News

COVID-19 case confirmed at East Elgin Secondary School

Thames Valley District School Board announced on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 29, that a confirmed case of COVID-19 had been identified at East Elgin Secondary School by Southwestern Public Health. The school will remain open and buses will continue to run. The board said all EESS staff members and parents had been informed of the situation.…

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Seven new cases in Woodstock

Southwestern Public Health was reporting seven confirmed cases of COVID-19 in St. Thomas and area on Sunday, Nov. 29, up by one from the previous day. Elgin County remained steady at three cases in Aylmer and area, two in Central Elgin and one each in Bayham and Dutton Dunwich. In Oxford, Woodstock and area saw…

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Santa comes to Aylmer

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…

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High count across Ontario again

Ontario recorded 1,822 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, Nov. 28, down only slightly from the new record high of 1,855 on Friday, Nov. 29. Southwestern Public Health was reporting six cases in St. Thomas and area, three in Aylmer and area, two in Central Elgin, one in Bayham and one in Dutton Dunwich.…

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Church of God pastor ticketed for protest

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…

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Record set for new COVID-19 cases in Ontario

Ontario set a record on Friday, Nov. 27, with 1,855 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the province. Locally, Southwestern Public Health was reporting five cases in St. Thomas and area, two in Bayham, two in Central Elgin and one in Dutton Dunwich. In Oxford, 19 cases were being tracked in Woodstock and area, seven…

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Aylmer “Freedom Rally” organizer charged

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…

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St. Thomas Police charge “freedom rally” organizers

The St. Thomas Police Service is moving forward with charges against two individuals identified as organizers of a recent “freedom rally.” The rally took place in the city on Saturday, Nov. 14. About 200 people gathered to protest COVID-19 safety protocols.

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Sixth COVID-19-linked death

A sixth death linked to COVID-19 in the Southwestern Public Health region of Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford was announced on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 25. Communications Manager Megan Cornwall, in a statement, said, “Southwestern Public Health was saddened to learn of the in-hospital death of a male in his 70s on Monday November 23, 2020…

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St. Thomas Police announce business COVID-19 inspections

St. Thomas Police announced on Wednesday, Nov. 25, that starting this week, they would partner with city bylaw officers and Southwestern Public Health inspectors to ensure local businesses and facilities were in compliance with the Reopening Ontario Act, which sets pandemic restrictions. The inspections would be conducted at random, police stated. COVID-19 safety plans had…

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