Weds Dec 10 – Local News, Views & Events

Owen Sound area news and submissions involving Grey County Council, City of Owen Sound, OSHaRE, Bruce Peninsula National Park, South Bruce OPP, and more

👋 Welcome to The Owen Sound Current, your source for what’s happening in and around Owen Sound. Thank you to our Sustaining Supporters for funding contributor stories and keeping public notices and letters open to all! Upgrade to a full subscription for original reporting, events, curated stories, and full access to our local archives.

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The bulk freighter MV Saginaw departed Owen Sound on Saturday, Dec. 5, after delivering a load of grain. Text and photo: Bruce Cheadle

This week, we’re pleased to welcome planning professional Christy Hempel as the latest addition to Owen Sound Current’s community contributor roster. With her experience in affordable housing and development — and deep roots in Owen Sound — Christy brings valuable insight into how planning decisions shape our community's future.

In her inaugural column, she takes a critical look at past promises and projections used to justify big-box retail expansion on the city’s outskirts — and checks in on what actually happened.

With fresh development proposals now back on the table and possible shifts in planning policy on the table via the City’s Official Plan review, Christy asks: Are we about to repeat the same mistakes?

Read on for a thoughtful and timely look at the impacts of retail development in Owen Sound. As always, full subscribers are invited to comment on the article and join in the conversation. We thank our Sustaining Supporters for funding our community columns, helping to amplify local voices and perspectives.

Public Notices

• Grey County’s Agricultural Advisory Committee meets today at 9:00 a.m. online only. On their agenda: roadside ash and elm tree removal, West/Grey Hanover’s proposed boundary adjustment, Experimental Acres 2025 program updates, and more.

• Grey County Council meets on Thursday, December 11, at 10:00 a.m. in council Chambers at the Grey County Administrative Building. on their agenda: a deputation and request for a $350,000 sponsorship from Saugeen Hospice, a request to support the City of Owen Sound’s declaration of a State of Emergency on Mental Health, Homelessness, and Addictions, and more.

• Owen Sound City Council will hold a Special Council meeting on Monday, December 15, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, to consider a staff report respecting proposed changes to the Conservation Authorities Act.

Keep reading for upcoming events, obituaries, and local news, including the latest updates from South Bruce OPP, a look at what’s happening at Bruce Peninsula National Park this season, updates from OSHaRE, and a lot more.

~ Miranda Miller, Editor

Local News