General City News

The City is pleased to announce that the proceeds from the Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada event have officially been distributed to Community Foundation Grey Bruce and will be held in perpetuity. The interest earned from the funds will support projects helping children in Owen Sound who are facing financial barriers to playing hockey. 

Owen Sound Fire & Emergency Services is pleased to announce a partnership with Troy Life & Fire Safety for a public education campaign called Saved by the Beep. The initiative recognizes Thursday, September 28, 2023, as Ontario’s first ‘Test Your Smoke Alarm Day’.

Owen Sound residents are reminded that they can report concerns to the City using the online form by visiting OwenSound.ca/ReportAConcern. Completing the online form is a convenient and efficient way to receive information or address any issues. City staff will respond to issues based on priority.

In honour of what will be Tom Thomson’s 146^th birthday on August 5, the Art Gallery is excited to announce the launch of a new online digital database of artworks. The database includes three Tom Thomson paintings purchased by the Lyceum Club and Women's Art Association of Owen Sound in 1927 from the Estate of Tom Thomson.

To address climate change in our area, Owen Sound’s City Council has approved a Climate Action Strategy that will guide the municipality forward in reaching its goal of becoming net zero by 2050.

City Council has passed amendments to the Traffic By-law to include school zones at most of the City’s schools. By-law No. 2023-092 is an amendment to Traffic By-law No. 2009-075 to include various school zones with speed limits of 30 kilometres per hour between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. 

In response to a fulsome Service Review conducted in 2022, the City of Owen Sound has developed a Service Review Priority Opportunity Action Plan to ensure the municipality’s financial and organizational resources are being used as efficiently as possible. Council received the Action Plan on Monday, July 17, and noted that the Actions will achieve direct and indirect savings of approximately $2 million over the current term of Council, equivalent to ten per cent of the gross operating budget.

In response to the ongoing warm temperatures, the City of Owen Sound reminds residents that there are public places available throughout the City to keep cool. Cooling centres can be found at the following locations: 

On behalf of City Council, I condemn recent events that maliciously attack the 2S-LGBTQQIAP+ Community or any citizen of Owen Sound, regardless of their religious beliefs or ethnic background. These actions are not acceptable, not tolerated and do not reflect Owen Sound’s core values.

The City of Owen Sound recognizes the need to have ready access to clean, safe public washrooms as a vital part of personal and public health and as fundamental to human dignity, especially for people who are restroom challenged.