General City News

With the Victoria Day long weekend beginning today, Owen Sound Fire Department is reminding residents to put safety first when using fireworks and sparklers. If you are planning a backyard display, please use caution and be considerate of your neighbours. 

Beginning Tuesday, May 19, City staff will remove the seasonal cross-street Noma lights over Second Avenue East and install seasonal banners, closing one block at a time to minimize the disruption to visitors and businesses in the River District. This is a strong sign that summer is on the way here in the Scenic City!

The City of Owen Sound is inviting residents and visitors to help reimagine one of the community’s most loved waterfront spaces with the Kelso Beach at Nawash Park Playground Replacement and Splash Pad Revitalization project.

A noticeable upgrade is now in place at one of Owen Sound’s most well-used recreation facilities. The City of Owen Sound, in partnership with Owen Sound Northstars Lacrosse, has installed a high-quality artificial turf floor at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre, enhancing the arena floor’s functionality, supporting athlete safety, and opening the door to new sporting and economic opportunities for the community.

The Owen Sound Fire Department will begin its annual Home Visitation Program on Friday, May 15, 2026, with firefighters visiting homes throughout the northeast section of the city to promote fire safety awareness, strengthen community connections, and answer residents’ questions.

The Owen Sound Fire Department responded to a reported residential structure fire this afternoon in the 2000 block of 9th Avenue East involving a single-family home that was fully engulfed upon firefighter’s arrival.

The Tom Thomson Art Gallery (The TOM), in partnership with Owen Sound Waste Watchers (OSWW), is pleased to announce that Upcycle TOM is travelling beyond the gallery walls and into the River District and surrounding community, transforming storefronts into display spaces that highlight beautiful upcycled student creations inspired by Tom Thomson’s Wildflowers. These inspiring works will be on display throughout the month of May, highlighting student creativity while promoting art as a catalyst for environmental awareness and change.

The City of Owen Sound will begin resurfacing road segments as part of its 2026 Road Resurfacing Program next week. This program reinforces the City’s commitment to building and maintaining infrastructure that supports a safe, connected, and efficient community. 

The City of Owen Sound reminds residents and visitors to ‘Be Prepared’ during Emergency Preparedness Week, May 3 to 9, 2026. This national event, held annually during the first full week of May, raises awareness about the importance of emergency preparedness for individuals, families, and communities.