Warden Glen McNeil of the County of Huron has been re-elected as Chair of the Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC) during the organization’s Annual General Meeting held in Goderich on Friday, February 2, 2024.

Additionally, Warden Andy Lennox of the County of Wellington was appointed as Vice-Chair; Meighan Wark, CAO of Huron County as Secretary; and Sonya Pritchard, CAO of Dufferin County as Treasurer.

“I am deeply honored to continue serving as Chair of the WOWC, and I am sincerely grateful for the continued trust and support from our members,” stated Chair McNeil. “As we embark on this new year, our commitment to advancing the priorities and initiatives of the WOWC remain unwavering. In 2024, we will continue to collaborate to further enhance our advocacy efforts in expanding housing options, fostering workforce development, and addressing the critical issues surrounding mental health and addiction in Western Ontario.”

Chair McNeil emphasized the Caucus’s dedication to advancing key priorities in the upcoming year, including housing, workforce development to support economic growth, and mental health, addictions, and homelessness.

View the Press Release

The Western Ontario Wardens Caucus (WOWC) joins the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) in calling on the province to commit to reviewing the provincial-municipal fiscal framework as part of the upcoming provincial budget.

In early January, AMO, a non-profit organization representing almost all of Ontario’s 444 municipal governments, highlighted the need for a Social and Economic Prosperity Review as part of its Pre-Budget Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs.

Municipalities provide infrastructure and critical services that are central to Ontario’s economic prosperity and quality of life, investing more than $60 billion annually in communities. The fiscal framework that municipalities rely on to deliver infrastructure and services is broken – failing residents, small businesses, and major industries. Unlike the province, municipal revenues do not grow with the economy or inflation. New realities, including the pressures of growth, economic factors like inflation and interest rates, social challenges, and provincial policy decisions are pushing municipalities to the brink.

The WOWC joins AMO in calling on Premier Ford to do what taxpayers expect – work together with municipal governments to modernize this partnership and build a solid foundation for economic and social prosperity that is fair and affordable for taxpayers.

View the full press release

On Thursday, February 8th The Economic Development Council of Ontario held their President's Dinner and Awards Ceremony.

The Honourable Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont was in attendance to present the Lieutenant Governor Award in addition to Minister Lisa Thompson to present Rural Excellence Award.

Congratulations to the winners from Western Ontario;

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Influencer of the Year: Angela Smith, Central Huron
• President’s Award: Woodstock Economic Development Team
• Inclusive Community Based Initiative & Programming: “Sensory Friendly Zone” – Municipality of Central Huron
• Inclusive Community Based Initiative & Programming: “Wellington Welcomes” – Wellington County
• Community Economic Development: “Perth County Farms to Stratford Tables” – Perth County Economic Development & Tourism
• Planning and Strategic Development: “EDTC Master Plan” – Grey County
• Workforce Development & Resident Attraction: “Full House Tour” – Perth County Economic Development Team & Tourism
• Workforce Development & Resident Attraction: “Learning, Earning, Living CK Career Expo & Job Fair” - Municipality of Chatham-Kent, Community Attraction and Promotion
• Innovation in Community Resiliency Award : “Open Fields Farm Tour” – Town of the Blue Mountains
• Rural Excellence: “Student Sculpture Garden” – Municipality of Central Huron

View the full list of award recipients

Regional Tourism Organization 7 (RTO7) is excited to introduce the RTO7 GoEV Program. This initiative aligns with Canada’s ambitious goal of achieving zero emissions for light-duty vehicles and passenger trucks by 2035.

The RTO7 GoEV Program aims to support eligible organizations in Bruce, Grey & Simcoe Counties in their transition to electric vehicles (EVs) by making financial assistance available for the installation of EV charging stations.

“RTO7 is eager to offer this program to help provide electric vehicle charging infrastructure as an investment in the region’s future”, says RTO7 CEO, Bill Sullivan. “It provides the opportunity to foster economic growth while simultaneously addressing environmental concerns. By investing in EV charging infrastructure, RTO7 is laying the foundation for a more sustainable and resilient tourism and transportation ecosystem within BruceGreySimcoe”.

Successful applicants will receive funding covering up to 50 percent of eligible costs associated with purchasing and installing charging stations, up to a maximum of $100,000. The funding covers various aspects of EV charging station installation, including equipment purchase, technical services, permits, construction, and associated expenses.



View the program information



Applications are now open for My Main Street, a $15-million Government of Canada investment, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), to foster the stabilization and revitalization of main streets across southern Ontario.



My Main Street is being delivered by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) and offers two streams that open for applications on February 22, 2024:

The Business Sustainability stream will support brick-and-mortar businesses located on main streets across southern Ontario with up to $20,000 in non-repayable funding to enhance productivity. The program will provide advanced market research to businesses to address localized needs and opportunities.

The Community Activator stream will support community not-for-profit projects focused on high-impact placemaking activities with up to $250,000 in non-repayable funding. Projects considered will include initiatives such as events and festivals, community enhancements and streetscape improvements.

Join an information session for more information! Learn more at mymainstreet.ca.



Ontario Barn Preservation is dedicated to saving our “old” barns; their architecture, cultural history, and contribution to our rural landscape.

What we do. We advocate for “old” barns by:

·        Sharing knowledge with barn owners on how to preserve, renovate and repurpose their barns.

·        Facilitating networking and exchange of knowledge between barn enthusiasts – OBP website, events, social media, Google Groups chat.

·        Preserving old barns in a digital format to record the characteristics and history of Ontario barns – Your Old Barn Study.

·        Influencing government policies related to preserving barns by engaging with governments and other interested stakeholders.

·        Exploring external funding opportunities for barn preservation projects

To learn more and find your local representative click here