By Stephen Vance, Editor
If you've ever been in a room full of firefighters when their pagers start beeping, you can really appreciate the dedication and focus required by members of our volunteer fire department.Recently at a gathering at Meaford Hall to honour Meaford firefighters who had participated in the dousing of the Reeds restaurant fire of 2009, the galleries...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
The first mayor of the amalgamated Municipality of Meaford is continuing to pressure council to do away with area ratings for police services in order to make Meaford's taxation system fair for everyone.Gerald Shortt, who had a lengthy political career which included terms as Reeve of St. Vincent Township as well as the Mayor's chair in...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Perspectives are important. It is always fascinating to read one person's take on a situation and then compare it to your own. Sometimes you learn something new, sometimes you don't, and at other times you might simply scratch your head, shrug your shoulders, and move on.In a column this week, our friends at the Express have...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Living in the somewhat insulated environ of a rural Ontario town, it can be easy to forget that many of our problems – or perceived problems – are relatively minor when compared to those experienced by residents of larger communities.
Not that the issues faced by rural residents aren't important, but many of them aren't unique to...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Meaford may have lost two of their top ten administrators in the first few weeks of the new year, but there isn't likely much reason to assume that the sky is falling, and other senior managers will begin an exodus from our municipality.
We also don't need to worry that the loss of the CAO and the...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
I don't envy members of our Meaford Council.
While the first year of their current term - with the exception of the ever-present wind turbine issue - was a fairly tepid one, in the first weeks of 2012 councillors must feel like they have been thrown into a pot of boiling water.
Residents upset about a proposed waste...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
The controversy and public angst over a proposed waste to energy facility in the Municipality of Meaford need never have happened at all, and though he might not know it, my eight year old son can tell you why.
The other day I watched with fatherly pride as my son set about creating a very intricate battle...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
*Please scroll to the bottom of this article to read some additional information added at the request of Meaford Councillor Deborah Young.
For many residents in all parts of our municipality, library services are an issue that bring about strong opinions and emotions – and rightly so.
Libraries are an important component of a thriving community. Much more...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
In a column published last week, John Honderich, Chair of the Board for Torstar, the parent company of the Toronto Star outlined an ongoing battle between Canada's largest city newspaper and Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.
Ford's issue with the Star stems from an article that was published during last year's municipal election campaign in which Ford's aggressive...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Meaford Mayor Francis Richardson called the shouting match between Councillor Deborah Young and a few upset residents regrettable, but it was much more than that.
The incident was both painful and disturbing to witness, but what was even more disturbing is that it should never have happened.
There is no doubt that many of the residents who attended...
