By Stephen Vance, Editor
Another Thanksgiving weekend is upon us, and in spite of our problems - or sometimes more accurately, our perceived problems – in Meaford, we have much to be thankful for.
Thanksgiving is my favourite of all celebratory holidays, and while summer fun is slowly inching away from us, the Farmers' Market is wrapping up their season, and...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
October is National Library Month, and libraries are indeed worthy of celebration and appreciation.
Given the relatively small size of our municipality, those who live in Meaford are very fortunate to be served by not one, but three libraries. All residents of Meaford can access the Meaford Public Library on Trowbridge Street, and Meaford residents through a...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
There is no question that it can't be easy to be a member of a municipal council, but it is an important job, and one that the general public counts on in order to ensure they are represented at their local council.
Sometimes councillors have difficult decisions to make, and sometimes, even though a decision will prove...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Before anyone gets their knickers in a knot after hearing that Meaford is heading for significant shortfalls in funding for municipal infrastructure repair and replacement in the not too distant future, it should first be noted that Meaford is far from alone in this predicament.
For many years municipal governments across North America have been warned that...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Meaford's council has given the green-light to proceed to the next phase in establishing a Heritage Conservation District aimed at protecting historically significant buildings as well as the character of the downtown core.
While many have expressed concern about the potential implications of such a move, it doesn't need to be a burden for property owners within...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Meaford's already irritated rural residents have been confused and angry in recent weeks after council voted to alter the arrangement for rural community halls, after a staff discovery that those facilities had lacked liability insurance for several years.
Meaford's staff and members of council have likewise been confused, and at times likely angry themselves, about the aggressive...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Maybe it's just me, but if you look closely when you are out and about, perhaps at the grocery store, or at the beach, or in the morning queue at the coffee shop, in recent days parents everywhere have been sporting that subtle but knowing look on their faces – summer is almost over.
While it may...
By Stephen Vance, Staff
Members of Meaford's council are no doubt frustrated and weary these days after weeks and months of being bombarded with complaints from rural residents who have been beating the drums of discontent with the municipality.
It is one thing to be frustrated and weary, however it is quite another thing to be distant and disrespectful.When members of...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Former MPP Bill Murdoch is one of those politicians that I rarely agree with. He and I approach life from opposite ends of the political spectrum, and there is nothing wrong with that – that is the beauty of a healthy democracy.
Even though I often find my own views at odds with those of Murdoch,...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
While residents of the former Sydenham Township are unlikely to find success in their expressed desire to separate from the Municipality of Meaford, they are doing the entire municipality a favour by highlighting not only their own frustrations, but those of many residents throughout the municipality.Property tax rates have not just skyrocketed in Sydenham - all...
