News Headlines

Premier Doug Ford celebrated his 61st birthday in St. Thomas on Nov. 20, officially welcoming Vianode’s $3.2 billion investment in the community and underscoring southwestern Ontario’s important contributions to economic growth across Canada. “The best birthday present I’ve ever had,” the premier told a small crowd assembled in Yarmouth Yards. “$3.2 billion investment, it’s absolutely…

The music and charm of Christmas will return to the streets of Aylmer as the 81st annual Kinsmen Santa Claus Parade commences at 2 p.m. on Saturday Nov.  22. Kinsmen Santa Claus Parade committee head Andrew Beck says the “folksy” holiday event is the official launch of the town’s Christmas shopping season and invites businesses,…

Aylmer Mayor Jack Couckuyt and Deputy Mayor Pete Barbour, at a council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 5, condemned the use of profanities and the vulgarity of some comments made at a prior meeting at Old Town Hall on Oct. 15. They didn’t mention anyone by name, but appeared to be referring to Tyler Desrosiers, spouse…

Tarry Parkway homeowner Steven Tolles went above and beyond in observing the Halloween theme this year. In addition to an elaborate front yard display and family members dressed as witches, he turned his garage into a “haunt,” featuring animatronic characters and eerie lighting. A big crowd was already gathering by 6 p.m. For more, see…

All homes must now have carbon monoxide (CO) detectors on every level, not just near bedrooms, Aylmer Fire Services Coordinator Charity Fisher informed the Express recently. Carbon monoxide is a potentially deadly gas, and so far this year Aylmer firefighters have already responded to three calls with such gas confirmed as present in a home.…

Warning: this story contains strong language “The time has come to make a decision,” Mayor Jack Couckuyt told fellow Aylmer council members at a special meeting at Old Town Hall, about that building’s future, on Wednesday, Oct. 15. They voted 5-1 in favour of an option to expand the Old Town Hall library and upstairs…

Aylmer council, meeting at Old Town Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 15, will discuss the cost of three options for potentially enlarging the downtown branch of the Elgin County library or building a new one, with costs ranging from $6.2-million to $8.9-million. The costliest option, according to JPM Architecture, would be $8.9-million to put an addition…

Cherry Street, a nonprofit group that provides affordable housing in Aylmer, is planning to demolish 50 Centre St., as well as 32 Centre St., to make room for a new development. At a town council meeting Wednesday, Oct. 1, two neighbours, Cynthia Grant and Stephen Blankenship (the latter’s father was a founding member of the…