News

The Owen Sound River District is proud to announce that it is the recipient of the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) Special Events Award of Excellence. The Award was received in the Marketing & Promotions category in recognition of the Wheel & Ride Safety Festival and Bike Program event held annually.

Following significant building renovations, the Tom Thomson Art Gallery exhibition spaces will be re-opening to the public on Saturday, April 5.  An Opening Reception will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and is free for all to attend.  The reception will unveil three new exhibitions in the TOM, all of which are connected by the theme of context and environments that shape experiences: Safekeeping; Soft Futures; Nicholas Hornyansky: An Everyday Utility

The City of Owen Sound is initiating a city-wide Water Meter Replacement Project to upgrade aging residential water meters with advanced technology. The majority of the current water meters in Owen Sound's residential properties have reached the end of their operational lifespan. In response, the City is undertaking a mass replacement project to install new meters. The City has partnered with Neptune Technology Group, a trusted resource that has installed millions of water meters across the country, to carry out the installations. 

Thanks to the overwhelming success of last year’s initiative, the Tom Thomson Art Gallery (The TOM) and Owen Sound Waste Watchers (OSWW) are excited to announce Upcycling TOM 2025 with East Ridge Community School! This year, the school has come together to take on the challenge of creating upcycled artworks inspired by the iconic Canadian landscape artist, Tom Thomson. The school selected Sunset Sky, one of Thomson’s most celebrated works, as their inspiration for the project. Students worked collaboratively over the winter months, using only recycled materials — from plastic waste to old textiles, cardboard, and discarded books — to recreate the stunning colours and textures of Sunset Sky.

Discover Owen Sound’s rich history and plan a day trip to explore heritage sites as part of Doors Open Ontario. This annual program of the Ontario Heritage Trust, in partnership with the City of Owen Sound, will take place this year on Saturday, June 21.

The City of Owen Sound is seeking host sites to open their doors to visitors on June 21 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. To take part, please contact Jen Wright, Events and Activation Coordinator, at 519-376-4440 ext. 1237 or email jwright@owensound.ca.  Past Doors Open Owen Sound sites have included museums, places of worship, art studios, sports clubs, gardens, cemeteries and more.

Many communities face a challenge with the proper disposal of sharps in public places. With the arrival of warmer weather, more sharps and needles may be discovered, exposed by the melting snow. To address this issue, a community-based approach is required. The City of Owen Sound is reminding residents of how they can be a part of the solution to ensure proper disposal of sharps.  

The City of Owen Sound is saddened to share the passing of Darcy Wise, a valued member of our arenas team. Darcy played an essential role in keeping the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre clean and welcoming after Owen Sound Attack games. 

Known for his reliability, he never missed a shift and was respected by all who had the pleasure of working with him. His positive attitude and dedication will be deeply missed by colleagues and the community alike.

Flags will be lowered to half-mast beginning on March 20 at City facilities in his honour.

The City of Owen Sound regrets to announce that the 2025 Arts and Culture Awards ceremony, initially scheduled for Thursday, April 24, has been cancelled due to insufficient nominations.

The Volunteer of the Year, Senior of the Year, and Youth Volunteer of the Year awards will be presented at Owen Sound City Council on Monday, April 28 at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall’s Council Chambers.

Please be advised that publication of the agenda for the March 24, 2025 meeting of Owen Sound City Council has been delayed due to technical difficulties beyond the City’s control. Staff are working with the external service provider responsible for agenda management software to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

Staff apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and ask for patience from the public at this time.

Further notice will be provided once the agenda is available for review on the Council and Committee page on the City’s website.

For more information, please contact Allison Penner, Deputy Clerk at 519-376-4440 ext. 1235 or email to apenner@owensound.ca.