LOCAL HEADLINES

Eight seconds - that’s the goal for bull riders. Tillsonburg’s Ashten Buzsik did not quite make it during the Norfolk Pro Rodeo at Timmermans Ranch, July 20, in Nixon. Buzsik, 22, “came down early” riding Dancing with the Devil. “I would say that was one of my best rides this year,” said Buzsik, who is having a comeback season after breaking his leg late last year. “I’m getting closer and closer to that eight seconds.” Only two of 14 bull riders successfully reached the ei

Chris Glassford of Glassford Productions has been rapidly expanding his ribfest business, adding three new festivals to Your Local Ribfest’s 2025 summer tour, including the first Norfolk County Ribfest on July 18-20. They also have festivals i

A sunny day, a sizzling barbecue and a strong sense of community defined Aspira Cedar Crossing Retirement Living’s July 16 fundraiser. The community gathered on the grounds of Aspira Cedar Crossing Retirement Living at 395 Cedar Street in Simcoe for a barbecue lunch with the residents. Most importantly, it was a day of social interaction, connection and fundraising. 

By most accounts, crime numbers appear to be dropping in Norfolk. According to statistics from the Norfolk County OPP detachment, both violent crime and property crime has been dropping in 2025. The numbers were presented at the July 16 OPP Detachment Board meeting.

Norfolk County staff have been asked to review a stop sign they didn’t recommend installing in the first place. Coun. Adam Veri, who represents the riding that includes Port Dover, said residents have spoken to him about a stop sign that was placed at the intersection of Nelson Street and Maple Boulevard in that community. The county installed the stop sign even though staff at the time said the

A group of 25 people combed the landscape within an assigned area to participate in the annual Long Point Butterfly Count on Saturday, July 5. The Long Point count, sponsored by the Norfolk Field Naturalists, focusses on a 15-mile-diameter circle centered on Long Point Inner Bay.

A hurdle put up by the province’s transportation ministry appears to be the one thing keeping a Delhi property owner from building the commercial development Norfolk County councillors desire.

For years, Izzy Pender helped her grandparents run their produce business. Today, she and her partner are proud to carry that legacy forward at the Port Dover Silver Lake Market, with fresh food, familiar faces and a deep love for the market.

The path to maintaining Norfolk’s $5.5 billion in assets has become somewhat clearer now that councillors have approved its first full, comprehensive asset management plan. An increasing priority from Queen’s Park, plans such as Norfolk’s take stock of all the municipally owned assets - from roads to arenas - determining their state and estimating the cost to maintain or replace the assets when they reach the end of their lifecycle. The idea is to get municipalities thinking

Given the current state of provincial and federal funding, Norfolk’s inter urban water supply project seems like it’s becoming a bit of a pipe dream. Staff weren’t ready to fully give up on the idea that upper levels of government would provide the required two-thirds funding benchmark the county set to start phase one of the IUWS project, however they acknowledge it’s time to make other plans.

One way or another, Norfolk County is hopeful a provincial fund will help pay for a portion of public transit in the municipality. Councillors supported a staff plan to apply for an Ontario Transit Investment Fund grant at the July 8 council-in-committee meeting. This was despite some ambiguity about the requirements as well as a plan from the South Central Ontario Region Economic Development Corporation (SCOR) to apply for the same fund.

James Christison, Curator of Waterford Heritage & Agricultural Museum, is pleased to announce the opening of their newest exhibit ‘Textiles of Tenacity: Historical Red & White Quilts.’ Their latest feature exhibit adorns the main hall and captures one’s attention as soon as they step into the gallery. Red and white is a classic colour scheme for quilt making that was very popular for over a century and now has a very s

With support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), the Long Point Basin Land Trust is expanding its reach, deepening community engagement, and growing conservation efforts across the region. Long Point Basin Land Trust recently received a $106,300 grant from the OTF to expand its mission to spread organization awareness and its values on maintaining habitat conservation and nature programming.

If any would-be renters in Norfolk are struggling to find a place to live, they’re not alone. The county’s housing needs study found a vacancy rate well below what experts would consider healthy. Consultant Erik Karvinen, from Watson and Associates, presented the study at the July 8 council-in-committee meeting. And while many of the overarching themes were familiar, county staff did say the study lays a foundation for future work to address housing issues in Norfolk. Risin

Many things stand out at the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association, which celebrated its 40th anniversary at the Tillsonburg Regional Airport on Saturday, July 5. The glue that holds CHAA together, said Shane Clayton, is the love of the history of the aircraft itself and the camaraderie of those that share similar passions. “With the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, it was our greatest single contribution to the

Whether it’s the first song from a wedding dance, a favourite tune from high school, or a sound track from a pivotal point in one’s life, most of us have had the experience of music sparking memories.

Oscar Martinez’s affable nature has earned him the Spanish nickname ‘Muneca’ - ‘Doll’ in English - among his Sandy Shore Farms compatriots. But for the next year at least, the Mexico City native has also gained the title of ‘Norfolk’s Biggest Jerk.’

The volume and variety of art and artisan work will amaze visitors at the Capitol Arts Market and Gallery in downtown Simcoe. “People are usually looking for one thing,” said Susan Bennett. “It might be a water colour, it might be a piece of glass…”

The Norfolk Pro Rodeo is back for another year! On July 18, 19, and 20, you can expect a fun-filled weekend of rodeo and country fun. This event has quickly become one of the can’t miss events of the summer here in Norfolk County. Remember the dates and be sure to put them in your calendar so you don’t miss out on this fun annual event at 2454 Nixon Road.

Martial Arts Canada marked its 50th anniversary on June 7, and The Pitt – a MAC location in La Salette - joined the celebration. “We kind of started in my garage,” said Shihan Mike Hill, owner and head instructor of The Pitt, recalling its earliest days. “We actually started in a squash court in Tillsonburg about 2011, then we did some work in my garage. I think we started moving stuff into The Pitt in the fall of 2014, and started in 2015.”