize enrolments between schools especially if there are some schools that have too many students relative to its size while other schools have excess space,” superintendent Cheri Carter said in a press release “As the enrolment continues to grow at an accelerated pace in this area we are once again returning to the community to seek feedback on how we might accommodate this growth.” A report on the boundary review identified several schools that may be impacted A North Perth boundary review committee will be formed with representation from all school communities involved in the process The review process is scheduled to end in the spring of next year The process will be led by an outside consulting firm and possible solutions will be vetted through the boundary review committee and the broader community The board did not say who this outside consulting firm will be This will be the second review the school board has recently undertaken after boundary changes were implemented for some Stratford schools this fall The board also announced that Michael Bannerman was acclaimed as board chair for 2025 while Patricia Smith will serve as the vice-chair Bannerman is now in his second go-around as a trustee having previously been in the role from 2010 to 2014 Bannerman has worked for more than 20 years as a psycho-social rehabilitation specialist following five years running various life skill and support programs with a local non-profit agency for economically challenged individuals and families Smith is the director of community engagement and co-lead of the family and community engagement advisory council of The Well Community Collective the organization bringing Youth Wellness Hubs to local areas She holds a master’s degree in archaeology and is a doctoral candidate in anthropology LondonNewsYoung farm worker injured after barn roof collapse By Scott MillerUpdated: February 25, 2025 at 10:37AM EST Published: February 25, 2025 at 9:27AM EST Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved April 10, 2025 @ 7:47 amListowel Banner, News PERTH COUNTY – Royalmar Farms hosted its annual Maple Weekend event on April 5 to benefit the Palmerston MRI Fund       Also hosted on Maple weekend was Hoover’s Maple Syrup event Terry Hoover of Hoover’s Maple Syrup is pictured speaking to the North Perth Maple Syrup 4-H Club in attendance at the farms annual… As a nearly six-year investigation continues police have charged a North Perth woman with first degree murder and kidnapping Wellington OPP said this week they have charged Jessica Martin A 38-year-old London man was also charged with first degree murder His body was found by Durham OPP north of Whitby the next day A post-mortem determined his death was a homicide A total of five people face murder charges and charged them with first degree murder and kidnapping A third person from Wellington North was arrested last June and charged with first degree murder A $50,000 reward from the province of Ontario remains in effect for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of people responsible for Brown’s death Martin also faces three counts of obstruction of justice and two counts of possession of property obtained by crime Ground broke recently on a new housing project in Listowel aiming to bring hundreds of affordable and attainable units to the area The Listowel Gardens project officially broke ground on April 24 as members of council and staff in North Perth were on-hand for the ceremony Interim Manager of Strategic Initiatives with North Perth says the project will be bringing a mix of affordable and attainable housing to the area "It's a mixed use development that's going in at the corner of Twamley Street and Mitchell Road South (Highway 23) right across from the Zehrs Plaza So there'll be two residential apartment buildings as well as a kind of central amenities area for residents and members of the public," Cline said excitedly with the first phase to be completed by next year Listowel Gardens will feature 178 one and two-bedroom suites and Cline notes that the developers have committed to making the project cost friendly for potential new residents "The developers committed to providing a significant portion of the units to be affordable or attainable so that will be 74 percent of the new apartment units will meet the criteria to be designated as affordable or attainable Which is really exciting and really needed for our community," added Cline Cline notes that the project is the first to utilize the municipality’s Attainable Housing Community Improvement Plan That plan aims to "minimize financial barriers to the creation of affordable and attainable housing," according to a media release from North Perth With housing a constant topic of debate across the country Cline says this project and others like it will be critical for continued growth in the community and the local business sector we need people to work in many of the industries in North Perth and one of the barriers to employment is finding housing and we think this project will be a big step in helping to address that," Cline concluded Objectives of the North Perth Attainable Housing Community Improvement Plan include "reducing the number of vacant or under-utilized buildings increasing the inventory of attainable housing and encouraging a range of affordable units from deeply affordable to close-to-market the CIP reduces financial barriers for developers while promoting long-term community benefits," the media release from North Perth stated "This project marks a milestone in the Municipality of North Perth’s journey to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time – housing We are not immune to the nationwide housing pressures that communities across Canada are grappling with Housing availability and affordability have been stretched thin especially for the working people who form the backbone of our agricultural and commercial sectors," said North Perth Mayor Todd Kasenberg To learn more about the Community Improvement Plan and how it aims to support local development, visit the Municipality of North Perth’s website at www.northperth.ca Soybeans and Wheat all finished lower to begin the week thousands of students in grades 5 to 8 from across the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) will gather for an unforgettable day of motivation and excitement at this year’s Empowerment Day Owen Sound City Council will formally address the province’s Strong Mayor powers at its upcoming May 12 council meeting 100 Women Who Care Grey Bruce proudly launched their 2025 giving season by presenting their largest donation to date — an impressive $33,200 — to Victim Services Bruce Grey The township is encouraging residents to join the "no mow May" movement which leaves dandelions and clover for pollinators to feast on while other food sources are low Over $300,000 is being shared among five different festivals and events in Perth-Wellington A North Perth woman is facing charges in relation to the kidnapping and murder of a Kitchener man in 2019.  police arrested 35-year-old Jessica Martin She is facing charges of first-degree murder and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 She will have a court date in Guelph on Feb. 3.  The OPP have now charged a total of five people in the case Jason John Brown was abducted from a cemetery in Harriston before his body was found the next day almost 200 kilometres away in Oshawa.  The others charged include 38-year-old Mathew Drumond from London who is facing charges for first-degree murder and conspiracy; Travis Willard Wand from Wellington North who is facing charges of first-degree murder kidnapping and other offences; Joshua Alexander Dumond and Steven Jon Walsom-Gerigs of Brantford are both facing charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping.  Wellington County OPP said they are continuing the investigation under direction from the OPP’s Criminal Investigation Branch and with assistance from the OPP’s Bike Enforcement Unit The province, meanwhile, has increased the reward money in the case to $50,000 for any information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case. Tips can be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or online at ontariocrimestoppers.ca People can also call Wellington County OPP directly at  1-888-310-1122 the Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) along with Perth County Paramedic Services responded to a motor vehicle collision at the intersection of Perth Line 86 and Perth Road 140 in the Municipality of North Perth for a report of a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) that collided with a passenger vehicle As a result of the collision a 35-year-old male passenger was pronounced deceased The driver of the CMV and driver of the vehicle have non-life-threatening injuries Members of the West Region OPP Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement Team are assisting Perth County OPP with the investigation Perth Line 86 between Perth Road 131 and Perth Road 147 and Perth Road 140 between Perth Line 84 and Perth Line 87 remains closed while officers continue to investigate The roadway is anticipated to be closed for the next 6 hours The Perth County OPP is requesting anyone who may have witnessed this collision or has dashcam footage to call 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a secure web-tip at www.cstip.ca North Perth is looking to introduce a tree sale this year to help expand the local tree canopy the municipality's manager of environmental services says what the program will really focus on is trees for private landowners "The municipality has been doing a lot of planting on municipal property but in order to expand our tree cover or tree canopy we're hoping to encourage people to plant on their private property," Hackett explained Details will be shared soon on where landowners can go to apply online to get trees for their properties you'll also get all the things you need to plant a tree So there's a number of things you'd get to encourage the successful life of the tree," said Hackett Hackett adds that they're looking at doing the tree distribution and planting initiative later this year "We're hoping to do the planting in the fall of this year We did receive some funding from the Perth County Stewardship Fund to allow us to be able to put this type of a program together," added Hackett More details will be shared soon by the Municipality of North Perth regarding the online portal and how to sign up to get your trees if you're interested in planting some The Ministry of Labour and North Perth FIRE were on scene investigating the incident resulting in one person being injured and taken to hospital by air ambulance North Perth FD and Perth County EMS also responded to the scene at Road 146 in North Perth Road 146 between Perth Line 88 and 89 was closed MyStratfordNow will have more information as it becomes available Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH) is reporting another community measles exposure in North Perth It happened at IDA Listowel Pharmacy & Care Clinic on Wallace Avenue on Saturday (March 29) from 12:30 p.m Public Health said if you were present during this timeframe and are not up to date with measles vaccinations This includes those who were present at the location only briefly as measles is highly contagious and can linger in the air for up to two hours HPPH completes case management and contact tracing for confirmed cases of measles Visit www.hpph.ca/measles to view measles information a schedule and eligibility for HPPH vaccination clinics You can also use the HPPH measles exposure self-assessment tool at https://bit.ly/ExposureAssessment to understand risk from measles exposure For more information on measles in the region, visit hpph.ca. Residents can now borrow new tools from North Perth Public Library branches that detect different types of gases. The new 4-gas monitors detect the presence of four critical gases: oxygen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, and combustible gases. The monitors provide real-time gas readings and will have an alarm go off if unsafe levels are detected. This can be critical, especially in confined spaces where gases can build up more easily. According to a media release from the Municipality of North Perth, the portable, handheld, battery-powered devices will be available to borrowers at no cost, equipped with step-by-step instructions on their usage. There are six of the monitors available to rent, with two each at all three North Perth Public Library branches. The initiative was approved last December by North Perth Council in an effort to enhance the safety and education of the farming community concerning grain bin and silo incidents. At an emotional ceremony on Thursday, Rhonda Ehgoetz and Doug Kellum ended the formalities of transition with a big hug. Ehgoetz presented the chain of office and gavel to Kellum, the 154th Warden of Perth County. Ehgoetz, mayor of Perth East, oversaw as warden the completion of the county’s new official plan, which has been sent to the province for approval. Kellum, previously deputy warden, said there is plenty of work to do, starting with a county council meeting right after the annual election ceremony. There was no political drama: Kellum, of North Perth, was acclaimed. But it was emotional at times, starting with a moment of silence for Jim Aitcheson. Aitcheson was a county councillor, mayor and a past warden, who left a significant impact on council and community. He took a leave of absence as Perth South Mayor, before dying of cancer on Nov. 21. Perth-Wellington MP John Nater, attending virtually from Ottawa, said Aitcheson was a steady leader as warden through the pandemic, praising his “blunt advice and suggestions”. Matthew Rae, MPP of Perth-Wellington, appreciated Aitcheson’s “frankness.”, noting there needs to be more of it in politics in this day and age. Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma said he enjoyed working with Ehgoetz during her two years as warden, on topics that crossed the city/county divide, and stressed the importance of continuing to work with provincial and federal levels of government. Ehgoetz provided “tremendous and strong leadership”, said St. Marys Mayor Al Strathdee. West Perth’s Dean Trentowsky was acclaimed deputy warden. Kellum said he appreciates the trust placed upon him as he steps into “an important role”. Kellum noted several milestones in the past year including the official plan, which will guide the county forward for years to come, and the expansion and renovation of the county courthouse campus. The new warden acknowledged that Aitcheson will be “deeply missed by all.” “I hope I can live up to the work of Jim and all wardens before me.” Perth County-area municipalitiesSix local mayors included of in list of 169 municipalities to get Strong Mayors Powers The region’s six mayors were handed sweeping new powers and responsibilities Wednesday morning when the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing announced plans to expand “strong mayor powers” to 169 municipalities We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentComing into effect on May 1 this decision will extend these powers to the mayors of Stratford The powers were notably not given to Perth County’s warden who also serves as deputy mayor of North Perth Initially rolled out to the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa in 2022 these powers – largely aimed at speeding up the home-building process – had previously been expanded to 47 municipalities before this announcement While North Perth Mayor Todd Kasenberg said he should not have to use these new powers to help get housing built in his municipality “I think our council generally knows what’s in the community’s best interest It is possible for any mayor given this authority to use it in the interest of driving housing market improvement,” he said Kasenberg was unaware the province’s was extending strong mayor powers until he received an email around the same time a press release went out Kasenberg did not have an explanation as to why there was no warning She also questioned if she would ever have to use these new powers I don’t know that I’m ever gonna use these powers but I’m grateful (for them) if I ever have to do so Perth South is so small I’m not sure that it will affect us,” she said Orr also noted the only potential large housing development in her community is in Sebringville where the proposed 265-unit subdivision is still undergoing an environmental assessment with open houses set for June and September strong mayor powers provide the local heads of council with several new decision-making privileges including the ability to pass a bylaw that could potentially advance a provincial priority identified in regulation if one-third of council is in agreement While these powers often come with a provincially mandated housing target It is also interesting that Perth County’s warden did not receive these same powers given that upper-tier municipalities actually have responsibility for housing and anything that touches housing “The fact that the county isn’t delegated the strong mayor powers is mildly interesting because of that upper tier level of government’s role in housing The upper tiers are responsible for the social services elements of housing community housing – that’s all upper-tier stuff There is some novelty here that seems to have been carried out with regards to cutting upper-tier county level governments out of the equation,” he said it may also not be startling given that resolutions he has brought forward to county council around housing have not been accepted over the years the ministry’s senior communications manager and press secretary said “municipalities with councils of six members or more are best positioned to make use of strong mayor powers to support shared provincial-municipal priorities.” However the Beacon’s question about why Perth County’s warden did not receive the same powers went unanswered who was appointed mayor last December following the death of Jim Aitcheson said she thinks these strong mayor powers could potentially change the focus of municipal elections potentially people will pay a little more attention to who the mayor is It might bring more interesting dynamics to mayoral elections,” she said A 35-year-old has died following a collision in North Perth today Perth OPP responded to a vehicle collision at the intersection of Perth Line 86 and Perth Road 140 A commercial vehicle collided with a passenger vehicle The drivers of both vehicles have non-life-threatening injuries The intersection remains closed as of Tuesday afternoon while officers investigate and is expected to be closed for the next six hours Perth OPP is requesting anyone who may have witnessed this collision or has dashcam footage to call them or Crime Stoppers North Perth Council is reviewing its presence on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) following a constituent request to remove the municipality’s account At its regular meeting on March 24 council discussed a letter that urged the municipality to join other communities in closing their X accounts citing concerns over the platform’s ownership and its alignment with Canadian values "I formally request that North Perth consider deleting its X account in a show of Canadian solidarity," the letter stated suggesting that the municipality could transition to the alternative platform BlueSky while continuing to use Facebook and Instagram asking if council would consider directing staff to provide recommendations on potential alternatives "I’m just wondering if Council would agree to consider requesting staff to give their recommendation at a subsequent meeting regarding possible alternatives or not to that platform," Rothwell said North Perth’s interim Manager of Strategic Initiatives confirmed that staff has been monitoring the trend of municipalities discontinuing their use of X and plans to undertake a review for all of North Perth's social media accounts Other municipalities have recently taken steps to remove their accounts from X citing similar concerns about the platform’s ownership and content moderation policies NORTH PERTH – The roof of a dairy barn located on Perth Rd between Line 88 and Line 89 partially collapsed at approximately 6 a.m. One individual who was inside the structure at the time suffered serious injuries NORTH PERTH – A pedestrian has died after a collision in North Perth last night the Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) along with Perth County Paramedic Services responded to a collision on Perth Road 164 (Highway 23) Police say a pedestrian had been struck on the roadway There were no other injuries reported as a result of the collision The area of Perth Road 164 between Line 78 and Line 75 was closed for the protection of emergency responders and to facilitate the investigation Anyone with information regarding this or any incident is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or www.opp.ca/reporting.   A Brussels resident is charged with multiple offences after a traffic complaint in North Perth Perth OPP responded to a complaint regarding a possible impaired snowmobile operator police received additional information that the resident had sexually assaulted a youth A 31-year-old has been charged with operation while impaired with blood alcohol concentration above 80 dangerous operation and sexual interference They have been released from police custody and are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on Feb Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Perth County OPP or Crime Stoppers A Monkton woman has been charged with fraud after a business in the Municipality of North Perth was scammed out of more than $50,000 Perth OPP were called to investigate the incident at the company on Monday a 33-year-old woman from Monkton is charged with fraud over $5,000 She is scheduled to appear in Stratford court in relation to the charge on March 10 Police did not release the name of the business that was defrauded Investigators are asking anyone with information related to this investigation to call police at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) January 30, 2025 @ 7:00 amListowel Banner, Local News, News from North Perth has headed back to Grenada in the Caribbean to pursue her three year term to become a doctor Brooks began this journey in August after graduating in June 2024 from Trent University for her four year undergrad program receiving a bachelor’s degree in science and biochemistry.… The North Perth Farm Toy show and Sale is returning again in the new year The show and sale will take place on Saturday at the Listowel Ag Hall at 180 Tremaine Avenue South A live charity auction will be held at 1 p.m Anyone 12 and under gets in free with an adult All the proceeds of the event will go to Make-A-Wish Canada contact Fred at 519-357-7690 or Brian at 519-820-2159 One person had to be airlifted to hospital after a serious crash involving a motorcycle northeast of Atwood Emergency crews were called to the single-vehicle collision on Perth Line 77 between Highway 23 and Road 158 in North Perth shortly after 10 p.m The 29-year-old man who had been driving the motorcycle suffered life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to hospital by Ornge Air Ambulance for treatment Police did not provide an update about the man's condition on Monday The crash kept Perth Line 77 closed for several hours while the West Region OPP traffic incident management and enforcement team was on scene The cause of the crash remains under investigation Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the collision or who has dashcam footage from the area around the time of the incident to call them at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) The Municipality of North Perth has announced the date for the unveiling of the Memorial Arena Park Following the demolition of the old Listowel Memorial Arena plans were set in motion to set up something to honour the site of the tragedy that took place on February 28 and Ken McLeod perished when the roof of the arena suddenly collapsed under the weight of a heavy snowfall after extensive planning between the town and the Memorial Arena Park 59 (MAP59) Committee the park site will be unveiled on February 28 with a 45 minute ceremony to commemorate the victims lost that day and the town's ongoing perseverance and commitment to remember and honour those lost Following the ceremony at 380 Maitland Avenue North the municipality will be offering refreshments at Parkview Gardens located at 565 Elizabeth Street East in Listowel LISTOWEL – The North Perth Chamber of Commerce proudly hosted its Business Excellence Celebration evening gathering for a memorable night of recognition and celebration Fun was had at the balloon pop prize table that featured 60 prizes available to be won randomly through the purchase of a… April 3, 2025 @ 7:54 amListowel Banner, News LISTOWEL – Offering a casual environment for members of the public to mingle with local principals staff and the consultants behind drafting the boundary review the Avon Maitland District School Board’s (AMDSB) Boundary Review Committee hosted an open house at Listowel District Secondary School on March 27 A barn collapse northeast of Listowel has sent one person to hospital with undisclosed injuries Emergency crews were called to Road 146 between Perth Lines 88 and 89 in North Perth before 7 a.m One person was hurt in the incident and had to be airlifted to hospital for treatment The extent of their injuries was not released A picture from the scene posted to West Region OPP's social media showed part of the barn's roof caved in and one exterior wall laying on the ground Police have not commented on the cause of the collapse in recent days there have been several buildings that have experienced partial collapse under the weight of heavy snow the roof of the former Interforest location west of Durham had a section of its roof cave in part of the roof of the Home Hardware in Brussels collapsed and an abandoned building in Elora gave way under heavy snow on Monday Much of midwestern Ontario saw roughly 50 to 60 centimetres of snow fall over the past two weeks According to data from the provincial government a cubic foot of snow can weigh from seven lbs for snow that is new and dry to 30 lbs for old Rain falling on accumulated snow will add even more weight as Environment Canada is forecasting a chance of showers Tuesday Daytime highs are also expected to be above the freezing mark until Friday which will increase the weight of snow piles as they begin to melt Signs a roof collapse could be imminent include the appearance of cracks along interior walls doors opening by themselves or staying stuck building owners are advised to regularly inspect and clear drains and downspouts and clear the snow and ice from the roof on a regular basis Perth County municipalities will get more than $4 million in new infrastructure funding that could help build more than 900 new homes More than $2.1 million is earmarked for the reconstruction of Wallace Avenue North in Listowel, which includes a new roundabout and roadway. It will also advance the development of a “major” growth zone in the town, which could result in close to 700 homes being built while also supporting future commercial and light industrial employment lands. As many as 265 homes could be built in Sebringville after receiving more than $1.2 million to rebuild Station Road. Many residents have pushed back against the proposed project, which one environmental expert said during a public meeting last weekend is “awfully urban and awfully dense for a small little hamlet like here.” Perth South Mayor Sue Orr said the provincial money “will enhance the quality of life for our residents. The new housing units will provide much-needed accommodation for our population, while the improved infrastructure will support economic development and attract new investments to our area. This project is a testament to our commitment to building a prosperous and sustainable future for Perth South.” Wellington County projects will receive nearly $8 million through Ontario’s Housing-Enabling Core Servicing Stream of the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program administered by the Ministry of Infrastructure. This funding is part of a $400-million investment to help build, repair and maintain municipal roads, bridges and culverts that will promote housing growth in communities across Ontario, provincial officials said in a release. The government is also investing $175 million to launch the Health and Safety Water Stream under the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program. This new stream will support projects that will protect homes and create resilient communities by building, rehabilitating and expanding aging water, wastewater, stormwater, flood and erosion infrastructure. A North Perth resident has been celebrated and awarded a King Charles III Coronation Medal Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae presented the medal to Trinity Skinner in a ceremony in Stratford Monday morning at the Perth-Wellington constituency office To be eligible for the King Charles III Coronation Medal one must have made significant contributions to the country or an achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada Skinner has been an active member of the Atwood Witches Walk for over 10 years a longtime member and youth leader with the local 4H Club and she has volunteered at the Blyth Festival Theatre for many years She has helped research the theatre’s past for its upcoming 50th anniversary as well as helping with planning a summer youth program "Trinity has shown herself to be a caring and active member of our community," Rae said "Whether it is the Atwood Lions Club or her local 4-H Club she continues to give back to the community she loves It is an honour to recognize her contributions to Ontario and Canada with a King Charles III Coronation Medal It is people like Trinity that make our communities stronger and more welcoming To be one of only 30,000 recipients across all of Canada is truly a testament to Trinity’s impact on North Perth "I learned from very early on from my parents that you get more when you give so I am very honoured to receive this award for volunteer work that I enjoy that impacts youth in my community," said Skinner There were no injuries or animals lost after a barn fire broke out south of Listowel on Tuesday night The North Perth Fire Department responded to a call of a structure fire around 5 p.m. with assistance from Perth East and West Perth departments Crews used a water reservoir on a neighbouring property to supress the blaze According to a social media post from the department the barn and an accompanying shed were a total loss The cause of the fire is under investigation Along with thanking the neighbouring fire departments and fellow emergency services North Perth sent kudos to the neighbours that helped remove the animals from the barn They also thanked local businesses like Horst Excavating which supplied heavy equipment; Foxton Fuels for refueling apparatus on scene and A&W and Tim Hortons for feeding the crews North Perth council recently endorsed a motion to sign on to the Farm 911/Emily Project initiative at the December 16 council meeting Agricultural Specialist with the Municipality of North Perth says the project came about after a tragic incident on a farm property in 2014 in Northumberland County the first responders attending the call were delayed in reaching the scene due to difficulties identifying where the incident occurred on the farm's property and unfortunately a young girl named Emily Trudeau passed away," Cardiff said Cardiff says this program puts civic address signs at field entrances on vacant farm parcels or just anyone else who might be on the farm that might not be familiar with the area easiest identifiable marker to direct emergency services to which can be a real lifesaver in an emergency," noted Cardiff it really cuts down on the time spent searching for the right location It's a win-win speeding up response times and improving safety for everybody on the farm." The North Perth Agricultural & Agri-Business Advisory Committee is encouraging anyone who wants the signage to contact the municipality. You can do so by contacting the North Perth GIS Technician at jroth@northperth.ca or 519-292-2058. “The Emily Project – which provides signage and municipal addresses to fields on vacant farm parcels – is a clear win for our agricultural community and for our first responders. I am excited to see our municipal government embrace this critical information infrastructure,” added Todd Kasenberg, Mayor of the Municipality of North Perth. The Avon Maitland District School Board has rescheduled a North Perth School Boundry review open house. The public open house originally scheduled for Thursday, March 6, is postponed until Thursday, March 27. The change of date was advised by Huron Perth Public Health due to the circulation of measles in local communities. The upcoming open house at Listowel District Seconday School will give people an opportunity to consider the options and submit any comments or recommendations they may have. A boundary review committee made up of members from each of the affected schools has held two meetings and is ready to take its report to North Perth communities that would be involved and get their reaction. The following schools have parent/guardian representatives:  North Perth is considering new options for local composting. Manager of Environmental Services Mark Hackett says currently, residents can purchase black composting containers from a store, which used to be provided with a deal via Bluewater Recycling Association. People can also purchase green cone digesters from the municipality. Hackett says going forward, they're looking at a few new ways to provide the ability to compost privately. "One is a countertop composter that you can plug in and you put your food scraps and things into it and it cooks it right there. The other option is, we're looking at a traditional green bin curb-side pick-up program, that would be put on in partnership with Bluewater Recycling Association," Hackett shared. Hackett says soon, the municipality will be engaging with members of the public to get their thoughts. "We're looking at doing a couple of public information centres where we'd be able to get some feedback from the public and we are also going to do a survey so we can get additional information. Finally, we're hoping to attend the Listowel Lifestyle and Home Show, where we would be able to have some information available for residents and they could ask questions if they wanted to," added Hackett. A crash has killed one person in North Perth. Just after 8 a.m. Tuesday, Perth County OPP, Perth County Paramedic Services, and the North Perth Fire Department responded to a crash at the intersection of Perth Line 86 and Perth Road 140. First responders discovered that a commercial motor vehicle had collided with a passenger vehicle. A 35-year-old man in the passenger vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. Both of the drivers suffered non-life threatening injuries. Members of the West Region OPP Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement Team are assisting Perth County OPP with the investigation. Perth Line 86 between Perth Road 131 and Perth Road 147 and Perth Road 140 between Perth Line 84 and Perth Line 87 was closed for roughly 12 hours while investigators were on scene. The roads were reopened around 8 p.m. Police are asking anyone who was in the area around the time of the crash who has dash-cam footage to call them at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS). the now multi-year long effort to build the Huron Perth Agricultural Science Centre in Listowel is all about educating visitors on an industry he feels is misunderstood We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle content“Agriculture (has) been put under a lot of pressure by society that doesn’t really understand the importance of our (industry’s) environment and taking care of our soil and taking care of our animals which is paramount in our profitability and sustainability,” he said “So we have to do a better job of telling that story.” While there are organizations that currently make an effort to educate Ontarians on the industry including the Guelph-based outreach organization Farm and Food Care Ontario which provides curriculum resources to schools they only reach people at certain times of the year Something more tangible – in a building – would change that “We are hoping that this is the third piece of the puzzle that would be available year-round for people to come and see and enjoy to know more about agriculture in that format,” the former chairman of the Gay Lea Foods’ dairy co-operative  added the idea of bringing the science centre to Listowel has been in the works for several years and originally started with a group of residents looking to build a children’s museum in the area The group then engaged Toronto-based Lord Cultural Resources to do a feasibility study but the firm quickly suggested a pivot to the science centre Both the municipality and the original group of volunteers embraced the change that would be cool to have that in North Perth.'” there isn’t a facility like the one proposed anywhere in Canada it will provide some jobs on a year-round basis as well.” which focuses on the mining industry as another reason for the need for building the agricultural centre “Agriculture is much larger than our mining industry in employing people throughout the ag and food industry,” he said That original study suggested a 1,950-square-metre site at the cost of $13.8 million which would attract an estimated 42,000 visitors a year based on the catchment population area of Perth and Huron counties a second study done last fall by Jennifer Martin former vice-president of visitor experience at the Ontario Science Centre suggested a 3,251-square-metre facility at a cost of about $22 million that could attract up to 70,000 visitors annually the group is waiting on a decision from North Perth regarding a potential location and is looking for financial support to complete concept drawings and conduct yet another feasibility study before it starts a capital fundraising campaign While the local support for agriculture is strong “We do feel there’s going to be a good amount of support but we do need to do (those) two things that we need funding for right now.” could start as early as next year in a best-case scenario Construction would then begin sometime in summer or fall of 2027 with the target of opening in 2028 Despite the potential of a four-year wait and ballooning costs I’ve got dairy friends that put up new buildings and it costs them tens of million of dollars The numbers are different than they’ve been before “We’re also in a community where it’s a great volunteer base for agriculture and a lot of communities don’t have that.” This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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