NEWS

Local news in and around Aylmer and Elgin County

Southwold Mayor Grant Jones new Elgin warden

December 6, 2016 | 0 Comments

Southwold Mayor Grant Jones was unanimously appointed as the new Elgin Warden by fellow county councillors during a special meeting on Tuesday night, Dec. 6. He will serve a one-year term as the head of county council, and replaces 2016 Warden Bernie Wiehle, mayor of West Elgin. Elgin council will hold its first full session…

Belmont Santa Claus Parade attracts big crowd

December 5, 2016 | 0 Comments

Chantalle Narciso handed out candy to children, here to Owen Corless-Pressey, 5, of Aylmer, along the route of the Belmont Santa Claus Parade on Sunday evening, Dec. 4. The annual event attracted a big crowd of local residents and visitors. Ms. Narciso was one of the crew with the Christmas Without Cole float which collected…

Beautiful voices heard in Springfield

December 4, 2016 | 0 Comments

Organizer David Dillon was the first to burst out in song during the Festival Concert at St. John’s United Church in Springfield on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 4. A variety of performers sang and played guitar during the concert. The Musicians’ Mentoring Circle will return to St. John’s United Church on Sunday, Dec. 11 with the next…

Port Burwell gets into the Christmas spirit

December 4, 2016 | 0 Comments

Margaret Penner of Straffordville’s DeVida Gardens smiled and threw candy to children who lined Wellington Street during the annual Port Burwell Santa Claus Parade on Saturday evening, Dec. 3. Dozens of residents and visitors watched the parade that started at the Legion on Wellington Street and ended at the historic wooden lighthouse on Robinson Street.

Springfield park lighting

December 3, 2016 | 0 Comments

About 50 spectators attended a carol singalong followed by the holiday lighting of Springfield’s Cenotaph Park on Saturday night, Dec. 3. Springfield Lioness hosted a reception afterward at St. John’s United Church.

Santa returns to Springfield for his annual parade

December 3, 2016 | 0 Comments

The London Mocha Shriners Oriental Band entertained the dozens of local residents and visitors who gathered along Ron McNeil Line to watch the annual Springfield Santa Claus Parade on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 3. The parade featured several floats, two more bands, full size and miniature horses, dogs, police cruisers and fire trucks and lasted over…

Kevin Fox Trio enthrall Aylmer crowd

December 3, 2016 | 0 Comments

The Kevin Fox Trio, led by cellist, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Fox, played to an almost sold-out crowd at Aylmer Old Town Hall Theatre on Friday evening, Dec. 2. The latest in the Aylmer Performing Arts Council concert series, Mr. Fox, of Port Hope, has composed arrangements for several popular artists over the years including…

New Sarum parents want school kept open

November 29, 2016 | 0 Comments

About 30 parents from New Sarum Public School came to Central Elgin council on Monday, Nov. 28, pleading for help to save their school from closure as proposed by Thames Valley District School Board. Councillors, who had previously formally supported a push by Belmont parents for a large new elementary school there, were left between…

Aylmer Kinsmen Santa Parade watched by big, big crowd

November 26, 2016 | 1 Comment

Aylmer Minor Hockey Association players hammed it up for the camera from their float in the annual Kinsmen Santa Claus Parade on Saturday, Nov. 26. Wet weather earlier in the day cleared in time for the procession, which took nearly an hour to pass any particular point along the route.

Holiday concert at Old Town Hall

November 25, 2016 | 0 Comments

A brass quintet made up of Aylmer Area Community Band members played during a holiday concert at Old Town Hall, Friday night, November 25. The full band as well as the Community Choir played too, following the town tree lighting in nearby Palmer Park.

TVDSB greenlights school closures study

November 23, 2016 | 0 Comments

Thames Valley District School Board trustees unanimously approved a proposal by senior administrators Tuesday night, Nov. 22, to conduct their most complex study ever of possible school consolidations and closures, reviewing a dozen elementary facilities mainly in the Aylmer, Malahide, Central Elgin and St. Thomas area. Supporters of Springfield Public School crowded the gallery, holding…

New $1-million county museum

November 22, 2016 | 0 Comments

Elgin councillors on Tuesday, Nov. 22, approved the building of a new million-dollar county museum within the next year, after receiving a federal grant to cover half the cost. Community and Cultural Services Director Brian Masschaele said the structure, to be situated on vacant land south of the county administration building on Sunset Drive, would…