LondonNewsDriver killed in collision north of WoodstockBy Bailey ShakyaverOpens in new window and Kristylee VarleyUpdated: April 15, 2025 at 6:41AM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved A Woodstock church is getting ready to welcome a group of young singers from Africa for a mid-May concert that combines traditional hymns with cultural sounds from that continent. Article contentThe Emmanuel Reformed Church will be hosting The African Children’s Choir for a special May 15 performance during the group’s Just As I Am Canadian tour. These performances — part of the choir’s 40th anniversary celebrations — were organized in part to highlight the choir’s long-standing connection to Canada. The Grammy Award-winning choir was founded by Ray Barnett, a Canadian missionary, in 1985 as a way, in part, to encourage an interest in music. “They were at our church once before COVID-19,” said Jack Rodenburg, who helped bring the choir back to Woodstock. “We were very pleased with the way that worked out. It was nice to meet the kids. They were really enthusiastic, and it was a good experience for our church fellowship. “Since then, I’ve kept an eye on their website to see where they’ve been.” While hymns are part of the concerts, the young singers also perform some traditional music from their home countries, including Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya. As part of their time in Woodstock, the 18 choir members will be conducting drumming showcases and other workshops for area children at Christian schools in Woodstock and Plattsville. “There is excitement. It is very much a fellowship-building process for us as a church as well. I need eight homes to billet two or three kids and a chaperone. They arrive Monday and leave Friday morning. There are lots of people to get involved — volunteers to provide meals, a place to sleep, and help in terms of transportation to and from their other activities,” Rodenburg said. While the children, who range in age from eight to 12 years old, are in Woodstock, they’ll also enjoy some local adventures, like a trip to an area dairy farm, and, if the weather co-operates, a pool party. While the May 15 concert is free, the church will be accepting free-will offerings to support the choir and its schools and other development programs in Africa. Right now, The African Children’s Choir has schools in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and South Africa. Since its inception four decades ago, the choir and its programs have helped roughly 52,000 children. “This is their way of raising funds for their programs in Africa,” Rodenburg said. In that time, the choir has also performed for a number of notables, including Nelson Mandela and Queen Elizabeth II. What: The African Children’s Choir presents Just As I Am Tour Where: Emmanuel Reformed Church, 170 Clarke St. N, Woodstock Free-will offering accepted to support the choir and its programs transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Provincial lottery officials say they have a tentative answer to the $5-million question that’s gripped Southwestern Ontario: Who bought the uncashed seven-figure ticket that’s set to expire this weekend 2024 Lotto 6/49 ticket to come forward before the one-year expiry date – this Sunday Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience “They did go validate the ticket at the retailer and so we’re crossing our fingers to find out what the story is behind it,” OLG spokesperson Tony Bitonti said Bitonti said he couldn’t speculate why someone might wait until the ticket was nearly expired to claim the $5-million prize but said the provincial agency was “anxiously” waiting to hear the full story “Whenever we hear about these unclaimed prizes we want to put out as much information as possible to let people know that there’s something coming up are verified through a process that determines if the ticket-holder is indeed the ticket buyer That resulted in a lengthy legal dispute between the two that ended in a confidential He noted the biggest unclaimed lotto win in Canadian history was a $70-million prize from a June 28 The winning ticket was sold in Scarborough including a winning Encore Lotto Max ticket sold in London for the Sept The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker One person has been arrested and charged in what's being called a 'substantial fraud' investigation that started in Essex County over a year ago an individual entered a bank on Tecumseh Road in the Town of Tecumseh and deposited a check for over $100,000 The money was then withdrawn prior to the banking establishment noticing the check was fraudulent A lengthy investigation was conducted by the Essex County OPP OPP Anti-Rackets Branch-Economical Crimes and Corruption Unit (Ottawa) the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) and the Elgin OPP Warrant Apprehension Team A 43-year-old Woodstock man has now been arrested and is facing six charges including making a false statement in writing and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 The OPP can be contacted at any time at 1-888-310-1122 Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or leave an anonymous online tip at www.catchcrooks.com where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000 Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are investigating a fatal two-vehicle crash on Highway 401 in Woodstock CLEARED: COLLISION: #Hwy401 eastbound between Mill Street and Norwich Road in @cityofwoodstock has reopened — OPPCommunicationsWR (@OPP_COMM_WR) April 27, 2025 It’s unclear if charges are pending as the investigation into the fatal two-vehicle crash continues is asked to contact the OPP’s Oxford County detachment at 1-888-310-1122 Tragic incidents like this highlight the importance of understanding your rights in the event you’re injured during a motor vehicle collision in Ontario — either as a driver For those seeking legal guidance, the dedicated Woodstock and London personal injury lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP are here to support you We understand the overwhelming challenges you face after an accident and are committed to fighting for your rights Our compassionate and experienced personal injury lawyers offer free consultations to guide you through the legal process and ensure you receive the full compensation you deserve Contact our knowledgeable team to get the advice you need and the compensation you deserve Get Help Now Sivan Tumarkin is a Founding Partner of Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and Practice Leader for the firm's Long-term Disability & Personal Injury Law Group His previous experience working for insurance companies has given him unique insight into the long-term disability claim denial and appeals process allowing him to secure strong results for his clients Toronto police are asking anyone with information on the incident Learn more about the steps you need to take after a collision involving a TTC bus and how our team can help Get the latest updates on Toronto car accidents & traffic collisions as well as news on major incidents & accident hotspots across… We are one of Canada's most experienced and trusted employment Take advantage of our years of experience and success in the courtroom and at the negotiating table Get help now Subscribe for relevant news alerts regarding employment and disability law Horse Racing New Brunswick (HRNB) has received approval from the Atlantic Provinces Harness Racing Commission (APHRC) to hold qualifiers at Woodstock Raceway this Saturday Qualifying entries must be made by Friday Copyright © 2022 | Standardbred Canada. 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Use of this site signifies your agreement and compliance with the legal disclaimer and privacy policy LondonNewsNew home destroyed in Woodstock fireBy Sean IrvinePublished: March 31, 2025 at 2:16PM EDT Theatre Woodstock’s celebrated children’s programs — its 1st and 2nd Stagers — are bringing two entertaining shows to the Market Theatre stage this week Article contentThe 1st Stagers — a program for young actors in grades 2 to 6 — are set to perform Disney’s 101 Dalmatians Kids a spirited reimagining of the classic animated movie who is joined by choreographer Caileigh McDonald and music director Beau Stasiuk this play tells the story of two pet owners schemes to kidnap the family’s puppies to make a new patterned fur coat the parent Dalmatians — Pongo and Perdita — rally the dogs of London to mount a daring rescue The young performers in the 2nd Stagers will be tackling their own adaptation of a classic — Nancy Linehan Charles’ Romeo and Juliet or the Old ‘You-Know-I-Really-Love-You-But-My-Father-Really-Hates-You’ Blues This fast-paced take on Shakespeare’s oft-told tragic romance keeps the familiar beats — young star-crossed lovers from rival families — but incorporates some more contemporary elements the key to the story remains the same — hate can only create more hate,” director Pam Morris said the audience will be invited to stop the tragedy at several points Does this version of Romeo and Juliet end with the same devastating conclusion The young casts have been rehearsing for their two productions of the spring session since January The plays will be performed as “double features,” with the 1st Stagers opening the performances while the 2nd Stagers will close the evening following an intermission WOODSTOCK – A Woodstock bar owner says she won’t fight a proposal by Ontario’s alcohol regulator to ban the sale of booze at the bar for two months after the agency investigated the death of a patron who allegedly was served 17 beers said Friday she wouldn’t appeal the proposed ban because of the cost “The legal expenses would be more than what I make in the bar in two months.” Establishments served with a notice of proposal have the right to appeal to the Licence Appeal Tribunal an adjudicative body independent of the commission The commission’s probe alleges the man who later died was served alcohol “after appearing visibly intoxicated,” in violation of Ontario’s Liquor Licence and Control Act But Beattie disputes several of the commission’s allegations including the claim the man was served 17 beers in four hours Beattie questions how many drinks the man was served saying he bought beverages for other patrons She maintains he was at My Friends Place more than four hours claiming he was already at the bar when she arrived about 5:30 p.m. She also said when he first appeared intoxicated after he got up to use the washroom fascinating real estate market is brought into focus and into context with this newsletter you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of Homes in London will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. which we kind of keep an eye on,” Beattie said The commission said the man left My Friends Place fell backwards outside the bar and struck his head “(It’s) terrible,” Beattie said of the man’s death “That’s a terrible thing to have to go through The commission probe also alleged the bar permitted intoxication to occur on its premises allowed someone without required training to serve alcohol allowed another patron “to drive their vehicle after being over-served alcohol.” Beattie said she bought My Friends Place – a house converted into a small bar – in 2006 It’s an open barroom with about eight high and low tables quiet corner bar where people could come in and talk and that’s exactly what I have,” she said It’s unclear when the proposed liquor licence suspension would take effect the Alcohol and Gaming Commission said by email that “out of respect for the process” it was “unable to offer any additional comment or information.” bwilliams@postmedia.com One of Canada’s best-known rock bands will be taking the Southside Park stage this summer to headline Woodstock’s popular Cowapolooza festival the multi-platinum band that topped the charts with hits like The Oaf will perform during the festival’s Saturday night finale Fronted by Toronto singer-songwriter Ian Thornley despite a lengthy hiatus in the early 2000s and the cancer-related death of founding guitarist Brian Doherty “With their unique brand of heavy-hitting live rock Big Wreck will close out two exhilarating days of music and family-friendly entertainment We’re so excited to welcome attendees from Woodstock and beyond for another spectacular event as Cowapolooza marks its 22nd year,” Kristen Brodhagen with a more country-themed night of music featuring performers from City Robinson Opening for the Juno-nominated Big Wreck during Saturday night’s 6 p.m finale will be Harm & Ease and The Joel Dupuis Band Cowapolooza offers plenty of other fun for Woodstock families during this August weekend Southside Park will be the home of Cowapolooza Kids from 2 p.m Children will be able to enjoy action-packed pro-wrestling matches bounce in the inflatables and make memories in an on-site photo booth patrons can also shop from a wide array of vendors at the on-site marketplace enjoy a bite to eat from one of the many food trucks or sip a drink in the beverage garden that features a view of the main stage we’re also proud to be creating a more sustainable event We’re looking for volunteers to join our new Green Team to help guests sort recyclables and garbage at our waste stations,” Brodhagen said “We’re also encouraging attendees to bring their own reusable water bottles and reusable bags for shopping as well as take eco-friendly transportation to the park with a free shuttle bus and on-site bike valet.” This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy LondonNewsBank robbery in Woodstock leads to chargesBy CTVNewsLondon.ca StaffPublished: April 22, 2025 at 4:38PM EDT You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account A proposed 258-unit subdivision with two seven-storey towers in northwest Woodstock was rejected in an unanimous vote by Woodstock city council with one councillor saying it is “way too dense.” City councillors voted 6-0 against a motion to rezone 401 Lakeview Dr owns the 3.9-hectare site at the northeast corner of the intersection of Vansittart Avenue (Oxford Road 59) and Lakeview Dr Food and Rural Affairs previously owned the property before it was declared surplus Bernia Martin was the only Woodstock councillor who didn’t vote on the motion who is the provincial Liberal candidate in the riding of Oxford Farhi Holdings applied for the rezoning to build a five-block Councillors cited density as a primary concern at the meeting where spectators filled council chambers and sat in a hallway A proponent of constructing more homes to address the city’s growing population Mayor Jerry Acchione said on Monday Woodstock needs greater housing density but felt consideration of residents who live near the proposed subdivision required heeding “We do have to address housing here in the city of Woodstock but I think it needs to be appropriate in surrounding neighborhoods the best possible way,” Acchione said “That property does need density of some sort if any future development plans are put into place The property is surrounded on all side by subdivisions with single-family homes The proposed five-block subdivision includes 26 semi-detached units 68 stacked townhouses and two seven-storey buildings with 80 units in each The plan also includes land set aside for a park and stormwater management Deb Tait tabled the motion opposing a rezoning of the site citing infrastructure concerns and noting also that it was “way too dense for this community.” Community opposition to the subdivision was evident at a Woodstock planning meeting held Feb About 90 people attended the meeting held at Oxford County’s Administrative building rather than city hall to accommodate the large crowd nearly all of them drawn by the subdivision proposal Woodstock resident John Bell spoke at the Feb but rather initiate five changes within the intent of the planning act the Official Plan and our zoning bylaws to make this proposal safe and appropriately integrate it with our surrounding community,” he said Some of Bell’s concerns included the protection of trees that would require removal traffic safety and a reduction in the heights of the townhomes and buildings Bell was among seven people who spoke at the planning meeting and he addressed council again on Feb 20 to reiterate his concerns about the new subdivision Bell noted his support for development of the site and also acknowledged the city’s need for more housing another resident who lives near the proposed development He said he recognized the city’s need for more housing but growth should be balanced “Our expectation is that any intensification is done thoughtfully in a way that protects the quality of life for existing as well as future residents of our neighbourhood,” Leuverink said the door is not closed on the proposed subdivision The request by Farhi Holdings for a rezoning of the property to allow the development will go before Oxford County council The application can also still be brought before Ontario’s Land Tribunal which Acchione noted would be “difficult to defend.” A 35-year-old male suspect — already out on bail with court-imposed restrictions — was arrested early Tuesday afternoon in connection with a reported robbery at a downtown bank We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentShortly after noon, Woodstock police officers received reports of a robbery in progress at the TD Canada Trust branch at 539 Dundas St. A suspect allegedly passed a note to bank staff demanding money. Officers responded quickly to the call, police said, and located and arrested a suspect within minutes. The suspect was arrested without incident. The money reported taken during the robbery was allegedly recovered, police said, while no injuries were reported. The suspect, who had been out on bail for a previous robbery, remains in custody pending another bail hearing. LondonNewsWrong way collision on 401 near Woodstock claims one lifeBy Bailey ShakyaverOpens in new windowPublished: April 27, 2025 at 1:56PM EDT Video evidence, NHLer testimony raise questions in world junior sexual assault trialThe National |May 2Video4:45 Trump repeats 51st state taunt as Carney prepares for White House visitThe National |May 5Video11:28 It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem LondonNewsModernizing downtown Woodstock; streetscape project underwayBy Bryan BicknellUpdated: March 28, 2025 at 5:48PM EDT KitchenerNewsWoodstock woman wins $1M in Encore drawBy Hannah SchmidtPublished: April 23, 2025 at 2:07PM EDT Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account Woodstock’s once-bustling core struggled in the early part of this century Big box chains – typically located near a city’s periphery – were becoming increasingly popular changing shopping habits and moving traffic away from traditional downtowns Then came the double gut punch of 2008’s Great Recession and the emergence of e-commerce typified by new online marketplaces like Amazon city officials still recognized the enormous potential of Woodstock’s historical downtown Blessed with a well-preserved Victorian streetscape that showcased the city’s architectural heritage Woodstock’s downtown offered a sense of place that few other cities could match Guided by a committed Woodstock Downtown Business Improvement Area and anchored by several longtime retailers and restaurants bolstered by an ongoing manufacturing boom and an influx of residents that has boosted the city’s population to more than 50,000 city officials have made the downtown a priority launching a major project intended to revitalize the core and restore its essential role as Woodstock’s economic “Most people still feel like the downtown is the heart of the community and the hub of the community so we kind of want to present it in that way,” Woodstock’s economic development officer Brad Hammond said Adopted by council about two-and-a-half years ago the project’s roots actually stretch back more than a decade when city officials began exploring a downtown renewal as a way to draw more attention to the core “A lot of what’s happening is really about creating a more vibrant downtown better opportunities for programming in the downtown so kind of a bit more of a flexible streetscape for holding events and festivals and things of that nature,” Hammond said preceded council’s eventual go-ahead to adopt the plan in October 2022 City engineer Harold de Haan estimated the total cost of the project He said about $16 million is being set aside for the road and sidewalk construction portion while roughly $15 million is earmarked for the redevelopment of Museum Square A final $20 million is planned for an addition to the city’s historic city hall which de Haan said came about as the project grew and the municipality looked towards the future is designed to elevate the downtown core’s aesthetic appeal while also updating its functionality and safety “(The streetscape is) to make it more attractive for one and then also to make the on-street patios a little easier,” de Haan said and they’re popping out (and) they’re creating a tripping hazard and it’s requiring a fair bit of maintenance work So (the project) is getting rid of all that (and) actually making it safer that way.” Part of the project addresses maintenance and accessibility concerns by replacing asphalt paving stones and lighting with textured asphalt sidewalks Although the phased structure of the project’s construction adds some uncertainty to its end date it also provides council some flexibility in scheduling construction minimizing extended disruptions to traffic and businesses The approach also provides council with opportunities to consider budgetary constraints should they arise “We presented it all in phases to council last fall and basically said it’s up to them how quickly or how slowly they want to implement all these phases “They’d already decided to split phase one into three separate phases so those two phases are being done this year The way we presented it in a report to council for their consideration last year was all the phases would happen one a year after that they may decide to put things on a hold for a year Hammond said the streetscape project was envisioned to both drive visitor traffic to Woodstock’s core while making the area more habitable for residents “A big part of the city strategy in terms of the downtown has been to get more people living in the downtown,” Hammond said noted there’s a “very fundamental belief” that a city’s downtown “is the heart of your community.” Baird said she felt the streetscape project is indicative of council acknowledging its need to significantly invest in the downtown to help stimulate this renewal “I believe that an investment like this shows that The benefits of the investment in the streetscape project are multifaceted The streetscape revitalization is not just drawing higher traffic volumes to existing businesses but also serving to attract new businesses that envision the potential of opening up shop in a burgeoning city core As a city with an ongoing focus on diversifying its economic base Woodstock’s strategy doesn’t just apply to the industrial sector pointing out Dundas Street and the surrounding area also plays host to numerous business owners we care about our downtown (and) we care about our small business owners.” Despite many of Woodstock’s industrial newcomers setting up shop in business parks near Highway 401 Baird noted the importance of a vibrant downtown that provides services to these businesses and their employees and there’s a lot of those that have been long standing businesses in downtown Woodstock,” she said And it’s not just new arrivals Baird is hopeful will be drawn to the city’s core by the renewed streetscape She said she also feels longtime residents who don’t or rarely travel to Woodstock’s downtown will soon be compelled to visit “I think a lot of people feel very nostalgic about their downtown and that having new investment really makes people realize what they’re missing,” Baird said “And we have incredible businesses downtown and I will frequently talk to people that will say Baird made special mention of the project’s planned renovation of Museum Square desiring this facet as a key component of the project It’s a place “where people can congregate,” she said An enthusiastic Baird said the potential for the streetscape project and the positive impacts in the wake of this big dream’s completion will be transformative for Woodstock and its residents “It’s easier to have care and concern about something that’s brand new and I think with the combination of those things we will see other investments,” Baird said “I believe it will be easier to convince some long-term Woodstonians that their downtown is beautiful and other people will come here to see our downtown “That hopefully will be a reminder to Woodstonians that we have these amazing businesses and cultural assets that they can utilize.” A decision by Woodstock politicians to reject a 258-home subdivision due to density concerns and pushback from would-be neighbours “is worsening the housing crisis,” says the businessperson behind the proposal Shmuel Farhi of London-based Farhi Holdings Corp said he feels the opposition by nearby residents to the 3.9-hectare proposed development at 401 Lakeview Dr in northwest Woodstock is impeding much-needed residential growth in Woodstock “We believe the NIMBY (not in my backyard) attitude that many of the most vocal neighbours have is worsening the housing crisis in this province,” Farhi wrote Farhi’s statement noted the proposal was supported by municipal planning and engineering staff and that “council chose to deny their own staff’s recommendation.” Council voted 6-0 to reject the proposal by not rezoning the land for residential development about 90 people attended a city planning meeting that underscored the widespread community opposition The proposal called for a five-block subdivision with 26 semi-detached homes 68 stacked townhouses and two seven-storey building with 80 apartments each John Bell was among the citizens who spoke out at that packed meeting traffic safety and what he considered excessive building heights He said he wants a plan that will “appropriately integrate (the development) with our surrounding community.” called the subdivision plan “way too dense.” Mayor Jerry Acchione has pushed for more housing as Woodstock grows but said the project “needs to be appropriate” considering the surrounding areas Farhi noted that “intensification” would be a “vital tool in combatting the housing and affordability crisis in Woodstock and the region.” The request by Farhi Holdings for a rezoning of the property will now go before Oxford County council noting it could also be appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal which adjudicates local land-use decisions provincewide WindsorNewsOPP arrest Woodstock man after driver flees scene of collision involving cyclistBy Bryan BicknellPublished: April 21, 2025 at 3:58PM EDT Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Ontario’s alcohol regulator says it intends to ban a Woodstock bar from selling liquor for two months following the agency’s investigation into the death of a patron whom investigators allege was served 17 beers The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario said Thursday it has issued a notice of proposal to suspend the liquor sales licence of My Friends Place The proposed suspension follows an inspection by officials into what the agency alleges were several violations of Ontario’s Liquor Licence and Control Act The first alleged infraction cited by the regulatory body was serving an intoxicated person “the patron in question was served 17 beers over a four-hour period and was served after appearing visibly intoxicated,” according to a written statement by the agency the patron fell backwards outside the bar and struck his head,” the statement said “He was transported to the hospital where he later died.” The statement also cites two other alleged violations resulting from its inspection: One for permitting intoxication to occur on the bar’s premises and another involving someone serving alcohol without the required training The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario also reported that less than three weeks after the man’s death another patron was “allegedly permitted to drive their vehicle after being over-served alcohol.” the commission cited alleged additional violations including permitting intoxication and serving intoxicated persons Attempts to reach the owners of My Friends Place by phone and through social media on Thursday were unsuccessful The agency’s statement noted establishments served with a notice of proposal have the right to appeal the action to the Licence Appeal Tribunal an adjudicative body independent of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission “Ontario’s liquor laws are specifically designed to prevent the kind of tragic outcome allegedly resulting from over-service at this establishment,” the agency’s chief executive Karin Schnarr said in a written statement “Adherence to Ontario’s responsible service standards is not optional and this suspension demonstrates that we hold licensees accountable.” KitchenerNewsWoodstock bar’s liquor licence suspended following man’s fatal fall By Jennifer K. BakerPublished: April 10, 2025 at 10:51AM EDT Joe Cocker is celebrated with a little help from his friends Joe Cocker has – at last – been announced as a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame From his breakthrough in the late 1960s through a stunning 1970s and beyond Joe Cocker's stunning voice made him a superstar He played some of the biggest festivals in rock history won a Grammy award in the 1980s and was still picking up accolades in the 1990s and 21st century we round up all the fast facts you need about the King of British Blue-Eyed Soul John Robert "Joe" Cocker was born to RAF aircraftman dad Harold Norman Cocker and mum Madge in Sheffield on May 20 As for how he got to be known as "Joe" it's a pretty obvious contraction of "John" Other theories come from John and Harold playing a game called 'Cowboy Joe' together or that he picked it up from a window cleaner who worked in the area Joe grew up in the Sheffield area and after he left school he worked as a gasfitter for the East Midlands Gas Board Joe Cocker is not related to Jarvis Cocker It's been widely reported that Joe did fit a gas fire for Jarvis's mum once and is even said to have babysat the future Pulp frontman Inspired by soul legend Ray Charles and skiffle master Lonnie Donegan Joe Cocker was into music from a young age He was just 12 when he played his first "gig" joining his brother Victor on stage to sing some skiffle Cocker formed his own band The Cavaliers in 1960 Then came Vance Arnold and the Avengers (Joe was "Vance") around about the time Cocker fell in love with the blues The band had some local success, and even supported The Rolling Stones at Sheffield City Hall in 1963 His first single was a Beatles cover... no, not that one, but 'I'll Cry Instead', from A Hard Day's Night He then changed the name of his group to Joe Cocke's Blues Band He then joined forces with Chris Stainton to form The Grease Band Joe Cocker - With A Little Help From My Friends (Live) The band fell apart and reformed with some new faces (though Stainton stayed), and in 1968 he recorded another Beatles song, 'With A Little Help From My Friends', which had just been released on Sgt Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band. Cocker offered up a much grittier take than the original Ringo Starr vocals The recording featured drummer BJ Wilson and organist Tommy Eyre as well as backing vocals from Sue and Sunny Guitar came from session superstar and future Led Zeppelin icon Jimmy Page The song climbed and climbed and eventually topped the UK singles chart on November 9 Joe Cocker - She Came In Through The Bathroom Window (Live) The Beatles were undoubtedly the biggest band of the 1960s While Joe Cocker could certainly write his own songs he was most famous as an interpreter of existing work So it's no surprise that he took on The Beatles more than once in his stellar career Cocker returned to The Beatles to record a cover of John Lennon's 'Come Together' for the soundtrack of Across The Universe Joe Cocker - Let's Go Get Stoned (LIVE in Woodstock) HD what famous festivals didn't Joe Cocker perform at Cocker and The Grease Band toured with major artists like The Who, Gene Pitney and Marmalade before answering the call of the outdoors Joe played the Newport Rock Festival and Denver Pop Festival before the big one. His producer Denny Cordell had got wind of the upcoming Woodstock Festival and cajoled Artie Kornfeld into putting them on the bill Along with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Santana, The Who, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Sly and the Family Stone and Janis Joplin Joe Cocker's was a standout performance at the festival when they took to the stage on Sunday afternoon Joe Cocker's Woodstock setlist was as follows: Less than two weeks later he was back in the UK playing a set at the Isle of Wight Festival Cocker even returned to Woodstock in 1994 to play a well-received set at Woodstock '94 Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes - Up where we belong 1983 Joe Cocker released 22 studio albums and 80 odd singles during his remarkable career The Wonder Years 1988 - 1993 Opening and Closing Theme (With Snippets) but The Wonder Years was one of the all-time great sitcoms navigating young adulthood in the late 1960s and early 1970s mashing up laughter and tears in equal measure The Beatles were an obvious choice for the soundtrack but the show went a little better in choosing Joe Cocker's version – the song that made him a star and closed his stunning Woodstock set but we’re not going to let them use the version of you singing it' "Now, I don’t know if Paul McCartney recommended Joe Cocker that he [McCartney] was the one that made the call after seeing the pilot before it was put on the air." 90Joe Cocker had an on-and-off relationship with fellow Sheffielder Eileen Webster that lasted over a decade It was when he was living at Jane Fonda's ramnch in Santa Barara that he met local camp director Pam Baker in 1978 They hooked up and eventually married on October 11 The couple didn't have any children together but Joe had a stepdaughter from Pam's previous relationship A former heavy smoker until he quit in 1991 Joe Cocker died of lung cancer on December 22 the greatest rock/soul voice ever to come out of Britain and remained the same man throughout his life," said his agent Barrie Marshall "Hugely talented - a true star - but a kind and humble man who loved to perform Anyone who saw him live will never forget him." Joe Cocker was showered with awards and accolades in recognition of his tremendous talent Joe won a Grammy Award in 1983 Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for 'Up Where We Belong' In later years he racked up a clutch of further nominations at the Grammys and in 2025 Joe Cocker was finally inducted as a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Hall Of Fame Paul McCartney Rod Stewart Song Lists The Beatles The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario says it intends to suspend the liquor licence of a Woodstock, Ont., bar after it allegedly served 17 beers to a customer who later fell outside, hit his head and died. The provincial regulatory agency says the beers were served to the patron last October over the course of four hours at the bar called My Friends Place. It alleges the patron struck his head after he slipped outside the bar and later died in hospital. The regulator also alleges the bar allowed another customer who was over-served alcohol to drive. The alleged infractions include serving intoxicated persons, permitting intoxication and allowing a person to serve alcohol without finishing the required training. The bar has the right to appeal the licence suspension notice to the License Appeal Tribunal. WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Mark Carney will have to navigate a delicate balance during his first in-person meeting with Donald Trump today, following months of the U.S. president targeting Canada with... A planned peaceful vacation has spiralled into a prolonged two-month ordeal for Ontario man David Bennett, who remains stranded in the Dominican Republic despite having all criminal charges against him... A Canadian man arrested on vacation has been proven innocent. Melissa Nakhavoly with why he is still being held in the Dominican Republic. Warmer temperatures but showers are expected on-and-off for the next few days. Meteorologist Natasha Ramsahai has your seven-day forecast. Ontario Premier Doug Ford calls on Prime Minister Mark Carney to prioritize a list of projects including the proposed Highway 401 tunnel. Monday is calling for rain and thunderstorms. Stella Acquisto has the long-range forecast. Now New and Improved! Watch CityNews, listen to NewsRadio Toronto live anytime and get up-to-the-minute breaking-news alerts, traffic, weather and video from CityNews Toronto anywhere you are – across all Android and iOS devices. Oxford County council has pushed the development forward Oxford County councillors defeated a motion proposed by Coun Jerry Acchione – who also serves as Woodstock mayor – to reject an official plan amendment that would have pumped the brakes on the subdivision in Woodstock’s northeast councillors voted 7-3 to approve an amendment to Oxford County’s official plan to add the 3.9-hectare development at 401 Lakeview Dr “I think that this is exactly the type of development that we do need,” said Oxford County deputy warden Brian Petrie who moved the motion to approve the subdivision These are units that are badly needed and provide a diverse group of housing on a property that was completely under-utilized,” Petrie said of the site previously owned by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs before it was declared surplus The decision by Oxford County councillors to approve the development comes about a month after Woodstock councillors voted Feb 20 to quash Farhi Holding Corp.’s  application to rezone the lands in large part because of the development’s density The developer plans to build 26 semi-detached homes 68 stacked townhouses and two seven-storey buildings with 80 apartments each People who live in neighbourhoods near the site voiced concerns at Woodstock council meetings about the project’s density Oxford County is a two-tier municipal government with the county acting as the upper tier giving it the final say on the official plan “I’m disappointed of course that county council is not respecting the city of Woodstock’s wishes,” Acchione said in an interview Oxford County planner Eric Gilbert said Farhi’s revised proposal moved the apartment buildings closer to Vansittart Avenue slightly reduced the number of residential units and provided more parking than in its original proposal He also noted the proposal’s consistency with the province’s 2024 planning statement Farhi Holdings director of policy and development said in an email statement that the company was pleased by the county’s decision Acchione was among the three councillors who opposed the subdivision’s development Bernia Martin – who serves both as an Oxford County and city councillor – was absent at the Feb 20 meeting when councillors voted on the proposed subdivision She voted in favour of the development on Wednesday “I think if we’re going to build 254 units anywhere at a lower density 50 acres of prime agricultural land in our community and I’m not in support of that,” Martin said at the debate Martin noted the county’s need for more housing and pointed to Oxford County council’s approval in January of a development in Thamesford – a community of about 2,600 people a community that also will struggle with services and infrastructure but we recognized that those 1,000 units in Thamesford are needed for housing supply in our community,” she said The conflicting positions of the county and municipal councils means Woodstock will have difficulty defending its position if an appeal of the project sends it to the Ontario Land Tribunal a provincial body that adjudicates planning matters “The assumption is going to be it will go to the land tribunal and be heard now that it’s got the (official plan) approval,” he said but the city of Woodstock still plans on defending our decision.” Vecchio said the project is several years in the making and Wednesday’s decision brings the development “closer to getting shovels into the ground.” “There is still lots of work ahead of us,” he said “We believe that good planning practices will prevail at the (Ontario Land Tribunal) and we can continue to make progress.” The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada2 Woodstock was known more for dairy farms than auto-making Then a dot on the Highway 401 corridor between Toronto and Windsor the Friendly City had a sleepier reputation: the quiet county seat of a largely rural region Woodstock’s fortunes changed when Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada broke ground on a sprawling new plant in October 2005 said city economic development officer Brad Hammond The auto giant’s arrival attracted “a lot of follow-on investment,” including additional auto parts suppliers which kickstarted the city’s expansion when the plant finally opened in 2008 “When Toyota selected Woodstock for its second Canadian plant that was really kind of an endorsement that helped the growth,” Hammond said Woodstock has become one of Ontario’s fastest-growing cities Oxford County is expected to remain Southwestern Ontario’s second-fastest-growing region Woodstock is no longer a dot on the highway for the roughly 80,000 vehicles that pass by its city signs every day But with big growth and opportunities come growing pains Woodstock is preparing to tackle those challenges as it strives to enhance residents’ quality of life While Woodstock’s auto sector supports thousands of jobs and is one of the foundations of the local economy the city is looking keenly for ways to diversify we’re always striving for diversification,” Hammond said “We’re very fortunate that we’ve got a lot of automotive investment here we’re always looking for diversity (in other) sectors.” Woodstock has large swaths of shovel-ready land for industrial development to support such expansion of its economic base But as an urban centre surrounded by prime agricultural land Woodstock’s growth risks being limited as the city expands to the limits of its current borders With much of the city’s available land earmarked for industrial or residential development the new challenge for continued growth is “land supply,” said Eric Gilbert the city will either grow up inside to higher density or acquire lands from other municipalities to grow,” he said Woodstock is in “better shape” from an industrial land supply standpoint and also has “lots of land” after north-end boundary adjustments in 2017 and 2018 But a recent bid to acquire more territory fell short a proposed 395-hectare boundary adjustment with rural neighbour Norwich Township yielded just 43 hectares – largely for road construction – after pushback from township residents density is a necessary consideration to accommodate the city’s booming growth president of Woodstock Ingersoll Tillsonburg and Area Association of Realtors “I think we have to move towards more density but I think that there’s ways to do that that still align with the neighbourhood and infrastructures that we have.” Growth really exploded during “the COVID years,” she said “We were kind of the perfect storm in regard to location on the 401 (and) 403 and we’re kind of surrounded by more expensive areas which made us a really good option for people who were now able to work from home,” Benard said Though migration to Woodstock from Toronto has slowed somewhat since the pandemic she said there’s been a steady stream of people moving from the Kitchener-Waterloo region and London There’ve even been some recent arrivals from the Niagara area the average sale price for a Woodstock home was $581,000 roughly $60,000 to $80,000 less than those in surrounding communities “That’s a pretty reasonable price if you’re thinking that we have a lot less condo and semi-detached (than) some of our counterparts surrounding us,” she said Continued industrial development is also essential for Woodstock because that’s “what pays for most of the rest of the services the city needs,” Gilbert said “The city is looking at increasing the recreational opportunities and making investments and leisure activities and facilities to serve all the new people “Providing some more commercial opportunities for the north part of the city would be a focus once the city is able to talk to its neighbours about expanding.” New BrunswickNewsN.B. conducting provincewide gas station inspections in response to Woodstock spillBy Natalie Lombard and Avery MacRaeUpdated: April 09, 2025 at 10:00AM EDT A plan to revamp Woodstock’s downtown strip is set to get underway 2 1/2 years after city council approved the project City officials announced on Wednesday Phase 1 of Woodstock’s downtown streetscape – a project intended to revitalize the city’s downtown – is launching on March 24 The announcement comes after council adopted the plan in October 2022 following months of consultation and a public survey that yielded more than 1,000 responses “This project has been a long time coming and we’re excited to finally be getting underway,” downtown development officer Kerry Baird said in a news release The aims of the project include strengthening existing historical characteristics updating accessible street finishes and providing safer crossings The project also will address maintenance and accessibility concerns by replacing asphalt Although the streetscape project plans to overhaul the city’s downtown stretch from Vansittart to Beale and Bay streets Phase 1 construction will take place on Dundas Street between Wellington and Riddell streets but we are confident the improvements will create a more flexible comfortable downtown for everyone,” Baird said Construction in phases will “showcase” the completed project and allow testing to facilitate potential improvements at later phases The phase structure also allows for work to be completed in a single construction season Phase 1 is expected to take about 13 weeks to complete After a flurry of pre-election provincial government announcements Monday Oxford County found itself on the receiving end of Queen’s Park investments including a homelessness and addiction recovery treatment (HART) hub and $700,000 for housing At an announcement Monday hosted by Oxford Ontario Health Team at Woodstock Hospital Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman said the county is getting a homelessness and addiction recovery treatment (HART) hub a facility offering supports for people facing homelessness The province is investing $529 million to create 18 new hubs Nine of the locations are existing supervised drug-use sites transitioning to the HART model “Each HART hub will reflect regional priorities and include a range of services to meet local needs,” Hardeman said Oxford and Woodstock’s hub will be at 16 Graham St. mental health and addiction services and emergency shelter among other supports adding the aim is for the new hubs to be operational this year “Some of you may think that’s a little fast but the truth is the ones that were addiction sites that are now being treatment facilities are operating and will continue to operate (and) they will meet that deadline,” he said Woodstock Mayor Jerry Acchione enthusiastically lauded the announcement that a hub is opening in the city “It’s been a long time waiting for this and the excitement level is amazing,” he said Thomas – was undertaking a feasibility study in late 2023 politicians announced Oxford County will use $2 million received by Woodstock for surpassing its provincial home building target on a new homelessness service centre Sarnia and Windsor are among the locations getting new homelessness and addiction recovery treatment hubs Oxford County also is receiving $700,000 from Queen’s Park of which $500,000 is earmarked for affordable housing and $200,000 to address homeless encampments “It’s hard to imagine two more pressing needs right now than affordable housing and encampment response,” Oxford County Warden Marcus Ryan said said the $500,000 will go toward an affordable housing project already under construction Four units will be added to a building at 785 Southwood Way in Woodstock The building is expected to be finished this fall The $200,000 to address homeless encampments will go toward “outreach and kind of connecting people who are in encampments with appropriate supports and really getting them on the pathway to emergency shelter services,” Smith said A dozen overnight emergency beds will be added at The Inn “This $500,000 for affordable housing and $200,000 for encampment response is going to help people in our community in their most desperate need and help to clear out encampments in our communities’ public spaces,” Ryan said The City of Brantford has received a fourth quarter payment of $1,018,526 from OLG for hosting the Elements Casino. Brantford has received a total of $4.8 million during OLG’s fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, and since the casino’s opening in November 1999, has received just over $106 million. “We are incredibly appreciative of the continued support from OLG with this latest payment of over $1 million, bringing the total to more than $106 million since the program began,” says Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis. “These funds have been instrumental in strengthening our community, enabling us to support a variety of initiatives including not-for-profits and several key infrastructure projects.” Davis noted that this most recent payment will be directed towards enhancing the City’s recreational facilities and ensuring Brantford remains a great place to live and visit for years to come. “We are grateful for our longstanding partnership with OLG and their commitment to our community’s growth and prosperity,” said the mayor. The City of Woodstock has received a payment of $409,479 from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation as the fourth quarter payment for hosting Gateway Casinos Woodstock. That payment brings the total to $1,698,460 paid to the City of Woodstock over the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2025. Since the gaming site first opened in June 2001, Woodstock has received more than $28 million. OLG utilizes a formula consistent at all gaming sites in the province, using a graduated sale of gaming revenue at host sites to calculate payment to host communities. Elements Casino Brantford and Gateway Casinos Woodstock strengthen communities through sharing gaming revenue that supports local priorities and programs, according to an OLG press release. In addition to job creation and community support, the Municipality Contribution Agreement with OLG delivers benefits to Brantford and Woodstock. Host communities across the province have received more than $2.5 billion in non-tax gaming revenue since 1994, while OLG reinvests 100 per cent of profits back into the province. Capital investments of more than $2.5 billion over the last nine years have resulted in the development and opening of a large-scale resort development, seven new casinos, several gaming floor expansions and new non-gaming amenities. As a crown agency, OLG oversees land-based gaming facilities, lottery games, internet gaming, bingo and other electronic gaming products at charitable gaming centres, and helps support the horse racing industry in Ontario. Since 1975, OLG has generated about $62 billion to support provincial government priorities including health care, supporting amateur athletes, and the treatment and prevention of problem gambling. In addition to host communities, First Nations in the province, local charities and lottery retailers benefit from the profits of OLG’s operations. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Woodstock is now a big wheel in Ontario’s auto industry but is anxious to further diversify its economy the growing city of about 50,000 wants to avoid becoming a one-trick pony Woodstock officials have long been wary of relying too heavily on any one industry “We’re going to continue to try to attract automotive investment but we’re looking at other sorts of investment While the auto industry remains a priority for Woodstock located at the junction of two of Ontario’s 400-series highways the city is also trying to leverage that charmed location in the region’s vast farm belt and industrial heartland to expand into other sectors Branching out and diversifying the economic base is important so that the city is not left “susceptible to the ups and downs of the economic cycles,” said Hammond Take the recent sale of a 34-hectare plot of industrial land in the city’s south end that brushes up against Highway 401 When the land was sold through a request for proposals the interest shown in the turf exceeded the amount of land available for sale officials looked closely at the proposals to see what sectors they came from and how they might fit with a city looking to vary its economic make-up Among the proposals was one that came in from a Dutch company that supplies plate steel to the marine industry Another came from a paper-processing company Most of the companies the city ended up selling space to at the 34-hectare site did a large part of their business in the domestic or Canadian market and stressed the importance of expanding its economic base After proposal requests for the site wrapped up in the summer of 2023 most of the sales agreements were signed in early 2024 “A lot of those companies now are starting to get into building permits and things like that,” Hammond said One of the first to get the nod from city council was Stubbe’s an Oxford County-based cement and precast company Another buyer that found a home on the site was Valo Biomedia a German-based company that produces eggs and related biological media that’s use in vaccine production and pharmaceutical research But diversifying Woodstock’s economy demands more than simply seeking out other manufacturers A sector that’s often eclipsed by Woodstock’s “strong foothold” in auto manufacturing and agriculture – and one that could grow with a little TLC – is tourism which contributes billions of dollars annually to the Ontario economy the general manager of the Woodstock District Chamber of Commerce pointed to the city’s historic Victorian-era downtown and nearby hiking trails as potential draws for out-of-town visitors With culinary tourism also enjoying a post-COVID boom and Woodstock serving as the seat for the largely rural Oxford County attractions like the popular Oxford County Cheese Trail – a group of cheesemaker retailers and restaurants – offer another reason to visit the Dairy Capital and support the local economy “We have some really beautiful areas in our community that it would be nice to be able to drive more foot traffic and people that might not normally come visit Woodstock,” Crabbe said Other sectors that stray from traditional manufacturing but fit well with Woodstock’s spot at the junction of the two 400-series highways are logistics and food processing Being minutes away from highway on-ramps means shipping and distribution companies can quickly move products to larger Canadian cities and into the United States “We’re so close to the 401 and the 403,” Crabbe said “It’s really a prime location for being able to easily send and receive shipments We do certainly have some food processing in our community but I think that there certainly would be a great opportunity to continue to build on that and welcome new companies as well as expand on those companies that are here support them and help them grow and expand within our community.” Emerging as the second-fastest growing city in Southwestern Ontario is critical in attracting new residents while keeping younger workers in the community biotech and health-care robotics as key sectors in potentially keeping younger Woodstonians who might be pondering a move to Toronto or London for work and so I think to be able to have more high-tech industry available to us would drive more of a desire to stay local for those youth that have started here,” Crabbe said is continuing to exploit Woodstock’s prime location “We’ve got that natural geographic advantage that we’re an hour and a half or two hours from the U.S UPDATE: Woodstock Police have located the missing woman. She was reported missing on Friday and was found over the weekend. Police are thanking the public for their assistance. WOODSTOCK - Police are looking for a missing woman. the 27-year-old, Kyra, is 5'10" with a slim build and was last seen Tuesday afternoon in the area of Ingersoll Road. She was last believed to be wearing a black jacket and black boots. Both her family and the police are concerned for her well-being. If you have any information, you should reach out to the Woodstock police at (519) 537-2323.  WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS (WAIT FOR YOUR LOVE) Woodstock police are looking for five suspects after the Bell Mobility store in the city’s east end was robbed at gunpoint Friday After exiting the store, the suspects fled the scene at a high rate of speed in a silver Mazda hatchback, police added. Woodstock police are currently reviewing video footage from the store as part of their ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact Woodstock police at 519-537-2323 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) A brief standoff on Caen Avenue in Woodstock ended peacefully when a 50-year-old city man reportedly surrendered to police Saturday evening. Officers had responded to the address following allegations of a weapons-related incident involving a firearm, police said. The department’s emergency response unit was sent to the scene while local roads were temporarily closed to ensure public safety while police worked on a resolution, police said. After the incident was resolved, a subsequent search warrant allegedly led to the discovery of a loaded handgun, police said. The suspect was arrested and charged with three counts of uttering threats, careless storage of a firearm and unauthorized possessions of a firearm. The suspect was being held in custody for an upcoming bail hearing, police said. A plan to revamp Woodstock’s downtown strip is now set to get underway roughly two-and-a-half years after council approved the ambitious project 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 officials announced Wednesday that phase one of Woodstock’s downtown streetscape revitalization – a project intended to renew the city’s historic downtown core – is set to begin on March 24 “This project has been a long time coming and we’re excited to finally be getting underway,” stated downtown development officer Kerry Baird in a news release According to Woodstock’s municipal website the project aims include strengthening existing historical characteristics updating accessible street finishings and providing safe crossings The project will also address maintenance and accessibility concerns by replacing asphalt phase one construction will take place on Dundas Street between Wellington and Riddell streets construction in phases will “showcase” the completed project and allow testing to facilitate potential improvements at later phases Phase one construction is expected to take about 13 weeks to complete The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. A developer is planning a massive subdivision in Woodstock – at least 600 units of apartments modular and mini homes – and the town is now studying if and how the current systems might handle the ambitious project Create an account or sign in to keep reading Don't have an account? Create Account TK Cook Properties is planning the development on 120 acres north of Eastwood Drive and Nielsen Street. A breakdown of the design of the new neighbourhood is not yet known, but president Timothy Cook said he hopes construction could begin as early as this year. Before that happens, however, the municipality is tapping into the Regional Development Corporation’s fund specifically for a pre-construction study to see how its current systems could handle such an expansion. About $366,500 will come from the Crown corporation and Woodstock will be responsible for the remaining $122,500. The study will explore how the subdivision would draw on the town’s water system, wastewater system and storm drainage. Since 2014, the town has struggled to secure a backup water source for the municipality after spring floods temporarily shut down the town’s water sources. The town is in the process of digging a third well as a backup and to help alleviate pressure on the two main wells, which have both needed significant infrastructure upgrades and repair recently. “(The pre-construction study) will help determine what investments need to be made to maintain and grow our utilities system to support the desired growth of the town,” Woodstock chief administrative officer Allan Walker said. “Once completed, funding strategies will be developed to support those investments.” Mayor Trina Jones called the new project “very exciting,” noting a recent study showed the town is bound for significant growth over the next five to 10 years that will require close to 900 new housing units. She said this project puts the municipality “on pace” to meet that need. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Woodstock politicians are seeking citizen feedback about a proposed new recreation centre in the city’s northeast that could cost as much as $100 million A unanimous vote by city council has paved the way for a North Woodstock recreation facility survey that will allow citizens to weigh in on the proposed facility which would be located off Springbank Avenue North and reach 13,500 square metres “This (will) be really interesting to see from not only the user groups and then the priority levels of each element,” Mayor Jerry Acchione said of the proposa Politicians were told the core components include two ice pads costing about $67 million to build and take up about 8,900 square metres It would cost $18 million and add about 1,780 square metres to add an indoor pool There is also an option to add a curling rink and a childcare space that would cost around $15.5 million and cover about 2,600 square metres Woodstock park’s and recreation director Brian Connors – who drafted the report encouraging a recreation facility survey – said the estimated costs would be available to survey respondents “I believe that a survey that doesn’t include what the fiscal costs of each area would be tends to be skewed to ‘yes The operating cost of the recreation centre is estimated at about $1 million annually A new facility that includes two rinks also will aid Woodstock’s need for more ice pads as a local arena nears the end of its lifespan Connors’ report states that Civic Centre arena – one of three existing ice pads in Woodstock – is approaching “the end of its lifecycle,” noting costly expenses would be required to update the arena An outside study supports decommissioning the arena and relocating it elsewhere “It’s clear that we need a lot more ice time,” Acchione said “There’s not much doubt in our minds that two ice pads are probably going to be needed.” Acchione said emerging interests in sports such as pickleball is a motivator to add gymnasium space He also cited the public’s growing indoor swimming participation as an incentive for citizens to provide feedback on what spaces they’d want a new recreation centre to support The prospect of a new recreation facility is “absolutely exciting,” Acchione said but added he is cautiously enthusiastic about the project due to steep construction costs “What cautions me is the price tag,” Acchione said adding a looming population growth may make the investment necessary An analysis presented to politicians indicated Woodstock’s population had grown 19 per cent since 2016 when 40,600 people lived in the city to about 48,500 in 2024 It suggested Woodstock’s population was projected to swell another 21 per cent in a decade to around 58,800 people by 2036 Acchione said staff is eyeing the new year for when Woodstock will begin seeking feedback from residents A significant fuel leak from an Irving gas station near Woodstock has released up to 100,000 litres of diesel into the environment according to government documents obtained by CBC News originated from a cracked elbow pipe connected to an underground diesel storage tank CBC News reported that the resulting contamination affected groundwater forced the closure of a Tim Hortons and the Irving station and posed potential risks to nearby residential wells Concerns were first raised by residents and business patrons in November who reported the smell and taste of fuel in water at the Beardsley Road Tim Hortons The issue was officially identified on Dec 12 when Tim Hortons filed an incident report with the province after detecting petroleum in its untreated water supply the province ordered the immediate closure of the Tim Hortons were deployed to remove contaminated groundwater Initial estimates suggested the spill was around 5,000 litres but subsequent assessments revealed a far more extensive leak officials estimated the leak to be between 50,000 and 100,000 litres Government inspectors reported that early liquid recovery efforts consisted of nearly 90% diesel an email from an environment department inspector expressed alarm over the magnitude of the spill noting significant fuel contamination in nearby ditches and waterways Dillon Consulting was contracted by Irving Oil to lead remediation efforts Cleanup crews installed barriers and berms along Beardsley Road and the Trans-Canada Highway to contain the spread Vacuum trucks continue to operate months later working around the clock to remove residual contamination Residents in the area have undergone multiple well-water tests told CBC News that his water has tested negative for contamination but remains cautious “They’ve tested my water at least three times,” he said all the results have come back as negative early tests of residential wells were expected to be clear Irving Oil coordinated with the Town of Woodstock to secure municipal water access enabling the reopening of the gas station and adjacent facilities Cleanup operations are expected to continue for the foreseeable future Department spokesperson Vicky Lutes stated that ongoing monitoring shows no current impact on offsite wells and a reduction in surface water contamination questions remain about how the spill went undetected for so long Below are the links to watch Woodbine Thoroughbred races: Below are the quick links to view horse people page information: Check out the detailed Woodbine Thoroughbred statistics Check out the detailed Woodbine Thoroughbred standings The safety and well-being of horses is our top priority Check out the experts' picks for the upcoming races and play of the day Woodbine Racetrack has dining options catering to a wide audience Most of our Track Facing restaurants are open during live racing Below are the quick links to view restaurant menus: Below are the quick links to the restaurants requiring a reservation: Learn more about how we can spark up your special occasion Make sure to view what's open when you visit Woodbine Racetrack has simulcast broadcasts almost every day For media enquiries, please contact: woodbinecommunications@woodbine.com surged past rivals late to capture the $125,000 Woodstock Stakes on Sunday at Woodbine Mansetti — a son of Collected out of the Sky Mesa mare Gidget Girl — notched his second career stakes victory He won last year’s Clarendon Stakes at Woodbine The colt is trained by Kevin Attard and owned by Al and Bill Ulwelling grabbed the early lead while longshot Kokomo pressed from the outside Big Vince maintained a one-length advantage through an opening quarter in :22.46 in the six-furlong contest for 3-year-olds Big Vince continued to set the tempo through a half in :45.61 but Kokomo remained close through the turn and Mansetti accelerated with authority to seize command midway down the lane drawing off to score by four lengths in a final time of 1:10.70 Big Vince crossed the wire second but was disqualified and placed fourth for interference at the start I just let those two go on with it,” said Moran a finalist for last year’s Sovereign Award as Canada’s champion apprentice jockey The win marked another notable success for the Attard-Moran duo recently crowned Canada’s 2024 champion trainer who made a strong return to riding after a season-ending spill last September but also a tremendous human being,” said Attard who enjoyed four wins — all with Moran — on the weekend and I thank everyone for their support,” said Moran who recorded five wins over Saturday and Sunday “I’m grateful to Kevin for trusting me and to the Ulwellings for the opportunity.” Mansetti’s win may have shifted expectations for the colt’s future “If you’d asked me last fall if the Plate was on the radar referencing the $1 million King’s Plate on August 16 “But he’s really matured from two to three Mansetti entered the Woodstock off a fifth-place finish in January’s Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct The track was tiring — he didn’t handle it well The Ulwellings made the right call giving him the winter off,” Attard said Mansetti debuted with a win last September at Woodbine dueling early before pulling away by 1 ¼ lengths in 1:11.49 48) from the 2024 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training Mansetti is named after a popular pizza and pasta restaurant in the Ulwellings’ home state of Minnesota © Woodbine Entertainment Group. All Rights Reserved. Privacy PolicyTerms of Use Just when it didn’t seem possible for Woodstock’s embattled former mayor to be in more hot water Trevor Birtch was back in a London courtroom Thursday on trial for charges related to his complicated love life as always for Birtch – the twice-elected mayor who was trounced at the polls in 2022 and was convicted in 2024 at two sexual assault trials with one to be re-tried because of a successful mistrial application In this round with the criminal justice system pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault and one count of unlawful entry before Ontario Court Justice Jason Miller The charges relate to an incident at a London residence on Oct A Woodstock judge heard earlier this month that on the same day at about 6:20 p.m. Birtch was arrested and charged with impaired driving offences in Oxford County after he was involved in a two-car crash at a rural intersection in Zorra Township A driver of an SUV that flipped on its roof was left with minor injuries driving a white sedan with beer in the cup holder was arrested and found to have more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his blood 11 to driving with more than 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood and was given a 90-day conditional sentence 12 months of probation and a 12-month driving ban Miller heard nothing about the impaired driving conviction but did hear testimony about what was going on with Birtch about an hour before the crash and it wasn’t from the woman named as the victim in the charges The woman was seated in the courtroom at the start of the trial and eventually left the courtroom when a witness exclusion order was made Miller later learned from assistant Crown attorney John Lee the woman had avoided a Crown subpoena and any overtures from the victim-witness support program She also has limited English skills and her first language is either Burmese or Karen She was not co-operating … This is the first time I’m meeting her today or seeing her in court I certainly wasn’t anticipating that she would actually show up,” Lee told Miller Lee called on the son of the friend who testified the woman had been living with the witness and his family in the bottom unit of a duplex for several months but he had only met Birtch once before that day The witness said his bedroom was downstairs he had his girlfriend and their young child over to visit They were talking when his girlfriend said she heard some yelling coming from the main floor The witness said he heard “full-on yelling” too and decided he should check it out He came upstairs and out of the corner of his eye he saw Birtch sitting on the steps at the doorway adding Birtch was “very upset and aggressive” and was yelling at the woman The witness said he pretended to grab something from the dining table while keeping an eye on Birtch “I saw him with his palm smack (the woman) in the face.” “I saw it clearly,” he said and told Lee the woman was struck on the left side of her face He said he told Birtch he couldn’t do that in their home “He got mad and so he was like ‘You want to tussle The witness said he told Birtch he had shown up uninvited and insisted Birtch leave Birtch was back banging on the door and yelling “Let me in “I kind of got a bit scared for my family because he was banging on the door,” the witness said “I wanted to open the door and talk to him … but as soon as I opened the door he swung at me and I dodged it and put him to the ground in self-defence,” he said The witness said he put Birtch in a bear hug to get him to the ground it smelled like he was intoxicated … It smelled like he was drinking before he came to my house.” he said he walked Birtch to his white Chrysler parked across the street the woman was locked inside his mother’s room with his other siblings to be safe the witness told defence lawyer James Battin when he first saw Birtch in the house Birtch was swearing and saying “How could you do this?” to the woman “She got behind me.” He said he saw a red palm print on her face The police were called 10 minutes after Birtch left Battin asked if Birtch tried to resist him when the witness tackled him so I don’t think he could,” the witness said Battin suggested  the witness smelled after-shave The witness said it wasn’t possible because Birtch had stubble on his face He didn’t know if the woman called Birtch later Battin said he thought the Crown would be calling the woman to testify He wanted time to meet with her so he could call her for his defence Miller adjourned the case to March 12 to select a date to continue the trial Birtch has a sentencing hearing on May 5 in the Superior Court of Justice for his two sexual assault convictions stemming from his second trial last fall involving a 39-year-old woman with addiction issues and mental and physical health problems who described several unwanted sexual encounters found Birtch routinely plied the woman with drugs and alcohol and “treat(ed) her body like he owned her.” Birtch was convicted in June 2024 after a trial of sexual assault and assault involving a 45-year-old woman Birtch was seeing at the same time as he was seeing the woman in the second trial Crown disclosure issues prompted Justice Michael Carnegie to declare a mistrial That case returns on March 4 to determine which charges will proceed to a new trial jsims@postmedia.com Oxford County councillors have voted to bump the price of garbage bag tags from $2 to $3 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 increase – a decision made at council’s March 12 meeting – will officially take effect on Jan. 1, 2026. In recent weeks, councillors had been involved in lengthy discussions about the county’s waste collection program and how it should be funded, especially with a separate organics pickup set to begin in the near future. Some councillors had favoured allowing one non-tagged bag for each property – an approach taken by other municipalities – while others said the tags, intended to fully fund waste collection,  were not enough to pay for the program, given the $2 price tag had not changed in years. Ultimately, the $1 increase, and a sense that each property owner can attempt to limit their garbage as they see fit, won the day. “We either raise the taxes of every resident or we increase the bag tag cost,” Blandford-Blenheim Coun. Mark Peterson said. “It makes no sense to increase everybody’s taxes for a service we all can control.” East Zorra-Tavistock Coun. Phil Schaffer said the notion of giving each property one untagged bag was “not feasible.” “Bag tag revenue over the last number of years was relatively flat. It only grew five-and-a-half per cent for that whole five-year period,” he noted. “At the same time, the number of households in Oxford County has grown by 10 per cent. One thing this data can suggest is people are getting the message and reducing the number of bags they’re putting out.” Schaffer predicted the future would involve a “hybrid system” where both bag tags and an increase in property taxes would pay for collection. Woodstock Coun. Jerry Acchione voiced his favour for a hybrid system for 2026, sharing fears that local BIAs and parks will need to deal with an increase in illegal dumping in the wake of the price bump. “I would consider a $3 bag tag if we had one or two bags untagged. . . . It would encourage people to recycle far more and use organics far more,” he said. Tillsonburg Coun. Chris Parker, subbing for the absent Tillsonburg mayor, Deb Gilvesy, said he didn’t see the value in discussing the increase before January. “I’m disappointed to see that it’s back (on the docket) this quick,” Parker said. “I think this is a 2026 budget issue. If we’re looking at the program as a whole, we should be looking to see if we can find efficiencies, especially in the administration of the bag tag system and understanding what the true costs of administering that program is.” Zorra Coun. Katie Grigg,  filling in for the county’s absent warden, Marcus Ryan, said her family has been composting for years, and the increase will allow for families and homeowners to further monitor their waste consumption. “Often people require incentives to be interested in shifting behaviours,” she said. “I really see this as not only a great incentive to help us find some time to learn, (but to) change our behaviours.” New BrunswickNews174K litres of diesel recovered so far from Woodstock, N.B., gas station leak, province saysBy Avery MacRaePublished: April 11, 2025 at 4:54PM EDT Local businesses should take “immediate precautions” in processing electronic payments after a local business was defrauded of almost $5,000 We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentBeware “refund manipulation,” a new type of fraud using debit machines to issue unauthorized refunds, after a recent incident, police said in a release Thursday. A male suspect appeared to make a purchase at a local business at about 4 p.m. on March 9, police said. During the transaction, the suspect cancelled the purchase before “engaging in unauthorized actions on the device,” police said. “In less than a minute, the suspect successfully processed a fraudulent refund of $4,900 to a payment card and left the store undetected.” Refund manipulation presents a “significant risk” to businesses, particularly those that handle debit or credit transactions, police said. Woodstock police recommend businesses closely monitor transactions, use secure payment devices, audit refunds regularly, use security features and report suspicious activity to the police. A 21-year-old man was charged and another was sent to hospital after a stabbing in London’s south end, London police say. Two men who know each other were arguing at a home near Sandringham Crescent and Wilkins Street when one stabbed the other with a knife at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday, police said. The man who was stabbed suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital by paramedics and later released, police said. The knife was not recovered. The suspect was arrested at the home, police said. A 21-year-old London man is charged with assault with a weapon. He is scheduled to appear in court April 16. Maps show diesel spread from the Irving leak and the red line traces fuel in surface water leading to a wetland (orange) Tens of thousands of litres of diesel leaked from the Irving gas station in Woodstock The fuel—up to 100,000 litres—leaked from a cracked pipe leading to an underground storage tank it’s the equivalent of around 500 bathtubs full of diesel flowing into the ground It’s a massive environmental disaster as diesel does not easily evaporate or break down once it enters groundwater Even a single litre can pollute up to one million litres of water Once it enters the water, diesel can remain for decades, threatening drinking water sources, ecosystems and public health. How far it spreads can depend on the geology and water movement in the area the public remains in the dark about critical details What measures are being taken to monitor the damage and spread What is being done to clean up the mess and protect people’s health what is being done to ensure this never happens again Gas stations are required to have leak detection systems alarms that sound when something goes wrong and regular checks to track how much fuel is coming in and going out So how does a gas station lose 100,000 litres of diesel without anyone noticing This leak was discovered in the worst possible way—when diesel contaminants showed up in the well water of a Tim Hortons restaurant across the parking lot That was after some customers said they had smelled fuel in the water when they washed their hands Some claimed they thought they had tasted it in their drinks The restaurant and the gas station shut down The cleanup started, but neither the provincial government nor Irving publicly disclosed the scale of the leak. It took a freedom of information request by CBC to compel the government to release any details it knew about the sheer amount of spilled fuel like whether the diesel reached the nearby watershed or spilled into groundwater Under New Brunswick law, the polluter pays. That means Irving is legally responsible for cleaning up this mess, fixing the damage and covering the costs. However, Irving has not responded to media questions about how the leak went undetected, and the Department of Environment has not explained how such a large spill slipped through the cracks. New Brunswickers deserve transparency. We need to know how this happened, how much damage has been done, how it will be cleaned up and what’s being done to prevent it from happening again. Diesel contamination doesn’t just go away. And neither should our questions. Until we get real answers, we need to demand better from Irving, the government and the systems meant to protect us. Beverly Gingras is the executive director of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick. Federal election campaigns are well underway, and the biggest ballot box issues are affordability and U.S. tariffs. Rising interest rates,... It is not only the blue-collar working class of the USA, fed up with the hawkish politics and imperialist ideology... Il n’y a pas que les pauvres cols bleus, las des politiques va-t-en-guerre et des perspectives mondialistes de Démocrates et... Tantramar Town Council resisted advice from Town Engineer Jon Eppell on Tuesday and ordered that drinking water in Sackville and... The next time Woodstock residents vote in an municipal election they’ll have a chance to choose a deputy mayor after the city’s politicians agreed to add the position to council In a 5-2 recorded vote at a council meeting March 6 Woodstock councillors approved a motion that reshuffles council by replacing a councillor position with a deputy mayor When Woodstock voters head to the polls for the municipal election on Oct city-county councillor and four city councillors the elected city-county councillor serves at the county level along with the mayor “Our city has grown with future expected growth and I feel it is the best interest of our citizens to have the position of a full-time deputy mayor,” Coun added: “The role can be defined as a person who would act as the head of a council assuming the duties of the mayor for a duration requested by the mayor should the mayor be unable to perform the duties due to illness incapacity or if the office becomes vacant.” The role of acting mayor is an appointed position and the addition of an elected deputy mayor allows the public the opportunity to weigh in “(I) believe that should be (an) elected position,” Tait said councillors Bernia Martin and Kate Leatherbarrow both felt current councillors would have the inside track for the deputy mayor position stated the rejig wouldn’t come at a cost to implement noting the 8.35 per cent premium afforded to the city’s acting mayor would be allocated to the elected deputy mayor Woodstock Mayor Jerry Acchione said the move to add a deputy mayor would assist council function and “could step in for that ongoing continuity of business,” in the event a mayor was unable to perform their duties Acchione noted a previous situation in which Lauder took on the acting mayor role and credited her experience “We got very lucky because of the knowledge that Coun Lauder had when (in) a previous term we did run into a scenario,” Acchione said Lauder took on the role of acting mayor in 2022 stepping in for then-mayor Trevor Birtch in February of that year because he was facing charges of assault and sexual assault Earlier this year the embattled former mayor was convicted of sexual assault Birtch pleaded guilty to driving with blood alcohol content over the legal limit and received a 90-day conditional sentence a year of probation and a 12-month driving ban will contest the $125,000 Woodstock Stakes has traditionally been an important fixture in the lead-up to the iconic King’s Plate the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown series Incoming had a winding path leading up to his debut earlier this year he never went south to Florida,” recalled Cox “He stayed in Canada – they brought him back from the [2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling] sale and thought he was sold but he wasn’t – so I had him at Woodbine briefly “He came back last fall and continued training The decision was then made to send him to Florida – he needed to go and get some experience He’s a good-looking horse – people take notice of him – and he moves well.” Sired by Flameaway out of the Shanghai Bobby mare Gem Thief the dark bay debuted on February 12 over 5 ½ furlongs on the Gulfstream synthetic Incoming prompted the pace in the three path “I thought his first race was very positive,” said Cox “He handled the shipping from Toronto to Florida very well Incoming’s second start produced a maiden-breaking victory on March 14 at the Hallandale oval raced in the middle of the pack on the inside up the backstretch before making a bid entering the stretch and gaining ground late of the three-quarter length score at five panels over Gulfstream’s synthetic course “He needed to have that experience from his first race to get this result.” Incoming had a steady work tab at Payson Park which included a five-furlong breeze in 1:02.80 on the dirt on April 16 “He’s really grown up this year,” said Cox who will also send out Kokomo – a son of Flameaway she also owns – in the Woodstock which has given him time to be ready for this I think he’ll run a very good race – he’s already won on the synthetic Incoming was bred in Ontario by Phoenix Rising Farms a son of Caravaggio out of the Vindication mare Full Snow Moon will make his second start of 2025 after a fourth in the Leonatus Stakes at Turfway Park in January spending about two weeks in the barn,” said trainer Dale Desruisseaux I just don’t think he handled the track that day.” the grey gelding galloped to a pair of impressive wins to launch his career in the latter stages of 2024 he’s not an imposing horse,” said Desruisseaux When we started breezing him a bit longer leading up to his first start you could see he was moving in the right direction He’s got his quirks – usually the good ones do – but they are not unmanageable.” a seven-furlong main track race on November 15 at Woodbine Church and State rallied from second-last of 11 to notch a 2 ½-length score at 9-1 “It was a very good race,” said Desruisseaux “I didn’t think he would be as far back as he was – I think Raffi [jockey and I think sometimes those young first-time starters look at the gap and lean that way so Raffi moved him to the outside behind horses He made a nice move around the turn and exploded down the lane I kind of expected him to run that type of race where he sits off the pace and comes with a nice run.” secured a one-length victory at one mile and 70 yards over the same course I think he’ll end up being a seven-eighths I’m looking forward to getting him on the turf as well.” a $15,000 (USD) purchase at the Keeneland Association January 2023 Horses of All Ages sale posted a trio of breezes leading up to the Woodstock including five furlongs in 1:00.60 on Sunday “He has had very nice breezes over the past two-plus weeks but it looks like he will have some speed to run at.”        notched his first stakes victory for trainer Mark Casse and owners Manfred and Penny Conrad Curtolima won the inaugural running in 1885 Lyford Cay won the 1957 Woodstock and took that year’s Queen’s Plate (98th running) by 11 ½ lengths The Woodstock is Race 7 on Sunday’s 8-race card The wagering menu for the race includes Rolling Double Fans can watch and wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and bet365.com Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer  1 – War of Destiny – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse 2 – Mansetti – Pietro Moran – Kevin Attard 3 – Church and State – Rafael Hernandez – Dale Desruisseaux 4 – Big Vince – Walter Rodriguez – Larry Rivelli 6 – Most Likely (S) – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse 8 – Thundering – Eswan Flores – Patrick Dixon 9 – Notorious Gangster – Fraser Aebly – Josie Carroll WOODSTOCK - Camera crews will be coming to Woodstock to film a show about the Friendly City's dark history Farah Foster-Manning is known for being a local actress and triathlete She's producing a new show called Condemned "It's actually a gripping true crime series that I'm bringing here It's the notorious public hangings that occurred here between 1862 and 1954." Foster-Manning was the one to pitch the show to Bell and she learned a lot about her hometown while doing her research I didn't know that all of this happened here until I researched and wow What we found and what we are going to present will be very accurate." The show will showcase historical accuracy with dramatic re-enactments Camera crews will be in the city to shoot five episodes from Monday April 7th to Friday April 11th The courtroom scenes will be filmed on the first floor of the Woodstock Museum but the other scenes will be filmed at Early Bird Coffee Foster-Manning says they're still looking for background talent for the show, and she would love to see some familiar faces on screen. Those who are interested can visit the Condemned Woodstock Facebook page for more details Condemned will make its debut later this year and Foster-Manning is planning to host a local launch event for the big day Farah Foster-Manning called the Heart FM studio for a chat with Dan and Marcie on Monday March 10th You can listen to the full interview below: