General City News

The Tom Thomson Art Gallery (The TOM), in partnership with Owen Sound Waste Watchers (OSWW), is thrilled to announce the return of Upcycle TOM 2026, with Hillcrest Elementary School leading the charge! This year, students will again explore creativity, collaboration, and sustainability by creating upcycled artworks inspired by the legendary Canadian artist Tom Thomson.

The 2026 Grey Bruce Home and Lifestyle Show will be held at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre and JD McArthur Arena on Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The show now has a new name to better reflect its broader content, which has expanded to meet our attendees’ needs. The new branding highlights a more comprehensive experience. The traditional home design, renovation and outdoor living will now also include personal wellness, recreational activities such as hunting and fishing, technology, culture and healthy choices. The rebrand signals growth, freshness, and relevance to today’s evolving interests and consumer habits.

In accordance with the Provincial Minimum Maintenance Standards, the City of Owen Sound is declaring an end to the Significant Weather Event that was issued on December 31, 2025 and extended on January 5th, 2026.  

The City of Owen Sound is advising residents of the plan regarding excess snow removal in the downtown core. Due to contractor and staffing availability, excess snow removal operations will take place in Owen Sound’s River District area beginning at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14. The work is expected to be completed by early Thursday morning.

Please be advised that the Committee of Adjustment hearing scheduled for Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. has been cancelled.

The City of Owen Sound wishes to inform residents of a significant update to the Ontario Fire Code that is expected to affect many community members. The Ontario government has announced updates to the Ontario Fire Code that will strengthen carbon monoxide (CO) safety in homes and other residential buildings, effective January 1, 2026. These changes expand where CO alarms must be installed to better protect residents from carbon monoxide, an invisible, odourless, and potentially deadly gas.

Due to the impact of current and forecast weather conditions on the City’s road and sidewalk infrastructure, the City of Owen Sound has declared a Significant Weather Event that will remain in effect until further notice.

The declaration of a significant weather event is not a notice of a reduced level of service or a road closure. It is intended to notify the public that caution must be observed when travelling on city-maintained roads. Restoring the roads to optimal conditions may take longer than usual.

Only essential travel is advised. Travel on municipal roads and sidewalks maintained by the City of Owen Sound requires extra caution during a declared Significant Weather Event. All municipal streets and sidewalks are in a “state of repair” until an end to the significant weather event is announced. 

Mayor Ian Boddy has formally tabled his proposed 2026 budget for the City of Owen Sound. This budget was developed in consultation with each Council member, the Director of Corporate Services, and the City Manager. The steps taken in developing this budget were careful and measured, in parallel with the Province of Ontario’s implementation of Strong Mayor powers earlier this year.