The Owen Sound Current

The Owen Sound Current

Fri Mar 13 – Local News, Top Stories & Weekend Events

News and updates involving MPP Paul Vickers, OSDSS and St Mary's students, Township of Georgian Bluffs, Neyaashiinigmiing, the search for James Van-Veen, City of Owen Sound, and more

Miranda Miller's avatar
Miranda Miller
Mar 13, 2026
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This week’s most-read stories come as no surprise:

All 23 People Rescued Near Owen Sound After Ice Drifts for Kilometres Into Georgian Bay

All 23 People Rescued Near Owen Sound After Ice Drifts for Kilometres Into Georgian Bay

Miranda Miller
·
Mar 8
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Tues Mar 10 – Local News + Editorial: There’s Something Fishy About Sunday’s Ice Rescue

Tues Mar 10 – Local News + Editorial: There’s Something Fishy About Sunday’s Ice Rescue

Miranda Miller
·
Mar 10
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Thurs Mar 12 – Local News + Editorial: No Fish Is Worth Your Life, But Apparently It’s Worth the Views

Thurs Mar 12 – Local News + Editorial: No Fish Is Worth Your Life, But Apparently It’s Worth the Views

Miranda Miller
·
Mar 12
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As we wrap up for the weekend, we have an update from the Township of Georgian Bluffs, the municipality in which this incident took place.

We asked Ryan Thompson, the township’s CAO, if there is an estimate of costs for this rescue effort. We also asked if Georgian Bluffs might consider trying to recoup costs from this or other rescues, and whether there be a municipal discussion about more formal warnings about thin ice.

“Because this response involved multiple agencies from across the region, we do not have an estimate of the overall cost associated with the rescue,” Thompson responded by email.

“Emergency response is a core public service supported through municipal taxes, and incidents like this demonstrate how well mutual aid agreements work, allowing departments from across the region to provide additional personnel and specialized equipment when it’s needed,” he added.

The Township does not currently have a policy that automatically recovers costs from individuals in situations like this, Thompson noted.

However, he said Georgian Bluffs and Grey County will conduct a debrief following this incident to review the response and identify lessons learned, which will include consideration of cost recovery policies.

We’ll bring you any further information as it’s available.

In the meantime, another important news update should not be overshadowed. James Van-Veen is still missing, and the search continues. You can learn more about those efforts here:

As OPP Helicopter Searches River, Volunteer Group Says the Search for James Van-Veen “Never Stopped”

As OPP Helicopter Searches River, Volunteer Group Says the Search for James Van-Veen “Never Stopped”

Miranda Miller
·
Mar 9
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Public Notice

  • Harrison Park Good Cheer Rink is Closed for the Season - City of Owen Sound

  • Notice of Tree Maintenance at McCarroll Park - Municipality of Meaford

  • Localized Flooding on Bruce County Roads - Bruce County

Keep Reading

… for weather updates, obituaries, upcoming local events, and the most comprehensive weekday reporting on what’s happening in Owen Sound, and across Grey & Bruce.

Today: Students protest rising education expenses and disappearing grants, more info on the AI system being deployed at our local emergency call centre, and the announcement of a new bus service between Toronto and Tobermory this summer.

Miranda Miller
Editor

Local News

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