LOCAL HEADLINES

The Wellesley Fall Fair Ambassador Program doesn’t end when the fair wraps up in August – it continues throughout the year as part of the ambassador’s educational experience.

The Perth East Fire Department marked Fire Prevention Week last week with interactive displays and demonstrations at the Shakespeare Fire Station.

Members of the Shakespeare Optimist Club gathered recently to honour retiring president Mike McNeil, whose years of leadership and enthusiasm left a lasting mark on both the club and the community.

Many years ago, members of Tavistock’s Medical Board – now known as Tavistock Community Health Inc. (TCHI) – worked hand in hand with the community’s doctors to maintain the local medical facility and equipment while caring for their patients.

The flagpole at Tavistock’s five corners has a new neighbour — a giant syringe marking the community’s ongoing efforts to raise funds for much-needed upgrades to the Tavistock Medical Building.

Nine 4-H members from Waterloo Region have been selected to compete in the TD 4-H Dairy Classic Show this November at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.

East Zorra-Tavistock’s (EZT) recreation advisory committee (RAC) is one step closer to recommending sport and leisure options for residents.

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the United Church of Canada, members of Grace United Church in Tavistock are launching a special tree sale next Saturday, Oct. 18, from 9 a.m. to noon.

The Tavistock and Area Ministerial Association holds a community lunch at Grace United Church every month called the High Noon Luncheon.

It was supposed to be the game of the season to date in the Provincial Junior Hockey League’s (PJHL) Doherty Division. What it turned out to be was a disappointment, as ice issues at the relatively new Bill Gies Recreation Centre led to the postponement of the Tavistock versus Wellesley matchup, with first place on the line.

The success of any minor hockey system is based first and foremost on its numbers. The Tavistock Minor Hockey Association (TMHA) has increased enrolment for the 2025-2026 Ontario Minor Hockey League season despite the Ontario Hockey Federation allowing any player to play in the centre of their choice.

Wellesley council has approved a set of 10 guiding principles that will help the township’s consultants move ahead with developing between two and three options for the future use of the property on which the old Village of Wellesley arena and community centre currently sit.

Wilmot Township is preparing a new official plan and the public has an opportunity to get educated and provide input.

Though Wilmot Fire Chief Rod Leeson spoke about the urgent need to replace the Wilmot Fire Department’s 75-foot aerial ladder truck, township councillors have opted not to proceed with the sudden opportunity to purchase a 100-foot ladder truck at a reduced price.

Oxford County Warden Marcus Ryan recently took to social media to share an idea proposing that municipal governments take on some of the responsibilities currently managed by school boards. The county’s top elected official is a longtime critic of how boards are governed.

Empty Bowls for Haiti is back again this year, giving people in our community a way to help others. Empty Bowls for Haiti takes place on Saturday, Oct. 18, at Steinmann Mennonite Church at 1316 Snyder’s Rd. W, Baden.

Though the intent was to develop a policy that would allow for the painting of a commemorative crosswalk in New Hamburg to honour local veterans ahead of Remembrance Day this year, the establishment of such a crosswalk has been pushed to next year, but a township commemorative/decorative crosswalk policy is still moving toward approval.

By 2027, there could be as many as 5,000 new trees planted along roadsides in Wellesley Township, and another 4,000 trees planted along roadsides in Wilmot Township.

Oxford MP Arpan Khanna says people are dying on Canada’s streets while the government delays working on fixing the nation’s bail problems.

The Township of Wilmot is accepting applications for participation in a community steering committee that will guide the next phase of the controversial Prime Ministers Path project.