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  • Skating
    City Seeks Sunday Free Skating Sponsors

    The City of Owen Sound is inviting local businesses and community organizations to sponsor Free Sunday Family Skating at the Julie McArthur Regional Recreation Centre this fall and winter.

  • Image that says Gallery Night at the Movies
    Tom Thomson Art Gallery’s ‘Gallery Night at the Movies’ Returns for 28th Season 

    The Tom Thomson Art Gallery is excited to announce the return of Gallery Night at the Movies for its 28th Season. In conjunction with the Toronto International Film Festival, the TOM’s Gallery Night at the Movies is one of the TOM’s most successful and long-running programs. With a season running from September to April, the perennial film series brings the best of Canadian, foreign, and independent cinema to the area. All films are screened at the local Cineplex Theatre, Galaxy Cinemas in Owen Sound, offering a true cinematic experience with all the amenities.

  • View of Kelso Beach water with swim ban lifted words over it
    Swimming advisory lifted for Kelso Beach - August 28, 2025 (on behalf of Grey Bruce Public Health)

    Grey Bruce Public Health has lifted the swim advisory for Kelso Beach at Nawash Park after receiving test results from a new series of beach water samples that show bacterial levels have returned to within Ontario Ministry of Health guidelines for safe swimming/bathing.

  • What’s Open & Closed in Owen Sound for Labour Day Weekend

    It’s nearly time for Labour Day weekend, and the City is reminding everyone of facility closures, modified hours, and alternate programming.  

     

  • Road Closure: 16th Avenue E for Sanitary Sewer Replacement

    The City of Owen Sound is notifying the public of an upcoming road closure along 16th Avenue East from 17th Street East to 20th Street East for the replacement of sanitary sewer lines. This section of road will be closed starting on Tuesday, September 2. 

     

  • Summer Hydrant Flushing in Zone D

    The City of Owen Sound Water and Wastewater Department is continuing the annual fire hydrant flushing program this week into Zone D.  

    Yearly fire hydrant flushing ensures they are operational and improves water quality. While flushing is happening, residents may experience low water pressure or cloudy or rusty water. This is normal when flushing older cast-iron water mains.   

  • Owen Sound and Partners Lead the Way: Ontario's First Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup Announced

    Owen Sound is making environmental history as one of six communities selected to host Ontario's first-ever Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup. The City has partnered with the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative for this groundbreaking event, made possible by an $85,000 grant from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks through Ontario's Great Lakes Local Action Fund. 

     

     

  • Owen Sound Hockeyfest logo
    Hockey Fest Celebrations Return to Owen Sound

    Following the excitement of Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada in January 2023, when the City of Owen Sound came alive with a community-wide celebration of the game, the momentum has continued. Building on that success, local partners—supported by the City of Owen Sound—have hosted three successful Hockey Fest events, keeping the spirit of hockey alive year after year. The tradition continues with Hockey Fest 2025, set to take place from Thursday, November 13, to Saturday, November 15, 2025.

  • Leaf and Yard Waste Compost Site Closure Beginning Wednesday, August 27

    The City of Owen Sound Leaf and Yard Waste Composting Facility, located at 2450 28th Avenue East, is scheduled to be closed from Wednesday, August 27 to the end of the day Friday, August 29, and Tuesday September 2 to end of day Wednesday, September 3 to allow for wood grinding to occur.  Changes to these hours may occur due to contractor requirements and weather.  

  • Image of the mural on the loading dock door.
    Loading Dock Door Replacement at The TOM to Retire Iconic Mural

    The Tom Thomson Art Gallery’s current overhead loading dock door (that faces 2nd Avenue West) will be replaced the week of August 25. While this work is part of the City of Owen Sound’s long-term capital projects, the door holds special significance—it has, for many years, been the canvas for a striking mural that has become a familiar part of the TOM’s exterior.  The current door has reached the end of its life and is no longer operating properly, which means both the door and the art on it will be affected by the maintenance.

    The City is grateful to artist Nyle Miigizi Johnston whose mural Miigwetch Animikii Bineeyhnshi (Thank You Thunderbird Spirit) was displayed on the door for many years. The mural was originally created for the Canadian Spirit Festival (2012-2017) as a temporary installation, but the TOM was thrilled to be able to extend it for so many years beyond the Festival during which it was created. Staff have been communicating with Johnston about this replacement project and hope to be able to work with him again on a future initiative.

    Looking ahead, the TOM and the Library have been collaborating with the Pollinate Owen Sound team to establish a pollinator garden on the west side of the building, where the door is being replaced.  Long-range plans include the establishment of native plants to encourage the development of a pollinator corridor in Owen Sound. As part of this project, the team is considering an opportunity to create a pollinator-themed mural to activate that location and to promote awareness about native plants and their importance to the environment.

    The City thanks the community for its appreciation of Johnston’s work and looks forward to the next chapter in activating this important cultural space.

     

    For more information, please contact Aidan Ware, Director and Chief Curator - Art Gallery, Culture, Tourism at 519-376-1932 ext. 5001 or email aware@tomthomson.org.

     

    Quote:

    “With the loading bay door mural at The TOM came an opportunity to showcase traditional Great Lakes Anishinaabek artistry. Utilizing contemporary mediums, I was provided the space to explore Saukiing Anishinaabekiing themes and stories like that of a Thunderbird. I want to say miigwetch to the staff and community at The TOM for helping bring this vision of reclamation on such an impactful scale to life. Miigwetch for providing the opportunity to keep pushing Anishinaabek woodland art into the future.”

    - Nyle Miigizi Johnston, Artist, Neyaashiinigmiing Unceded Territory

     

    Quick Facts:

    • The Tom Thomson Art Gallery’s collection, made up of more than 2,600 objects spanning over 150 years, includes paintings, works on paper, photographs, sculptures, textiles, installation pieces, and even a Kawasaki motorcycle. 

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Contact Us

808 2nd Avenue East,
Owen Sound, ON
N4K 2H4
Phone: 519-376-1440
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