The Hanover Barons are two wins away from earning the Clarence Schmalz Cup as the Ontario Hockey Association’s Junior C champions for the first time since 1991.
Article contentThe Barons are up 2-0 in their best-of-seven series against the Essex 73’s, with the series returning to Hanover on Wednesday for Game 3 inside the P&H Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Essex 73’s won the PJHL’s Stobbs Division over the Lakeshore Canadians, sweeping and beating the Petrolia Flyers in the West Conference Final and beating the New Hamburg Firebirds in five games to earn a berth in the final.
The 73’s are Junior C dynamos with seven titles to their name, the most in the province. Essex won the Schmalz Cup in 1975, 1977, 1978, 2002, 2005, 2009, and 2015.
The Hanover Barons last won the Schmalz Cup in 1991, defeating the Orangeville Crushers four games to three.
Sam Barrett had the game of a lifetime to open up the Schmalz Cup Finals with a four-goal performance for the Hanover Barons in Game 1 of the championship series Saturday at the P&H Centre.
The Barons beat the Essex 73’s 6-1 after winning a coin flip to determine home-ice advantage.
Barrett scored two of his four goals in the first period, including one scored just 1:57 into the contest as the Barons took a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.
Hanover’s Alex McGillivray and Essex’s Gabe Barrette traded first-period goals, but Barrette’s marker is the only puck that snuck by Derek Hartley, who made 30 saves to earn the win.
Mark McIntosh scored the lone second-period goal before Barrett added two more in the third period, the 10th and 11th of the playoffs for the 20-year-old Owen Sound product.
Brogan Colquhoun made 25 saves in the losing effort for the 73’s.
The championship series between the Hanover Barons and Essex 73’s moved to Essex for Game 2 and tightened up after a blowout in Game 1 for the Barons.
Sam Barrett scored his fifth goal of the series as the Barons won the slugfest by a score of 2-1 to take a two-game series lead.
Neither team scored in the first 40 minutes of action as goaltenders Hartley and Colquhoun shut the door.
Barrett’s marker at the 6:29 mark of the first period opened the scoring and was the difference maker.
McIntosh added an empty-net goal with 52 seconds remaining in the game.
Essex scored their lone goal of the contest with just 23 seconds remaining when Matthew Crawford spoiled the shutout for Hartley.
Named in honour of Walkerton’s Clarence “Tubby” Schmlaz who served as president of the Ontario Hockey Association from 1968 to 1972. In 1974, when the Major Junior A program began operating independently of the association as the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League, Schmalz became the league’s first commissioner, a post he held until 1978.
He served as vice-chairman of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association from 1979 to 1981, and as chairman in 1981.
The association renamed the OHA Junior C Cup in his memory in 1982 and then collaborated with Schmalz’s family to create a commemorative trophy case in the lobby of the Walkerton Community Centre.
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Concerned citizens fanned out across Owen Sound on Saturday hoping for any leads that could help locate a teenage girl last seen on Monday on the city’s east side
Masterson said she doesn’t know the missing girl’s family personally, but as a concerned resident and parent she wanted to do what she could to help.
“Today we are just putting the word out that this happens and this happens in our backyard,” said Masterson. “We are going to get Jillianne home safe and that is the most important thing right now.”
The Owen Sound Police Service put out a bulletin on Wednesday requesting the public’s assistance in locating the 15-year-old named Jillianne.
Described as five feet, six inches tall, with medium-length red hair and brown eyes, the teen was reportedly last seen on Owen Sound’s upper east side area on Monday (April 28) at 8 p.m. She was reported missing the following day.
Jillianne is from the Flesherton area, but is believed to have ties to Brampton. Police have concerns for her personal well-being, they said in their release.
Masterson said she has had contact with the teen’s family, who were in Brampton looking for her on Saturday.
“They are very concerned for her safety. They are scared, worried and sad and we just need to bring Jillianne home safe,” Masterson said.
She said Jillianne’s parents were aware they were conducting the canvass and have expressed appreciation of the work being done to help locate their daughter.
After the initial bulletin was issued on Wednesday, Owen Sound police put out an update on Thursday that they were continuing to investigate Jillianne’s whereabouts. An updated photo of the girl was also provided.
On Saturday morning, Owen Sound police Sgt. Liz Cranny said police were continuing to investigate and looking into any leads that may come in.
Cranny said the department’s criminal investigations branch has been assigned the investigation and have been following up on it. She did not have any additional information at this time.
Anyone with information about Jillianne’s whereabouts is asked to call the Owen Sound police at 519-376-1234.
The Owen Sound and North Grey Union Public Library was transformed into a world of sci-fi
“We are celebrating fandom,” said Deputy Chief Librarian Nadia Danyluk, who came dressed as an anime squirrel this year. “It started as our free comic book day when we did our first event 13 years ago and it kind of grew from there.
“We are branching out from comic books to include other things like Doctor Who, Stranger Things, Dungeons and Dragons and all this other sci-fi and fantasy.”
Danyluk said the event ties in well with what they do at the library because comic books and graphic novels are an important part of their collection, particularly for younger readers.
“For children they are really important as a literacy tool,” Danyluk said. “For a lot of kids it is a really easy way into literacy and this is an opportunity to celebrate that.”
Danyluk said graphic novels can be less intimidating to children when they are learning to read in that they are not faced with a solid page of text.
“When you are maybe struggling a bit with your reading that solid page of text can feel really daunting and like work,” said Danyluk. “If you are not enjoying it, it isn’t as much fun.
“With graphic novels, in addition to the text you are getting the picture that helps to translate what is going on with the words,” she added. “If you are unsure of that word, a picture can help interpret what that word is, so as a tool for building literacy they are actually really, really great.”
Danyluk said the world of cosplay, sci-fi and comics is so diverse and varied that it allows people to go in so many different directions and find something that interests them.
That was evident on Saturday with the unique costumes on display varying from superheroes like Batman and Superman, to creatures like unicorns and dinosaurs, to cartoons and video game characters like Spongebob Squarepants and Super Mario Brothers, and so many more.
“If you look around, manga anime is still popular, Minecraft is still really big and popular and you still see a lot of that Marvel and DC and Star Wars,” said Danyluk. “With the final season of Stranger Things out right now, we have designed our photo wall around that and we have had kids coming in all week excited about that.
“I like to see the diversity of interests that comes out to these events and that there is something for everybody to hopefully connect with.”
Saturday’s event also included a variety of artists selling their creations, including decorative potions and keychains, jewelry, leatherwork, models, and comic fanart. The First Owen Sound Scouts were selling grilled cheese and snacks as a fundraiser.
Danyluk said last year’s event attracted about 1,600 people through the doors of the library and they were hoping to have similar numbers again on Saturday.
The Owen Sound Aquatic Club’s young swimmers received some coaching and guidance from a decorated Canadian swimming icon on the weekend
Mac Neil, who won gold in the 100-metre butterfly, silver in the 4x100m freestyle relay and bronze in the 4x100m medley relay at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, said she has been reaching out to youth since her retirement from competitive swimming last year.
“It is kind of a different way of getting involved in the sport,” Mac Neil, 25, said of holding the clinics. “I knew I didn’t want to coach long-term, but this has kind of given me a new appreciation for it.”
Mac Neil, who is from London, said she has known OSAC head coach and fellow Londoner Ken Fitzpatrick since she was a child and when he reached out to her to come and put on a clinic for the OSAC swimmers it was an easy decision to make. She said she enjoys helping young swimmers improve their technique.
“I think that is what made me the swimmer I was and hopefully I can pass some of that knowledge along to them,” said MacNeil. “It is also nice to hear their questions, interact with them and inspire the next generation.
“When you are training for the Olympics and competing you don’t have a lot of time and we don’t get to interact with the younger kids that often. So this has been really nice.”
Mac Neil said she has done a lot of clinics around Ontario and has also forayed into other parts of Canada.
“It is really important to spread the knowledge and help kids from all over the country,” Mac Neil said
“We are very lucky in Ontario to have Toronto where a lot of things are based out of. I feel like out east they get neglected a lot, so I am definitely trying to spread the love and see what kind of potential we have out there too.”
Mac Neil said she enjoys visiting the clubs and hearing when the coaches tell her that they see improvements from the young swimmers after just a couple hours of her help. She said she really enjoyed working with OSAC on Saturday.
“I had a really great time with the older group and they did some excellent things,” she said. “The little kids have a lot to learn, but they were really eager and amazing to work with.
“The facility is great and honestly I had a great day.”
Fitzpatrick said it was a very unique opportunity to be able to bring someone of Mac Neil’s swimming stature to Owen Sound.
“We are kind of in the last third of our season, and having Maggie here at this time of the year is a great impulse for the kids to have the excitement of an Olympic gold medallist here,” said Fitzpatrick. “Also, the messages and the technique things she was sharing were really on point.
“She is a Canadian hero and much more than just a swimmer, but a terrific role model for the kids and someone to look up to.”
Fitzpatrick, who is himself an Olympic swimmer having competed for Canada at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, said having Mac Neil visit Owen Sound brought back some special memories for him as well.
He remembered working with Mac Neil as a 12-year-old when he was coaching at a clinic in London.
“I got to work with her as a 12-year-old on her crossover turn, and that kind of was my introduction,” Fitzpatrick said.
“There is a pretty good history of high-performance swimming out of London due to the coaching staff that has been there for many years.”
Fitzpatrick noted that the Owen Sound and London clubs have a strong connection. His first swim coach in London was Dr. Paul Hauch, whose brother Dr. Cuyler Hauch started the Owen Sound club in the 1960s.
“It is pretty interesting to see the intertwining,” said Fitzpatrick. “Swimming is pretty special that way.”
2024-25 team: Owen Sound Attack (OHL)Date of Birth: Dec
CANHt: 6-foot-5 Wt: 214 poundsShoots: RightPosition: DefensemanNHL Draft Eligibility: 2025 first-year eligible
After finding himself traded from the Oshawa Generals to the Owen Sound Attack early this season
David Bedkowski greatly impacted the backend of the ice for the Attack
One of the first things you notice when Bedkowski is on the ice is his size
he is a physical presence and uses it to his advantage quite well
Bedkowski uses his size to throw hits on opponents
but he can also use his reach when he needs to
so he does not take himself out of position on a rush or defensive play
He is relatively mobile for a player his size
which helps make him very active in the defensive zone and on rushes to keep opponents to the outside and out of the high danger goal-scoring areas of the offensive zone
If he is the off-puck defenseman on a rush
he has the vision and intelligence to find the trailing player and takes away the passing lane that could be there for a shot attempt
While playing sound defensively for most of his time on the ice
he tends to find himself floating around the defensive zone too much
as he is not the quickest with his footwork
engaging and activating on pinches well to make a play on the puck
His shot is strong from the point and further into the offensive zone when he is involved down low
he may not light the world on fire offensively
but he has the skills to be efficient in all three zones of the ice and will be a player many NHL organizations will keep tabs on in the draft
With Bedkowski’s size and overall two-way game
he falls in the middle tier of defensemen in this year’s draft class and should be picked in the middle-to-late third round in June
“He is a robust shutdown defenseman who can neutralize opposing forwards effectively. His positioning and ability to read the game make him a reliable presence in the defensive zone.” – Dominic Tiano, OHL Writers
“Bedkowski isn’t going to wow anyone with his offensive skill. He’s a mostly simple two-way/shutdown defenceman who matches up against top opponents and rolls over the boards on the first penalty-killing unit. His skating is solid, but there is room for Bedkowski to jump to space a fraction quicker in his zone and use his length to kill plays.” – Jason Bukala, Sportsnet
“His long reach allows him to disrupt the cycle and make smart poke checks to regain possession. He often lurks in the defensive zone, occupying space in the middle of the ice to take away high-danger lanes from the opposition. In order for Bedkowski to take his defensive game to the next level, he needs to become a better rush defender.” – Nathan Hutchinson, Future Considerations
Bedkowski has the tools to become a third-pairing defenseman at the NHL level if he can continue to develop his game
He also has the defensive mindset to be a potential penalty killer
DAVID BEDKOWSKI (RHD, 6'5", DY) played 2 games since he returned from his injury. He's still (very) raw, but he is so mean, he has a great shot, and has even shown some decent stretch passes. #2025NHLdraft pic.twitter.com/NRCNk72ul9
This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.
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A quarter of the way through the 2025 Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League campaign, the Owen Sound North Stars are 3-2 and keeping pace in the Mid-West Division, behind the still-unbeaten Elora Mohawks and Cambridge Highlanders.
Article contentThis past weekend, the N’Stars took care of business on the road and picked up a pair of wins in Windsor and Wallaceburg.
The North Stars play their home opener at the Durham Community Centre on Saturday, May 10, beginning at 7 p.m. against the Welland Raiders. Then, on Sunday, they will host the Orangeville Northmen at 2 p.m.
With renovations at Owen Sound’s Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre ongoing this spring and summer, the North Stars lacrosse teams have moved to Durham and Meaford.
Meanwhile, North Stars captain Carter Moran’s 14 goals and 12 assists have him in ninth place in the OJBLL scoring race, despite only playing in three of his team’s five games.
The Owen Sound North Stars exploded for seven goals in the third period to beat the Wallaceburg Red Devils, 14-11, Sunday afternoon at the Wallaceburg Memorial Arena.
Nate Laycock scored six goals — sometimes referred to as a sock trick in lacrosse circles. Carter Moran netted four goals and added four assists in the victory.
The newly acquired Sly Sundown scored a pair, while Kole Hutchinson and Tyson Morrison also scored for the North Stars.
Myles Playter picked up the win in goal with a 46-save effort.
For Wallaceburg, Brandon Taylor (4), Brayden Mitchell (3), Cohen Veenstra (2), Reece Parker and Dracen Campbell scored. Jack Baird made 37 saves in the losing effort. Hunter Bryan made four saves on eight shots against.
Jacob Fluney picked up his first-career win in goal as the Owen Sound North Stars defeated the Windsor Clippers (1-2) by a score of 9-7 on Saturday night at the Forest Glade Arena.
Moran and Laycock both netted hat tricks for the N’Stars while Sundown added a pair. Owen Prior scored the other goal for Owen Sound.
Hudson Dalpe did the bulk of the damage for Windsor with four goals and two helpers, while Mason Jacobs allowed nine goals on 55 shots against in the Clippers’ net.
Owen Sound’s 8th Street East came alive with the sounds of laughing children on Saturday with the return of the Wheel and Ride Safety Festival and Bike Program
River District Co-Ordinator Viveca Gravel said Saturday morning that the event was being held so that they could catch the youngsters to teach them about safety just as they are about to head out on their bikes – perhaps for their first time – after the long, cold and snowy winter.
“This all came together really organically. It started out as kind of a bike rodeo type of event and then it grew as people started catching on,” Gravel said.
The festival, held in May and September last year, has been honoured with the 2024 Festivals and Events Ontario Innovation Award and the 2025 Ontario Business Improvement Area Association Special Events Award of Excellence.
Gravel said their wheel and ride festival is unique and different from a traditional bike rodeo in that all non-motorized modes of transportation are welcome, including bikes, scooters and skateboards.
On Saturday, youngsters were maneuvering an obstacle course that included stop signs and a crosswalk area, where they had to dismount their wheels and walk, before getting back on and finishing. Along with bikes, children were spotted riding scooters and sit-down ride-ons.
There was a helmet fitting clinic and distribution for those who needed them, while bicycle tune-ups were being provided by Scenic Cycle.
“They are here fixing bikes and doing a little tinkering,” Gravel said. “Kids might need a tire pumped up or a seat adjusted and they are here to do that.”
Various local emergency services were on hand giving youngsters the opportunity to ask questions and explore their vehicles, including the Owen Sound police, Owen Sound Fire Department and Grey County Paramedic Services.
The Kiwanis Club was holding a charity barbecue for when appetites got worked up from all the wheeling around.
Approximately 60 donated bicycles of all sizes were available for distribution to those who received community chits that had been distributed to local support groups. The initiative was led by the junior optimists as a way of providing people with bicycles who may not have the means to purchase one on their own.
“For some people this is an important mode of transportation because they don’t have anything else,” Gravel said. “It can be life-changing for families.
“It is also really, really wonderful to see the looks on their faces when they get a bike. It makes it all worth it.”
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Owen Sound council extended the time the developer behind a 712-unit rental apartment complex on the former RCA factory site has to qualify for development charge relief
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentSkyDev purchased the 37.7-acre site at 3195 East Bayshore Rd. three years ago. The company proposes to build eight six-storey apartment buildings. It applied on March 31 for permits to build the first three rental apartment buildings.
Once one building permit is pulled, all subsequent buildings for which permits are sought would automatically qualify for the development charge relief.
The development qualifies for the city’s development charge exemption because it’s for much needed purpose-built rental housing. But that exemption would expire when the city’s development charges bylaw ends in 2033.
To give itself more time to complete the development and still qualify for the development charges relief, SkyDev asked for and got an extension beyond that date, to 2035. So development charges would be reduced for any units for which building permits have been granted until 2035, said Kate Allan, the city’s corporate services director, in an interview.
Rather than having seven years from today to complete building and qualify for the development charge relief until the bylaw expires in 2033, it has 10 years, to 2035, to do so.
The development charge relief amounts to 25 per cent for residential units with three or more bedrooms, 20 per cent for two bedrooms, and 15 per cent for all other residential rental units, a report to council said.
If all development charges were waived, it would amount to $6.9 million, but the value of the actual charges waived would be less than that, depending on what’s built.
Allan said the three buildings for which permits have been sought represent about 250 units. Building permits are only good for two years “but they have indicated that they want to get started right away,” she said of SkyDev’s intentions.
The report noted the project represents one of the city’s largest residential investments. It will provide construction and long-term jobs in property management and maintenance, support local businesses and improve infrastructure available for future development.
The project includes EV charging stations, pedestrian paths, extensive landscaping and stormwater management systems which advance the city’s climate adaptation goals, the report said.
The parents of a missing Flesherton-area teen say they are grateful for the outpouring of public support and remain hopeful that their daughter can be returned home safely
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentLaura and Erik Dixon said via telephone late Sunday morning that they so far have been unable to locate their 15-year-old daughter Jillianne, who was last seen in Owen Sound on the evening of April 28. She was reported missing the following day.
On Saturday, volunteer searchers canvassed Owen Sound with flyers of the missing teen, while the Dixons were in Brampton looking for their daughter.
Owen Sound police issued a bulletin on Wednesday requesting the public’s assistance in locating Jillianne.
Described as five feet, six inches tall, with medium-length red hair and brown eyes, Jillianne was reportedly last seen on Owen Sound’s upper east side area on Monday at 8 p.m.
Police said she is believed to have ties to Brampton and they have concerns for her personal well-being. No other information has been released.
Laura Dixon said Sunday that their daughter was in Owen Sound where she was receiving help for mental health struggles when she vanished.
“It is like she disappeared. Poof, gone,” she said. “I just really want her to come home.”
Dixon said they have nothing to indicate where their daughter is or who she may be with and each day she gets more scared.
Erik Dixon said they are grateful for all the help they are getting from the community.
“I have bawled my eyes out because I never realized in my life how many caring people are out there,” he said.
“It is amazing and my words don’t express how grateful I am for the help from everyone.”
The Dixons said they are a tight-knit, loving family and have done everything they can to protect and help Jillianne.
“She is a wonderful child. She is just lost right now,” Laura said. “She is beautiful, smart and artistic. She is all sorts of things and she is a fantastic person.”
A day earlier on Saturday morning, concerned citizens fanned out across Owen Sound hoping for any leads that could help locate the missing girl.
Elisha Masterson of Markdale, who organized the search, was at the Owen Sound Farmers’ Market handing out flyer packages to those who came out to help. Those who came were being asked to post them around the city and distribute them to businesses and the public, with the hope that it would lead to the teen being located safely.
Anyone with information that could help locate the teen was being advised to contact the police immediately.
Masterson said she had contact with the Dixons, who were in Brampton looking for her on Saturday.
After the initial bulletin was issued on Wednesday, Owen Sound police put out an update on Thursday stating that they were continuing to investigate Jillianne’s whereabouts. An updated photo of the girl was also provided.
On Saturday morning, Owen Sound police Sgt. Liz Cranny said they were continuing to investigate and would be looking into any leads that come in.
Cranny said the department’s criminal investigations branch has been assigned the investigation and have been following up on it. She did not have any additional information.
Thornbury teen Bryson Cleland was left in shock when his name was called out at the Youth Discoveries concert in Owen Sound on Saturday afternoon
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentThat is because the 14-year-old singer-songwriter is heading to Summerfolk 50 after judges chose him to make it onto the main event at Kelso Beach at Nawash Park this summer.
“I was not expecting that,” Cleland said moments after he was the last of five acts picked for Summerfolk from the 12 that took part in Saturday’s finale.
“I was actually surprised when I was called up, and I was the last one so I actually had no thought I would make it up there.”
On Saturday finalists and wildcard picks from preliminary events in Owen Sound, London, Guelph and Toronto each played two songs in front of more than 100 onlookers, before judges chose the acts that would make the cut.
Cleland, who has been playing music for as long as he can remember, chose to perform his own rendition of Creep by Radiohead, the first song he ever performed as a seven-year-old. He followed that up with an original song he wrote in the last couple weeks about his dog Guiness, who recently passed away. That song about his beloved pup who was black with a white nose, was called Paper Planes.
“That was pretty emotional for me,” Cleland said. “I am just glad I made it through without crying.”
Cleland, who plays a variety of instruments, including saxophone, trumpet, ukelele and guitar, said he has just always loved music. He can’t wait to head to Summerfolk for the first time and perform in front of the crowds.
“I am looking forward to it a lot,” he said. “I am just pumped to be able to get this opportunity.”
Also advancing to Summerfolk 50 were The Ruthven Sisters. The Clarksburg trio of Aniah, Haidyn and Camryn Ruthven performed a harmonious rendition of the classic hit Delta Dawn.
“It is pretty incredible obviously,” Aniah said of being selected to perform at Summerfolk. “We are just really looking forward to playing with each other at the event and getting that experience.”
Camryn said they decided to come out to Youth Discoveries because they love to play together and performing with other youth who like to do the same brings out such good energy and joy.
“We have this opportunity in our own backyard and we love doing this together and sharing this in the community,” Camryn said.
The other performers chosen included indie artist, producer and songwriter Ella Frank of Toronto, and bands Amanda and the Paper Cranes from Waterloo and Hamilton-based rockers The Commune.
While it was a celebratory time for those who made it through to Summerfolk 50, there was also some heartbreak in the room for those who didn’t.
But the message from organizers was that they were all deserving. Everyone was encouraged to keep creating and performing music and come back again next year. They were also reminded that there are many other opportunities to get out and perform at other festivals and events.
Musician Rob Elder, who judged the event along with local musicians Pete Devlin and Tara MacKenzie, said the judges had very difficult decisions to make.
“The toughest part is that there are so many different styles,” Elder said. “I was telling some of the kids to keep doing what you are doing because our opinion doesn’t really make a difference in your life and your future.”
Saturday’s winners will now move on to Summerfolk, which takes place Aug. 15 to 17 this year. They will grace the stage with such established acts as the MacMaster Leahy Family, Delhi 2 Dublin, Rox Sexsmith, Shakura S’Aida, Emm Gryner, Danny Michel and Trout Fishing in America.
A full list of performers, ticket information and more is available at summerfolk.org
A selection of Saturday’s winning artists will also be performing at Grey Roots on June 5 as part of their Our Roots are Showing concert series. Details will be available at greyroots.com.
A total of 55 fish were weighed during the opening weekend of the fifth annual Lures N Lines Spring Trout Derby
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentLast year’s event saw approximately 650 anglers hit the water over 10 days, raising $8,250 for the Bruce Peninsula Sportsmen’s Association’s hatchery repairs and upgrades.
Proceeds from this year’s event will help rebuild the Sydenham Sportsmen Association’s hatchery. This past winter, heavy snow caused the hatchery’s roof to collapse.
Since 2020, the derby has raised and donated more than $27,000 to hatchery programs and stream rehabilitation projects with the BPSA and the Barrow Bay canal project.
Top Rainbow Brady McDonald — 7.02 pounds Matt Smyth — 6.08 pounds (27.5″) Dan Middleton — 6.08 pounds (27.25″)
Top Youth Entry James Thompson (Brown Trout) — 8.02 pounds
The Owen Sound North Stars senior B squad were perfect in Meaford this weekend
picking up a pair of wins in one of their new temporary home barns
Article contentWith renovations at Owen Sound’s Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre ongoing this spring and summer
the North Stars lacrosse teams have moved to Durham and Meaford
the Senior B team is offering a free fan bus to its home games in Meaford and Durham
the Owen Sound North Stars are 2-1 and outscoring opponents by a score of 32-21
Jake McNabb has 13 goals and 10 assists in three games for a whopping 23 points
Seven of his goals have come with the North Stars on the power play
the Owen Sound North Stars will host the Collingwood Cruise (formerly the Clearview Crushers) inside the Meaford and St
On Sunday, the Owen Sound North Stars defeated the Brooklin Merchants by a score of 10-6 inside the Meaford and St. Vincent Community Centre.
Jake McNabb led the way with a hat trick and four assists. Jordan McMillen kept pace, scoring a hat trick of his own and adding two helpers.
Colin Mawdsley, Rob Harris, Dawson McKenzie and Jordan Caskenette added goals in the contest for Owen Sound.
Gavin Clarke picked up the win in the net.
For Brooklin, Parker Pipher scored three while Robert Morgan, Darren Elliott and Ed Renaud added tallies. Deacan Knott allowed 10 goals and took the loss.
On Saturday, the North Stars played the Ennismore James Gang at the Meaford and St. Vincent Community Centre and won 13-4.
It was all Owen Sound in this one as the N’Stars jumped out to a 9-1 lead in the first period before coasting through the final 40 minutes en route to victory.
McNabb did most of the damage on offence with seven goals and two helpers on the day.
Dawson McKenzie, Jordan Caskenette, Wyatt Barfoot, Keagan McIlmoyle, and Rob Kloepfer added markers for the home team. Gavin Clarke earned the win in net.
Adam Churchill, Cam Mancini, Riley Caldwell, and Caleb French scored for a shorthanded Ennismore team. Riley Finn suffered the loss in goal.
The defending Ontario Series Lacrosse champion Six Nations Rivermen beat the Owen Sound North Stars by a score of 11-9 to open the 2025 season on April 26 in Durham.
Anahalihs Doxtator, Jordan Van Damme, and Tyler Brown all netted hat tricks for the Rivermen while Tyson Bomberry and Davin Bomberry scored two apiece. Ross Hill and Thunder Hill scored singles.
Elan Henhawk earned the victory in net for the Rivermen.
McNabb netted three goals and added four assists for Owen Sound. Jordan McMillen scored three, Jordan Caskenette netted two and Wyatt Barfoot added a marker.
Gavin Clarke suffered a loss on the N’Stars net.
Hanover Police arrested a man who climbed a hydro tower with an axe and a liquor bottle amid a family dispute Wednesday night
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentAccording to a police media release, officers from Hanover and West Grey responded to a call about the dispute. Upon arrival, officers observed what they described as a distraught and intoxicated male climbing the hydro tower, one with high-voltage lines, and armed with an axe.
Officers said they observed the male drinking from a bottle of liquor as he ascended the tower, as much as 70 feet above the ground.
Hanover and West Grey Police officers contained the area while Grey County Paramedics, the Hanover Fire Department and Hydro One employees arrived at the scene.
Police requested support from the OPP’s emergency response team, negotiators, and an incident commander, but the matter was resolved before they arrived, and their assistance was not required.
Shortly before 10 p.m., the male suspect returned to the ground on his own accord and was taken into custody without further incident.
A 32-year-old West Grey man was charged with weapons dangerous to public peace, mischief and breach of probation. He was held overnight and released from custody. He is to appear at the Walkerton Court next month.
Police maintained the scene until Hydro One high voltage specialists were able to attend and retrieve the axe from the tower that the suspect left behind.
The police said there was no disruption to any hydro customers as a result of the incident.
following a staff recommendation presented at their April 28 meeting
valued at $325,292.46 including non-refundable HST
will be funded through the City’s IT Reserve and future operating budgets
The new software is expected to streamline internal processes
The procurement was carried out under the City’s Purchasing By-law 2020-022
which permits non-standard procurement through recognized vendor of record programs
Euna Solutions is a vendor under the LAS Canoe Procurement Program
allowing the City to proceed without a formal competitive bidding process
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a product of Euna Solutions Inc.—is designed to automate budget input
and generate financial reports and public-facing “budget books” that meet best practices set by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)
Staff say the new system will replace the current Excel-based process
which relies heavily on manual data entry by the Director of Corporate Services and is prone to versioning errors and inefficiencies
departments will be able to directly input data
enabling more time for financial analysis and collaborative planning
According to the report
the initial implementation and first-year licensing costs total $99,738 and will be drawn from the City’s IT Reserve
The remaining $225,554 will be included in future budgets through 2029
The software comes with unlimited user licenses
Costs will be distributed across the City’s tax-supported and user-funded budgets
in alignment with the planned cost allocation policy
Councilor Jon Farmer raised concerns about how the procurement aligned with Council’s stated preference
Allan responded that while she anticipated the concern
the City’s procurement was consistent with both the letter and spirit of applicable policy
Allan said that Questica was originally founded in Burlington in 1998 and that the company is now part of Euna Canada
“Significant consideration was given to these principles,” Allan said
as well as the strong Canadian presence and corporate status of Euna Solutions
have been carefully considered and align with both the spirit and the technical requirements of the policy.”
Allan also clarified that while Council has asked staff to explore the feasibility of limiting procurements to Canadian-owned firms
there is no formal ‘Buy Canadian’ mandate that has been adopted by the City of Owen Sound,” she said
While Allan emphasized the company’s Canadian roots and presence
it's important to note that registering subsidiaries or offices in Canada—common among multinational corporations—does not necessarily define a company as Canadian-owned
the procurement did not hinge on Euna’s Canadian status but was instead conducted through a vendor of record program exempt from competitive bidding under the City’s Purchasing By-law
Councilor Brock Hamley expressed concern about the overall cost
questioning whether more than $300,000 for budgeting software was justified
Allan responded that the current system relies on time-consuming manual entry
with version control issues and limited collaboration
The new system will support cost allocation-based budgeting and dynamic analysis across departments
Councilor Suneet Kukreja asked whether other municipalities were already using the software
Allan confirmed that both Grey County and the Municipality of Meaford currently use Questica
and Owen Sound staff have monitored their experiences
Kukreja also asked if future cost increases were anticipated
Allan responded that price increases were likely after the five-year term but noted that the current agreement includes fixed annual fees and unlimited user access without additional licensing costs
Councilor Farmer also questioned whether the Software as a Service (SaaS) model (requiring annual payments) was the most effective approach
she understands this to be the industry standard for modern software solutions
Deputy Mayor Scott Greig made the motion to proceed with the purchase
While the software is expected to be in place for the 2026 operating budget input in late summer 2025
the City does not plan to launch the public-facing “budget book” until fall 2026
Share
will be funded through the City\u2019s IT Reserve and future operating budgets
The procurement was carried out under the City\u2019s Purchasing By-law 2020-022
a product of Euna Solutions Inc.\u2014is designed to automate budget input
and generate financial reports and public-facing \u201Cbudget books\u201D that meet best practices set by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)
According to the report
the initial implementation and first-year licensing costs total $99,738 and will be drawn from the City\u2019s IT Reserve
Costs will be distributed across the City\u2019s tax-supported and user-funded budgets
Councilor Jon Farmer raised concerns about how the procurement aligned with Council\u2019s stated preference
the City\u2019s procurement was consistent with both the letter and spirit of applicable policy
\u201CSignificant consideration was given to these principles,\u201D Allan said
have been carefully considered and align with both the spirit and the technical requirements of the policy.\u201D
there is no formal \u2018Buy Canadian\u2019 mandate that has been adopted by the City of Owen Sound,\u201D she said
While Allan emphasized the company\u2019s Canadian roots and presence
it's important to note that registering subsidiaries or offices in Canada\u2014common among multinational corporations\u2014does not necessarily define a company as Canadian-owned
the procurement did not hinge on Euna\u2019s Canadian status but was instead conducted through a vendor of record program exempt from competitive bidding under the City\u2019s Purchasing By-law
the City does not plan to launch the public-facing \u201Cbudget book\u201D until fall 2026
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Owen Sound & District Junior Optimists
and Owen Sound Police Services are proud to present the Wheel & Ride Safety Festival and Bike Program on Saturday
Honoured with the 2024 Festivals and Events Ontario Innovation Award and the 2025 OBIAA Special Events Award of Excellence
family-friendly activities focused on bike safety and fun
The Wheel & Ride Bike Program begins bike distribution at 10 a.m
Community chits were distributed to local support groups in an effort to distribute the bicycle inventory evenly
All non-motorized transportation is welcome to participate
8th Street East from 2nd Avenue East to 3rd Avenue East will be closed to vehicular traffic starting at 8 a.m
Motorists should consider alternate routes
The road will reopen at approximately 3 p.m
Businesses will remain accessible to pedestrians during regular business hours
For more information, please contact Viveca Gravel, River District Coordinator at 519-376-4440 ext. 1209 or email vgravel@owensound.ca
808 2nd Avenue East,Owen Sound, ONN4K 2H4Phone: 519-376-1440Email us
programs and operations by subscribing to our news posts
City of Owen Sound808 2nd Avenue East,Owen Sound, ONN4K 2H4Phone: 519-376-1440Email us
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Owen Sound City Council will formally address the province’s Strong Mayor powers at its upcoming May 12 council meeting.
As of May 1, 2025, Owen Sound has been legislatively designated by the Province of Ontario as a Strong Mayor municipality, joining 170 others across the province.
The designation grants the Mayor expanded authority over key municipal decisions, including staffing, budgeting, and by-law approvals that conflict with provincial priorities.
In response, Mayor Ian Boddy has chosen not to exercise these new powers. Instead, he will delegate them back to City Council and City Manager Tim Simmonds through official Mayoral Decisions, which will be published as part of the May 12 Council Agenda.
At that meeting, Council will also reaffirm its formal request to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to remove Owen Sound from the list of designated Strong Mayor municipalities. While the province introduced the expanded powers to help fast-track priorities like housing and infrastructure, Owen Sound officials maintain that a collaborative, council-led governance model is better suited for the city’s needs. Mayor Boddy stated that municipalities had little choice in the matter.
"The reality is that these powers are being implemented whether municipalities want them or not. Council recognized this and used the time wisely, not to delay action, but to ensure the city is equipped to navigate the changes responsibly," Boddy explained. "In doing so, Owen Sound has positioned itself ahead of many municipalities that have yet to engage meaningfully with the operational, legal, and procedural realities these powers entail.”
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.
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.
Perth OPP say the driver of one of the vehicles was hurt in the collision on Friday.
The Township of Georgian Bluffs is inviting residents to take part in No Mow May, a growing movement to support bees, butterflies, and other pollinators by letting lawns grow a little wilder this spring. Photo by Harry Dona on UnsplashCan we really grow our way out of rising grocery bills?
In this thoughtful community contribution, master gardener Jennifer Deeks explores the real limits of food self-sufficiency and why the answer to food insecurity might lie not just in our backyards, but in our connections with one another.
From the practical challenges of gardening to the promise of neighbourly cooperation, this is a timely reflection on resilience, food, and community.
COMMUNITY: Growing your own food offers more than savings; it builds skills, connection, and community. Jennifer Deeks reflects on the limits of self-sufficiency and the value of working together.
Public Notices9th Avenue East Lane Reductions Scheduled for May 5 - City of Owen Sound
Nearly all of the main Bruce Trail between Mono and Wiarton (roughly 400 km) has re-opened, thanks to volunteers clearing the damage and hazards caused by March ice storms - Bruce Trail Conservancy
Public Meeting on Forest Management By-law on Tuesday, May 6, at 7 p.m. at Grey County Building
The Tom Thomson Art Gallery Advisory Committee meets on Wednesday, May 7, at 2 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall. You’ll find the agenda here
Today: details of Grey County’s $13 million in upcoming road improvements
more measles exposure alerts in Owen Sound
Owen Sound Council approves a $325k SaaS deal with a U.S.-based company
concerned residents continue searching for a missing teen
If you can’t see the info below, you’re missing out. (Nope, it doesn’t all appear on the website.) Upgrade your subscription for full access
Subscribe to The Owen Sound Current to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives
\uD83D\uDC4B Welcome to The Owen Sound Current, your source for what\u2019s happening in and around Owen Sound. Thank you to our Sustaining Supporters for funding contributor stories and keeping public notices and letters open to all! Upgrade to a full subscription for original local reporting, event listings, curated stories, commenting privileges, and full archive access.
The Township of Georgian Bluffs is inviting residents to take part in No Mow May, a growing movement to support bees, butterflies, and other pollinators by letting lawns grow a little wilder this spring. Photo by Harry Dona on UnsplashCan we really grow our way out of rising grocery bills
master gardener Jennifer Deeks explores the real limits of food self-sufficiency and why the answer to food insecurity might lie not just in our backyards
From the practical challenges of gardening to the promise of neighbourly cooperation
9th Avenue East Lane Reductions Scheduled for May 5 - City of Owen Sound
Nearly all of the main Bruce Trail between Mono and Wiarton (roughly 400 km) has re-opened, thanks to volunteers clearing the damage and hazards caused by March ice storms - Bruce Trail Conservancy
Public Meeting on Forest Management By-law on Tuesday, May 6, at 7 p.m. at Grey County Building
The Tom Thomson Art Gallery Advisory Committee meets on Wednesday, May 7, at 2 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall. You\u2019ll find the agenda here
Today: details of Grey County\u2019s $13 million in upcoming road improvements
If you can\u2019t see the info below, you\u2019re missing out. (Nope, it doesn\u2019t all appear on the website.) Upgrade your subscription for full access
The CHL was the only development hockey league in the world to feature one player on eight of the 10 participating countries at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship
Ten Ontario Hockey League Hockey League (OHL) players
part of a larger group of 25 from the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) proudly won gold as Canada topped the podium at the 2025 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship by defeating Sweden 7-0 in Saturday’s final in Frisco
The victory gave Canada consecutive gold medals at the IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship for the first time in their program’s history
Ivankovic led all netminders in goals-against average (1.05)
and shutouts (2) during the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship
Canada’s blueline contributed 12 goals at the U18s
led by Villeneuve (4G-4A in 7 GP) and Smith (4G-1A in 7 GP)
who both recorded four goals in seven games
the most of any defencemen in the tournament
Canadian captain Cootes (6G-6A in 7 GP) led the team in scoring with 12 points through Canada’s undefeated run to a second straight gold medal
Ivankovic and Martin (3G-8A in 7 GP) were named to the Media All-Star Team
Although his country fell short against Canada in Saturday’s final, Swedish forward Filip Ekberg (Ottawa 67’s / OHL) put together an impressive performance in Texas as he was identified as the MVP and the Top Forward of the 2025 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship
Leading the tournament with 18 points (10G-8A) in seven games
Ekberg established a new single-tournament record for points by a Swede at the U18 World Championship by besting the previous mark of 16
In addition to being one of three CHL players to be selected to the tournament’s Media All-Star Team
Ekberg’s 10 goals were the most of any player at the tournament and now stand as the most-ever by a Swede at this event
Earlier during the day, Blake Fiddler (Edmonton Oil Kings / WHL) and the United States earned bronze by defeating Slovakia 4-3 in overtime
Fiddler registered a pair of goals and added an assist over his seven games at the tournament
27 players from the CHL proudly took home medals at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship (see complete list below)
including 13 from the Western Hockey League (WHL)
10 players from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
and four from the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
A total of 37 CHL players participated in the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship (see complete list below)
which was the most of any development hockey league in the world
The CHL was the only development hockey league in the world to feature one player on eight of the 10 participating countries at the tournament
showcasing the league’s global impact and commitment to developing elite talent
There were also nine CHL skaters eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft who competed in the tournament
including seven members of Team Canada (Carels
Following Canada’s gold medal victory on Saturday, Ethan Czata (Niagara IceDogs / OHL), Tyler Hopkins (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL), Alex Huang (Chicoutimi Saguenéens / QMJHL), and Cameron Schmidt (Vancouver Giants / WHL) joined Ivankovic
Erie Otters (OHL) defenceman Matthew Schaefer
and Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) forward Caleb Desnoyers as the only players to ever win gold for Team Canada at the U17s
Team Canada was led by two-time Stanley Cup champion and Guelph Storm head coach Cory Stillman (Guelph Storm / OHL)
He was joined by associate coach Travis Crickard (Saint John Sea Dogs / QMJHL)
assistant coach Mathieu Turcotte (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada / QMJHL)
and goaltending consultant Dan De Palma (Kamloops Blazers / WHL)
Canada has now won six gold medals at the IIHF U18 World Championship (2003
in addition to one silver (2005) and four bronze (2012
37 CHL PLAYERS COMPETED AT THE 2025 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
BarrieNewsMissing 15-year-old not seen for daysBy Kim PhillipsPublished: May 01, 2025 at 6:17PM EDT
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The City of Owen Sound is pleased to announce the 2025 Volunteer Award Recipients
along with Chair of the Community Services Committee
and Bruce Grey Owen Sound MPP Paul Vickers
awards were presented at the beginning of the April 28 Council meeting
2025 Youth Volunteer of the Year – Olive Borowski
Nickel was nominated on behalf of Owen Sound Minor Basketball for being the founder and driving force behind a thriving minor sport organization that continues to grow in programming and participation
His role includes overseeing all aspects of the league providing an opportunity for young athletes to develop their skills
Barber was nominated on behalf of the Silver C’s of Owen Sound
a non-profit volunteer organization of retirees in the community
He is described as a selfless volunteer with a willingness to make his skills available to several groups and activities in Owen Sound
Barber volunteered for almost 600 hours in the past year
was nominated on behalf of United Way of Bruce Grey
a grassroots music and arts festival that showcases emerging youth talent and fosters community engagement
Described as an innovative leader with an ability to foster collaboration
Barnes was nominated on behalf of Scenic City Lions Club of Owen Sound
Her nominator described her as a perfect example to all Lions
Evelyn continues to be very active in her Scenic City Lions Club
For more information, please contact Andy O’Leary, Facilities Booking Coordinator at 519-376-4440 ext. 1255 or email aoleary@owensound.ca
"Volunteers have such a positive impact on so many things right here in Owen Sound
volunteers continue to be the driving force behind the arts and cultural scene
Evelyn Barnes and all the incredible volunteers in our community for making such a positive and impactful contribution.”
Pictured in photo attached (left to right): MPP Paul Vickers
Olive Borowski (Youth Volunteer of the Year)
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BarrieNewsOwen Sound investigation leads to arrest, drug seizureBy Cheryl BrownePublished: April 16, 2025 at 6:43AM EDT
An Owen Sound judge sentenced a “mid-level” trafficker of fentanyl and other drugs to 10 years in prison
likely the longest sentence imposed for drug trafficking in Grey-Bruce
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentJustice John Sproat issued his sentence in March to Tahir Ali, a 63-year-old Barrie resident and repeat offender, whom the judge found commuted to Grey-Bruce to deal drugs.
Sproat’s 18-page reasons cited considerable evidence about harms fentanyl has caused local communities, detailed in letters from the Grey Bruce Public Health Unit and Chippewas of Nawash Chief Greg Nadjiwon.
From 2018 to 2021, Grey-Bruce saw a more than four-fold increase in the annual number of opioid-related overdose deaths. There were 174 reported drug overdoses in 2023 and 216 reported in 2024.
Nadjiwon’s letter noted the First Nation of 2,400 members — about 800 who live at the unceded First Nation at Neyaashiinigmiing — lost 58 members due to the opioid crisis from 2019 to 2023. Dealers prey on band members, many who “have social and economic disadvantages due to intergenerational trauma, unresolved grief, homelessness and low income,” Sproat quoted from the letter.
Both local Indigenous communities — Chippewas of Nawash and Saugeen First Nation — have ongoing declared states of emergency due to the damage of drugs in these communities.
Neyaashiinigmiing resident Nick Saunders, who chairs the health unit, said the opioid epidemic has broken many families and children are having to go into the Children’s Aid system, costing the community a future generation. “This is a form of emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical abuse as the narcotics from dealers become stronger and rob people of these.”
Sproat found one aggravating sentencing factor is that trafficking lethal fentanyl is a crime of greed “at the expense of violence, death and the perpetuation of a public health crisis previously unseen in Canadian society,” Sproat wrote, citing the 2021 Supreme Court of Canada case “Parranto.”
Being a repeat offender and targeting a rural area, which “includes First Nations and other vulnerable communities,” is also aggravating, as is the “relatively minor factor” that Ali was getting Ontario Disability Support benefits from the government at the same time.
Sproat cited case law, including from the Supreme Court, which reflected how courts have come to re-calibrate their sentences to reflect an understanding of the magnitude of damage the ongoing fentanyl crisis is causing.
Ali, who was 60 when charged three years ago, pleaded not guilty at trial last fall in the Superior Court of Justice. Sproat found denunciation and deterrence were of prime importance when sentencing, and he found “no evidence” Ali could be rehabilitated.
Sproat found Ali guilty of six separate offences: possession of 89.6 grams of cocaine, 957.5 g of methamphetamine, 78.8 g of fentanyl, 476 oxycodone pills and three vials of benzodiazepine, all for the purpose of trafficking. The drugs were seized from a camper trailer, vehicles and a house in Kincardine. Also, Sproat found Ali guilty of possession of ammunition seized from a Barrie apartment.
Sproat cited related drug sentencings in Grey-Bruce in which local judges found six years imprisonment was appropriate, even for 12 to 15 g of fentanyl.
Drug prosecutor Elizabeth Barefoot said in response to questions Wednesday that she could not immediately find drug cases in which a sentencing hit double digits, as far back as 2008, when she began serving in her prosecution role.
“Someone needs to pay the price beyond just the victims, and people who travel to Grey-Bruce to traffic drugs better beware that the Judges here are keenly aware of the toll fentanyl trafficking is taking on our community – just as Justice Sproat’s decision demonstrates,” Barefoot said.
She noted the Parranto case which Sproat cited in his reasons, says sentences will increase and decrease as societal and judicial knowledge and attitudes about certain offences change.
She said sentences “will only increase, given how deadly the substance is to the user, and to the damage being inflicted on users’ families and the communities where they live. The resources that communities spend on health care and policing are staggering.”
Barefoot added that drug traffickers in Grey-Bruce “need to be made aware” that three of Ali’s vehicles were forfeited as part of the sentence.
Sproat’s reasons for judgment, issued Dec. 16, said Ali was stopped while driving a Ford Edge on March 24, 2022. He was arrested and police executed search warrants at various locations and in vehicles. Police also looked at cellphone locations and contents.
Ali attended locations near Owen Sound and Wiarton which had signage for BRE Towing & Tire, as did the vehicles he used. Sproat found this was a “sham business.” Police searched a Kincardine farmhouse on Bruce Road 23, a camper at a BRE Towing location on Grey Road 1, and a Barrie apartment, the reasons said.
Sproat wrote that “evidence that the accused was in knowing possession of the drugs seized is overwhelming.”
Ali’s court record includes a four-year prison sentence for possession of illegal drugs for the purpose of trafficking in 2020 and a suspended sentence for drug possession in 2021.
He spent 1,139 days in presentence custody, earning a sentencing credit of 1,709 days. Further, his sentence took into account the hardship of spending almost 300 days in jail lockdown, nearly all because of staffing issues, Sproat’s sentencing reasons said.
The 10-year sentence for fentanyl trafficking equals 3,650 days, which when reduced by 1,709 days pretrial custody, left 1,941 days to serve. Justice Sproat also imposed six months or 182 days imprisonment consecutive to the drug offences, bringing Ali’s total time left to serve to 2,123 days — 5.8 years.
Owen Sound police are asking for the public’s help to confirm the well-being of a 15-year-old girl named Jillianne
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentShe’s 5’ 6’’, with medium-length red hair and brown eyes, who was last seen Monday, April 28 at 8 p.m. on the upper eastside area of Owen Sound, a news release said. She was reported missing the next day.
She’s from the Flesherton area but is believed to have ties to Brampton. “Police have concerns for her personal well-being,” the news release said.
Anyone with information about Jillianne’s whereabouts is asked to call Owen Sound Police Service at 519-376-1234.
gets them anywayLawyer laid out implications of these unilateral mayoral powers for council Monday
Owen Sound council voted unanimously Monday to ask the province to immediately remove the city from the province’s list of “strong mayor” 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 contentHowever
the city received notification Thursday in a letter from Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack that Owen Sound is among 170 municipalities he has vested with the new
Boddy said it was important that both he and council together reject the strong mayor powers
All nine members of council bring individual skills and experiences which are valuable in making decisions
“We’ve got a pretty good feel for the entire community and it makes sense that we all bring that experience to the table,” he said by phone Thursday
“While the province states that the expanded powers are intended to help advance priorities such as housing
council-led decision-making and does not believe the strong mayor framework is appropriate or necessary for its local governance,” the city’s release said
Flack’s letter said Owen Sound is one of 170 additional municipalities which received from the province strong mayor powers as of May 1
to advance provincial priorities for more housing
were granted to the heads of Toronto and Ottawa in 2022 and to mayors in 48 additional municipalities in 2023
walked council through the new powers at the special meeting Monday
Council generally expressed concern about the extent of powers they would grant mayors
Melanie Middlebro’ asked if council could “opt out” or set “concrete limits” because “I think it’s just bad.” Mascarin began by noting there was an initial opportunity to possibly opt out which ended when a one-week comment period closed April 16
“I still think it’s a possibility” that a resolution or bylaw passed unanimously rejecting the strong mayor powers could still be sent to the minister “but it also might be a little late
Refusing to adopt the new powers wouldn’t have the force of law behind it
John Farmer’s motion to reject the strong mayor powers for Owen Sound and ask for a formal response from the province
City CAO Tim Simmonds’ report to council highlighted a number of these proposed mayoral powers
as set out in a letter from the housing minister which summarized them
These include the ability to propose budgets
subject to council amendments and a separate mayoral veto and council-override process
Mayors would have the power to veto certain bylaws if they potentially interfere with provincial priorities
bring forward matters if they could advance those priorities and propose certain bylaws to advance provincial priorities which would only require more than one-third of council support to pass
“This is a substantial shift in the municipal governance landscape that has direct implications for the city,” Simmonds’ report said
The minister has the authority to designate strong mayor powers
which are intended to further provincial priorities for housing and infrastructure related to housing
“The purpose of the strong mayor powers is supposed to be to drive new housing in the province,” lawyer Mascarin said
But he noted Orillia’s mayor was granted “temporary” additional authority on April 3 “to help the municipality respond to the ice storm
Empowered mayors are authorized to give directions to municipal employees to research
implement decisions and provide advice to the head of council
These directions must be in writing and must be disclosed to council and in certain situations
The empowered mayor, rather than all of council, is granted authority to hire and fire the municipal CAO, but the mayor may designate back those authorities. Empowered mayors may appoint chairs and vice-chairs of “prescribed” committees of council — whose only members are council members. Mayors with these powers may constitute or dissolve these prescribed committees of council, set their terms of reference and functions.
While these mayoral powers also apply to prescribed local boards, the province hasn’t prescribed any, Mascarin said.
New administrative powers grant empowered mayors the authority to reset the organizational structure of the municipality, including by hiring and firing division heads of the municipality.
But they can’t touch positions required by statute, including the clerk, treasurer, fire chief, auditor, integrity commissioner, chief building official and others, including positions councils are required by certain other legislation to appoint, like bylaw officers.
There is some interpretation as to which staff are the “division heads” referred to by the province, Mascarin said. While empowered mayors may fire certain staff, including without cause, requirements under labour laws still apply.
“It doesn’t mean that the mayor can terminate someone with impunity,” Mascarin said. And it’s unclear whether mayors who hire someone must heed municipal policies, including how much staff are paid, which are intended to guide the hiring process, he said.
Mascarin said “there is nothing set up that provides any fast, quick mechanism for a council to go ‘I think Mr. Mayor, you’re exceeding your authority and you shouldn’t be able to do that.’” He said “any challenges would likely be through the courts.”
He noted an “immunity” clause prevents courts from quashing a mayor’s bylaw unless “it’s illegal or done in bad faith.” And no mayor’s veto can be quashed “for anything but illegality or bad faith.” This gives to mayors what immunity council’s already have.
He also said where a mayor hires someone without first following the appropriate due diligence, such as reference checks, “the legislation does not speak to any of that. And I suppose the mayor could come back and say ‘No, I’m just going to do what I want to do.’”
Mascarin said if a mayor intends to veto a bylaw or part of a bylaw which potentially interferes with provincial priorities, he or she must give notice to council two days before a vote and provide written reasons within 14 days of a council meeting.
Only recently enacted bylaws, not longstanding ones, may be vetoed, and council can override the mayor’s veto with a two-thirds vote within 21 days of the veto.
Boddy, the mayor, noted earlier stages of rolling out strong mayor powers came money to incentivise development, none of which has been offered in this latest, largest roll out. He asked if these powers enable further cost downloads on municipalities.
“I’ve not been a fan of this legislation,” Mascarin said in agreement with the mayors point, which he said others including himself have made. “It seems to be getting the municipalities to do the dirty work for the province.”
Mascarin noted the mayor “shall” prepare a proposed budget and council can accept it or propose amendments. “It is the mayor’s budget, it’s not council’s anymore.”
But the mayor can veto those amendments, a veto which can be overturned by a two-thirds vote of council. Some mayors have directed staff to bring forward the budget as unusual, with no net increase or however the mayor may choose, Mascarin said. If the mayor does not propose a budget by Feb. 1, council must do it.
Boddy suggested in practice the budget process would be the same, with staff setting the budget, council deliberating over it but with the mayor having the final approval. Mascarin said that’s one way it could happen. Boddy noted nothing else involves all nine council members more than to set the budget.
Mascarin said strong mayor powers allow mayors to delegate hiring and firing of the CAO to council, delegate power over the organizational structure to either council or the CAO, and delegate back authority over prescribed committees of council to council.
The mayor can also revoke a decision to delegate power. One time that might happen would be if a mayor is re-elected and is no longer comfortable delegating authority to council when a new council is elected, Mascarin said.
The strong mayor powers can’t be exercised by a deputy mayor or acting mayor, Mascarin said.
New Municipal Conflict of Interest Act additions require the mayor not to participate or exercise any powers when the mayor has a pecuniary interest.
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you run into neighbours everywhere you go..
You'll bump into your dentist swimming laps at the Y
meet a colleague at the weekly farmer's market
or see the mayor at your local coffee shop
With 60% of residents commuting less than 15 minutes
we actually have time to enjoy our abundant parks and trails
and meet up for a meal in the River District where menus are prepared using the freshest ingredients grown right here in Grey County
you’ll meet some of the people you’ll get to know as neighbours
People who were just like you—from large urban cities
or countries on the other side of the world—who made the decision to pull up a chair at our table and call Owen Sound
something we value deeply alongside creativity
Get to know us even better with the latest demographic data
Explore our amenities and discover why we're known for being 'Where You Want to Live.'
You can also check out a play at the 400-seat Roxy Theatre
catch a foot-stomping musical act at Heartwood Concert Hall
immerse yourself in the Georgian Bay Symphony Orchestra at the OSCVI Auditorium
or join a community choir at the Harmony Centre
The city hosts an abundance of free community events
as well as live music every week throughout the summer
From Pride Month and Summerfolk to the Salmon Spectacular and the Festival of Northern Lights
our community celebrates together year-round
Community Events Calendar
Tourism Owen Sound
The River District
Centrally located and regionally connected
Owen Sound is home to more than 250 community services and organizations
These groups are dedicated to a variety of causes that have positive impacts on our city and the surrounding area
the City recognizes the dedication and community spirit of our residents through the Volunteer of the Year awards
Community Assistance and Support
Providing quality education for students from primary to post-secondary, Owen Sound is served by the Bluewater District School Board and the Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board
The Owen Sound campus of Georgian College includes Canada’s most advanced marine simulation and research centre and a growing apprenticeship program now providing more than 750 placements annually
The Owen Sound Hospital is the largest in the Brightshores Health System
offering community care and specialized acute services
The city is host to a robust network of family physicians and extended health care providers
Our community is actively exploring alternate healthcare delivery models in collaboration with neighbouring municipalities as part of a regional recruitment strategy
Owen Sound Family Health Team
Grey Bruce Public Health
Owen Sound’s year-round farmer’s market is a beloved Saturday tradition, recently featured in Grey County's Gather campaign
Enjoy farm-to-table dining at local establishments
with world-class menus highlighting our abundance of fresh produce
The city boasts a charming blend of specialty shops and major grocery chains
You can sample 40+ different teas at Frog Ponds Café
Catch up with your neighbours with a perfectly-pulled espresso at one of our many local cafés and coffee bars or grab your go-to order to-go from Starbucks or Tim’s
Owen Sound River District
Internationally recognized as a Tree City of the World
Owen Sound’s natural abundance includes beaches
There’s actually a public park or playground within 800m of every residence
From vibrant forest walks to sunsets over the harbour to stargazing under the northern lights
but two incredible regional parks within the city: Kelso Beach at Nawash Park and the 100-acre Harrison Park
Parks, Trails and Facilities
dedicated community fire and police services
Roads are maintained year-round with dedicated snow removal and winter maintenance teams
The city has also invested in comprehensive
including water treatment and distribution
Owen Sound Emergency Services
Owen Sound Police
Water Billing and Utilities
Winter Maintenance
The Owen Sound Attack is an Ontario Hockey League team that’s been a cornerstone of the city’s sports culture since 1989
Owen Sound has produced several notable professional athletes
and golfer Jessica Shepley have also brought pride to the community
These athletes have made significant contributions to their sports and highlight Owen Sound's rich sports heritage and continue to give back and be actively involved with the local minor sports associations
OHL Owen Sound Attack
Minor Sports & Recreation
with fibre optic connectivity to every home and business
This means ultra-fast and reliable connections are ready when you need them
We’re also investing in the future as part of the Rural ReCharge network
with 30+ public electric vehicle charging station ports (Level 2/Level 3) within 15km
Local bus service is provided by Owen Sound Transit
operating 6 days a week with four routes connecting the city
Intercommunity bus service is available via Guelph Owen Sound Transportation (GOST)
Getting Here
Public Transit
Parking
Flixbus
We'd like to introduce you to a few neighbours who live
Owen Sound is a founding member of the Southwestern Ontario Isotope Coalition—a partnership with the Nuclear Innovation Institute and the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council
with support from Bruce Power and their partnership with Saugeen Ojibway Nation
Gamzook’aamin aakoziwin—to drive research and investment in lifesaving medical isotopes through regional coordination between municipalities
We’re also part of the Clean Energy Frontier
a tri-county network driving innovation in Canadian energy production
Many local companies are pioneering new methods to decarbonize and electrify their industries
including globally-recognized innovators like Hydrogen Optimized and MacLean Engineering
As a hub for regional connectivity and innovation
Owen Sound works alongside Grey County and neighbouring municipalities to ensure that you can access the people
and resources to build or grow your business
The Sydenham Campus is a regional skills training
with support for entrepreneurs and small businesses
It is also host to the region’s largest Makerspace at 8,000 sq.ft.
complete with eight dedicated fabrication spaces to support prototyping and training
Over 150 machines and state-of-the-art equipment are available in this space
While enjoying the natural protection of our freshwater resources and stable geology, Owen Sound is doing its part to prepare for climate change impacts through regional collaboration on mitigation strategies and preparedness
We’re also investing in future changemakers as host to the Youth Climate Action Conference
and a proud member of the Great Lakes and St
Our community has identified targeted areas for growth and investment
The tools to support these investments include a five-point Community Improvement Plan
and county-wide economic development programs
We're here to help you find the answers you need
View the print edition of the Community Profile in this interactive flipbook
Owen Sound Mayor Interviewed for Isotopes for Hope Podcast
on the Isotopes for Hope podcast about the role of municipal leaders in driving regional coordination to support the production of lifesaving medical isotopes
Initiatives such as the Southwestern Ontario Isotope Coalition (SOIC) are driven by cooperation between municipal governments and local leaders in the private sector
These organizations demonstrate the power of regional networks in attracting investment
The City of Owen Sound is celebrating local innovators and entrepreneurs with a new economic development toolkit that highlights the amenities
and sense of connectedness enjoyed by residents
Available in both digital and print formats
the cinematic community profile invites potential residents and investors to spend time getting to know their future neighbours
Coinciding with Arbour Day, Owen Sound is thrilled to once again be recognized as a 2024 Tree City of the World by the Arbour Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Owen Sound is one of only 21 Canadian cities recognized
Mayor Ian Boddy received the Municipal Government Stewardship Award from the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council (CNIC) on Tuesday evening as part of the Canadian Nuclear Association’s conference in Ottawa
The award recognizes the excellence of an elected official who has emerged as a leader in promoting regional isotope production
and partnerships to strengthen the regional supply chain
The City of Owen Sound is thrilled to launch its new Green Bin Program
with collection starting the first week of June
Residents will be able to use green bins to dispose of organic waste
It’s easy and convenient to take part in the program; no additional tags are required
and bins will be delivered directly to eligible homes
Voters in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound have returned Conservative Alex Ruff to Ottawa for a third term
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentRuff declared victory in the riding late Monday evening, but while it was a win for himself locally, it appeared he would be in opposition once again as it appeared the Liberals were heading to a minority government.
Ruff called it heartwarming that it appeared a majority of voters in the riding cast their ballots for him this election, adding that it is a true privilege to be able to represent the riding in Ottawa again.
“I am happy about that,” Ruff said when asked how it felt to be heading to a third term.
With the Liberals expected to form a minority government, Ruff said it was possible “we might be back at this sooner than later.”
“I don’t think the NDP will make the same mistake that they made in the last Parliament, propping the Liberals up for so long,” Ruff said. “They may not have that power to prop them up.”
When the dust settled on Tuesday morning, Ruff received 35,192 votes, good for 52.4 of the vote with all 277 polls in the riding reporting, according to preliminary results from Elections Canada.
Like it was Canada-wide, it was a two-party race in the riding with Liberal Anne Marie Watson finishing second with 26,406 votes, and 39.3 per cent. NDP candidate Christopher Neudorf was well back, finishing with 2,182 votes and just 3.3 per cent of the tally. The Green Party’s Natasha Akiwenzie received 1,606 votes (2.4 per cent), the People’s Party Pavel Smolko had 1,190 votes (1.8 per cent), and The United Party’s Ann Gillies had 561 votes (0.8 per cent).
Voter turnout in the riding was just over 70 per cent, with 67,137 of 95,783 eligible voters casting a ballot. In 2021, voter turnout was 64.29 per cent in the riding.
Ruff credited the hard work of his team of volunteers for leading him to victory again.
“I can’t do it without this incredible team of volunteers that supported me across Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound,” Ruff said. “Politics is a team sport, so I just appreciate all the help.”
Ruff called it disappointing that the Conservatives were once again holding the position of the official opposition and not the governing party. As of 12:30 a.m., the Liberals were leading in 162 ridings, while the Conservatives were leading in 149. The Bloc Quebecois was next, leading in 23, followed by the NDP with eight and the Green Party with one.
“Ultimately give credit where credit is due that the Liberal Party was able to turn their message around,” he said. “We will see. I have trouble stomaching it myself, because I don’t understand how voters don’t see that they have adopted basically all the Conservative policies.
“We are going to see if the Liberals get a minority government, whether or not they can deliver the Conservative platform as well as a Conservative government would have.”
Ruff, 50, was first elected MP in 2019 after he was chosen as the Conservative candidate to take over from retiring five-term MP Larry Miller.
The Conservatives have held the riding since 2004, when Miller was first elected, after he unseated three-term Liberal MP Ovid Jackson.
In 2019, Ruff cruised to victory with over 46 per cent of the vote, well ahead of Liberal candidate Michael Den Tandt, who was second with about 30 per cent of votes cast. New Democrat Christ Stephens was a distant third with 11.7 per cent of the votes.
In 2021, Ruff improved on his results from two years earlier, capturing more than 49 per cent of votes cast in the riding. Watson, in her first run for the Liberals, was second with 25.2 per cent of the votes, while Neudorf of the NDP was third with 13.6 per cent.
The father of an 11-year-old girl, Ruff grew up just outside Tara. He is the eldest of five sons to Mabel and Tom Ruff, who served himself in municipal politics as reeve of Tara and a councillor in Arran-Elderslie.
Ruff is a retired Canadian Army colonel who had six operational deployments including the 1998 ice storm in Eastern Ontario and Quebec, two in Bosnia, two in Afghanistan and one in Iraq.
Ruff said earlier Monday that while he wasn’t able to get to all of the doors in the riding, he was able to hit just about every corner of the vast riding, which stretches from Northern Bruce Peninsula in the north to Saugeen First Nation and Arran-Elderslie in the west, West Grey and Southgate in the south and Grey Highlands and Meaford in the east.
“We didn’t get to every door in every centre, but darn near in some of them,” said Ruff. “There were some gaps here and there, because you just can’t to everybody. In a short campaign it is tough.”
Ruff said affordability was the biggest issue on peoples’ minds as he was knocking on doors during the campaign over the past month.
“Housing I think was the biggest issue,” said Ruff. “People are concerned about the future – the cost of living and affordability.”
Ruff said he was particularly pleased to see so many younger voters engaged this election, with many putting their support behind him.
“That was the biggest surprise to me, was the youth support,” Ruff said. “In previous elections there hasn’t been a super high interest, and this time around as soon as they realized who I was and I was with the Conservative Party, the support seemed immediate and they were not shy to share that.
“They are really worried about the future, having a job and having a house to live in.”
The impact of Donald Trump’s tariffs was more of a concern among older voters, but ultimately Ruff said it wasn’t a major issue, and he feels that is mainly because all of the parties have a similar platform on the issue.
“As I told a lot of people at the door, when you look at the party platforms, they are saying the same thing about how to deal with Mr. Trump and there is no difference there,” said Ruff. “Frankly I am of the opinion that the individual isn’t as relevant. What is more important is for Canada to successfully negotiate with the U.S., we need to have a strong economy, and we need to be dealing with him from a position of strength.”
Ruff said unfortunately Canada has had the second worst economic growth among countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) over the past decade.
“It is really hard to negotiate when you are negotiating from a position of weakness after 10 years of the Liberals in power,” he said.
As for the pokes from Trump about annexing the country and making Canada the 51st state, Ruff said he has never taken the talk seriously.
“I have too many American friends and I have served with American soldiers, so to me it was never legitimate rhetoric,” Ruff said. “In the end it just re-emphasizes the importance of us having diversified trade in this country, having an economy where we are getting our resources to market and having that flexibility so we can actually deal with it when our closest ally isn’t necessarily following the rulebook that is supposed to be followed when it comes to international trade.”
Regardless of Monday’s outcome, Ruff said his priorities haven’t changes, and they are to continue to represent the interests of the people of the riding.
“It is about the cost of living, it is about affordability, it is about getting houses built, it is about making sure that the taxes do get cut that Mr. Carney, if they form government, has promised that he is going to do,” said Ruff. “These are all important things at the local level.”
Ruff said he also plans to continue to support farmers, continuing work to get processing capacity in the area, as well as expanding rural internet.
“At the same time it is just standing up for rural Canada and all the constituents of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound,” Ruff said. “We have got to change some laws around crime in this country too. I have had so many police officers talk to me off-duty or on the sides, just about re-arresting the same people time and time again.
“These are all things I am going to continue to advocate for.”
youth and senior for contributions to communityOwen Sound honours volunteers at council meeting
Owen Sound council recognized some of the city’s best by handing out awards to top volunteers and one senior Monday
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentJeff Nickel and Dave Barber each received a 2025 Volunteer of the Year award, Olive Borowski received the 2025 Youth Volunteer of the Year award and Evelyn Barnes received the 2025 Senior of the Year award.
The city said Nickel was nominated on behalf of Owen Sound Minor Basketball for being the driving force behind a thriving minor sport organization that continues to grow in programming and participation. His role includes overseeing all aspects of the league providing an opportunity for young athletes to develop their skills, confidence, teamwork and sportsmanship.
Barber was nominated on behalf of the Silver C’s of Owen Sound, a non-profit volunteer organization of retirees in the community. He is described as a selfless volunteer with a willingness to make his skills available to several groups and activities in Owen Sound. Barber volunteered for almost 600 hours in the past year.
Olive Borowski, a high school student in Owen Sound, was nominated on behalf of United Way of Bruce Grey. Olive is the founder of Banditfest, a grassroots music and arts festival that showcases emerging youth talent and fosters community engagement. She is described as an innovative leader with an ability to foster collaboration.
Barnes was nominated on behalf of Scenic City Lions Club of Owen Sound. Her nominator described her as a perfect example to all Lions. Barnes has been an involved, dedicated Lioness and Lion for 48 years, holding many roles such as zone, chair, regional chair, secretary and president. Barnes continues to be very active in her Scenic City Lions Club.
“Volunteers have such a positive impact on so many things right here in Owen Sound. By providing their time and expertise, volunteers continue to be the driving force behind the arts and cultural scene, sports and recreation, and service groups,” Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy said in a release.
“Thank you to Jeff Nickel, Dave Barber, Olive Borowski, Evelyn Barnes and all the incredible volunteers in our community for making such a positive and impactful contribution.”
Nominations for 2026 will open in early 2026.
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Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound 2025 federal election live results. Browse live results for all 343 ridings
277 of 277 polls are reporting as of 4:20 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election
277 of 277 polls are reporting as of 4:20 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election
is projected to be re-elected in Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound
is in second place with 26,693 votes (39.47%) and Christopher Neudorf
Ruff has represented the riding since 2019
25,734 voters cast ballots at advance polls
Looking for another riding? Here are the full results for the 2025 federal election.
The Liberals have 169 races called in their favour. They have 8,535,128 votes and 43.69 per cent of the popular vote.
The Conservatives have 144 races called in their favour. They have 8,059,938 votes and 41.26 per cent of the popular vote.
The Bloc Québécois have 22 races called in their favour. They have 1,232,095 votes and 6.31 per cent of the popular vote.
The New Democrats have seven races called in their favour. They have 1,231,198 votes and 6.3 per cent of the popular vote.
The Greens have one race called in their favour. They have 243,471 votes and 1.25 per cent of the popular vote.
At Parliament’s dissolution, the Liberals held 152 seats, the Conservatives 120, the Bloc Québécois 33, the NDP 24 and the Greens two. There were three independents and four vacancies in the 338-seat Commons. Because of population increases, the Commons has grown by five ridings starting with this election.
This article was automatically generated using data provided by Canadian Press and will update as riding results become available.
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Bruce Power has donated $1 million to an organization working to establish youth hubs across Grey
Bruce and Huron counties to provide access to care
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentThe Well Community Collective is a community-led initiative with a mission of creating Well Youth Hubs — inclusive
and social connection — all under one roof and free of charge
rural youth are left navigating disconnected systems with few walk-in youth-designed resources,” said Shannon McGavin
executive director of The Well Community Collective
in a media release announcing the donation on Friday
“Bruce Power’s generous investment helps us close those gaps by bringing trusted services together in youth-friendly spaces
built in collaboration with young people themselves.”
The Well Community Collective has a $6 million fundraising goal
which will support the launch and ongoing operation of hubs in Exeter
as well as continued outreach to additional communities across the region
“Bruce Power is proud to invest in the future of rural youth,” said James Scongack
executive vice president and chief operating officer at Bruce Power
“By supporting The Well Community Collective
we’re helping to create spaces where young people can access support without barriers
The million-dollar donation was announced at an event at the Bruce Power Visitor’s Centre in Tiverton
Associate Attorney General Michael Tibollo
as were Bruce County Warden Luke Charbonneau and Kincardine Mayor Kenneth Craig
“Our government under the leadership of Premier Doug Ford is putting the mental health and wellness of Ontarians first — especially our most vulnerable youth
I commend Bruce Power’s $1 million donation to support The Well Community Collective’s new youth wellness project and look forward to ways we can continue working together to support the well-being of our youth and give them the tools and supports they need to succeed,” Thanigasalam said in a media release
The Well’s Youth Hubs are modelled after the Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario initiative developed by CAMH
Services will be co-designed with young people and delivered in partnership with health
“When we invest in the health and well-being of our youth
we’re strengthening all of our local rural communities
Bruce Power’s donation to The Well Community Collective is a strong example of what it means to invest in our future
This project will give young people the tools and support they need to thrive close to home
It’s heartening to see local partnerships creating real
lasting impacts for our next generation,” said Thompson
The Well Community Collective fundraising campaign cabinet includes co-chairs John Peevers
director of community relations at Bruce Power
director with Bruce Grey Child & Family Services
CEO of Canadian Mental Health Association Grey Bruce
director with the Nuclear Innovation Institute
deputy mayor of Goderich and local businessman Justin Reid who is the McDonald’s franchise owner in Goderich
“Young people deserve every opportunity to thrive in their formative years
and programs such as The Well Community Collective can help provide the needed support for those who may be facing challenges,” said Tibollo
Among the organizations from Grey-Bruce involved in The Well Community Collective are Keystone Child
Grey Bruce Public Health and the local school boards
The Well Community Collective has also established a youth action council and a family and community advisory council
“The Well Community Collective is a great initiative that will make a difference for local youth across all four counties for years to come
I applaud Bruce Power for their corporate citizenship and for recognizing this specific need in our community,” said Vickers
At a Bruce County council meeting in April
McGavin provided statistics that show the struggles youth face
with one in four Canadian youth aged 15 to 26 experiencing mental health and substance use disorders
youth are tracking higher in suicide and substance use than the overall Ontario rate
“Bruce County believes strongly in supporting our youth to ensure they’re healthy
and we believe the Well Community Collective can help address the needs of our young people by pulling service providers together under one roof,” said Charbonneau
The collective opened its first site in Exeter last year
with five more planned across the four counties
“We want to ensure that our young people have all the tools they need to thrive
We are especially pleased that Bruce Power is making another substantial contribution in multiple communities across our region
We’re grateful for their efforts to invest in the future of youth by providing timely access to the care they need,” said Craig
The Tree Cities of the World program is an international effort to recognize cities and towns committed to ensuring their urban forests and trees are properly maintained
Owen Sound has been recognized as a part of this program for four consecutive years
the City has met the program’s five core standards:
Establish clear responsibility for tree care.2
Set official rules that guide tree management and ensure safety and compliance.3
Maintain an updated inventory to plan for tree care and management.4
Allocate resources to support tree management efforts.5
Achieving the five core standards of the Tree Cities of the World certification helps the City provide a framework for action
educate people about the importance of sustainable tree management
For more information, please contact Eckhard Pastrik, Manager of Parks and Open Space, at 519-376-4440 ext. 1221 or epastrik@owensound.ca
The encore run of the pair's acoustic Homecoming Tour is coming to 34 cities across seven provinces
BY Megan LaPierrePublished May 5
After joining forces for the 2023 Homecoming Tour, Canadian country music legends Terri Clark and Paul Brandt have announced an encore run of their nationwide acoustic co-headliner for 2025
which will bring them to 34 cities across seven provinces
"Being on tour with Terri Clark has been a highlight of my career; it's hard to recall the last time I had so much fun," said Brandt
"When you find a chemistry that is so natural and powerful
The fans have spoken — the demand is there — so here we come
I can't wait to bring Homecoming Tour 2.0 to stages across Canada."
but the Homecoming Tour was our first time sharing the stage — and the magic and chemistry were beyond what we imagined
and to go coast to coast with one of Canada's finest talents."
The Homecoming Tour 2.0 kicks off on October 17 in Moncton
Clark and Brandt will hit Nova Scotia and Newfoundland ahead of making their way to numerous Ontario locales
they'll go on to play concerts in Manitoba
wrapping things up on December 1 in Cranbrook
Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday (May 9), with presales beginning May 6 at 10 a.m. local time. See the full itinerary below, as well as Exclaim!'s Canadian concert listings for more upcoming shows
Terri Clark and Paul Brandt 2025 Tour Dates:
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Owen Sound Police Chief Craig Ambrose told a conference looking at small-town solutions to big problems that city police are changing their approach and will again arrest and sometimes charge people for public drug use
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentCity police in most cases haven’t been charging people under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act for possession of small amounts of drugs since around 2021.
Be it fentanyl or any other controlled substance use, charges weren’t being prosecuted due to direction from the federal government to prosecutors — so police stopped laying charges.
Ambrose told about 50 people attending the Small Communities Solutions Conference at Harmony Centre Saturday that he’s a harm reduction advocate, but he has to balance that against the needs of the broader community.
The day-long conference included local success stories of actions being taken to help deal with homelessness and drug use, affordable housing, harm reduction, skills development and heard other stories from guest speakers from B.C. and Newfoundland.
Ambrose said the pendulum has swung too far in favour of harm reduction with the hope that instead of criminalizing the behaviour with charges, drug users would be supported. But the problem’s a lot worse and there aren’t enough supports available for drug users, he said.
He said Grey Bruce Public Health reported that of the 215 suspected overdoses in 2024, 89 per cent were non-fatal and 11 per cent were fatal “and I think that number’s got to change.” He said 86 per cent of the total overdoses were in Grey County and 80 per cent of those were in Owen Sound.
“So there is a real problem that we have to deal with here in Owen Sound,” Ambrose said.
He said that early in his career he favoured charging drug users but his views and the philosophy of policing changed as police encountered people like themselves who had been prescribed addictive medications and were hooked.
“Suddenly people saw themselves, their families and their loved ones that are battling those addictions” and many officers changed their opinions that addiction was a weakness. Policing adopted a new, harm-reduction approach.
Harm reduction was saving lives and it expanded to include supervised consumption sites. “But there was never any public debate about decriminalization,” Ambrose said.
The Ontario government passed a law to close 10 drug consumption sites that are within 200 metres of schools or daycares and is not letting them reopen elsewhere. A court has just delayed that decision while it considers Constitutional issues.
Critics of closing the sites argue more public drug use will result and more deaths will follow. But the government says it is addressing violence and neighbourhood concerns about the sites and opening abstinence-based centres. There is no government supervised drug consumption site in Owen Sound.
When the federal government told prosecutors not to prosecute most possession of controlled substances and police decided not to lay those charges, some people started to believe it was OK to use the drugs, Ambrose said. At the same time marijuana was legalized.
It also led to some people to think they could use drugs in public, Ambrose said.
“The problem that I see is the pendulum’s probably swung too far. Despite the harm reduction efforts and saving lives, more people are dying every year . . . and without enforcement, the visible effects of substance use have become more problematic.”
The community is concerned and he said he receives calls daily because of “the visibility of substance abuse within the city and there’s disorderly behaviour and public use has increased significantly in the last few years,” Ambrose said.
The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police position has changed and it no longer supports the decriminalization of drug possession in small amounts unless enough supports for people who use drugs are put in place, he noted.
“The plan moving forward, we’re looking at returning to enforcement of CDSA, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, for possession charges for public drug use. We may or may not lay charges in those cases,” Ambrose said.
“Chances are that we’ll make arrests, we may seize drugs. But unless there’s circumstances that meet certain criteria, as far as how it affects the public and things like that, we won’t be laying charges . . .”
In an interview, Ambrose said where police have the grounds to lay charges for possession of a controlled substances and where there is “harmful or disruptive public use of controlled substances,” police will arrest the person, seize the drugs and determine whether to charge for possession of a controlled substance.
The new approach is “rolling out as we speak,” he said after his presentation.
He told the gathering that police will gather “victim impact statements for problematic areas” for judges to consider in cases where charges do proceed to court that will outline the problems and impacts of public drug-use.
Simple possession charges can still be prosecuted “if there’s a significant public interest, if involves children or schools . . . those are examples,” he said.
Public drug use is causing more police calls for service and raising concern about related behaviours downtown in Owen Sound and in many communities, Ambrose said in the interview. Now they’re returning to using authority under CDSA as a tool to address it.
“And I have had meetings and consultations with the . . . federal prosecutor to say this is problematic, we’ve given this an opportunity and we need to change that.”
Meanwhile, Ambrose said his department is applying for provincial funding for a “social navigator” program. It would be part of a one-year pilot project he hopes will be done in partnership with a community organization to deal with drug use and other issues.
It would involve someone other than police, but possibly a special constable, reaching out to people who need help, making referrals for them, and with their increased visibility, the public’s perception of safety downtown will increase, he said in the interview.
“They would ask people to stop the disruptive behaviour, move them along, provide them with supports, connect them with people they need to be connected to. And be visible and promote safety downtown,” Ambrose said.
The navigator also could take on some of the calls that aren’t strictly calls requiring police but which, by default, go to police, he said, such as wellness checks.
“And filling that role, it helps the individual who wants to go downtown to shop. It’s like having more police downtown, without necessarily needing them to be police.”
Ambrose said he could consider the program a success if police calls decrease, if there’s improved perception of safety downtown, and even just by securing a partner to deliver the program would be a success, he said. “We want to be part of the solution, we don’t want to be the solution.”
Ambrose told a questioner during the presentation that there’s no pre-charge diversion program for drug problems, only a post-charge program. That’s part of the support that’s missing. Police have discussed this with prosecutors.
One attendee noted the “animosity in our city towards unhoused people” and asked whether the navigator program could be expanded to involve downtown businesses and to educate citizens to address that hostility.
Ambrose said if the program proves successful, that’s when outreach the business community and other community partners like the United Way, Safe ‘n Sound, public health, paramedic services, should begin about keeping the program funded and keep it going.
He agreed with another person who spoke up to say those social agencies all need more funding.
The Hanover Barons will compete for the Schmalz Cup.
Article contentThe Barons travelled to Napanee Thursday night, where they beat the Raiders 5-2 to earn a berth in the PJHL’s final.
The Hanover Barons will now meet the Essex 73’s with Game 1 on Saturday inside Hanover’s P&H Centre at 3 p.m.
Neither team scored in the first period. Mark McIntosh and Kyle Maloney netted back-to-back markers to give the Barons a 2-0 lead before Napanee’s Blake Aylesworth cut it in half near the end of the middle frame.
In the third period, McIntosh scored on the power play for what proved to be the game-winning marker.
Trent Williams put the Raiders on the board less than a minute later, but that’s as close as Napanee would get in the deciding game.
Ryan Colquhoun and Sam Barrett added insurance markers, and Shallow Lake’s Derek Hartley shut the door in the net.
A midwestern Ontario club hasn’t competed in the provincial Junior C hockey final since 2004, when the Wingham Ironmen lost to Grimsby.
The Hanover Barons have forced a game seven in the Clarence Schmalz Cup semi-finals against the Napanee Raiders.
Trailing in the series 2-1, Hanover hosted game four on April 25 and pulled away in the third period for a 5-2 win to even the series.
After the Raiders opened the scoring midway through the first period, Erick Gulutzen got the Barons on the board late in the period to tie the score.
Napanee once again took the lead midway through the second period, but a few minutes later, Sam Barrett tied the score for Hanover, and then Kyle Maloney gave the Barons their first lead of the game with five seconds left in the middle frame.
Mark McIntosh recorded a power-play goal midway through the third period to give Hanover a two-goal lead before Maloney added another insurance goal with less than three minutes remaining.
Hanover goalie Derek Hartley made 29 saves to earn the win. The Barons outshot the Raiders 34-31 and went 1-2 on the power play. Napanee was 0-2.
Two days later in Napanee, the Raiders came back to steal a 5-4 overtime victory, taking a 3-2 series lead.
Napanee took a 3-2 lead into the second period, where Hanover scored the only two goals to take a 4-3 lead. The Raiders scored with 1:03 left in the third period to tie the game before scoring just 19 seconds into overtime to take the win.
Coen Galbraith scored twice for the Barons while Drayton Howell and McIntosh added singles.
The teams tied with 31 shots apiece, and both teams were 1-2 on the power play.
Two days later in Hanover, the Barons held on for a 4-3 win to tie the series 3-3.
After Napanee opened the scoring just prior to the midway mark of the first period, McIntosh tied the game 15 seconds later.
In the second period, Curtis Arnold gave Hanover the lead before McIntosh added another goal with 1:07 on the clock, and then Ryan Colquhoun scored with one second left to give the Barons a 4-1 lead.
That score held until the final three minutes of the third period when the Raiders scored twice to pull within one goal, but that’s as close as they would come.
Napanee went 1-5 on the power play while Hanover was 0-4.
Ontario’s Ministry of Labour is investigating a workplace mishap after a 23-year-old worker from West Grey was transported by Air Ornge to a trauma centre in London with serious injuries Tuesday
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentA ministry spokeswoman said in a brief statement that the worker, who was employed by JT Excavating, was injured by a piece of machinery in Mildmay.
South Bruce OPP said emergency responders were called about 9:25 a.m. to a business along Bruce Road 3 in the Municipality of South Bruce.
“As a result of the incident, a 23-year-old resident of West Grey was transported by Air Ornge to a trauma centre in London with serious injuries.”
Someone who answered the phone at JT Excavating declined to respond to questions, saying he was asked not to.
Owen Sound residents are invited to take an online survey about the quality
and availability of City-owned infrastructure such as sports fields
As part of the City’s ongoing Asset Management planning
community feedback on how public infrastructure is performing and where improvements may be needed is important to shaping the Proposed Levels of Service for each asset class
This feedback will help guide long-term decisions about how the City maintains and invests in key asset areas such as Parks and Open Spaces
Levels of Service refer to the performance of infrastructure
It’s important to note that Levels of Service for this engagement are not about daily operations like snow removal schedules
the focus is on the infrastructure itself and the experience it delivers
Residents are encouraged to complete the survey at OurCity.OwenSound.ca/AMP. For any offline or different formats of the survey, please email communications@owensound.ca
Public questions can also be asked through the online platform
For more information, please contact Bradey Carbert, Manager of Corporate Services, at 519-376-4440 ext. 1240 or email bcarbert@owensound.ca
An event that has played a major role in putting Owen Sound on the music and arts map is celebrating a big birthday this year
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentSummerfolk 50
presented by the Georgian Bay Folk Society
will take over Kelso Beach at Nawash Park Aug
featuring about 40 musical acts gracing six stages
food vendors and other family-friendly fun
who himself has been with the music and crafts festival for the past 14 years
said it is momentous occasion for the event that has called the city home for half a century now
“I think that for a festival or for a human being
50 is always an amazing milestone to reach,” Keelaghan said
“Especially when you think about its start in 1976
brothers John and Tim Harrison basically had this idea which I don’t know if they thought it would still going to be going 50 years from when they first did it
“It makes you think about whether or not there is going to be somebody there this year who will be playing at the 100-year anniversary of the festival.”
The idea of launching a local folk music in the Scenic City in the mid 1970s
far away from any sizeable population centre
who along with the Grey-Bruce Arts Council
had a vision as well as a love for the music and the arts
The ground proved to be so wet that organizers sold garbage bags as seating pads
described as a “refreshingly relaxed affair,” attracted Canadian artists that included David Wiffen
Bennett and the Original Sloth Band made up of Ken and Chris Whitely
The festival grew from there to what it is today thanks to the efforts of its committed volunteers
The venue has also grown and developed into one of the city’s top natural attractions
with the addition of the limestone amphitheatre and the Stan Rogers Memorial Canopy perched near the shore creating an unparalleled summertime concert venue
It has been host to hundreds of thousands of patrons now from across Canada
from established well-known acts to emerging artists
Keelaghan said the festival has undergone some changes during his own 14 years with it
“The year I came in I think there were 68 performers
and we have just been trying to make it a little bit more focused and a little bit more friendly to the artists
making sure they had more stage time and more interactions with the audience,” said Keelaghan
“Then we have been sort of rationalizing some stuff about the site
moving things around and eliminating two stages overall.”
There have also been artistic changes over time
with Keelaghan noting the lineup in recent years has had strong gender equity and more Indigenous representation
The event hasn’t been without its challenges over the years
organizers have often grappled with Mother Nature
none more intense than the deluge that hammered last year’s event
The COVID-19 pandemic forced organizers to pivot to a virtual event in 2020
and in the years that followed the financial strain from inflationary costs added to the challenges of keeping the event viable
The cost of everything from hotel rooms to porta-potties to park rental fees were up
Owen Sound included a $10,000 sponsorship and waived about $2,400 in park rental fees for this year’s event
Keelaghan said that despite the recent challenges
organizers remain emotionally invested in the festival and are committed to keep it going
“We have had a couple of years where it has sort of been a double whammy with the increases in expenses in the post-COVID world really being a challenge for us as we try to be nimble in our budgeting,” said Keelaghan
“Then you have what happened to us last year
which was a really unprecedented weather event that really just kicked the crap out of us with attendance way down because who is going to come out in that.”
Those interested in supporting the festival financially can do so with a donation or sponsorship through its website at summerfolk.org
or by simply buying tickets and coming out to the event
“We have got some significant challenges to overcome in order to get the festival on a really
“The best way that people can help us do that is to show up at the festival and to have a good time.”
The final touches on the artists’ lineup will actually happen this weekend
when the finale of the Youth Discoveries: The Road to Summerfolk is held
Saturday at the Harmony Centre in Owen Sound
the free admission event features finalists from showcases in Guelph
and Owen Sound hoping to land one of up to five spots at Summerfolk
“The Youth Discoveries program is just one of the jewels of the festival,” Keelaghan said
“It has gone on to become one of the foundational programs of what we do as a festival.”
The emerging artists performing this weekend include Owen Sound finalists The Ruthven Sisters and Borderline
London winners Belladonna DeFranco and Jai Vinyl
Guelph winners Ethan Emes and Nico Valeriote and Toronto winners The Commune and Amanda and the Paper Cranes
Judges have also invited a series of wildcard selections from among the regional performers
Ella Frank and Sam Brown from Toronto and Medeleine O’Connor from Guelph
Keelaghan said Youth Discoveries has proven to be a launching pad for many artists
with many continuing on and developing their musical careers
some returning to the festival years later
“Someone like Mia Kelly who this year is a headline artist
started out with us some years ago with Youth Discoveries,” he said
“There are other people in the roster with us like that as well.”
Organizers have already revealed the majority of this year’s featured performers
“They have always been popular,” said Keelaghan
“There is a big Celtic and fiddle music tradition in our area and people are going to be excited about that.”
Other popular performers include Delhi 2 Dublin
who are returning to Summerfolk after appearing here in the past
Danny Michel and “legendary” Summerfolk performers Trout Fishing in America
there will be performers that may not be well-known to attendees when they arrive at Summerfolk
but will be favourites by the time the weekend is over
Keelaghan is excited for the audience to hear performers like Mia Kelly
“The thing with Summerfolk audiences is people are always talking about who they are going to discover at the festival,” Keelaghan said
“We always pride ourselves on having people that we think the audience is going to love.”
Keelaghan said he feels people are really going to touch base with Summerfolk this year in a way that happens when a major anniversary is reached
“We are really trying to book an array of performers from across the whole 50 years,” he said
“There are some people that are going to be with us that were performing at the first festival
we have got some people who will be performing for the first time
and then we have a number of people from across the entire history of the festival
“We are going to deliver what we always deliver
community experience that delights people with new performers and satisfies them with old familiars as well.”
Please note that this work has been completed as of this afternoon
The City of Owen Sound is conducting fire hydrant flow testing throughout the city this week
This important work helps assess water pressure levels at fire hydrants across the City’s water distribution system
residents may notice temporary changes in water pressure or slight discolouration in tap water
running a cold water tap for 5 to 30 minutes typically clears the water
It is recommended to avoid using hot water until the cold runs clear
residents are encouraged to contact the City Water Department at 519-376-4274
Testing will take place throughout the city and may impact several areas at once
The Public’s patience and understanding are much appreciated as this necessary maintenance is completed
For more information, please contact Bryce McDonald, Manager of Water and Wastewater, at 519-376-1440 ext. 3224 or email bmcdonald@owensound.ca
President Trump and talks of tariffs — local candidates discuss an eventful campaign
Anne Marie Watson calls them quiet Liberals
and she thinks they started to find their voice in the Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound riding during the 2025 election campaign
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“They’re Liberals at heart and they always vote Liberal, but they don’t want to stir up the neighbours or start anything,” she said while door-knocking in Hanover Friday.
Watson ran for the Liberals in the 2021 Federal Election, where she finished behind the incumbent Conservative candidate, Alex Ruff, who garnered the support of nearly half of the voters in the riding.
She said the reaction she received at the door while canvassing this time around was quite different.
“People have come up to me on the street, and at first, you know, you’re a little nervous because you don’t know what they want, but then they say, ‘Are you the Liberals? We want a yard sign,” Watson said. “It’s mind-blowing. It’s wonderful.”
Ahead of the 2025 Canadian federal election on Monday, the polls suggested that the Liberals had surged ahead of the Conservatives in a remarkable turn of fortune, aided by the Liberals seizing on a prideful nationalist response to Donald Trump’s economic policies and a change in leadership.
Locally, Watson said she saw the polls reflected in reality in her riding, which had voted blue since 2004 after the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservatives merged to form today’s Conservative Party.
Watson said local Conservative and New Democrat voters told her they would be casting their ballots for the Liberals this time.
“It’s surprising, and yet it’s very energizing in its own right. We must be doing something right, and we’re not going to let these people down, we’re going to keep on working and keep on doing it,” Watson said.
“If you want to talk about polls, let’s talk about polls across the country that consistently say the Conservatives are the only party representing rural Canada,” said Ruff while canvassing in Meaford Friday. “That goes back to one of the reasons I got into politics, and the rural-urban divide. I’m tired of policies coming out of Ottawa that work great if you live in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver. They don’t work for rural Canada.”
A few days before the election, Ruff, who won the Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound vote convincingly in 2019 and again in 2021, said he was confident he might even improve on his 2021 election results.
And that’s because people are still concerned about the cost of living and being able to buy a home. He thinks local voters will show their displeasure with the Liberals at the polls.
“They understand what’s at risk here. They’re tired of living in their parents’ basement. They see things get progressively worse as they get out of high school, and they want the same opportunities that their parents had,” Ruff said.
Ruff has served as the area’s representative in the House of Commons since 2019. During that tenure, the Conservative Party has been the official opposition. He said that, regardless of the result of Monday’s election, if Grey-Bruce-Owen Sound voters send him back to Ottawa, he’ll continue to advocate on their behalf, no matter who is in power.
“Ultimately, I’ll continue to work for the people of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound regardless of what colour of the government ends up in power. It would be nice, though, to have a Conservative government that cares about rural Canada,” he said.
They understand what's at risk here. They're tired of living in their parents' basement.
In 2021, then-Conservative leader Erin O’Toole appointed Ruff as the party’s Deputy Opposition Whip, a leadership position within the party.
Ruff was an ardent supporter of O’Toole’s campaign for leadership from the beginning. The two have a history that spans decades, dating back to when they both attended the Royal Military College of Canada and began their careers in the Canadian Armed Forces.
“What’s really impressed me about Mr. Poilievre, better than the other three leaders I served under, is he really listens. The man is a phenomenal listener. He honestly believes he’s a servant of the people and of us in caucus,” Ruff said. “Leaders come and go, the same way local representatives come and go, but ultimately I’m the guy that’s here locally, and that’s what I tend to focus on.”
Watson believes President Trump’s economic policies and threats of annexation have rallied voters back to the Liberal Party, and are a big reason the federal Liberals were leading in the polls heading into the final weekend of the election campaign.
“We probably owe Donald Trump a big round of thanks and applause, because what he did was remind us that it’s good to be Canadian and we’re proud to be Canadian and unified. Mark Carney is a man who Canadians see as a man who is able to stand up to Donald Trump and bring the country back with some sound fiscal and economic policies,” Watson said.
Ruff said he didn’t hear much about President Trump at the doorstep during the campaign.
“There’s a little bit about Mr. Trump, but not much,” he said. “All the parties are pretty much running on the same platform in dealing with Mr. Trump, so that hasn’t been as prevalent at the doors as I thought it would be.”
The 2025 Canadian federal election seemed to become a two-party race fairly early on, with the Liberals and Conservatives garnering votes, while the NDP, Bloc Québécois, and Greens struggled.
Locally, Chris Neudorf said he hopes enough NDP voters will come “back into the fold” to prevent a Liberal majority, which some polls predicted just a few days before the election.
“The Conservatives have said on more than one occasion that the Liberals have stolen their platform, and I can see why they say that, because they are very similar,” Neudorf said.
He said the federal NDP party is the only party in Canada with a costed platform that taxes the “elite” and closes existing tax loopholes, rather than cutting services.
“It’s just insane how much money we’re losing . . . it’s like every year we’re just getting robbed by bandits when you look at how much money the ultra-rich aren’t paying,” he said.
He said all the federal parties are proposing to build more houses, but noted that the NDP is the only party committing to ensure 20 percent of those homes are “non-market” houses, which means homes sold at cost to keep them affordable.
“If we just build houses for profit, we’re not going to cool the housing market that much because they’re going to be very expensive houses,” he said. “It will force the market to begin to cool, because the market is out of control.”
Natasha Akiwenzie was brand new to political life when she chose to run for the Green Party in the 2025 Canadian federal election.
The Neyaashiinigmiing resident who is the manager of the not-for-profit Bagidi’waad Alliance and executive director of the Gidakiinan Land Trust said she had a positive experience this past month, but wouldn’t commit to running again.
“I’m not sure, four years is a long time,” she said.
Akiwenzie said she was happy to keep the discussion about climate change on the table locally during an election cycle where the subject took a backseat to talks of tariffs, cost of living, sovereignty, and housing.
“I just wanted to make sure it was mentioned occasionally, when I could,” she said.
Akiwenzie said some local voters viewed the 2025 race as a two-party contest between the Liberals and the Conservatives and had heard from Green Party supporters who were voting strategically in this election.
“It reflects the time right now. There is a lot of anxiety and fear out there, and that’s how people are dealing with it,” she said.
Dr. Anne Gillies is one of 16 candidates running federally for the United Party of Canada. She said the far-right party’s social conservative views had some sympathetic reception in the Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound riding.
“People are really starting to speak out about abortion for the first time in many years, and, of course, the gender ideology has people all stirred up,” Gillies said. “I’ve been surprised and hopeful. It’s time people have a new voice in Canada.”
The United Party’s headquarters are based in Calgary.
“Alberta is ready to leave Canada, and that’s really scary. Our party has to be a bright light for Alberta,” Gillies said.
“I think Canada is at the crossroads. From a personal perspective, that crossroads really goes back to the bedrock values of conservatism and the bedrock values of what our country was based on that have just gone by the wayside,” she said. “People are very disgruntled, and the established parties have all contributed to breaking this country. It’s very broken, and they’re not the ones who are going to be able to fix it.”
Attempts to reach Pavel Smolko of the People’s Party for this story were unsuccessful.
LondonNewsOwen Sound rejects ‘Strong Mayor’ powersBy Kate OtterbeinPublished: May 01, 2025 at 2:54PM EDT
Photo by Ed Us on UnsplashGrey Bruce Public Health (GBPH) has identified two Owen Sound grocery stores as potential measles exposure sites following confirmation of a new case of the highly contagious virus in the region
The individual with measles is an unvaccinated resident of Grey-Bruce
public health officials have determined that members of the public may have been exposed to the virus at the following locations and times:
The measles virus can remain in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person has left the area
increasing the risk of transmission during these windows
GBPH is urging anyone who was at either location during the specified times to take the following steps:
Check your vaccination status: Two doses of a measles-containing vaccine (MMR or MMRV) are recommended for anyone born after 1970
Those born before 1970 are generally considered immune
contact your healthcare provider or check records through ICON
Seek post-exposure treatment if you are not protected and it has been six days or less since exposure
Vaccination after exposure may help prevent infection
Watch for symptoms for 7 to 21 days after exposure
A blotchy red rash that starts on the face and spreads to the body
Isolate immediately and call your healthcare provider if symptoms develop
Non-immune household members should also stay home and contact public health
Do not visit medical facilities without calling ahead
Grey Bruce Public Health continues to carry out extensive contact tracing and case management
Public alerts are issued when not all contacts can be reached directly
They remind the community that vaccination remains the most effective protection
One dose of a measles vaccine provides 85–95% protection; two doses increase efficacy to nearly 100%
For more information, including local exposure sites and vaccination resources, visit GBPH’s measles webpage: Measles – Grey-Bruce
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Photo by Ed Us on UnsplashGrey Bruce Public Health (GBPH) has identified two Owen Sound grocery stores as potential measles exposure sites following confirmation of a new case of the highly contagious virus in the region
One dose of a measles vaccine provides 85\u201395% protection; two doses increase efficacy to nearly 100%
For more information, including local exposure sites and vaccination resources, visit GBPH\u2019s measles webpage: Measles \u2013 Grey-Bruce
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the Grey Bruce Ontario Provincial Police responded to a two-vehicle collision on Highway 10 just North of 60 Sideroad in Chatsworth Township.
Investigation revealed that the driver was not licensed to operate a motor vehicle
The accused was held pending a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Owen Sound
More Spotlight >
A Green Bin is like a blue (recycling) bin
but for food waste such as fruit and vegetable skins
The Green Bin program makes it easy for residents to divert organic waste from landfills
and other compostable materials into useful compost
all while protecting the environment and reducing overall waste
Green Bin collection will begin the first week of June 2025
on the same day as your regular garbage collection day
Garbage Collection will remain every other week
Not sure when your garbage day is? Visit the City's Waste Management webpage here
Calling All Young Artists: 🎨 Green Bin Colouring Contest
2025 at noon📍 Who can enter: Anyone under 18 who lives in or goes to school in Owen Sound
1. Grab the official colouring page (available through your school, at City Hall, or download it here) and get creative
Submit a picture of your artwork (click the green button below to enter) for a chance to win a kid-tastic prize pack
The lucky winner (chosen at random) will be announced the week Green Bin collection begins
Every eligible residential property will receive a free Kitchen Catcher
Green Bin and information package delivered to your household beginning mid-May
Set Up Your Kitchen Catcher: Place it in a convenient spot and line it with newspaper
Regularly transfer food scraps to the green bin and rinse the catcher to control odours
Store your green bin inside or in an enclosed area like a garage or shed to reduce odours and keep animals away
Place your Green Bin at the curb by 8:00 a.m
Remember green bin collection doesn't start until the first week of June
Waste collected through the program will be converted into compost
reducing landfill waste and benefiting the environment
The Green Bin program is available to residential properties with 6 or fewer units that currently receive curbside waste collection
Multi-unit buildings are not included at this time
but check back for future updates as the program may expand
✔️ Pet Waste – Must be alone or in certified compostable pet waste bags; biodegradable bags are NOT accepted
✔️ Other Compostable Items – Wooden stir sticks
Note: The maximum weight of the Green Bin is 20 kg (44 lbs)
make sure contents are not frozen or sticking to the bin
Green Bins with frozen contents may not be emptied completely
tray liner from meat trays and non-compostable and biodegradable packaging
Not sure where it goes? Visit Garbage and Recycling | City of Owen Sound or download the Recycle Coach app - type it in or take a picture to find out (app coming soon!!)
Residential properties with 6 or less units who currently receive curbside garbage collection. This does not include residential properties above commercial businesses in the River District. Residential units on private roads not serviced by the City, or where garbage and recycling is collected at communal pickup locations will not be eligible to receive green bin at this time. If you have any questions, please reach out to hjennen@owensound.ca
· Green bins will be delivered to eligible households mid to end of May at no cost to the resident
· Bins will be delivered by a third party contractor to the bottom of your driveway
it will be placed 91cm - 1.5m (3-5 feet) above that
· You do not need to be present to get your bin
have a friend or neighbour set it aside for you
The Green Bin program will begin the first week of June
Green bins will be delivered to residents beginning mid-May
While compostable bags are a great option to keep your green bin clean
You can place organic waste directly in the bin or line the bin with newspaper or any type of paper
Be sure to only use certified compostable bags
Look for the 100% certified compostable logos
Compostable items break down into nutrient-rich soil through composting
Biodegradable items break down naturally over time but may not turn into useful soil and can leave residue
Green bins will be collected weekly on the same day as your regular waste collection. Garbage collection will remain bi-weekly. Unsure when your garbage day is? Visit the City's garbage collection GIS Map
where it is processed into nutrient-rich compost used for agriculture and landscaping
The Green Bin program is not available for multi-unit buildings with 7 or more units or commercial businesses at this time
Contact the Supervisor of Environmental Services at 519-376-4440 Ext 3223 or email hjennen@owensound.ca.
At this time, only one green bin per household is provided. If you consistently have too much organic waste, consider using a backyard composter for fruit and vegetable scraps. Backyard composters are available at the Public Works building for $35. For more information on how to use a backyard composter, visit the Leaf and Yard waste webpage at: Compost site
Please place the waste directly into the green bin or in compostable pet waste bags
Plastic or biodegradable bags are NOT ACCEPTED
Small amounts of solidified cooking grease (like from bacon) can go in the Green Bin, but liquid oils should not. Instead, absorb small amounts with paper towels or mix with coffee grounds before placing in the bin. Large amounts should be disposed of at the City's Household Hazardous Waste event at the Owen Sound Public Works building. For a list of dates, please visit: Household Hazardous Waste | City of Owen Sound
or freeze meat and fish scraps until collection day
Keeping your green bin in a shaded area and rinsing it regularly will also help
Green bins have a secure locking lid to prevent access by wildlife
Make sure the lid is closed tightly after each use
Is your question not answered here? Contact the Supervisor of Environmental Services at 519-376-4440 Ext 3223 or email hjennen@owensound.ca.
LondonNewsOwen Sound police seize nearly $100K in drugs, charge six peopleBy Bailey ShakyaverOpens in new windowPublished: April 26, 2025 at 11:00AM EDT