Monday, September 15, 2025

Editorial

The Mystery of the Origins of Meaford’s Golden Nickname

Stephen Vance, Editor Meaford is frequently referred to as 'Golden Town', a nifty nickname that I've been aware of since I moved here in 2005, and though I've often wondered where the name came from, I'd never given it too much thought until recently, when I thought it might be fun to write a story about the origins of the...

Embrace the Extra Sand on Our Streets – it’s Part of What’s Saving Us a Bundle

Stephen Vance, Editor If Meaford's streets appear a little grittier than they have in the past as this week's warm temperatures have melted away all of that snow, well, they are. And while we might now lose points on aesthetics during spring melts in Meaford, it's a worthy trade-off for the more than $200,000 we're saving as a result of...

When it Comes to Municipal Finances, Give Credit Where Credit is Due

Stephen Vance, Editor Our current council, along with the council that served before it, deserve much credit for committing to taking on as little new debt as possible while chipping away at Meaford's long-term debt, which had grown to roughly $10 million at the start of this decade, and actually following through. As of the end of 2016, Meaford's long-term...

“Just Two Toonies” Is Just Too Much

Stephen Vance, Editor Meaford councillor Shirley Keaveney rightfully questioned the $4 fare for Meaford's municipal transit bus at council this week, and I hope that once council receives a report from staff and they have time to reflect on the fare, they will opt to lower it.Meaford's Treasurer has said on more than one occasion that the $4 fare was...

I Think I Need a News Vacation

Stephen Vance, Editor Some guys like fishing, others like watching sports, but me, I'm a news junkie. I watch and read news both local and international with the enthusiasm that many reserve for the Saturday night hockey game. But the events of the past few months have exhausted me and frazzled my brain, and I think I might need to...

Optics of ‘Value Statement’ For New Library Board a Little Blurred

Stephen Vance, Editor In the world of municipal politics, optics can be everything. That's why it was somewhat surprising that, before approving the five new library board members at council's Monday meeting, Mayor Barb Clumpus read a prepared statement carrying the title 'A Value Statement regarding Library Services for all residents of the Municipality of Meaford'.Surprising not due to the...

The Cost of Electricity – a True Catch 22

Stephen Vance, Editor If you're a winter hater like me, the term 'January thaw' always sounds so appealing; an oasis in the middle of the winter desert. Until it begins, and then you remember that a January thaw also includes chilly damp air, cold rain, and thawing snow that freezes overnight making roads and sidewalks slippery the next morning. We've had...

Regarding the Hospital – It’s Appropriate to Be Concerned, But It’s Also Important to be Concerned About the Right Things

Stephen Vance, Editor One thing we can say with certainty about Meaford residents is that they are passionate, and will fight for their community when necessary. We've seen evidence of this recently with the circulation of a petition aimed at voicing concern that Meaford's hospital could lose its operating room.  The passion of Meaford's residents is one of many things...

Library Board Fiasco Begs an Important Question

Stephen Vance, Editor An important unanswered question in the wake of last week's library board fiasco is just how was council able to prepare a plan after all five volunteer library board members resigned on Monday and Tuesday of last week, execute the plan, then have a bylaw prepared with the names of four people to appoint to the board...

What We Really Need is a Regional Library System

Stephen Vance, Editor Unless an agreement can be reached very, very soon residents in the Sydenham area of the municipality will lose their long-held library privileges at the Owen Sound North Grey Union Public Library. Should that happen (and by absolutely no means should Meaford's council allow that to happen) residents of the former Sydenham Township will have every right...