LOCAL HEADLINES

Tillsonburg’s 2026 Citizen of the Year Scott Gooding is carrying on a family tradition by volunteering.

Tillsonburg-area resident George Gilvesy has been named as the 2025 Agriculture Hall of Fame recipient by the Oxford County Federation of Agriculture.

And they’re off! To borrow a horse-racing term, the race to fill six councillor seats and the mayor’s position for Tillsonburg council officially started on May 1.

Tillsonburg council approved expanding its RZone policy to protect council members from harassment and inappropriate behaviour.

The 13th annual MSC Trail Walk and Run is planned for Sunday, June 7, at Memorial Park.

A Tillsonburg councillor raised concerns about the cost of integrity commissioner investigations. Coun. Chris Rosehart asked for the total expenses for the integrity commissioner investigation and whether these were expected to increase in the second quarter during discussions on the first-quarter finances. She was told there were eight code of conduct investigations totaling $74,227 and three conflict of interest investigations totaling $35,500.

A long-standing tradition of two-hour parking in downtown Tillsonburg will change for Saturdays only.

Tillsonburg council deferred approval of a zoning change and recommendation for an official plan amendment for a planned apartment building due to concerns over available water capacity.

At its regular council meeting on May 5, South West Oxford (SWOX) council endorsed Oxford Community Child Care Inc. (OCCC) for the operation of a childcare centre within the proposed new municipal office, library, and childcare facility in Mount Elgin.

Tillsonburg’s Nancy Lester has participated in MS Walks for the last 27 years. This year her goal is to raise $10,000 in MS Walk donations by May 31st, which would surpass the $250,000 fundraising mark.

Tillsonburg Gemini first baseman Odin Oatway proved he could both hit the long ball and play the long romantic game through a 5-0 Thames Valley Regional Athletics baseball shutout victory over St. Thomas Parkside Monday, May 11 at Tillsonburg’s Sam Lamb Park.

The local asparagus crop took a hit after the frost last weekend. Ashly Koteles of Koteles Farms on New Road said the season got off to a strong start with the first cut on April 29.

Tillsonburg Turtlefest is the first stop on Canadian country singer Nate Haller’s summer tour.

Ribfest is returning to Tillsonburg. Previously, the Tillsonburg Thunder organized Tillsonburg Ribfest for several years until 2023. The hockey club didn’t continue with the event, but Jorge Gonzalez is bringing it back to the Tillsonburg Fairgrounds May 22-24.

Two Tillsonburg businesses will be adding a little more taste to their operations thanks to Tourism Innovation Grants from Tourism Oxford, Community Futures Oxford, and Rural Oxford Economic Development Corporation.

What was supposed to be “punishment” for Canadian airmen during the Second World War turned into a blessing.

When municipalities buy new vehicles, they’ll now have to give special consideration to Ontario and Canada-made products, and soon that will expand to include capital infrastructure projects.

A bigger and expanded Port Burwell Writer’s Festival is planned for the Victoria Day weekend.

The Tillsonburg Horticultural Society’s annual Garden Auction and Sale is much more than a plant auction.

A team can only put 15 rugby players on a field at one time.