South Grey News to Cease Operations After Eight Years of Local Reporting
South Grey News will cease operations on December 31, 2025, after eight years of independent local journalism. The team expresses gratitude to readers, advertisers, and contributors.
Independent digital news outlet South Grey News will cease operations as of December 31, 2025, according to a statement released by its staff on Monday.
The decision comes after what the team described as “sincere and difficult consideration,” citing recent health issues as a key factor in retiring the website and shifting focus to other projects.
Launched in June 2017, South Grey News built a reputation for providing timely, locally focused reporting in a format designed to be accessible and free from political bias.
Over its eight years of operation, the publication covered a wide range of topics, from municipal affairs and cultural events to major global stories with local impacts — most notably, the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2022.
The publication also introduced original initiatives such as Grey County Reads, a literary contest spotlighting local authors and community advocates, which became a hallmark of its community engagement efforts.
“South Grey News does not have the resources of a big corporation. We are a small, locally owned and operated organization,” a notice on the website reads. “Research, analysis and physical attendance at public meetings and community events requires considerable effort.”
“We believe this service is more important today than ever before, as social media has given rise to misinformation, largely unchecked by big corporations who put profits ahead of their responsibilities,” the publication added.
In their farewell message, co-founders Ron Barnett and Barbara Pearn expressed gratitude to readers, advertisers, and contributors. “We want to thank our readers for their loyal support over the past eight years,” the statement read. “This is a difficult end, but the memories and efforts we shared mean the world.”
The team also acknowledged the contributions of advertisers who supported the site’s journalistic mission, and contributors whose editorials and stories added depth and perspective to its coverage.
As South Grey News prepares to close, its staff encouraged readers to continue seeking out reliable sources of local information and to remain engaged with their communities.
For now, the region prepares to bid farewell to a trusted independent voice in local journalism.
Editor’s Note: Owen Sound Current extends sincere thanks to South Grey News for their years of quality local reporting.
We have often directed our readers to their work through our curated daily briefs and have valued their independent voice in the region. We recognize the significant effort involved in running a local news outlet and appreciate the role South Grey News has played in informing and engaging the community.
We will continue our efforts to serve readers in South Grey and beyond with reliable, local journalism.
Source: South Grey News