By Stephen Vance, Editor
Five years ago the first Earth Day clean-up at Meaford's Memorial Park attracted a small handful of volunteers who tromped through the park on a chilly Sunday in April gathering up every piece of trash and dog droppings they could find.
For the most part, the volunteers who participated in the first two years are the same...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
A criticism I hear regularly, and with increasing frequency about Meaford is that it has become a NIMBY community.
Wind turbines? Not in my back yard. Waste to energy incinerator? Not in my back yard. Cell tower placement? Not in my back yard.
Whether Meaford is deserving of the NIMBY moniker I'm not so certain, however Meaford residents...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
The recent changes to the rules regarding medical marijuana in Canada are a bit of a mixed bag from a patient perspective. Where previously patients were permitted to grow their own medicine, under the new scheme patients must destroy their plants and begin purchasing their medication from large-scale, government-regulated producers. That change, if it holds –...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
I'm not much for ‘Hallmark holidays’, or for special interest created events that tell us what we should be doing, and when we should be doing it.
From my perspective, if you love your gal, you don't need Valentine's Day to be the day to show it – one would hope that would be expressed throughout the...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
The last week has provided many hopeful signs that we are finally escaping the cold grip of winter, and we're heading into warmer temperatures, and soon perhaps, a blossom or two will appear.
Spring. A time of renewal, rebirth, and new life all around us.
It isn't just the natural world around us that is humming with...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
What Meaford's council did in response to a plea from residents to establish a policy for the placement of microwave cell towers, and to make attempts to delay a proposed tower in a residential neighbourhood if at all possible, was astonishing – in a good way.
After listening to three representative speakers who all spoke to concerns...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Something has been bothering me about the Owen Sound Police Services proposal for assuming policing duties in the Municipality of Meaford, and it has nothing to do with the quality of service or the proposed costs and potential cost savings identified by staff.
What's been bothering me about this whole issue comes down to human nature.
What's in...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Established in 1936, The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is Canada's internationally respected public broadcaster, however it has also become a popular modern-day punching bag for many.
That the CBC has become a punching bag is unfortunate given the quality journalism and programming provided by the crown corporation on radio, television, and the internet.I felt compelled to write about...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
There is no doubt in my mind that Meaford's councillors find themselves in a very difficult, confusing and frustrating position when it comes to the future of policing in the municipality.
The proposal submitted by the Owen Sound Police Service would, on paper at least, save the municipality hundreds of thousands of dollars over a five year...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
In an attempt to remain calm under pressure, my mantra over the last week has been “stuff happens”. Well, my actual mantra has used slightly less polite language, and has at times been followed by additional expletives, but reminding myself that sometimes stuff does happen and the best course of action is to forge ahead was...
