General City News

The Owen Sound River District is excited to announce the launch of a new local initiative as part of the nationwide movement: Shop Main Street Canada. Support Local. This campaign encourages our community to embrace a local-first mindset and recognize the importance of supporting Main Street businesses that serve as the economic and cultural heartbeat of our City.

As spring approaches, Owen Sound residents can look forward to the maple sap running. Unfortunately, the best conditions for maple syrup making are the worst for roads! Freeze-thaw cycles due to daytime positive temperatures and nighttime lows are the best recipe for potholes. Staff are ready for them and are repairing damage in priority areas across the city.  In the meantime, drivers should use caution and report any areas of concern.

City staff have temporarily closed the following trails in Harrison Park due to flooding and flooding damage:

• Freedom Trail - 2nd Ave East to Restaurant Parking Lot
• Mile Drive Trail (entire trail)
• Harrison Park Campground Roads and Trails (all)
• Harrison Park Island (all traversing trails including playground)
• Harrison Park Pool Roads (entry and exit)

With temperatures gradually rising and moisture being released from the accumulated snow, residents should double-check their homes to minimize the risk of water leaks and other damage.

As the snow melts, it will collect in natural and manmade collection systems such as storm sewers, ditches and creeks. Always be cautious of open water, as it may be deeper or more unstable than it appears.

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 February 12, 2025. 

The Good Cheer Rink at Harrison Park will be closed beginning Monday, March 10, 2025, due to current warm weather and sunny conditions.

The City appreciates the public's patience and understanding at this time.  For regular updates about the Good Cheer Rink at Harrison Park, visit OwenSound.ca/PublicSkating and follow the City of Owen Sound on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The City of Owen Sound continues to make significant progress on its Climate Action Strategy, with over half of its planned initiatives either completed or currently in progress. While significant steps have been taken, the City acknowledges that ongoing efforts are required to achieve its long-term climate goals.

Owen Sound City Council approved a Short-Term Rental (STR) By-law on December 4, 2023, with licensing requirements taking effect on March 1, 2024. As part of the City’s ongoing commitment to the community, a one-year review of the STR licensing program survey is available and seeking public input.

Owen Sound’s Backflow Prevention Program helps keep municipal drinking water safe while providing a cost-saving opportunity for property owners. To support compliance with the Backflow Prevention By-law, the City is offering a limited-time subsidy to help cover the cost of installing premise isolation and fire protection backflow preventers.

The City of Owen Sound is working with regional partners and service providers to support an extension of the Guelph Owen Sound Transportation (GOST) bus service.

GOST is an intercommunity public transit service connecting Owen Sound and Guelph with additional stops in Chatsworth, Williamsford, Durham, Mount Forest, Arthur, Fergus and Elora.