General City News

Effective Saturday, March 1, select roadways within the City of Owen Sound will be under a reduced load period (maximum 5 tonnes per axle). This seasonal restriction is activated in alignment with Grey County and other local municipalities due to milder weather conditions at this time of year.

Please be advised that City Council will hold a Special Council meeting on Monday, March 3, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

The purpose of the Special Council meeting is to consider one matter in Closed Session regarding labour relations or employee negotiations.

The Special Council meeting agenda will be available for review prior to the meeting on the Council and Committee page on the City’s website. The meeting will not be livestreamed 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.  

In response to heightened safety concerns, the City of Owen Sound is altering its strategy for excess snow removal in the downtown River District to nighttime operations. Beginning in the late evening of Sunday, March 2, residents are reminded to remove vehicles from downtown streets to avoid service disruptions.

The Good Cheer Rink at Harrison Park will be closed beginning Monday, February 24, 2025, due to unseasonably warm weather and sunny conditions.  It is intended to reopen later this week.

The City appreciates the public's patience and understanding at this time.  For regular updates about the Good Cheer Rink at Harrison Park, visit OwenSound.ca/PublicSkating and follow the City of Owen Sound on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Excess snow removal operations will begin in Owen Sound’s downtown River District area tomorrow, Tuesday, February 25, at 7 a.m.  8th Street East, between 2nd and 3rd Avenue East, will be closed Tuesday morning for these snow removal operations.  

City staff will implement rolling road closures throughout the River District as they work block by block to remove excess snow and accumulated piles. 

With an upcoming provincial election in 2025, Owen Sound joins municipal governments across Ontario in calling for provincial action and partnership to help them deliver a high quality of life to all Ontarians.

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) has launched a non-partisan awareness campaign to ensure that voters and provincial parties alike understand three key areas where provincial partnership and action can improve Ontario’s quality of life:

• tackling the homelessness crisis
• curbing reliance on municipal property taxes to fund provincial responsibilities
• investing in local infrastructure to build housing

Residents are being asked to avoid parking on the road when winter maintenance is required, to assist staff in clearing the roads as quickly and efficiently as possible. The City of Owen Sound's fully staffed Public Works Department continues to provide around-the-clock snow removal services across the municipality, and all snow removal equipment is fully operational. However, snow removal equipment is hindered or prevented from entering snow-narrowed roads when vehicles are parked on the road.

Owen Sound is still under a Significant Weather Event declaration. This means that normal snow response timelines observed under the Minimum Maintenance Standards are extended. While staff are fully mobilized and working at maximum capacity, the volume and frequency of snow events are delaying response times. As of Wednesday afternoon, most roads have been cleared within the last 48 hours, with the exception of some dead-end roads and lanes, which should be expected to take longer. Snowfall occurring on the weekend will have longer than usual response times.

The City’s tiered response system ensures critical routes receive priority attention. Arterial roads, hills and emergency routes are cleared first, followed by City bus routes and then residential streets. The City’s Fire department is also working to clear the accumulation of snow from around fire hydrants. 

Staff are planning another snowbank removal process in the River District next week, depending on the weather.

As part of Owen Sound Council’s ongoing commitment to community engagement, residents are asked to provide feedback via an online survey now available to review the City’s first year of Short Term Rental (STR) licensing.  

Due to current conditions, most City facilities in Owen Sound will close early today. City Hall, the Public Works Administration Building, Tom Thomson Art Gallery, and Bayshore Community Centre will close at 3 p.m., while the Julie McArthur Regional Recreation Centre and YMCA remain open, though YMCA programming is cancelled. Owen Sound Transit (OST) is operating as usual, but GOST transit is cancelled. Garbage and recycling collection for the East Side Tuesday route will continue as scheduled.

Heavy snowfall is expected to continue, and residents are urged to take precautions: avoid unnecessary travel, stay indoors during extreme conditions, keep vents clear to prevent carbon monoxide buildup, and check on vulnerable neighbours. Ensure emergency preparedness with essential supplies and use caution when shovelling. For updates on road conditions, visit Municipal511.ca. Residents in need of assistance can call 211, available 24/7.

It’s nearly time for the Family Day long weekend and the City is reminding everyone of facility closures, modified hours, and alternate programming. Here is all you need to know to plan ahead so you can spend quality time with family and friends.