When should elected officials vote themselves a raise? Oxford County Council faced that question during its July 8 meeting, where members debated whether compensation for the next term of Council should increase to maintain salaries at the 60th percentile of comparable Ontario municipalities. Following a recorded vote, the motion carried 7-3. Councillors Tate, Gilvesy, and…
A recent decision by Oxford County Council regarding a proposed development on Wilson Avenue in Tillsonburg has raised an important question that reaches far beyond a single housing project. Who should have the strongest voice in decisions that shape a community? The proposal was unanimously opposed by Tillsonburg Council (timestamp 12:46). Residents attended meetings, shared…
Oxford County’s 2027 Budget Survey is open until August 31. This is one of the key ways residents and business owners can share input before budget decisions are set. The survey covers municipal services such as roads, emergency services, recreation, waste management, water, and long-term care, and helps shape priorities for the year ahead. A…
Throughout this series, we’ve talked about local government, municipal elections, and what it takes to serve a community in public office. But healthy communities need more than elected officials. They need people who care about where they live. Most residents won’t run for council, sit on a committee, or hold public office. That’s completely fine…
Most people don’t think much about school board trustees until questions arise about decisions affecting local schools. Yet trustees help guide important decisions affecting education across Oxford County. Their work is less visible than municipal council, but the decisions they make can shape the experience of students and families for years to come. Trustees don’t…
As municipal elections approach across Oxford County, some residents may be considering running for council. For many people, that idea doesn’t come from ambition. It comes from care — about their community and the decisions shaping its future. Before putting your name forward, it helps to understand what the role actually involves. At its core,…
June has arrived in Oxford County, and once again municipal flagpoles are being used to raise the Progress Pride Flag for Pride Month. As reported by Heart FM, flags are being raised across county municipalities alongside Pride Month programming organized with Oxford County Pride. No one is questioning whether people can celebrate Pride Month. They…
As municipal elections approach across Oxford County, it’s worth asking an important question: what actually makes a good municipal councillor? Not the loudest voice in the room. Not the best slogan or the strongest social media presence. A good councillor understands that local government is not about performance — it’s about responsibility. Municipal councils make…
Oxford County has now confirmed it already approved moving forward with the purchase of 808 Dundas Street — the former Woodstock YMCA — for a homelessness support centre. Since then, staff have already begun feasibility work, layouts, budgeting, and design planning. Now council is being asked to approve a $250,000 single-source design contract at the…
Municipal government works differently from provincial and federal politics. While higher levels of government are often shaped by party platforms, ideology, and large-scale political debates, local government is primarily focused on managing the everyday systems communities rely on. Municipal councils are responsible for roads, water systems, emergency services, recreation, development, infrastructure, and long-term community planning….