News Headlines

Southwestern Public Health on Friday, Dec. 4, announced the eighth fatality in this region linked to COVID-19 after the death of a man in his 80s. The health unit released no other information about the man, but did state the Southwestern region, made up of Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford, had experienced one of its…

Malahide Deputy Mayor Dominique Giguère on Tuesday, Dec. 1, kicked off the fundraising campaign to purchase amenities to improve the lives of Terrace Lodge long-term care home residents as part of a project to expand and renovate the home. A committee led by Deputy Mayor Giguère hopes to bring in $650,000 over three years. An…

Santa Claus waved to passing cars at East Elgin Community Complex as the Aylmer Kinsmen Club, in lieu of its usual annual holiday parade, offered a “drive-by” Christmas on Saturday night, Nov. 28. The event was scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m., but the gate was opened about 20 minutes early because cars were already…

Aylmer Church of God Pastor Henry Hildebrandt, at his home on Friday, Nov. 27, was served with a ticket by two London Police officers for participating in a “Freedom Rally” that allegedly breached the law by involving more than 25 persons assembling outdoors on Sunday, Nov. 22. Pastor Hildebrandt’s son Herbert broadcast the serving of…

Aylmer Police Service announced the following on their social media page Thursday afternoon: – Emergency Order breach “Freedom March” Protest Aylmer Police Service has completed their investigation regarding “Freedom March” protest rally that occurred in the Town of Aylmer on the 24th of October and 7th of November 2020. Following the review of the relevant…

Three organizers of a “Freedom Rally” held Sunday, Nov. 22, in London have been charged by London Police. Police said the three, all London women, 44, 36 and 37 years old, had been warned beforehand that the rally would be a breach of the Reopening Ontario Act and they could face charges. Despite that, the…

Southwestern Public Health announced late Friday afternoon, Nov. 20, that as of Monday, Nov. 23, its entire area would be placed in the “orange-restrict” category for COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. That’s an increase from the current yellow-protect alert. The health unit said incidents of COVID-19 had reached 28.4 cases per 100,000 residents, more institutional outbreaks were…

A third positive case of COVID-19 has been confirmed by Southwestern Public Health at Assumption Catholic School in Aylmer, London District Catholic School Board announced on Thursday, Nov. 19. All parents and guardians of pupils as well as staff at the school had been notified, the board stated. Assumption would remain open and buses would…

A cottage was covered by spray from breaking waves, if not waves themselves, as high winds blew along the Lake Erie shoreline late Sunday afternoon, Nov. 15. Malahide South Station firefighters closed some roads in the community, reportedly due to concerns over the danger of falling branches or even trees. A brief but heavy rainfall…

About 200 protestors, rejecting COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, marched from Memorial Arena in the southwest of St. Thomas to Veterans Gardens, a war memorial in the downtown area, on Saturday, Nov. 14. A handful of counter-protesters were on hand, and seemed incensed by the takeover by the protesters of the war memorial, but St. Thomas Police…