Town council asks for boundary adjustment to include the Norfolk Mall

Jeff Helsdon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A request from the property owners of 400 Simcoe Street for a boundary adjustment to include it in the Town of Tillsonburg revealed that a Winner’s store is coming to the location in 2026.

A letter from E & E McLaughlin Ltd. to council, discussed at the Oct. 14 meeting, stated that 22,500 square feet of the former Walmart space will become a Winners store, set to launch in July 2026. TK Liquidation will continue to occupy the remainder of the former Walmart location.

Furthermore, a new standalone 40,000-square-foot building will be constructed on the property to house two to three additional businesses.

In her letter, Kassandra Way, Chief Operating Officer with E & E McLaughlin, stated that there have been ongoing issues with loitering in the parking lot, resulting in noise and litter complaints from neighbours.

“Despite multiple calls from both ourselves and our neighbours, police response times from Simcoe have proven ineffective, as the individuals in question often leave before officers arrive,” Way wrote.

With this factor in mind, in addition to water and sanitary sewer not being available in Norfolk, Way requested that the property be incorporated within Tillsonburg through a boundary adjustment.

Speaking to the letter, Coun. Chris Parker said, “This has been a key property that has been in a number of discussions dating all the way back to the boundary adjustment committee in 2021. It has a direct impact on our commercial growth even though right now it’s outside the boundary of the Town of Tillsonburg. This is an opportunity to try to work to try to bring it in the town of Tillsonburg.”

Mayor Deb Gilvesy commented property owners can request to have their property in a particular municipality.

Council passed a motion acknowledging the need for more commercial land, noting that the County of Oxford currently provides servicing to the mall, and requesting support from the county to include 400 Simcoe Street in the town's boundaries.