LOCAL HEADLINES

On Saturday, the St. Marys Fire Department took part in annual survival training. Captain Greg St. Clair designed the obstacles based on the International Association of Firefighters survival program outline.

Perth County council has endorsed planning staff’s comments on the province’s latest round of proposed planning and development legislation, raising concerns about the impact Bill 98 could have on local decision-making, rural planning and municipal flexibility.

The Thames River Paddling Club (TRPC), in partnership with Andrew’s Legacy, brought another automated external defibrillator (AED) to the Wildwood Conservation Area.

Who wants to play Bingo? For the month of May, the St. Marys Business Improvement Area (BIA) is giving locals the opportunity to join in the fun.

The bi-annual Friends of Library (FOL) Book Sale in St. Marys was quite a success and continues to bring the community together, drawing between 700 and 800 visitors each year as residents browse tables stacked high with donated books.

The St. Marys Business Improvement Area (BIA) board has approved a series of revised artistic banner designs that will soon add new colour and character to the town’s downtown core.

The 2026 Smile Cookie campaign was another incredible success for the community, raising a total of $18,486.98 in support of new trauma lights for the St. Marys Memorial Hospital emergency department.

Businesses across Perth County are continuing to show confidence in the local economy, with many planning for change or growth in the coming years, according to the county’s latest business retention and expansion (BR+E) survey.

Mrs. Becker’s Grade 6/7 class has been working on a very interesting project since the fall of 2025. The program the project falls under is called the Green Leaders Initiative, a youth-driven effort focused on community-based climate action, biodiversity restoration and sustainability education.

Students from all three Stratford high schools, Nancy Campbell Academy, St. Michael Catholic Secondary School and Stratford District Secondary School (SDSS), recently met at the Stratford city hall auditorium for the second annual Stratford Regional Model United Nations (MUN).

The St. Marys DCVI Senior Girls Soccer team picked up three wins in four games, including victories in both of their games on May 5 along with another win on May 11.

The St. Marys DCVI Senior Boys Soccer team defeated St. Anne’s on May 5, riding a major uptick in their ball control to a 3-0 shutout victory.

The St. Marys DCVI Junior Boys Soccer team picked up a 3-0 victory in their first game of the regular season May 7 against Listowel District Secondary School (LDSS).

After more than a year of planning, debate and public input, cleanup work at the West Quarry in St. Marys is set to begin Monday as the town moves forward with its plan to rehabilitate the former industrial site.

After a delay due to safety concerns, the Thames River Cleanup was able to take place on Saturday, April 25.

The Piecemakers Quilt Show drew large crowds to the Pyramid Recreation Centre this past weekend, celebrating the artistry, dedication, and community spirit behind the timeless craft of quilting.

Some very creative minds received recognition when their skills got put to the test with some hands-on building by Skills Ontario that included Junk Drawer Races and Skills competition.

As local demand continues to rise, the St. Marys Public Library is calling on the community to help keep its pantry program stocked and ready to support residents in need.

The beautiful Riverwalk Commons is getting busier as owner Melissa Barton, who purchased the building in 2020, has transformed it into a warm, welcoming space for events, drop-ins and pop-ups with one of these pop-ups taking place on May 8 and May 9.

On April 21, well into the third period of Game Seven, the St. Marys Lincolns were down 2-0, with little going their way.