LOCAL HEADLINES

November 11 will mark the 100th Remembrance Day ceremony at the historic Norfolk War Memorial Carillon Tower on Norfolk Street. “The ceremony is very well done and it’s usually a good crowd,” said Bruce Wilson, president of the Army Navy Air Force Unit 255 in Simcoe. “It’s good to see the kids out. It should be acknowledged by the schools – a lot of students, even high school students, don’t know what it’s all about. “I do it for me and for the veterans. In my heart, it mak

The rise in cost of living, mental health challenges, and unemployment has prompted The Salvation Army Simcoe Community Church to provide additional community initiatives. ​Josh Edwards, concerned corps officer at The Salvation Army Simcoe Community Church, says the food bank on Colbourne Street has seen a 21 per cent increase of new customers seeking food and essential items for their day-to-day needs. He adds that there are a variety of underlying factors that could be inc

As Canadians, many of us can recite John McCrae’s In Flanders Fields by heart, fully aware of the sadness, sacrifice, and legacy that poem represents. That legacy lives on each year through the Royal Canadian Legion’s Poppy Campaign, a national tradition of Remembrance. From the last Friday of October (Oct. 31) until Remembrance Day (Nov. 11), Canadians proudly wear the poppy to honour our veterans and all those who gave their lives so we can live freely. While the poppy is

A Port Dover development proposal has been put in the hands of Norfolk County staff, with some advice from council. County politicians maintained some reservations about the 12-unit stacked townhouse proposal for Main Street, though their concerns likely would be best addressed under site plan control, a process that doesn’t typically include council. While they supported the idea of the proposal providing more housing in the municipality, they were still worried about the i

Norfolk County water users will face another steep increase in 2026 as the municipality continues to tackle a challenging shortfall in infrastructure funding for water and wastewater services. Council approved a 10.1 per cent increase for 2026, which equates to a monthly increase of $14.83 for a residential home consuming 12 cubic metres. Staff and politicians both acknowledged the significant increases of this year and last, though stressed it’s a necessary response to both

The Royal Canadian Legion, Delhi Branch 125, introduced the ‘No Stone Left Alone’ initiative to the Delhi area this year. “It’s in its 15th year,” said Trudy Ingraham. “The lady who started it, out west, her mother was a veteran. On Remembrance Day, she placed a poppy on her mother’s grave, and she realized there were a lot of other headstones of veterans laid to rest there. She felt it would be a nice idea if they all were remembered.”

Three Canadian organizations are coordinating efforts to offer mental health support for Jamaican foreign migrant workers struggling to deal with Hurricane Melissa’s devastation. Canadians and workers’ host communities quite literally benefit from the fruits and vegetables of their labour says Leanne Arnal, Manager of Community Development, Catholic Community Services York Region (CCSYR), Simcoe Satellite Office. And now, in those workers’ time of need, she feels responsibil

Jake Ireland’s grandfather, Harry Samuel Green, was a soldier in the First World War. “That’s really why I’m here,” said Ireland, volunteering at a Royal Canadian Legion, Simcoe Branch 79 poppy station Sunday afternoon in Simcoe. “I’ve been doing this for maybe 10 years.” Ireland’s grandfather, Harry Samuel Green, was a Home Child, born Oct. 20, 1893, in Aldershot, Hampshire. He was placed in the National Children’s Home following the death of his mother. Harry’s father, wh

A big plus to writing for this publication is the many interesting people I get to meet and the stories they have to tell. Recently I received a text from Daphne Schuyler with an invite to join her and friends for lunch at Kerry’s St. James Street Eatery in Waterford and I couldn’t refuse.

Norfolk County Championship Wrestling delivered big-time with its first Clash on the Coast, a two-show event Oct. 25 at the Port Dover Community Centre. “Collectively, I would say the whole day ran really smooth,” said NCCW promoter Adam Martin. “The excitement, the energy, it was top notch throughout the entire day and night… for both shows. Especially for something that’s never been done like that in this area before.” Martin said there was some concern it might be ‘too l

The Simcoe Farmers’ Market is gathering customer and vendor feedback in preparation for its Nov. 13 relocation grand opening. ​Since 1980, the Simcoe Farmers’ Market has operated in the Homecraft building at the Norfolk fairgrounds. The Market recently moved under the Grandstand after a decision was made by the Norfolk County Agricultural Society, which saw a community need to accommodate a banquet hall in its former location.  

Who would have thought, back in 1992 when the very first Pumpkinfest was celebrated, that it would grow to become one of the most popular community events around? Since then, it has become an annual – and very popular – tradition in Waterford, and the Oct. 17-19 edition has just been ‘put to bed’ for another year.

Despite having no good option in sight, Norfolk councillors have asked county staff for more information on how to adopt provincially mandated recycling collection changes before making a decision. “None of this is good,” said Mayor Amy Martin.

The two sides of the ledger are going in the opposite direction to encourage developers to build more homes, a local builder says. Sam Bunting, owner of Prominent Homes and past president of the Haldimand Norfolk Homebuilders Association, presented to Norfolk councillors at the Oct. 15 council-in-committee meeting, sharing challenges builders are currently facing.

A simplified, flat rate business registration system will be implemented in Norfolk County. Norfolk councillors voted to move to the new system for bricks and mortar businesses following the presentation of a staff report on the issue at the Oct. 15 council-in-committee meeting. It will replace the existing licensing system that charges various fees based on the business. The potential move arose last year - part of its review of fees proposed increases to the licensing sys

The annual Royal Canadian Legion Poster and Literacy Contest, organized locally by Branch 125 in Delhi, is looking for entries.  “Kids from Kindergarten right up to Grade 12 can participate,” said Trudy Ingraham, Youth and Education Chair. “They can make colour posters or black-and-white – it’s a way for kids to be recognized for their artwork. Or they can write a poem or essay for the literacy part of it.”

The 2025 poppy campaign for the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 125 in Delhi kicks off Oct. 31. “It’s always the last Friday of October,” said Trudy Ingraham, Poppy Chair, “and it runs through to Nov. 11.”

The Norfolk County Public Library (NCPL) is evolving, introducing a wide range of programs that connect residents across five branches. Last year, the library ran more than 1,600 programs.

A Norfolk County man accused of killing his mother made a court appearance Tuesday, Oct. 14. Justin Morgan, 45, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Barbara Morgan, 71, who was found dead inside her home on Head Street South in Simcoe on Oct. 5. Police also searched part of a duplex on Stanley Street Oct. 8 and remained on the scene over the weekend.

Human remains discovered in Haldimand County on Thursday, Oct. 16 are connected to a recent homicide in Simcoe, police say. According to a media release from Norfolk OPP, investigators found the remains around 6 p.m. in a wooded area off Highway 6, west of Caledonia. Police say an autopsy was scheduled for Friday to confirm the identity of the deceased and the cause of death.