By Stephen Vance, Editor
As of this morning, The Meaford Independent has received replies from eight of the 17 candidates that have as of this week announced their intention to seek a seat on Meaford's council.
We may still see some more candidates with the nomination deadline just a few weeks away, in fact, while writing this column, I received an...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
It isn't often these days that I become distracted by international news. Typically I live and breathe local issues and events, and though I keep informed about what is going on in the rest of the world via podcasts, some favourite magazines and news websites, that information gathering is reserved for my spare time.
Every now and...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
It's been more than five years since I've had an actual week of vacation time – you know, time away from work, email, the phone. It's been even longer since I've had more than a week off, and longer still since I've actually gone away for a vacation.
And while that isn't going to change this...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Earlier this week, Meaford council gave approval to the establishment of a Heritage Conservation District aimed at preserving the historic character of the downtown core.
Run for the hills! Barricade your doors! The Man is coming after your property rights!
Really?
I've heard a lot of “facts” being tossed about with regard to this policy. The trouble is, some...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
If you pick up some raspberries or blueberries at the farmers' market this week, they quite likely arrived in your kitchen with a little help from some friends, maybe even some of your own friends.
This week I was an arms-length witness to the true nature of a small town like Meaford, a community that responds when...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
I'm often asked how I and my fellow reporters manage to endure sitting through council meetings. Don't you get frustrated? Don't you get bored? Isn't it just a big waste of time?
If I were a fan of brevity, I would answer those three questions with – sometimes, not really, and absolutely not.
Brevity however has never been...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
In July four years ago we were starving for municipal election candidates, particularly for the position of councillor. At that time there were three mayoral candidates, however candidates for council were severely lacking. Even by the end of August in 2010, there were just three candidates announced for council seats.
That quickly changed with a surge of...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Meaford was hopping earlier this week with Canada Day celebrations taking place throughout the municipality. From Bognor to Woodford, Leith to St. Vincent, and down to Meaford's harbour, a sea of red and white greeted the first of July.
Granted, the parade (all two minutes of it) on Tuesday seemed to be missing much when compared to...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
The warm, summer-like weather has finally arrived, students have heard the final bell of the year, June is soon to be a memory, and July is on the horizon, and that can only mean one thing...we are four months from the 2014 municipal election.
In recent weeks I've been putting together questions to include in a package...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
I have lived in Meaford for nearly a decade, and this community never ceases to amaze me with its wonderfully strange mix of character traits.
Mention Meaford outside of our borders, and it is likely you will hear about a community that always seems to be up in arms about something. Wind turbines, cell towers, waste incinerators,...
