LOCAL HEADLINES

During a special meeting of council Dec. 2, St. Marys council approved an updated version of the town’s emergency response plan.

Stonetown Artisan Cheese has become one of Perth County’s standout agricultural success stories – a farm-based operation where Swiss tradition, Canadian craftsmanship and premium Holstein milk come together to create some of the province’s most distinctive artisan cheeses.

In recognition of the hard work township staff put in each year, Perth South council has turned a nearly 15-year tradition of giving staff annul Christmas bonuses into a policy that will see that tradition continue without council approval going forward.

Local Rotarians arrived back in Canada recently after a successful Kits for Kenya project. 

The St. Marys Lincolns have points in five straight games, including wins in each of their last four, after running the table in a stretch of three games in four days, including a pair of wins over the top-ranked team in the West that cemented the Lincolns as a top team in the conference.

The Dunny’s Source For Sports U10 A Boys St. Marys Rock captured gold while wearing a Canadian jersey as one of the Canadian teams competing at the CCM Nations Cup in Detroit, Mich., held Nov. 28-30.

Ava Wilder, a 10-year-old from Granton, along with her horse, Visa, won the championship jacket in the youth walk trot ranch trail class at the Color Breed Congress in Tulsa, Okla., from Oct. 31 to Nov. 8.

When Porter Huffman and Colton Lawrence first gathered loose Canadian Tire money from around their homes at age six, they never imagined a simple idea, “Let’s help other kids have a great Christmas,” would grow into a community tradition that would touch hundreds of families.

Though, under the newly expanded Strong Mayor Powers granted to St. Marys by the province earlier this year, there was no passing of an official budget bylaw as there has been in years past, the Town of St. Marys has officially adopted its 2026 budget with 3.88 per-cent levy increase, inclusive of growth.

The St. Marys Museum is inviting locals for festive treats and valuable gift ideas at next month’s annual open house. 

The St. Marys Community Players (SMCP) is hoping locals get on board for their production of Marc Camoletti’s Boeing, Boeing.

The old saying, “When it rains it pours,” is very real and no one knows that better right now then Chris Campbell and partner Emily Montgomery.

When I sat down with Alba Evora Weiler to learn about her current role as Elsa in Disney’s Frozen at the Grand Theatre, my first thought was, “This girl is going places.”

Local fiddle fans and those who enjoy Christmas music or a good, old-fashioned variety show will have two opportunities next month to catch Canadian fiddle champion Scott Woods and his band perform their Christmas Hoedown.

As winter’s darkest stretch settles over southwestern Ontario, the St. Marys Station Gallery is preparing to open an exhibition that feels like a much-needed antidote.

Holiday-themed programming, soirees and a new art exhibition will keep art lovers entertained until Christmas, followed by a unique 2026 chapter for the St. Marys Station Gallery.  

Kinna Sohna, the boutique space at 55 York St. in Stratford, is celebrating 25 years of traditional craftsmanship and ethical fashion with 15 per cent off most items from Dec. 4-7.

As of 2027, after next year’s municipal elections in all four of the county’s lower-tier municipalities usher in new councils, members of Perth County council will begin seeing an increase to their base pay.

We surpassed our goal! Our three fundraising events in October raised over $7,000, which enabled the St. Marys Memorial Hospital Auxiliary to fulfill our commitments for 2025. A big thank you to all who supported the bake sale, The Stitch Market and the Bingo.

The St. Marys Firefighters U13 A Boys St. Marys Rock captured gold at the Collingwood Regional Silver Stick Nov. 13-16.