Oct 1 - Local News, Events & Our Upcoming Anniversary

Plus: A quick look at how The Owen Sound Current has grown since our launch in November, 2023

👋 Welcome to The Owen Sound Current, your source for what’s happening in and around Owen Sound. Community-contributed content is open to free subscribers, while full subscribers get premium content, curated news, local events, and commenting features in these weekday briefs. Thank you for supporting independent local journalism!

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Family of the late Neil Raynsford with local dignitaries at his induction to the Bruce Grey Music Hall of Fame on September 29. Photo: Rebecca Raynsford

As The Owen Sound Current approaches its one-year anniversary, we're reflecting on the journey so far and sharing key milestones as we chart the path forward. Here’s a quick look at what’s happened in the 11 months since we launched:

• 1250+ articles published, including 225+ weekday briefs with curated news from diverse local sources

• 4000-7000 reads each day we publish

• 70 readers have gifted someone else a subscription

As we set out to build a sustainable local news publication, publisher Maryann Thomas and I agreed that it would have to be supported by the community, not advertisers.

And you showed up! Thousands of you continue to show up by subscribing, reading, sharing your letters and photos with The Owen Sound Current community, sharing our articles by email and social media, sending in news tips, and more.

We’re especially thankful for our Founding Subscribers and the businesses and individuals who’ve contributed as Writers Fund Sponsors. Your support enables us to share remarkable content from local authors in our community and compensate them fairly.

We’ve learned many lessons along the way.

For example, reader feedback made it clear that missing person articles must be available to all and not part of our full (paid) subscriber content. We’ve also heard that you prefer to get those and other time-sensitive notices right away, even if that means an extra email in your inbox.

We’ve grown to include more public notices, news from a wider variety of sources around Grey and Bruce counties, and far more community-based content submitted by readers.

As we look toward our one-year anniversary and the year ahead, there is much more to learn and celebrate.

It’s been heartening to witness firsthand the many wonderful things happening in and around Owen Sound, and it fills me with hope for our community's future. Every day, we see people making positive change through local businesses, grassroots organizations, volunteer efforts, the arts, and more.

These efforts often happen quietly, but their impact is profound—and it’s our job to make sure they are seen and celebrated.

We also strongly believe that free and open media is a cornerstone of democracy, ensuring that all voices are heard and the community stays informed, engaged, and empowered. Transparency and accountability are vital, as they build trust, foster civic responsibility, and help ensure our community's long-term health and well-being.

It’s why we started The Owen Sound Current: to shine a light on what’s happening in and around Owen Sound.

But we can’t do it alone.

It will take all of us working together to keep that light shining brightly. With your continued support, we can ensure that the voices, stories, and efforts that make our community special are heard and shared.

Here are a few ways you can help us grow and continue this mission...

• Become a full subscriber. We try hard to balance free and open community content with a richer, more engaging and informative experience for those who help keep the lights on, so to speak.

• Share what’s happening with us. We welcome letters to the editor, upcoming event notices, and photos from in and around Owen Sound.

• Share us with others. There are social share buttons on every article, and you can send articles to friends by email, as well.

One more thing… let us know:

Public Notices

• Take the City of Owen Sound’s Visitor Services Survey 2024 here.

• West Grey Council meets on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm. The agenda is available here.

• Bluewater District School Board (BWDSB) meets on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. The agenda package will be posted on the board’s website.

Full subscribers - keep reading for local news updates on a local program reducing emergency call volume and saving taxpayers money, EQAO results from our local school boards, yesterday’s Reconciliation Day gathering, and more.

If you can’t see the info below, you’re missing out on what’s happening in and around Owen Sound.

~ Miranda

P.S. Don’t forget to visit and bookmark OwenSoundCurrent.com. Full subscribers can access local events listings and our entire archive of content on the website.

P.P.S. Have something to share? Submit a letter to the editor or your photo to owensoundcurrenteditor@gmail.com and share what’s happening in your corner of Owen Sound with the community.