When spring arrives, I begin thinking of the coming farmers' market season. Our local farmers work hard year-round, but their busiest times are of course in the spring and autumn, and at this time of year they are busy planting and preparing for the season to come. Before long, they will have freshly grown vegetables, fruits, and proteins available...
The winter snow is gone, and much of the sand and grit has been swept away. With Earth Week approaching it is time to give this community a spring cleaning.
No matter your views on environmental issues, I think one thing we can all agree on is that a cleaner community is a better place to live than a trashy...
Later this month (April 18), this community will host its first ever volunteer recruitment fair, and as the date has been approaching, I have been reflecting upon the value of volunteering to communities, as well as to those who do the volunteering.
When I first moved to Meaford in the autumn of 2005, the following spring I began volunteering with...
The report presented to council on Monday by Principles Integrity, which provides this municipality with Integrity Commissioner services, was a reminder it is an important tool not only for residents who might have a concern about the conduct of a member of council, or council as a whole, but also for members of council themselves who can seek advice...
Tuesday, March 19 marked the first day of spring. While we have had a very spring-like winter season with long stretches of balmy (for the time of year) temperatures and little in the way of snowfall, when I awoke on Tuesday morning, the first day of spring, the ground was covered in a thin layer of snow that had...
Each year around this time, the municipality releases a report which shares with the public the remuneration received by our members of council. In spite of the suggestion by some that our members of council should 'cut their pay' in order to reduce taxes, the reality is that you could completely wipe out all council remuneration, and you wouldn't...
Navigating the world of municipal governance can be frustrating at the best of times for folks who aren't immersed in the system. When new development proposals surface, they can often raise the ire of an entire community, though some of the anxiety and frustration felt by residents upon hearing of a new development proposal could be alleviated with a...
For the first time since I launched The Meaford Independent in 2009, I am writing an editorial to be published on 'leap day', February 29.
It only comes around every four years, and for many, leap years are just an interesting quirk on our calendars. But for others the leap year holds more importance. For our office helper and budding...
This coming Saturday, February 24, the Coldest Night of the Year fundraising (and awareness) walk will take place in Meaford for the very first time. The walk aims to raise funds and awareness of to help support people experiencing homelessness in our community.
First launched in 2011 in Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo, the initiative caught on, and today, 13 years later,...
Meaford's municipal budgets for 2024 will soon be approved, and this year residents of the Municipality of Meaford will see one of the lowest tax rate increases in all of Grey County.
Described from the outset as a 'lean' budget, barring any last minute changes prior to final council approval, Meaford ratepayers will see a 2.8 percent increase on the...
