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TVDSB to lift mandatory masking; proms, grads back on
by Rob Perry Local Journalism Initiative reporter Thames Valley District School Board, in a notice to parents on Friday, March 11, stated that as of Monday, March 21, the wearing of face masks by staff, students and visitors in its schools would no longer be mandatory, but was still being highly encouraged. “Based on advice…
Read MoreNew COVID vaccine coming to Southwestern Public Health
Southwestern Public Health announced Thursday morning, March 10, that it expected a limited shipment of the new “Novavax” COVID-19 vaccine to arrive over the coming weeks. This was a protein-based vaccine approved in Canada for adults 18 and older, administered in two doses at least 21 days apart from each other. It’s a more traditional…
Read MoreMost mask mandates to be lifted March 21
Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore announced Wednesday, March 9, that most provincial mandates requiring the wearing of face masks would be dropped on Monday, March 21. In a statement, he said, “With the peak of Omicron behind us, Ontario has been able to cautiously and gradually move through its reopening milestones.…
Read More50+ euchre at the Aylmer Legion
Ed McHugh, left, Corrie Sealey, Bert Bouma and Rodger Milmine played euchre organized by the 50+ Club and held at Colonel Talbot Branch 81, Royal Canadian Legion, in Aylmer on Monday afternoon, March 7. The club holds bridge and euchre games starting at 12:45 p.m. Mondays and bid euchre, also called “Pepper,” on Wednesdays at…
Read MoreDrugs, weapons seized by Aylmer Police
Aylmer Police executed two search warrants with help from the Ontario Provincial Police Tactics and Rescue Unit (TRU) and the St. Thomas Police Service street crimes unit at addressed on Sydenham Street and Melanie Drive during the early-morning hours of Wednesday, March 2. Aylmer Police Chief Zvonko Horvat reported that the searches resulted in the…
Read MoreChurches’ Charter challenge dismissed
A judge has dismissed a motion by Aylmer Church of God (Restoration) and Trinity Bible Chapel in Waterloo challenging the constitutionality of COVID-19 religious gathering limits. Both churches faced charges and fines in 2021 for not following provincial restrictions aimed at minimizing transmission of COVID-19 and resulting hospitalizations. Justice Renee Pomerance, in a decision released…
Read MorePop-up clinics coming
Southwestern Public Health on Monday, Feb. 28, announced the coming dates for “pop-up” COVID-19 vaccination clinics: Thursday March 3, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Malahide Community Place in Springfield; Tuesday, March 8, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., East Elgin Community Complex in Aylmer; Thursday, March 10, 12 noon to 6 p.m., Straffordville Community Centre; Thursday,…
Read MoreOne new COVID-19 death
Southwestern Public Health announced on Friday, Feb. 25, that an Oxford woman in her 60s was the 149th resident of Oxford, Elgin and St. Thomas to die in a COVID-related fatality since the pandemic began. SWPH also reported 73 new cases of the virus had been confirmed since Wednesday, Feb. 23, or an average of…
Read MoreMalahide seeks disaster aid for Port Bruce
Inspectors from the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians program will visit Port Bruce on Friday, Feb. 25, to see if residents affected by flooding on Feb. 17 and 18 will qualify for provincial assistance. In a statement, Malahide Township said the township had requested aid for residents from the program, and provincial and other representatives…
Read MoreThree COVID-19 deaths reported
Southwestern Public Health, in its first COVID-19 update in five days, announced on Wednesday, Feb. 23, that three residents of Oxford County had died in cases related to the pandemic. They included a man in his 80s, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s, bringing the total number of such fatalities…
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