NORTH WELLINGTON – The Advertiser would like to wish everyone a safe and happy new year.
As we welcome 2025, here is a look back on some of the stories that made headlines in northern ɫشýin 2024.
January
The Town of Minto applied for a $48,000 Community Emergency Preparedness Grant (CEPG) to install a generator at the Palmerston and District Community Centre. Council authorized staff to proceed with the grant application on Dec. 19, 2022.
The local ‘Turn on Your Lights’ contest winners were announced. The residential first prize winners were Allan and Brenda Gilstorf. Residential second prize winners were Neil Presswood and Holly Manion. The commercial prize winner was Co-operators – Robert J. Cottell and Associates Inc. with a special mention going to Gerri’s Beauty Salon.
A three-year contract for animal control services was approved by town council. A staff report provided to council on Dec. 19, 2022, noted that R & R Pet Paradise had provided animal control for the Town of Minto for the previous six years. The initial three-year agreement with the company had expired in November of 2020.
Aiming to give back to the community during the holiday season, Agrisan Specialty Chemical and Pharmaceutical in Arthur donated $20,000 to the Centre ɫشýFood Bank on Dec. 29.
The Drayton Chop House was reopened under new management Nov. 27 after being closed for over 18 months. New owners Chef Gaurav Parmer and Vidit Gupta introduced a new menu upon reopening.
Dr. Terry Fisk retired after nearly 50 years of veterinary medicine. Fisk told the Advertiser in a Jan. 11 interview that he had never doubted his career choice. “The only thing I ever wanted to be was a veterinarian. If I had not been accepted into veterinary school, I’m not sure what I would have done, because I had no other plans,” said Fisk.

Dr. Terry Fisk retired last January after nearly five decades of practicing veterinary medicine in the north ɫشýarea.
Three local paramedics were among 65 from across the province to receive Governor General Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal bars at a ceremony at Queen’s Park on Dec. 13. Minto resident Dean Wick, a member of the Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services (RWPS), received a second bar for 40 years of service, while Guelph-ɫشýParamedic Services (GWPS) paramedics Wendy Bieman of Mapleton and former ɫشýnorth resident Amy Benn both received first bars for 30 years.
Plans for a new industrial mall in Palmerston were given the green light to move forward as town council approved the sale of a one-acre lot at 340 Minto Road in the Palmerston Industrial Park to J&P Brothers Ltd. at a Jan. 9 meeting.
The eighth annual Andersons’ Community Christmas Dinner was “a huge success,” according to organizers. “We fed about 400 people,” with numbers split evenly between dine in and takeout, deputy Mayor Jean Anderson told Minto council members on Jan. 9.
On Dec. 7 a ɫشýNorth parent reported she and her son were nearly struck by a passing car at Victoria Cross Public School in Mount Forest. Councilors voiced support for anything that would help improve safety.
Five school zones and one community safety zone in Mapleton were part of a trial automated speed enforcement (ASE) program on ɫشýCounty roads. The report, presented at the Jan. 16 township council meeting, indicated the goal to have a contract awarded by February, with implementation to occur prior to school commencing that September.
February
St. Mary Catholic School in Mount Forest closed following an electrical fire on Jan. 25. Volunteer firefighters arrived at the school at about 6:15am to find flames coming from the roof, according to ɫشýNorth deputy fire chief Callise Loos.
Responses camefrom stations in ɫشýNorth, Harriston and Minto, with around 30 firefighters in total. Nobody was injured in the fire, nor was anyone in the elementary school at the time of the fire. Fire officials deemed the blaze to be not suspicious, and Loos said the cause is believed to be “electrical in nature.”
On the morning of Jan. 25, community members gathered inside the new Foodland in the north end of Mount Forest for the store’s grand opening. Franchise owner Andrew Kelly began the ribbon-cutting ceremony with some words about the construction team, lead executive, leadership and store team for making the opening possible.
The Minto Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Town of Minto, held ribbon-cutting ceremonies marking the official welcoming of five new businesses to the community on Jan. 23. Ribbons were cut at:
- CDP Diesel Repair & Service, owned by Nathan and Amanda Wombwell, at 114 Noble Family Road, Palmerston;
- Two Pines Herbals, owned by Lior Sabach-Stewart, at LaunchIt on Arthur Street in Harriston;
- Dans Ma Bouche restaurant, owned by Colin Oleksandri, at 47 Elora St. S., Clifford;
- Clifford Food Market, owned by Jay and Julia Bhati and Gary Patel, at 21 Elora Street South, Clifford; and
- Cindy Lou’s restaurant, owned by Cindy Stevens, at 3 Elora Street, North, Clifford.
The ɫشýCatholic District School Board (WCDSB) announced plans for temporary accommodations for students and staff of St. Mary Catholic School, which had been shut down since the Jan. 25 fire. Students were said to return to in-person learning on Feb. 7 at local churches.
A report by Hemson Consulting presented at a Jan. 16 public meeting indicated building permit fees in Mapleton township need to rise by 18 per cent across the board, and planning fees by 84% on average in order to achieve full cost recovery. After much deliberation, a motion to defer a decision until a report could be compiled and reviewed by council was approved.
Construction activity in the agricultural and industrial sectors contributed to a busy year for the township’s building department in 2023. A year-end report to Mapleton council from chief building official Tim Schwartzentruber showed the value of all construction in Mapleton nearly doubled from the previous year. While the number of permits issued in 2023 (300) was down from the 341 issued in 2022, total construction value soared to over $100 million from about $55 million.
At the Jan. 30 Mapleton council meeting, councillor Amanda Reid introduced a notice of motion calling for council to investigate the cost implications of including council members in the staff health benefits plan.
The Town of Minto asked the Ontario government to restore a reversed expansion of the Clifford urban boundary. On Nov. 21, town council endorsed a staff recommendation to ask the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to exclude the lands in legislation to reverse a number of unilateral urban boundary expansions imposed by the province on municipalities across Ontario.
The Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team (MMFHT) received more than a half-million dollars in provincial funding to add two nurse practitioners, a practical nurse and a receptionist to the team’s roster. Perth-ɫشýMPP Matthew Rae announced the funding on Feb. 7 at the health team’s Clifford Medical Centre, where one of the new nurse practitioners was set to work.

Perth-ɫشýMPP Matthew Rae announced provincial funding on Feb. 7, 2024 at the Clifford Medical Centre to allow the Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team to hire two nurse practitioners and a receptionist. From left: Ray, local resident Kay Ayres, health team executive director Shirley Borges and Minto councillor Ron Elliott. Advertiser file photo
A proposal for a 16-unit townhouse development on less than an acre of land in Clifford raised concerns about density, parking, drainage, lot coverage and future infrastructure needs among neighbouring residents and about servicing costs from Minto staff.
Mapleton Township announced that planning fees in the township would rise by about 17.3 per cent annually for the next three years. While substantial, the increases are dramatically scaled down from those proposed in a report by Hemson Consulting presented at the Jan. 16 public meeting.
ɫشýNorth explored options to pay for wastewater treatment plant upgrades estimated to cost $13.5 million. Presented in a detailed Feb. 12 report, the options included:
- using tax dollars stored in reserves;
- relying on developers to front the cost;
- getting provincial grant dollars;
- going into debt; and
- opening a Municipal Service.
A final decision was not made.
The Palmerston and District (PDH) Hospital Foundation’s MRI+ Campaign received a $100,000 pledge from area business Leslie Motors. The pledge will be spread out over five years, with the foundation receiving an annual payment of $20,000.
The ɫشý and North ɫشýCommunity News were both nominated for multiple provincial newspaper awards. On Feb. 14 the Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA) announced the finalists for its 2023 Better Newspaper Competition (BNC), which recognizes the work of community newspapers throughout the province.
Minto council considered a request to allow gun hunting on Sundays within the municipality. A delegation of area residents appeared at the Feb. 20 meeting to request council pass a resolution to implement the change. Council approved a motion directing staff to prepare a report on the proposal for consideration at the following council meeting.
Minto town council adopted a strategic plan to guide the municipality through to 2028. Goals laid in the plan, approved on Feb 20, focused on infrastructure maintenance, enhancing local quality of life, fostering an inclusive community and providing responsible government.
Harriston residents got their first look on Feb. 20 at a proposed master plan for the grounds surrounding the Harriston-Minto Community Complex. New elements in the concept, presented at a public open house, included a multi-sport pad, junior soccer pitch, walking trails and a walking bridge connecting the arena grounds to the Kinsmen Swimming Pool and playground area.
Harriston area residents were invited to attend a presentation aimed at increasing awareness of hate crime in rural areas on March 6. The program was to be presented by Crime Stoppers Guelph ɫشýin partnership with Victim Services ɫشýand the County of ɫشýOPP.
The Minto Chamber of Commerce celebrated local business excellence and the chamber’s 25th anniversary at the organization’s annual general meeting on Feb. 21. Dr. Terry Fisk of Harriston Veterinary Service, who retired after nearly 50 years in business, was also recognized.
March
Mapleton council agreed to a partnership to share a fire services management team with two other north ɫشýmunicipalities. Under the agreement, ɫشýNorth, Minto and Mapleton would share a six-person fire services management team consisting of a fire services director (fire chief), two deputy chiefs, a fire prevention officer, training officer and administrative assistant.
ɫشýNorth council approved the expanded agreement at its Feb. 26 meeting and Minto council approved a bylaw to finalize the agreement on March 5.
Mapleton officials were upset the township’s application for Infrastructure Canada funding to upgrade the PMD Arena and Community Centre was rejected and set out to take their case directly to the minister in charge.
In ɫشýNorth, an early morning fire destroyed a large building at JM Lumber and Pallet on Feb. 29. Fire officials did not consider the fire to be suspicious; the origin and cause were determined to be a wood furnace. While the building was totally destroyed, with damage estimated at around $2 million, no injuries were reported.
ɫشýNorth decided to purchase a 4.88-acre lot at the dead end of Gordon Street in Arthur for future work related to the community’s wastewater treatment plant. According to a purchase agreement, the township secured the property for $700,000 from a numbered Ontario company.
The total cost of remuneration for Mapleton township council members was up by about $26,831 in 2023. The total cost of council pay and expenses was $144,574 in 2023, compared to $117,743 in 2022.
Council passed a resolution on March 5 to request the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry amend the appropriate regulation to include the Town of Minto in the list of municipalities that authorize Sunday gun hunting in Ontario.
A long-term plan for the grounds surrounding the Harriston-Minto Community Complex was approved in principle by Minto council on March 5.
The total cost of paying local politicians in Minto increased by over $13,000 in 2023. Salary and expenses paid to members of Minto council between Nov. 16, 2022, and Nov. 15, 2023 totaled $181,256.
Luymes Farms and Custom Farming, located between Moorefield and Rothsay, was awarded the 2024 Sollio Next Generation Award in the Farm Succession category. The award, presented by Sollio Agriculture, was announced on Feb. 29 at a gala in Montreal.
A regional source water protection committee sounded the alarm about a proposal to end free water testing for private wells in Ontario. Minto council passed a resolution at its March 5 meeting in support of resolution from the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Region committee asking the province not to proceed with a recommendation to phase out free testing.
The Mapleton-based Seniors’ Centre for Excellence seeked $10,000 from ɫشýNorth to help pay the salary of Glynis Belec, the centre’s ACE (Active, Connected, Engaged) coordinator. In 2021, the municipalities of Minto, Mapleton and ɫشýNorth each provided $10,000 to fund the position, which was created after the centre’s in-person programs were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-March of 2020.
The Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation launched its MRI+ Campaign in 2023, hoping to raise $8 millionby 2026. And on March 7, Ab and Bonnie Hesselink, who reside outside of Elora, made a $500,000 donation.
The emergency department at Louise Marshall Hospital was closed for the ninth time in eight months. The department closed on March 15 at 7pm and reopened on March 16 at 7am.
Joel Rumph of Mapleton Township took home the silver medal in U18 men’s high jump at the Athletics Canada Indoor National Championships. Rumph first earned a silver medal at the Provincial Championships in Toronto on Feb. 10, with a jump of 180cm or 5’11”. On March 17 he travelled to Montreal for the National Championships, again claiming silver, with a jump of 188cm or 6’2”.
Mapleton council received word the township’s application for federal housing funding had been turned down.
The Drayton and District Skating Club celebrated 50 years on March 23 with a carnival themed The Golden Gala. All of the club’s past presidents were invited to the opening ceremonies and they received a plaque from Mapleton Mayor Greg Davidson and were recognized with a special skating number by the club’s alumni gold skaters.
The Friends of Downtown Arthur public engagement summary concluded “After two open forum discussions, 161 survey responses, as well as many emails, meetings and phone calls, over 250 Arthur residents were engaged,” stated Melissa Kooiman, community liaison and program coordinator at Copernicus Educational Products, in an email.

The Minto Selects went undefeated to win the gold medal in the Elite Men’s division at the Ontario Provincial Senior Broomball Championships in Fergus last March. Advertiser file photo
April
ɫشýNorth applied to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for $200,000 to help fund improvements at Conn Community Park and Lion Merv Weber Playground. The grant would help cover drainage improvements, engineered wood fiber and playground equipment at the two parks.
Minto council decided to consider, during 2025 budget deliberations, a proposal to include the mayor and councillors in the township’s municipal employee benefit program. A staff report presented at the March 19 council meeting showed it could cost just over $25,000 annually to add benefits to their remuneration package.
While it didn’t result in any official action, Minto councillors expressed support for several pieces of correspondence calling on upper levels of government to provide more funds to help small municipalities deal with housing issues.
The Mount Forest Thrift Shop presented a cheque for $100,000 (pledged over two years) to support the Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation’s MRI+ Campaign.
The Minto 81’s captured the inaugural Ontario Elite Hockey League Senior AA championship. The 81’s competed a four-game sweep of the Tavistock Royals in the series final with a 5-2 win in Tavistock on March 30.
Minto council supported a resolution calling on the Ontario Good Roads Association and Rural Ontario Municipal Association to go back to the past practice of holding a combined annual conference. ROMA and OGRA conferences were combined in the late ‘90s to become one conference. A decision was made to split the two conferences in 2017.
James Martin of JM Lumber and Pallet shared his determination to rebuild a sawmill lost in a Feb. 29 fire. Flames tore through the 8,400-square-foot building in the early morning hours and destroyed it, causing around $2 million in damage and leaving little more than a foundation.
Minto council decided to decommission the recreational vehicle (RV) waste disposal site at the Harriston fairgrounds as of June 1. Town council agreed to a staff recommendation to decommission the facility at its April 2 meeting. A staff report indicates the RV waste disposal site was placed in the Harriston Fairgrounds in the 1980s to assist with various large events that took place in the fairgrounds.
Leslie Motors held a grand opening for two new level-three EV charging stations at its Elora Street Ford dealership on April 6. Mark Leslie said the chargers, which accept credit card payment, will be a boon to both local residents and travelers.
The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) announced its plans to install warning booms or buoys upstream of dams to alert paddlers, anglers and boaters to stay away. The installation of the buoys and booms was planned for between April 8 and 23, depending on weather conditions.
For the 10th time since the summer of 2023, the emergency department at Louise Marshall Hospital was closed on April 6 (Saturday) at 7pm and reopened on April 7 (Sunday) at 7am.
The Township of Mapleton launched a citizen of the year award in honour of John Ford, who died on March 26 at age 64. “I would call [Ford] one of Mapleton’s favourite citizens,” said councillor Marlene Ottens, who brought forward the motion for creating an award in his name. Council voted unanimously in support of the motion to create a John Ford Citizen of the Year Award.

ɫشýNorth’s senior of the year, Al Leach, poses for a photo between Senator Rob Black, left, and township Mayor Andy Lennox, right. Photo by Jordan Snobelen
After almost nine months without one, Mapleton council officially appointed a permanent fire chief for Mapleton Fire Rescue. Under the new fire services agreement between Mapleton, Minto and ɫشýNorth, Chief Chris Harrow assumed the role of fire chief for all three municipalities.
The Drayton Farm Show celebrated its 40th anniversary at the PMD arena in Drayton April 10 and 11. Drayton Kinsmen Club member and show chair Ray Kuper said the show boasted over 100 vendors and attracted over 2,700 visitors. Approximately $5,500 was raised for Cystic Fibrosis Canada and $33,000 for community projects like the Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation MRI+ Campaign.
In 1993, the idea of getting a group of girls together to play softball at an elite level was becoming a popular idea – and through the efforts of Dave Moore, the first Palmerston Marlins softball teams began play in 1994. Fast forward to 2024 and to celebrate its 30th anniversary, the Palmerston Marlins organization prepared to hold an Alumni Homecoming tournament on May 4 at the Barb Wright Ballpark in Palmerston.
Mapleton council awarded the tender to constrict Brandt A and D drain improvements during its regular meeting on April 9. Hanna and Hamilton Construction submitted the lowest of five bids for the project, with a contract of $319,492 ($282,736 plus $36,756 HST).
ɫشýNorth announced the introduction of the Recognition of Outstanding Sports Achievements Program. Officials claimed that the program would provide council an opportunity to recognize sports teams based in ɫشýNorth, or athletes who are residents of ɫشýNorth, who have won a championship or award at a provincial, national or international level, as well as those who have achieved the highest championship or award possible in their sport.
The heritage and history of Teviotdale was of interest to a group of Minto citizens, who contacted Minto council about the possibility of honouring the hamlet with a mural board that will include six historical photographs each accompanied by a small story.
Mount Forest resident Al Leach was named ɫشýNorth’s Senior of the Year at the Arthur and Area Community Centre on April 18. Also recognized were seven locals with the Ontario Volunteer Service Award at the event: Janice Benson, Paula Coffey, Linda Hruska, ɫشýHeights Secondary School students Gabriella Kuhlman and Rebekah McDougall, Jeff McKee and Daphne Rappard.
The Lake Conestogo Snowmobilers Club asked Mapleton Township to recognize its contributions to the local community by offering hall rentals free of charge. Council set a date to review the full list of exempted organizations in May.
In February, Perth-ɫشýMPP Matthew Rae announced $568,000 in funding for the Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team (MMFHT) to expand primary care in its catchment area, specifically at the Clifford Medical Centre. The funding added two nurse practitioners (NP), a practical nurse (RPN) and a receptionist to the team. Becky Bell joined the team in Clifford as a nurse practitioner and planned to start seeing patients at the end of April.
After not winning a championship title since 2003, the Minto 81’s captured the inaugural Ontario Elite Hockey League (OEHL) Senior AA championship on March 30. The OEHL’s inaugural season featured 10 teams from the former Western Ontario Athletic Association (WOAA) Senior AA loop.
May
Cracks, erosion, exposed steel, corroded rebar, misaligned rails, and missing concrete chunks contributed to the decision to replace the four bridges crossing the Conestogo River along ɫشýRoad 109, built by the province in the 1930s. Work on the 10km stretch was set to begin in late May and wrap up by mid-summer.
ɫشýNorth council approved $82,635 in donations and fee waivers to local community groups and organizations at its April 22 meeting, but some council members said spending needs to be reined in. Councillor Sherry Burke noted the township benefits from local community groups, but said spending through its grants and donations program is “a little bit out of hand.” This 2024 approval is approaching a doubling of the township’s annual average, based on seven years of data, and is 3.5 per cent higher than the $79,820 approved in 2023.
Details about how ɫشýNorth planned to celebrate 25 years since several villages and townships amalgamated to form the township in 1999 were revealed at a Kenilworth council meeting.
Abarbecue lunch and Kenilworth office open house were planned for June 7, coinciding with a PA day for local school boards.
The Kinette Club of Drayton put its plans in motion to replace a community playground, with Mapleton council pledging to provide $9,950 towards the initiative. Kinette Club representatives Gina Dobben and Erica Klassen submitted a proposal to council that the “dilapidated playground structure by the ‘B’ diamond in Drayton” be replaced. The total cost of the playground replacement was estimated to be around $30,000.
The Mount Forest Museum and Archives brought back Saturday night through its new exhibit, It’s Saturday Night in Mount Forest! Each corner of the exhibit boasted a recreation of the most legendary haunts and hangouts of downtown Mount Forest from 1950 to 1975, “when Saturday night was king.”
On April 30, Mapleton council agreed to provide another $10,000 to help the Mapleton-Minto Health Professional Recruitment Committee attract and retain health care workers, after a delegation from four committee members.
A delegation, backed by a petition signed by over 900 residents, described Pride banners and crosswalks in Minto as divisive and called for more “neutral” public spaces. But several members of the community say organizers were not completely forthcoming about the petition, which one resident calls “a deceitful cover for hate and discrimination” against the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Norwell District Secondary School in Palmerston celebrated and embraced Mental Health Education and Awareness Week with guest speaker Paulie O’Byrne, a mental health specialist with the Canadian Hockey League. On May 8, Norwell delved into the science behind wellness and explored evidence that supports its effectiveness, and O’Byrne came to speak at an assembly in the school cafeteria.
Students from Arthur and Mount Forest were recognized by the ɫشýCatholic District School Board officials during its May 6 board meeting. Lily Baker from St. John Catholic School in Arthur and Justin Obach from St. Mary Catholic School in Mount Forest were each celebrated for their significant contributions to their school communities.
Dangerous traffic violations and drug use in the community were among the police focuses highlighted in a OPP report to Minto council. Staff Sgt. Ron Smith presented the County of Wellington’s OPP 2023 Year End Report to Minto council on May 7. He said 2023 “was another busy year for us, we’re one of the largest OPP detachments in the province. “Although this is a safe community, we keep our members quite busy protecting the Town of Minto and all the other municipalities around here.”
Parents, teachers and children cheered from the sidelines while athletes sprinted down a track, tossed balls into nets, and swung baseball bats at a Special Olympics Track and Field Day in Guelph. Thousands of people filled fields at St. James Catholic High School on May 15 for the annual event’s 20th anniversary. Competitors included over 800 student athletes from 76 elementary and high schools across the Upper Grand and ɫشýCatholic district school boards.

The Special Olympics Track and Field Day, held at St. James Catholic High School on May 15, included over 800 student athletes from 76 schools across the Upper Grand and ɫشýCatholic district school boards. ABOVE: Athlete and Grade 8 Minto-Clifford student Emma Clemmer, right, swung so hard that the batting tee went flying along with the ball. Here, she celebrates with mentors Emma Ellis, left and Ella Kelly, centre. Photo by Robin George
ɫشýNorth put landowners and landlords on the hook when tenants don’t pay utility bills for water and wastewater. At a May 6 meeting, council supported a recommendation from township staff immediately requiring any new water/wastewater utility accounts to be opened solely with landowners – no longer with individual tenants.
The Minto Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Town of Minto, announced the successful completion of five ribbon-cutting ceremonies on May 16, marking the official welcoming of new businesses to the community. The businesses visited during this occasion were: Lost Angels Barbershop in Palmerston, Golden Tree Cannabis in Palmerston, Homestyle Bites and Catering, in Harriston, Nadur in Harriston and Eh-2-Zed in Harriston.
June
A celebration of life for former Town of Minto mayor David Burns was held in the Frank Lambier Legion in Palmerston on June 14.
A delegation returned to Minto council, as proponents of a petition pushed for answers regarding a requested “neutrality” bylaw. Jim Dopfer, one of the organizers of the controversial petition, told council he felt “attacked” by two people who spoke during a previous public question period on May 7. At that meeting, Jokelee Vanderkop called the petition “a deceitful cover for hate and discrimination” against the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and Caitlin Hall, a founding member of the Minto Pride committee, told council petition signatures were gained in an “unethical” way.
A ɫشýNorth man was fined over $3,000 after repeatedly allowing pigs to roam from his property, south of Conn. William Robinson was a no-show last year when he was convicted in Guelph court of nine offences against ɫشýNorth’s animal control bylaw. He was handed sizable fines along with probationorders.
The North ɫشýCommunity News earned two third-place awards in the Ontario Community Newspaper Association’s Better Newspapers Competition. The newspaper placed third in best creative ad, for a Home Hardware “Christmas Palooza” ad by Alicia Roza; and in best feature/unit pages, for a Family Day feature. The Community News also earned honourable mentions for local retail layout (a Home Hardware Father’s Day ad) and best use of colour (a Drayton Freshmart ad), both by Alicia Roza.
Mapleton council approved a letter of intent to work with Graham Capital on May 14, regarding the completion of $25 million worth of upgrades to the township’s water and wastewater systems from 2024 to 2033. The township received three bids on the partnership: from EPCOR, North American Constructors and Graham Capital.
Minto council approved a tender of $2.45 million for Derby Street reconstruction in Palmerston. Triton Engineering Services Limited reviewed three bids ranging between $2.45 and $2.5 million. The consultant recommended St. Jacobs-based Steed and Evans Limited, the lowest of the bids.
The province approved $17.3 million in funding for a new elementary school and child care centre in Drayton. Perth-ɫشýMPP Matthew Rae announced funding for the Catholic school, which will accommodate 222 students and 64 childcare spaces, on May 31. The school is expected to open in 2026 and will serve students from Mapleton and Minto.
Mapleton council appointed councillor Michael Martin to the joint fire services management committee for Mapleton, Minto and ɫشýNorth. The appointment was made during a regular meeting of council on May 28, and it will run for the remainder of the council term.
The Arthur Business Improvement Area (BIA) purchased two sets of banners and put them up through downtown. The first set displayed the progressive Pride flag, which includes black and brown stripes to represent 2SLGBTQIA+ people of colour, and blue, pink and white stipes to represent transgender people. The second set of banners celebrated notable persons and buildings in the Village of Arthur throughout its history.
The Mount Forest 895 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron was notified last November it was being placed on probation because of low participation numbers and a need for more adults to help run the program. A review in February allowed the program to continue until at least June, pending further assessment.
For the fourth year, the Town of Minto showed its support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community by holding Pride in the Park. The picnic in Palmerston’s Heritage Lions Park on June 9 was well-attended and went off without a hitch. Councillor Paul Zimmerman welcomed the crowd on behalf of the mayor and council and noted the day is a celebration of accomplishments and recognition of the historical fight for equality.

Participants marched through the grounds at Heritage Lions Park in Palmerston in a sign of support and solidarity at the Minto Pride celebration on June 9, 2024. Photo by Joanne Shuttleworth
ɫشýHeights Secondary School (WHSS) hosted its 20th Relay For Life event on June 7. The goal of $36,444 was surpassed before the day even began, with the funds sitting at $42,000. Over 300 people attended the event at various times throughout the day.
The large number of hospital emergency department closures province-wide prompted the Ontario Health Coalition to schedule a series of public hearings to allow people to voice their concerns about the state of health care in the province. A series of 14 hearings were sceduled to take place in towns across the province between June 8 and 18.
A $140,600 Trillium capital grant was awarded to the Mount Forest Lawn Bowling Club. Members of the club celebrated their successful grant application on June 8 with a recognition event followed by a lawn bowling tournament. In attendance were Perth-ɫشýMPP Matthew Rae and ɫشýNorth Mayor Andy Lennox.
Walker Industries held a June 7 grand opening and tour of the company’s $43-million expansion at its Arthur composting facility, formerly known as All Treat Farms. The expansion includes a $25-million boost to its composting infrastructure as well as an $18-million packaging facility officials say will allow the company to better recover over 170,000 tonnes of organic material and turn it into compost and soil each year.
Mapleton’s Senior of the Year for 2024 was former longtime councillor Dennis Craven. He was presented with the award during a Mapleton council meeting on June 11, accompanied by family, including his children and grandchildren.
Hunger doesn’t take a break when summer vacation starts at the end of June, but student nutrition programs do. This was a problem that the Community Resource Centre of North and Centre ɫشýwas hoping to alleviate with the launch of its Summer Snax Program. The program was meant to fill the gap in nutrition services that happens during the nine-week summer break when food is no longer available to students through the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington’s Food and Friends program or donation-filled school snack bins.
Mapleton council presented a $250 athletic bursary cheque to Woolwich Wildcats U13 player Ty Martin on June 11. Martin’s team had a successful 2023-24 season and won the Ontario Minor Hockey Association Championship in Whitby in April. And just three weeks later, at the Ontario Hockey Federation Championships in Cochrane, the team placed second to the Brantford 99ers.
Minto council unanimously approved a commemoration policy, effectively allowing Pride banners to be displayed – but for one month only – and rejected a so-called “neutrality” bylaw proposed by a group of residents at a June 18 meeting.
Arthur ɫشýHeights Secondary School graduate Conner Schmidt was rewarded for his excellence in academics, athletics and community service. Schmidt was one of eight recipients selected for the Ontario Minor Hockey Association and Dairy Farmers of Ontario bursary program that recognizes students across the province who have made positive impacts in their communities and schools.
July
Corey Conners of Palmerston was selected to represent Canada at the Paris Olympics. The Games ran from July 26 to Aug. 11, and marked the second Olympic appearance for the golfer, who was born in Kitchener and moved to Palmerston at age two.
The Mount Forest Lions Club pledged to donate $250,000 over five years to the construction of a new outdoor pool. ɫشýNorth officials said the cheque was presented to the Mount Forest aquatics ad-hoc advisory committee on June 26. The committee set a fundraising goal of about $2.5 million.
American couple Mary Hektner and John Sacklin ventured from Montana to Minto on a mission to piece together their family tree. Harriston Historical Society chairman Mark MacKenzie helped the pair with research and tours of Minto.
At the beginning of June, the Ontario government released a bulletin that set out affordable market-based and income-based thresholds for home ownership by municipality. These thresholds had to be met in order for developers to receive exemptions and discounts from municipal development charges for those residential units. Across ɫشýCounty, the prices vary from $334,100 for ɫشýNorth to as high as $596,400 in Puslinch. In Guelph, thethreshold was set at $398,800 and $427,600 in Centre Wellington.
After almost two years of dedication by volunteers, the Mount Forest Community Garden was fulfilling its goals. People were invited to visit the garden, located at 451 Foster St. in Mount Forest, during daylight hours between June and September.
For the fourth year in a row, ɫشýHeights Secondary School (WHSS) in Mount Forest received top certification for its environmental efforts. The certification is offered through EcoSchools Canada and “represents environmental excellence,” according to EcoSchools officials. Overall, EcoSchool certification was awarded to 26 UGDSB schools. WHSS achieved the highest score of all UGDSB schools.
June came and left, but that didn’t stop a group of “concerned citizens” from campaigning against Pride Month celebrations and displays – and even the Minto Pride committee. Many Minto households received a yellow flyer distributed from post offices in Clifford, Palmerston and Harriston. The flyer, addressed to “all Minto residents,” suggests the municipality can’t “justify” having Minto Pride as “a sub-committee of council.” It stated, “Minto council has ignored” the “900-plus residents” who signed a petition supporting a “bylaw ensuring crosswalks and flags/banners on public property remain neutral.” Several petition organizers and supporters delegated to council multiple times before council rejected the bylaw at its June 18 meeting.
The Arthur Seniors Club received good news after the seniors had been facing eviction from the aging building after its decade-long lease with the township expired at the end of 2023. Negotiations between the Township of ɫشýNorth and the Optimist Club saw the Optimists taking over management of the building at 244 Isabella St., allowing the club to continue to rent the building.
Christine Rivet continued to honour her late husband, Bill Walker, 53, by sharing one of his many passions with the community on July 18 at the Mount Forest Sportsplex for the Git Yer Hillbilly On Rib competition. Six teams competed, bringing their own sauces and grills, while Rivet provided the ribs.
PGA golf pro Corey Conners became the face of a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) aimed at promoting working smoke alarms. Conners partnered with North Perth, Mapleton, Minto and ɫشýNorth fire departments for the PSA, which officially launched on June 28 at the North Perth Fire Department in Listowel.
The Louise Marshall Hospital in Mount Forest opened an updated and refreshed palliative care suite to serve patients needing end-of-life care. The project began in 2018 when the late Tony Daciuk, a Mount Forest resident, gifted $25,000 to the Louise Marshall Hospital Foundation to be used toward palliative care suite upgrades at the hospital.
Arthur resident, Nathaniel Schofield, 36, died unexpectedly on July 10. Schofield was arrested at his Arthur home following a domestic dispute on July 9. He was held briefly at the OPP station in Teviotdale and transferred to the Rockwood station the same night. By 11:20am the next day, Schofield was dead at Guelph General Hospital.
The grand opening of the Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team clinic was a hit with members of the Harriston community. The clinic held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and offered tours of the space on July 12. The project took roughly a year, but once the Ontario government approved the proposal, staff and workers finished renovating the space in six to eight weeks.

The Drayton fairgrounds was filled with vendors, bouncy castles, food trucks, live music, face painting and vintage cars, on July 1. The community flooded the grounds enjoying a family day out celebrating Canada’s birthday. Vendors sold products from artisanal meats, fresh jams and delicious treats. ABOVE: Isabel and Wyatt Ross waited in line for the bouncy house. Isabel showed off her purple balloon animal. Photo by Georgia York
An announcement was made stating that hunting with guns on Sundays could be allowed in Mapleton as early as Sept. 1. On June 11, Mapleton resident Ray Kuper delegated to council to request the ban on Sunday gun hunting be lifted, and on July 9, council voted to lift the ban.
A natural gas recycling truck went up in flames in front of a home on Mount Forest’s Main Street North on July 10. Photos and videos posted on Facebook showed a Waste Management truck fully engulfed in flames, with fire bellowing metres above and beside the truck. Deputy Fire Chief Callise Loos told the Advertiser that the driver was out of the vehicle when firefighters arrived, and there were no injuries. The cause of the fire was unknown.
A team of dedicated volunteers created a “safe space” for rural youth navigating through life’s many challenges. The Grove Youth Wellness Palmerston Hub is located on Main Street across from Norwell District Secondary School. The purpose of the hub is to help youth age 12 to 26 by improving their overall wellness.
J-M Building Contractors in Mapleton were told they were not allowed to continue operating from 7433 ɫشýRoad 7 near Alma. On July 9, Mapleton council voted unanimously against a site-specific zoning change application from owners John and Marlene Horst.
Mapleton Township’s planning department presented a draft bylaw to council on July 9 that outlined options for regulating short-term rental accommodations (STRA). The draft defined STRAs and included rules regarding number of guests, parking spaces, fire safety, inspections, insurance, licensing and municipal fees. A public meeting was to be held to gather input on STRAs but a date was not set.
Mapleton council reviewed a draft ice allocation policy meant to ensure local groups have fair access to the PMD Arena ice rink. Mapleton residents and clubs are prioritized in the policy, “without prejudice, in a fair and equitable manner,” the draft stated.
The funds were tallied, and the Mount Forest Louise Marshall Hospital Foundation gala was officially declared a success. The foundation had set a fundraising goal of $112,500 for the June 15 event, planning to direct the funds toward updating the hospital’s ECG fleet, including buying a replacement ECG cart and software upgrades. “After a very successful event, this goal was not only met but exceeded, with funds raised at the gala totalling more than $145,000,” a news release stated. More than 450 people attended the Adventures in Wonderland-themed event at the MountForest sportsplex.
The Harriston Historical Society partnered with the Grey ɫشýTheatre Guild (GWTG) to celebrate the guild’s 50th anniversary. A three-room display was set up on the top floor of the Harriston branch of the ɫشýCounty Library. The display features historical information about the guild as well as photographs, memorabilia, costumes and props.
August
ɫشýNorth council unanimously supported a motion to expedite the tendering process for demolition of Mount Forest’s outdoor swimming pool, despite a vocal contingent of community members who attended the July 22 council meeting to speak in favour of saving the old pool.
In 2019, Mapleton Township set a goal to reduce energy consumption by two per cent annually from 2020 to 2025. The township missed the mark on its goal, with overall energy consumption increasing instead, by about 1% over a six-year period. In 2023, the township paid $488,149 in utility costs. – 16.5% more than in 2017. According to a report presented by Mapleton financial analyst Heather Trottier on July 9, the increased utility costs are mostly due to rate increases. The report attributed the increase in energy usage to growth, including the addition of the ABC Splash Pad Park, a new water tower in Drayton, and additional street lighting. Mapleton recreational facilities used 28% more energy in 2023 than in 2017, water and wastewater energy usage increased by 12% in this time, and energy used for street lighting increased by 16%.
The Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides campaign raised over $1.3 million, thanks to thousands of volunteers, including members of the Palmerston, Marsville and Fergus Lions Clubs. Each walk location is run by volunteers and predominantly led by Lions Clubs or the national sponsor: Pet Valu.
Mapleton Officials declared the 167th Drayton Fair a “resounding success.” Drayton Mapleton Agricultural Society treasurer Arlie Zantinge said the entertainment had guests busy all weekend with jousting competitions, pet shows, tractor pulls, demolition derbies and a range of exhibitors and vendors. The community showed its support, resulting in two record-breaking days, Zantinge said. Luckily the weather was great for the first two days, before the rainfall on Sunday. But even with the rain the fair welcomed nearly 5,000 people in total, running out of wristbands on the first night after handing out 1,000.

The 167th annual Drayton Fair took place at the Drayton Fairgrounds from Aug. 9 to 11, 2024. The overall showmanship champion at the dairy show on Saturday was Emma Stere, right. Nora Martin, middle, won reserve champion, while Devin Martin was third. Photo by Sue Hogenkamp
Rourke Martin, a 21-year-old Drayton resident, travelled to Ohio to play in the 2024 Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star Game. Rourke scored the first goal of the match in Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus on July 23, and his team, the East Conference All-Stars, wound up defeating the Western Conference All Stars 5-0.
A start-up program aimed to help youth succeed granted 50 students the opportunity to enter the world of entrepreneurship over the summer. The Saugeen Student Start-Up Program (SSUP) began in 2019 when the Saugeen Connects Partnership, consisting of seven municipalities, joined the Saugeen Economic Development Corporation to create the project, officials stated.
The Mount Forest Leos made an appearance at the Mount Forest Foodland from 11am until 7pm on Aug. 16 to collect donations to help ensure kids in the community have enough snacks for their school lunches. Their goal was to collect enough back-to-school snacks to fill an entire school bus. Leos are the youth version of Lions, and are between 12 and 18 years old.
ɫشýNorth council reaffirmed its plan to scrap the Mount Forest pool and build a new one in a new location, despite community objections to the plan. “I’ve seen no new information presented that would give me any reason to believe that repairing the old pool to a standard that would meet today’s requirements would be anywhere close to being competitive with constructing a new pool,” Mayor Andy Lennox said at the Aug.12 council meeting.
Two sisters brought the Terry Fox Walk to Palmerston to continue honouring the unwavering determination of late Canadian athlete, Terry Fox. Mackenzie and Delaney Norman, the founders of the Palmerston Terry Fox committee, hosted the event for the second year.
Mapleton council agreed to provide funding of up to $450,000 for a road connecting Conestoga Drive to Green Street in Drayton. The funding was approved during a closed council session on Aug. 13. Mayor Gregg Davidson said the road “will help to support the Catholic school and child care centre.” Perth-ɫشýMPP Matthew Rae announced on May 31 that the province had approved $17.3 million in funding for the new school, which is expected to open in 2026 and serve students from Mapleton and Minto.
ɫشýNorth council unanimously supported an application to sever an industrial lot in order to build a concrete plant in Arthur, despite concerns raised by a delegate to council. Urban planner Robert McQuillan attended the Aug. 12 council meeting virtually as a representative of Tribute Sorbara Arthur Holdings Inc., which he said owns 665 Eliza St. and the neighbouring vacant property on Eliza Street’s west side.
Minto council updated its policy on agricultural lands available for lease in the Harriston and Clifford areas. The town had been leasing out agricultural land since “at least” 2007, officials stated at an Aug. 13 meeting. In 2007 there were 137 acres available for lease and now there are 75.5 acres available. The agricultural land policy report noted financial considerations for the town are unknown until bids are received. Currently the town receives $7,180 plus tax per year for the lease of the 75.5 acres. Council unanimously approved the updated policy.
Following a fire in January, St. Mary Catholic School in Mount Forest had been closed to students and staff, but was set to welcome students back, beginning the second week of school. Students were set to begin the year in their assigned temporary locations – either St. Mary Catholic or First Baptist Church. Kindergarten students were set to return to the school as early as Sept. 9, with students in Grades 1 through 3 following suit the next day. And then Grade 4 through 8 students.
A gathering in Mount Forest on Aug. 22 honoured people who have died of drug poisoning. The annual Drug Poisoning Awareness Day (formerly Overdose Awareness Day) event was organized by ɫشýGuelph Drug Strategy (WGDS), a coalition of partner agencies and people with lived experience who work to reduce harms around drug use. The coalition was set to hold a similar event in downtown Guelph on Aug. 29.
Mapleton council approved a purchase of $491,700 worth of firefighting equipment. Firefighters’ current self contained breathing apparatus – the air packs, bottles and masks they wear – will expire at the end of this year, Fire Chief Chris Harrow told Mapleton council on Aug. 13.
Shorter operating hours at the hospital in Durham did not necessarily have an adverse impact on the Mount Forest hospital. That was one message shared by ɫشýHealth Care Alliance president and CEO Angela Stanley when she presented an update on Mount Forest’s Louise Marshall Hospital to ɫشýNorth council on July 22. Stanley displayed some 2023-24 stats for Groves Memorial hospital in Fergus and North ɫشýHealth Care, which includes the Palmerston and Mount Forest hospitals. They showed just over 21,000 emergency department visits in Fergus, and just over 24,500 in the northern hospitals. She told council the Mount Forest hospital sees between 900 and 1,100 emergency visits per month, or about 12,000 per year, and the hospital hasn’t been adversely impacted by changes in Durham.
September
Mount Forest resident Bill Dineen remembers watching Terry Fox during his Marathon of Hope in 1980. And 44 years later, he continued to keep his legacy alive. Dineen has been taking it upon himself to keep the run alive and on Sept. 15 Dineen set up in the Foodland parking lot in Mount Forest, accepting donations and greeting shoppers with a smile. The previous year he raised between $3,000 and $4,000.
Since Sept. 24, 1999, the Drayton Youth Centre (DYC) has provided a place for youth to spend time, socialize and participate in a range of activities. The DYC’s 25th Anniversary Celebration took place in downtown Drayton on Sept. 13. There was an escape room tent, games with prizes, a Waddies game, barbecue, fire truck show, and entertainment from Chuckles Balloons.
Three unique works of art were chosen to commemorate ɫشýNorth’s 25th anniversary. The township’s Cultural Roundtable received 30 entries for its Amalgamation Art Contest, which launched early 2024 with entries due in the spring. The winners, whose entries were approved at the Aug. 26 council meeting, are Elizabeth Laros, Jennifer Baia and 11-year-old Natalia Skorupska. The winning artists were to receive a $1,000 prize.
Newcomers to Mapleton Township were invited to the PMD Arena on Sept. 18 from 6 to 8pm. The event was an opportunity for newcomers to connect with the township and county services as well as local service groups, community groups and organizations.
The emergency department at Louise Marshall Hospital in Mount Forest closed two more times due to staffing shortages on Sept. 6 and 7. Both closures were announced last-minute via social media and hospital officials did not notify the media about them. The closures bring the number of such closures at the hospital since last July 2023 to at least 12.
No people were injured but 1,600 pigs died in a barn fire on Labour Day near Derrynane. Deputy fire chief Callise Loos said the initial call came in shortly after 4:30pm on Sept. 2, and about 50 firefighters were there for five hours to put out the blaze. The estimated cost of the damage was set at $1.5 million and the origin of the blaze was deemed unknown.
For every resident in Mapleton Township, there is at least one tree. “We put as many as we could in here,” Trees for Mapleton’s Bruce Whale told a small group of supporters gathered at Drayton’s Riverside Park on Aug. 31. They were gathered to celebrate the completion of a project inspired by Trees for Mapleton founder Paul Day, a man who was dedicated to promoting tree planting in the township. Day died in 2016, and his passing inspired the W. Paul Day Forest project, an initiative aimed at planting one tree for every person in the township, based on the 2016 census. That put the goal at 10,527 trees.
No one was hurt as a result of an agricultural fire between Palmerston and Harriston on the evening of Sept. 5. Callise Loos, deputy chief of Minto Fire, said the fire happened in a grain bin near ɫشýRoad 5, also known as Whites Road, and there were no injuries to either firefighters or civilians.
Mount Forest Legion Branch 134 was set to host a workshop aimed at combatting mental health challenges. The event was created by a partnership between the Mount Forest Seniors group and the Mapleton-based Seniors’ Centre for Excellence.

The fairgrounds in Arthur were filled with inflatables, livestock pens, homegrown goodies and community members celebrating from Sept. 6 to 8. ABOVE: Lydia Ribey shows off her sheep during a peewee show on Sept. 7. Photo by Robin George
Increased traffic volumes and the safety of pedestrians were among the concerns raised by community members who spoke at a public meeting regarding a proposal for a stacked townhouse development in Mount Forest. County of ɫشýsenior planner Jessica Rahim explained the applicant asked for a zoning bylaw amendment to rezone just under two hectares to high-density residential, with site-specific zoning that would allow for relief from a whole list of bylaw requirements, in order to build an 88-unit stacked townhouse development.
Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team nurse practitioner Chantelle Koeslag was the recipient of the 2024 Neil Dunsmore Power of One Award, which recognizes suicide prevention work. “I was kind of shocked, and then I felt humbled and grateful,” said Koeslag. The Power of One Award was created as part of the county’s Here4Hope initiative, which aims to engage as many individuals and organizations as possible in the work of preventing suicide.
Maggie Schram, owner and operator of Magpie’s Bakery in Mount Forest, announced the business’ official closure on the bakery’s Facebook page on Sept. 4. The Mount Forest-based bakery was operating out of 181 Main St. S. Schram’s journey began in 2020 after experiencing a “tremendous amount of loss” in 2019. She decided it was time to start living the life she wanted for herself and begin spending more time doing things that brought her joy.
Deputy fire chief Callise Loos said firefighters were dispatched to a property on ɫشýRoad 109, between Highway 6 and 1st Line, at around 5pm on Sept. 11 for reports of a residential structure fire. The fire was contained to the attic above a garage, and there was no spread to the house, although there was some minor smoke damage to the home, Loos said. The damage estimate was set at $50,000. No one was injured, and the cause of the fire was deemed accidental.
Councillor Martin Tamlyn announced he was stepping down from his position with Mapleton, as he had accepted a job with Centre ɫشýinstead, where he was to fill the new staff position of climate change coordinator. This position is part of a shared service agreement with Mapleton. Tamlyn was set to start in his new position on Sept. 30.
The Mount Forest and District Sports Complex was buzzing with excitement on Sept. 12, as the annual Volunteer Celebration and Newcomer Welcome event welcomed both new and preexisting members of the ɫشýNorth community. The event featured over 22 communityorganizations, allowing newcomers the opportunity to get involved with local organizations and secure volunteer opportunities.
Minto council approved a $6,000 in-kind sponsorship for a youth curling tournament in the spring of 2024. Palmerston Curling Club officials came to council on June 18 to request exclusive access to the Palmerston and District Community Centre Complex to host the 35th annual Ontario Elementary School Curling Championship in April. The championship event was set to take place April 3 to 6 at the Palmerston Community Centre and host 64 teams from across Ontario, from Grades 1 through 8, and bring over 300 people to the Minto community.
Plans were underway for a historic plaque in Arthur to honour early Canadian feminist Margarette Rae Morrison Luckock. At its Sept. 9 meeting, ɫشýNorth council approved a motion to set aside $11,000 in the 2025 budget for a Heritage Trust Provincial Plaque to be installed next to one in honour of Rae Luckock’s father, James Morrison. Rae Luckock, who grew up in the Arthur area, in 1943 was one of the first two women elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The other was Agnes Macphail.
A large crowd gathered behind the Mount Forest post office on Sept. 21 to celebrate the town’s first ever Tree of the Year, an Amur cork tree. Mount Forest Green Team member Daphne Rappard said the tree was chosen because of its uniqueness. Rappard and Erin Kiers were instrumental in helping the Green Team join up with Tree Trust, an organization that has helped save 64 older trees in various southern Ontario communities.
October
Perth-ɫشýMP John Nater presented King Charles III Coronation Medals to 20 residents from Perth County and northern ɫشýCounty at the Listowel Legion on Sept. 29. To receive a Coronation Medal an individual must be nominated by one or more people in their community and must have made a significant contribution to Canada, their province or territory, region or community, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.
A Mount Forest woman turned to the community for support in the wake of an accident involving her son at the Mount Forest Fireworks Festival. Barber Adrianna Cea said she was in the middle of an appointment on July 20 when she learned her son Max Power had been hit by a car. According to police, it was determined the driver of the vehicle was not at fault and no charges were laid. Max’s leg was broken.
The question of windmills and turbines was discussed during a Mapleton council meeting on Sept. 24. It’s “a sensitive issue,” councillors and staff repeated throughout the discussion. Though a wind farm has been operating in the township since 2012, council passed a resolution in 2013 opposing more wind farms in the township. That resolution put Mapleton on the province’s list of unwilling wind farm hosts. However during the meeting, council passed a motion that directed staff “to gather input to determine whether there is interest, from the public perspective, to become a willing host.”
Mapleton council announced that a vacant council seat in the Township of Mapleton was to be filled through an application process. Councillors approved this approach, instead of holding a by-election or directly appointing someone, during a regular meeting on Sept. 24. Mayor Gregg Davidson said ɫشýCounty filled a vacant council seat a few years ago by making an appointment through an application process, which worked “quite well.”
On Sept. 26 at the Palmerston Railway Heritage Museum, Perth-ɫشýMPP Matthew Rae announced over $307,000 in Rural Economic Development funding for seven projects across Perth-Wellington. Rae also announced that $11,000 of the funding would be going to the restoration of the Palmerston Railway Heritage Museum to fix its train caboose. The Town of Minto received $11,388 in funding, County of Perth received $38,875, County of ɫشýreceived $22,500, Municipality of North Perth received $17,350, United Way Perth Huron received $25,461, and the Here For Now Theatre Company received $191,657. The Township of Puslinch also received $49,500 to support downtown renovations of Aberfoyle and Morriston.

Perth-ɫشýMPP Matthew Rae announced over $307,000 in funding for rural economic development. From left: Susan Yungblunt from the Palmerston Agriculture Society, Mary Dickieson from the Palmerston Agriculture Society, Terry Cormack from the All Aboard Palmerston Downtown Revitalization Committee, Rae, Dave Wilson from the Palmerston Lions Club, Minto councillor Ron Elliott, Bob McEachern and Diane Gilbertson from the Palmerston Railway Museum. Photo by Ellouise Thompson
A dog bite that left a Minto resident needing 10 stitches has led to a “dangerous dog” designation by council. On July 30 a dog named Bowie attacked and bit Stella Wallace, who was walking on Regency Drive in Clifford. Bylaw enforcement officer Rick Hobbelink designated Bowie as a dangerous dog in the Town of Minto and notified the owners on Sept. 9 of the designation. Council held a special council meeting on Oct. 1 to facilitate a hearing for both parties. The dogs owners appealed the designation, but council ultimately stood by Hobbelink’s designation.
Students at the Upper Grand and ɫشýCatholic school boards performed better, on average, than their provincial peers on tests from the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). School boards use the results to guide the allocation of resources. In both local school boards, more Grade 3 students achieved levels 3 and 4 in math last school year than the previous year.
A Harriston realism artist, Diane Morgan, was recognized for her talents in the 17th International Art Renewal Centre (ARC) Salon Competition based in New York. The international contest received over 5,000 entries from over 87 countries. Approximately 40 per cent or 1,970 works were selected as semi-finalists.
The Minto fire department sought support from Centre ɫشýas it disbanded two specialty rescue teams. The department’s water rescue and confined space team programs were disbanded after nearly eight years. Council received the team update from staff on Oct. 1.
Mapleton council, in an Oct. 8 meeting, announced that an automated speed enforcement camera was to be installed in front of Drayton Heights Public School in early 2025. Davidson, chair of the county’s roads committee, said camera signs would be up around Oct. 15 and cameras installed in January.
The Hensall Co-op announced the recipients of the fourth annual Bright Futures Scholarship. Winners included Marisa Huberts of Moorefield, who will be attending the University of Guelph for a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.
The CKNX Health Care Heroes Radiothon took to the airwaves on Oct. 19 with a mission to inspire support for local hospitals in mid-western Ontario. At the end of the seven-hour broadcast, $376,189 was raised toward vital health care projects for hospitals in participating communities, including Mount Forest, Wingham, Palmerston, Walkerton, Listowel, Clinton, Hanover and Seaforth.
Mapleton council’s proposed 2025 consolidated budget topped $30 million, with over $20 million in total capital expenditures, $6.7 million in operating expenditures, a $2.8-million transfer to reserves and capital, and more than $600,000 in long-term debt servicing costs. The general levy requirement was $10.2 million – a combination of the operating expenditures, transfer to reserves and capital, and long-term debt servicing.
Eleven-year-old Mount forest resident, Ava Albrechtas, was selected to represent Canada in the 2025 Dance World Cup in Burgos, Spain. Albrechtas, a Grade 6 student at Victoria Cross Public School, said the opportunity came to her during a competition in Guelph in May – when she was still just a fifth grader.
ɫشýNorth council agreed to partner with the Arthur Curling Club to apply for provincial funding to help the club replace its floor. “The floor, as it stands today, is still operational, but we don’t want to be in a position where it fails mid-season,” club president Chris Roelofsen told council during its Oct. 21 meeting. The club was asking to partner with the township to apply for the first stream of funding available through the Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund announced in April.
A large group of worshippers were in attendance Oct. 27 as St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Arthur celebrated its 150th birthday. A special service included several dignitaries, including Perth-ɫشýMP John Nater and MPP Matthew Rae, ɫشýNorth councillor Penny Renken and Wellington-Halton Hills MPP and Speaker of the Legislature Ted Arnott. Clerk of Session Chris McIntosh opened the service by describing the church’s 150 years of history.
November
Mount Forest teen Brodie Oliver thanked his grandmother for the inspiration after he was part of a team that won a baking competition at Conestoga College that came with the prize of free tuition.The 17-year-old ɫشýHeights Secondary School student was one of about 20 students in his dual-credit baking class at Conestoga who had the opportunity to take part in the competition. The event, held on Oct. 24, was the first of its kind at the college.
Arthur resident Laird More was named citizen of the year at the Arthur Chamber of Commerce Community awards ceremony Oct. 23. “Laird has and continues to be an active member of the Arthur Lions Club, serving in most executive roles, working in the food booth, and directing the annual craft show,” said Arthur Chamber of Commerce President, Paula Coffey during the ceremony.

Arthur resident Laird More, middle, was named citizen of the year at the Arthur Chamber of Commerce Community awards ceremony. The award was presented by Perth-ɫشýMP John Nater, left, and MPP Matthew Rae. Submitted photo
Town residents gathered at the Palmerston arena bright and early to learn about a reconstruction plan for Main Street East and West on Oct. 30. The town of Minto and the Minto Chamber of Commerce joined together to host a Big Dig business meeting. The Palmerston construction project was set to begin in the summer of 2026 with the help of Fergus-based company Triton Engineering Services Limited.
Mapleton fire chief Chris Harrow presented a draft open fires bylaw to Mapleton council during its meeting on Oct. 22. He said the changes to the bylaw aim to align Minto, ɫشýNorth and Mapleton’s burn bylaws. Mapleton’s bylaw is “fairly old,” he noted, and needs updating “to reflect the more modern times in open-air burning.” Rules around distances between burns and structures are set to tighten, as are rules around what can be burned and when burns are permitted.
What began as a small way to honour war veterans quickly turned into a community-wide project. Chair of the All Aboard Palmerston beautification committee Taylor Keunen began the Poppy Project last year after wanting a way to “uniquely honour the veterans in the community.” To make her idea come to life she posted on social media calling out to any crocheters in the community who were willing to crochet some poppies for a big art installation. Some of the poppies were created by a group of 15 volunteers with the final total being around 3,500 crocheted poppies.
Lori Woodham has been appointed to fill the vacant seat on Mapleton council. Woodham, who served as a Mapleton councillor from 2014 to 2018, is filling the seat vacated by former councillor Martin Tamlyn. He resigned on Sept. 27 to fill a climate change coordinator position shared by Mapleton and Centre Wellington. Two other candidates vied for the seat: Neil Driscoll and Jason Hutten.
The Orangeville Viking U11 boys hockey team played in Harriston in hopes of raising funds for, Skylar Beuhler, a little girl with acute lymphocytic leukemia.
A previously dark alley in downtown Mount Forest has been transformed into an art gallery thanks to support from local businesses and the work of local artists. “It’s kind of a science experiment, because we’ve never done this before,” said artist and salon owner Erin Kiers. She has been showcasing the work of local artists at her Main Street business, Hybrid Hair and Detox Spa, since 2020.
David Connolly wasset to become Drayton Entertainment’s second artistic director. CEO Alex Mustakas served as the theatre company’s artistic director for 35 years, and was said to remain CEO as he passes the artistic directing baton to Connolly. His role will include developing and implementing a new vision for Drayton Entertainment, which he said will be built on the core values the non-profit has always centred around: “providing world-class entertainment at an affordable price.”
Minto council approved a bid of $109,000 for the improvement of a municipal drain in a Nov. 19 meeting. The town received five bids for themunicipal drain 14 project, located north of the 8th Line east of Harriston, with prices ranging from $109,000 to $232,000. The highest bid was from Elora-based Bomar Landscaping Inc. Engineers presented project details during an Aug. 13 meeting and estimated the total project would cost $207,000.
Plans moved forward for the fifth and final phase of Arthur’s Eastridge subdivision. ɫشýNorth held a public meeting on Nov. 18 to gather feedback on an application to rezone 8.5 acres of land in the southeast corner of the subdivision from “future development” to low-, medium- and high-density residential and open space to allow 55 new housing units to be built. “This is the final phase of the Eastridge development,” ɫشýCounty manager of development planning Curtis Marshall told council during the meeting, noting phase four is currently under construction. Phase five is slated to include 18 single detached homes, 12 semi-detached homes on six residential lots, and 25 on-street townhouse units, spread out over five blocks, and a one-block walkway
December
Mapleton resident Eileen Downey was presented with the WFA’s Community Person of the Year Award in recognition of her volunteerism and contributions to agriculture on Nov. 1. WFA president Barclay Nap presented Downey with the award, along with a plaque and water colour painting, during the annual banquet in Elora. About 30 of Downey’s family members attended the banquet, her daughter Barbara Downey told the Advertiser. They were all “very proud of my mother for being such a stalwart and hardworking matriarch,” she said.
The first municipality in ɫشýCounty to pass a 2025 budget was the Township of Mapleton, which approved a $30-million consolidated budget on Nov. 26. The budget includes a 3.55% net levy increase, which means an average property owner will pay about $66 more in the Mapleton portion of taxes in 2025. The total budget and levy increase are about the same as those proposed by staff in October.
Perth-ɫشýMPP Matthew Rae announced $943,123.32 in provincial funding to help dozens of agri-food businesses and farm families enhance their biosecurity capabilities on Nov. 29. This funding is part of the governments of Canada and Ontario’s Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative. The Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative aims to help agri-food businesses and contributors enhance their biosecurity capabilities, allowing them to focus on providing safe and nutritious food to Ontarians.
Deputy premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones joined Perth-ɫشýMPP Matthew Rae in Palmerston to announce the addition of 100 new family doctors to serve rural and northern communities. The announcement, held at the Minto Rural Health Centre, was attended by staff, government officials and health care providers on Dec. 5.
The Curling Ontario logo is embedded in the pebbled surface of the ice at the Mount Forest Curling Club, along with the words, “Proud Host of the U18 Men’s and Women’s 2025 Provincial Championship.” The event was set to take place Jan. 8 to 12, and see eight men’s and eight women’s teams from across Ontario vying for the provincial title and the chance to take part in the national competition.
ɫشýNorth council approved more than $36,000 worth of community grants and donations for 2025. A staff report included in the Dec. 2 council meeting agenda listed more than 40 recommended grants and fee waivers for a wide variety of projects by various community organizations. Grant amounts ranged from $220 at the low end up to $2,500 at the upper end, with some organizations receiving varying amounts for multiple projects.
The emergency department at Louise Marshall Hospital in Mount Forest was closed yet again. According to a press release from North ɫشýHealth Care, which operates the Mount Forest hospital, the department was closed on Dec. 7 between 12 and 9pm. The release attributed the move to “a staffing shortage” and was sent at 11:40am, just 40 minutes prior to the closure.
Minto council approved a bid of $156,000 for the construction of municipal drain 120. The town received seven bids for the project, with prices ranging from $156,000 to $199,000. Staff recommended council award the contract to Ethel-based company TAS Excavating and Rentals Limited. In October, council was presented with an engineer’s report that outlined the creation of a new drain to provide a legal outlet for parts of Lots 19 to 21, Concession 3 and part of Lot 21, Concession 4.

Arthur’s Santa Claus Parade was hosted by the Opti-Mrs Club on Nov. 30. Families lined the main street, soaking in the holiday spirit while enjoying this year’s theme: a Snow Globe Christmas. Photo by Sue Hogenkamp